The Rise of the Black Plain

'Level 77, huh? I heard that he could use a variant ability that steals the cultivation base of his opponents... So his strength is actually level 79.

But he also has quite powerful techniques and was already able to defeat well-equipped and well-originated cultivators some levels above his own.

Hmm, he's probably as strong as a level 81 Spiritual Sage with the same background as mine.' This woman pondered, considering the information she had about Minos. 'Humph, I doubt he's any better than Caldwell!'

As Hope thought about it, Minos and the level 79 elders realized that these people were already aware of the Spiritual Sages of their strength.

However, what that woman had to say interested all of them as the Emperor of the Flaming Empire had never gotten enough to send people to the Continental Tournament, so the most he had done was to bet on this competition.

The Continental Tournament required that only competitors capable of manipulating space, usually those at the 9th stage or stronger, be sent. But there was an age limit, so usually only Spiritual Sages participated in this tournament.

States without people at this cultivation stage couldn't send participants and, at most, could bet on competitors from other forces.

The focus of the tournament was on betting. Still, it was risky to bet on competitors from other forces because people like that could either compete to win or lose. Only their superiors would know their goal.

At the same time, this tournament allowed for some kinds of outside help, something that favored the stronger states with more experienced cultivators.

Because of this, the Flaming Empire never had exciting results in the Continental Tournament since only Emperor Edwardstone had the necessary strength to compete, and he would never do that.

People would die competing in that tournament!

While those people had her words in mind, Minos said. "That sounds interesting... Let's talk in a more appropriate place."

He then led those people to a comfortable place inside Dry City, where those visitors coming from Sista noticed the local quality, impressed, even though this place was inferior to their homeland.

After a few moments, they returned to talk about the reason for their visit.

Hope said. "Her Majesty wishes the Black Plain Empire to prepare its strongest cultivators in the coming decades and choose 2 to join our group.

We will jointly participate in the Continental Tournament, and thus we can improve our chances of victory by betting on our competitors."

Queen Sista was not doing this to help the Black Plain Empire but to benefit herself through it. In her vision, Minos would reach the 9th stage in the time left until the tournament, which might make it possible for him to compete.

If he did this, she would bet on the group formed between him and her representatives to win the biggest prizes in the competition!

Minos realized what the purpose of those people was and said. "Well, I am very interested in joining this competition alongside Sista. Betting together with Her Majesty would also be an honor."

"But?" That level 88 man realized that a 'but' was coming next and asked before Minos said anything further.

"But we need to clarify a few things before we move on."

"What are you talking about?" Hope asked.

"I have no interest in participating in the Continental Tournament as a competitor. Instead, I will do so as head of state, betting with the other continental leaders."

At these words from Minos, the three frowned, looking at him strangely.

He would need to have vast amounts of high-grade crystals to bet with the continental leaders. In fact, this was one of the other reasons why the results of the Flaming Empire were never attractive. Harold didn't have that many free crystals to bet with.

Another reason was that these leaders bet a lot of crystals because they sent their most capable and talented Spiritual Sages to compete, something that gave them good pointers on how to bet.

Nothing better than knowing the horse competing!

If Minos did not participate as a competitor, it would be tough for him to join this competition with any real chance of winning a continental leader-level bet.

In other words, his words showed that he was in for something hazardous!

"Your Majesty, are you sure about this? You're not going to send anyone reliable to the Continental Tournament?" Hope asked, finding Minos' interests strange but not the least bit dissatisfied.

Her older brother, Caldwell, was one of Sista's competitors who would lose his spot on the queen's team because of the Black Plain Empire.

So Minos not wanting to participate was not so bad for her!

Her family would at least have one more chance to regain Coldwell's spot through this!

Minos then asked, smiling, "Who says I won't send anyone I can trust? I will send my children to the Continental Tournament."

Gulp!

The people there swallowed their saliva, feeling this could only be a joke or the words of a crazy person.

Everyone there knew that Sarah was only at the 6th stage. To make matters worse, Kendrick hadn't even started cultivating!

How could they join this competition that was supposed to take place in less than 46 years?

They could certainly become Spiritual Saints in that time, but advancing to the 9th stage in such a short time would be tricky.

Minos himself was a cultivation genius, but he was only at level 77 at the age of 49. But they weren't sure if he would advance beyond the beginning of the 9th stage to the Continental Tournament, so how would these young people reach that stage in the meantime?

"Your Majesty must be joking..." The level 88 man said, smiling. "It is impossible for these two to manipulate space in the time remaining until the tournament."

"Is that so?" Minos smiled.

He then showed one of his hands to those three visitors and focused his energies on his fingers. He then simultaneously activated his techniques related to the Spatial Laws, almost like a fusion.

When he did this, Minos surprised those three with how strong his techniques were and his energy reserves.

But before they could think more about it, the space between Minos' fingers suddenly began to open, as a wormhole appeared to everyone's surprise, including the six level 79 Spiritual Saints.

Minos said as those three experts stood up, shocked. "If I can do this while I am only one Spiritual Saint, I guarantee my children will also be able to."

Minos' hand reached across the space, and he then grabbed the hairpin on the head of that level 85 woman, who was not quick enough to notice his movement.

As he showed it to her after retracting his hand, Minos saw the eyes of those people open to the limit, as if they saw a monster in his place.

But that had been monstrous!

8th stage cultivators shouldn't be able to do that!

'How is that possible?' Hope exclaimed to her elders through her mental connection with them, not understanding how that had happened.

'I don't know... I've never heard of a Spiritual Saint being able to do that.' The level 88 man said, also incredulous.

...