I Can Extract Divine Power

"Inside the Celestial Pride Hall, everything comes down to strength. The younger generation of the Great Zhou Country—even the one before them—might not be strong enough to suppress the others. But you are different. You can."

Upon hearing this, Shen Bai’s expression shifted to one of sudden understanding. "So, Your Majesty’s purpose in summoning me was to have me go to the Celestial Pride Hall and give the prodigies from other countries a sound thrashing."

The Saint Martial Emperor stated expressionlessly, "That’s right. That is my purpose. I want them to know that even though I suffer from a chronic illness, I am not someone they can trifle with."

The "they" he referred to were, of course, the emperors of the other countries.

As the monarch of a nation, one who had risen during a time of war and conquered all under heaven, the Saint Martial Emperor had never feared anyone.

What he feared was that if his chronic illness were to flare up, the entire country would once again be plunged into the fires of war. Thus, for the sake of his people’s survival, he had repeatedly shown forbearance.

He had no way to keep them in check when he let them in, but that was before.

Now, things were different.

The Great Zhou Country now had Shen Bai, who had appeared out of thin air and was powerful enough to dominate the entire younger generation.

Shen Bai pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Since Your Majesty has commanded it, I will agree. I can only say that I will do my utmost in the Celestial Pride Hall. I just don’t know what the specific procedures are."

’Of course, he had to agree.’

’The Celestial Pride Hall was full of treasures, and he had no intention of passing them up.’

’It was a simple enough task, and he’d also be putting the Emperor of Great Zhou in his debt. What was there not to like?’

’But now that he’d agreed, he needed some intel. He couldn’t just charge in blindly and start swinging, after all.’

The Saint Martial Emperor shook his head. "Opening the Celestial Pride Hall annually has been a rule passed down from the previous dynasty for many years. I have been trying to decipher its mechanisms, but I haven’t made much progress. All I’ve managed to do is raise the entry threshold a little."

"Less than thirty percent of what the Celestial Pride Hall holds has been claimed. The remaining seventy percent is still shrouded in mystery. I don’t know what the exact procedures are either."

Hearing this, Shen Bai began to understand.

’It was like a fog-filled region of a fixed size, but only about thirty percent of it had been explored.’

’The other seventy percent was still lost in the fog, waiting to be explored and its treasures claimed.’

’Once all its resources were depleted, the Celestial Pride Hall would no longer serve a purpose.’

"Alright, Your Majesty. While I can’t guarantee a flawless outcome, I will do my absolute best," Shen Bai said.

The Saint Martial Emperor nodded, accepting that Shen Bai’s best effort would suffice.

He had come here today mainly to discuss these two matters.

Now that their business was concluded, Shen Bai prepared to leave.

But before he could take more than a few steps, the Saint Martial Emperor suddenly pulled a box from a nearby drawer and handed it to him.

Shen Bai paused, slightly stunned. He then opened the box and found a single pearl lying quietly inside.

The pearl radiated a sinister, cold aura.

It was an aura Shen Bai knew all too well.

’A Deceit Transformation Pearl?’

He hadn’t expected to see a Deceit Transformation Pearl again.

’This thing was even more precious than a Deceitful Object; it could make a Deceitful Beast evolve.’

The Saint Martial Emperor nodded. "You are of the younger generation and a citizen of Great Zhou. Since you will be helping me suppress those prodigies in the Celestial Pride Hall, it is only natural that I not be stingy."

"You possess a Deceitful Beast, so this will be of great use to you."

Shen Bai immediately nodded. "In that case, I’ll gladly accept it."

’Of great use? This was exactly what he desperately needed.’

Seeing Shen Bai accept the pearl, the Saint Martial Emperor waved a hand dismissively. "You may go. Return to your lodgings and attend to your preparations. The Celestial Pride Hall will open in about three days. Simply come to the Imperial Palace on the morning of the third day from now."

Shen Bai was a decisive person by nature. Now that words had been exchanged and gifts received, there was no reason to linger. He nodded his farewell and departed from the Imperial Study.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Shen Bai had no intention of lingering in the palace.

He planned to return to his inn to figure out how to use the Deceit Transformation Pearl. After that, he would use the next three days to grind his Divine Power’s Skill Level and also spend some time with Qin Shuang and Zhou Qing.

’It seemed like a lot of time, but when he laid it all out, his schedule was actually quite tight.’

...

On his way out of the Imperial Palace, the Token he carried ensured he faced no obstructions.

Not far ahead, the main gate of the Imperial Palace grew steadily closer.

But just then, Shen Bai suddenly stopped in his tracks.

In the distance, a figure slowly sharpened from a blur into focus, then began to walk leisurely toward him.

Shen Bai focused his gaze and saw a man dressed in opulent clothing. He carried the faint air of a scholar, like a Confucian master well-versed in the Hundred Schools of Thought.

This was especially true when the middle-aged scholar walked; each step possessed a natural, scholarly grace, as if Heaven and Earth themselves held him aloft, with him alone walking at the forefront of creation.

’A puzzled expression crossed Shen Bai’s face.’

’The middle-aged scholar seemed to be heading straight for him.’

’Yet Shen Bai didn’t recognize the man at all.’

Just as Shen Bai was wondering, the middle-aged scholar reached a spot about twenty feet from him and slowly came to a halt.

"You are Shen Bai?" the middle-aged scholar asked, his words measured and slow, as if he were reciting an essay.

Shen Bai nodded. "And might I ask who you are?"

As he spoke, Shen Bai rested his hand on the hilt of Cold Moon at his waist.

’Even though this was the Imperial Palace, with its tight security, accidents could happen anywhere. The more cautious he was, the safer he would be.’

The middle-aged scholar tucked his hands into his sleeves and scrutinized Shen Bai from head to toe. Just as Shen Bai’s patience was wearing thin, the man finally spoke.

"I am the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Country. You may call me Prime Minister Cao."