Chapter 2760: A Losing Proposition
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After listening to Zhou Shu Qiu’s words, Zhou Shu Dong repeated the words to Long Xiang Yun, the fourth prince. In turn, Long Xiang Yun informed his father, the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, about what he had learned through Voice Transmission. He was eager to prove himself useful. After all, his presence during the selection was too weak.
After receiving the information from Long Xiang Yun, Long Dong Ping confirmed the veracity of the words again through Voice Transmission. After that, the way he looked at Duan Ling Tian changed as well.
“I plan to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect,” Duan Ling Tian replied bluntly as he stared at Long Dong Ping.
Martial Dragon Celestial Sect!
As soon as Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, the fourth and seventh prince, Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun, had a drastic change in their expressions. This was not good news for them.
The Martial Dragon Celestial Sect was the sect that governed 13 high-rank Celestial Kingdoms, including the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Just a word from the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect was sufficient to determine the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. With Duan Ling Tian’s good relations.h.i.+p with Long Fei Yun, how could they not be worried about Duan Ling Tian joining the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect?
On the other hand, Long Dong Ping did not think that far ahead. He felt at ease as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian planned to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. He no longer felt worried about Duan Ling Tian only joining the selection to help Long Fei Yun become the winning prince or forfeit the Wasteland Grand Contest and refuse to join any of the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland. In fact, he would be able to benefit greatly if Duan Ling Tian won the contest and joined the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. The three major Celestial Sects would handsomely reward the Celestial Kingdoms of the top-rank partic.i.p.ants.
Finally, Long Dong Ping looked at Long Fei Yun and announced, “In this case, the winning prince for today’s selection is the thirteenth prince.”
Naturally, there were people who were happy about this and there were people who were displeased by it. Long Fei Yun was elated, and the fourth and seventh prince, Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun were clearly displeased. Both of them were worried Duan Ling Tian would support Long Fei Yun to ascend the throne once he joined the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect.
Long Qing Yun was particularly vexed since he had a.s.sumed he would win with Feng Wu Ji Guang on his side. Who knew Duan Ling Tian would show up and take away the glory that was supposed to belong to him?
‘Martial Dragon Celestial Sect? He wants to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect?’ Zhou Shu Qiu frowned slightly when she heard Duan Ling Tian’s answer. She would have preferred it if Duan Ling Tian joined the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect. It would be easier for her to keep an eye on Duan Ling Tian on Murong Bing’s behalf that way. She would be able to help him avoid the powerhouses from the Compa.s.sionate Celestial Traveler Sect. She did not expect Duan Ling Tian to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect.
‘It’s fine… I’ll think about how to change his mind later. In the worst-case scenario, I’ll ask master to request him to join us after the Wasteland Grand Contest,’ Zhou Shu Qiu thought to herself. In her opinion, it should be easy for her master to request for Duan Ling Tian to join the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect instead of the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. She was confident because she was unaware of many things regarding Duan Ling Tian. If she knew that Duan Ling Tian was not only a Great Overarching Golden Celestial who was younger than 100 years old, but he was also a prominent Celestial Alchemist, she would not be so confident.
Everyone in Xu Rong Palace began to discuss among themselves again. They thought Long Fei Yun was really lucky to encounter a prodigy like Duan Ling Tian. With this, many people’s opinions began to change, and they thought Long Fei Yun had a good chance of becoming the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom with Duan Ling Tian’s help.
“Who knew the thirteenth prince would find such a young powerhouse to help him become the winning prince.”
“The thirteenth prince is really lucky. Alas, it’s almost impossible for him to become the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that… Don’t you forget the purple-clad young man said that he intends to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. If he joins the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect and proves his worth, becoming a high-ranking official in the sect, it’s not impossible for him to help the thirteenth prince to ascend the throne.”
“That’s right… The thirteenth prince is really lucky.”
“It might not even take that long. If the purple-clad young man’s talent is appreciated by the high-ranking officials of the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, and they accept him as a disciple, he could ask them to support the thirteenth prince to ascend the throne of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom.”
Their chattering was not loud. However, as a heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial, Long Dong Ping, naturally, heard the discussions in his surroundings. However, he did not mind it. Although he did not favor the thirteenth prince and suspected that he was not the thirteenth prince’s biological father, he did not mind if the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect intervened and made the thirteenth prince the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. After all, there was a chance that the thirteenth prince was his son. He merely did not want to be the person to make him the next emperor. If the thirteenth prince managed to ascend the throne with his own capabilities, he would even be proud.
Long Dong Ping looked at Long Fei Yun and said, “Fei Yun, since you won the selection, I’ll reward you with the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon as promised.”
Long Dong Ping’s reverberated clearly in everyone’s ears, causing everyone to fall silent for a moment. Then, they began to discuss among themselves again.
“Duke Grade Celestial Weapon! That’s right! The winning prince would be rewarded with a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon.”
“There is only a handful of Duke Grade Celestial Weapons in the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom’s Imperial family… I wonder which one will be given to the thirteenth prince?”
“There are only two Duke Grade Celestial Weapons in the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom that don’t have an owner. It must be one of the two.”
“Both of them are offensive Duke Grade Celestial Weapons… No matter which one he’s rewarded with, it’s still great news.”
Everyone looked at Long Fei Yun enviously. The fourth and seventh prince, in particular, were so jealous that they could kill. The seventh prince was so angry that his body even trembled. It felt as though the thirteenth prince had stabbed his heart.
Everyone a.s.sumed Long Fei Yun would happily receive the reward when he looked at Long Dong Ping and solemnly said, “Father! I would like to exchange the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon for a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron!”
Silence descended on the main hall immediately.
Even Long Dong Ping was stunned. A Prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron? He knew Long Fei Yun had been looking for a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron but he did not know Long Fei Yun wanted it to this extent. Any sane person could see it was a huge loss to trade a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon for a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron.
Long Fei Yun’s words, naturally, caused a commotion in the main hall.
“Did I mishear the 13th Prince? Did he say he doesn’t want the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon?”
“Yes. It seems like he wants to exchange the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon for a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron.”
“Is this a joke? Has he gone mad?”
“Although a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron is rare, it’s nothing compared to a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon… Isn’t this a losing proposition?”
“Perhaps, he thinks His Majesty would not really reward him with a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon and decided to ask for a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron to gain His Majesty’s favor.”
“Is it necessary?”
“Who knows?”
“Is he insane?” Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun were stunned. They did not expect Long Fei Yun to trade a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon for a prominent Celestial Cauldron. In their opinion, only an idiot would do that.
“Are you sure you want to give up the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon in exchange for a prominent pill cauldron?” Long Dong Ping asked solemnly. “Fei Yun, you have to think this through. There’s no going back after you make this decision.”
“Father, I’m sure about it,” Long Fei Yun said resolutely, “I want the prominent pill cauldron, not the Duke Grade Celestial Weapon.”
At this moment, Duan Ling Tian who was standing on the stone platform flew to Long Fei Yun’s side and interjected, “Thirteenth prince, this isn’t necessary. There’s no shortage of prominent pill cauldrons once I join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. However, who knows if you’ll be able to obtain another Duke Grade Celestial Weapon once you give up this chance.” He, naturally, knew Long Fei Yun was trying to obtain a prominent pill cauldron for him. He was moved by Long Fei Yun’s action, but he did not wish for Long Fei Yun to give up on a Duke Grade Celestial Weapon for his sake.