Chapter 204: Chapter 201: Audacious Ignorance
"What is your wish?" Mo Qi asked reflexively.
Every cultivator inevitably encounters problems in their Cultivation, be they hidden ailments or personal flaws.
Whenever such issues arose, Mo Qi could help resolve them with his skill in Medicinal Cuisine and guidance from the Chaos Scripture.
This was the very source of his confidence in winning over these prisoners.
But this strange expert before him truly had no issues whatsoever, giving Mo Qi no angle to work with.
To be honest, Mo Qi had little confidence he could fulfill the wish of a Void Realm expert.
"If you can arrange a fight for me with the King of Kaosan of the Mountain and Sea Empire, I will pledge my allegiance to you!" the stranger declared.
’Arrange a fight with the King of Kaosan?’
’What the hell kind of wish is that?’
’Why don’t you just go and challenge him yourself?’
As if sensing Mo Qi’s confusion, a rare look of embarrassment crossed the stranger’s face.
He cleared his throat to hide his awkwardness. "The King of Kaosan has a rule: he never fights an opponent he has already defeated. I was imprisoned here because I forced my way into his Prince’s Mansion and demanded a duel. In that fight, he utterly defeated me with a single move."
Mo Qi was speechless.
’He defeated you in one move, and you still want to fight him? Are you out of your mind?’
"I admit, I’m no match for the King of Kaosan in terms of overall strength. But after all these years of research, I’ve found a way to beat him!"
"I want to challenge him to a duel of techniques! I am confident I can best him in that arena!"
Mo Qi was once again speechless. ’A duel of pure techniques?’
’That’s the plan you’ve been working on all these years in prison?’
’Isn’t that ridiculous?’
’Just because you’re bored doesn’t mean the King of Kaosan is!’
’A man of his status and position? Why would he play such childish games with you?’
’A duel of pure techniques?!’
’If you lose again, are you going to demand an eating contest with him in a few years?’
’Will it ever end?’
The stranger seemed oblivious to the look of utter disbelief on Mo Qi’s face. "That is my one and only wish. It’s up to you to figure it out."
"So... first I have to convince the King of Kaosan to break his own rule and agree to fight an opponent he’s already beaten. Then, I also have to persuade him not to use his Cultivation, to engage you in close combat, and only compete with techniques?"
The stranger nodded. "You’ve summarized it perfectly. That’s it."
"Heh." Mo Qi let out a dry laugh. It was painfully obvious that this was impossible.
"It seems you can’t do it. In that case, any talk of my allegiance is off the table," the stranger said coldly, turning to leave.
"Wait!" Mo Qi’s expression changed as he suddenly called out.
"What, are you going to try and force me?"
"No, no, no." Mo Qi shook his head, a strange expression on his face. "What if—and this is just a hypothetical—what if I possessed the same combat awareness and fighting skills as the King of Kaosan, and I was able to defeat you? What would you say then?"
"Possess the same combat awareness and fighting techniques as the King of Kaosan? Defeat me? You? That’s not a very funny joke." The stranger stared coldly at Mo Qi.
"Never mind that. I’m just asking, if I can do it, what then?" Mo Qi pressed.
The stranger stared at Mo Qi for a long moment, then threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"HAHAHA, you arrogant young whelp! You don’t know your own limits! I’ll give you my word: if you can truly best me in a match of pure technique, all my previous conditions are null and void. I will follow you!"
"Excellent! A promise is a promise. Everyone here is a witness, so no backing out!" Mo Qi said, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Wu the Old Ghost’s brow furrowed, but he held his tongue.
He had fought the stranger before and knew just how terrifying he was.
If Mo Qi fought him in a duel of pure technique, it meant he couldn’t use the Power of the Dragon Vein.
One was a Void Old Monster who had lived for thousands of years; the other was a mere teenager. Their combat experience and life wisdom were in completely different leagues.
’Could Mo Qi really defeat him?’
’Could he pull off another miracle?’
Despite his worries, Wu the Old Ghost’s heart was also filled with anticipation.
"Kid, if you can beat him, then I’ll agree to your terms as well!" the Old Tomb Digger suddenly chimed in.
"Excellent!" Mo Qi’s grin grew even wider.
’Could he really defeat the stranger in a duel of techniques on his own?’
’Of course not.’
’No matter how strong his combat awareness or how fast his reflexes were, they were a joke in front of a Void Realm expert.’
’If they truly fought, he would be defeated in less than three moves, without a doubt.’
’So why did he propose such a fight?’
’It was because his External Incarnation at the Imperial Academy had just run into a very interesting opportunity. If he played his cards right, he could kill two birds with one stone.’
「In the Imperial Academy, the External Incarnation awoke.」
Seeing a group of unfamiliar elderly men and women looking at him with great concern, and taking in his surroundings, Mo Qi knew his External Incarnation gambit had succeeded!
’Why had he sent the External Incarnation out first?’
’For one, his main body was trapped in the Dragon Vein Core and might not be able to get out right away, but saving Jin Quan was a matter of utmost urgency. Therefore, he could only let the External Incarnation appear as the one who had rung the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell.’
’For another, Mo Qi was still unsure of the Empire’s attitude toward the person who rang the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell. By sending the External Incarnation out front, he could avoid any major problems even if there was danger.’
’From the looks of it now, the Mountain and Sea Empire placed great importance on the one who rang the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell.’
"The Blessed One is awake!"
Someone cried out in surprise, and Li Shimu was the first to rush to the bedside, looking at the External Incarnation with delight.
Before he could speak, Mo Qi spoke first.
"You are the current His Holiness?" Mo Qi asked directly, noticing the Dragon Robe Li Shimu was wearing.
Li Shimu’s eyes lit up. ’Truly the Blessed One,’ he thought. ’An ordinary person in a strange environment, surrounded by so many people, would be flustered and anxious. Yet not only is Mo Qi perfectly calm, he even deduced my identity.’
’That composure alone was worthy of admiration.’
"That is correct. We are the reigning His Holiness. You..."
Li Shimu was cut off mid-sentence by Mo Qi.
"It is said that whoever rings the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell will be granted one request by the Empire. Is this true?"
"Er..." Li Shimu was unaccustomed to being interrupted, but he nodded nonetheless. "Yes, that is indeed the case."
’To ask about this the moment he wakes up... just how deep is this fellow’s obsession?’ Li Shimu thought to himself.
The others in the room exchanged glances.
"So, can I make my request now?" Mo Qi sat up in bed. He needed to save Jin Quan as soon as possible, fearing that any delay could lead to unforeseen complications.
"You may, but before that, we must first confirm your identity as the Blessed One," Li Shimu said with a smile.
"And how do we do that?"
Li Shimu took out a large, square seal. Carved upon it were nine Golden Dragons, each one startlingly lifelike.
"This is the National Seal. Place your hand upon it and silently recite the words, ’The Dragon Vein Imperial Bell rang for me.’"
