NOVEL NEXT Chapter 88 – Gifts
Two days later, Fan Li's original body returned to Peng City.
As the saying goes, the ducks know first when the spring river water turns warm. As the capital of Chu, rumors had already begun spreading in Peng City, from top officials to common folks.
"The previous emperor was too incompetent, with weak cultivation and poor ability. He simply couldn't revive Great Chu."
"Have you heard? His Majesty's talents are outstanding. He was originally taken as a personal disciple by an immortal sect outside the mortal realms. But His Majesty was worried about his homeland and heard that treacherous officials were seizing power, so he gave up the Way of Immortality to come back and inherit the dynasty, sheltering Great Chu's common people."
"I know, I know, your news is outdated. I have even more shocking news! The main reason His Majesty could smoothly take the throne is that the previous emperor wasn't qualified to be emperor at all. He was a woman!"
Rumors and gossip gradually increased in Peng City's streets and alleys.
Fan Li kept receiving news, but he wasn't in a hurry to do anything. These were just the little tricks of Empress Dowager Li in the Inner Palace to build up momentum for Xiang Chong.
"Suppressing ten guilds with one force."
Inside the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion of the Fan manor, Fan Li watched the imperial palace in the distance from the window as he silently recited these six words.
Just like how the Brahma Sound Pure Land could forcibly take Xiang Ning away because the Pure Land was powerful. Within Great Chu itself, no matter how Empress Dowager Li tried to build up Xiang Chong's image, it was meaningless in truth. Great Chu had long become the Fan clan's Great Chu.
"Ding!"
"System detects abnormality."
"The host dynasty has undergone a change of emperor event."
"The new emperor's personal strength and background forces far surpass the previous emperor."
"The difficulty of the host's missions has greatly increased. The difficulty for the host to maintain the treacherous official position has also greatly increased. The system has automatically activated the compensation mechanism as follows:"
"1. Immediately send out the [System Compensation Package]."
"2. Greatly improve the reward standards for missions."
"3. The system only requires that the host's original body maintain the current situation, which is to keep the Great Chu treacherous official position. There are no restrictions on the host's split bodies. The host's split bodies shall enjoy the rights and freedom of independent employment, including but not limited to establishing their own countries, seeking jobs in other countries, roaming the martial arts world, and transcendental cultivation in seclusion."
Fan Li slowly digested the system information, feeling very calm. There were undercurrents on the Chu court, but he wasn't an immature youth who would secretly rejoice just because of a little system bonus.
The rewards for missions had increased, but surviving to complete the missions came first.
"Ding!"
The system prompt sounded again.
"Current mission for host [Wreak Havoc in the Inner Palace], status: In Progress."
"Original Reward: Two Substitute Dolls."
"System has revised reward contents, adjusted to: Two Substitute Dolls and Two [Jiazi Pills]."
"Jiazi Pill: Take one pill to increase lifespan by 60 years."
Fan Li was finally somewhat moved. Sixty years of lifespan?
One Jiazi Pill's effects completely crushed the total of all previous mission rewards' life-extending pills.
It was a pity that Xiang Ning had been taken away, leaving Fan Li in no mood to wreak havoc on her Inner Palace.
"System, open the [Compensation Package]." Fan Li commanded.
He was very curious what other treasures would come out from the compensation package when the mission rewards had increased by this much.
"Obtained artifact [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yang]."
"Obtained artifact [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin]."
"The Dust Destiny Necklace is a protective artifact that can block one fatal injury. Also, regardless of the distance between them, the Yin Yang necklace wearers can communicate."
"The host is automatically wearing the [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yang] and cannot give the necklace to others."
"The host can designate one person to wear the [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin]."
"Note: Attempts to forcibly give it to others, the other party has the right to refuse."
Suddenly, Fan Li had an extra necklace around his neck. The necklace design was extremely simple, just a silver thread-like thin wire stringing a water droplet-like pendant.
Another [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin] emerged in Fan Li's right hand. As he lowered his head for a look, he discovered its shape was almost identical to the one he wore, the only difference being the blood-red water droplet pendant on the Yang chain versus the Yin chain's pendant which was faintly white like fog and silver.
"Isn't this necklace's function just... a phone?"
Fan Li couldn't think of who to give the Yin chain to for a moment. He first thought that the Yin chain should be suitable for women to wear. Several silhouettes immediately emerged in his mind. His younger sister Fan Yuehua, Princess Chang Le, Wu Gang, and even Qing Qiu Sage Ruler.
Fan Li shook his head. He felt that giving it to any of the four women didn't feel right.
Suddenly, Fan Li thought of someone — Chu Emperor Xiang Ning!
"She's alone in the Brahma Sound Pure Land. If she's willing to accept this necklace, it can also let me know about her safety anytime. I just hope she doesn't reject it... a treacherous official's item probably isn't to her liking right?"
Although worried she might refuse, Fan Li still wanted to give it a try after thinking back and forth.
"System, can you send the [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin] to Xiang Ning in the Brahma Sound Pure Land?"
The system replied very quickly: "I can only provide one additional transport mail function. May I ask the host, are you certain you want to give Xiang Ning the [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin]?"
"Yes!"
As long as he could send it, things would work out. Fan Li only felt his hand lighten as the [Dust Destiny Necklace · Yin] disappeared.
At the same time.
The Brahma Sound Pure Land.
The ten Sage Rulers each had their own territories. The place where Xiang Ning was under house arrest now seemed to be a study hall at first glance.
Xiang Ning had a blank expression, traces of tears on her face, clearly having just cried. Although she still wore imperial robes, her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, fully revealing a woman's allure.
Xiang Ning gazed out the window. Unfortunately she could only see a tall tower.
Xiang Ning now knew that the Golden Virtue Sage Ruler who claimed she wanted to accept her as a disciple and teach her women's three obediences and four virtues, not allowing her to disguise herself as a man again, usually cultivated in that tower.
And this study hall she was in only contained one book — Female Virtues!
Countless copies of Female Virtues!
"I... am I going to be trapped here for the rest of my life?"
"A transcendental pure land? How can such a place possibly be the holy land that everyone yearns for? I'd rather plot against Fan Li... I mean, the treacherous official back in the imperial court than leisurely stay here!"
Xiang Ning gnashed her silver teeth, almost biting through her pink lips until they bled!
She hated this!
Her Imperial Mother and Eldest Imperial Brother were too ruthless!
To actually invite the six Sage Rulers of zither, chess, books, painting, sword and arrow from the Brahma Sound Pure Land to Great Chu by the authority of the Chu Imperial Household, forcibly kidnapping her away.
Xiang Ning now understood that the Brahma Sound Pure Land had upheld itself as a righteous sacred land for many years, with its own set of harsh principles. Unless there was proper justification, even the Sage Rulers of the Pure Land could not bully the weak by force.
It just so happened the invitation came from Great Chu's imperial household, so this time's actions were actually completely justified!
"Chu Emperor Xiang Ning, Fan Li has a gift he wants to give you. Are you willing to accept it?" Just as Xiang Ning was resentfully thinking, an unfathomable voice she had never heard before suddenly sounded in her mind.
"Fan... Fan Li? What's going on? Who's speaking?"
"Chu Emperor Xiang Ning, please directly give an affirmative or negative answer. Asking again, Fan Li has a gift for you, are you willing to accept it?"
"This is the last question. If you refuse to accept the gift, or give the wrong answer, the gift will automatically be withdrawn..."
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