Death… And Me

Chapter 4417: Information is Key

The idea of using the Godly Apex Crystals to appease those who had felt bitter over the Godly Colossus Crystal was already a good one. True, they would no longer be distributed according to the rules established for the Elite Exploration Groups, but these crystals carried implications significant enough for Tobao and Arcis to justify making an exception.

Still, the part about using them to uncover whoever had tried to steal the Godly Colossus Crystal interested them even more.

”That sounds like a great idea,” Tobao admitted. ”However, how exactly would it help us find the person who tried to steal the Farm Crystal?”

Roan glanced at him before answering calmly. ”Whoever tried to steal it will definitely show up again. Don’t forget, this person was desperate enough to attempt stealing something that would benefit the entire Besgol Region in the future. He or she was willing to risk making the whole region an enemy just for personal gain.”

He continued without changing his expression.

”That Crystal couldn’t really be taken anymore after the farm was established. These Godly Apex Crystals, on the other hand, are different. They are incredibly valuable and useful for immediate cultivation. If that person acted once, there is no reason to believe they won’t act again.”

Tobao and Arcis exchanged confused looks.

”We still don’t understand,” Arcis admitted. ”Even if the culprit appears again, how would we identify him? We understand that these crystals would lure the person out, but among so many innocent cultivators, how are we supposed to tell who the culprit actually is?”

Roan sighed.

”You still don’t get it, do you?” He looked at the two Law Gods as if the answer should have been obvious from the start. ”When the time comes to release the information... that’s all you need.”

---

A week later, the twins’ group had already returned to their residences in Jufafner Country and resumed cultivation.

Having just completed such a major exploration mission, they were expected to remain free for several months. Elite Exploration Groups were valuable assets, and the Guild rarely sent them out continuously unless an emergency arose. That gave Rean and the others plenty of time to make use of the enormous amount of cultivation resources they had just acquired.

---

While they quietly cultivated, the Besgol Region slowly began putting Roan’s proposal into motion.

As expected, Tobao publicly announced the discovery of the twelve Godly Apex Crystals.

For the overwhelming majority of cultivators throughout Besgol, that piece of news changed very little. Everyone understood just how precious those crystals were, but they also understood they were completely beyond their reach.

Anything below the Zone God Realm simply couldn’t make proper use of such treasures. Using one at a lower cultivation level would be an unbelievable waste, so most cultivators merely treated the announcement as something interesting to hear about.

After that, Tobao revealed that he and Arcis would each keep one Godly Apex Crystal for themselves in order to attempt breakthroughs into the next stages of their respective cultivation realms.

Before anyone could accuse them of abusing their authority, however, Tobao immediately clarified that the remaining ten crystals would all be distributed among the Zone Gods of Besgol through an open competition.

He didn’t even need to explain why.

Everyone understood that Tobao and Arcis could easily have concealed the existence of those crystals altogether. Instead, they had chosen to reveal everything publicly. Because of that, although a small minority still believed it unfair that the two strongest protectors of Besgol each received one crystal immediately, most cultivators accepted the decision without much complaint.

After all, their attention had already shifted toward the remaining ten.

-Of course, we cannot show favoritism,- Tobao announced through the official Besgol Network channels. -Because of that, a competition will determine who obtains the remaining Godly Apex Crystals. The entire event will also be transmitted throughout the Besgol Network for everyone to watch.-

-As there are ten crystals remaining, there will naturally be ten winners. No cultivator may compete for more than a single crystal. Likewise, each crystal will be assigned to a different location within the Besgol Region, where separate competitions will be held. Every qualified Zone God may choose which location to participate in... but only one.-

-As for who is eligible, only Late Stage Zone Gods and above may register. I understand that some of you may dislike this decision, but these crystals exist to strengthen the Besgol Region as quickly as possible. We require more Law Gods. Giving such resources to Initial or Middle Stage Zone Gods would not accomplish that objective within any reasonable amount of time.-

-Even worse, if they are stuck in their Initial or Middle Stage, they would likely use the Crystal to have that breakthrough, which would be a waste anyway.-

Out of roughly four hundred Zone Gods within Besgol, that single restriction reduced the list of eligible participants to around sixty.

Suddenly, every qualified cultivator realized that, statistically speaking, each of them had roughly a one-in-six chance of obtaining one of the crystals.

That alone was enough to ignite tremendous excitement.

-The competitions will begin soon,- Tobao continued. -Those intending to participate should prepare themselves thoroughly. Since the Region requires strength above all else, every competition will focus purely on individual combat ability. The strongest will prevail. Arcis and I, naturally, will not participate.-

Quite a few Zone Gods sighed in relief after hearing that.

Had Tobao and Arcis been allowed to compete, everyone else might as well have stayed home. The two of them would have claimed two crystals immediately without anyone being able to stop them.

Knowing they had voluntarily removed themselves from the competition only made their earlier decision to keep one crystal each seem much more reasonable.

-There is one final rule,- Tobao announced. -The identities of the participants assigned to each competition area will remain confidential until the events begin. Only the total number of competitors registered for each location will be made public. We have no intention of allowing weaker participants to avoid stronger opponents before the competitions even start. Every contestant must prove they deserve their opportunity. Anyone who reveals which location they registered for before the official announcement will be disqualified immediately.-

That particular rule drew mixed reactions.

Experts such as Kavile, widely acknowledged as the Zone God closest to reaching the Law God Realm, were especially displeased. He had originally intended to announce his chosen competition area beforehand, expecting many weak and strong cultivators to withdraw and seek easier opponents elsewhere.

Now that strategy had become impossible.

Still, Kavile remained confident. Whether others avoided him or not, he believed one of those ten crystals would eventually become his.

-These are the rules,- Tobao concluded. -Needless to say, anyone attempting to violate them... or anyone attempting to steal the Godly Apex Crystals... will be dealt with personally by Arcis and myself.-

---

Inside the Zanmzan Monastery, Tobao reread the announcement after it had been sent through the Besgol Network and couldn’t help letting out a long sigh.

”It feels... rather forceful,” he admitted. ”This isn’t exactly the way I normally speak.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Although the message had been released under Tobao’s name, every word of it had been written by Roan.

Arcis, who was sitting nearby, chuckled before shaking his head.

”I actually wish you were more like him in that regard,” he said. ”A firm message leaves less room for unnecessary arguments.”

Then his expression gradually turned serious again.

”Well... the bait has been cast.”

Tobao nodded slowly.

”Now...”

”...we wait.”