Chapter 197 – Brutal Beastman Marshal vs. White Lotus, Black Lotus, Pitiful Plant Prince (24)
For a hardworking strong individual, Isaiah wouldn’t feel jealous or resentful. She smiled self-deprecatingly, reflecting on how she had brazenly thought she could challenge him.
Their scheduled duel was just three days away, and Isaiah now realized that Mu Jin’s strength was formidable, leaving her with no chance of winning. However, despite this, she had no intention of backing down. She knew clearly that she would likely lose her prized Red fruit.
The shock over Mu Jin’s exam results extended beyond Isaiah; the entire alchemy department was astonished by his top scores. Even the instructors who were aware of Mu Jin’s exceptional talent were surprised.
The professor who had initially claimed Mu Jin was particularly pleased—after all, who wouldn’t want such an outstanding student?
The professors remembered the research materials that Marshal Cromwell had sent over, which were plants Mu Jin had discovered in the forest. This excited the research-focused instructors.
The Beastman Empire desperately needed talent in the field of alchemy, and having such an excellent individual among them made everyone look at Mu Jin with fervent admiration.
Mu Jin’s performance in the exam had elevated his reputation at the Imperial Academy. People who had previously thought he was weak and unworthy of Cromwell began to reconsider.
The military also had its own alchemists, and it was evident that Mu Jin’s results indicated he would become a top-tier alchemist in the future. Having such a talented person as part of their empire and as the Marshal’s partner was undoubtedly a great asset.
His excellent grades and keen eye for discovering new materials promised significant future contributions. If his findings could lead to improved and mass-produced potions, it would undoubtedly save many frontline soldiers’ lives.
Mu Jin was accustomed to being the center of attention and wasn’t particularly affected by it. He was more focused on his upcoming duel with Isaiah, as he was very interested in the Red fruit.
However, the next day, news arrived that the Plant Empire was sending a student exchange group to study and exchange knowledge with the Beastman Empire. This meant that all scheduled duels and other activities at the Imperial Academy were temporarily put on hold.
The Plant Empire had many prestigious schools of its own, and this exchange was bringing a group of elite students. What surprised everyone was that the leader of this delegation was the Plant Empire’s Second Prince, Mu Chen.
Mu Chen’s position in the Plant Empire was very high, and he had recently defeated the highly favored First Princess, Mu Ya, becoming the leading contender for the throne. Unfortunately, his mother had passed away shortly after his victory.
Mu Jin was also surprised by this news, as he had met the Second Prince before leaving and had left his mark in Mu Chen’s mind.
Logically speaking, even though the mark wouldn’t kill him, if his mind wavered, it would be enough to create significant obstacles for him in the fight for the throne. After all, despite the loss of the Empress Dowager, the First Princess and her supporters remained formidable opponents.
So, had the mark lost its effect, or had someone else intervened to help him?
For some reason, the thought of seeing the Second Prince again soon filled Mu Jin with a sense of foreboding1. Even though he didn’t have such intuitive feelings often, for someone who had reached godhood, these intuitions were usually accurate.
Since the Second Prince was leading the elite of the Plant Empire to the Beastman Empire’s Imperial Academy for an exchange, the Beastman Empire naturally had to send a high-ranking representative to greet them. As the current Beastman Emperor had no offspring, this task fell to Cromwell.
Having recently defeated a wave of Zerg and with no urgent battles to command, Cromwell, despite his daily military duties, was in a semi-rest state. Thus, the Emperor entrusted this task to him.
Knowing that his lover would be at the Imperial Academy for this task and that they could see each other often, Mu Jin was quite happy.
Cromwell had access to the first-hand information about the Plant Empire’s delegation, and based on what his lover hinted, it seemed the Plant Empire had ulterior motives beyond a simple exchange.
Previously, the Plant Empire had proposed some trade arrangements. They offered medicinal plants with therapeutic value and even advanced potion recipes to the Beastman Empire.
However, in return, they wanted the Beastman Empire to provide some mechs, along with the related blueprints and knowledge. This proposal was promptly rejected by the Beastman Emperor.
The request was simply absurd. While potions were indeed important, they mainly served defensive and healing purposes. Moreover, the beastmen’s robust physiques meant their own potions, even if not the best, were sufficient.
Mechs, on the other hand, could perfectly compensate for the plant people’s physical weaknesses. Even with limited physical strength, if they could master the mental connection required for operating mechs, who knew if they might develop mechs that didn’t require high physical strength?
A few days later, the protagonist, Bai Qian, woke up. He had been unconscious for five days, which wasn’t a long time. At least, this period of deep sleep had allowed him to awaken the bloodline of the flood dragon more fully. Even though he couldn’t beastify, his body had become more powerful.
However, the first thing he did upon waking was to inquire about Mu Jin’s safety, which made Mu Jin feel that the protagonist of this world was truly a good person!
The protagonist, who inexplicably received a “good person” card: What the heck!
After Bai Qian woke up, Mu Jin even had 003 thoroughly examine his body. Confirming that there were no hidden injuries in the protagonist’s body, he felt relieved.
Due to the bloodline awakening, Bai Qian’s mental strength had also improved, though it hadn’t fully stabilized yet. Mu Jin thought it was a perfect opportunity to have him test the batch of experimental potions he had made to enhance mental strength.
Although being called a “guinea pig” might not sound pleasant, Mu Jin knew that his potions would never harm anyone. As for the taste and any discomfort during consumption…
Seeing Bai Qian’s constipated expression after taking the potion, Mu Jin offered an insincere apology, “Sorry about that, Bai Qian. This is a newly made potion, so there might be some flaws. How do you feel?”
Bai Qian glanced at Mu Jin. While he did feel that the potion had stabilized his mental strength significantly, the taste had been like a chemical explosion in his mouth, causing his eye to twitch. His expression was indescribable.
Seeing this, Mu Jin nodded and decisively decided to improve the flavor of the potion quickly. After all, he couldn’t bear the thought of his beloved Cromwell feeling nauseous and uncomfortable.
Amid this, it was unclear who was trying to intimidate whom, but before the Plant Empire’s delegation arrived, the higher-ups announced that the visiting Plant Empire representatives would engage in a friendly competition with the Beastman Empire.
Although it was called a friendly match, everyone knew it was far from simple. From Cromwell, Mu Jin learned that this competition was actually a covert power struggle among the higher-ups.
Both sides had put forth significant stakes, and the outcome would depend on which side’s younger generation was stronger.
Mu Jin pondered for a moment. He had heard that the Beastman Empire’s various academies held such competitions annually, with each department offering substantial rewards.
For instance, if the alchemy department won, they could receive advanced potion materials or coveted recipes.
The mech combat department victors might not get a new mech, but they could earn the opportunity to be selected by the military, a dream for every mech warrior.
Winners in the mech manufacturing department might get to meet and exchange ideas with master mech makers, possibly obtaining precious blueprints.
This time, if the Plant Empire representatives won, they would have the right to compete for these prizes alongside the Beastman Empire. They also offered equivalent rewards, meaning the overall prizes for this competition would be doubled.
Mu Jin doubted that the Plant Empire’s focus was on joining the military. Considering their previous proposal for a mech trade, they were likely more interested in the rewards related to mech manufacturing and blueprints.
To persuade the Beastman Empire, the Plant Empire had offered advanced potion recipes, plant materials, and even the expertise of plant cultivation professors.
The more generous the Plant Empire’s rewards, the more cautious Mu Jin became. Those plant people weren’t fools. They offered these rewards to claim the competition’s prizes from the Beastman Empire. Mu Jin suspected they might have some hidden tricks up their sleeves, despite their typically weaker physiques.
When the Plant Empire’s delegation arrived, Mu Jin, as a prince of the Plant Empire and Cromwell’s partner, had to be at the forefront to welcome them. Especially since he was studying alchemy at the Imperial Academy, greeting the delegation was his duty.
As the moment to meet the Plant Empire’s Second Prince approached, Cromwell recalled that Mu Chen had always been considered a pillar of support by Mu Jin. Mu Chen had even given Mu Jin a potion recipe to win Cromwell’s favor, making Cromwell wary of Mu Chen’s presence.
Cromwell had interacted with Second Prince Mu Chen before and found him extremely hypocritical. His instincts made him repelled by such a person, and he was reluctant to get close.
Note :
- “Foreboding” refers to a feeling or sense that something bad or harmful is going to happen. It’s an intuitive or anticipatory sense of impending trouble or danger. ↩︎