Chapter 174 - 100: Zhao Ci: Lao Mo, Listen Up, the Demon Monarch Is a Piece of Shit

Chapter 174: Chapter 100: Zhao Ci: Lao Mo, Listen Up, the Demon Monarch Is a Piece of Shit

Yang Mo just nodded without speaking, clearly not taking any of it in.

"Wait, don’t go yet!"

Just as they were about to reach the main gate, Zhao Ci pulled the two of them into a nearby pavilion.

Feng Kucha asked in confusion, "Old Zhao, what’s up?"

Zhao Ci stared at the golden text above Yang Mo’s head, feeling more and more that fulfilling this wish was not going to be simple at all.

He took a deep breath. "Lao Mo! This mindset of yours, it needs to be corrected."

Yang Mo’s expression darkened. "My fundamentals, compared to theirs..."

"I know!"

Zhao Ci was exasperated with him. "But have you ever thought about it? We’re already in the middle of the mansion competition. If we want to actually win, you have to grow into a true expert. Can you really grow by just covering your head, taking a beating, and releasing poison?"

Yang Mo was silent for a moment, then retorted, "Then can you accept this failure? Your eyes were fixed on the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk for a long time just now!"

Zhao Ci choked. "It’s true I want the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk, but..."

"You can accept one failure. What about two, three, or ten?"

"..."

"Old Zhao!"

Yang Mo’s tone was heavy. "I’ll slowly make up for my missing fundamentals. My Poison Skill is also about to reach the entry level. When it’s presentable, I’ll definitely use it.

I know you invited me to be a Mansion Official mostly out of friendship.

But this is very important to you. You might be able to tolerate one or two failures and still say you’ll be patient with me.

But eventually, your patience will run out.

The price of exhausting your patience...

I can’t afford to pay it!"

Zhao Ci: "..."

Honestly, that soberingly clear speech was a critical blow to him.

He actually wanted to say that his tolerance for Yang Mo was very high. Maybe not ten times, but definitely more than just three or five.

But that tolerance was based on Yang Mo’s huge potential, his ten thousand comprehension points, and the Divine Cocoon. Otherwise, Yang Mo wouldn’t have even become a Mansion Official of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion that day.

Friendship was friendship, but he wasn’t the type to make reckless investments just for old times’ sake.

He knew this, but Yang Mo didn’t.

He had no way to convince him, because he couldn’t explain where Yang Mo’s potential actually lay.

Zhao Ci patted his shoulder. "What you said isn’t wrong, but you’re underestimating your importance in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion! I just don’t want you to be afraid of making mistakes. More than any single win or loss, I care about a change in your mentality.

The thing that worries me most about you right now is that subconscious instinct to curl up and cover your head the moment you step into the ring.

Can you guarantee that you’ll be able to overcome that psychological block once your Poison Skill becomes presentable?"

Yang Mo’s pupils contracted. "..."

’This kind of mental block.’

’Even I’m afraid of it.’

But... he still couldn’t bring himself to agree with what Zhao Ci was saying.

His expression was one of extreme inner conflict.

Zhao Ci took another deep breath. "I don’t know if it’s true or just a rumor, but I remember the Demon Monarch once said, ’There are no mediocre talents in this world, only cowards who don’t work hard enough or aren’t ruthless enough with themselves!’"

’Chicken soup for the soul!’

’Let’s pour it on thick!’

Although the Demon Monarch was a permanent fixture on the Court’s kill list, the Court never banned legends about him. Instead, they used him as a mark of shame to constantly spur themselves on.

Therefore, among the common people, even as news of the Demon Sect dwindled, the popularity of anecdotes about the Demon Monarch never faded.

The "Sayings of the Demon Monarch" had even become a benchmark for many to motivate themselves.

’Let’s see if Lao Mo bites.’

"Bullshit!"

But Yang Mo suddenly snapped, his voice turning shrill. "That Demon Monarch is a fucking asshole who does nothing but spew bullshit! You can’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth!

I used to believe him! I treated his words as gospel!

I endured every hardship imaginable! As long as it could improve my cultivation, I could withstand the harshest tortures, but it was all for nothing!

Only later did I find out!

That fucking prick of a Demon Monarch was born into a great clan in a Southwest Feudal Kingdom! He had top-tier resources from childhood, and his talent was terrifyingly strong.

He sensed qi at ten, and just three years later, he had already condensed a Heavenly Rank Flesh Body Divine Pattern.

A genius like that tells me there’s no such thing as mediocrity?

Did he ever taste a hundred poisons, only to find his Spirit Platform Chaos remained uncleared?

Did he ever try the Thunder Strike Body, only to see his Flesh Soul barely improve?

Did he ever try practicing day and night, only to find his Swordsmanship and spear techniques remained stagnant?

Did he...

What right does he have to speak for us, the truly mediocre!

Fucking idiot!

FUCK!

FUCK!

FUCK!

I’LL FUCK HIS WHOLE FAMILY!

The entire Demon Sect is just a bunch of useless pricks!"

By the end, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was roaring like a wild beast.

Zhao Ci: "..."

Feng Kucha: "..."

Honestly, they were both scared speechless.

A long, long time passed.

Neither of them could think of how to respond to those heart-piercing words.

Zhao Ci was at a loss for words, too. His own cultivation had come from "cheats," so he had no right to refute Yang Mo’s argument.

If someone in his past life had said to him: "Why didn’t you get into Harvard? Did you ever consider it might be your own fault? All these years, did you study hard enough? Did you sign up for expensive tutoring? Did you take brain-boosting supplements? Getting into Harvard isn’t that hard, stop making excuses!"

He definitely would have smashed their fucking head in.

The heavens were cruelly harsh.

It was true that the Heavenly Dao rewarded the diligent.

But it would use all sorts of methods to cap the upper limit of that "reward for diligence."

"HUFF, HUFF..."

Yang Mo was panting heavily, unable to calm his emotions for a long time. It looked like he was about to pass out from anger.

Zhao Ci quickly added, "Exactly! What I was trying to say is the same as what you’re thinking. Fuck that Demon Monarch! He’s a total tool, spreading anxiety all over the damn place. He’s a real piece of shit. His whole family line should be wiped from existence! Goddamn it!"

Feng Kucha: "..."

’Old Zhao! Based on your tone earlier, I don’t think this is where you were going at all, right?’

But contrary to expectations, Yang Mo was soothed by these words, and his emotions gradually calmed down.

He glanced at Zhao Ci guiltily. "I wasn’t losing my temper at you guys, it’s just... I’m so frustrated! Old Zhao, thank you for your trust! I’ll definitely earn more points this time, and I’ll work hard to overcome my mental block. If I really can’t be of any help, I’ll resign from my position as Mansion Official myself!"

With that said,

he gave Zhao Ci a fist-and-palm salute and limped away from the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

Zhao Ci: "..."

Feng Kucha: "..."

Zhao Ci shoved him. "Go help him!"

"Ah!"

Feng Kucha’s head was still buzzing, but he quickly ran after Yang Mo.

Zhao Ci stood rooted to the spot for a long time before sighing.

A wave of mental and physical exhaustion washed over him.

He wrote a notice and posted it on the outer wall of the Prince’s Mansion, quickly stuffed some food in his mouth, and returned to his bedroom.

Without even taking off his clothes, he collapsed into his blankets and fell asleep.

Life is hard.

Where can you find easy solutions?

...

「Demon Sect Headquarters, in a certain Earth Palace.」

The earth shook and the mountains swayed.

"RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE..."

"ACHOO!"

"RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE..."

"ACHOO!"

"RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE..."

"ACHOO!"

It was like the end of the world in the Earth Palace, as if it could collapse at any moment.

Everyone wanted to flee, but they were all prostrated on the ground, trembling uncontrollably from extreme fear.

But strangely,

even though they were this terrified,

they were all sneezing involuntarily.

’What is going on?’

The violent tremors only lasted for about ten breaths before suddenly disappearing.

But the Demon Sect followers in the Main Altar felt as if they had just survived an apocalypse.

They remained prostrated on the ground for a long while before shakily getting to their feet.

Meanwhile, in the great hall in the deepest part of the Main Altar,

four people stood silently around a Lotus Platform.

After a long time,

someone finally asked, "Guardian Song, Lord Saint Monarch... he..."

"How could it be fake?"

Huangfu Song’s face was full of fervor. "Did you not see what just happened? If Lord Saint Monarch hadn’t appeared, how could the Divine Cocoon have had such a strong reaction?"

The person pondered for a moment. "But why do I get the feeling Lord Saint Monarch was cursing us? All that sneezing..."

The Four Great Dharma Protectors: "..."

The air fell silent.