Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 244 - 192: Netherworld Candidate!_2

Chapter 244: Chapter 192: Netherworld Candidate!_2

"Just now, I received a tip that someone needs to take a risk and venture into the Netherworld. I had planned to send my subordinates to handle this matter, but they have recently expressed some dissatisfaction with me. If I risk their lives for my achievements again, they will be thoroughly disheartened and turn against me, and there’s even a chance they would denounce my rampant corruption to His Majesty."

"Therefore, I thought of Li Ping’an. I currently have leverage over him, and I also want the money from Cen Wenjin’s side. So I’m guessing that after tomorrow’s Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master concludes, I’ll use Li Ping’an’s leverage to threaten him into doing this job for me."

"This mission is basically a death sentence for anyone who undertakes it. In this way, I can kill two birds with one stone: I’ll be able to get rid of Li Ping’an right under the nose of Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk and avenge Cen Wenjin’s son. I’ll be able to reap both fame and fortune!"

"Not only will I be able to get more money from Cen Wenjin, but I’ll also be promoted and rewarded by His Majesty. How perfect would that be? Hahahaha!"

Yang Kun’s laughter echoed continuously in the great hall, and his wives were also excited:

"If my husband succeeds in this matter, how much money can you get from that Iron Rooster, Cen Wenjin?"

"Fifteen million taels!"

"Good heavens! Good heavens! Good heavens! That’s so much money! I’m afraid even all the paper money I’ve burned for my deceased relatives doesn’t add up to that much!"

Yang Kun said disdainfully:

"That’s nothing. Cen Wenjin and the Minister of Revenue control the nation’s treasury of Great Tang. The amount he’s embezzled over the years is far more than this!"

His wives’ eyes already gleaming, they licked their lips in anticipation and said urgently:

"Will Cen Wenjin really give you that much? Don’t forget he’s known as the Iron Rooster. He promised you ten million taels before but only gave you one million. Can we trust his word?"

Yang Kun lifted a cup of wine, squinting his eyes with supreme confidence:

"After the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master concludes tomorrow, I’ll go to him! He will surely agree to my terms! Hahahaha!"

After taking a satisfying swig, Yang Kun promised his wives:

"Once the money is in hand, I will give each of you madams a residence with three entrances and three exits!"

"Thank you, husband! Please, have another cup!"

...

The next morning, as Li Ping’an was contemplating "electricity," he was woken up by the sound of the morning bell from the True Buddha Temple; upon opening his eyes, the sky outside was already mottled with the glow of dawn, radiant with brilliant colors.

"Brother Maha, I’m off to attend the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master at Moyun Temple!"

Li Ping’an mentioned this to the soundly sleeping Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, but was kicked out by Mahaparinirvana with one swift motion:

"Damn it! What a lethal kick, almost killed me!"

After being kicked out, Li Ping’an hurriedly picked up the Book of the Earth that had fallen from his chest, while Mahaparinirvana in the cell turned over and continued to sleep:

"Get lost! Don’t you dare disturb my sleep!"

Li Ping’an dusted himself off and glared at Mahaparinirvana in the cell, cursing:

"You thieving baldy! You’ve been beating me up for two days straight. If it weren’t for my high Cultivation, you violent monk would have beaten me to death already. Just you wait until I finish my business; I’ll deal with you then!"

Mahaparinirvana inside the cell suddenly turned his head and glared at Li Ping’an:

"Little brother, what did you say?"

"I bid you farewell!"

Li Ping’an hurriedly put the Book of the Earth back against his chest, and after tidying up and washing up, he grabbed some breakfast in the back hall and then rushed off to Moyun Temple.

By the time he arrived at Moyun Temple, the leaders of The Four Great Noble Paths, his senior fellow, Cultivators from various Sects and Sects, Zixia, Night Traveler Muqiang Baoshan, and Wang Tianran had all arrived, although Wang Tianran had even darker circles under his eyes than yesterday, probably due to spending the night at the Music Bureau and just arriving.

Of course, there was also the Ghost Taoist, whom Li Ping’an least wanted to see.

"Boy, you’ve finally arrived. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show up!"

"Yo, I wouldn’t dare offend you. How could I not come?"

Li Ping’an replied grumpily and took a seat. The Observatory Master of Moyun, Immortal Fei He, checked the attendees and then announced to everyone:

"The competition for today’s Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master officially begins!"

"Come on, I can hardly wait!"

A group of cultivators responded in turn.

"However, before we start, please have the top eight of each group come forward to draw lots, which will determine the matchups for the top eight, top four, and top two!"

After the observatory master of Moyun Temple, Immortal Fei He, made the announcement, the top eight from each group including Li Ping’an, Wang Tianran, Zixia, Dan Chenzi, Kunlun’s Three Sages He Zudao, and Nangong Zhidao of Zhengyi Temple, all came forward to draw lots.

After the results were in, Immortal Fei He of Moyun Temple wrote down the order of the matches, the names, and the opponents on a wooden board, and finally announced,

"The matches for today will officially begin, starting with the cultivators of Group A, and so on!"

The second day of matches in the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master continued, and Li Ping’an glanced at his opponent—a cultivator from Immeasurable Sect who practiced both Martial Arts and Dao, named Jia Zhengfeng. Li Ping’an, who had initially planned to go easy, glanced sideways at the Ghost Taoist next to him and said helplessly,

"I originally came here just to see Zixia, and now, look, I’m forced to make a move! Such a hassle!"

To understand his opponent better, Li Ping’an secretly used his Divine Power: Insight into the Hidden to check out Jia Zhengfeng from Immeasurable Sect, and suddenly the cultivator’s attributes appeared in his mind:

Jia Zhengfeng, Dual Cultivation of Martial Arts and Dao, Martial Cultivator: 60% Heroic Spirit Realm, Taoist Cultivator: 60% Guxuan Realm, Strength: 600, Mana: 350, Defense: 500

Critical Hit Rate: 10%, Critical Hit Combo: 10%, Damage Bonus: 5%, Damage Reduction: 15%

Four Disasters Resistance:

Cold Immunity: 5%, Fire Immunity: 5%, Poison Immunity: 5%, Lightning Immunity: 0%

Admiring Jia Zhengfeng’s attributes, Li Ping’an exclaimed,

"Not bad at all, almost catching up to Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts. He’s one of the stronger ones here, but that’s expected. After all, cultivators who make it to the top eight in their group are no ordinary people."

Li Ping’an then looked down and spread his palm, extending one finger:

"However, I should probably use just one finger... no wait!"

Li Ping’an extended another finger and said nonchalantly,

"I should be able to send him flying with two fingers... All in all, apart from Wang Tianran, these cultivators are too weak for me."

The Ghost Taoist suddenly whispered to Li Ping’an,

"Do you know why you’re facing such a weak opponent?"

Startled by the Ghost Taoist’s sudden remark, Li Ping’an then frantically whispered back,

"You’re not saying you tampered with the lot drawing, are you?"

The Ghost Taoist proudly said,

"Hehe, exactly! If it weren’t for me, do you think you would come across such a weakling? This Jia Zhengfeng from Immeasurable Sect may have formidable strength, but his advantage is in Taoist cultivation, and his weakness lies in Martial cultivation. That is his biggest flaw compared to other cultivators; hence I arranged for him to be your opponent! As long as you strike with your Taoist cultivation while he is using his Martial Arts, you can settle the fight quickly without giving him a chance to use his Taoist skills. Got it?"

"Shush!"

Li Ping’an quickly gestured for silence and then said nervously,

"Are you trying to get me killed? If they find out you helped me cheat, how am I supposed to get by in the Taoist sects?"

"Don’t make a big deal out of nothing, fool!"

The Ghost Taoist crossed his arms and contemptuously looked at the masters and sect leaders from The Four Great Noble Paths and the Great Cultivation Sects, snorting disdainfully,

"Do you think they haven’t cheated? Just now, the people from The Four Great Noble Paths and the Great Cultivation Sects all secretly helped their own disciples. That cunning little beast, Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect, even tried to set you up against Wang Tianran. If I hadn’t intervened, you’d be fighting Wang Tianran next!"

"Ah? That’s really happening?"

Li Ping’an looked bewildered at Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect, who was sitting upright and looking straight ahead, pondering to himself:

Could it be that Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect knew that I was the one who defeated Pei Yuanjing and took his Immortal Slaying Sword?

But that doesn’t make sense. If he knew, with his temperament, he would have troubled me long ago. Why would he wait until now?