CHAPTER 501: CHAPTER 501. THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THE TRIAL

San Guo spurted the wine he was drinking upon hearing that. He blurted, "What? Are you serious?"

"That is supposed to be a secret, Gao Lan," Amon said. "Since it didn’t come to that, we can forget about it."

San Guo shook his head. "I know you always prepare for backup plans, boss, but do you need to go that far? If the kingdom finds out about our involvement in the attempt, we can say goodbye to living in Echos."

"Also, won’t it be highly suspicious to Prince Huang San if someone disrupts the preparation to delay the trial? Won’t the prince become the prime suspect?" Lu Fei added.

"That’s what I told him when he asked me to prepare the team," Gao Lan pointed at Amon again.

"As I said, it is not needed anymore, so forget about it," Amon said. "I didn’t call you here just to listen to your congratulations. I want your reports on all our activities in the capital."

"Things had been going well since we took control of the coalition," Gao Lan reported. "The clans that used to possess the underworld forces we now control tried a few times to reassert control, but they failed. Some have started to accept they will always have to rely on us if they want their businesses in the capital to run smoothly. A few still show defiance, but it is only a matter of times before they accept reality. The Xian Clan is the most active. They have nurtured a small underworld organization near their clan headquarters. It seems they want this new clan to replace the Mud Sharks."

"Gather information about their members and crush them in their infancy. Do not let them grow," Amon instructed.

"Okay, boss, but they hide near Xian Clan’s headquarters. We will likely get some heat for that."

"We are the overlord of the capital now. We don’t need to fear a little confrontation with the clans," Amon said. He turned to San Guo and asked, "How goes our legal venture?"

"The Lin Hei Sect had grown. We have many shops across Golden Stone City selling various items, pills, weapons, talismans, you name it. We have no problem procuring materials thanks to our control over the underworld. Our escort company is also doing nicely. Clients who used our protection service in the capital had almost zero incidence. It is not strange. Most alleged assassins are part of the underworld, and no one dares to cross the Demon Gang in the capital. By extension, no one dares to touch our escort service unless the assassins are dumbasses poorly informed about the relationship between the Demon Gang and the Lin Hei Sect. Those mistakes are quickly rectified."

"What about the Fuxiang City?" Amon asked.

"Our branch in that city is growing nicely," Lu Fei answered. He was in charge of the expansion outside the capital. "Not much profit is gained since we also help with the reconstruction, but thanks to that, we gain much respect from the locals. I don’t see a problem for us to stay and expand in that city."

Amon nodded. Everything sounded promising. He said, "I predict I will not have much time to be involved with the underworld and the Lin Hei Sect once the Ancient Ascension Trial is over. I will focus on matters revolving around the kingdom, but I want you all to continue the growth of our organizations. You will supply me with private funds and the manpower I will surely need for the power struggle in the kingdom court. In return, I will provide you with benefits and rewards as I climb through the kingdom ranks."

"We will always back you, boss. You can count on us," San Guo said.

"In the past, I only dreamt of leading a prominent underworld organization in Qishurg City," Gao Lan said. "Look at me now. I manage the underworld of the capital."

"I am glad I joined you back then, boss," Lu Fei added.

Amon nodded again. He said, "You are all dismissed. Gao Lan, after returning to the capital, arrange a meeting between me and the clan master of the Gao Clan."

"The Gao Clan? What do you plan to do with them?" Gao Lan asked.

"They have fallen quite steeply after the mess caused by Gao Fongze," San Guo informed. "Most prominent clans no longer want to associate with them. They have mostly been alienated. Their future is bleak."

"Which makes them desperate for allies," Amon said.

"I don’t know. They are proud folk. Even near dead, they will not let go of their pride."

"We will see about that," Amon said.

Gao Lan shrugged. She asked, "When do you want the meeting to take place?"

Amon observed his healing arm and leg. "By the day after tomorrow, I should be able to move properly again. Let’s make that the time of the meeting," he answered.

Gao Lan nodded. She excused herself and left with the others.

*

Huang San visited Amon the next day. "I have good news and bad news," he uttered. "Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Does it matter?" Amon asked in return.

"Okay, good news first, then," Huang San said. "The report from all over had mostly confirmed the elimination of the rebels. Any surviving members were small players who had no power or influence. Everyone can safely say that the rebellion is over. For that achievement, my father has made it official for my participation in the Ancient Ascension Trial."

"That’s only natural," Amon remarked. "What’s the other news?"

"We are still a little short of the fifty million aer stones to secure five spots in the trial," Huang San said.

"How many?" Amon asked.

"Around ten million aer stones," Huang San replied. "The reconstruction of Fuxiang City demanded a lot of funds."

"That can’t be helped. You need to keep up public expectations," Amon said. "Don’t worry. If it’s ten million aer stones, I can use Lin Hei Sect’s aer stone reserve."

"You can? If you are willing, then that settles it! I will be in your debt!" Huang San exclaimed.

"I originally planned to use this reserve to buy a spot for the sixth entry," Amon informed. "Anyway, in exchange for covering the deficit, I want to be given the right to choose who to enter the trial."

"Uh... Can you tell me your candidates?" Huang San asked.

"Me, Xin Wuming, Yang Li, and Wu Di," Amon answered.

Huang San shook his head. "All of you, including me, are at the Intermediate Mystic Stage. If we enter with such a member, we will be easily defeated. We are already lacking in numbers as it is. I’m sorry, I need to at least bring one Spirit Stage cultivator."

Amon wasn’t surprised. That’s why he accumulated the aer stones for the sixth entry. "Explain to me again the limitation to the cultivation levels of the participants who enter the trial."

"Okay. Each candidate is allowed ten entries, while we are given five or more if we can afford the aer stones consumption. However, while the number of entries is proportional to the aer stones spent to generate the energy, the cultivation level of each participant is not fixed. The higher the participant’s cultivation level, the more energy he or she will expend when crossing over. Thus, a candidate cannot bring all nine companions possessing Spirit Stage cultivation."

Amon nodded. "If we enter with five people. Adding the original candidates makes it a total of thirty-five people. How many Spirit Stage cultivators can enter?"

"That will be eight Spirit Stage and twenty-seven Mystic Stage cultivators," Huang San answered.

"Have a decision being made about how to split this arrangement?" Amon asked.

"It has," Huang San answered. His expression wasn’t joyful, though.

"How many slots for the Spirit Stage do we get?"

"One," Huang San answered. "Also, the eight slots for Spirit Stage cultivators cannot be all at the Peak Spirit Stage. Some must be at the Intermediate or even Beginning Spirit Stage."

"The one slot we have, what stage is allowed?"

"... Beginning," Huang San answered with a slightly lowered head.

"In that case, the division of the slots should have roughly been decided. Tell me the composition of our opponents’ teams and who the Spirit Stage participants are."

"As a matter of fact, it has just been decided yesterday following the confirmation of my joining," Huang San said. "As you should expect, Huang Zi receives the most benefits. He is given three slots for Spirit Stage cultivators. Two are Peak Spirit Stages, Jiang Bo and Huang Zi himself. The third slot is for a Beginning Spirit Stage. The participant for this slot is named Xian Fei. She is a military officer with the rank of colonel. She serves under Jiang Bo."

"Prince Huang Zi didn’t bring Jiang Tong as his companion? He is Prince Huang Zi’s supporter, isn’t he?" Amon asked.

"Jiang Tong holds the highest office in the military. Though everyone knows his alignment, it is not appropriate to show it on such a formal occasion. No, he doesn’t join Huang Zi’s party," Huang San answered. "Let me share with you a fun fact about Xian Fei. She is not Huang Zi’s first choice. Do you remember the assassination of a military officer that you are blamed for, which you denied?"

"Yes. The one that happened after my attempted assassination from the Royal Assassin under Huang Zi’s order."

"Yea. The assassinated person was supposed to be Huang Zi’s first choice. Xian Fei is the replacement," Huang San said. "Also, there is no proof it’s Huang Zi who ordered your assassination."

"There is also no proof I’m the one who did in his preferred candidate," Amon returned.

"Fair enough... But tell me the truth. It’s truly not you?" Huang San asked.

"It’s not," Amon replied.