Writer's Note:

Chapter 17: Reaching an Accord

"Our training is finally over! Hell yeah!" Lu Jing screamed to the sky, the other seven sighing as they heard him.

"This kid actually survived, even reaching late Spirit Forming," Yang yawned as he appeared from his repaired dorm room. He had been practicing his serpent dragon shifting and his snakes total length was seventy feet long and five feet thick. It seemed to be the limit of the Element Adept transformation. If he could, he would sleep in that form too as it felt all too familiar and comfortable. Almost.

The serpent dragon form got rid of the catfish whisker, the hair mane over his entire body replaced with and dragon beard. It looked more like a snake now, but its deer horns had changed into three horns, two on the sides of his head while another was at the top of his head. It seemed even his serpent dragon form was like his lost snake form, constantly improving and evolving.

"Late Element Adept and only 14 years old," Guan Hai noted as he stared at Yang. The boy was too talented, even for a poison cultivator as he did not seem to consume new kinds of poisons like they did. Guo Mei and Guo Lin were middle Element Adepts. The oldest triplet was surprisingly talented.

However, the most powerful was Guo Lin. For some reason, the boy actually awakened his Yin Yang Divine Tattoos power and not even most poisons affected him. Guo Lin combined fire and earth to make lava, earth and water to make mud, augmented his fire with wind, and was even able to fuse his four elements into an unstoppable force. His growth seemed to rival his siblings. Still, Yang always won his spars against both triplets.

"No matter how powerful I get, I can never beat you," Lin grumbled after Yang knocked him into a wall.

"Sure, you invent new ways to use your elements, but you keep inventing without implementing them into your combat style. Its like giving a baby dozens of swords: utter waste of time and resources," Yang answered. "What's the point of learning new methods if you can't even use them effectively? That is the risk of learning too many element spirit techniques."

"Like you don't?" Lin replied.

"I know sixteen element arts, each with their own specific use that do not coincide with each other," Yang answered.

"Sixteen? I only remember counting fourteen," Mei frowned. "Stone Breaker, Moon Slicer, Snake Specter, Light Puppet, Coiling Spirit Drain, Viper's Dominance, Paralysis Mist Breath, Pulse Rock Wave, Jade Poison Desolation Spear, Frost Snake Prison, Forbidden Sky Poison Armor, Terra Destroyer, Mirror Mirage, and Soaring Volt Dragon Arts."

"You kept count?" Yang laughed, scratching the back of his head as the others and Guan Hai never saw the ice, lightning, and poison art he used to kill the Meteor Vessel practitioner he called the Disintegration Lance Art and one he invented and could only use in his serpent dragon form. It was a lightning and ice art known as the Slaughtering Dragon Art.

"What are the other two?" Lin asked.

"Other one. It's actually fifteen," Yang said as he pretended to count with his fingers. "And you don't want to know. Frankly, it would strike fear and horror toward all poison cultivators as it is the ultimate goal of all poison art."

"Incurable, invincible poison that kills you almost instantly with a single moment of contact," Shen Dong answered as he appeared with Sima Qing and Shen Hua, Lin Dong glancing at Sima Qing. Yang sighed as Lin still didn't figure out Qing's true identity.

"Hi Qing," Lin smiled.

"Hello Guo Lin," Qing nodded back.

"Forget this idiot, how did you know about that?" Mei asked Shen Dong.

"Shen Hua and I live in the palace. Swords and practitioner arts aren't the only dangers in the world. Sometimes, it is a borrowed sword or poison. Some are untraceable and undetectable, but take too much time. A poison that is not only quick, but incurable, is the ultimate poison. There wouldn't be enough time to prove it could be cured and no time to save the victim," Shen Dong answered.

"The six of you agreed to help my cousin become the next emperor. Don't worry, we will ensure you are justly rewarded at the end," Shen Hua said, staring at Mei and Yang in particular.

------Three Days Ago, at Sima Qing's Room------------

"Your Highness, it seems that Guo Mei and Guo Yang are approaching," Guan Hai said as he was in the room with the three royals. Shortly after, they heard two knocks on the door.

"Who is it?" Qing asked.

"We all know it is me and my elder sister. Just let us in, princess," Yang answered. "I hate the rain, rain during the night especially.

"Please sit," Qing said as Yang and Mei were let into the room by Guan Hai, Mei jealous of how spacial the room was. It was more like eight dorm rooms combined into one giant living space.

"Nice room you got here," Mei observed as she and Yang sat on the couch.

"Would you like some tea?" Guan Hai asked.

"We came here for business. Imperial business. Matters in regard to your father, uncle in regards to Shen Hua," Yang waved aside. "You came here for a reason. No doubt, you wish to attain the throne. You must be at a disadvantage as a human emperor would never let one faction gain too much power. That power would be my brother, who possess a Yin Yang Divine Tattoo of the four modern elements. Another reason would be how dangerous I am and your discovery of my sister's secret: one of the two people in hiding with a Yin Yang Divine Tattoo."

"You seem to know everything," Shen Dong sighed.

"No. I do not assume to know everything. I just have a rather clever and devious mind. I admit I am immature because I always desire what I want, getting it through any means possible. However, I do not know who you are competing against. There is the crown prince, but there should be another obvious faction. An emperor cannot tolerate another with more influence than his own. No doubt, even his greatest generals and prime minister are watched from the shadows," Yang denied.

"You came to us with a goal. We would like to hear more before we give you an answer and determine if your mission was a success, whole or in part," Mei added.

"Success in part?" Shen Hu frowned.

"Over the past few days, it is obvious my brother likes her," Mei said, waving her head in Qing's direction. "He knows to not involve himself with you, but has not realized who you really are."

"And you're not telling him?" Qing asked, confused.

"The love life of our brother is not our concern and connections with the imperial clan is not without benefits," Yang answered. "But that is in regards to the clan and my brother. As for myself, there is none. I cannot answer for Mei."

"Thus, we came here to learn of your plans and the overall situation. If there is something to be gained, worth the risk and effort; then we will assist you like Lu Jing and Sun Yi," Mei said.

"You know they are helping us?" Shen Dong gasped.

"It is obvious," Yang scoffed. "Lu Jing, that weak idiot, is the son of a duke. Naturally, the duke would consider who to side with. Dukes are powerful, but the empire encompasses the whole continent. There would be more dukes than one has fingers, for such vast amounts of land. As for Sun Yi, he is smart and his clan would indeed aspire to transcend their status."

"I'm guessing he told you all this?" Shen Hua asked Mei.

"Of course. We are siblings. We also know something about each other. While he cares not that I know, his secret scares me. Terrifies me in the event he casts aside his feelings," Mei said, the four staring at Yang who shrugged.

"Feelings are fleeting. They are bound for change, like time. So, what is the situation in the palace? What is your mother's position among the consorts and the power held by the Eastern Palace, the influence of the crown prince?" Yang asked, avoiding the subject.

"You would really help his Highness?" Guan Hai asked.

"I am not one to let an opportunity go to waste. Of course, it must be worth the risk, time, and effort. The palace is a den of vipers. Those vipers are those with greed, lust, and betrayal carved in their hearts. Some lust for the consorts, some consorts even sleeping with them to increase the power of their faction. Some ministers desire higher offices. Even generals would desire more power and be affected by the size of their army, even incline to have a private army of their own," Yang began, pausing as he imagined the chaos.

"Such an environment, with the schemes of the royals, would be so much.....fun. It is an excellent place to nurture my deviousness to attain certain objectives that were previously impossible," Yang smiled malevolently. "I care not who sits on your throne. I don't even care for this empire. Cultivation requires you to cast the mortal to attain the immortal. Those who think otherwise are not true practitioners. I imagine you, Guan Hai, are such an individual who desires immortality. Am I wrong?"

"It is one of the reasons I retired," Guan Hai nodded.

"Then I will begin. The emperor, my father, is Shen Wukong. He is at the peak of the Earth Mortal Stage. Has been for years. My mother is the third concubine and is the medicinal expert in the palace, dwarfing the chief healer. However, the emperor favors the first and second concubine. They are twins, but only the first concubine can bear children. She is the favorite and is the mother of the crown prince. The crown prince is perverted fatass who even slept with his own aunt, his mother's twin sister. He lacks any talent in cultivation and is thirty four years old. The empress is in charge of matters within the palace, like the eunuchs, maids, and concubines. She is the mother of second brother. He has a Yin Yang Divine Tattoo and is at the middle Meteor Vessel Stage. He is currently twenty five," Shen Dong answered.

"Disgusting," Mei shivered.

"There are other concubines and only beautiful maids would be accepted into the palace," Yang agreed. "Cultivation wise, the younger brother is the problem, or half brother. However, the empress does not have the emperor's favor. It seems the ties of power are balanced. This can only mean we must deal with those influenced by them. Either that, or we use a borrowed knife to take them down for us. Is there a prince who has the next highest influence in the empire?"

'That would be fourth brother. He has the most influence over the army and is a well-known practitioner when he roamed the lands," Sima Qing answered. "He is the last with the Yin Yang Divine Tattoo, as the fifth might have been assassinated."

"We could make use of him, as a puppet, and take him down when he no longer has any worth," Yang pondered aloud. "What are your current plans?"

"I aim to have Gold Lotus City place first among the nine competing city schools. This will get me noticed and awarded by father. After that, I aim to have the minister or rites and commerce on my side," Shen Dong answered.

"One to spread your name and the other to partake in important matters. This is good. However, you need to shine. To shine, you need disaster. For disaster, the people must suffer. Can you bear the suffering of some to rise in power?" Yang asked. "How determined are you to prevent those two incompetents from being the next emperor?"

"I cannot let them ruin this empire," Shen Dong answered.

"Would you move as directed? Would you say as instructed? Would you lower yourself to obey me?" Yang asked, looking him in the eye.

"If it means becoming the emperor, I would even make a blood contract with the most vile of demons to save my people," Shen Dong answered.

"So the resolve is there, what about the price?" Yang asked. "Sister, any demands?"

"I want to know where a Fragment of Darkness is sealed," Mei answered.

"You would bring disaster upon us all," Shen Hua gasped.

"She would not. If my suspicions are correct: she has the Yin Yang Divine Tattoo because of a pact with the Eye of Darkness. She might even e the one who subdued the Fragment of Darkness," Guan Hai interrupted.

"As expected: you realized her secret," Yang narrowed his eyes. "Still, the offer has been made for her cooperation. Do you accept her terms?"

"Have you truly subdued and destroyed the consciousness of the Eye of Darkness?" Shen Dong asked first.

"It is how I got my affinity for light," Mei answered, a ball of light flickering in her hand before it vanished.

"Then I accept your term. However, there are practitioners from the world over that have come to the Pangu continent. We must wait for such a time that they are gone and won't come back," Shen Dong said.

"That's fair," Mei shrugged, the need for power not immediate. She would have more time to collect more souls.

"And you terms?" Shen Hua asked Yang.

"I do not know as of this moment. Still, you must agree to give me what I ask in the future," Yang said.

"I have no other choice. There is no one with such a manipulative mind so as to blend in the palace without suspicion. I assume you know how to act appropriately?" Shen Dong asked.

"I bow to no one," Yang said. "If I cannot accomplish my mission with my cunning, my poison will finish the job without question. There is no more terrifying expert in poison than me."

"I do not disagree with that," Shen Dong said as they both rose to shake hands.

"So we have an accord. The next few years are going to be so much fun," Yang smiled. "I trust you'll look the other way if some people go missing? My sister and I require souls."

"Souls?" Qing gasped. "How could you bear messing with the dead?"

"They're only human. Who cares?" Yang thought but said, "Souls are the purest form of mortal spirit energy. Harnessing their power is infinitely more effective than that of spirit pills and magical beast cores."

"We're just letting you know in advance. Good luck in your training," Mei concluded and the duo left the royals and retired imperial guard in shocked silence.

-------Present Day--------------

"The two-and-a-half months of training is over. There is only half a month until the tournament and we have much ground to cover. We could take a teleportation array in the city, but it is best to hone your skills in the real world. We will be traveling incognito. Say your farewells to your loved ones. We leave the city tomorrow at dawn," Guan Hai said, narrowing his eyes at the celebrating Lu Jing.

"Finally, I get to leave the city," Sun Yi sighed. "I must prepare my books and alert my father."

"I got to have enough money," Lu Jing said and the two boys rushed out of the training grounds.

"I'll go shopping for some convenient clothes," Sima Qing said.

"I'll join you. I'll also need such clothes," Lin grinned and the two left as well.

"Are you going to take your snakes?" Shen Dong asked.

"Only Red Death. It would be too...inconvenient to bring my hydras seeing as I agreed to cooperate. I'll need to think of the long term from the first visit in the capital. I am young and need to be underestimated and over-looked. Red Death can shrink and hide in my robes. He will suffice," Yang said.

"He doesn't really get along with others," Mei apologized in his stead.

"You seem to improved your relations with him," Shen Hua noted.

"Like you, I am also being used. I know it. He knows it. And we all know the same is in regards to you. I changed after being freed of that horrible Eye of Darkness. I can predict his goal. He will help you, bringing you to a better status than you are as of right now. Of that, you do not have to doubt," Mei said.

"What about you? What is your goal in all this, besides another Fragment of Darkness?" Shen Dong asked.

"I also have my own secrets from my brothers. I will just let you know this: make my brother cry and my brother is the least of your worries. I wield the power of a Fragment of Darkness. There might be side effects, but I will punish you," Mei said and left after her declaration.

"Does she mean Guo Lin or Guo Yang?" Shen Dong frowned.

"Guo Lin as he is seduced by Shen Qing as Sima Qing. I just can't see Guo Yang crying. He seems to have the whole world in the palm of his hand," Shen Hua answered.

"I agree. We must center our attention to the first and third triplet. Our mission to draw in Guo Lin is already a success. We just have to break the truth of Qing's identity without ruining the romantic interest," Guan Hai nodded as Mei disappeared from view.