“All right, since you put it that way, I’ll follow your advice.” Quenric nodded, then turned to the elder and ordered, “I command you-go and kill Jared, then bring me his head.”
“Me?” The elder was stunned.
“Yes, you. Didn’t you just say Jared is nothing more than a Ninth Level Tribulator? Killing him should be a mere formality for you, right? Take him down and bring his head back to me. In return, I’ll reward you with a celestial crystal.” Quenric’s tone was laced with mockery.
The elder’s face paled as he waved his hands frantically. “I… I can’t!”
Quenric scoffed. “Then what was all that nonsense just now? If you can’t do it yourself, don’t be so eager to push me into the fire!”
“Mr. Haverford, does this mean we’re abandoning the mission?” The elder’s voice grew anxious. “Defying orders is a grave offense. According to the Celestial Palace’s laws, failure to comply warrants severe punishment.”
“Who said we’re abandoning the mission? Of course, we have to act. Jared killed members of the Tenth Hall-if we don’t seek revenge, others will see us as weak.” Quenric’s voice was laced with contempt.
“However, I won’t be doing it myself. Instead, I’ll have others hunt him down. With the imminent appearance of the Celestial Stairway, countless hidden forces are beginning to stir. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to take advantage of the chaos. I’ll issue a Decree of Execution in the name of the Tenth Hall-whoever kills Jared will be rewarded with a hundred thousand celestial crystals.” A cold smile spread across Quenric’s face.
“A hundred thousand celestial crystals?” The elderly man staggered, nearly losing his balance. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Quenric. “Where in the world are you going to get that many celestial crystals?”
“Of course, I don’t have that many celestial crystals, but the Tenth Hall does,” Quenric said with a smirk. “I’m issuing the decree in the Tenth Hall’s name. When the time comes, no matter who kills Jared, they’ll have to demand the reward from Tennyson. Whether he actually pays up or not is none of my concern. A hundred thousand celestial crystals will drive those hidden forces into a frenzy. You know as well as I do that what they lack most in their cultivation is resources like celestial crystals.”
The elderly man fell silent, staring at Quenric for a long moment, unsure of how to respond.
“Stop spacing out,” Quenric snapped. “Hurry up and issue the decree-and make sure the message spreads far and wide.”
“Mr. Haverford,” the elder hesitated, his expression uncertain. “The Demon Seal Alliance once placed a death order on Jared, keeping it in effect for a hundred years. Yet, despite that, he has survived. I fear this Decree of Execution…”
His voice trailed off, doubt evident in his tone. Issuing such an order in the name of the Tenth Hall, especially with a reward of one hundred thousand celestial crystals, was no trivial matter.
“The Demon Seal Alliance’s hundred-year offering was utterly useless,” Quenric scoffed. “It only attracted low-level cultivators. Those who have reached the Top Level Ultimate Realm or the Immortal Realm wouldn’t even spare a glance at the pitiful rewards they offered. But celestial crystals? That’s a different story. Only those can entice true master cultivators. Now quit hesitating and do as I say!”
“As you wish.” The elderly man hesitated for a brief moment before bowing his head. Turning away, he left to carry out the order.
As he finished writing the Decree of Execution, a low chuckle escaped his lips. “Oh, Jared, Jared… You’ve sealed your fate this time. Out of all the people in the world to provoke, you just had to cross us.”
The elderly man understood all too well the irresistible allure of celestial crystals for cultivators in the Immortal Realm. With the imminent opening of the Stairway to Heaven, he was certain that even the most reclusive cultivators would be drawn out of seclusion. Once word of the decree spread, chaos was inevitable.
In the Celestial Realm, celestial crystals were mere rubbish, but in the Ethereal Realm, they were an invaluable resource-essential for those striving to ascend to the heavens. Ordinary spiritual stones had long lost their effectiveness for Immortal Realm cultivators, making celestial crystals all the more coveted.
“For those at the pinnacle of the Top Level Ultimate Realm, breaking through to the Immortal Realm was impossible without celestial crystals.
A bounty of one hundred thousand celestial crystals? That would undoubtedly send the hidden forces into a frenzy.”
