101-103 (12.6k)
Chapter 101: Tremors Across the Land
The thirteen provinces of the world span eight thousand miles east to west and six thousand miles north to south, an immense and vast expanse teeming with countless living beings!
The number of grandmasters who could possibly be listed in the "Earth List" totals just over two hundred.
Each grandmaster is a peerless powerhouse, a figure that dominates a region, either leading a sect or serving as a pillar of a nation.
In martial clashes, life and death hang in the balance.
Without absolute certainty, most grandmasters are unwilling to engage. Once a mistake is made, the consequence is death, which would be a massive blow to their own forces.
Therefore, battles between grandmasters are extremely rare!
At least, they are rarely publicized.
In times of peace, there might only be three to five grandmaster clashes in the world in a year, and most of them are merely skirmishes.
A battle to the death?
Taking Jiangzhou as an example, the last grandmaster life-and-death battle was in the 'Battle of Hengshan' ten years ago.
In that battle, a grandmaster died, laying the foundation for the current situation in Jiangzhou.
For the past ten years, the Great Jin Empire has not expanded eastward.
Grandmasters like Wu Yuan and Chen Luo engaging in a life-and-death battle, spanning two thousand miles, witnessed by at least hundreds of thousands of people along the way—this also involves the succession struggle within the Great Jin imperial family?
Such a confrontation brings about shockwaves comparable to the life-and-death battle between Rainmaster and the Ninth Prince Jin Ren in Hengshan ten years ago!
...
At the headquarters of Yuanhu Mountain Villa, in the depths of winter, heavy snow continuously falls, covering the entire mountain villa.
In the highest hall,
"Damn!"
"This Dark Knife, truly a damn bastard!" The old man of Yuanhu erupted into a terrifying roar, his face contorted in fury. "A peerless expert comparable to a grandmaster, and he dares to target two juniors?"
Inside the grand hall,
A group of people knelt on the ground, shivering.
Of course, they knew why their master was so angry.
The news that just came in, the top-notch expert Dark Knife, who killed two hall masters over a year ago, actually possesses grandmaster-level strength?
When they first received this news, they were equally dumbfounded.
A grandmaster-level expert?
Too unbelievable!
Soon after, they thought, if Dark Knife possesses such terrifying strength, is there still hope for Yuanhu Mountain Villa to seek revenge?
Yes!
The old man of Yuanhu has formidable strength, but as he gets older, how many more years can he support?
"Damn!"
The old man of Yuanhu didn't care about his composure, venting the raging anger within him, smashing things one by one.
Even the massive bookshelves were violently toppled with a punch from him.
Wood splintered.
Everyone was too scared to lift their heads; this was the second time they had seen their master like this.
The last time was over a year ago when the news of Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan's deaths came in.
All because of Dark Knife!
Chapter 101: Tremors Across the Land
After a long while,
Gradually, the grand hall quieted down.
"Everyone, leave," suddenly, the old man of Yuanhu spoke, "Minglie, you stay."
With a swish, the group of people quickly exited.
"Minglie, come forward," said the old man of Yuanhu.
"Master." The young man in beastly attire stood up, his empty sleeves swaying.
However, the aura he emitted was fiercer than two years ago.
Losing an arm did not crush this former top talent of Yuanhu Mountain Villa.
Suddenly,
"Master, you?" Minglie was shocked, looking somewhat incredulously at the appearance of his master.
Because!
The current old man of Yuanhu seemed to have aged ten years in appearance. More than half of his once-black hair had turned white.
"Do you still harbor hatred towards Dark Knife in your heart?" The old man of Yuanhu's voice was hoarse.
Minglie lowered his head, remaining silent.
"Are you really confirming that two years ago, near the city, you fought Dark Knife for dozens of rounds?" The old man of Yuanhu spoke again.
"Yes," Minglie nodded, solemnly saying, "What I said is absolutely true."
"If that's the case," the old man of Yuanhu closed his eyes, speaking softly, "Minglie, let go of this grudge against your severed arm."
Minglie's pupils contracted slightly.
"Grandmaster Chen Luo is at the peak, with vigorous vitality," the old man of Yuanhu murmured, "yet in such a pursuit, he ultimately had to give up."
"According to intelligence, Dark Knife's strength and speed seem to be inferior to Chen Luo, but his stamina and endurance are astonishing."
Minglie listened attentively.
"This Dark Knife has a very small probability of being an older fighter with extremely high combat skills, pretending to be an ordinary expert," the old man of Yuanhu said. "There is also a high probability that he is an incredible genius, very young, growing from outside the top 500 on the People's List to a grandmaster-level expert in just two years."
"Only this can explain his robust vitality and stamina. I can't think of any other possibilities." The old man of Yuanhu shook his head.
"How is that possible?" Minglie was almost dazed.
Two years?
Growing so much?
"Master, even if the Martial King were to be resurrected, it seems impossible," Minglie couldn't help but say. "For a grandmaster expert, even the current Emperor of Jin, growing from a top-notch expert to a grandmaster, took more than ten years."
In terms of cultivation conditions, how many could match the Emperor of Jin?
"If it's really a prodigy approaching godhood, everything is possible," the old man of Yuanhu whispered, "legend has it that Martial King started martial arts at twenty, ascended the Heaven List at thirty. Now, what's strange about the birth of such a genius?"
Minglie was stunned.
He couldn't quite understand.
He had heard of the legend of the Martial King, of course.
But that was still a myth, a legend.
In the world, not many truly believed in these almost mythical records.
After all, it was too unbelievable.
"Master, what is the arrival of a god-like figure?" Minglie couldn't help but ask.
"In history, the 'Earth List' has been interrupted twice, do you remember?" The old man of Yuanhu did not directly answer.
"I remember," Minglie nodded. "In the first year of Dongwu calendar, Martial King first set the Earth List ranking; in the year 1232 of Dongwu calendar, Jiuxian Pavilion replaced Martial Ancestor and reset the Earth List; in the year 2116 of Dongwu calendar, thirteen years after Jiuxian Pavilion's destruction, Qunxing Building republished the Earth List for the thirteen provinces."
This information would be listed in each issue of the Earth List.
The memory of a top-notch expert is astonishing. Remembering these major historical events is not too difficult.
"Do you know that the current Martial Ancestor was just rebuilt by various sects from all over the world over a thousand years ago?" The old man of Yuanhu continued.
Minglie was stunned.
The Martial Ancestor, the number one martial arts holy sect in the world, was actually rebuilt over a thousand years ago?
"Do you also know that Jiuxian Pavilion was once the number one sect in the world? And why is it named 'Jiuxian'?" The old man of Yuanhu asked himself and answered, "Only because of the 'arrival of immortals.'"
Minglie was extremely clever.
In an instant, he seemed to have a sudden realization and couldn't help but ask, "Master, are there truly immortals in the sky?"
Since ancient times, there have been legends of true immortals.
However, how many have seen immortals?
Let alone immortals, even top-notch experts on the Heaven List, how many can actually see them?
"Perhaps yes, perhaps no!" The old man of Yuanhu whispered, "This question, to answer it, probably only a Heaven List expert can do."
"Enough!"
The old man of Yuanhu sighed, "Minglie, I will take another gamble for you. If successful, our Yuanhu Mountain Villa might continue to thrive."
"If it fails."
"Hehe, I will handle it."
The more Minglie listened, the more confused he became.
However, he had a vague feeling that his master seemed to have arrangements for the future.
"Only this Dark Knife!"
"Remember the order from your master, you can never have the thought of seeking revenge against Dark Knife again!" The old man of Yuanhu stared at Minglie, "Understand?"
"Yes." Minglie gritted his teeth and agreed.
Is he willing? Naturally not.
But what if he's unwilling?
He understood his master's concerns. The gap between them was too significant, and seeking revenge was hopeless.
"At the same time, you must never reveal the true details of your encounter with Dark Knife." The old man of Yuanhu whispered, "From now on, if anyone asks you, you can only say that Dark Knife cut off your arm with one stroke and spared your life."
Minglie was stunned.
"Remember that?" The old man of Yuanhu glared.
"Disciple remembers." Minglie lowered his head.
"Thirdly, from today onwards, remove all means of investigating Dark Knife's identity and whereabouts. At the same time, publicly announce that over a year ago, your two senior brothers died due to their own faults, unrelated to Dark Knife." The old man of Yuanhu added.
"Master." Minglie finally couldn't help but speak.
At this point, where else did he not understand?
Master is afraid of Dark Knife and is taking the initiative to yield!
"Master, I am unwilling. Have my two senior brothers died in vain?" Minglie gritted his teeth and said, "Although Dark Knife is formidable, Yuanhu Mountain Villa is not weak either."
"If a real fight breaks out, life and death are unpredictable."
"Silly child."
The old man of Yuanhu did not blame Minglie, sighed lightly, "If I were thirty years younger, I would definitely not give up seeking revenge."
"Unfortunately, I am old now!"
"Soon, I won't be able to protect you anymore."
"Go and handle it." The old man of Yuanhu sighed slightly, exhaustion and age apparent in his eyes, "Let your master be quiet for a while."
Minglie closed his eyes and finally did not speak again.
Slowly exiting the grand hall.
As he descended the steps.
Minglie suddenly turned around, looking at the slowly closing door and the spacious hall littered with debris, only the thin figure with white hair facing away from the door.
Standing alone.
Appearing so lonely and aged.
"Master." A trace of reluctance flashed in Minglie's eyes.
He understood that his master, who had been proud all his life, had truly accepted his old age.
...
The intense battle between Wu Yuan and Chen Luo, spanning the entire Baihu Mansion, naturally spread to the headquarters of the Hengyun Sect for the first time.
On Yunshan, at the highest point of the Cloud Palace.
"Master, how do you view the matter of 'Dark Knife'?" A robust middle-aged man in black robes stood respectfully in the hall.
He was none other than the contemporary lord of the Hengyun Sect, 'Lu Feng.'
"It is both good and bad, a double-edged sword." The old woman in the main seat spoke with a gentle voice.
The middle-aged man in black robes listened attentively.
"Firstly, the Great Jin Empire is our primary enemy, that is undeniable." The Supreme Rain whispered, "Guiyu Sect is like a disease, and Baijiang King Chu Ping, even if he wishes to swallow us to rebuild the Chujiang Empire, he cannot handle even the Guangping and Dalong prefectures. He is merely an ambitious but talentless person."
"Only the Great Jin."
"Four consecutive emperors, each one an enlightened ruler, and the imperial family produces talents on the Heaven List. Especially Jin Cang, with the demeanor of his ancestor 'Jin Emperor,' he aims to unify the world, and our Hengyun Sect stands as an obstacle."
"The Great Jin has ambitions and the capability to swallow our Hengyun Sect."
"Therefore, anyone willing to be an enemy of the Great Jin is a friend of our Hengyun Sect. Back then, I tolerated Chang Dong occupying Yuanhu Prefecture for this reason."
"This Dark Knife, regardless of whether he had hidden his strength before, his willingness to be an enemy of the Great Jin is good for our Hengyun Sect."
"If we can contact him and form an alliance, it would be even better."
The Supreme Rain said, "Judging from the last battle near the city, he did not kill Elder Mo and the others. We can deduce that he only has personal grievances with a few members of the sect, not hostility towards our Hengyun Sect."
"Supreme Sage." The middle-aged man in black robes spoke.
"There are advantages and disadvantages." The Supreme Rain said calmly, "We can speculate that Dark Knife probably lives within our Hengyun Sect."
"Do you think the Great Jin won't figure this out?"
"How do we know they won't accuse 'Dark Knife' of being a high-level expert from our Hengyun Sect? They might directly attack and invade our Yunsan." The Supreme Rain said indifferently.
"At that time, it will be a great disaster for our Hengyun Sect."
The man in black robes was suddenly shocked.
He felt a chill throughout his body.
Fighting the Great Jin again?
"Pass on the order, prepare for war. Conduct a level-three mobilization in the Three Prefectures, gather all sect experts above the second tier one by one."
"Yes." The man in black robes replied.
"Send messages to the West Dream, East Dream, Yuanhu, Baijiang King, and East State Sect Alliances in sequence, informing them of this matter. In case of war, please ensure their assistance."
"Otherwise, if we fail, Jiangzhou will undoubtedly be destroyed."
"Jiangzhou is located at the center of the world. Once we fall, Minzhou, Dongzhou, Wuzhou, and Yanzhou will be like a snake, easily divided and conquered by the Great Jin." The Supreme Rain said.
"Thirdly."
"Submit a letter to the Emperor of Jin, with only one sentence: If Hengyun falls, Chujiang will be hard to reunite!" The Supreme Rain said indifferently. "That's it."
"Next, it depends on the choices of the Great Jin and various forces."
The man in black robes pondered for a moment, respectfully saying, "Disciple will go and handle each matter."
...
As the top-tier dark organization, the Seven Stars Tower had somewhat weaker intelligence than the Qunxing Tower. However...
If this battle were to be thoroughly investigated, the root cause would still be traced back to the Seven Stars Tower.
Therefore, when various branch towers transmitted all kinds of information to the Jiangzhou branch of the Seven Stars Tower, the master of the horse tower was dumbfounded.
"A medium-difficulty five-star mission."
"It actually led to a battle between grandmaster experts? Even the Ninth Prince of the Great Jin died? Even Li Zi died?" The master of the horse tower found it hard to believe.
Li Zi, who was in the top five of the Saint Zone Heaven List.
In Jiangzhou, he was undoubtedly qualified to compete for the first place. Died like this?
Moreover, his name was not even worthy of appearing in the main messages, indicating the shock caused by this battle.
The master of the horse tower's senior brother, 'Shadow Stab' Mogou, received this news and was equally shocked: "Dark Knife, could he really be a grandmaster expert?"
"No wonder, if he were not a grandmaster expert, how could he easily perceive my existence?"
"I'm really lucky!"
"That day, fortunately, I didn't take action and saved my life." Mogou thought to himself, "Otherwise, I would be dead."
And just two days later.
A piece of news spread from the Seven Stars Tower to the Jiangzhou branch.
"Is a Grandmaster about to arrive?" The master of the horse tower and Mogou looked at each other. "Should we go outside the city to welcome him?"
They naturally didn't dare to delay.
Swiftly.
Following the orders from the core headquarters of the Jiangzhou branch, they arrived at an ordinary county stronghold about a hundred miles away from Yunshan City.
In a slightly dilapidated courtyard.
"Grandmaster!"
"Grandmaster!" The master of the horse tower and Mogou both saluted respectfully.
In front of them stood a figure shrouded in a black robe, emitting a faint, eerie aura.
Only those pair of eyes were revealed.
And when those eyes swept over, an invisible chill covered their bodies, making even Mogou, ranked sixteenth on the Heaven List, unable to summon the courage to oppose.
"Both of you have done well."
The tall figure in the black robe clasped his fists, his voice eerie. "Because of a five-star mission, a Great Jin prince died, along with four top experts, one of whom had the potential to become a Grandmaster."
"Should I say you are capable, or should I say you've brought trouble to my Seven Stars Tower?"
The master of the horse tower and Mogou exchanged glances.
They naturally understood the meaning of the tall figure in the black robe.
With such heavy casualties in the Great Jin Empire, the first target would undoubtedly be Dark Knife.
But who knows if this would implicate the Seven Stars Tower?
Both of them felt wronged.
Could it be that they would be punished for this?
"However, the Great Jin Empire has repeatedly struck at my Seven Stars Tower. Hmph, it's good to have some deaths among their high-level experts." The tall figure in the black robe sneered.
The master of the horse tower and Mogou breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am here today."
"For one thing." The tall figure in the black robe said softly. "According to your last report, I have brought fifty drops of Ancient Elixir."
"I will wait here for two months."
"Once Dark Knife comes to you for a mission, immediately lead him to me." The tall figure in the black robe said softly. "I want to see him."
The master of the horse tower and Mogou were both shocked.
"Grandmaster." Mogou couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the Seven Stars Tower is going to deal with Dark Knife? He is also a Grandmaster."
"Questions you shouldn't ask, don't ask." The tall figure in the black robe glanced down at him, his eyes revealing a coldness.
Mogou immediately felt a chill and bowed his head. "Subordinate knows his mistake."
Within the Seven Stars Tower, the hierarchy was very strict. Although not as bizarre as the Nine Kill Mansion, its rules and regulations were far more stringent than ordinary sects.
"Go!"
"When the time comes, I will reveal myself." The tall figure in the black robe leaped up and disappeared into the darkness.
No trace remained.
...
In Dongzhou, as the second-largest province universally recognized after Shengzhou, it had eight major forces internally.
Wanxing Mansion!
It was the most powerful and prosperous mansion recognized by all thirty-six mansions in Dongzhou. Only the 'Sacred Capital' of the Great Jin Empire could rival it throughout the world.
Wanxing Mansion was also recognized as the 'Neutral Mansion' of the world.
Because this was where the headquarters of the Qunxing Tower was located, and it was the only territory completely occupied by the Qunxing Tower.
With an excellent geographical location and several major rivers flowing through, it was naturally prosperous.
Countless treasures gathered here from all corners of the world.
The Qunxing Tower headquarters was built on the mountainside, adjacent to the great river, like a large city. For a thousand years, it had never extinguished its lights, earning it the name 'Thousand-Year Star Tower.'
Today, in the grand hall of the Qunxing Tower headquarters.
A total of eleven figures, all dressed gorgeously and emitting extraordinary auras.
They all took their seats.
"Today, let everyone gather to discuss two things." The leader, a middle-aged man in a purple robe, spoke softly. "First, it's about the battle between Dark Knife and Chen Luo a few days ago."
"We have investigated and confirmed one of his identities. He is an assassin from the Seven Stars Tower, codenamed 'Qianshan.' He has completed several tasks for the Seven Stars Tower and is currently a Three-Star Assassin."
"In terms of his strength."
"His killing of Wang Xiaohe, along with the battle against Chen Luo where top experts like Li Zi died, we have conducted a preliminary investigation, and there is a brief conclusion."
"Now we can infer."
"Dark Knife, this person's combat skills are even more terrifying. It is highly likely that he has reached the second level of 'Unity of Body and Dao,' and his physical qualities seem to have not yet reached the level of a First-Rank..."
The middle-aged man in the purple robe quickly explained, "The first resolution is whether to keep him on the Heaven List or move him to the Earth List?"
"Those who agree to move him to the Earth List, please raise your hands."
Swish! Swish!
In the blink of an eye, six people raised their hands.
"Good." The middle-aged man in the purple robe nodded. "Six to four, Dark Knife will be moved to the Earth List. As for the specific ranking, it will be reassigned in October."
No one at the meeting had any objections.
Those who agreed to the move followed the principle of prioritizing combat power, while those who disagreed did so because, based on the investigation results, his physical qualities had not yet reached the First-Rank.
"The second matter." The middle-aged man in the purple robe continued, "Hengyun Sect has requested assistance from the alliance of the eight major sects in Dongzhou."
"This matter will be decided at the alliance meeting three days later."
"We, the Qunxing Tower, need to express our stance."
The Qunxing Tower also belonged to the eight major sects in Dongzhou.
Of course, it was the most special sect, and it wouldn't directly send troops to participate in the war.
"Relevant information and data don't need me to go into detail." The middle-aged man in the purple robe said softly, "Once the war begins, those who agree to support Hengyun Sect, please raise your hands."
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Ten people, all raised their hands.
"All in favor." The middle-aged man in the purple robe said softly. "Order to proceed with the contingency plans, preparing 'war support plans' for thirty million taels of silver, eighty million taels of silver, and two hundred million taels of silver, respectively."
"Our Qunxing Tower will never allow the Great Jin to unify the world."
...
This Grandmaster battle in Jiangzhou has stirred nerves in all directions.
As the party with the greatest losses, the Great Jin Empire naturally attracted attention. However, three days, five days, a full seven days passed, and the Great Jin Empire still did not express its stance.
Sacred Capital!
It was the royal capital of the Great Jin Empire and also recognized as the number one city in the world, housing over three million people and being endlessly prosperous.
To the east of the Sacred Capital.
It was the vast 'Jin Holy Palace' covering nearly a hundred miles. Rows of palaces and buildings towered into the sky, demonstrating the might of the Great Jin Empire.
In the central part of the Jin Holy Palace.
Spanning several hundred yards, with steps reaching over thirty yards high, the 'Jin Palace,' this was the holy temple of the entire Great Jin Empire.
A man in black heavy armor was kneeling with closed eyes in this grandeur.
On both sides were guards like a forest!
All of them were top-notch experts.
"Eastern Prince."
The elderly man beside him advised softly, "You have been kneeling here for three days and three nights. It's not that this old servant refuses to inform His Highness for you, but in reality, His Majesty has been in seclusion and has not left it at all."
"It might be better for the Eastern Prince to return to the royal mansion. When His Majesty comes out of seclusion, I will notify you at the earliest."
"Your kindness is appreciated, but this prince understands." The man in black armor spoke with a deep voice. "But with the death of the Ninth Prince, I am the prime suspect."
"I must plead guilty to His Majesty."
"Until His Majesty comes out of seclusion, I will kneel here for a day each day." The man in black armor remained indifferent.
The elderly man was helpless.
Suddenly.
"His Majesty has issued an edict, summoning the Eastern Prince into the palace." A distant and low voice transmitted from the high platform more than a hundred yards away.
Echoing in the vast 'Jin Holy Palace.'
—
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 102: Wrath of the Jin Emperor
The Great Jin Empire, shrouded in black!
As the sacred temple of the Great Jin Empire, the Jin Palace rises from the ground, with a single step reaching a height of twenty yards. It is entirely paved with an extremely sturdy 'black jade stone,' consisting of five platforms and a total of four hundred and forty-nine steps.
Symbolizing the supreme authority on top of it is the Ninth and Fifth Prince!
When the majestic and distant order echoed from top to bottom, reverberating through the vast Jin Holy Palace.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is summoning you." The elderly man in the tall crown spoke softly, "Why don't you hurry into the palace to see him?"
"At your command." The heavily armored man rose slowly.
If it were an ordinary person, in this winter season, after three days of non-stop kneeling without sleep, food, or drink, it would be difficult to even stand.
However, as a peerless martial artist ranked twelfth on the Earth List, the heavily armored man proceeded as usual.
He removed his sword!
According to the laws of the Great Jin, without the king's decree, all officials and princes must wear ceremonial attire to enter the palace. Only the Second and Fourth Princes can wear their armor without removing it. However, they cannot bring weapons onto the court and must leave them outside the Jin Palace.
Throughout the generations, the Second and Fourth Princes have always been pillars of the Great Jin Empire, undertaking the heavy responsibility of supporting the imperial family and ministers!
Step by step, ascending the steps.
The heavily armored man finally entered the Jin Palace. The domed ceiling, over ten yards high, and the grand hall with straight pillars on both sides came into view.
Soldiers in armor lined both sides.
There was no one in the hall, only a high throne at the end, where a man in purple and gold robes sat with closed eyes.
A beautifully dressed woman knelt on one side, sobbing uncontrollably.
Thud! Thud!
As the heavily armored man entered the hall, each step seemed as heavy as a thousand pounds.
This was not deliberate on his part but rather due to the carefully crafted floor in the hall. As long as one walked normally, there would inevitably be sound.
Even top-notch experts couldn't avoid it.
It was done to guard against assassins silently infiltrating.
With the strength of the heavily armored man, he could naturally move without a sound, but that would appear as if he were deliberately controlling his physical strength.
Arriving at the center of the hall.
"I, Jin Jiu, kowtow to our Emperor." The heavily armored man knelt with both knees, prostrating heavily on the ground. "I am here to confess my guilt and request punishment from Your Majesty!"
Jin Jiu's voice echoed in the vast palace, accompanied only by the soft sobbing of the woman in fine clothing.
"Ninth Brother, there's no need for such formality between us brothers. Please rise." The man seated on the throne finally spoke.
His voice was gentle, not at all like the Jin Emperor who was said to be domineering.
Jin Jiu stood up.
What he saw was the slightly thin man sitting on the throne. Anyone who saw him wouldn't easily associate him with the 'first on the Earth List.'
However, Jin Jiu knew in his heart that his second brother's methods were extraordinary.
"Regarding the Yunjiang battle and the matter of Ninth Brother, I have already understood." The Jin Emperor's voice remained gentle, without any hint of sorrow.
It was as if the deceased 'Jin Rensu' was not his son.
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for Rensu!" The beautiful woman on the side finally couldn't help looking towards the tall and thin man on the high throne.
"Empress!"
The Jin Emperor's voice suddenly turned cold. "Today, we are discussing matters with the Eastern Prince. Allowing you to eavesdrop is already taking into account your loss of a child. The harem should not interfere in politics, and your words should not be spoken in court. As the head of the harem, don't you understand?"
The empress gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and remained silent.
"Please, Your Majesty, punish your younger brother." Jin Jiu spoke solemnly.
"This matter has nothing to do with you." The Jin Emperor's voice became gentle again. "Although you govern the provinces of the empire, responsible for supporting the three provinces of Jiangzhou, that region is already under the administration of the Ninth Prince."
"He died while inspecting the border."
"Since the founding of our ancestors, for over two hundred years, dozens of imperial princes have died in border wars, such as my eldest brother, third brother, fifth brother... How can my own son be an exception?" The Jin Emperor spoke slowly. "On the path to unifying the world, sacrifices are inevitable."
Eastern Prince Jin Jiu listened in silence.
For generation after generation, the sacrifice of the imperial family of the Great Jin had indeed been immense. Of the thirty-plus brothers in their generation, less than ten remained alive.
"Eastern Prince!"
The Jin Emperor spoke slowly, "For over a decade, you have guarded the eastern front on my behalf, and I am deeply gratified. Although the Ninth Prince's death is his own fault, it does not mean the others are innocent."
"Jin Tanying and Li Zi, both have meritorious service in protecting, are posthumously awarded the title of Marquis of the First Rank, and their families are rewarded!"
"The grandmaster Chen Luo, failing to protect the prince, is demoted to Marquis of the First Rank from the Third Rank! His military responsibilities remain unchanged, and he continues to guard Jiangzhou."
"Also, in my capacity as the 'Emperor of the Great Jin,' I proclaim to the world that whoever can uncover the true identity of 'Dark Knife,' once confirmed, will be rewarded with 'ten million taels of silver' and bestowed the title of Marquis of the Third Rank in the Great Jin."
"Furthermore, anyone who can kill 'Dark Knife,' with clear evidence, will be rewarded by the Great Jin imperial family with 'one hundred million taels of silver' or equivalent value in precious materials and a set of 'mystical arts.' They will also be granted the title of Duke of the Second Rank in the Great Jin." The Jin Emperor's voice seemed unchanging, "Spread the word to all the provinces, the masters on the Earth List, the top experts on the regional lists, and make it known as quickly as possible."
He spoke casually, but the beautiful woman beside him had stopped crying, looking at the Jin Emperor with incredible shock.
Eastern Prince Jin Jiu was also deeply alarmed.
This!
Ten million taels of silver? One hundred million taels of silver? Second Rank Duke? He suddenly understood that beneath the Jin Emperor's calm exterior lay a terrifying sense of hatred!
When an emperor is angered, the world will be shocked; it is not an empty statement.
For a great empire, a reward of one hundred million taels of silver might not be too much, but it would drive any top-notch or elite expert in the world crazy.
Even ten million taels of silver would be enough.
After all, it only required uncovering the identity.
Of course.
Purely monetary rewards and official positions might not tempt Earth List grandmasters, each of whom could be considered the pinnacle of ordinary martial strength.
If they wanted to enjoy something, what couldn't they obtain?
And their strength had already reached the limit. Breaking through again required more than ordinary heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
However.
The Jin Emperor was willing to offer a set of mystical arts as a reward?
Mystical arts, also known as divine arts or forbidden arts, were created by top-tier experts on the Celestial List and could significantly enhance the strength of an Earth List grandmaster.
The majority of Earth List grandmasters would crave two types of treasures.
Celestial Forbidden Arts! First-class Divine Weapons!
"Your Majesty, these Celestial Forbidden Arts?" Jin Jiu couldn't help but ask.
"Chen Luo has already submitted a detailed report on his detailed battle with Dark Knife. The Jin Monitoring Hall, along with the Starry Tower and Seven Kill Pavilion, has communicated and obtained detailed information about Dark Knife from them." The Jin Emperor's voice remained calm, "In the end, after the judgment of the two ancestral masters, this Dark Knife should be a mid-grade Celestial Talent, with an extremely small chance of being an upper-grade Celestial Talent."
"Possibly an upper-grade Celestial Talent?" Jin Jiu drew a cold breath.
He finally understood why the Jin Emperor's reward was so high.
In the Great Jin Empire, monitoring the world was essential. For some terrifying talents in opposing forces, corresponding arrangements needed to be made.
Talented individuals were classified into three major levels—Celestial, Terrestrial, and Inferior. Each major level was further divided into upper, middle, and lower sub-levels, with adjustments made based on the performance of talents.
Those aspiring to the Earth List were considered Inferior talents, and they were the most numerous.
Those with the potential to reach the Terrestrial List were categorized as Terrestrial talents, receiving special attention. For instance, someone like Xu Hui from the Hengyun Sect was an upper-grade Terrestrial talent, representing a significant hope of becoming a grandmaster.
As for Celestial talents?
They were extremely rare!
As far as Eastern Prince Jin Jiu knew, there were fewer than twenty Celestial talents registered with the Monitoring Hall in the whole world. The vast majority were in the lower grade.
Lower-grade Celestial talents represented normal growth, with a ninety-nine percent probability of becoming a grandmaster.
Mid-grade Celestial talents represented the potential to become a great grandmaster, with a slim chance of challenging the Celestial List. Currently, there were only three registered—Wu Yuan from the Hengyun Sect, 'True Forest' from the Northern Province, and 'Star Thirteen' from the Eastern Province.
As for upper-grade Celestial talents?
In the two hundred years of Great Jin's history, it had only occurred once, and that time ultimately led to the downfall of Emperor Jin.
The entire Great Jin Empire was on the brink of collapse.
These secrets were unknown to other courtiers, but as the current ruler of the royal family, the 'Jin Prince' naturally knew everything.
"Whether it's Wuyuan from Hengyun or Zhenshan from the Northern Province, they're still showcasing their talents, and there's time for us to prepare." The Jin Emperor looked down at the Eastern Prince Jin Jiu. "But this Dark Blade's strength has already reached the level of a Grandmaster."
"Whether he can reach the Heavenly List is hard to say."
"But soon, reaching the level of a Grandmaster won't be difficult for him." The Jin Emperor spoke softly. "For every additional Grandmaster on the Earth List, the path for the Great Jin to unify the world becomes even more challenging."
"I don't want another one."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
The Eastern Prince Jin Jiu solemnly said, "After I leave, I will immediately start arranging and do my best to uncover Dark Blade's identity."
He understood the severity of the situation.
Talent was only talent in the end. The so-called assessment of talent levels was just a judgment of potential, and whether that potential could be realized was unknown.
Only powerful individuals were deadly threats!
No one could predict the future, and for both the Jin Emperor and Jin Jiu, they had to deal with the current greatest threat.
Obviously, Dark Blade was already a significant threat.
"At the same time, write another national letter and inform Hengyun Sect." The Jin Emperor said calmly. "Hope that Hengyun Sect can find Dark Blade's relatives within a year and personally hand them over to the Great Jin Empire."
"Otherwise."
"Two years later, the Great Jin Northern Army's Iron Cavalry will join forces with the Southern Province Navy, converge on Jiangzhou, and go straight to Yunshan to celebrate Grandmaster Buyu's 'Hundredth Birthday'!"
Grandmaster Buyu was already ninety-eight years old, and in just over two years, he would turn a hundred.
It would be the beginning of a rapid decline for a Grandmaster.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
The Eastern Prince Jin Jiu nodded slightly.
Ten years ago, during the Battle of Hengshan, he wasn't afraid of Grandmaster Buyu. Why did the Great Jin eventually cease the war?
It was because various reinforcements arrived!
"In addition, I have granted the twelfth prince the authority to establish his own mansion. This time, when you return to the East, take him with you." The Jin Emperor whispered. "His talent is no less than that of the Ninth Prince. He just grew up in the hands of palace women and has had little training. I hope you can pay more attention."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty!"
"Given time, the twelfth prince will have an imposing demeanor not inferior to Your Majesty." The Eastern Prince said solemnly.
It wasn't surprising to him; this was the tradition of the Great Jin imperial family.
In every generation, numerous princes competed fiercely, and only the most outstanding would return to the capital with countless military achievements and ascend the throne.
Countless casualties occurred in the struggle for the throne.
For example, the Eastern Prince Jin Jiu himself failed to compete for the throne with the Jin Emperor back then, and he ultimately became the 'Eastern Prince,' guarding Chuzhou.
According to reason, such an inheritance order, when extravagantly subdivided, should lead to constant struggles among the successive sons, eventually causing the Great Jin to split.
However, the Great Jin continued to inherit this stable tradition.
And grew stronger and stronger.
...
The Great Jin, as the foremost empire in the world, possessed an internal intelligence system far superior to that of the Seven-Star Tower.
At the same time, forces like the Seven-Star Tower and Hengyun Sect, although secretly taking actions against the Great Jin, were unwilling to openly confront the Great Jin Empire.
When the Jin Emperor personally gave the order, the tremendous power within the Great Jin Empire erupted. In just a few days, two messages spread across the entire Central Plains Seven Provinces.
"Great Jin, offering a reward of 'ten million silver taels and the title of Great Jin Third Rank Marquis' for information on the true identity of Dark Blade."
"Great Jin, offering a reward of '100 million taels of silver, a set of immortal arts, and the title of Great Jin Second Duke,' for the killing of Dark Blade!"
Two pieces of information.
In an extremely short time, it spread throughout the world. Almost all top-ranked experts, whether listed on the Earth Ranking or Human Ranking and publicly revealing their addresses, almost all received the news.
...In Jiangzhou, Hengshan City.
"Your Majesty, this is truly madness," Chen Luo said, standing in his own courtyard, looking at the message that had arrived.
As a Grandmaster of Great Jin, he naturally received the information at the first possible moment, muttering to himself, "Not only does the reward reach a staggering 100 million taels of silver, but they are also willing to offer a set of immortal arts?"
"Hmph!"
"If they were willing to grant me a set of immortal arts, I could have killed Dark Blade on that day. Why wait until now?" Chen Luo shook his head.
Esoteric arts and immortal arts had no fundamental difference. However, to cultivate immortal arts was extremely difficult, ten times harder than cultivating esoteric arts.
For ordinary warriors who accidentally obtained a set of esoteric arts, even if they could only exert fifty to sixty percent of its power due to 'body' differences, they would not suffer much damage as long as they didn't go all out.
This was not the case for forbidden arts. Created by the Grandmasters of the Earth Ranking, a slight mistake during cultivation would severely injure a warrior. Additionally, as different warriors had varying physiques, Grandmasters of the Earth Ranking would make some crucial modifications based on the user's body differences, enhancing the power while minimizing bodily damage.
Therefore, forbidden arts had no specific manuals. They were passed down directly by the Grandmasters.
Some independent Grandmaster experts, even if they were lucky enough to get a 'forbidden arts manual,' wouldn't dare to cultivate it without the protection of a Grandmaster nearby. After all, the danger of forbidden arts was too high.
Undoubtedly, behind the Great Jin Empire, there were Grandmaster experts.
"Forbidden arts, ah."
Chen Luo felt a bit of heat in his heart. "If I could obtain forbidden arts and then venture... acquiring a top-grade divine weapon, how could that arrogant Step Rain still be rampant in front of me?"
Unfortunately, he could only think about it.
Within the Great Jin Empire, if a Grandmaster achieved significant merits, they might have the chance to obtain forbidden arts, or even have hope for a top-grade divine weapon.
Unfortunately, the difficulty was extremely high.
The Great Jin Empire wouldn't easily grant such rewards. After all, the Grandmasters of the Earth Ranking could overlook the world, watching generations of Grandmasters succeed each other. Why would they spend great effort guiding Grandmaster experts in cultivating forbidden arts?
Remember, forbidden arts themselves didn't have much effect on a Grandmaster's entry into the 'Earth Ranking,' and in some cases, they could even be detrimental.
"Hmph, this news has certainly spread throughout the world." Chen Luo sneered. "It's just a pity that even if they're willing to offer so much, how many can actually obtain it?"
As the only Grandmaster who had clashed with Dark Blade, Chen Luo was clear about the opponent's strength.
Extremely high combat skills, unimaginable physical endurance.
How to kill him?
Encircling him with a large army? A million troops against a Grandmaster-level warrior was just a joke.
Only a Grandmaster could deal with a Grandmaster; this was an unchanging rule for a thousand years!
"Unless one has the strength to crush Dark Blade among the top thirty of the Earth Ranking." Chen Luo took a sip of wine. "Otherwise, they will all suffer."
"Are they making fun of me? A bunch of fools. Let's find Dark Blade first."
The strong still had hope of killing him.
But facing a Grandmaster who had hidden so well and exposed too few clues? Finding him was too difficult.
...
The shocking reward from the Great Jin Empire did indeed shake the world. Ordinary warriors focused their attention on that silver.
"Oh god! 10 million taels of silver."
"This is too crazy."
"No wonder it's the Great Jin royal family. For a deceased prince, they are willing to offer so much silver? Tsk tsk, the prince is indeed noble."
"100 million taels of silver!"
"Foolish, that Dark Blade is a Grandmaster expert. Do you still want to go and kill him? Investigating his specific identity is the realistic approach." Many warriors were tempted.
Ten million taels of silver.
It's not about life-and-death combat, merely investigating and uncovering the identity.
Especially many independent warriors in the Jiangzhou area couldn't help but flock to the territory of Hengyun Sect, wanting to discover Dark Blade's identity.
Because!
According to the information disclosed by the Great Jin Empire, Dark Blade most likely lived in the territory of Hengyun Sect.
Ordinary warriors mainly focused on the silver.
But the Earth Ranking Grandmaster experts at the pinnacle of the world were all attracted by the offer of a 'set of immortal arts,' making their hearts race.
Of course, there were also many hesitant Grandmasters.
"Immortal arts are tempting, but if you want to learn them, you have to meet the Grandmasters of Great Jin. At that time, life and death are uncertain."
"Hard to say." Many Grandmaster experts hesitated, looking at the message and then putting it aside.
This was normal.
What about Emperor Jin? It was very difficult to attract Grandmaster experts to engage in a life-and-death struggle.
"Haha, let's bet! With no hope of breaking through in this lifetime, once I obtain forbidden arts, my strength will skyrocket. Then, I will go to 'New Zhou' and hopefully my chances will be even greater."
"Heavenly Ranking experts! I don't ask for any forbidden arts; I just want to see the Heavenly Ranking and ask once."
"Dark Blade? It's truly mysterious. Clearly a Grandmaster expert, yet there was no information before, as if it emerged out of nowhere. It's really interesting."
In the world, a small number of Grandmaster experts were still tempted and set off towards Jiangzhou.
...
Yunshan.
"Tell Emperor Jin that my Hengyun Sect knows nothing about 'Dark Blade.' Whether he has any relatives, and if they reside in our Hengyun Sect, we know nothing about it." The voice of Master Buyu was cold.
Directly rejecting the words of the Great Jin envoy.
"Furthermore, I suggest Emperor Jin to reflect on himself. In the past two hundred years, how many families, sects, and nations have been destroyed in the world? It's strange for a Grandmaster expert to emerge and oppose Great Jin, isn't it?" Master Buyu's voice was icy.
"If Emperor Jin wishes to give me a grand gift on my hundredth birthday, my return gift will surely satisfy Emperor Jin."
The Great Jin envoy helplessly retreated.
...
In the world, it was in turmoil.
At the southernmost end of Yuan Lake Prefecture, here, it was the border area of Jiangzhou, Chuzhou, and Dongzhou. A few hundred miles ahead was the boundary of Minzhou.
Steep mountains and lofty peaks, heavy snow falling!
In an ordinary house with wooden boards on all sides and a charcoal fire burning slowly inside, the chill from outside surged into the house!
Outside the house.
Near a low cliff, the heavy snow was several feet deep. Looking around, there were only endless snowflakes and countless dry branches and big trees.
A world of ice and snow!
"The world of ice and snow does give a different feeling." Wu Yuan, holding a battle knife, stood in the midst of the snowstorm.
Allowing the heavy snow to fall on him.
He had no idea about the turmoil in the world.
He had been in these mountains for more than ten days.
And this place, where he had stopped the battle with Chen Luo, was thousands of miles away.
"If it weren't for that treasure of the Ninth Prince, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stay peacefully in these mountains." Wu Yuan grinned.
Turning his palm, a wine jug appeared out of thin air.
He tilted his head back and took a sip.
The wine was light, virtually harmless to the body, but the taste was exquisite.
"A storage treasure! I never thought that there would be such a treasure in the Middle Earth world." Wu Yuan looked down at the wristguard in his hand.
It was the one he took from 'Jin Rensu' that day.
After escaping for his life, Wu Yuan fled for hundreds of miles, got to a household, changed his clothes, took a bath, and then continued to escape after getting rid of Chen Luo.
He remembered the lesson from the last time, where he had escaped six hundred miles but was still caught up. Carefully pondering, he thought the pursuer probably used some method to track him through scent or blood.
So.
Changing his appearance twice, crossing two large rivers, escaping for over a thousand miles, almost about to leave the boundaries of Jiangzhou, he entered a big mountain.
Wu Yuan had just stopped in this 'wooden house' on the high mountain.
Initially, when checking, Wu Yuan really didn't understand the function of the 'wristguard', only confirming that it was extremely sturdy, even more so than a third-grade divine weapon.
Until the end.
Thinking of the way from the 'novels' he had read in his previous life, he tried blood!
"Didn't expect it to really recognize a master. Reading novels seems to have some use." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. With a single thought, he felt a slightly illusory space appear before him.
About three cubic meters.
Not too large but not too small.
It contained many items, silver notes, gold notes, wine, bottles and jars, food, and a lot of weapons, treasures, and precious materials.
And a large number of books.
"Excluding the items I don't recognize, the value of the ones I can recognize alone reaches several million taels of silver." Wu Yuan sighed, "Truly becoming rich overnight."
He threw the wine back into the storage treasure.
A book appeared in his hand.
"'Record of the Secret Techniques of Immortal Insects II'?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself, flipping directly to the sixth page. "The one who tracked me last time was probably this 'Blood-Seeking Insect.'"
Each book in that pile was very special.
Under normal circumstances, they were hard to obtain and likely part of the secret collection of the Great Jin Imperial family.
"However, the combined value of these treasures may not be as great as the value of this storage treasure itself." Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
"Who could create such a treasure?" Wu Yuan was curious and cautious.
Even if it were a Grandmaster expert with great strength, it would be impossible to have studied 'space.'
Wu Yuan was well aware that when it came to 'space particles,' it was something that even the highly developed Human Federation of the previous world could not explore deeply.
"Could it be that, in the Middle Earth world, there are truly immortals?"
"Or signs of immortality?"
—
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 103: Vast Mountains and Rivers
When Wu Yuan descended into the Middle Earth world, he had suspicions. He never believed that his arrival in Middle Earth was an accident or a coincidence.
There must be an unknown existence, whether acting unintentionally or intentionally, influencing him.
Whether it was an immortal, a god, a demon, or some highly advanced civilization observing from behind.
Otherwise!
How could he explain his arrival?
Later, the appearance of the Black Tower and the blood-colored mist confirmed this point. The ancient civilization ruins that appeared on the Blue Star were not illusory.
"The Black Tower is very mysterious, very powerful!"
"The Blue Star and the Middle Earth world probably have some kind of connection. It's just that, in my current state, I find it difficult to explore this connection." Wu Yuan looked down at the inconspicuous black wristguard, contemplating.
Whether descending into Middle Earth or the Black Tower rising to the Dantian Palace, both had no physical presence.
This wristguard.
It pushed many of Wu Yuan's conjectures forward by a big step!
"Space technology!"
Wu Yuan silently pondered, "Involving space particles, it's definitely not something that, like some novels suggest, ordinary mortals or those so-called 'Foundation Building, Golden Core' can create."
This technology seemed ordinary.
In reality, it represented an astonishing mastery of space, cutting through space, the stable combination of space and matter... Just thinking deeply, one could understand its power.
"If it's a technological civilization, this civilization far surpasses the Human Federation." Wu Yuan murmured, "If it's a cultivation civilization... it's enough to be called immortal or demonic."
The information was too limited, and Wu Yuan couldn't imagine what kind of magical powers a being who controlled space might possess. Catching stars and seizing the moon might be quite normal.
"This Jin Rensu, in the end, is just a top-notch expert." Wu Yuan pondered, "I've encountered many top-notch experts, but I've never come across a similar treasure."
Whether heavenly materials or earthly treasures, divine weapons, Wu Yuan could understand within his scope, but this storage treasure?
At least, within the Hengyun Sect, Wu Yuan had never seen a similar miraculous treasure.
There were also no relevant scriptures mentioning it.
"Jin Rensu, relying on his own strength, is it difficult to obtain, or is it because of the Great Jin Prince?" Wu Yuan murmured, "Behind the Great Jin, there must be a Heaven List expert."
Heaven List experts, like a dragon's tail seen but not the dragon's head.
But they definitely existed!
A simple analysis, based on Wu Yuan's previous readings about the history of the Great Jin Empire, showed that if there weren't Heaven List experts suppressing them from behind, it would have probably collapsed and split into many forces long ago.
Why was it difficult to unify the thirteen states under heaven?
The key was strength!
"The difficulties of communication caused by the vast territory have never been the biggest problem." Wu Yuan saw through it very clearly, "It's strength."
To unify the world, first, you must have the strength to suppress it.
Any rebellion should be quickly suppressed.
If you can't suppress it, how can you maintain unity?
Force always comes first!
The world is vast, and there are countless martial artists, giving birth to numerous Earth List experts.
Normally, Earth List experts are proud and seldom submit to other Earth List experts easily.
Even if their strength is the first among Earth List experts, so what? If they encounter dozens of other Earth List experts working together, they will undoubtedly die.
Only Heaven List!
"Nearly half of the thirteen states under heaven are deserts and wilderness. The territory occupied by the Great Jin Empire is close to half of the Central Plains." Wu Yuan whispered, "Behind the Great Jin, there must be Heaven List experts, and maybe more than one."
Chapter 103: Vast Mountains and Rivers
Territory, like wealth, must be matched with virtue.
Virtue, in fact, is martial prowess!
The Jin Emperor was once the true ruler of the world, founding the Great Jin Empire. Later, he disappeared suddenly, and the second-generation Jin Emperor succeeded to the throne.
Is the Jin Emperor still alive?
Hard to say!
"Heaven List experts truly transcend the mundane."
Wu Yuan remembered what was said in ancient texts: "The Martial King, rumored to have lived for five hundred years, and Martial Grandmasters, the oldest recorded living up to a hundred and eighty years."
"I think, if a Heaven List expert is unharmed, living three hundred years should be possible." Wu Yuan speculated, "The Starry Tower probably has Heaven List experts behind it."
This was obvious.
"Treasures like this wristguard, given to a prince, indicate that many members of the Great Jin royal family find it seemingly not too difficult to obtain for a Heaven List expert?" Wu Yuan deduced, "But in the outside world, there is scarce information or no mention of any forging methods."
There are no walls that don't let the wind through. If rare items are seen, there should be only one or two.
For items with a noticeable quantity like this, with a stable method, there would surely be information circulating through long-lasting inheritance.
For example, a first-grade divine weapon, though precious and rare!
But in Middle Earth legends, both the Starry Tower in the Central Plains and the Great Jin Empire, as well as the 'Divine Forging Tribe' deep in the wastelands, have methods of forging.
"Is it the immortal's legacy mentioned by Gao Yu?"
"But in the two years I spent in the Hengyun Sect, I only found fragments." Wu Yuan contemplated, "I think it's because my displayed strength was too weak."
Even with high talent.
If the strength is insufficient, the higher-ups of the Hengyun Sect won't reveal too much information, not because of mistrust, but because they feel it's unnecessary.
"It seems that I need at least Earth List strength and more contact with martial experts in this world to know more secrets." Wu Yuan whispered.
Sheathed the blade.
Facing the wind and snow, he returned to the house and sat by the bonfire.
Wu Yuan checked the items in the storage treasure.
"Twelve drops of Ancient Immortal Dew?" Wu Yuan's eyes swept over one of the jade bottles, showing a pleased expression.
You know.
The remaining Ancient Immortal Dew by the Yun River, which was left behind without being collected, made him regret for half a day.
Even the divine silver spear was lost.
At that time, being chased by the Grandmaster Chen Luo, he only had this divine battle knife, armor, and this wristguard left on him. Now, everything has been recovered.
"Some other heavenly materials and earthly treasures?" Wu Yuan glanced over them, all very unfamiliar. With his vision and experience, he couldn't recognize them at all.
Set aside.
"The total value of gold notes, silver notes, gold, and silver is approximately 1.2 million silver coins." Wu Yuan quickly counted, revealing a smile.
Suddenly rich!
Many top experts, managing their wealth for decades without going all out in battles, would find it challenging to produce such a large sum of money.
Wu Yuan's strength is good, but you should know, how long has he been practicing in total?
" 'Record of Ancient Immortal Secrets 1', 'Record of Ancient Immortal Secrets 2', 'World Earth List', 'Saint Province Earth List', 'Great Jin Governor's Code', 'Jin Emperor's Martial Arts Code', 'Silver Hair Secret History', 'Wind and Moon Chronicles'..." Wu Yuan once again skimmed through a large stack of books in the storage treasure.
Half of them were idle and miscellaneous books.
Many of them were useful to Wu Yuan.
The two books on the secrets of the spiritual insects were very useful; they recorded hundreds of special spiritual insects.
However, most of them were marked as extinct.
Only a few dozen had detailed descriptions of appearance, habits, effects, and approximate activity ranges.
"It has indeed broadened my horizons."
"These spiritual insects are all very rare, but those top-tier powers likely have quite a few. In the future, I must be more careful," Wu Yuan became increasingly vigilant.
He genuinely realized that Middle Earth was not just a 'martial world,' but a martial world with possible remnants of 'immortal and demonic civilizations.'
Some mystical methods would surpass his imagination.
Being overly cautious is never a bad thing.
"Next are some useful ones, like 'Jin Emperor's Martial Arts Code' and 'Secret Art 'Blood Iteration,'" Wu Yuan silently perused.
These two books were closely guarded secrets of the Great Jin Imperial Family.
In theory, after the princes read them, they should be destroyed directly to prevent leaks.
Unfortunately, the Ninth Prince 'Jin Rensu' had just entered the 'Second Grade' not long ago and hadn't completely memorized them.
In the end, it benefited Wu Yuan.
"Foundation, extreme power, firm and soft, balancing firmness and softness within oneself is the pinnacle of tapping into one's strength. Beyond that is the perception of the natural order, aiming for unity with heaven and man..." Wu Yuan read through the 'Jin Emperor's Martial Arts Code.'
When he read this passage, his eyes lit up.
But immediately, he was disappointed.
The book only briefly mentioned it without elaborating.
"Is what I call 'Controlled Territory' called 'Unity of Heaven and Man' in Middle Earth?" Wu Yuan pondered.
The so-called natural order and environment also match the same concepts.
"Secret Art 'Blood Iteration.'" Wu Yuan continued to read.
Soon, he understood that this was a very special secret art.
Ordinary secret arts, whether it's Wu Yuan's practiced 'Thousand Mountains' or the one given by Mo Jingchen, 'Hundred Waves,' are fundamentally about controlling the rapid vibrations of muscles and bones to achieve more powerful strikes.
But this 'Blood Iteration' was different.
"By stimulating the blood and impacting the lower dantian, it enhances the state before a battle, increasing speed, strength, and the speed of consciousness? Wu Yuan whispered.
His combat skills were very high, and he could easily discern the rough practice methods of this secret art.
As for the specifics?
That requires careful consideration and contemplation.
"Operate the blood and let it impact the lower dantian. With each impact, it may damage the lower dantian, but it could also temporarily open the lower dantian, enhancing the body's peak qualities." Wu Yuan quickly realized the advantages and disadvantages of this secret art.
"Perhaps I can try to learn from it."
Wu Yuan was not in a hurry.
At this level of martial arts, with an unclear path ahead and no substantial guidance, he could only explore and summarize on his own.
...
After staying in the vast mountains for nearly ten days, only when the heavy snow showed signs of melting did Wu Yuan pack up and leave the mountain.
The luggage was just for show.
Most of the main items were stored in the storage treasure. Of course, the combat knife was wrapped in cloth and carried on his back.
"To avoid trouble, in public places, try not to use storage treasures." Wu Yuan made a decision. "Even with this wristguard, I should try to keep a low profile as much as possible."
Such treasures were likely recorded in the Great Jin Empire's records.
It's easy to be recognized.
When Wu Yuan entered a county town in the Yuanhu Mansion and sat down at a random tavern, he quickly received two pieces of news.
"Yuanhu Villa has completely abandoned the pursuit of the Dark Knife? They say that the deaths of Chen Tang and others were their own fault?" Wu Yuan slowly tasted the specialty dish 'Spicy Flower Fish.'
"Two years ago, they were pursuing it aggressively." Wu Yuan muttered to himself.
He had also paid some attention to Yuanhu Villa.
How could he not when enmity had been formed?
Wu Yuan easily understood Yuanhu Villa's decision.
The display of power in his battle with Chen Luo was too strong, so strong that the old man from Yuanhu couldn't be sure of controlling it.
An old master over ninety.
Once over a hundred, with a declining body, how could Yuanhu Villa's few top experts alone stop him?
It was better to submit early.
"If the old man of Yuanhu is really willing to give up, I won't bother to deal with him," Wu Yuan casually ate and drank.
He hadn't suffered any losses, so there was no need to go all out.
Of course.
If the old man of Yuanhu aged, and if Hengyun Sect wanted to take over Yuanhu Mansion by then, it would be another matter.
"The old man of Yuanhu is a small matter."
"The Jin Emperor is the real crazy one, actually spending so much silver to reward my head?" Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
In the lively tavern, many people were discussing the bounty placed by the Great Jin Imperial Family.
One hundred million silver!
The amount was considerable, deemed astronomical!
"I've worked so hard killing people and fighting against masters for so long, how much have I earned?"
"The total value probably doesn't even add up to ten million silver," Wu Yuan smiled. "My life is worth only a tenth of my head."
It's clear that the Great Jin Imperial Family is very crazy.
But Wu Yuan isn't too worried.
Exposure? Even the craziest person wouldn't believe that the just-turned-sixteen-year-old 'Wu Yuan' possesses master-level strength.
It's beyond common sense.
"Let them slowly search."
"Even if they find me, so what?" Wu Yuan remained calm. "Under a master, I'll kill as many as come."
"Master?"
"Although immortal arts are tempting, looking at the world, how many masters are there in total? Just two hundred or so," Wu Yuan analyzed continuously. "Excluding the forces against Great Jin, how many are willing to risk their lives against me?"
Very few.
Those who would genuinely come to hunt him down would most likely be master-level experts from within the Great Jin Empire, at most three to five.
In the vast sea of people...
Once Wu Yuan used Easy Bone, as long as he didn't act too conspicuously, who could find him?
"Wait for a few more years, even if I'm exposed, so what?" Wu Yuan silently pondered. "By then, my physical qualities will reach a new height, my strength will be stronger, and my mother and sister will have the protection of the sect."
"Unless the Jin Emperor goes crazy and orders master-level experts to slaughter!"
However, that is a taboo.
Under normal circumstances, master-level experts are unlikely to massacre ordinary warriors on a large scale, especially common people.
Why?
If you do it once, can you stop other master-level experts from slaughtering your own relatives on a large scale?
Impossible to guard forever.
To guard may not be possible either.
"The most troublesome thing now is the Seven Stars Tower," Wu Yuan frowned slightly.
Killing Wang Xiaohe.
The mission reward is a whopping six million taels of silver. With such a substantial fortune, why would Wu Yuan be willing to give up? Wu Yuan had told the Seven Stars Tower that he wanted to exchange it for fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew.
Give up?
That would be giving Seven Stars Tower an undeserved advantage!
"Unless the Seven Stars Tower is truly determined."
"At the same time, dispatching several master-level experts with an absolute assurance of killing me," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "Otherwise, they shouldn't turn hostile over one hundred million taels of silver."
One hundred million taels of silver is a lot!
For some individually established sect masters, it's not a small sum.
But for top forces like Hengyun Sect, which occupies three mansions, the annual wealth obtained is astronomical.
If Seven Stars Tower turns hostile and fails to kill Wu Yuan, it means they would be bringing in a master-level expert at a high cost. Even a powerful force like Seven Stars Tower would encounter major trouble.
Not to mention.
As long as the Celestial Rankings don't interfere, Wu Yuan is confident that he can gradually dismantle the Seven Stars Tower's bases throughout the world.
"No rush."
"Even if the Seven Stars Tower dispatches master-level experts, they won't be able to wait indefinitely."
"I told the sect that I would wander the jianghu for two months; it's not even twenty days yet. If I delay it until they get impatient, then I can go and claim the reward." Wu Yuan enjoyed a hearty meal.
"Let's go."
"Buy some things, especially food, and head to the mountains!" Wu Yuan took out some silver pieces. "Waiter, check, please!"
...
Understanding the situation outside.
Wu Yuan quickly made a decision, purchasing a large quantity of food, flints, clothing, and other items from this county city.
This is the convenience of having a storage-type magical treasure.
Having a storage space that's ten times or a hundred times larger, carried on one's person, is much more convenient than using a wrapped package. There's also no worry about losing it.
All preparations complete.
Wu Yuan left the county city, braving the cold wind, and set out on the road once again.
This time, his destination was Nanyun Prefecture!
Chu Ping, the king of Baijiang, is one of the four sub-mansions.
"To travel the jianghu, to tread the entire world, is a form of cultivation and enlightenment." Wu Yuan was clear about his cultivation plan.
To traverse different mountains and rivers.
To step through various landscapes.
While the entire world was in turmoil due to the 'Jin Emperor's Bounty,' Wu Yuan embarked on his first journey of bitter cultivation since arriving in Central Earth.
In his past life, for the sake of martial arts, he spent over a year traveling alone for thousands of miles.
This life.
With martial arts just beginning to take shape.
One day! Two days! Three days! Wu Yuan walked on roads where people rarely tread, paths ordinary folks wouldn't dare to take. He moved as if walking on flat ground.
His heart gradually became tranquil.
In reality.
Would it be accurate to say that the 'Jin Emperor's Bounty' had no impact on him? Not exactly! Wu Yuan wasn't worried about himself; he was more concerned about his family, sect members, and the sect itself.
After all, this is the Great Jin Empire, a superpower with ambitions to conquer the world.
Because of this.
Wu Yuan wanted to strive to make himself completely 'tranquil.'
Tranquility of the mind isn't merely expressed through words; it requires genuine calmness, the ability to view oneself objectively.
Wandering through mountains and wilderness, Wu Yuan inadvertently witnessed a pack of wolves hunting deer, staining the wilderness with fresh blood. He silently observed, recognizing it as the natural order.
While traversing mountain streams, he even encountered a hungry tiger pouncing on him from the snowy ground. The snow this year was exceptionally deep, and food sources were scarcer. However, with a casual slap, Wu Yuan rendered the tiger motionless on the ground, throwing some chunks of meat afterward.
The ferocious tiger yielded.
Becoming docile, resembling a small cat.
Subsequently, perhaps conquered by Wu Yuan's strength or tempted by the food, the tiger accompanied Wu Yuan for hundreds of miles, devouring the stored meat.
In the end, Wu Yuan drove it away.
"Quite the eater," Wu Yuan shook his head with a smile. Watching the tiger's disappearing figure, he hadn't expected to gain a tiger pet.
Continuing his journey.
Twenty-eight days!
Wu Yuan crossed thousands of miles, passing through the territory of Baijiang King, eventually reaching the boundaries of Dalong Prefecture.
Sixteen Prefectures of Jiangzhou.
Since the collapse of the Chujiang Empire, the easternmost Guangping Prefecture and Dalong Prefecture were the most chaotic, rife with bandits and pirates.
Over thirty years of chaos, it gradually formed a situation where several major factions held sway.
Yet it remained chaotic.
Life was as insignificant as grass.
"In chaotic times!" Wu Yuan's mind became even more tranquil. Along the way in Dalong Prefecture, he witnessed numerous bandits intercepting and slaughtering.
Even he had encountered several bandit groups.
He did only one thing—kill them all when encountered.
"The weak are prey to the strong; it's the essence of heaven and earth. I can't save everyone." Wu Yuan's heart had become completely tranquil.
"What I can do is be true to myself!"
"Strength."
"I worry about my family, worry about the sect; fundamentally, it's because my strength is still not enough. I worry that I'm not a match for the Great Jin Empire."
"If I have the strength of the first on the Earth Ranking, or even the first on the Heaven Ranking, would I still worry?" Wu Yuan had already seen through everything. "Even if I killed the Ninth Prince or even the Jin Emperor, who would have objections?"
Seeing everything clearly, there were no more doubts.
Standing on a small hill.
"To the east is Dongzhou." Wu Yuan looked towards the majestic city gate at the end of the world.
It's the formidable 'Iron Stone Gate,' known as one of the ten great passes in the world.
It is the boundary line between Jiangzhou and Dongzhou.
"This journey, including the initial clash with Chen Luo, is likely to cover tens of thousands of miles," Wu Yuan murmured to himself. "Mountains and rivers stretch for thousands of miles, like a beautiful painting."
On the vast land, trees sprouted new buds, and under the winter clouds, the mountain scenery had already turned into early spring.
Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes.
Drawing the sword!
"Swoosh!" The blade flashed, instantly reaching its most fearsome state, cutting through the air and then immediately retracting into the scabbard.
Incredibly fast.
Even top-notch experts would find it difficult to see the beginning and end of this stroke.
This strike, truly silent.
From start to finish, it didn't cause the slightest vibration in the air, as if the sword had never been drawn.
"Finally, with a single thought, I can completely merge into the surrounding environment. Controlling the environment, the second level, can be considered truly perfected," Wu Yuan gently opened his eyes.
In the end, he glanced at that majestic pass.
Turned around.
"It's time to go back."
There's less than half a month left until the two-month period agreed upon with Seven Stars Tower.
...
Ten days later, in 'Cloud Mountain City' where the snow had long melted, night fell.
Ten Thousand Stars Tower, a branch of Jiangzhou!
"The Dark Blade is here?" The owner of the horse tower and the two attendants beside him exchanged glances, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
It's been so long.
They had thought that the Dark Blade had given up on the mission long ago. After all, the Great Jin's bounty was well known. Logically, the Dark Blade should have hidden away.
However, master-level experts act differently from ordinary people.
"Hurry, go." The owner of the horse tower urged; he didn't dare to be negligent.
A master-level expert! Once angered, who knows what consequences there might be? It's hard to imagine.
... In the courtyard.
"Master Ma, do you mean that Seven Stars Tower has sent a master-level expert to meet me?" Wu Yuan whispered, his gaze sweeping over the middle-aged man before him.
Master Ma's heart chilled.
He felt that the Dark Blade in front of him was even more terrifying than the one he had seen before, but he couldn't pinpoint any changes.
"Senior Dark Blade, what the junior said is absolutely true." Master Ma spoke in a low voice, "Fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew are extremely valuable. Therefore, the master personally brought them and is waiting not far from Cloud Mountain City."
"Furthermore, Senior Dark Blade, with your reputation, the master inside the tower is eager to meet you."
"In my Seven Stars Tower, there is absolutely no ill will towards you, Senior." Master Ma bowed sincerely.
Is there ill will among the master experts in the tower?
How would he, a branch tower master, know? But in front of Wu Yuan, he didn't dare to mention ill will. He might get slapped to death by Wu Yuan.
"Fine, take me to see." Wu Yuan lifted Master Ma with one hand.
The two soared into the air.
Wu Yuan, with his superior skills and unyielding courage, and having just purified his soul through countless miles of mountains and rivers, would not fear the master-level expert of Seven Stars Tower.
As Wu Yuan and Master Ma left.
An old man, slightly hunched, walked out from the shadows, looking relieved. "Fortunately, I didn't impulsively step forward. I've avoided a calamity again. Meeting a master, where would we have a chance to participate?"
... A hundred miles is not far for master-level experts.
Before long.
Wu Yuan arrived at a small county city with Master Ma, reaching the courtyard mentioned by Master Ma.
Desolate and uninhabited, slightly dilapidated.
"Senior Dark Blade, my master has said..." Master Ma was about to speak.
"No need for you to speak." Wu Yuan said indifferently, "I already know where he is."
Swoosh!
Wu Yuan leaped up, almost flying, silently leaping hundreds of meters.
He arrived at the building a few hundred meters away from the courtyard.
Dozens of meters away stood a tall figure shrouded in a black robe!
"I've arrived." Wu Yuan uttered three words.
"Seven Stars Tower, Li Yan," the tall figure in the black robe said softly, "It's better to meet than to hear about it. Dark Blade, you are stronger than I imagined."
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(End of this chapter)