Chapter 39 - The Ancient Clan Part 2

Outside the throne room, Lu Shu was hastily washing the impurities from his body. He had officially reached the halfway point of the Spirit Shaman tier. Now, the two spirit reactors were moons whose light enriched the soul lake with abundant spirit energy. The life force of the planet was successfully converted into spirit energy from the new spirit reactor. However, it was not the demonic red spirit energy but the vermillion energy which had also become suitable to cultivate as spirit energy. The upper surface of the lake became vermillion up to ten feet. The rest, all the way to the deep covered in darkness, was a demonic red. The mask spirit stayed near the surface while the White Ocean Tiger resided in the depths of the soul lake.

According to the Bone Demon, having more spirit reactors was good. However, he should not have another type of spirit energy within his body. The life force of the plane was tolerated because of the existence of the spirit reactors. The more spirit reactors, the stronger the absorption rate into the Mystic Stone as well the more pure the spirit energy conversion. Now that he was at the fifth stage, his soul lake would become an ocean. He could see the lake expand as the depths of the lake decreased while the water spread. Soon, he could not see the outline of the water anymore. Now, the three elements in his body began to condense into shapes of fish within his soul ocean. For what is an ocean without life?

"Hello father," Lu Shu bowed as he entered the throne room and took his place next to Lu Xing on the aisle before the two thrones of the emperor and empress.

"Good. Very good. Congratulations on your success," Lu Yi smiled. "Now we can resume. Fiend Adept, what is your true purpose in coming to my empire?"

"Ah, as you wish. The ancient clans have noticed that the Hyperion are becoming more crafty. We have no shortage of Practitioners, but we lack enough mages for our mortal armies. The western nations are abundant with mages and respect them more than Practitioners. Thus, a lot of mages migrate here while Practitioners and martial sects establish themselves to the east. The ancient clans sent me to ask permission to request some of the mage academies and guilds to recruit mages to our cause. This is the official letter of request," Minho bowed as a member of the royal guard got the letter and gave it to Lu Yi.

"Hmm. It is real. Very well. You have my permission for that. Are the ancient clans planning an expedition to the east?" Lu Yi asked.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. We aim to take back the lands the Hyperion took from us and discover more about our enemy. It is said that the Hyperion have a new Overlord. It explains the recent activities of the Hyperion. This Overlord is ambitious. I am afraid it won't take long for news of a more active invasion spreads to the west," Minho bowed. "Thus, we are strengthening our relations with the nations to the west in hope that we gain more reinforcements for when the time comes."

"This does not bode well. Lu Xing, you will be emperor when I reach the Spirit Sage tier. You must become an Arch Mage before then," Lu Yi advised.

"Yes, father," Lu Xing nodded.

"If that is all, you are dismissed," Lu Yi nodded and the foreigners left except for Minho who had a few more words to say.

"Prince Lu Shu, I apologize on behalf of the ancient clans. Your ability to extract Mystic Stones is frightening. I suggest you refrain from doing so unless you wish to kill the Practitioner. Life without spirit energy is worse than death for Practitioners. Some have the ability to seal a Mystic Stone. Thus, they cut off the connection to their source of spirit energy. It is the same, but at least they have a chance of finding someone to break that," Minho advised and left the throne room.

"I'm also surprised," Lu Shu said after a moment, shocking everyone in the throne room. "I was told it was a hypothesis by an ancient teacher. Who knew it was true. I think he did though, and wanted me to find out on my own."

"The day is won. A great day indeed, for our Yan Dynasty. Lu Shu, I already have an academy in mind for you to attend. Both Practitioners and mages study there, some Practitioners also having a spirit reactor and cultivating true Archon body techniques. You will train there and become a God Eater. Wait, you already are one, huh? Think of it as actual training," Lu Yi said. "You have explored the world with General Meng Ce and profited much. Now is the time to settle down and learn knowledge from history, rather than experience. The past holds much knowledge and even your siblings have private tutors while they attend the mage academy in the capital. You might catch up with Mei though. Rather than talent, she lacks the motivation to become stronger. Some nonsense about how boys don't like dating girls stronger than they are. Utter bullshit. My wife is stronger than me, but most believe me to lie."

"Father!" Mei shouted while the empress smiled coldly.

"What is this academy I am going to?" Lu Shu asked.

"It is known as the Black Lotus Academy. It resides in the north. You will enter a teleportation array in the palace and go tonight. It is already late at night here, so morning should come in three hours over there. You will leave immediately," Lu Yi said while looking at his wife. "The entrance exam starts in eight hours and not even the son of an emperor is exempt. No transfers or registrations are allowed afterwards. The exam is simple: be at the third stage. It is nothing to you. Goodbye Lu Shu. Know that we love you and will miss you."

"Uh," Lu Shu said as he was dragged by the royal knights. He certainly did not expect this. Bahamut quickly flew after him as it had waited for him in the throne room all this time.

"Hey! The tiger cub!" Lu Mei shouted and a royal guard hastily ran after them with a sleeping cub.

"So abrupt. Why is it so necessary that he goes there?" Lu Rong asked.

"The Honorable Ancestors sensed a powerful demonic spirit energy in that direction. The demons are becoming, active as of late. The dragons are also stirring from their sleep. Soon, the four forces will enter into a war. Could be a decade and a few years, but it will come. The Pantheon of Devils will open in ten years. All four races are sure to be cultivating to reach the proper qualifications. Even magical beasts are permitted to attend. Lu Xing is already qualified," Lu Yi smiled as he looked at his son. "Lu Shu must reach the tenth stage of the Spirit Shaman tier. Qualifications start at the seventh stage. However, Spirit Knights, Archon Phoenixes, or the stage directly below; can survive up to the eleventh floor. The prizes start at the tenth. He must reach the thirteenth floor."

"That hideous place? Why would he go there?" Lu Rong shivered.

"You always refused, so you don't know its benefits. Our Great Ancestor can't go, but many of our Honorable Ancestors at the peak of the ninth stage of Spirit Sage don't dare to cultivate further in hopes of entering that place. It happens once every thousand years," Lu Yi grinned as he seemed to look at his past memories as he closed his eyes. "That place is so dangerous, death lurks and arrives in many fascinating place. There is no greater feeling of being alive. Save for sex. Sex is good."

"Too true, Imperial Majesty," many generals laughed while the ministers forced themselves to smile uncomfortably to resist the urge.

"You really feel old when you send your child away. Good luck Shu," the emperor said as he ended the royal court meeting.

"Prince Shu, here is the room where all the gifts are located please place them in your storage bag," the royal guard said as the other one cut up.

"That's a lot. I wonder what they are," Lu Shu admired as he placed over a hundred gifts, of various sizes, into his storage bag.

"Prince Shu, here is your magical beast tiger cub," the second royal guard bowed as he gave the cub to Shu.

"Thank you," Lu Shu said as he seemed like a little child holding a slightly large kitten. "Did it get bigger? I could have sworn it was smaller..."

"We are ordered to take you to the treasury to withdraw more gold. We will wait here for your return," the royal guards bowed as they arrived in front of the treasury.

Lu Shu nodded and fed the tiger some lion wine, causing it to purr happily before sleeping. He laid it on the ground and had Bahamut watch over it as he began piling numerous gold into his storage bag. Satisfied, he left the treasury with his magical beasts and arrived in front of a large teleportation circle inscribed onto the floor of a chamber under heavy guard.

"A temporary teleportation circle has been inscribed in front of the academy. There a member of the royal guard is waiting for you. Once you arrive, he will enter the circle and it will vanish behind him. Good luck, Prince Shu. That academy is the best in its continent, out of eight others. Naturally, students of the other academies will dislike you. Please take care and watch for assassins. Here is the letter of recommendation from your father. Farewell and happy birthday," the royal guard bowed on one knee as he gave a gold envelope to Shu.

"Only home for almost two days and I'm already sent off again. Will I ever spend a week here?" Shu thought, incredulous at his reality while he received the envelope and entered the circle.