Chapter 595: Backing Down

"I can choose any of them?"

Lin Yuan was surprised.

To some extent, the capital city was also a precious land.

It possessed the largest Yang Vein in the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom, making it a cultivation Holy Land for all Experts following the Yang attribute path.

"You may choose three from the resource lands that have not yet been granted."

The Emperor looked at Lin Yuan, shook his head, and said, "Look carefully."

"Alright."

Lin Yuan nodded and looked at the map of the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom's territory.

The territory of the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom was vast and expansive, not limited to a single spatial layer; as long as it fell within its spatiotemporal domain, it belonged to the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom.

"Pick any three from all unclaimed resource lands?"

Crimson Treasure King, standing nearby, was slightly astonished.

The resource lands of the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom were ranked from first-grade to ninth-grade, in descending order.

First-grade lands were the most valuable, while ninth-grade lands had the lowest value.

Normally, when royal family members were granted kingships, they would be bestowed one or two resource lands, but those were usually fourth-grade or fifth-grade lands.

Want to guard a more precious resource land? Sure, exchange merit for it.

But Lin Yuan?

The Emperor meant he could freely choose any three from all currently unclaimed resource lands?

Wouldn't that mean he could directly choose three first-grade resource lands?

Guarding a first-grade land, besides earning merits awarded by the Ancient Kingdom, yielded resources from the land itself that were incomparably precious.

Even if ninety percent was handed over to the Ancient Kingdom, leaving just ten percent, it would still be enough to make Heavenly Venerable level Experts green with envy.

The resources produced by a resource land were not a one-time thing, but a steady, continuous stream.

Certain special resources were invaluable and in high demand; the moment they appeared, they were bought up, impossible to purchase on ordinary days.

"Consider carefully. Resource lands are not necessarily better just because they are more precious."

The Emperor spoke up to remind him.

"Understood."

Lin Yuan nodded.

Why did resource lands require Experts to guard them?

Precisely because one had to bear risks.

These risks stemmed from many reasons. Some lands lay on the border between two Ancient Kingdoms, facing potential invasions from enemy nations.

Other lands connected to certain special dangerous regions, such as a first-grade resource land in the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom called the 'Star Sand River'.

It produced the precious resource Star Sand, a rare Body Refining treasure that was effective even for Heavenly Venerate, highly sought after by Experts of Ancient Countries.

However, the bottom of the Star Sand River connected to a mysterious world, and occasionally powerful creatures from that world would invade along the river.

The guardian of the Star Sand River needed to ensure its safety, allowing a continuous output of Star Sand to be submitted to the Ancient Kingdom.

Of course, overall, the more precious the resource land guarded, the greater the benefits. As for hidden dangers? If a resource land was too dangerous, no matter how precious, no Expert would choose it.

If one guarded a resource land and failed to meet the resource quota required by the Ancient Kingdom, they would be punished. That was why the Emperor advised Lin Yuan to consider carefully.

Lin Yuan observed for a while. In truth, long before coming here, he had already gained a full understanding of the various resource lands in the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom.

After all, any member of the core royal family would be granted one or two resource lands. Lin Yuan figured he wouldn't be an exception, though he hadn't expected the Emperor to let him pick freely.

"Our Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom is in constant war with other Ancient Kingdoms, essentially competing for more precious resource lands."

The Emperor asked with a smile, "Galaxy, have you made up your mind? Which three resource lands will you choose?"

Lin Yuan looked at the numerous glowing spots on the map before him—all the lands available for him to choose. After a moment's thought, he circled the three chosen resource lands.

"Black Jade Nest?" The Emperor and Crimson Treasure King glanced over.

Among the three resource lands Lin Yuan selected, two were first-grade lands and one was a second-grade land.

The Black Jade Nest was one of those two first-grade lands.

The Black Jade Nest produced the special resource black jade, which could temper a living being's mental will.

For Experts, mental will was crucial. Its enhancement of strength was not as direct as that of the Physical Body or Soul, but it was extraordinarily important nonetheless.

It was precisely because of this that the Black Jade Nest was classified as a first-grade resource land.

Lin Yuan had his own reasons for choosing the Black Jade Nest.

The strength of mental will was somewhat similar to rule comprehension, capable of synchronizing between the Chaos Void and this Origin World.

Guarding the Black Jade Nest allowed him to keep ten percent of the black jade produced by this first-grade land, which Lin Yuan could entirely use on himself to temper his own mental will.

As the mental will of his body in the Origin World improved, the mental will of his true body in the Chaos Void would naturally elevate alongside it.

"The Black Jade Nest is located at the border between the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom and the Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom. It is not safe there." The Emperor looked at Lin Yuan thoughtfully.

The black jade from the Black Jade Nest was equally useful to Experts of the Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom. Guarding that land meant being prepared to face invasions from Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom Experts at any time.

"I know."

Lin Yuan nodded.

He had already planned to send one Primordial Spirit to guard the Black Jade Nest long-term.

Generally speaking, conflict between two Ancient Kingdoms rarely involved Heavenly Venerable level combat power unless it escalated into a large-scale or full-blown war.

Although the Black Jade Nest was a precious first-grade land, its full value could only be realized through long-term occupation and a stable harvest of black jade.

Dispatching a Heavenly Venerate to occupy the Black Jade Nest for a short time only to be taken down shortly after by an enemy Heavenly Venerate offered no significant benefit.

Although the strength of one of Lin Yuan's Primordial Spirits was inferior to his true body, it still surpassed normal Limit Core Royal Family members. Guarding the Black Jade Nest with it was more than sufficient.

Besides the Black Jade Nest, the other first-grade resource land was also quite dangerous, and Lin Yuan intended to send another Primordial Spirit to guard it.

As for the final second-grade land, though its resources could not compare to black jade, the risk was low since it lay in the heartland of the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom. Lin Yuan only needed to send an Incarnation to guard it.

"Since you have decided, here are the imperial decrees for those three lands."

The Emperor said, flipping his hand to reveal three crystals.

The aura of these three crystals faintly matched the three lands, acting as the official imperial decrees issued by the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom.

Leaving the imperial palace.

Crimson Treasure King said with some worry, "Galaxy, do you know who is currently guarding the Black Jade Nest on behalf of the Ancient Kingdom?"

Since the Black Jade Nest was located on the border between the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom and the Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom, even if it had not been officially granted to anyone, someone would still be dispatched to temporarily guard it.

Of course, an Expert guarding it temporarily could not earn the usual merits granted for officially guarding a resource land; they could only take ten percent of the resource output.

Even so, given the preciousness of black jade, ten percent was enough to make many Experts covetous.

"It's Chiyang Heavenly Venerate," Crimson Treasure King said.

Although Chiyang Heavenly Venerate was not a royal family member of the Ancient Kingdom, his strength was exceptionally formidable even among Celestial Reverends.

"Would Chiyang Heavenly Venerate dare disobey the Emperor's decree?" Lin Yuan asked, slightly surprised.

He was taking over the Black Jade Nest under imperial decree; would Chiyang Heavenly Venerate dare refuse to yield it?

"He wouldn't dare directly disobey, but many things don't require explicit defiance."

Crimson Treasure King shook his head. "Chiyang Heavenly Venerate has a great demand for black jade, which is why he took on the role of guarding the Black Jade Nest for the Ancient Kingdom."

"He won't dare disobey Your Majesty's decree for you to take over the Black Jade Nest, but he can delay it. Using an impending invasion by the Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom as a pretext, he can completely stall your takeover."

"Every extra period he stalls allows him to harvest another batch of black jade. For Chiyang Heavenly Venerate, this is very worthwhile, and no one can find any grounds to accuse him of disobeying Your Majesty's decree."

Crimson Treasure King explained.

"Well, I've had a few dealings with Chiyang Heavenly Venerate before. I'll accompany you to the Black Jade Nest," Crimson Treasure King said after a moment's thought.

"Thank you, Brother Crimson Treasure." Lin Yuan recognized Crimson Treasure King's goodwill.

Having moved around the Ancient Kingdom for so long, Crimson Treasure King was well aware of many hidden undercurrents. With him present, even if Chiyang Heavenly Venerate wanted to stall, he would have to find a rock-solid justification.

The Black Jade Nest.

As a first-grade resource land of the Blazing Sun Ancient Kingdom, it naturally had a spatiotemporal teleportation array connecting it to the capital city.

*Whoosh~*

A spatiotemporal passage connected to this place, and a red-bearded old man along with a young man stepped out of it.

"At the core of the Black Jade Nest, one hundred catties of black jade condense every million years. Ninety catties are handed over to the Ancient Kingdom, while the guardian keeps ten catties."

Crimson Treasure King explained, "However, according to the information I've gathered, the yield of black jade here exceeds one hundred catties every million years—usually reaching one hundred ten to one hundred twenty catties."

A yield of one hundred catties per million years is merely the minimum output of the Black Jade Nest.

In reality, it is much higher.

And the surplus naturally falls into the hands of the guardian.

On the surface, the guardian receives a ten percent share, but in reality, they get close to twenty percent.

Shortly after Lin Yuan and Crimson Treasure King arrived.

A red-robed man stepped out from the depths of the Black Jade Nest.

A faint flame flickered at the brow of the red-robed man; he was a Clone left here by Chiyang Heavenly Venerate.

"Crimson Treasure."

Chiyang Heavenly Venerate looked calmly at Crimson Treasure King, while sweeping a glance over Lin Yuan standing beside him.

"Chiyang, I have come by Your Majesty's decree alongside Brother Galaxy to take over this Black Jade Nest." Crimson Treasure King directly brought up the Emperor of the Ancient Kingdom.

"Take over the Black Jade Nest?"

Chiyang Heavenly Venerate fell silent. He had also received the decree to yield the Black Jade Nest, so this was no surprise to him.

"Correct."

"Now I have brought Brother Galaxy here."

Crimson Treasure King looked at Chiyang Heavenly Venerate while sending a secret voice transmission to Lin Yuan:

"Brother Galaxy, no matter what excuse Chiyang Heavenly Venerate uses to stall later, do not say a word. Leave everything to me. I refuse to believe he would dare openly defy Your Majesty's decree."

Crimson Treasure King was prepared to thoroughly offend Chiyang Heavenly Venerate; he was determined to help Lin Yuan successfully take over the Black Jade Nest.

If it dragged on? Heaven knows how long it would take, and most importantly, they would be ridiculed by other Celestial Reverends.

"Are you Galaxy?"

Ignoring Crimson Treasure King, Chiyang Heavenly Venerate stared closely at Lin Yuan.

Such dense Blazing Sun aura. Chiyang Heavenly Venerate was secretly alarmed. As a Heavenly Venerate, his perception far exceeded Crimson Treasure King's, and he faintly sensed Lin Yuan's terrifying Foundation and depth.

Forget it. The black jade isn't of much use to me anymore anyway. Given Galaxy's immense strength, he will surely receive the Ancient Kingdom's full cultivation. I might even deal with him in the future, so there's no need to offend him completely.

Chiyang Heavenly Venerate thought to himself. If it were any ordinary royal family member granted kingship, he would certainly stall as much as possible; even if he didn't use the black jade himself, he could sell it.

As for offending them?

Offending an ordinary royal king didn't matter in the least.

But this Galaxy?

Chiyang Heavenly Venerate weighed the pros and cons, knowing when to advance and retreat.

Realizing this, Chiyang Heavenly Venerate spoke in a deep voice, "Since Your Majesty has issued the decree, I shall take my leave now. Brother Galaxy, after taking over this resource land, be mindful of the Profound Yin Ancient Kingdom."