Chapter 574 - 280: I Want to Challenge a Weak Spot

Chapter 574: Chapter 280: I Want to Challenge a Weak Spot

What did a thousand Elemental Crystals even mean?

Even a major power within a prefecture might not be able to produce such a vast amount of Cultivation Resources at once.

It had taken Zhao Chengxiang a great deal of effort to procure these Elemental Crystals.

Part of it was his own savings from over the years.

The other part came from the inheritance his mother left him before she passed away. He had scraped all of it together, and yet, it still wasn’t enough to catch Chen Sheng’s eye?

’Could it be that Ning’an Prefecture is experiencing inflation of this magnitude?’

’Or is Chen Sheng’s appetite just that terrifying?’

For a moment, Zhao Chengxiang was lost in a deep silence.

Before coming, Zhao Chengxiang had anticipated that Chen Sheng might make an exorbitant demand, so he had prepared a substantial show of sincerity in advance, bringing a huge sum of Elemental Crystals to take the lead and resolve the matter before his mother, the imperial consort, got involved.

After all, the matter was in a gray area—not too big, but not too small either.

Ultimately, the situation hadn’t blown up yet.

If Chen Sheng wanted to suppress it, all it would take was a single word from him.

’Wasn’t a thousand Elemental Crystals a high enough price for that single word?’

Now, it seemed it really wasn’t enough.

Zhao Chengxiang opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. The atmosphere between them instantly fell silent.

After a few dozen breaths, Zhao Chengxiang finally managed to force a smile.

"Then... how much does Lord Chen want?"

"What? In the Crown Prince’s eyes, am I nothing more than a greedy, money-grubbing fool?"

Chen Sheng chuckled, but his smile quickly vanished as he said with stern gravity:

"I have been tasked with overseeing Yunzhou. How could I possibly accept a bribe to cover up such a major crime of sedition?"

Zhao Chengxiang’s heart tightened.

He understood the meaning behind Chen Sheng’s words.

’It seems he’s planning to be uncompromisingly righteous!’

His worries deepened.

If it had been anyone else, he would have switched from failed enticements to threats long ago.

But Chen Sheng was different.

The man was Yunzhou’s number one prodigy, backed by the Nie Family of Yunzhou.

The name of Prince Xiang’s Mansion was not enough to intimidate the son-in-law of a thousand-year-old Noble Family’s Direct Lineage.

Just as Zhao Chengxiang was growing frantic and his heart was sinking, Chen Sheng’s tone suddenly shifted.

"However, the matter has yet to be fully investigated, and the evidence is not conclusive. Therefore, I am still considering whether or not to report this to the State Government Office. Crown Prince, what do you think? Should I report it?"

Seeing this sudden twist, Zhao Chengxiang’s mind raced.

He understood the man’s underlying meaning.

Whether or not he reported it to the State Government’s Martial Bureau depended on whether the "sincerity" shown by Prince Xiang’s Mansion was enough to "test" an official’s integrity.

The problem was, Zhao Chengxiang felt his sincerity was more than sufficient. He could only wear a helpless expression and say:

"Lord Chen, please stop beating around the bush. I am a bit slow and sometimes have trouble understanding. Could you please be more direct?"

Chen Sheng smiled. He could see that Zhao Chengxiang was indeed not the sharpest tool in the shed. The prince’s words and actions were quite transparent. After a few moments of contemplation, he stopped circling the issue.

Leaning back in his chair, Chen Sheng asked softly:

"I’ve heard that within Prince Xiang’s Mansion, there is a very rare Three-Color Treasure Lotus, a treasure of heaven and earth. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to see it?"

Zhao Chengxiang froze on the spot when he heard this.

He felt the pressure on him suddenly multiply.

The good news.

Chen Sheng had yielded; the previous matter was indeed negotiable.

The bad news.

Chen Sheng’s appetite was far too big!

Its value far exceeded a thousand Elemental Crystals.

It wasn’t a matter of how many Elemental Crystals the Three-Color Treasure Lotus was worth, specifically.

Rather, the item was exceedingly rare.

It was especially renowned for its ability to nourish the Divine Sense and strengthen the Divine Soul, truly a treasure of heaven and earth.

Consuming it could also advance one’s cultivation.

It was particularly precious to those at the late stage of Profound Mastery, and even to Pill Realm Grandmasters.

Within Prince Xiang’s Mansion, his father also cherished the item immensely.

He was even reluctant to refine it.

Instead, he kept it in his meditation chamber to be nurtured. Although Zhao Chengxiang didn’t know exactly how important it was to his father, he had a sense of it.

Therefore, even he rarely got to see the Three-Color Treasure Lotus.

Chen Sheng’s demand for this item was far beyond his authority to grant.

Zhao Chengxiang could even foresee that when he reported this back, he would not be met with his father’s praise, but with a harsh reprimand.

"Crown Prince?"

Seeing him dazed, Chen Sheng suddenly spoke up to prompt him.

"Lord Chen, this... this is very difficult."

Zhao Chengxiang’s face was a mask of difficulty.

He desperately wanted to ask Chen Sheng for a different demand—anything that he could agree to or had the authority to approve, he would have accepted without hesitation.

"Difficult?"

The smile vanished from Chen Sheng’s face instantly.

"Then don’t bother."

"Lord Chen..."

"Crown Prince, please see yourself out."

Chen Sheng waved his hand dismissively and walked down the steps.

"There are some matters where I feel justice must be served impartially. Prince Xiang’s Mansion... heh... such audacity. Colluding with traitors, smuggling military equipment... When the Crown Prince is on the chopping block one day, I will be sure to prepare a simple cup of wine for you."

"Lord Chen, wait!"

Zhao Chengxiang’s expression was conflicted and hesitant. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said:

"About this matter, I’ll figure something out. I will strive to satisfy you, Lord Chen."

"Strive?"

Chen Sheng narrowed his eyes, his gaze holding an inscrutable meaning.

"I’ll do my best."

"Do your best?"

Chen Sheng’s tone grew heavy.

"Definitely! I will definitely satisfy you, Lord Chen."

Zhao Chengxiang quickly corrected himself.

"Ten days. Ten days at most."

Chen Sheng gave Zhao Chengxiang a firm deadline.

Ten days was the limit.

If the other party couldn’t produce the Three-Color Treasure Lotus, he would show no favoritism and bend no laws.

’Of course, what I’ll actually do when the time comes will depend on the situation.’

’If it proves to be truly dangerous, then I won’t force the issue.’

Seeing this, Zhao Chengxiang hastily nodded hard.

"Chengxiang understands. I just hope that Lord Chen will keep this matter under wraps for the next ten days."