Chapter 1766: Chapter 588: Allied Nations Shocked_9
The warriors of the Flower Kingdom are a sacred and solemn army. The two types of Flower Knights, Yarrow and Guizhou, must be conscripted systematically. Without the corresponding named flowers, the Flower General cannot confer the ranks of brigade leaders and barrack leaders in stages as the Flower Minister would with officers. Without solving the problem of the Yarrow archers, Xiao Kong can never establish an imperial flower army — abandoning the Jing Gold and switching to gold is another option, but more than sixteen hundred Yarrow archers firing nearly five thousand gilded arrows at once requires nearly a city’s annual fiscal revenue. Such a huge expense would be impossible for a pauper like Xiao Kong, let alone the Tang Zang Empire.
In contrast, the super Overlord Battle Bows in Ferenczy, made with mercury strings by Quark, benefited from fierce propulsion force. Standard arrows would not suffice. Instead, heavy Jing Gold arrows turned out more suitable as standard arrows — as if it was predestined, the warriors of the Flower Kingdom can only be born on the Flower King’s land.
“Saint Xiong?” Old Liu observed the silence of Xiao Kong with a knowing laugh; the nickname Jiulang reminded him of the chief, who would also make a fitting Ascetic Monk.
“This bandit nickname is far less graceful than the Flower General’s.” Xiao Kong unfurled a fan with an air of elegance.
“Speaking of flower titles, it reminds me of something else. During this ‘Hero Conference,’ a new flower title has been born. This time the Jade Emperor spared nothing. He’s using the ‘Four Flowers of the Dust’ as an allurement, recruiting talents to the Flower Court! It’s his old trick, using immortals’ guise and the beauty of lovely maidens among his flowers to tempt and recruit experts.” A tinge of envy brushed across the face of the Fifth Prince: “The fellow really knows how to seize the moment. Each annual ‘Hero Conference’ sees a flood of talents, and his move at this juncture really caused a stir. Before I could reach Heru, the Flower Court had already overshadowed the baits of other Divine Beast sects.”
“Prince, what exactly are the ‘Four Flowers of the Dust’? The title sounds so odd?” Compared to others, Ning Yu was particularly interested in beauties because if Richard does go out, he would invariably bring some back to Ferenczy. This had become a tradition; time would tell if this Silk Road journey could break the pattern. Follow current novels on novęlfire.net
The other mistresses of Ferenczy, reminded by Ning Yu, instantly remembered this and urged the Fifth Prince in unison to explain what the ‘Four Flowers of the Dust’ were.
“It’s common knowledge on the Silk Continent that the Flower Court is guarded by the four great Flower Immortals, so whenever other flower-titled figures emerge, the Flower Court is bound to conscript them, just like the Saint Xiong back then.” The Fifth Prince nodded towards Xiao Kong: “The ‘Four Flowers of the Dust’ is similar; since their flower-controlling abilities showed signs in childhood, the Flower Court, upon catching wind, recruited them early into the sect.”
“Back then, the Jade Emperor used beautiful jade as bait to trick me into the Flower Court to do his bidding.” Xiao Kong sensed the old man watching him and casually explained, “I indeed spent a few days at the Flower Court because the four Flower Immortals kept saying I was too ugly and dirty, unfit to be a flower-titled person, which annoyed me. So, embracing an all-or-nothing attitude, I went on to steal their cultivated medicinal flowers, and then…”
“Is that how you, a Flower General, came to feud with the four Flower Immortals? I used to think it was a clash between sovereign power and divine power.” Yi-tiao couldn’t help but laugh, recalling the Ninth Prince’s former style, which was indeed a bit too wild. Perhaps the four Flower Immortals weren’t wrong after all.
“You’re ‘of gold and jade,’ increasing elemental power by consuming jade. The Jade Emperor was smart to know what to lure you with!” Liu Zhen shook his head slightly: “But to battle you over some herbs, weren’t they a bit unreasonable?”
“You can’t blame them because I ate their ‘Gentle as Jade Castor’!”
“It’s a magical castor bean. Once consumed, it grants a special empathy towards all horse breeds, and the unique scent it secretes can win the favor of all horse breeds, similar to how alfalfa flowers can attract butterflies and bees! Father King, you’ve seen the ‘Crystal Dragon Scale Horse’ the mentor used to ride on, right? It was only because I ate the ‘Gentle as Jade Castor’ that I could sense its presence beneath a great river’s waters, and coax it into serving me.” Xiao Kong laughed heartily, clutching his stomach: “I devoured what the Flower Court cultivated over centuries with countless beautiful jades, the ‘Gentle as Jade Castor,’ no wonder the Jade Emperor and the four Flower Immortals were out to get me! They intended to use the castor to capture a fleet of ‘Tiger-striped Deer Shu’!”
“Such magical plants exist?” Liu Zhen was about to laugh when his expression cooled, “Wait, by your account, you should also be able to establish a rapport with Aegean Unicorns!”
“I haven’t tried, but I think it shouldn’t be a problem. After all, ‘Gentle as Jade Castor’ wasn’t consumed for nothing.”
“I once encountered a Unicorn in the Southern Cross Star Forest. These gem-type Magical Beasts are incredibly sensitive; they can pick up any mischievous thought you might harbor, turning tail at once! It’s said that only Elves can approach them.” Liu Zhen whistled, “When you return, swing by the Southern Cross Star Forest and see if you can bring back a herd of Unicorns; otherwise, it’s no big deal. Next time you venture underground to catch Shadow Horses, I’ll take you along.”
“Prince, please continue with the ‘Four Flowers of the Dust’ story.” Old Liu fished out a cigar and tossed one to the Fifth Prince while lighting one himself.