Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 416: Chapter 416. A Bet for a Place in the Trial

Prime Minister Zhu Yao understood King Huang Ti’s thoughts. He knew the king’s dilemma, so he tried to help by saying, ”My King, how about we hear more from Prince Huang San?”

The king nodded. He said, ”San er, you should know activating the ancient ascension trial requires a great number of resources. It is not something to be done lightly. If it is, then I don’t mind having all my sons and daughters compete in it. It is not, so a great deal of consideration should be taken before I choose a candidate.”

”Father, I understand,” Huang San replied. ”However, the preparation and resources for the initial ceremony to open the portal to the pocket world, where the trial takes place, is the same no matter the number of participants. What affects how many people can enter is the amount of energy we use to send people through the portal. This energy is produced by consuming aer stones.”

”San er, you underestimate the required energy too much,” Huang Ti said while shaking his head. ”Do you know the cost of sending one person is ten million aer stones? Every candidate brings nine helpers, so for ten people, we need one hundred million aer stones. This is twice the yearly expense of running a large city. Even if the kingdom can afford it, I can’t grant it without a proper cause.”

”I’m fully aware of that. That is why I propose to pay the required aer stones personally.”

Some laughed after hearing Huang San’s declaration. The loudest was from Huang Zi. ”Where will you get the aer stones from? From father?” He asked with a ridiculing tone. ”Don’t even consider borrowing from the treasury. It won’t get approved.”

”No need to worry about that, brother,” Huang San responded. ”I have said I will pay on my own. I won’t take the fund from the kingdom.”

”San er... Ten million aer stones is not a small number,” Huang Ti said.

”I know. That’s why my side will only enter with five people,” Huang San replied.

”Five...?” Huang Ti frowned after hearing that.

”Yes. I understand it will be difficult to produce a hundred million aer stones within four years, but I am confident I can make fifty.”

”Huang San, stop joking around!” Huang Er scolded. ”What do you expect to do with five people? Do you think you can beat us by bringing half a party? You will just be wasting aer stones.”

Huang Zi scoffed. ”Sister, you are saying it like he had a chance. Even if he brings a full party, he still has no chance to beat us!”

”San er, do not take the trial lightly,” Huang Ti advised. ”It is a trial, but there are still dangers inside. The pocket world is originally an ancient depository from a bygone epoch. Our ancestors had picked it clean and used the treasures they gained to build our kingdom, but the traps and mechanisms inside made to protect the treasures still function, and they were deadly. Our ancestors modified this pocket world and turned it into a place for trial, but it was originally produced by people who transcended our ability. You will lose your life if you underestimate it.”

”Father, have confidence in me,” Huang San said. ”I’ve studied the trial from the history records in this palace’s library. I know about its dangers. I’m not speaking out of ignorance.”

”Hahaha!” Huang Zhan’s loud laughter again echoed throughout the room. ”I respect people who are not afraid of challenge! What the hell! I support you joining the trial. As I said, the more the merrier. More challengers make my blood boil hotter! Haha!”

Huang Zi and Huang Er rolled their eyes at Huang Zhan.

Huang Ti went into contemplation. He was glad that Huang San showed such a will and confidence to brave the trial, but he also seriously doubted Huang San’s chance of winning with only half a party. If he was going to lose anyway, why bother participating? He might even lose his life inside.

Seeing his father deep in thought, Huang Zi asked, ”Father, you are not truly considering this madness, are you?”

Huang Er also said, ”Father, we can’t waste our time and aer stones for such a frivolous act. Huang San is just treating this like it is a game. He is not qualified!”

”Tsk! You two are such a party pooper,” Huang Zhan uttered.

A voice was heard from the floor below, ”Your Majesty, I agree with Crown Prince Huang Zi. This is certainly not a serious attempt. Moreover, Prince Huang San has not performed enough merit to qualify for the throne. Please ignore Prince Huang San’s request for the trial.”

The one who spoke was Senior Minister Pu Zhang. Once he spoke, more and more people uttered the same sentiment. These were officials in support of Prince Huang Zi and Princess Huang Er.

Pu Zhang mentioning Huang San’s lack of merit was to remind everyone. Outside the royal family, he was the next person who opposed the most to the prospect of Huang San ascending the throne. This was because Amon was with Huang San. If Huang San rose, Amon would too, and he couldn’t stand that.

”That’s right,” Huang Zi grabbed hold of this point once Pu Zhang pointed it out. ”He does not qualify for the throne! Even if he can somehow pay the entrance fee, why should he be given a place in the trial? All that claim about ruling Qishurg City means nothing. The city is gone. There is no way to prove his achievements!”

”I agree,” Huang Er uttered.

”Seriously? How about you two break bread and share your feelings after this?” Huang Zhan said with sarcasm.

”Knock it off! This is not a game,” Huang Er told him.

”I disagree. Life is but a long and tedious game. We must spice it up the best we can to not get bored.”

”Everyone, silence!” Huang Ti exclaimed.

The room quieted down again. The king’s long sigh was again heard. He was depressed, but he thought maybe this was for the best. Huang San might end up hurt if he forced himself to join the trial with half the number of everyone else.

When he was about to announce that Huang San may not participate, Huang San said, ”Father, I wish to say a few more things.”

Huang Ti sighed again. This youngest son of his was indeed stubborn, but perhaps this was what caused his favoritism. Huang San was very much like his late mother.

”Speak,” Huang Ti uttered.

Instead of speaking to the king, Huang San turned around. He addressed the officials below, ”I know most of you think I am unqualified. I rarely involve myself in kingdom affairs, and I do not have many merits I can be proud of. That’s why I’m going to offer a bet!”

”Hm...? A bet?” Everyone was confused.

”Within these four years, I’m going to achieve what everyone else in this kingdom has failed to achieve in decades!”

”And what would that be?” Pu Zhang asked.

”I’m going to eradicate the rebels...!!!”

A commotion erupted once Huang San made the declaration. Everyone was speaking simultaneously and it was hard to understand what they said.

”What bull!” Huang Zi exclaimed with disgust. ”Eradicate the rebels? Do you know how long we have been trying to do that? Even with the army, we still haven’t managed to do that!”

Huang Er said, ”Huang San, the problem with the rebels is that they always hide. It’s not a matter of force. We can’t fight what we can’t see, and no matter how hard we try, we have never been able to clean them up.”

”I know. That’s why I recommend this approach,” Huang San said. ”Everyone here thinks this is an impossible task because most of you here have tried it and failed. If I complete this impossible task, it will be my qualification for the right to the throne!”

His words caused everyone to shut down. Everyone found it hard to say something to refute him.

The silence was broken by Huang Zhan’s laugh. ”Hahaha! I like you even more and more, little brother. Why did we never hang out? Let me say this to everyone here! I agree with his bet. If he can achieve what he proposes, I want him to be one of my challengers for the throne. Anyone who disagrees will have to answer to me...!!”

The audience was flabbergasted. They had always known Prince Huang Zhan was a madman, but did the royal family now have a second one? They always pictured Prince Huang San as a carefree prince who cared not for the throne. Maybe he had indeed gone mad and become a different person.

A chuckle was heard. Everyone turned to the source. It was King Huang Ti who uttered the chuckle. A smile also decorated his face. This drew wide eyes from everyone. It had been a while since they saw the king smile.

”All right, San er. You win. I will grant you this chance,” Huang Ti said. He then addressed the crowd, ”Hear my mandate. Prince Huang San will be granted the time before the ancient ascension trial to eradicate the rebels. If he succeeds, he will be allowed to join the trial with five members, providing he can pay for the aer stone expense!”