Chapter 657: Chapter 657: The Competition for Representation

The Crown Prince… is actually an impostor?

Everyone couldn’t believe it. Didn’t you see? The impostor Crown Prince is protected by the Imperial Guards.

Who can impersonate to such an extent that even the Imperial Guards are escorting them?

But, could Your Majesty’s decree also be false?

Everyone was utterly bewildered, only knowing to stare blankly at Tai Pingkang. This piece of news required time to digest.

Tai Pingkang, of course, couldn’t believe it even more. He glared at the eunuch and shouted sternly, “Old dog, you dare to fabricate the Emperor’s decree. Not only do you seek your own death, but all your nine generations shall be buried with you!”

Slap, Shi Hao slapped him across the face, “Always talking about exterminating nine generations. Even if you were not an impostor, I would still want to take off your dog head!”

The words made the eunuch grimace in pain. If this were the real Crown Prince, you wouldn’t dare to act so recklessly; the Emperor would never tolerate this.

Gross disrespect to the state!

Tai Pingkang struggled continuously, “No! I want to see the Emperor! You frauds, I am the current Crown Prince, the future sovereign. How dare you treat me like this, I will report to the Emperor, and have you all executed!”

Shi Hao casually tossed Tai Pingkang at the eunuch’s feet, saying, “Take him away.”

After pondering for a moment, the eunuch bowed to Shi Hao, and then waved to have the Imperial Guards take Tai Pingkang away.

Shi Hao was obviously highly favored by the Emperor, so the eunuch didn’t dare to be reckless. In case he offended Shi Hao and displeased the Emperor, he would be in a miserable state.

Ever since Tai Da was still a Prince, he had served closely beside him, clearly understanding his mission was to be a dog, only needing to heed his master’s words.

Tai Pingkang was taken away, and Shi Hao continued to eat as if nothing had happened.

When the news spread, the entire Imperial Capital was shocked.

Someone actually had the audacity to impersonate the current Crown Prince!

Was it because the New Emperor had just ascended the throne, and no one recognized what the new Crown Prince looked like?

As for Shi Hao, he was a nobody. Recently arrived and without any background, of course, no one paid attention to him.

Speaking of cultivation, his was at the Founding King Court level; not low, but certainly not high. If he were at the Supplementing Divine Temple, perhaps he would have been sought after.

Two days passed, and the New Emperor suddenly issued a decree, announcing Shi Hao would represent the Heavenly Frost Country in the competition among three kingdoms, to seize the sole slot to enter the Ancient World.

After this news broke out, naturally, it caused a sensation once more.

Who is Shi Hao? Why should he be the representative?

You must know, that’s a ticket to the Ancient World–how extremely precious!

It is said that the current Emperor of the Dayan Dynasty entered the Ancient World in his youth, gained great fortune, which allowed him to cultivate to an invincible realm. This transformed the Dayan Kingdom into a Dynasty, standing proudly in the world.

Such fortune, who wouldn’t desire it?

But, the Ancient World repels high realms. Those at the Great Sacrificial Heaven or above simply cannot enter, so the competition is mostly a matter for those from the Supplementing Divine Temple.

Shi Hao was merely at the Founding King Court level; isn’t it a joke to send him?

As a result, in merely half a day, someone sought out Shi Hao. It was the son of the Assistant Minister of Rites, who brashly asked Shi Hao to hand over the slot, claiming he was one of the Ninth Kings, after all.

Shi Hao punched him and sent him flying out, decisively ending this senseless argument.

Immediately, a rumor spread, claiming Shi Hao himself boasted that as long as anyone could beat him, he would hand over the qualifications to represent Heavenly Frost Country in battle.

Of course, this was an outrageous rumor. Shi Hao himself did not remember ever saying such a thing.

However, with the help of those with an agenda, the rumor spread wider and wider, quickly becoming common knowledge.

Originally just a rumor, but as it kept spreading without end, there seemed a trend of it turning into reality.

Shi Hao had no interest in refuting it.

Firstly, he had absolutely no foundation in the Imperial Capital, and when it came to influencing public opinion, how could he possibly be a match for them? Secondly, if he couldn’t even handle his competitors from Heavenly Frost Country, then how could he compete with representatives from the other two countries?

Therefore, he simply tacitly consented, at worst it would come to a fight, but what would he have to fear?

However, Shi Hao had no interest in fighting every day, so he sent out a message, calling for some representatives. Three would do, or even five or ten, if anyone could defeat him, he’d willingly hand over his representative qualifications.

But!

If they wanted to challenge him, they had to put up a wager that satisfied him.

Oh, I’ve put up my representative qualifications as the wager, do you think you can gain it without giving anything in return?

How could that be possible.

After that, Shi Hao didn’t care anymore. He simply set a date for the challenge and began to immerse himself in cultivation, to break through to the realm of the Fourth Kings as quickly as possible.

Without the Great Void Realm, it felt quite unfamiliar.

However, the rules here were rich, and for someone like him who came from a “barren” Celestial Body, it was as if he’d suddenly been liberated, and his cultivation speed instantly increased significantly.

After only seven days, he had reached the realm of Perfection of the Third Kings.

He started to break through to the Fourth Kings.

Shi Hao was by no means lacking in Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, so the immense energy required for the breakthrough was not a problem for him.

Press on, press on, press on.

Using his Dharma appearance as the foundation and supplementing with his understanding of the Heaven and Earth Rules, he began constructing the fourth layer of the Royal Court.

It wasn’t difficult at all. In just half a day, the rudimentary form of the fourth-layer Royal Court had emerged.

Fourth Kings!

Shi Hao clenched his fist and immediately felt a surge of powerful strength.

Now, he thought, a direct confrontation with the Supplementing Divine Temple that hadn’t ignited the Incense Flame would probably not be a problem. However, if his opponent had ignited the Incense Flame, then he would have to use his trump card.

Still not strong enough, always having to resort to trump cards.

–His complaints would surely garner criticism for being ungrateful if others heard them.

You’re just at the realm of the Fourth Kings, should you even be able to contend with the Supplementing Divine Temple?

And yet you’re still not satisfied!

Shi Hao emerged from seclusion, only to receive a notification.

–The talents in the Imperial Capital had already formed a challenge team, just waiting for him to accept the battle.

Shi Hao sent back a message asking if this team had authority. Wouldn’t it be a joke if he defeated them all, only for another challenge team to pop up soon after?

Soon, an envoy from the Prime Minister stood out and backed this challenge team.

Shi Hao readily agreed to it, setting the challenge match for tomorrow.

In this fiasco, the bigwigs all seemed very silent.

Take Tai Da, for instance. He could have simply issued an order for everyone to shut up, but he didn’t.

Like the Prime Minister and the Right Minister, they could have used their own status and power to pressure Shi Hao into surrendering his representative qualifications, but they didn’t either.

–Tai Da refrained from stepping in because he had already done Shi Hao a favor, and if Shi Hao couldn’t even settle this minor issue, then he wouldn’t deserve that favor!

The Prime Minister and the Right Minister, too, had seen Tai Da’s intentions; thus, they dared not pressure Shi Hao. Doing so might anger the New Emperor. Instead, they added fuel to the fire, pushing Shi Hao onto the stage for the duel.

Shi Hao quickly understood the twists and turns and couldn’t help shaking his head. Playing power games really was exhausting.

Let’s just have a straightforward fight.