Young Hero Ke stood up at the Hundred Flowers Festival and delivered a speech, thanking his fellow villagers, the Da Yu emperor, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and, of course, the Ice Chunk.
All of it was just a memory from his previous life of watching shows, utterly devoid of emotion.
He wrapped up with a few more words.
Above, the Jiangshan Yizhi Map began to shimmer brilliantly, tinting the clouds overhead. It was as if a storm of ideas was brewing within, ready to burst forth.
“The Nine Heavens, Ten Earths, and four seas rise with a flourish, all because there’s a young talent like you! My heart is greatly comforted.”
Emperor Jingtai himself strode onto the stage, his voice revealing a delighted royal demeanor.
Ke Mo didn’t expect the emperor to commend him in person.
“Come now, let’s award Young Hero Ke.”
With a flick of his sleeve, the emperor signaled to the Sky Patrol Guard, who approached with a tray.
Lifting a red cloth, there lay a gold-inlaid jade plaque, engraved with the words “Hundred Flowers.” From the look of it… it probably wasn’t pure gold?
Symbolically, it seemed equivalent to a banner from his past life or something…
Just as Ke Mo was reaching for it, Emperor Jingtai was quicker, personally handing the gold plaque to him.
Then, he exchanged knowing glances with the eunuch beside him. The eunuch understood immediately and flashed a grin:
“Young Hero Ke, this is a tremendous honor bestowed by His Majesty! You must carry it with you at all times; if you lose it, you’ll be wasting heaven’s grace.”
“Thank you very much.”
Although Ke Mo couldn’t see anything particularly special about the plaque, he didn’t want to disrespect the emperor, so he stuffed the gold plaque into his pocket.
“The City of Divine Beings is about to open, Young Hero Ke.”
Emperor Jingtai smiled at him.
Ke Mo was momentarily stunned.
He knew that already. Did the emperor need to personally remind him?
But the emperor clearly wasn’t just prompting him about the City of Divine Beings opening; he wanted something in return.
The Divine Sword of the Celestials.
So, the gold plaque was like a gag order to shut him up and trade it back for the sword.
“In that case, the sword should rightfully return to the Celestials; a gentleman doesn’t take what isn’t his. It should be borrowed and returned.”
Ke Mo nodded and took down the Divine Sword of the Celestials from his waist.
The purple-clad eunuch chuckled; this Young Hero Ke was quite perceptive, so he reached out to take it, but… he tugged gently, and it wouldn’t budge.
The young gentleman had a serious expression, but his hands seemed to have a mind of their own.
“?”
Come on, let it go already!
The eunuch pulled harder.
Emperor Jingtai: “?”
In broad daylight, what were you two doing, tugging back and forth like this?
He cleared his throat and said, “Young Hero Ke, a hero emerges young; you hosted this grand event. What other rewards would you like?”
“Well, now that you mention it, there is one.”
Ke Mo casually let the sword be taken by the eunuch, chuckling as he said, “Your Majesty, seeing as we hit it off and you think so highly of me, how about considering me as your…”
Emperor Jingtai was momentarily speechless; this kid looked serious but was actually quite bold, trying to be his foster…
“Distant brother.”
Emperor Jingtai: “?”
Jiang Yu: “?”
Everyone: “??? ”
“Hahaha, you rascal, you really know how to make people laugh. No wonder the Cold Fairy likes you.”
After a moment of silence, Emperor Jingtai suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
Such a request was naturally out of the question, and no one would take Ke Mo’s words seriously; they would just think he was being cheeky.
Just a joke, and that was that. He didn’t need to worry about what to reward Ke Mo with since he honestly had no clue what would be appropriate.
Ke Mo felt a bit reluctant to part with the Divine Sword of the Celestials, but he also knew it had to be returned.
When it came down to asking for something, though, he really didn’t need anything.
Setting aside the playful banter, Emperor Jingtai chuckled and received the Divine Sword of the Celestials from the purple-clad eunuch. He gazed up at the sky.
Pointing the sword at the heavens, the Jiangshan Yizhi Map surged upward.
Brilliant beams of light descended, and this celestial artifact unfolded gradually, revealing the immense gates of the City of Divine Beings, wide open for all to see.
The sword was thrown, flying back to the City of Divine Beings.
“Just in time for the Celestial Trial, all beings may observe!”
Emperor Jingtai’s voice resounded, booming like a bell.
All the sects and martial experts present were moved; the City of Divine Beings harbored unparalleled mysteries. It was rarely shown to the public, and usually, only results were announced after the trials were over.
And now, it was laid bare for everyone to see?
“This is the Celestial Artifact…” Murong Xiao commented in awe, curiosity bubbling inside him. “Abbot, this seems to have its own different mysteries; how does it compare to your mustard seed?”
“What mustard seed?” the bewildered Abbot Huai Kong blinked.
Murong Xiao: “…..”
Well, the mustard seed and the Jiangshan Yizhi Map were worlds apart.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t enter; he’d have to wait for the next Qianlong Conference.
“This is the other half of the Heavenly Phoenix Domain…”
Li Mo remarked as he stepped down, glancing back.
From across the Jiangshan Yizhi Map, he could feel the energy radiating from within, grander than imagination.
If in the future, the little world could be projected out, would it carry this same essence?
“Brother Li, take this.”
Huang Donglai handed him a bag full of bottles and jars, each labeled.
“These are all meticulously crafted by me; you might find them useful.”
“Even the Faceless Powder is in there?”
Li Mo accepted the bag.
“The Faceless Powder is the mildest of them all.”
“…..”
Truthfully, Li Mo felt that using these could be a bit morally dubious.
But after squeezing the Ice Chunk’s delicate hand, he ended up accepting the bag.
“The City of Divine Beings seems to have undergone changes; I wonder what those changes are…”
Ying Bing frowned in contemplation.
“The person who wrote that letter couldn’t have foreseen the future; they might have gotten the information wrong.”
Li Mo scanned the Sky Patrol Guards hovering above and all the powerful sect members, all fixated on the Jiangshan Yizhi Map, slightly calming his heart.
With so many experts around, it was still near the royal city.
What big deal could happen?
But just as the thought settled…
From afar, a dark cloud suddenly rose from the royal city, resembling a doomsday conflagration shooting up into the sky.
Boom—
In an instant, as a burst of flames soared upward, a deafening roar echoed, shaking the very earth and sending waves of wind that nearly blinded martial artists at the third realm and below.
Before anyone knew it, a corner of the royal city was consumed, and the earth-shattering commotion reverberated throughout the entire imperial city.
“Enemy attack!”
“Protect His Majesty!”
Armor clashed as hundreds of Sky Patrol Guards quickly surrounded the emperor.
Emperor Jingtai remained calm: “What are you all panicking about? Find out what happened first! In the imperial capital, can there really be bandits causing mayhem?”
“We’ve found out.”
The purple-clad eunuch was sweating profusely.
“It’s just a small matter, and you’re all pale; tell me, what’s the issue?”
“Your Majesty, it’s… your harem.”
