A Threefold Trap

"...That is more than a few!"

"You are correct by a technicality. Those problems stem from one cause though. And that is Pride. So one problem. The excursions through the mortal planes, every few years, chipped off some of that pride. But he hasn't changed much in the grander scheme of things.

And I know my Prince Well. Using his full strength to win has always been a humiliation. And losing while using his full strength will be a major blow to his Impeccable Dao Heart. I'd rather him experience that blow now than later.

I spoke with the Emperor already. I don't have to swoop in unless his life is on the line by being far stronger than him," Elder Cai shook his head while explaining.

" So this isn't a simple connection disruption? " Elder Bohai asked.

" Far from it. I'd call it an elaborate trap. The Emperor saw this day come more than a few days ago. The Imperial Family has been compromised and someone is working with a Spectral," said Elder Cai.

" Who dares do such a thing? What does one gain from working with one of this unnatural beings? We come from completely different worlds."

"The reasons? There are far too many to count. But one of them is power. Within the same Realm, your average Spectral is far stronger than your average cultivator. If it weren't for our array and formation expertise we wouldn't be able to slowly trickle down their numbers. We might catch a few big shots in one swell swoop by the twenty-eighth day," Elder Cai said.

Elder Cai opened his eyes and took out a few tea-making utensils from his spatial ring. On the table, a jade teapot, a white jade teacup, and various herbs and spirit herbs appeared. He summoned a thread of quintessence from the void and used it to make water. Then he poured the water into the jade teapot. Next, he threw in a few herbs and spiritual herbs. The last herb he put in was known as Void Flower. It was a herb that only grew in the centre most garden of the Imperial Castle on Monarch. One of its most prominent effects was supplementing one's understanding of the Void as well as Strengthening the connection between the Mindscape and the Soul for cultivators below the God Realm. A perfect ingredient for the Young Master's tea.

"I see. Brother Cai, is that the reason why they chose Gaia as the trial grounds? After all it's one of the few odd planets in existence. Where else have you heard of a mortal planet that exists within a Transdimension. That is something unique in its own right. "

" The common consensus amongst the various historians and archeologists is that Gaia was the personal domain of a Chaos Lord," Elder Cai said.

The trial grounds the Spectral Haven Sect chose this time around was one of the most unique planets in all existence. Mortal planets don't and can't exist within a Transdimensional. Mortal planets broke down once they found themselves seeping from one boundary to the next. Seeping into an Immortal Dimension was impossible for a mortal planet. Yet they found one that existed perfectly within a Transdimensional. That left more questions than answers.

"So is this all an act?"

"Not at all Brother Bohai. Right now. Only four people know of this plan outside the Emperor. Me. You. Vice-Sect Master. And the Sect Master. There is a traitor amongst us," safe Elder Cai.

"So why are you telling this only now?"

Elder Cai ignored his question and grabbed a few nuts from the golden bowl in the center of the table. He didn't continue the conversation and turned his focus to chewing the nuts. Once his mouth was drenched with the lovely scent of the nuts, he finished making Long Wei's tea and stored it in his spatial ring.

"Have a sit. And relax. Oh. The Young Prince officially lost a battle for the first time since he was born. Perfect," Elder Cai chuckled.

"The Young Prince actually lost? Is that even possible? Who can match his combat prowess in the Mortal Realms?"

"The person is not that impressive. It's a Demon. One of the Spectrals. And no. He didn't match the Prince in raw power. That is impossible. He simply used overwhelming experience. The Prince was destined to lose this battle the moment he didn't use his entire cultivation base to squash his opponent," Elder Cai shook his head in disappointment.

His mind was torn between two thoughts about the Prince's dilemma. One, he was happy that the Prince finally learned what loss was. Second, he hoped that the Prince would have done better.

"Was it the pond? Just before the live stream was interrupted, the Prince absorbed some of the liquid to derive a technique… it can't be. The Prince lost in a way very few would see coming," Elder Bohai fell into thought," I recall this method was used countless times two Chaos Cycles ago. It was by one of the Spectrals. Wasn't it Violet? Violet, the Eternal Blazing Flame of Wrath? One of the Seven Deadly Sins of Non-existence. Wait, he is there on the trial grounds?"

Spectrals were beings that came from an entirely different plane of existence commonly called The Non-Existent Plane by cultivators. Everything was no different to The Existent Pane except for one thing major thing, they weren't under the Heavenly Dao's rule, rather they were beings ruled by another Dao that was more malevolent and less neutral when compared to the Heavenly Dao.

"He's not the only one. And he is far from the strongest."

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Trial Grounds:

Long Wei

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Long Wei opened his eyes to a pounding headache. The pain had his Mindscape trapped in an intricate web of agony. Running a single thought through it slammed against the boundaries of his mind.

His vision cleared.

The crackling of flame to his left drew his attention to Frankenstein, who sat next to the flame and warmed his hands. The man had a bright smile on his purple face. A beautiful melody slithered from his lips as he hummed an ancient folk song from his home world.

"~Ah…"

Pain slapped away his thoughts of circulating his qi to blast off Frankenstein.

"Don't bother. It will take a while for you to fully come to. After absorbing that much crystal essence. The glowing blue liquid from the pond if you remember," Frankenstein spoke in a lovely tone as if he and Long Wei were long-lost friends that recently reconnected.

"Oh…I… lost," Long Wei whispered.

In the same realm. He lost. In the same fucking realm, he lost. The bit of energy he gathered left his body in seconds. Was he still worthy of the title of the Crown Prince? Was he lost in the same realm? Father… What would his father think? Why?

His body started shivering uncontrollably. He dug his hand into the ground beneath. What would his mother think? If she heard that he lost? To someone restricted to the same realm as him?

"....that's about the reason why I thought it was best to Cooperate with you rather than kill you. What do you think? Are you willing to join us?"

"Huh?"

Frankenstein frowned.

"You didn't hear what I said? "

"You were speaking?"

"What's wrong with you? Once you wake up from a Crystal Essence overdose you should be able to think at the very least understand. Wait…oh. Oh!" Frankenstein blasted into laughter, "It happens you should get used to it. Losing is something you should learn to appreciate. This won't be the last time."

"I'm different. I, never lose."

Long Wei felt his energies flow back into him. And when they did, he simply made himself smaller after sitting up. He dragged his knees into his chest and wrapped his arms around them…

____________

"Your talent. It's something this section of Existence hasn't seen in Chaos Cycles. But remember. Talent won't make you strong. Hard work does. Your Eldest brother is only in his early two thousand yet he is already a God Realm Expert. That is what talent paired with hard work is.

In the future don't make a mockery of my name by failing. You are the hope of this Empire. And I expect you to live like it," a deep voice rushed to Long Wei's ears.

Long Wei lay on the floor, his chest rising up and down like waves rolling up and down during high tide.

"In the same realm of cultivation. You are unbeatable. Don't ever let anyone best you…"

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