“Crisis Mission? System, I require more information!”
“A Crisis Mission is an authority promotion quest. If completed, the Host may gain a higher level jurisdiction, making more abilities from the Supreme Limitless Store available for purchase!” the system answered.
“System, do you mean… the One-Punch Annihilation Fist, Absolute Defense, and Instant Transmission aren’t the strongest abilities?!”
This idea startled Xia Yan. If stretching across three realms to slaughter an enemy wasn’t the strongest ability, then what was?
“Yes, Host. There is a tier above High-Level known as Absolute. This level will become available as long as the Host completes the Crisis Mission!” the system said, confirming his suspicion.
Quickly, a row of characters unfolded in front of him.
[Crisis Mission: The Heavenly Wolf Alliance plans to invade and capture the kingdom of Tang. But with the Xia in their way, the alliance has temporarily shifted its attention to the small country. In 99 days, the Host must successfully keep the Xia from falling into enemy hands.] [Failure Punishment: The mission fails if invading troops break into the Xia imperial palace. Warning, failure means death!] [Mission Reward: Absolute authority will be unlocked in the Supreme Limitless Store, allowing the Host to purchase absolute-level abilities. The system will also give the Host one lottery wheel opportunity!]“An invasion from the Heavenly Wolf Alliance!”
Xia Yan’s heart trembled. Years ago, a grand kingdom, even more powerful than the Tang, united all the small kingdoms surrounding it and formed a formidable influence. It was the reason the Tang were attempting to unite with the Xia through marriage. They were attempting to create their own alliance.
“The Heavenly Wolf Alliance has been silent ever since it’s formation. But they are marshaling their forces at the same time that the Tang is trying to form a rival alliance. Their goal is clear…”
A general picture formed in Xia Yan’s mind.
The birth of an alliance, no matter how small, represented the rise of another powerful competitor. To prevent the Tang from succeeding, the Heavenly Wolf Alliance believed that taking the grand kingdom by storm was the best course of action. This included removing anyone the Tang wished to win over. The Xia was their first goal because the small kingdom did not have the national or military power to fight back. If the Heavenly Wolf Alliance were to send out troops now, the Xia would fall within the day.
Xia Yan’s brow wrinkled at this sad but brutal truth.
“Yan’er!” the Xia Emperor shouted, hauling him back into reality. “Have you thought about how you want to be rewarded?”
“Imperial Father, your dutiful son wants… Northern Wasteland City!” he replied, eyes burning.
“Northern Wasteland City?”
The Xia Emperor’s countenance flashed with surprise.
“You do know where Northern Wasteland City is located, right?”
“Yes, Imperial Father. Your dutiful son knows. It is the place of exile for vicious cultivators and the most barren land of our Xia!” Xia Yan nodded slightly.
“And you’re sure you want to take our most desolate land as your fief?” the Xia Emperor pressed. He had hoped his son would take over his most bountiful, most fertile city. But for some reason, Xia Yan wanted the worst piece of land to rule over, surprising him and everyone else in the hall.
Choosing the worst over the best. What was he thinking?
What trick was he trying to play, most of them wondered, unaware that Xia Yan had initially wanted to ask for spirit stones, treasures, divine weapons, and anything else he could use to buy things from the System store. But the appearance of the Crisis Mission had forced him to change his reward request.
He had 99 days to prepare for what was coming. And although three months seemed like a long time, it wasn’t, especially since he had to reach the Small Extremity Realm before then. He wouldn’t have the qualifications to challenge the Heavenly Wolf Kingdom’s Half-Step King otherwise. However, the System store wouldn’t be able to help him with this. It’s the reason why he needed somewhere he could let loose his Devouring Domain, and at the moment, he could think of no better place to begin his gluttonous grand feast than in the city populated with the most cultivators.
“I’m sure, Imperial Father. Your dutiful son wants Northern Wasteland City!” Xia Yan finally nodded in affirmation.
“Good. Then from this moment on, Northern Wasteland City is yours!”
The Xia Emperor waved, and a court eunuch moved forward, respectfully placing a golden token into Xia Yan’s hands. It was the feudal lord command. Having it meant he now controlled the entire Northern Wasteland City.
“Many thanks, Imperial Father!”
Xia Yan bowed and put the command away.
For his own sake, he chose not to bring to light the oncoming invasion. He was clear that telling the truth was one thing, and that being believed was another. He did not doubt that his words regarding the life-and-death of the Xia would only serve to provoke unnecessary trouble. Let alone, he didn’t think his information would make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. The Xia would still only have two choices: to flee or seek help from the Tang. And he was skeptical about the second option. Once an all-out war began, the Tang would be too busy dealing with their own problems to ever worry about them.
To break this crisis, he could only depend on himself. He had to become strong enough to face the mighty army of the Heavenly Wolf Alliance on his own!
“Alright, now that we’ve gotten all the business out of the way, let the feast continue!”
The Xia Emperor clapped, and the surrounding soldiers rapidly cleaned up and out of the main hall. The moment they were gone, a song of voices and instruments saturated the air once more.
The banquet had begun again.
However, that small interlude had already changed its original trend.
What should’ve been the twelve imperial princes’ main stage now belonged to Xia Yan. His victory in combat had eclipsed the halos that had once surrounded his younger brothers. Everyone’s eyes focused on him, the Emperor’s eldest son, this young man brimming with natural talent, betrothed to the Tang princess—the future emperor of Xia.
At this moment, Xia Yan was the most remarkable existence in the entire palace, a rising star coveted by all.
