Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 250 - 250 0216 Malicious Intent

Chapter 250: Chapter 0216: Malicious Intent Chapter 250: Chapter 0216: Malicious Intent Chapter 0216: Sinister Intentions

Wang Song took out several wooden boxes, handing them all over to Qi Tian with a smile, “Qi Tian, here total eighteen hundred spirit stones, they were all the gambling stakes you placed with me for safekeeping during your gambling battles. Now, since you have defeated Pan Yulin, these spirit stones naturally belong to you.”

Qi Tian hurriedly accepted the boxes containing spirit stones, then put away the nine hundred spirit stones that he had brought out himself. The remaining nine hundred, however, he pushed back toward Wang Song, saying, “Grandmaster, thanks to Master of the Manor and the other Grandmasters for their protection, I could safely emerge to where I am today. In gratitude, I present these nine hundred spirit stones to our National Master Manor as a token of my heartfelt thanks.”

Wang Song was initially startled, then promptly burst out laughing, “Good, Qi Tian, you are great. Then, on behalf of the National Master Manor, I accept your nine hundred spirit stones.”

Luo Xia, who was standing on the side, nodded frequently. There was even some eagerness in his eyes. Like other cultivator forces of Great Zhao, Imperial Master Mansion was short of spirit stones. Even though Qi Tian only provided nine hundred spirit stones, it was basically equal to the yearly supply of the Imperial Master Mansion. This was a rather generous gift. As the master of Sky Eagle Hall, he should get a small portion of it.

“Hmph. You lot at Imperial Master Mansion really have no shame. You accept other people’s spirit stones privately and then act righteous about it. Who are you putting on this show for?” Hao Shuo couldn’t help but blurt out at this inopportune moment.

“Hao Shuo, considering that you lost a hundred spirit stones to Qi Tian, I won’t hold this against you this time. But if you dare to slander anyone in Imperial Master Mansion, I promise not to let you off.” Wang Song gave Hao Shuo a cold look.

Hao Shuo recoiled, he really couldn’t afford to offend Wang Song. He secretly looked at Fang Yanxiong. Hao Shuo himself had only lost a hundred spirit stones, while Fang Yanxiong had lost a full five hundred. He was eager to see if Fang Yanxiong could swallow this.

Fang Yanxiong had an expression like a deep pool of water. As the leading cultivator force in Great Zhao and the first among the three Master Mansions, they had slightly more spirit stone resources. But for Fang Yanxiong, it was still a large amount of cultivation resources. He really wanted to demand it back, but how to do so required careful planning. He turned his gaze to the Vice-Minister of Taichang Temple, Wang Xin, looking to this court official for action.

Wang Xin was equally pained. As an intimate adviser to the emperor and the representative dealing with all the major cultivation forces within Great Zhao, he received spirit stones from the emperor each year as operating expenses. But those one hundred spirit stones were still something he skimped and saved over several years. He couldn’t accept that Qi Tian had won them and then offered them to the Imperial Master Mansion.

“I came here both for investigating the circumstances of Qi Tian’s murder in King Zhangbei Manor and for something else. The case of Qi Tian’s murder has been investigated clearly. It can be justified and he can be exempted from the charge of murder. However, murder is murder. If he pays no price for it, it would indeed be hard to convince everyone. Therefore, I want to conscript Qi Tian to accompany me to do another thing,” said Wang Xin, unhurriedly.

“What is it?” Wang Song’s face darkened instinctively telling him that the thing Wang Xin wanted Qi Tian to do was absolutely not a good thing.

Wang Xin spoke indifferently, “Actually, it’s nothing difficult. As you all know, every year our northern neighbor, Chi Di, sends people across the border to raid in Great Zhao, as they say, to ‘invade for grass and grains’, treating our citizens like grass and grain. Counting the time, this year it’s almost time for them. The emperor asked me to organize some people to block them at the border and ambush the invaders from Chi Di. The three Master Mansions exist to safeguard the borders and protect the people. They can’t avoid helping in this matter. I see Qi Tian as young and promising, impressive and powerful. He killed three people at the Foundation Establishment Stage in King Zhangbei Manor, and today he defeated Pan Yulin. After these consecutive victories, it’s hard not to admire him. Until now, he’s been killing within the country, his blade always pointed at our own people. So why don’t he go to the border now, to kill the men of Chi Di? Master Wang, what do you think?”

Wang Song kept an expressionless face, and said, “Sir Wang, this is not acceptable. As per the custom of previous years, the court should first organize a team to intercept the invading Chi Di people at the border. Only when the court army can’t hold on, will they call upon the cultivator forces within Great Zhao for help, and there’s a strict order for sending out calls. This year isn’t the turn for Imperial Master Mansion. Even if it were our turn, who the Imperial Master Mansion sends to the border should be arranged by us at Imperial Master Mansion. Without question, there’s no place for a court official to specify someone.”

Wang Xin smiled and said, “Master Wang, Qi Tian has killed people, and the impact is negative. Even if he did have a reason, it still draws the world’s attention. I have to investigate thoroughly, report to the emperor when I go back, but also announce the cause to the world later, so they believe me, right? If Qi Tian could go to the border, block the Chi Di people, and make great achievements, when I report to the emperor later, it will be much easier to convince him with this merit. I am the Special Envoy of the Emperor and have the right to conscript temporarily. I think Qi Tian is very capable and is fit to take on the task of intercepting. Would it be problematic for me to ask him to go?”