Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

"Senior, you're too kind."

"Greetings, Third Elder."

The emperors of the Fragment Continent were somewhat flattered.

They had originally assumed that the important figures from the Main Continent would be arrogant, looking down upon them as mere "native" emperors. Yet, to their surprise, the Third Elder was quite courteous.

This was, after all, an elder of the Purple Cloud Academy! Based on their assumptions, this figure was likely a peak emperor, possibly even a quasi-emperor!

"Haha, there's no need for such formality," Yu Linzi said with a smile. "In any world, those who stand at the peak are deserving of respect, true strong individuals."

He continued, "Perhaps our cultivation levels differ, but that's only because I was born in the Main Continent, where the resources and environment are far superior. If I had struggled in the same conditions as all of you, I might not be as accomplished."

Hearing this, many present felt a subtle sense of shock.

His words made sense, but few were capable of expressing such humility. After all, in a world where strength reigned supreme, acknowledging others' strengths took considerable courage.

Instantly, the emperors' impressions of this Third Elder from the Purple Cloud Academy improved, and much of their previous wariness dissipated.

Yu Linzi scanned the crowd, his smile never wavering. "As previously mentioned, the purpose of the Purple Cloud Academy's visit to this Fragment Continent is to recruit the most talented young individuals and bring them to the Main Continent. Of course, all of this is based on voluntary participation."

"Moreover, should any of you wish to join the Purple Cloud Academy, our doors will be open to you as well."

The crowd grew silent upon hearing this.

The academy was extending an olive branch to them, but should they accept it?

It was a complicated decision.

Having lived for so long, none of them were naïve enough to believe that entering the Main Continent would automatically lead to a brighter future with endless opportunities.

On the contrary, they were very pragmatic.

Their first thought was to consider what position they would hold if they entered the Main Continent.

Here, in the Four Domains, they were legendary figures, standing high above the masses and wielding supreme authority. But on the Main Continent? Where powerhouses were as numerous as the clouds, even emperors were commonplace. How would they measure up there?

The natural rise in standards would surely result in the loss of their current status and authority, reducing them to individuals who would have to curry favor with others just to survive. While they wouldn't necessarily be at the bottom, they would no longer command the same level of respect they enjoyed here.

As for their future prospects…

Most of them had reached emperorhood by breaking through the Fifth Heavenly Saint realm, their potential already nearing its limit. They lacked the qualifications to become quasi-emperors. Even if they were at the same realm as others, they often found themselves inferior. A Third Tribulation Emperor who had ascended from the Seventh Heavenly Saint realm was far stronger than one who had ascended from the Fifth.

Thinking about this, they hesitated.

Cultivators always sought to see a broader world and explore farther horizons, but often… it was better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

As the saying went, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but going from luxury to frugality is difficult.

If they had never tasted the sweetness of being at the top, bowing their heads to others might not seem too bad. But once they had experienced the brilliance of being at the pinnacle, how could they stand to be insignificant?

"Senior, if we choose not to join the Purple Cloud Academy, can we still accompany you to the Main Continent?"

One reclusive emperor spoke up.

Yu Linzi paused, then said with some difficulty, "Though this world may be but a fragment, it has long since become its own complete realm. The stronger one is, the more difficult it is to enter or leave this world..."

His words were tactful, but the meaning was clear.

Bringing them to the Main Continent would come at a cost, and if they weren't going to join the Purple Cloud Academy, the academy had no reason to bear that cost for them. After all, they were strangers, meeting by chance.

In fact, if the Purple Cloud Academy were a bit more temperamental, they might have taken offense—"What do you mean by not joining us? Are we not good enough for you?"

"What if we were to pay for our own passage?" the large monk suddenly suggested, his eyes gleaming with calculation.

He had his own plans.

As a Seventh Heavenly Saint Emperor, he had a chance of becoming a quasi-emperor if he was lucky enough on the Main Continent. Then, he could establish himself and even reign supreme over a decently sized region!

Yu Linzi hesitated for a moment before saying, "There is no precedent for this… but I am inclined to forge goodwill. Alright, I'll offer you a fair deal… Five emperor artifacts."

A collective intake of breath filled the air.

The entire crowd fell silent, though internally, everyone was exclaiming at the absurd price.

Five emperor artifacts was a fortune! Some emperors had one or two, but five? That would be financially crippling, even selling off everything might not suffice.

Nevertheless, while the price was shocking, no one openly gasped or showed their shock. After all, they were emperors, and decorum was important. In positions of high authority, maintaining composure was key.

A person's poise often depends less on their absolute strength and more on their relative status in a particular environment.

For example, a Sacred Saint in the Eastern Domain might be insignificant, merely a servant or guard, thinking only of how to please their master, not concerned with pride. They might even kneel if necessary.

However, in the Nine Suns Empire, a Sacred Saint was a legendary figure, occupying a high position. They would hold their dignity in the highest regard, choosing death over submission.

This explained why, in smaller regions, the seemingly "lowly" had sharper minds than those in larger, more powerful regions.

Those "lowly" figures ruled their small domains.

Meanwhile, the great powers of large regions were often no more than dogs, subject to the whims of greater forces.

And the thinking of rulers versus the thinking of dogs? It was naturally different.

Qin Chuan, observing Yu Linzi, couldn't help but smirk inwardly—what a clever old fox, pretending not to profit. Was this a charity for the viewers at home?

Five emperor artifacts.

Anyone with half a brain could see that the elder was being extortionate, but who would dare speak up?

His status gave him the power to demand such a price, and ultimately, it was a deal between consenting parties. What was there to complain about?

"Alright, five emperor artifacts it is. Please, Senior, help us," the large monk said, grimacing slightly, but as a wealthy individual, he could afford to take the hit.

He handed over five emperor artifacts.

"I'd like to go as well. Please assist me, Senior," Qin Chuan sighed. Though he typically avoided losing out on deals, joining the Purple Cloud Academy was out of the question for him.

Given his current strength, he wouldn't be able to secure a high position in the academy, and doing so would only restrict his freedom.

Better to forge his own path!

"I also wish to go. I appreciate your help, Senior," an elderly emperor, clearly nearing the end of his lifespan, handed over five emperor artifacts. His wealth seemed to have been accumulated over many long years.

It was evident he had little ambition left.

He simply wished to see more of the world before his time ran out.

Several more emperors followed suit, handing over their artifacts. Yu Linzi collected over forty emperor artifacts in total, making a handsome profit.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a figure clad in sword light crashed through the labyrinth, landing heavily on the white jade plaza.

The first to successfully pass the trial had emerged!

This person had a tall, commanding presence, sharp features, and despite his white robes being soaked with blood, he radiated an aura of lethal resolve. He held a long sword in his hand, its aura terrifying.

"That's… Senior Brother Zhao?!"

Qin Zi's eyes widened in shock. This person was none other than the long-absent First Disciple of the Seven Martial Sects—Zhao Yunsheng!