75 Regre

Dense crowds parted as a luxurious carriage moved through Songjing City. Many people glanced at the carriage in amazement as it proceeded on the tightly fitted mosaic that led all the way to the palace. After all, even a single piece of the golden carriage would enable a commoner to retire in peace and luxury.

Songjing was the capital of the Song Kingdom, and thus the hustle and bustle of regular cities couldn't hold a candle to it. The streets were clean, and the bricks that made it were unbroken and multicolored. Yet this wasn't the city's most remarkable feature. After the carriage passed a few commercial buildings, lush greenery appeared on every side. Luxurious trees and flowers adorned the picturesque street, on which only a few select businesses could set up shop.

"The heat here is truly unbearable in the summer," said Wang Jun as he sipped tea with Elder Bai. They were both riding in the carriage that was driven by Protector Ren. Such a duty was above his station, of course, but one did not simply deny a core-formation expert's request.

"Young Master," Elder Bai replied, "I've heard that this is in part due to the peculiar formation that encompasses the whole city and allows the greenery to prosper year-round. Think of it as a trade-off for maintaining the city's trademark décor. Besides, I myself prefer excessive heat to intolerable cold. Any slight chill makes these old bones ache."

Wang Jun rolled his eyes. "The weather doesn't annoy me that much. I just hate having to ride around in such an opulent carriage. Isn't being low-key the best policy?"

"Normally you would be correct," Elder Bai said. "However, this carriage has been arranged specifically by the third prince, and we must ride in it to show our continued and official support. This is all because we agreed to play the part as supporters in the light while he garners support from the shadows."

Their conversation was cut short as they entered the palace's front gates. They were soon greeted by a pair of plainly dressed guards, who proceeded to escort them toward the third prince's residence. While their appearance was nondescript, Wang Jun knew that they were experts at half-step foundation establishment. Such soldiers were rare in a national military, so their standing was undoubtedly quite high.

As they proceeded through the palace, Wang Jun took note of the carefully crafted marble pillars that he had seen multiple times to date. They were made entirely with tropical-blue marble, a rare variety that contained both blue and green patches. He figured that they were worth more than their weight in gold, an obvious display of opulence by the Song family, who had ruled the kingdom for the past thousand years.

"Our guests have finally arrived," a high-pitched voice said. "Please get back to the gate. I'll take them from here."

The guards grunted and headed back, leaving the three guests in the hands of an overly enthusiastic man. He was a chubby man, and clearly very jovial. However, Wang Jun knew that that this eunuch, the right-hand man of the third prince, was not as simple as he appeared to be.

"Both of your guardians may stay in this room here while we visit the prince," the eunuch said. "Our maids will ensure that their every need is taken care of."

"This Wanghumbly thanks the third prince for his hospitality," Wang Jun said. "Everyone, please abide by Eunuch Tie's arrangements."

This came as no surprise to his experienced assistants, who immediately darted to the generous refreshments provided. Wang Jun chuckled at the spectacle.

"This way, if you please," said Eunuch Tie, who in the absence of others, became as silent as a mouse. They soon arrived at an ornate door carved from cinnabar oak and gilded with gold. The eunuch led him in directly and seated him on a blue couch near a curious stone fireplace, in which a blue flame flickered.

"Second Young Master Wang, I'm so pleased to see you again," said a man in his early twenties as he strolled into the room.

Wang Jun stood up and gave a curt bow, only seating himself once the third prince gestured for him to go ahead. Eunuch Tie approached them and poured what appeared to be an extremely expensive tea, something that Wang Jun confirmed once he took his first sip.

"Royal Reserve Pu'er tea from the 972nd year of the Song Kingdom's rule. How extravagant, Your Highness," Wang Jun said. "Nearly as extravagant as the Spring Chill Flame in the fireplace."

The third prince, who wore his jet-black hair tied behind his head with a golden clasp, chuckled self-deprecatingly. "There is no need to feign surprise. I'm sure Second Master Wang has seen much more lavish indulgences in his lifetime. Still, I can't deny that my budget can barely tolerate my liberal use of Spring Chill Flame, which emanates the scent and temperature of a cool spring day. However, I can't help but use it during these scorching summer days. As for the tea, I wouldn't dare serve any lesser tea to a connoisseur such as yourself."

Wang Jun chuckled. "Straining the budget. I suppose this is the case, for now. However, the first shipment of weapon exports is set to take place in two days. This kind of expenditure will be nothing more than a drop in a very large bucket."

The prince nodded but couldn't help but frown before looking at Wang Jun with a dour expression. "My father is weakening. I don't know how long he has left, but it can't be more than a few years. He's still fifty this year, however. I refuse to believe that this isn't some scheme by the crown prince and his treacherous oracle, Zhou Li. I know that you advocate caution, but we don't have much time. I fear that he has been poisoned."

Wang Jun nodded. "Relax. Everything is going according to plan. We have chosen the path of superior economy and weapons, while the crown prince has chosen the path of alchemy and the nobility. To our knowledge, he only has a slight military advantage.

"Rest assured that we have chosen the correct path. The nobles are too self-interested to be willing to pay any sort of price, while merchants understand that a proper price must be paid for a proper investment. All you must do is continue drumming up support from the shadows, while we create fanfare and take care of the money aspect of the situation. I guarantee you, no one on the continent is better at generating wealth than our Wang family."

"If you say so," the third prince grumbled. "Has the Zhou family continued to cause trouble?"

Wang Jun shook his head. "They have been very quiet and reserved since their successive defeats. They are currently biding their time, waiting for an opportunity. Which is why I have come today. I have some personal business that I must take care of over the next few days. Please do take care."

Saying this, he took out a carefully wrapped package from his bag of holding. He then carefully unwrapped it under the watchful eye of Eunuch Tie. Soon, a fierce chill spread through the room. A sword was finally revealed from inside the cloth package. The weapon was three feet long and made from a silver-blue metal, while the handle was wrapped in insulating leather. The hilt and the guard were gilded with a sky-blue material, while the blade just above the guard was etched with an exquisite black runic pattern.

"This sword was crafted from cold iron embedded with elemental dust," Wang Jun explained. "The pommel and hilt are adorned with blue gold, and the sword was engraved with a royal frost inscription. Finally, the grip was wrapped with demon-caribou leather to protect the user from the cold. This sword is a mid-grade magic weapon and happens to suit your cultivation method perfectly. Please accept this humble gift."

The third prince looked uncertainly at Eunuch Tie before finally reaching out and grasping the weapon.

"Good sword," he whispered. "Many thanks for this kind gift. Please make sure to take care on your trip and return safely."

"Of course, Your Highness," Wang Jun replied with a smile. "I always take care."

***

A short while later, a different but much less conspicuous carriage left Songjing and headed to the south. Elder Bai had remained in Songjing. He had been replaced by Hong Ling, who sat in the carriage while performing his work. Protector Ren still vigilantly guarded and guided the carriage as it plowed down the rough road. Fortunately, the road had dried off since their last foray.

"Don't worry, Manager Ling," Wang Jun said. "I'll properly apologize to Xin Er and your parents. It was my fault for naively leading her on."

Hong Ling sighed but did not reply.

It would be a long, grueling trip, but Wang Jun had no choice but to try and ease the knot in his heart. He couldn't sleep as well as he used to, and he had little appetite. The image of that pretty girl with her mauve hairclip haunted his thoughts several times a day. He figured he needed closure, and for that, he needed to give her some sort of explanation. Unfortunately, despite his intelligence and foresight, he was nothing but a child when it came to matters of the heart.

He sighed once more as the carriage continued and finally decided to sit down and cultivate. He didn't bother to set up any precautions, as Hong Ling knew better than to interrupt him, and Protector Ren would keep him safe. As he cultivated, mid-grade spirit stones were consumed one by one as they entered a formation plate, which converted them into a dense fog.

Inside his dantian stood nine short pillars that floated on the surface of his qi sea. The pillars were pitch black at first glance. Only if one looked closely would one see golden runes decorating their exterior. They danced around the black pillars that absorbed the incoming spiritual qi, lengthening little by little, establishing his perfect foundation.

***

Three wolves looked around nervously as they approached Lord Two Tails's cave dwelling. It appeared like a nondescript cave, but any beast who knew anything in these woods could tell you that entering the cave meant certain death. Two of the wolves dragged over a large spirit deer carcass to the entrance of the cave, where they dropped it and retreated with their heads bowed down. They shuddered as a large paw came out of the darkness and patted down on the corpse and dragged it inside.

After an incense time, the sounds of crunching and chewing stopped, and a whole deer skeleton was ejected out of the cave. It landed neatly on a pile of bleached bones, as though the skeleton was a prized possession on exhibition. The wolves knew, however, that it was a clear message. They would be next if they didn't pull their weight.

"Is that all?" a loud voice boomed from the cave. The third wolf, the leader, approached the cave with his head hung low. He gently placed a blood-red root down on the floor in front of the cave and retreated like the others.

They heard loud sniffing sounds from inside the cave. "A blood ginseng, twenty years old. Not bad, LangYi. You have my permission to consume three stalks of crimson dire grass. Keep up the good work."

Despite the mild annoyance with Lord Two Tails forgetting his name, he was suddenly overcome with pure joy. Three stalks of crimson dire grass was more than enough for him to break through and become a dire wolf. As a dire wolf, the future of his pack would be ensured, and the offspring he sired would be much more powerful than a run-of-the-mill spirit wolf.

Tears flowed down the eyes of the wolf as he prostrated himself toward his lord. "Sire, many thanks for your generosity. This subordinate will remember your benevolence for his entire lifetime." Meanwhile, his companions looked at him enviously.

"This is only a matter of course for those who follow me faithfully," the voice said. "Continue your good work, and it won't be out of the question for you to break into the Purification Realm in this lifetime."

The wolf's heart palpitated. The Purification Realm was something a lowly spirit beast like him could only dream of. His bloodline was the lowest of the low, and the only way he could ever hope to break through was by riding the coattails of his betters.

"Yes, my lord. We will continue to work hard!" With these words, the three wolves left the entrance of the cave. They cleared the area, making way for a group of wild spirit tail chickens.

***

"Oh, great lord," a spirit tail chicken yelled. "In your mercy, you have declared that these lowly sinners are not beyond absolution and can redeem our entire race by making offerings to your greatness."

The spirit tail chicken motioned with his wing, and a much larger chicken with luxurious feathers walked forward from the crowd. Its face was covered in a transparent white veil.

"As our lord has decreed," he continued, "we have taken the most tender chick of our clutch and fattened her with the finest grains. She has feasted on marbling grass every day after singing hymns to our lord. She has not moved from her perch except to come to offer herself as a trivial sacrifice for the absolution of our infinite sins. She has come to present herself before the first laying, so that her purity may please our lord."

The chickens all bowed simultaneously, waiting in their prostrated position for an incense time before a grave voice announced, "Come hither, my child."

The young chicken, unsure of what to do, walked toward the cave at the urging of her elders.

"Come closer, my child," the voice repeated when the chicken arrived at the entrance of the cave. She carried her overweight body with grace as she walked into the darkness. A loud chomping noise caused the spirit tail chickens to cringe. It was followed by sounds that resembled the smacking of lips and the licking of fingers.

"Your offering has pleased me," the voice intoned. "Although you are sinners, as my chosen people, you deserve respect."

A wooden token flew out from the cave and landed in front of the clutch of chickens.

"Take this token and claim for your tribe a square half mile of meadow anywhere of your choosing. This shall be your chosen land. On it, you shall build me a temple…" The voice droned on for the better part of an hour with specific instructions, and the spirit tail chicken elders fervently wrote down instructions pertaining to their worship and sacrifice.

Their business accomplished, they walked out proudly toward their chosen land, not making way for the wolves and the foxes, the ferrets and the stoats. From now on, their people could walk with their heads held up high. They would be the true people of their lord.

***

Where did all of these gullible spirit beasts come from? Huxian grumbled. I mean, I shouldn't complain, but where did their dignity go? Those wolves were practically begging to serve me, and they do all this legwork just for the permission to eat a few stalks of crimson dire grass.

The first wolf had practically cried at his generosity. How badly did they get treated for them to pander to such an extent? And finally, those spirit tail chickens. He just didn't know what to say. He'd clearly been playing a prank on them the other day, but they took him seriously and began worshiping him.

The little fox let out a soft burp. He could manipulate his size at will, and whenever no one was around, he shrunk down to the size of a baby fox. In this form, he remembered all the pets and the attention Cha Ming gave him.

I need to get stronger. The annual beast summit is in a few days, and the territory in this forest will be redistributed then.

He looked down at a small blood ginseng, whose wonderful odor filled his cave. With his business completed, he could take his time and savor it.

He nibbled away at it bit by bit, chewing its mushy red flesh and licking up any liquid that dropped to the stone floor of his cave. As he ate, a torrent of demonic energy filled him and remolded his body. It wasn't painful. Rather, it was a very comfortable experience. He felt his joints pop and his bones creak until finally, he felt a soft pop inside his head. As he focused inwardly, he saw that his tiny beast core had finally reached a bottleneck in its growth.

I've finally reached the early Purification Realm.

Beasts that had just formed their cores were quite vulnerable. Upgrading to the early stage had doubled his power. According to his memories, it was similar to the progress that cultivators made. Of course, his personal combat prowess could not be evaluated by this measure alone. As a Godbeast, he had a distinct advantage in combat prowess compared to others at the same level.

Those lesser demon beasts wouldn't stand a chance.