Chapter 97: The Gift
Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Gift
The world turned.
At noon the next day, the Cold Snow Official, True Monarch Minmian, woke up clutching his head.
"It seems I drank three large vats again."
True Monarch Minmian patted his head, then met Zhu Ge’s strange gaze and smiled with confidence and pride:
"Just three vats... I’m a bit of a lightweight, haha, a real lightweight. How embarrassing."
’You only drank three bowls...’ Zhu Ge found it hilarious. He had no idea what True Monarch Minmian was so proud of.
"Huh? Guyu Official, why are you hiding again?" True Monarch Minmian looked to Zhu Ge’s side, then nodded after a moment:
"Alright, alright. Your tolerance for alcohol is a cut above mine. It’s a real shame you won’t get dead drunk with me every day."
’So the Guyu Official, the True Monarch of the Lantern, has been by my side all along! I just couldn’t detect him...’ Zhu Ge read between the lines of True Monarch Minmian’s words.
But he didn’t say anything. With the True Monarch of the Lantern by his side, he should be much safer, in a way.
"True Monarch, I don’t know your destination, but is there any way I can be of assistance?" Zhu Ge asked.
He hadn’t forgotten the Cold Snow Official’s mission: "Annihilate Nanyue Mianhuang and eliminate all non-human bloodlines."
Annihilate and eliminate... it was a mission of extinction.
As for this kind of thing, Zhu Ge was more than willing to help.
Besides, from their brief evening together, it was clear True Monarch Minmian was a man of passion and wouldn’t let him get the short end of the stick.
"Help? What’s there to help with? I’ll just kill them all with my sword!"
True Monarch Minmian looked disdainful. "Our Human Race is embroiled in civil war, and those members of the Barbarian Race dare take advantage to covet the Central Plains? They’re uncivilized and inherently vile. Extermination! Complete and total extermination!"
Zhu Ge scratched his head. "In that case, how about I stick by your side, True Monarch, and handle the hunting and roasting?"
"Heh, you little rascal." True Monarch Minmian broke into a radiant smile, like a beautiful woman who had just been coaxed into a good mood:
"Not bad, not bad. You outsmarted the Raincoat Fisherman, you know when to bend and when to stand firm, you’re cunning, and best of all, you’ve got a heart full of passion. Not bad. I like you."
He stroked his chin, looking Zhu Ge up and down. "Alright then. You’re a bit on the weak side, but that fellow, the Lantern, is a total bore. It’ll be good to have you around to liven things up."
’I’m in!’
By following a Great Power like this, Zhu Ge could gain a massive amount of knowledge.
Even the things a Great Power like him might discard could become a fateful opportunity for him!
However, before Zhu Ge could even be happy for a full second, True Monarch Minmian spoke again:
"But I don’t want to rush your growth. So, how about this: if you can leave your mark in that Lantern fellow’s Historical Record, I’ll take you with me. How about it?"
’Leave a mark in the Historical Record?’
Zhu Ge was stunned for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I will certainly do my best."
"Haha, for something like this, doing your best isn’t enough!" True Monarch Minmian clapped Zhu Ge on the shoulder. "All things have a spirit, and based on innate talent and later circumstances, they can be divided into the Ordinary, Geniuses, Heavenly Prodigies, and ’Sons.’"
"That Raincoat Fisherman had extraordinary innate talent. Even though he lacked effort later in life, he still managed to comprehend the ’Raincoat Song Intent.’ He’s someone at the ’Genius’ level of our Human Race."
"But even he couldn’t leave his mark in the Historical Record. To do that, you need the disposition of a Heavenly Prodigy!"
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian pointed a thumb at himself:
"Take me, for example. A humble Heavenly Prodigy of the Sword Dao. In the Second Realm, I formed a Heart of the Sword Dao. When I broke through to the Third Realm, I condensed a supreme, slaughtering Sword Intent. That’s why all the races call me a Heavenly Prodigy, and why I left a bold and colorful mark in the Historical Record."
The corners of True Monarch Minmian’s mouth couldn’t help but curve upward as he glanced at Zhu Ge, wearing a blatant "Hurry up and praise me" expression.
"..." Zhu Ge cupped his hands. "As expected of a True Monarch. You are truly the most talented person I have ever met. But even beyond that, your appearance is so heroic and extraordinary that even if you hadn’t said a word, I could tell you were incredibly powerful."
Hearing this, True Monarch Minmian’s grin nearly split his face from ear to ear. "Is it that obvious? Haha, haha, hahahaha! I’m ashamed, truly ashamed, haha!"
Zhu Ge was marveling inwardly, but his face remained perfectly composed as he said without batting an eye:
"Your words and appearance alone are enough to leave me in awe, True Monarch. If you were to truly make a move, I can’t even imagine how earth-shattering it would be. I just wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to witness it in my lifetime."
"Good, good, good." True Monarch Minmian was thoroughly pleased. He said reflexively, "You and I really hit it off. Guyu Official, you love your liquor. We’re having such a great chat right now, why don’t we drink three hundred vats to liven things up?"
’We’re drinking again?’
’Didn’t you just sober up?’
Zhu Ge was dumbfounded.
"You dumb pig, don’t call me!" The True Monarch of the Lantern’s voice was utterly exasperated. "Embarrassing yourself in front of a junior... that’s just like you, you dumb pig."
"Hey! You, Lantern, you’re such a buzzkill!" True Monarch Minmian pouted. Then, his eyes darted, and he said to Zhu Ge:
"Right, above Genius and Heavenly Prodigy, there’s another level called ’Son.’ It means the person has the potential to become a master like those of ancient times, one who can pioneer an entirely new Dao."
"That Lantern fellow is one who was identified as having the talent of a ’Son.’ He condensed his own ’Intent’ back in the Second Realm. He’s incredibly strong!"
’A Son?’
’Like the ancient masters?’
Zhu Ge was astonished. "You two seniors are truly incredible. This junior is in awe!"
’One was a Heavenly Prodigy of the Human Race, the other a ’Son.’’
It was enough to make anyone envious.
"Right, let me see what kind of talent you have," True Monarch Minmian said, clapping his hands. "I see you don’t have a weapon. This is a perfect chance to test you. It’d be great if you had a talent for the Sword Dao!"
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian turned his hand over. "This sword is named: Overthrow."
Zhu Ge’s expression tensed, but he couldn’t see any sword in True Monarch Minmian’s hand at all.
"Your cultivation level is too low, you can’t see it," True Monarch Minmian said with a laugh. "Let me see what weapon suits you."
With that, True Monarch Minmian gently lifted his palm.
The next second, Zhu Ge felt the entire world disappear.
Nothingness. Emptiness.
It wasn’t darkness, but nothingness and emptiness.
And within this sensation, a point of light suddenly appeared in his perception.
The light was like a single point, then a single line, and finally, it transformed into a staff-like object standing at the junction of nothingness and light.
"Is that... the Golden Cudgel? No, it’s a staff?" Zhu Ge stared blankly.
In an instant, all of Zhu Ge’s senses returned, and True Monarch Minmian’s face appeared before him.
"A pity, what a pity. You’re better suited for a staff, not a sword!" True Monarch Minmian shook his head and sighed. "Honestly, it would have been so much better if you were suited for the sword. Swords are so cool!"
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian spread his hands. "The Sword Dao is unrivaled in slaughter! If you don’t believe me, just look at me! I’m a Sword Dao practitioner. See how awesome I am?"
Zhu Ge was about to nod when the True Monarch of the Lantern’s voice came from his side: "Don’t look."
Zhu Ge: "?"
The True Monarch of the Lantern continued, "He’s just a dumb pig. The people who study the Sword Dao are either idiots or lunatics. Don’t listen to him."
"Hey, hey, hey! You! Just because you can out-drink me, you think you can slander me like this?" True Monarch Minmian rolled up his sleeves. "Come on, come on! If you’ve got the guts, show yourself! Bring out three hundred vats of fine liquor, and let’s have a real contest!"
"Sigh. Dumb pig." The True Monarch of the Lantern’s voice came, and then there was silence.
"Tch." True Monarch Minmian scoffed, then said to Zhu Ge, "Kid, you’re not suited for the sword, and I don’t have any staves here. But I can give you something good."
True Monarch Minmian flipped his hand over, and a small, fingernail-sized piece of pale blue metal appeared in his palm:
"This item is called: Star-picking Silver."