Hearing this bombshell of a news suddenly being dropped, Bai Xiaofung’s eyes widen uncontrollably before his expression went through several changes.
Somehow, he had somewhat forgotten about Xi Shen being the second prince and the authority he had. Bai Xiaofung was thus treating him like he would with someone of a lower status. It was just that since he had met Xi Shen, he hadn't once acted as a normal prince would. Some could even say for a prince of the Li Imperial Family, he was very uneducated in noble customs and norms. Allowing Yang Su to address him as elder brother, treating his subordinates more like friends than anything else, this behavior was very abnormal to anyone who saw. Bai Xiaofung had found it weird as well but didn't voice it as he appreciated that Xi Shen didn't act stuck up like a few of the Li Family members he had met before did.
However, at this moment, Bai Xiaofung had to snap back to reality as Xi Shen was showing the temperament of a prince by appointing Yang Su as Baron. He was using his status to get what he wanted.
Bai Xiaofung smiled bitterly as he remembered his previous words, claiming this place to be his family’s territory while totally forgetting that the entire continent could be considered the Li Royal Family’s property.
Bai Xiaofung with the bitter smile still on his face cupped his fist and bowed his head before saying to Xi Shen, “Forgive me second prince for being so disrespectfully.”
Fei Yin and Fang Chen had on wryly smiles as they watched the events play out between Xi Shen and Bai Xiaofung. Yang Su himself was standing there in silence, whether it was because he couldn’t grasp what being given a noble title meant or whether he was just shocked by the sudden jump in status, it was hard to tell.
Xi Shen waved his hands dismissively and like always he said, “Don’t be so formal brother Fung, I don’t often use my status as a prince to get what I want, but I just wanted to make it clear that this place is protected by my Li Family. After all, this is Yang Su’s home, I don’t wish to see anyone coming here to disturb the village because of greed. Of course, as I said before, I’ll gladly hand over a portion of the Divine Fire Spirit Stones to you brother Fung to show face to the Bai Clan.”
"Thank you, brother Shen." Bai Xiaofung smiled as he realize he hadn't fallen out with Xi Shen as he had suspected. It would be a waste to end their friendship, maybe Xi Shen could supply him with more pills his father was unwilling to give him.
While Bai Xiaofung was thinking that, Xi Shen had been thinking about a way to prevent this place from being searched, and this was the method he came up with.
No doubt people from the Bai Clan would have come here to investigate the Heavenly Tribulation, and possibly even people from the Celestial Academy, so Xi Shen used the excuse of the Divine Fire Spirit Stone Vein to claim this village as officially being part of his Li Family.
‘Now with that settled, I don’t have to worry about the seal being located any time soon. But there is a possibility that the noble families might set their sights on the Divine Fire Spirit Stone Vein, however, this land could be said to be my property, I’ll just put out a statement that says no one is to make claims on my assistant’s village. Though me appointing Yang Su as a Baron would say as much.’
Xi Shen hope this fiasco with the Heavenly Tribulation hadn’t drawn too much attention from the Major Powers and had instead only become a passing event that went unnoticed. Yang Su making a breakthrough here wasn’t a part of his plan, but the timing was right, so he’ll just have to deal with whatever crops up.
If him appointing Yang Su as Baron wasn’t enough, he’ll have his mother support him. He didn’t want to ask his father as the Empress would surely stick her nose into his business, and that’s the last thing Xi Shen wanted. That was exactly what happened about a year and a half ago when Tai had discovered the High-grade Spirit Stone mine under that small sect. The Empress had “confiscated” it after Fu Wei had found him there.
As those thoughts came and go in Xi Shen’s mind, he couldn’t help but notice the faint presence of someone hiding out in the area.
‘It’s good that he overhears. I might be generous, but I’m not that generous to give away free Divine Fire Spirit Stones. If I didn’t need to display some goodwill towards the Bai Clan to cover my butt, I would never have let out so much as a peep about the Vein.’
Xi Shen didn’t let it show on his face that he notice the man’s presence and instead said, “Alright, with that settled there’s another thing I wish to bring up... What are Chosens?”
Xi Shen looked between Fang Chen and Fei Yin specifically as he asked that. He got some information on that from when his puppet had spoken with Bai Shu, but it wasn’t enough.
When Fei Yin and Fang Chen heard Xi Shen’s question they had hesitant expressions on their faces, but Fei Yin eventually went to speak, but before he could, a voice came from the void that startled him and everyone else.
“Young man, the knowledge about such information isn’t to be casually mentioned so openly.”
Fei Yin looked around with a surprised expression, as well as everyone else.
Bai Xiaofung, however, spoke up hurriedly to calm everyone down, “Everyone it’s alright, that was my Dao Protector.”
Bai Xiaofung then said openly, “Uncle Xiaobo, I’m curious as to what Chosens are as well.”
“Young Master, the secrets link to the existences of Chosens are not something that can be divulged so carelessly.”
Bai Xiaofung frowned and said, “Uncle, you speak as if everyone here is from a low background. And those who aren’t are followers of the second prince. Aren’t you being worked up over nothing? Now I really want to know, brother Fei Yin go ahead and speak, you don’t have to listen to that voice you just heard, just take as the passing night breeze sounding like a stuck-up old man.”
Within the void, the old man called uncle Xiaobo almost had the urge to strangle Bai Xiaofung.
‘This little brat, how can he talk to his elders like that?’
Xiaobo frowned but he didn’t say any more, he was only tasked to watch over and protect Bai Xiaofung when he isn’t in the Celestial Academy and the Bai Clan, he wasn’t in the position to disobey his orders unless it pertains to his safety.
Fei Yin was still surprised that someone was hiding nearby, but he still went on to answer Xi Shen’s question, “Young master, I have only recently been approached by the Academy to be conferred with the title of a Chosen Disciple so I don’t know much except that it is a title that any outstanding individual of the Orthodox or Unorthodox Faction can receive.”
“Then I’ll explain further, as I have been a Chosen longer than brother Yin despite me being a year younger.”
Fei Yin looked at Fang Chen with a peculiar expression when he heard that. It seemed as if Fang Chen was boasting about that fact, but Fei Yin couldn’t be bothered.
Fang Chen then continued to say, “The Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions have come to an agreement where to avoid an all-out war between the two sides, they will have the top geniuses from the younger generation on each side compete against each other. This has been going on for as long as the Maple Continent has been established, where news of a top genius from the Righteous Faction battling and killing another top genius from the Demonic Cult Faction has been the norm. But news of those battles has only been confined to a certain group of people. Within each sect, within each institute and clan on the Maple Continent, there is a hidden Society made up of highly talented geniuses that have been picked out to be groomed away from the public eye. I myself, and recently brother Yin has been recruited to join this hidden group of elite disciples within the Celestial Academy.”
Xi Shen's eyes flashed intensely as he heard Fang Chen’s words. Then it’s not a surprise he didn’t know about this group of elite disciples. He was in the group of people who were on a “not needed to know” bases.
Yang Su who was also surprised by this revelation suddenly asked, “Brother Fang Chen, just how many talented disciples are a part of this hidden group of people? How are they compared to the Celestial Academy disciples in the spotlight?”
Fang Chen scowled in disgust before he responded, “From what I know, those Inner Disciples on the Inner Disciple Rankings are talented but they have been pampered by their clans before coming to the Academy and have thus become nothing more sheltered flowers after entering. The disciples in the shadows within our Academy are plenty and some of the most outstanding disciples within the Orthodox Faction, that have been through numerous life and death battles against those demonic disciples, are from our Academy. They can’t be compared.”
Old man Xiaobo who was within the void nodded in approval at Fang Chen’s words. He was thinking that disciples like him are what the Righteous Faction needed. Hot-blooded young talents that aren’t afraid to stand up to the evils of the Demonic Cult.
As Xi Shen was thinking to himself, he suddenly felt the presence of his two God Beasts.
Without alerting anyone, Tai and Little Snow stealthily but tiredly slipped inside Xi Shen’s storage ring along with the puppet that had Xi Shen’s consciousness inside.
Now he didn’t have to stall anymore and can get a move on back to the Celestial Academy. The sun was even beginning to rise over the horizon.
After Xi Shen mentioned returning to the Celestial Academy, and that he’ll have someone from his Family collect and deliver the Divine Fire Spirit Stones to Bai Xiaofung, Yang Su said his goodbyes to his parents, to his mother's reluctance, and they were about to set off. But Bai Xiaofung suddenly spoke up and asked questioningly, "Brother Xi Shen I've been thinking thins for a while now, but why are your feet bare? And brother Su, are you going to keep your hair that color, won't it draw attention?"
"Huh?" said Xi Shen as he looked down at his pale white bare feet on the grassy ground. It was a result of him growing larger in the volcano, but if Bai Xiaofung hadn't pointed it out, Xi Shen wouldn't have noticed due to the feeling being so familiar to him. To avoid the question he just made up a random excuse of not being comfortable in the pair of shoes he had on.
Bai Xiaofung was skeptical but didn't ask any further. Yang Su had also answered his question to him, saying that he couldn't revert back his hair color and it was unfortunately stuck like this.
While hiding nearby, Xiaobo cast a quick glance at Yang Su's usual color hair with narrowed eyes.
The sun had barely raised in the sky when the group returned to the Celestial Academy. Xi Shen and the others went their separate ways from Bai Xiaofung and returned back to their base of operations.
END OF VOLUME ONE: The Heaven's Ploy
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