Chapter 297: The Imperial Herald
The public square before the massive stone gates of the City Lord’s fortress was packed to absolute capacity.
A dense, suffocating sea of anxious cultivators, wealthy merchant lords, and rogue alchemists stood in tense silence, their eyes glued to the grand dais above.
Directly across the square, Shen Yu sat quietly on the second-floor balcony of a high-end tea house.
Draped in a heavy black cloak that perfectly concealed the dark green robes beneath, he calmly sipped his spiritual tea, his eyes looking at his system screen while waiting for the announcement.
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[ PRIMAL DESIRE INHERITANCE: HOST STATUS ]
Name: Shen Yu
Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment Realm (Stage 2 -> Stage 3)
Lifespan: 480 Years
Desire Points (DP): 8500
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High atop the fortress wall, an imposing figure stepped forward. Dressed in the ornate, crimson-and-gold armor of the imperial court, the Imperial Herald unrolled a massive golden scroll.
The moment he released his aura to speak, a heavy wave of spiritual pressure rippled across the square.
’An early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator,’ Shen Yu noted internally, effortlessly identifying the man’s Qi signature without breaking his calm composure.
The Empire was clearly making a statement by sending someone of such caliber just to read a decree.
"By royal decree of the Crimson Lotus Emperor!" the Herald’s voice boomed, heavily amplified by his profound spiritual energy as it resonated across every street and alleyway of Crimson Iron City.
"The Southern Region Tournament shall test both the depth of foundation and the absolute limit of innovation! Hear the mandate for the competition!"
The crowd leaned in collectively, holding their breath.
"First, the absolute criterion for participation: Any competitor, whether alchemist or blacksmith, must be strictly below the Nascent Soul realm!" the Herald announced, his voice slicing through the air.
"The tournament shall officially commence in exactly one week and will span a duration of three days."
"Each day will feature one grueling round for both the alchemical and blacksmithing paths. Only those who achieve absolute perfection in their respective crafts each day shall be permitted to advance to the next stage."
The Herald paused, his eyes sweeping over the massive crowd before delivering the final, monumental hook.
"The single faction or individual who emerges victorious at the end of the third day shall receive the ultimate reward: the direct, official backing of the Azure Empire! They will be granted exclusive imperial funding and sovereign commercial rights to operate their storefronts throughout the Crimson Iron City jurisdiction!"
The Herald then launched into a grand, sweeping speech, detailing how this decree would bring unprecedented prosperity to the region, offering waves of imperial motivation that set the crowd’s blood on fire.
The square instantly erupted into deafening cheers.
Cultivators clapped, and even the lower-realm practitioners hooted with excitement.
Though the weaker alchemists knew they realistically stood no chance against the late-stage Foundation Establishment and veteran Golden Core masters who would dominate the late stages, the sheer scale of the event filled everyone with a frenzied energy.
Up on the balcony, Shen Yu finished the last drop of his tea, a cold, sharp smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
The parameters were set.
The restriction below the Nascent Soul realm played perfectly into his hands, ensuring both Bai Ruolan and Cao Shuying could dismantle the competition without any hidden old monsters intervening.
Placing a few low-grade spirit stones on the table, Shen Yu stood up.
He walked out of the tea house, stepping into a secluded alleyway just off the bustling main street.
With a subtle ripple of his Qi, his silhouette blurred into a weightless shadow.
Activating his Phantom Steps, he shot forward like a gust of wind, effortlessly bypassing the city’s crowded thoroughfares as an indistinct breeze.
Within a few minutes, he materialized soundlessly inside Bai Ruolan’s private quarters at the Union.
It was time to ensure the primary spearhead of Plan A was completely flawless.
He sat down with her, the atmosphere thick with focused intensity as they spent the next hour meticulously revising every aspect of the plan.
They dissected the potential moves of the rival clans, accounted for hidden variables, and mapped out her alchemical strategy day by day until there wasn’t a single blind spot left.
Once the strategy was ironclad, Shen Yu stepped into her personal space, pulling her into a deep, possessive kiss that left her breathless.
Whispering a smooth goodbye against her lips, he activated his Phantom Steps once more and vanished from the room.
Within minutes, his dark figure cleared the outer walls of Crimson Iron City.
Moving with terrifying, supernatural speed, he headed straight toward the perilous, fog-shrouded depths of the Mist Cloud Forest.
It took him half a day of relentless travel through the treacherous, beast-infested terrain before he finally stood before the crumbling stone facade of the ruins, the exact, ominous place where he had first opened his eyes in this world.
This was the ancient Ruin of the Primal Immortal Desire, though now, stripped of its former divine facade, it looked more twisted and demonic than anything else.
Before stepping past the threshold, Shen Yu initiated a profound shift in his musculature and skeletal structure.
The elegant, dark green robes vanished into his storage ring, replaced by the barbaric, crude fur of an orange-and-black striped demonic beast.
His features morphed completely into the identity of Ni Tian, his hair turned a midnight black, his fair skin darkened to a rugged, sun-baked tan, his muscles bulged impossibly, and a jagged scar sliced from his left brow down to his cheek, giving him a brutal, war-torn visage.
His green eyes bled into a predatory, hellish red.
With a weathered, heavy saber slung carelessly at his hip and a tarnished wine gourd gripped in his calloused hand, he exuded the overwhelming, pungent reek of strong booze.
Looking up at the monolithic, decaying entrance, a slow, predatory smile spread across his scarred face.
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