Chapter 34: Mobilizations All Around, with the Autumn Imperial Hunt Approaching
Zhou Rong, seeing how things stood, summarized the situation roughly.
The Autumn Imperial Hunt was a special event in the Great Qian Empire, exclusively for royal offspring.
In past years, it hadn’t attracted much attention — at most a display, a show of each prince’s personal might.
Gu Fan called it a “muscle‑show.”
But this year, the old emperor had issued a decree.
The Autumn Hunt was an unchanging royal tradition.
Whoever managed to stand out during it would stake a claim on the Crown Prince’s position.
Once those words came out, everyone understood the meaning.
The winner would become the next Crown Prince of the Great Qian Empire!
“Anyway, Gentlemen, there are only two criteria in the Autumn Hunt,” Zhou Rong announced. “One, the number of spirit beasts hunted. Two, the number of surviving team members.”
Lin Yi frowned. “That means we’re at a big disadvantage — it’s just the two of us, Brother Gu and me.”
Gu Fan laughed. “Why panic? The Hunt restricts each prince to selecting only five people. I’m not boasting, but out of the younger generation of the Five Righteous Sects, any five are no match for us two. We’ll just kill them all!”
Lin Yi thought it over.
“That’s right. If the others die out, we can clean up the rest ourselves. I’d really been thinking poorly.”
Zhou Rong, listening nearby, felt a chill. Wouldn’t the simplest method be to let the other teams fight first, and then seize the opportunity? Kill them all… Wasn’t that a bit extreme? After all, the pair would be going against fifteen geniuses from the Righteous Path!
“That’s decided. All we’ll do is kill anyone we see.”
“It must be! Brother Gu, you speak the truth!”
Watching the two plan so casually, Zhou Rong felt stunned.
“…That’s it?”
“Your Highness need not worry. Once we kill every opponent, how important is the number of beasts we hunt?”
Seeing them brimming with confidence, Zhou Rong had no choice but to grit his teeth and nod.
There was no other option but to rely on these two youths for now.
When he returned to the palace last night, he had immediately paid respects to his mother. Her answer was unequivocal: she trusted the plan on the scroll without conditions.
So today, he silently allowed the two to slaughter his five men — not a word of complaint.
“In that case, the Autumn Hunt this time depends entirely on you two!”
“Your Highness, don’t be polite. Ready the spirit stones — we'll claim them when we return!”
…Meanwhile, in the residences of several princes, disciples from the Five Righteous Sects had prepared, waiting for the official start.
This was not only a mission from their sects, but also a golden opportunity to showcase themselves, gain fame and reward.
In the Crown Prince’s mansion, Prince Zhou Jing sat in the center seat, flanked by five genius disciples of Shangqing Sect.
“Gentlemen, the Autumn Hunt begins tomorrow. I ask for your support,” he addressed them.
The first senior brother from Shangqing, seated to his right, Lian Huo, smiled. “Your Highness, rest assured. With the five of us here, we will subdue any opponent, no matter who they are.”
“Exactly. Even among the Righteous Five Sects, there are differences in strength.”
Prince Zhou Jing wore a pleased smile. If Shangqing Sect lacked strength, he would never have paid so high a price to bring them here!
At present, these geniuses were satisfying expectations. Especially the five talents participating this time — each around the eighth layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.
The leading senior brother was said to be on the verge of Primordial Yang Realm. A cultivation level truly among the elite of their peer group!
“But you must also watch out for one more opponent — that would be my second younger brother’s team.”
At mention of this, the expressions of the Shangqing disciples immediately darkened.
During this time, the most frustrating thing was that Shangqing Sect’s outpost had been attacked!
The legend among the Five Righteous Sects was that, apart from the Fourth Prince’s team who fled early, all the others were wiped out.
And the ones who did it were disciples of Heavenly Evil Sect—none other than the recently infamous “Demonic Twin Stars”!
“Hmph. Your Highness, rest assured—the Demonic Twin Stars only dared act because we weren’t at our outpost.”
“Indeed. As our senior brother said, they only struck because we were absent. As long as they dare participate in the Autumn Imperial Hunt, we’ll let them know the consequences of offending Shangqing Sect!”
The others chimed in, bolstering the Fourth Prince’s confidence.
“Excellent. Then I preemptively wish you all a triumphant return!”
…
At the Third Prince’s mansion.
Zhou Sheng raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.
“Gentlemen! The Autumn Hunt has set the tone for the Crown Prince contest. Frostwind Tower and Jialan Gate are my most important allies—this time, I rely on you entirely!”
Five young disciples—dressed in their sect robes—lifted their cups in salute.
“Your Highness, rest assured. Shangqing Sect is strong, but together, our two sects will sweep them away!”
The lead disciple from Jialan Gate spoke, and then the lead from Frostwind Tower added:
“Exactly. We will assist Your Highness in securing the Crown Prince’s seat!”
They all then drank to the last drop.
Only then did Zhou Sheng continue:
“Apart from my eldest brother’s side, you must also watch out for my useless second brother. Rumor has it that the two from Heavenly Evil Sect have already joined him; beware—they’re no weaklings!”
“Hmph! Your Highness, rest easy. At Frostwind Tower and Jialan Gate, we were caught off guard last time and lost many juniors—we must avenge that in the Autumn Hunt!”
Zhou Sheng nodded. He had already found out: the Second Prince had declared his participation in the Autumn Hunt—meaning Zhou Rong was officially joining the Crown Prince competition.
Unfortunately, his second brother’s retainers were mostly trash.
Aside from the Demonic Twin Stars, none were of use!
Here, these were the geniuses of their sects—it would be five against two, and still a manageable advantage!
With that thought, Zhou Sheng felt much relieved.
…
At the Fourth Prince Zhou Qin’s mansion.
Zhou Qin cut to the chase—he slapped his palms, and five storage pouches were brought before the five disciples from Liuli Court and Chiyang Palace.
“Five of you—I, Zhou Qin, am straightforward, so no fluff: the thousand spirit stones in these bags are for you to get started!”
The disciples of Liuli Court and Chiyang Palace looked at Zhou Qin in unison and declared:
“Your Highness, rest assured. We will do our best to support you—the Crown Prince position will surely be yours!”
“Hahaha—excellent! Thank you, everyone!”
…
While the other princes were rallying support for the Autumn Hunt…
The Second Prince had long finished his discussions.
At this moment, Gu Fan had returned to the apocalyptic world, enjoying the attentive service of sultry Nurse Xia Yan.
Gu Fan was sitting by a pool of blood, observing the purple Evil Lotus.
He leaned his body against Xia Yan’s soft thigh, relishing her feeding him.
“This dragon fruit is nice—did you grow it yourselves?”
“Of course! Dragon fruit grows quickly—one to two months to bear fruit. And there will be more fruits later—you’ll be able to eat them next time you come back.”
Gu Fan nodded in satisfaction.
In this apocalypse world, a shelter where one could eat fruit—that had to be one-of-a-kind.