Chapter 205: Chapter 202: Crazy Plan
Mo Qi did as he was told and placed his hand on the National Seal, thinking, ’Let the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell ring for me.’
Instantly, the National Seal flared with brilliant light. Nine ethereal Golden Dragons, each about a foot long, flew out and soared joyfully around Mo Qi, filling the air with an auspicious aura.
Then, the nine Golden Dragons flew into Mo Qi’s body one by one, and the character for "Blessing" appeared between his eyebrows.
"Excellent! Wonderful! You truly are the Blessed One!" Li Shimu was overjoyed and burst out laughing, completely forgetting his imperial decorum.
The surrounding elders also looked excited, pointing at Mo Qi and chattering amongst themselves.
Mo Qi breathed a sigh of relief. It was his main body that had actually rung the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell.
’This External Incarnation must have been recognized by the National Seal because we share a soul and consciousness.’
"Speak, Blessed One. What is your request? As long as it is within the Empire’s power, it will be granted!" Li Shimu said, patting Mo Qi’s shoulder in his delight.
"I want the Empire to pardon one man’s death sentence and set him free." The name Jin Quan surfaced in Mo Qi’s mind.
"Just that?" Li Shimu’s expression faltered, a look of disbelief on his face.
He had assumed, given Mo Qi’s urgency, that his request would be outrageous. He never imagined it would simply be to pardon a single person.
"Are you sure you don’t want to ask for something else?" Li Shimu asked seriously. "Perhaps you don’t yet understand how immense the power of this request is. Let me put it this way: even if you asked to be the Emperor, I would immediately abdicate and let you ascend the throne."
Mo Qi was stunned. ’Is he serious?’
’A request like that could actually be granted?’
"Remember, you only have one chance!" Li Shimu added.
Mo Qi suppressed his shock and shook his head. "There’s no need. I have no interest in becoming the Emperor. I only ask that Your Holiness pardon the man I name. After all, the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell was ultimately rung for him."
’Become the Emperor? Does he take me for a fool?’
Mo Qi scoffed inwardly. ’Everyone knows the Royal Li Family’s power is immeasurable, and the Six Great Clans are utterly loyal to you.’
’If I became Emperor, I’d be nothing but a Puppet, an empty figurehead!’
The crowd fell silent, and everyone was visibly moved.
To think that Mo Qi had taken such a desperate risk, ringing the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell, all to save someone’s life!
A golden opportunity was right before him, yet he ignored it and remained true to his original purpose.
Who else but the Blessed One from the prophecy could possess such a selfless and honorable spirit?
"Who is it you wish to pardon?" Li Shimu asked.
"Jin Quan, the former Steward Leader of the Wolf Fang Sect," Mo Qi replied.
Li Shimu’s eyes lit with recognition. "I know of him. He deliberately triggered a Beast Tide, a grave violation of Imperial law. A capital offense."
Mo Qi’s heart clenched. "Can he be pardoned?"
"Of course," Li Shimu said with a smile. He gave a meaningful look to two of the clan leaders from the Six Great Clans. "You two will go and release him personally. Since Jin Quan is the man the Blessed One has named, he is now a friend of the Empire. Be sure to treat him with all due courtesy."
"As you command." The Clan Leaders of the Nangong and Zhao Families accepted the order and departed.
Mo Qi knew Li Shimu was extending an olive branch and giving him face, so he couldn’t act presumptuously. He stepped down from the couch, cupped his fist, and bowed to Li Shimu.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Holiness."
"You rang the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell; you’ve earned it. By the way, how are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?" Li Shimu asked.
Mo Qi shook his head. "I’m perfectly fine. I feel completely recovered."
"That’s good. As the Blessed One of the Empire, there is now one thing you must do."
Mo Qi froze. ’They need me to do something for the Empire already?’
"Don’t overthink it. It’s just a formality, a tradition passed down from our ancestors. Very simple." As he spoke, Li Shimu turned his gaze to a burly man standing nearby.
"This is the King of Kaosan. You’ve likely heard his title. You are to cross hands with him and endure three of his moves."
Mo Qi was dumbfounded. ’You have to be kidding me.’
’Cross hands with the King of Kaosan? And endure three moves?’
’Even for an External Incarnation, that’s impossible!’
"Relax, it’s just for show. We call it a fight, but really, you’ll attack and he’ll defend. Furthermore, the King of Kaosan will suppress his Cultivation and won’t use any True Essence. Once three moves have passed, the tradition will be considered fulfilled."
Mo Qi just wanted to scream: ’What a fucking moronic rule! Who came up with this garbage? Did they have nothing better to do?’
Just as Mo Qi was reeling from the absurdity, his main body Within the Pass was coincidentally struggling with the wish of a mysterious powerhouse.
As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction. His main body and his External Incarnation were both dealing with matters related to the King of Kaosan.
His main body Within the Pass had to fulfill the bizarre wish of a mysterious powerhouse, while his External Incarnation had to face three moves from the King of Kaosan.
Wait!
’There seems to be a deep connection between these two things!’
A bold idea surfaced in his mind.
’Since my main body and this External Incarnation’s minds are synchronized, I can use this to pull off something big!’
A crazy plan quickly formed in Mo Qi’s mind.
This led to the scene back at the Dragon Vein Core, where Mo Qi’s main body issued a challenge to the mysterious powerhouse.
Meanwhile, the External Incarnation still in the Imperial Academy stepped before the King of Kaosan.
"I would be so bold as to make a request of you, King of Kaosan."
The King of Kaosan was a majestic, burly man with a rugged appearance. His voice boomed like a great bell as he said casually, "Speak, Blessed One."
"I wish for the King of Kaosan to fight me with his full strength, not simply defend," Mo Qi said.
The noisy room fell instantly silent. Every single person wore the exact same expression of utter disbelief.
Li Shimu’s mouth hung agape, and he stood frozen in place.
’Did I mishear him, or am I hallucinating?’
’The Blessed One actually asked the King of Kaosan to fight him with his full strength?!’
’Has he gotten that arrogant?’
’With the King of Kaosan’s Cultivation and power, a single sneeze could kill the boy. How could they possibly be compared?’
"Hah!" The King of Kaosan let out a short, mocking laugh. "Do you have any idea what you’re saying? Ringing the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell doesn’t make you invincible. You’d do well to keep your feet on the ground."
It was only because Mo Qi held the title of Blessed One. Anyone else who dared to spout such nonsense in his presence would have been thrown out long ago.
"Please don’t be angry, King of Kaosan. Allow me to finish." Mo Qi ignored the astonished gazes from the crowd and continued, "In terms of raw power, a thousand of me, even ten thousand of me, would be no match for you. But the battle I propose will not involve Cultivation. We will compete in martial techniques alone."
"A contest of techniques?" The King of Kaosan was still sneering. "You’re still no match for me. You are far too weak!"
"How can we know without trying?" Mo Qi said with a smile. "We have to fight anyway. Why not just consider it an opportunity to offer some guidance to your junior? What do you say?"
Given the King of Kaosan’s personality, he would never agree to something so tedious.
But then again, Mo Qi was now the Empire’s Blessed One.
Besides, they still had to fulfill the ancient tradition, which meant he had to fight the boy one way or another.
’I might as well take this opportunity to teach him a good lesson. Make him understand that there’s always someone stronger, always a higher heaven. Even a Blessed One shouldn’t be so arrogant!’
