Chapter 314 - 305: Cyan Banner Ninggu Clan, Oh, What a Good Scorpion Demon

Chapter 314: Chapter 305: Cyan Banner Ninggu Clan, Oh, What a Good Scorpion Demon

"The Wuchen Grand Competition, also known as the Wuchen Grand Examination, is a tradition handed down from the previous dynasty.

All court officials undergo a minor examination annually and a major one every five years.

The examinations assess whether officials have been lax or made errors in their governmental duties, and the results determine their promotion or demotion..."

"By now, it’s just a test of whether we families of the Lower Five Banners have properly maintained the Demon Fiends we keep.

If they are maintained well, our Official Ranks might be raised, and our Human Pill salaries for the coming year could also see an increase.

If they aren’t maintained well, the resources that were supposed to be yours will be reallocated to someone else."

After Mu Feng finished, Fu Juemin asked, "What’s the actual format of this Grand Examination?"

"The focus is on the Demon Fiends kept by each family.

At that time, every Banner and clan will send the Demon Fiends they keep into the Trapped Dragon Array inside the Imperial City. Humans can’t go in, so I can’t say for sure what the format is.

In previous years, we could only wait outside the Array. During that time, the various families’ enhanced Martial Tributors would be brought onto a stage to compete, which also counts as part of the evaluation."

Mu Feng paused, then added, "However, after every Grand Examination ends, the strength of each family’s Demon Fiend is greatly diminished, leaving them dispirited.

That’s why the first Magic Sacrifice after the competition is especially important.

In private, we of the Lower Five Banners also call this competition the ’Grand Sacrifice’..."

"Trapped Dragon... Grand Sacrifice..."

Fu Juemin gazed out the carriage window. He could sense several Demon Fiend auras in the direction of the central Imperial City, lingering like towering pillars of smoke that never dissipated.

Those auras were so powerful they seemed to faintly surpass even the hundred-meter-long Centipede Spirit from Friend Mountain. They only appeared faint and indistinct because of the great distance and because they were obstructed by something—perhaps the Array Mu Feng had mentioned.

And even so, the presence of these few Demon Fiends caused the sky over Yingjing City to be perennially overcast and shrouded in smog, making it difficult to see the sun.

Without a doubt, these had to be Great Demon Fiends powerful enough to alter the weather.

"Does this world... truly have ’Dragons’?"

Fu Juemin murmured to himself.

"I do not know,"

Mu Feng replied.

Fu Juemin said nothing.

Mu Feng didn’t understand. The "Dragon" he spoke of was not the "Dragon" Mu Feng understood; he was referring to a world-razing Great Demon that had reached the Dragon Level.

A moment later, Fu Juemin withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to calm.

"So this Trapped Dragon Array... is it the same kind of Demon-Trapping Array from the Esoteric Sect as the one in the Mu Mansion’s rear garden?"

Fu Juemin said coolly, "Make a copy of the Array’s schematics for me later."

"Yes."

Mu Feng nodded respectfully.

The carriage traveled along the main streets of Yingjing’s inner city. Demon Horses cleared the way, and the carriage was engraved with the clan crest of the Blue Banner Mu Family. Wherever it passed, pedestrians hurried to get out of the way, some even kneeling and kowtowing.

Such imposing prestige.

Everyone from the Mu Mansion, high and low, was puffed up with arrogance. Mu Feng, so accustomed to his deferential posture before Fu Juemin, now seemed to be reclaiming a measure of his superiority as one of the Nine Banner Nobility at the expense of these commoners.

Families from the Lower Five Banners, like the Mu Family, endured layers of rule and exploitation from the Upper Three Banners and the Top Royal Banner, filling their hearts with resentment. At the same time, they had to rely on the glory and benefits that came from being part of the Nine Banners, forcing them to instinctively defend and reinforce their place in this class structure.

It was a contradiction so twisted it bordered on the absurd.

Fu Juemin, sitting on the soft divan inside the carriage, asked calmly, "When does the Wuchen Grand Competition begin?"

"Early this summer. We have about three months."

’Three months...’

Fu Juemin’s eyes lowered slightly as he thought quietly.

His original plan had been to devour his way through the Lower Five Banners, one family, one Banner at a time.

Once his strength had increased enough, he would then go after the Great Demon Fiends kept by the Upper Three Banners and the Top Royal Banner.

But according to Mu Feng, during the Wuchen Grand Competition, every Demon Fiend kept by every Banner and clan had to enter the Array for inspection. They would be punished for simply failing to maintain their Demon Fiend well, let alone if it suddenly turned up dead.

That meant once the Wuchen Grand Competition started and the Lower Five Banners were suddenly short so many Demons, he would inevitably be exposed.

In other words, he now had only three months left.

’In these three months, I have to devour as much as I possibly can...’

With that thought, Fu Juemin spoke. "Who leads the Blue Banner these days?"

Hearing this, Mu Feng’s spirits instantly lifted. He quickly replied, "Spirit Lord, the Shu Family currently holds the position of Blue Banner Lord."

"And what kind of Demon does the Shu Family keep?"

"A Human-Faced Demon Snake. It holds a Junior Fourth Grade Official Rank."

’Junior Fourth Grade...’

Fu Juemin’s eyes flickered.

’The Mu Family’s Elephant Level Admiral Yin Crow is Junior Fifth Grade. So what does that make a Junior Fourth Grade?’

’It definitely couldn’t be Flood Dragon Level. The gap between Elephant and Flood Dragon Level is enormous.’

’The Mu Family’s Yin Crow, the Demon Toad from Toad Palace, Luo Zhengxiong in his full True Dragon form, and even myself... we all fall within that range.’

’In my Flame Monarch form, as long as it’s not Flood Dragon Level, there shouldn’t be a problem...’

With his mind made up, Fu Juemin was about to order Mu Feng to contact the Shu Family and make up some excuse to pay them a visit.

Just as he was about to speak, the carriage suddenly stopped. A commotion could be heard from outside, faintly mixed with wailing cries.

"I’ll go see what’s happening."

Mu Feng frowned, hastily excused himself, and slipped out from behind the curtain.

Fu Juemin listened from inside the carriage for a moment. Then, with a flicker in his eyes, he rose from the divan.

...

"Father! Father, you must get justice for me!!

That Ninggu Clan has gone too far!!"

On the long street, the Mu Family’s black, two-horse carriage was stopped in the middle of the road.

Four or five of the Mu Family’s servants were carrying a stretcher on their shoulders, firmly blocking the carriage.

On the stretcher lay a young man in fine robes, his head and hands wrapped in white bandages. He was screaming his lungs out, "Not only did that brat Ning Yu beat me, he insulted you too, Father!

He said everyone in the Mu Family is a bunch of spineless cowards, that we don’t deserve to stand with them in the Nine Banners, and that sooner or later, we’ll be kicked out...

Father! Father!"

The young man’s voice was loud enough for half the street to hear, and a crowd was gathering to watch the spectacle.

The Mu Family servants all kept their heads down, their faces undoubtedly burning with shame.

But the one on the stretcher was their Mu Family’s Young Master, Patriarch Mu Feng’s own son. If Mu Feng didn’t speak, they wouldn’t dare tell the man to shut up.

"Shut up!"

His face livid, Mu Feng was trembling with rage at his son. He was forced to swallow his anger, hissing in a low voice, "We will discuss this when we get home.

There is a Noble in the carriage!"

But the young man paid him no mind, letting out another howl. "A Noble! What Noble is more important than your son getting beaten and the Mu Family’s honor being trampled into the dirt?!"

Mu Feng’s face went green with rage. He was about to march over and slap his son when a clear, calm voice sounded from behind him. "What’s going on?"

Fu Juemin lifted the carriage curtain and slowly stepped out.

"Spirit Lord!"

Hong Huan and Xu Chu, who had been watching coldly from the side, immediately bowed when they saw Fu Juemin emerge.

Mu Feng also stopped what he was doing, bowing to Fu Juemin and offering his apologies.

Standing on the carriage’s footboard, Fu Juemin listened to the whole story.

It turned out Mu Feng’s son had been at a city opera house, where he’d gotten into a fight over an actor. He’d not only been beaten but also thoroughly humiliated in public.

The actor in question was also there, standing beside the stretcher. He wore a white suit, his stage makeup not yet removed, but it was clear he was a remarkably handsome young man.

He had a feminine appearance and a rather androgynous air.

"...This son of mine has been a good-for-nothing his whole life. I have made a fool of myself in front of you, Spirit Lord."

After Mu Feng finished, he couldn’t stop himself from adding through gritted teeth, "But that Cyan Banner Ninggu Clan has truly gone too far. They’ve allied with the White Banner Chaha Clan, and for years they’ve been suppressing our Blue Banner, both openly and in the shadows.

They’ve taken over many of the Mu Family’s businesses. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have failed the last few Magic Sacrifices..."

"What kind of Demon does this Ninggu Clan keep?"

Fu Juemin asked casually.

Mu Feng replied, "A Blue-striped Scorpion Demon. It has a Junior Fourth Grade Official Rank."

"Oh?!"

Fu Juemin’s eyes lit up instantly.

"A Scorpion Demon... excellent."

Fu Juemin sighed softly. "In that case," he said slowly, "we won’t be going to the Shu Family first."

Before Mu Feng could process this, Fu Juemin had already taken two steps forward. Standing on the carriage shaft, he looked down benevolently at the young man on the stretcher and asked, "What’s your name?"

Mu Feng’s son was the very definition of a spoiled brat.

Yesterday, when Fu Juemin had placed the Five Poison Life and Death Talisman on everyone in the Mu household, this brat had been fast asleep, so he didn’t recognize Fu Juemin.

He wasn’t a complete idiot, though. Seeing the family’s two great Tributors, as well as Mu Feng himself, treating Fu Juemin with such respect, he could tell Fu Juemin’s status was extraordinary.

So, he stopped his wailing and answered obediently, "My name is Mu Tingzhou."

"Mu Tingzhou."

Fu Juemin repeated the name softly and sighed. "Such a waste of a fine name."

Behind him, Mu Feng’s face darkened, and the young man on the stretcher was also stunned.

Fu Juemin paid them no mind, continuing with a smile, "Tingzhou.

That beating you took... how about I help you pay them back?"

The young man’s eyes immediately lit up. Forgetting all about Fu Juemin’s earlier critique of his name, he shot up on the stretcher and cried out with delight, "Yes!"

Fu Juemin turned and walked back into the carriage.

A moment later, a calm and casual voice came from inside the carriage.

"Change of plans. Go directly to the Cyan Banner Ning Family."

Outside, Mu Tingzhou shouted from his stretcher, "Go! Hurry up! The Noble has spoken! We’re going to the Ning Family! Are you all deaf?!"

Except for Hong Huan and Xu Chu, everyone else subconsciously looked at Mu Feng.

Mu Feng’s expression was conflicted. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. "The Spirit Lord has given the order—we’re going to the Ning Family."

"Yes."

The procession of carriages slowly turned around in the street and began to head in another direction.