In the imperial palace, a sea of people had collected at the huge square of the garden. Thrilled, they
stood there, waiting eagerly.
It was the day when the cultivators would come back from the Mysterious Nether World. The
representatives of the five biggest sects and other small sects whose disciples had broken into the top
50 in the Outstanding Talents Exchange Games were present. They were anxious to see what the
outcome would be.
Even the leaders of the five biggest sects had shown up. Their presence marked the importance of the
day.
There was a stage on the east side of the square, and the emperor was seated on it. He was in a
pleasant mood, yet there was a little nervousness and excitement in him.
The person standing at the left of the emperor was an elder dressed in a robe with the pattern of
mountains and rivers on it, while an armed middle-aged man stood on the emperor's right. The former
was Randy, the Hand and the latter was Lord Protector General. Both of them were the most senior
officers and the most powerful people, after the emperor.
Besides the emperor, the Hand and the Lord Protector General, the leaders of the five biggest sects
also sat on the stage. Being the sect leaders, each of them also enjoyed a high status in the Violet
Orchid Empire.
The five sect leaders whispered to each other, eager and thrilled to know the outcome.
The topic of their conversation was about the outstanding disciples who had entered the Mysterious
Nether World. Each one believed their disciples were better than the rest.
"Davis, as far as I can tell, Leo Lv from your sect seems to have the highest cultivation base among the
cultivators who entered the Mysterious Nether World. I bet he must have a lot of harvests this time," the
leader of the Bloody Hero Gang said with a smile.
He shared good terms with the leader of the Peripatetic Sect. That was the reason why he praised Leo.
Besides, Leo was one of the best cultivators among the young generation of Violet Orchid Empire.
After all, he had reached the medium stage of the Mysterious Realm.
Davis laughed and responded, "He caught my attention when he was a kid. He is smart and has
exceptional talent in martial arts.
Apart from him, more than ten principal disciples of mine have also entered the Mysterious Nether
World. I'm sure they'll not disappoint me.
In fact, Caden from your sect is also strong. Although he is not as good as Leo, he is also one of the
elite cultivators of our kingdom. I bet he'll not let you down."
When he spoke of Leo, his mood lit up. He touched his long beard, with pleasure and pride written all
over his face.
Suddenly it occurred to him that Austin had taken the first place in the Outstanding Talents Exchange
Games. As a result, Leo won the second prize. This had kept troubling Davis.
At the thought of Austin, he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of Theon, the leader of Sun Sect. After
all, Austin used to be a disciple of Sun Sect. Therefore, he was upset with Theon.
Among all the disciples of the five biggest sects who had entered the Mysterious Nether World, the
disciples from the Sun Sect were the weakest because Braxton who had been the strongest disciple of
the sect had been killed.
While the other four sect leaders talked to each other excitedly, Theon remained silent with a dejected
expression. During the Outstanding Talents Exchange Games, apart from Braxton, the Sun Sect had
also lost several principal disciples with high cultivation base.
Fully aware that the disciples of his sect were weaker than those from the other four sects, he didn't
expect them to have great harvest. All he wanted was their return from the Mysterious Nether World,
safe and sound.
The leader of the Peripatetic Sect smirked as he spoke to Theon, "What's up, Theon? You look sour.
Oh! I see. It's because of the fact that your sect disciples who had entered the Mysterious Nether World
are too weak.
I can understand how you feel."
Theon realized that Davis was provoking him deliberately.
"What're you trying to say, Davis?"
Theon asked furiously.
The leader of the Peripatetic Sect said, "Nothing. I'm just telling the truth. Please don't get angry."
He started laughing sarcastically. There was haughtiness and pride in his demeanor.
Theon let out a loud snort and then kept silent.
.. .
There was another stage set up on the other side of the square. The ten princes were seated there.
All of them were excited and expectantly glanced at the altar in the center of the square from time to
time.
If the cultivator could get the soul-recovering fruit from the Mysterious Nether World, then the prince he
or she was loyal to was likely to accede to the throne.
That was what overwhelmed the ten princes with thrill and hope.
Surprisingly, one of them looked composed. His calmness made him look confident as if he would be
victorious.
It was the grand prince.
"Take it easy, guys. You have no chance to take the throne. Just give up. The victory is going to be
mine," he declared smugly before bursting into a haughty laughter.
His voice showed how much he despised all his younger brothers.
"Huh! Don't be so assertive. The result isn't out yet."
"He is right. What makes you think you will be the winner?"
"Don't jump to conclusions. You will make a fool of yourself when you lose the game...". . .
No sooner had the grand prince finished speaking than the other princes snapped at him. They were
reluctant to give up because they didn't know the result.
"The victory is going to be mine. I'm sure about that."
The grand prince laughed out louder.
"Among a hundred people who entered the Mysterious Nether World, 25 are cultivators of our royal
family.
Bruce and Graham are among them. I'm sure you have heard about them," he continued.
'Graham and Bruce?'
The other princes were confused. They had no idea why the grand prince had mentioned those two
cultivators.
"Hmm, of course we have heard about them. They have the highest cultivation base among the young
cultivators of our family.
Why did you bring them up suddenly?"
"Before they entered the Mysterious Nether World, they swore to be faithful to me and help me ascend
the throne."
"What? Bruce and Graham have taken your side?"
Dumbfounded, the princes glanced at each other. They couldn't believe that the best cultivators of the
royal family had chosen to side with the grand prince.
"Do you know the level of Graham's and Bruce's strength? Before they got into the Mysterious Nether
World, they had reached the preliminary stage of the Sky Realm.
Think about it. Who do you think among the cultivators who have entered the Mysterious Nether World
is stronger than them?
They promised to me that they would try their best to get the soul-recovering fruit for me. When I use it
to cure mother's illness, father will be fonder of me. And I will take the throne!"
'That is unbelievable.
Graham and Bruce are at the preliminary stage of the Sky Realm?'
The other princes kept thinking and were upset at the news.
'If he is telling the truth, Graham and Bruce are quite likely to get the soul-recovering fruit.
Even if another cultivator finds it, Bruce and Graham will take it away from him. No one in the
Mysterious Nether World can defeat them. After all, they are cultivators who have reached the
preliminary stage of the Sky Realm.
It seems that the grand prince will really get the soul-recovering fruit.'
At the thought of this, the other princes furrowed their eyebrows. They looked anxious and little
dejected. They did not want to lose hope but they felt their chances were slim now.
'There is no doubt now that the grand prince will sit on the throne with the help of those two cultivators
who are at the preliminary stage of the Sky Realm.' Their minds were filled with such thoughts.
"Cheer up, guys! After I become the emperor, I will treat you well, as long as you are loyal to me!"
Imagining his glory and tenure as the emperor, the grand prince burst into laughter.
"One more thing. There's no need to wait for the cultivator named Austin who lived at your residence,"
he said looking at the youngest prince. "I ordered Graham, Bruce and Leo to execute him in the
Mysterious Nether World. He must have been killed by now. He deserved to die after he dared to
embarrass me at my wedding ceremony. He surely had it coming."
A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he mentioned Austin and announced about his destruction.
The face of the youngest prince turned pale. He had thought highly of Austin and expected him to help
him take the throne. His hopes had grown more since Austin had won the championship of the
Outstanding Talents Exchange Games.
But now he was informed that two masters of the Sky Realm had been asked to eliminate Austin in the
Mysterious Nether World. Although Austin was a talented cultivator, he didn't think he could be a match
for two masters of the Sky Realm.
'Perhaps Austin got killed by Bruce and Graham, ' he thought, feeling dismayed.
.. .
The crowd was abuzz with discussion as they waited at the square.
Out of the blue, an old eunuch strode onto the stage where the emperor was seated.
"Your Highness, the entrance to the Mysterious Nether World is going to open. Our elites will come
back home soon," the eunuch said deferentially.
Although his voice wasn't loud, the whole square became quiet instantly. Silence prevailed as all waited
holding their breath.
Everyone present there had their eyes focused on the altar waiting eagerly to see those who would
emerge out.
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