Chapter 29: Immortal or Swindler

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Immortal or Swindler

The emperor of Chu Country was named Xiang Ying. He was not yet forty years old and had been on the throne for merely five years. For an emperor who had just taken control of the royal court, this was the perfect age—bursting with vigor and brimming with ambition. Therefore, Xiang Ying’s obsession with power had reached an almost fanatical level. He took pleasure in meddling in all affairs within Chu Country, no matter how big or small.

"A Pillar of the State—Detailed Rules for the Promotion of the Football Lottery!"

Upon seeing the contents of the memorial, Xiang Ying frowned slightly. He recognized every single one of those words individually, but strung together, they seemed completely incomprehensible. However, since Wei Mingze was a Governor, Xiang Ying patiently continued reading.

At first glance, he felt that Wei Mingze was being somewhat fantastical, perhaps even treating it like child’s play. But after a short while, he became entirely absorbed, his breathing unknowingly growing much lighter.

Wei Mingze hadn’t completely copied Li Ye’s data. He had also incorporated many of his own perspectives. After all, he was a native of this world. After his polishing, the football lottery plan was far more suited to the national conditions of Chu Country. Wei Mingze even expanded upon the foundation of the football lottery, proposing a parallel system featuring multiple types of lotteries.

Backed by the data provided by Li Ye, this proposal looked extremely enticing. However, Wei Mingze did not claim all the credit for himself. In the memorial, he detailed everything Li Ye had done in Weining City down to the most minute detail. He also included the Advisor’s speculations regarding Li Ye’s martial arts. Li Ye had guessed correctly. On this matter, Wei Mingze did not dare conceal the slightest thing. After all, there was simply too much at stake.

"Spiritual Power? A higher civilization? Immortals falling into the Mortal World..."

After reading the memorial, Xiang Ying froze for a moment. He subconsciously rubbed his eyes and looked around, as if confirming whether he was dreaming. If he wasn’t dreaming, how could a Governor possibly submit such an absurd memorial?

But very quickly, Xiang Ying confirmed that he was indeed not dreaming. Thus, he carefully read the memorial once more. Then, he ordered someone to summon both the Celestial Master and the Chancellor.

While waiting, Xiang Ying turned the memorial over and over, reading it several more times. The more he read, the more he felt that nine times out of ten, these absurd contents were actually true. The football lottery was indeed a good thing that benefited the state and the people. Wei Mingze submitting a memorial just for that would have been a great merit on its own. There was absolutely no need for him to fabricate such an absurd story.

Assuming this absurd story was true, then all the things Li Ye had done in the memorial that were completely incompatible with this world suddenly made sense. Supernatural phenomena would disrupt the rule of a nation. But what if there really were Immortals? Xiang Ying’s imagination ran wild. There wasn’t a single monarch who didn’t yearn for immortality. After all, monarchs were the most noble people in this world. Who wouldn’t want to hold onto this power forever?

In less than an hour, the Celestial Master, Murong Kaixin, and the Chancellor, Shi Wenbo, arrived one after another. Xiang Ying let the two of them read Wei Mingze’s memorial. Only after they finished did Xiang Ying ask, "What do my two beloved ministers think?"

"It benefits the state and the people," Shi Wenbo said. "If the football lottery is executed well, it can indeed add a massive revenue stream to the national treasury without triggering civil unrest. The notion of Immortals descending into the Mortal World is sheer nonsense. It seems more like a trick Li Ye is using to enter the royal court."

"Your Majesty, I understand Gongsun Jie. He would never cooperate with others in putting on an act, especially through actions that humiliate himself," Murong Kaixin said.

"Could the Celestial Master actually believe this so-called Immortal descent is real?" Shi Wenbo frowned. He looked at Xiang Ying and said sternly, "Your Majesty, rather than believing in the descent of Immortals, it is better to believe that there is a conspiracy involved.

"Throughout history, evil cults throwing the world into chaos have been a common occurrence. This man called Lord Li intends to use the league to coerce all the Sects in the Martial World. We must be on guard. I believe we should summon him to the Capital City for strict interrogation.

"If this person truly possesses great talent, we can observe him and arrange a suitable position for him. If he is merely a swindler, he should be punished with severe penalties. However, using such crooked and evil methods to attract Your Majesty’s attention is a trend that truly cannot be encouraged."

"What the Chancellor says is not unreasonable," Xiang Ying sighed inwardly. He turned to the Celestial Master and asked, "What are the Celestial Master’s thoughts?"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to make a trip to Weining City on your behalf to see exactly what kind of person this Lord Li is," Murong Kaixin said. "If he truly possesses monumental talent, I will invite him to the Capital City. If he is a charlatan feigning divine powers, I will execute him on the spot and restore order to Weining City."

He was a Grandmaster, as well as the Celestial Master. His role was to help the imperial court intimidate the Martial World. Ordinarily, court affairs basically had nothing to do with him. The Emperor had specifically summoned him this time for no other reason than Lord Li’s suspicious identity as a Grandmaster, wanting him to personally make the trip. As soon as Murong Kaixin finished reading the memorial, he understood the Emperor’s intentions.

"Excellent," Xiang Ying nodded. "I will trouble the Celestial Master, then. However, for this Lord Li to be able to propose a suggestion like the football lottery that benefits the state and the people, and to be able to win over Gongsun Jie, he can be considered a rare talent. If he truly is a fraud, there is no need for the Celestial Master to strike him dead; just bring him back to the Capital City."

Murong Kaixin was a Grandmaster, representing the highest Martial Force in this world. While Wei Mingze’s memorial had spent four days on the road, it took him merely half a day to reach Weining City. The match between the Fun People Club and the Profound Light Sect was happening today. There was nothing more convincing than witnessing it with his own eyes.

By the time Murong Kaixin rushed to Sirius Valley, the match had already begun. Even before he entered Sirius Valley, the deafening clamor and passionately surging commentary had already reached Murong Kaixin’s ears.

"...Beautiful! It’s a goal! With his teammates’ coordination, Sect Leader Gongsun is like a tiger with wings. This is already his second goal of the match.

"I have to say, Sect Leader Gongsun’s Tornado Force is truly formidable. The Fun People Club has already subbed out two goalkeepers. I never thought before that the goalkeeper would be the most dangerous position on the field.

"The Fun People Club’s substitute goalkeeper is taking the field. Let’s look at his profile.

"Kong Fan, the Sect Leader of the Cangsong Sect. He specializes in the Silk Binding Hand and is yet another obscure player.

"Compared to the elites of the Profound Light Sect, the Fun People Club’s bench depth is too poor. If they keep playing like this, the Fun People Club might face a situation where they have no one left to substitute.

"Fortunately, the Fun People Club still has the ’Divine Dragon Hand’ Lord Li, the ’Unparalleled Celestial Pride’ Shi Xiang, the ’Anus-poking Hand’ Liu Guangsheng, and the ’Ironfoot Immortal’ Fan Jie. Compared to the Profound Light Sect, who are unfamiliar with football matches, they possess abundant match experience and are temporarily maintaining their lead.

"Beautiful! What a showing from the ’Anus-poking Hand’ Liu Guangsheng! Facing a pincer attack from two Innate Masters of the Profound Light Sect, he fiercely unleashed the ultimate skill ’Double Dragon Sea Exploration.’ The number eight and number nine players of the Profound Light Sect have fallen to the ground simultaneously. Looking at their expressions, they are clearly heavily injured and can no longer continue the match.

"I’d like to call this move the ’Shadow-following Double-handed Probing.’ Compared to the Fun Seekers, the Profound Light Sect is still playing too conservatively. Up until now, other than Sect Leader Gongsun, not a single other player has actually unleashed their own imposing aura..."

To Murong Kaixin, the guards of Sirius Valley were little more than decorations. With a flicker of his body, he intruded into the valley. He arrived just in time to see the red-clothed Liu Guangsheng dribbling the ball at his feet. With a sway of his figure, Liu Guangsheng slipped right between the two Innate Masters flanking him from the left and right.

The moment he passed them, he formed knife-hands and thrust backward with a backhand strike. In the blink of an eye, he accurately poked directly into their rears. Murong Kaixin’s eyesight was exceptional. He clearly saw that half of Liu Guangsheng’s palms had plunged right in. Those two men immediately howled in agony and rolled onto the ground...

After poking the two of them to the ground, Liu Guangsheng didn’t even spare them a glance. He immediately passed the ball at his feet to a young man wearing the number "10" on his back.

The young man received the ball, and Gongsun Jie stepped forward to press him. In an instant, the two exchanged seven or eight moves, but the ball seemed glued to the young man’s feet. It swayed back and forth along with his Body Technique, never once being stolen.