âHahaha, brother Jiang, who wouldâve thought your son would be so accomplished! Youâve kept him a secret from the entire Eastern Kingdom!â
âIndeed, indeed! Brother Jiang, I think you father and son must have purposely hid your true strength, and wanted to vault to fame in the Hidden Dragon Trials!â
âThis must be it. Even the duke of White Tigerâs genius heir has suffered such an ignoble defeat at Jiang Chenâs hands. How could such an enigma be unable to pass even the three foundational exams?â
âDuke of Jiang Han, congratulations, congratulations. Who wouldâve thought that the entire kingdom wouldâve been kept in the dark by you two. You must be punished, heh!â
Jiang Feng was also flabbergasted in that moment. He wouldnât have been surprised at all if Jiang Chen had been defeated within a few hits.
He wouldnât have even been surprised if Jiang Chen immediately conceded.
But, this fightâs outcome surprised him beyond his capability to be shocked.
Hiding his true strength? A wolf in sheepâs clothing? Jiang Feng didnât know whether to laugh or cry. If this was the case, then his bratâs acting skills were truly unparalleled. Even his old man had been kept in the dark.
Even in his dreams, Jiang Feng had never dreamed of such a situation!
This was the perfection depiction of one manâs joy being another manâs sorrow.
The dukes who were at odds with the duke of Jiang Han â some who even had a feud against him â now had gravely serious faces after wanting to see the duke of Jiang Han become a laughing stock.
They too had realized that they had been taken for a ride by the Jiang father and son duo.
Even the duke of Soaring Dragon, Long Zhaofeng, watched Jiang Chen with a few more traces of wariness in his gaze. It seemed that they had always underestimated the schemes of the Jiang family!
As for Long Juxue, she disliked Jiang Chen even more now. The words that Jiang Chen had spoken to Bai Zhanyun just now appeared to mock the latter on the surface, but in reality had just knocked him on the head and actually jeered at her, Long Juxue!
âWhat use is it if a pathetic and poor dukedom schemes a little? Small schemes and little tricks are all as real as floating clouds in front of absolute power.â Long Juxue was still contemptuous of Jiang Chen. With her azure phoenix constitution, she was sure to soar high once she entered the Purple Sun Sect.
So what if these commoners inherited their dukedoms. They were still mere ants!
Whether it was Jiang Chen or Bai Zhanyun, they were all ants in Long Juxueâs eyes.
However, even if they were ants, she still wished to see them frolic in front of her, creating some entertainment for her and allowing her to enjoy the spotlight of the stars dancing in attendance on the moon.
But this Jiang Chen, this damnable ant, kept messing up her plans!
The only one completely devoid of any reaction was Princess Gouyu, because her entire being was in a reverie. She was still caught up in the mentality of the fight that had occurred, even up to now.
Jiang Chenâs magical poke â that undefinable mental landscape â was like a person up and about at night who had lured away Princess Gouyuâs consciousness and brought her to that wondrous mental state.
She repeatedly pictured the fight scene, but no matter how she simulated it, with her knowledge of martial dao and her study of Eastern King Point, she still couldnât fully reconstruct the previous fight!
That was to say, Princess Gouyu couldnât mimic Jiang Chenâs actions and win so easily, so handily, even in a theoretical fight!
The key wasnât in winning or losing, but that Princess Gouyu was wholly unable to match the mental state, the level of Jiang Chenâs Eastern King Point.
Princess Gouyu continued to simulate the fight, and finally discovered, tragically. that it was impossible to even picture that martial dao realm with her level of strength, not to mention actually training to that level.
This meant that even after Jiang Chenâs demonstration, she was unable to replicate his actions even if she were given the chance to.
This realm⌠a phrase floated into Princess Gouyuâs mind. A certain kind of realmâŚ
It was at this moment that Du Ruhai used a pompous, self righteous tone and hectored, âJiang Chen, this is a sparring match in front of Princess Gouyu. Itâs already been decided that combatants shall use the Eastern Amethyst Qi method and itâs accompanying martial arts techniques. How dare you use other techniques; do you still possess any integrity? Do you still want any dignity as a member of the nobility?â
Jiang Chen flicked a careless glance at him, lacking the desire to even insult such a witless person. It would be an insult to himself if he wasted even spittle on those who kissed up to those in power.
Upon seeing Jiang Chenâs arrogant attitude and silent response, Du Ruhai thought Jiang Chen was afraid of him. His attitude became even more haughty. âJiang Chen, let me tell you something. This is an affront and disrespect to royal dignity. I will most definitely report this matter to His MajestyâŚâ
âMain Organizer Du, please say no more.â Bai Zhanyunâs face was ghastly white, but he still chuckled bitterly. âHe used the Eastern King Point. I lost, and fully admit my defeat.â
Du Ruhai thought that Bai Zhanyun was searching for a way out that saved some face. He comforted, âBai Zhanyun, donât feel dejected. This Jiang Chen has employed some kind of sinister trick. Think about it, this person couldnât even pass the three foundational exams. How could he use the Eastern King Point to defeat you? According to meâŚâ
âDu Ruhai, this princess commands you to shut up!â
Princess Gouyu had finally come back to herself and was immediately faced with Du Ruhai jumping up and down and creating a scene, accusing Jiang Chen of using a sinister trick.
The revered method used in founding the kingdom had become a sinister trick in the mouth of this ignorant fool. How could Princess Gouyu not be enraged?
âPrincess, this Jiang ChenâŚâ Du Ruhai even wanted to add insult to injury and frame Jiang Chen.
âIâve already said, shut your mouth!â Princess Gouyuâs tone became even harsher. âAs an organizer of the Hidden Dragon Trials, how could your vision be so shallow to not even recognize the founding martial dao method! I am seriously considering petitioning my royal brother to revoke your position as the organizer of the Trials.â
âWhat? Princess, Iâm innocent!â Du Ruhaiâs facial expression changed greatly.
âLeave me!â Princess Gouyu also didnât know why she had suddenly become so infuriated with Du Ruhai. Perhaps it was because of Du Ruhai disturbing her mental contemplation with his ruckus?
At this moment, Eastern Zhiruo had a carefree, innocent face and asked with a giggle, âAuntie, brother Jiang Chen is very strong. You say heâs defeated Bai Zhanyun whoâs at âPeak Flawlessâ, what realm is his Eastern King Point? âPeak of Great Perfection?â
Peak of Great Perfection?
The faces of all the practitioners shifted as these four words were spoken. Everyone knew that only top notch geniuses were able to practice any technique to the âGreat Perfectionâ realm. And the âPeak of Great Perfectionâ indicated the highest realm possible for a martial arts technique, and was unsurpassable.
To be able to practice a method to this realm meant one was a martial dao genius born only once every hundred years.
But, Princess Gouyuâs sexy thin lips were quivering slightly, and an extremely animated light filled her eyes in this moment, as if the words âPeak of Great Perfectionâ were inadequate to describe the mental state she had been lost in just now.
âPeak of Great Perfection?â Gouyuâs jade lips squirmed marginally as she breathed out the scent of orchids. She sighed lightly, âI happened to meet a master when I was sixteen. I learned from the master that an even higher realm exists above âPeak of Great Perfectionâ in the ranking of martial dao practice!â
The crowd gave an outcry upon hearing her words.
Of those present, who wasnât a martial dao master? There were several here who were true qi masters who had trained for multiple decades!
However, they had never heard of a higher realm, one above âPeak of Great Perfectionâ.
What else could a martial arts technique do above âPeak of Great Perfectionâ? Was it not enough to be at âGreat Perfectionâ? This was inconceivable.
Princess Gouyu seemed to be deeply moved as she thought of the wondrous encounter of yesterday, murmuring lowly. âI know, this seems to be hearsay. But that master told me, the world of martial dao is as the scintillating galaxy â unending and without borders. And martial dao geniuses are stars within the galaxy, too many to be counted. Our Eastern Kingdom, and the surrounding sixteen countries are but a drop in the ocean on this grand continent!
The true martial dao geniuses of this world are one in a billion, whether in terms of potential or enlightenment. These geniuses are able to easily train to âGreat Perfectionâ in a martial arts technique, and the scariest thing is, they can innovate numerous changes to the foundation of âGreat Perfectionâ. They can derive many mysteries that did not previously exist, elevating the techniqueâs quality, realm, and true meaning!â
Princess Gouyuâs tone was suffused with piety, and concentrated traces of yearning filled her beautiful eyes.
This is why Princess Gouyu had never limited her mindset to just one country. What she hungered for was the more expansive world of martial dao.
She had been filled with longing for the outside world when she heard that masterâs words that year, and was insatiably curious about those legendary geniuses.
Princess Gouyu had actually had the faint feeling that Jiang Chenâs mastery of Eastern King Point in his earlier poke had reached the level of the so-called true martial dao geniuses in the masterâs words.
âMore realms above âPeak of Great Perfectionâ, what should we call them?â The martial dao masters present all felt a bit at a loss at the presentation of a concept beyond their comprehension.
âAll realms above âPeak of Great Perfectionâ are labeled as the âLegendary Realmâ!â
Princess Gouyu didnât hold back and spoke candidly. âOf course, to these true geniuses, thereâs no point in practicing some of the more superficial techniques to the âLegendary Realmâ. The true geniuses take a few superior techniques and train those to the âLegendary Realmâ, and then create their own style, adding in their own philosophies and personal mysteries to elevate these techniques to become their hidden ace card. That, is the hallmark of a true genius!â
The crowd finally understood after this round of explanations.
So this was what the âLegendary Realmâ was all about.
âAuntie, does this mean that brother Jiang Chenâs Eastern King Point has already reached the Legendary Realm?â Eastern Zhiruo was eager to confirm this point.
âIâve practice the Eastern King Point for thirteen years and my own ranking is that of âInitial Great Perfectionâ. I feel that I can theorize the status of âPeak of Great Perfectionâ in my mind, but I was unable to see through Jiang Chenâs Eastern King Point. It was like a dragon revealing itself, with only the head being visible, and not the tail. I couldnât even simulate his actions in my mind. Everyone, please think about this. What level could his Eastern King Point be if even I was unable to theorize it?â
Princess Gouyu stopped here, but threw a meaningful glance at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen however, laughed lazily. âLegendary Realm? Does such an amazing realm exist? Anyways, I won purely because Bai Zhanyun was too idiotic. Heâd already showed off his Eastern King Point in front of me, and I merely saw through his mysteries. How could so many bloody deep mystery things exist?â
Bai Zhanyun was shamefaced. No matter how proud he was, he couldnât bring himself to hate Jiang Chen. Putting aside the fact that Jiang Chen had pulled his punches just now, Bai Zhanyun realized that Jiang Chen had spoken truthfully when the former had calmed down and reflected.
He had gone to incredible lengths to please Long Juxue, but when had this woman ever responded sincerely to Bai Zhanyun?