I Can Extract Divine Power

Chapter 329 - 150: The 3rd Prince’s Gift

At the Yunxi State booth, Ouyang Sword saw the cold smirk on Shen Bai’s face and couldn’t help but lean over curiously.

"Brother Shen, what on earth do these madmen want?"

Everyone knew just how crazy those people from Xinhua Academy were.

They were infamous throughout the Great Zhou Country and even beyond its borders.

Ouyang Sword knew Shen Bai had offended a member of Xinhua Academy, but he never expected them to track him down all the way here, to a place like Yunxi State.

Shen Bai placed the letter on the table, pushed it in front of Ouyang Sword, and said, "Take a look. This guy even gave me a multiple-choice question."

"A multiple-choice question?"

With a puzzled expression, Ouyang Sword picked up the letter and began to read it carefully.

Lines of casually written text seemed to leap off the page.

[Lord Shen, long time no see. We meet again. Last time, you ruined my plan, and I’ve been holding a grudge about it ever since.]

[Of course, if my plan was ruined, it was ruined. It was just one of my insignificant little research projects, after all.]

The opening was a rather formal pleasantry, but coming from one of the madmen of Xinhua Academy, it took on a mocking tone.

Ouyang Sword pondered for a moment before continuing to read.

The next section got to the main point.

[I felt an instant kinship with Lord Shen, and I’m very interested in you. But you really, really shouldn’t have interfered with my research, Lord Shen, no matter how insignificant it was.]

[I still poured my heart and soul into it. And I’m the type of person who always repays a grudge. So now, I’ll give you a very simple choice.]

[This internal assessment is a very serious affair. During it, I will execute a truly shocking plan.]

[There’s no harm in telling you in advance; it’s not like you can catch me. But before I do, I want you to withdraw from this internal assessment.]

[The reason is simple, really: I just don’t want to see you there. So, in exchange, after this internal assessment is over, I’ll focus solely on dealing with you and leave your friends alone.]

[Qin Shuang and Zhou Qing are your good friends, I believe? Your choice is simple.]

[Participate in the internal assessment. After my plan is finished, I will focus all my attention on dealing with those two.]

[Don’t participate in the internal assessment. Don’t cause trouble for me, and I’ll leave them alone. I’d imagine a person like you will choose the second option. After all, they’re the only two friends you have in the entire Great Zhou Country.]

And with that, the letter ended.

Ouyang Sword placed the letter on the table, his expression turning extremely grave. "Brother Shen, this is a threat. He’s using Qin Shuang and Zhou Qing to blackmail you into withdrawing from the internal assessment."

Shen Bai nodded. "Of course I see it. It’s obvious he wants to use this as leverage to make me give up the internal assessment so he can carry out his plan smoothly."

It was so obvious, a blind man could see it.

Ouyang Sword thought for a moment, then asked, "So, Brother Shen, how are you going to choose?"

Two choices lay before Shen Bai.

If he participated in the internal assessment, Wang Tianxing would undoubtedly go after his two friends once this was over.

Neither Qin Shuang nor Zhou Qing possessed Shen Bai’s level of strength. If they were truly targeted by the people from Xinhua Academy, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But if Shen Bai were to give up the internal assessment, this whole arduous trip would be for nothing.

Furthermore, Wang Tianxing’s plan would likely succeed in Shen Bai’s absence.

The choice this man laid before him was a clear ultimatum: he could only pick one.

Shen Bai glanced back at the bustling scene around them and said faintly, "You might be thinking about this the wrong way."

Ouyang Sword was taken aback. He didn’t understand what Shen Bai meant. "What am I thinking about wrong? Isn’t it obvious? He gave you two options. Don’t tell me you’re still going to choose the first one and participate in the internal assessment, Brother Shen?"

As Ouyang Sword saw it, since those were Shen Bai’s only two friends, he would surely choose not to participate in the internal assessment.

But based on what Shen Bai had just said, it seemed he was going to participate after all.

If that was the case, wouldn’t he be disregarding their very lives?

Although Ouyang Sword had only known Shen Bai for a short time, he had gotten to know him a little during this period.

Shen Bai would move heaven and earth to help a friend.

But against an enemy, the sword in his hand was just as sharp.

That was why Ouyang Sword believed Shen Bai would choose the second option.

Shen Bai spoke slowly, "Brother Ouyang, have you ever considered why we should believe a single word from a member of Xinhua Academy?"

Ouyang Sword froze for a second, then realization dawned on his face.

"I understand. You’re saying that even if you don’t participate in the internal assessment, there’s a good chance Wang Tianxing will still go after your two friends once this is over."

Shen Bai nodded. "Exactly. In that case, he’d truly achieve a win-win—for himself. He’d win twice, and I won’t let that happen."

Ouyang Sword fell into deep thought. After a moment, he asked, "Since you plan to participate in the internal assessment, Brother Shen, you must use this opportunity to capture Wang Tianxing. Otherwise, furious and humiliated, he will absolutely make a move against them."

Shen Bai nodded. "Don’t worry. Now that I’ve made my decision, I will be sure to catch him this time. He won’t survive this internal assessment."