Chapter 139: Chapter 137: Zhang Shao’s Overt Plot

In the main hall of the Void Sect’s main peak, Mo Qi was bent over, panting for breath.

It had been a long time since he’d been so exhausted from just a short climb, barely able to stand.

When he entered the hall, the Ni Brothers and many other powerful figures were all present. Liu Hui and Jin Sanpang had also been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Mo Qi, Jin Sanpang ran over with tears in his eyes. He grabbed Mo Qi’s sleeve and refused to let go, his voice breaking as he cried, "Brother Mo, my dad is about to die! You have to save him! WAHHHH~"

Mo Qi was startled. ’Jin Quan is about to die? That doesn’t make any sense!’

Jin Quan himself had said that as long as Zhang Shao didn’t capture Jin Sanpang, he would be fine.

"San Pang, don’t cry. What exactly is going on?" Mo Qi asked, wiping the tears from Jin Sanpang’s face and patting his shoulder.

"Here’s what happened," Brother Ni said, stepping forward.

"Jin Quan was taken away by the Mountain and Sea Empire. He’s scheduled to be executed."

"Executed?!" Mo Qi was completely baffled. "Why?"

"Because of the incident with the Earth-level Spiritual Ore. He violated the Empire’s fundamental Law of morality by inciting a Beast Tide. That’s a capital offense."

Mo Qi’s eyebrow twitched. He turned his gaze to Yun Xuzi. "Did you report him to the Mountain and Sea Empire?"

’After thinking it over, the only one who would do something like this was the Sect Leader, who always put the Sect’s interests first.’

No matter how you looked at it, Jin Quan was a member of the Wolf Fang Sect. His death would only benefit the Void Sect.

Yun Xuzi gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

Brother Ni said, "Mo the kid, you’ve wronged Yun Xuzi. It wasn’t him."

"Then who was it?" Mo Qi asked, confused.

"It was Zhang Shao!"

"What? Zhang Shao?" Mo Qi thought he had misheard.

’Zhang Shao reported Jin Quan to the Mountain and Sea Empire for inciting a Beast Tide? What kind of play is this?’

’Jin Quan incited the Beast Tide to benefit the Wolf Fang Sect!’

’Besides, how could Jin Quan have possibly orchestrated something as huge as a Beast Tide all by himself?’

’All the upper echelons of the Wolf Fang Sect must have been involved, including Zhang Shao himself.’

’Could it be that he was so devastated by the quintuplets that he lost his mind? Is he trying to destroy the Wolf Fang Sect, taking everyone down with him in mutual destruction?’

As if sensing Mo Qi’s confusion, Brother Ni continued, "We don’t know how Zhang Shao managed it, but right now, all the blame has fallen on Jin Quan alone. The Wolf Fang Sect itself has managed to wash its hands of the whole affair."

’How the hell did they wash their hands of it so completely!’

’Is that even possible?’

"Are the people from the Mountain and Sea Empire all idiots?"

"Who knows!" Brother Ni shrugged, then added, "There’s more news. A summons has come from the Mountain and Sea Empire, specifically ordering you, Liu Hui, and Jin Sanpang to go to the Imperial City and participate in the annual selection half a month from now."

"What’s the meaning of this?" Mo Qi frowned, a bad feeling creeping over him.

"The meaning is simple. The three of you have caught the Mountain and Sea Empire’s eye. The annual selection just so happens to be in half a month, and they want you to participate."

Hearing this, Mo Qi had a sudden realization.

’You bastard, Zhang Shao. So you’ve set a chain of schemes for me!’

’Given how much the Void Sect values me, they definitely wouldn’t have leaked any information.’

’In that case, it’s not hard to guess the source of the Mountain and Sea Empire’s information. It could only be Zhang Shao.’

’And the timing of Jin Quan’s capture is too convenient. He wasn’t arrested earlier or later, but right now. It’s obviously bait deliberately set by Zhang Shao, who was worried I wouldn’t go to the Mountain and Sea Empire.’

’He’s well aware of my capabilities, yet he still dared to have the Mountain and Sea Empire summon me. This means he isn’t worried I’ll be valued by them. That leaves only one path for him: to kill me before the Empire discovers my talent. And he’s very confident he can do it.’

’From this, two things are certain. One, he has helpers in the Mountain and Sea Empire. Two, this so-called annual selection is a death trap he’s prepared for me!’

Mo Qi quickly connected the two events and deduced Zhang Shao’s objective.

’What a blatant scheme!’

’Zhang Shao has calculated that I will definitely go to save Jin Quan!’

The Ni Brothers could naturally figure out what Mo Qi had just deduced.

"Mo the kid, what do you plan to do?"

"When will Jin Quan be executed?"

"Right after the annual selection ends."

Mo Qi smiled. "So if I’m not mistaken, the only way to save Jin Quan is within the annual selection, right?"

Brother Ni nodded. "For you, that is indeed the case. The laws of the Mountain and Sea Empire are immutable, with only one exception. That is if someone successfully rings the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell during the selection."

"Once it is rung, it proves that the person has received the recognition of the Empire’s Dragon Vein. They will become a Blessed One of the Mountain and Sea Empire and can make one request of the Empire. This request is the only chance to save Jin Quan."

’Zhang Shao is truly meticulous and calculating, planning every step.’

"I’m guessing the annual selection isn’t simple, is it?"

"That’s right. The annual selection is designed to choose qualified talents for the Imperial Academy. The death rate is nearly seventy percent!"

Mo Qi had already anticipated this. After all, even the entrance exam for the Void Sect was life-threatening, let alone for the Imperial Academy.

"Brother, do you know how to ring the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell?"

The Ni Brothers all shook their heads.

"No one knows. Not even the Royal Family, the Li Family, necessarily knows. The last person to ring the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell was the founding ancestor of the Mountain and Sea Empire. No one has succeeded since."

This...

Even Mo Qi felt a little daunted.

The unknown was the most frustrating part.

He wasn’t afraid of having his talent tested, nor was he afraid of having his combat power assessed. But how was he supposed to deal with something completely unknown?

On top of that, his period of weakness wouldn’t end for another three months. There wasn’t enough time.

In his current state, where he was winded just from climbing a mountain, he’d be lucky to even survive the annual selection, let alone ring the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell.

’This breakthrough to Nine Transformations into Spirit couldn’t have come at a worse time!’

Mo Qi rubbed the bridge of his nose, then suddenly thought of something.

’Perhaps... there’s still a glimmer of hope!’

"By the way, how long does it take to get to the Imperial City from here?"

"About ten days."

"Alright then. In three days, I’ll head to the Mountain and Sea Empire with Jin Sanpang and the others!"

The Ni Brothers knew they couldn’t dissuade Mo Qi. The three of them exchanged a look, and Brother Ni took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Mo Qi.

"This contains detailed information about the annual selection. Take it back and have a good look. It also has a few little gadgets the three of us prepared for you. They might be helpful."

Mo Qi didn’t refuse and accepted the Storage Ring.

"Thank you, First Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother."

"There’s no need to be so formal with us. In three days, we’ll see you off."

...

The Pig Emperor and Liu Ruyan wore identical expressions of astonishment as they stared at Niu Kexin.

Niu Kexin was currently holding a boulder weighing ten thousand catties high above her head with one hand, tossing it effortlessly back and forth between her hands.

"Sister Kexin, how did you suddenly get so strong?" Liu Ruyan asked, covering her mouth.

Niu Kexin casually tossed the boulder aside and said with a bewildered look, "I don’t know either. I just woke up this morning, and my body felt much lighter. My strength keeps growing, and I keep losing control of it."

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan’s face lit up with excitement. "Sister Kexin, could it be that you’ve awakened some kind of incredible bloodline talent?"

Niu Kexin shook her head. Before she could speak, the Pig Emperor’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"This Emperor knows! Miss Liu, you idiot, it’s not a bloodline talent at all!" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Then what is it?"

"Heh heh, circle the two words ’woke up.’ That’s the key part!"