Chapter 153: Chapter 150: Are You Guys Pigs?
A Dark Horse Level Token?
That was a level higher than the Golden Level!
At that, everyone’s attention, including the three other youths who had received Gold-level Tokens, was now focused on Mo Qi.
He had replaced the Golden Level recipients as everyone’s primary target.
Mo Qi stared speechlessly at the three gloating elders. ’When did I ever strongly demand it?’
’I haven’t even said anything!’
’You did this on purpose, didn’t you!’
’You’re getting back at me for not cooking you a second batch of "Yuanxiao"!’
Faced with Mo Qi’s accusing gaze, the three elders schooled their expressions, feigning innocence.
"Alright, what I’m about to say next is of the utmost importance. It concerns whether you can pass the annual selection and survive these next three days."
The elder continued, "Within the Imperial City Pass, many of the Empire’s most dangerous criminals are imprisoned. Many of them are hardened killers, cruel and violent, who have committed heinous crimes."
"We have selected a group of these prisoners and sealed a special type of Energy within their bodies. This power can be absorbed by your Tokens."
"Your task is to collect as much of this Energy as possible within three days. If you gather enough, your Token will be upgraded."
"There is only one way to collect this Energy: kill them."
"These prisoners’ Cultivation ranges from the Refining Essence to the Vajra Realm. They roam Within the Pass under certain restrictions and will not attack you proactively."
"However, the moment you attack them, they will be granted permission to retaliate. From that point on, they will fight you to the death, for the Empire has made them a promise: any prisoner who kills one of you will be granted their freedom."
"Therefore, before you make a move, you had best carefully assess whether you have the ability to kill your target."
"For this annual selection, your area of activity is limited to a five hundred li radius. Do not, under any circumstances, cross this boundary. If you leave this area, death is certain!"
"One last thing. Don’t even think about avoiding combat and trying to coexist peacefully with the prisoners for three days. The rules do not permit it. Your Token must absorb at least one unit of Energy each day, or it will execute you on the spot."
"And definitely don’t think about discarding your Token. Without it, your fate will be even more miserable."
Mo Qi finally understood why the Mountain and Sea Empire’s annual selection had such a high death rate.
These so-called rules not only encouraged the participants to kill each other, but also laid a trap in the form of these prisoners.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the prisoners, especially the ones with high Cultivation, would surely disguise themselves as weaklings to lure participants into attacking them.
At that point, if some unlucky soul ran into a Vajra Realm expert, couldn’t discern their Cultivation, and had the bad luck to activate their right to retaliate, the roles of hunter and prey would instantly be reversed.
The crucial part was the Token’s restriction, which forced everyone to find targets and make a move.
To survive the three days, one had to kill at least three people.
"Alright, everyone follow us now."
The three elders led the way, guiding the group toward the back of the great hall.
"By the way, you aren’t the only ones participating in the annual selection. The proud sons and favored daughters of our Empire’s Six Great Clans are here as well. You’d best be careful."
...
In the Jinluan Hall of the Mountain and Sea Empire’s Imperial Palace, a powerful existence sat upon the Dragon Throne, dressed in a Dragon Robe and Crown.
He emanated a golden light, as if bathed in sunlight, his imposing aura inspiring awe and fear.
This was none other than the Emperor of the Mountain and Sea Empire, the reigning His Holiness, Li Shimu!
Below, the civil and military ministers stood on either side.
The civil officials were on the left, led by the Three High Officials; on the right were the military officials, headed by the Two Generals.
Not far to Li Shimu’s lower left, a burly, rugged-faced middle-aged man was slouched in a chair.
The One King, Two Generals, and Three High Officials.
He was the current King of Kaosan, the only person in the entire Jinluan Hall, aside from Emperor Li Shimu himself, who was qualified to be seated.
Below, the three elders knelt on the floor. They were the very same ones who had tested the aptitude and talent of Mo Qi and the others.
"Did the annual selection proceed smoothly?" Li Shimu asked, his voice soft yet filled with majesty.
One of the elders raised his head. "Reporting to His Holiness, everything went smoothly. All participants have been led Within the Pass."
"Mm," Li Shimu said. "I hear a rather remarkable young lady appeared this year."
"Reporting to His Holiness, yes. Her name is Niu Kexin. She possesses an Imperial Academy Order. When she activated the Power Testing Gate, the light shot past the great hall and straight into the heavens. Many seniors and the Dean of the Imperial Academy were all startled by this and wish to take her as a disciple."
"Oh? Such a thing happened?" For the first time, a trace of emotion colored Li Shimu’s unflappable voice, but he quickly suppressed it. "Are there any other good prospects?"
"Reporting to His Holiness, this time, five people reached the Golden Level, and one reached the Dark Horse Level. The young man at the Dark Horse Level is named Mo Qi. Your subject believes that if he can pass the annual selection, he will surely become a pillar of the Empire!"
"Tell me the details." Li Shimu’s interest was piqued. Prospects at the Dark Horse Level were a rare sight.
"He possesses a very special Alchemy ability. Not only is the efficacy of his Elixirs far beyond that of ordinary ones, but... their taste... is absolutely perfect."
After pondering for a long while, the elder truly couldn’t think of a word to describe the texture of the "Yuanxiao," so he could only summarize it with a single word: perfect.
"Taste?"
It was the first time Li Shimu had ever heard someone mention taste when describing an Elixir.
"Present the Elixir he refined. Let Us see it."
This...
The three elders exchanged awkward glances. They had devoured every last "Yuanxiao," not even leaving the broth. What could they possibly present?
The taste had simply been too exquisite. At the time, they were only focused on scrambling for more, never imagining a situation like this would arise.
Thus, the three could only bite the bullet.
"Reporting to His Holiness, those Elixirs... were all eaten by your subjects."
Eaten?
Li Shimu asked in confusion, "He only produced three Pills in one batch?"
"Reporting to His Holiness, he produced twenty."
Cold sweat trickled down the three elders’ backs. They didn’t know if His Holiness would fly into a rage.
Li Shimu froze for a moment, then asked, "The Elixir he refined is effective even for Cultivators of your Realm?"
The three shook their heads.
"Reporting to His Holiness, what he refined was a First-Grade Divine Tempering Pill."
Li Shimu: "..."
The ministers: "..."
A Divine Tempering Pill was an Elixir for Cultivators at the Refining God Realm. What good was it for three Void Realm experts to eat? Since it had no effect on them, why did they eat all twenty? Were they pigs, eating the Pills like a meal?
Of course, no one asked this out loud. If they had, the three elders would have certainly nodded.
’That’s right, you really can eat them like a meal!’
’And they’re delicious, too!’
The atmosphere instantly froze. The awkwardness was unprecedented.
To break the tension, the elder who had tested Mo Qi quickly added, "Reporting to His Holiness, two youths at the Refining God Ninth Heaven broke through to the Purity Realm on the spot after consuming the Divine Tempering Pills Mo Qi refined. Furthermore, both of those youths possess special bloodlines."
