Jiang Wuyong's visit to the Lian family this time was indeed driven by his love for famous swords and his admiration for them. But there was a deeper reason beneath the surface.
At his level, one could hardly act on mere whims and preferences.
To proclaim their status, the Lian family had organized this ancestral sacrifice ceremony with great grandeur.
It could be said that during this period in the State of Qi, the two most attention-grabbing events within the realm were the Celestial Residence Secret Realm in Linhai Commandery and the Lian family's ancestral sacrifice ceremony.
Jiang Wuyong intended to use this grand ceremony to broadcast his political stance and display a portion of his hidden strength.
His cooperation with the Lian family had been prepared for a long time. For him, a weapon-forging family like the Lians was an ideal partner.
Holding Red Sun meant holding weapons and armor. Therefore, the Emperor of Qi would never allow Red Sun Commandery to fully pledge allegiance to any single prince or princess.
Before the warning line, the Lian family's support was severely limited.
This was also why the Crown Prince and the Third Imperial Princess had not set their sights on the Lians — the gains were minimal, and it would only bring unnecessary trouble.
But for Jiang Wuyong, this was already a rare piece of fat meat that had slipped through his older siblings' fingers.
First, his own forces were very weak. To put it bluntly, even if he cooperated with the Lian family, it would not trigger the Emperor of Qi's alarm.
And while the Lians could never be completely under his control — nor did he dare attempt such deep manipulation — even a partial shift in resources would be enough for him to extend his reach into the military and seek powerful support. That was his true objective.
From another perspective, as the renowned weapon that had established the Lian family's reputation as a weapon-forging sanctuary, a newly forged famous sword like Changxiangsi — whichever hand it fell into, the prestige would belong to that person.
For a weak prince like Jiang Wuyong, it could enhance his reputation without drawing the jealousy of the Crown Prince and the others. It fit perfectly with his personal development strategy.
Targeting Jiang Chen was merely snaring a rabbit while mowing grass — a convenient bonus.
But then again, Jiang Chen, who appeared in both the Celestial Residence Secret Realm and the ancestral sacrifice ceremony, was a good stepping stone for him to plant his foot.
First, Jiang Chen had no roots or backing — he was merely a foreigner invited by Chongxuan Sheng. No one knew which small state he came from; there was nothing to fear.
Second, through the Celestial Residence Secret Realm and this famous weapon forging, he had gained some fame. He made for a perfect springboard.
Third, Jiang Chen was Chongxuan Sheng's retainer. It was well known that Chongxuan Sheng was competing with Chongxuan Zun for the family headship. By coming to Nanyao, besides finalizing his cooperation with the Lians, it would also cost nothing to show some goodwill toward Chongxuan Zun.
Lian Que was merely a junior of the family and carried no weight in discussions. Chongxuan Sheng was far away in Handan.
As for Jiang Wuyong himself, he not only had the backing of the Lian family's upper echelons but also brought along a Grand Eunuch of the Inner Fane realm. Suppressing an outsider like Jiang Chen should have been completely without risk.
He never expected Chongxuan Sheng to come rushing over in such a rush.
Even less did he expect the man to be so thoroughly prepared, turning the situation around in an instant. It was clear that Chongxuan Sheng had planned everything at the very moment he decided to come.
For Jiang Wuyong, reading the situation was an extremely important ability.
Seeing that his available manpower was insufficient — a group fight was out of the question — he immediately switched to proposing a one-on-one duel.
Chongxuan Sheng naturally refused.
Since when had he ever let someone else take advantage of him? He was always the one profiting at others' expense.
He let out a cold laugh. "Sure thing. Do you verify us two, or do we two verify you? Or should we all just verify each other?"
Jiang Wuyong's expression didn't change. He smoothly replied, "Since you only have a name and don't dare face me in fair combat, then forget it! This prince can't be bothered to waste any more time with you."
This move of borrowing the slope to dismount was executed smoothly enough. At least he could say that Jiang Chen and Chongxuan Sheng feared his combat strength and didn't dare face him alone, preserving some dignity.
But then Jiang Chen shook his head and smiled lightly. "Why wouldn't I dare?"
"Brother Jiang!" Lian Que called out anxiously from below the platform.
"Good!"
Seeing that this young upstart who had made his name early was indeed susceptible to provocation, Jiang Wuyong gave no one else a chance to interject and immediately sealed the deal. "You've got some nerve, and you haven't disgraced your surname. Step forward and fight me!"
"But I have one small question."
Jiang Chen said, somewhat puzzled, "Changxiangsi is my sword. If I lose, you take it. But if I win — what do I get? Don't tell me it's the sight of your back?"
He smiled contemptuously and swept his gaze across the crowd. "Since when does the world work that way? Could it be that the illustrious Fourteenth Prince of the Great Qi has nothing but the skill of catching wolves with an empty hand?"
The crowd below exchanged odd glances.
Jiang Wuyong frowned. "That's something that can't possibly happen. Why bother setting conditions for it?"
"If it can't possibly happen, then why don't you, Jiang Wuyong, dare to do it?" Chongxuan Sheng said coldly. "If you want to seize a famous weapon, we'll give you the chance out of respect for your status. But if you want to sit at this gambling table, you'd better put up stakes with real weight!"
Jiang Wuyong fixed him with a cold stare. "Truly the gambler's nature. You won one round in the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, and you think you can win them all? Do you really think Chongxuan Zun can't handle you?"
"That's not your concern. At least I can sit at the table and gamble with him. You — someone watching from the sidelines — what right do you have to point fingers?" Chongxuan Sheng's words were biting, openly mocking that Jiang Wuyong didn't even qualify to compete with the other princes and princesses.
He let out a hearty laugh, pressing aggressively. "Today's game — if you don't have the guts, then go home. I won't see you out!"
"Fine!" Jiang Wuyong's face turned ashen. He looked at Jiang Chen and asked, "What do you want?"
Chongxuan Sheng chimed in from the side. "Jiang Chen, just name your price. The Fourteenth Prince may be a bit strapped for cash, but the Imperial House of Great Qi has no shortage of secret techniques."
He was openly helping Jiang Chen narrow down the options.
Jiang Chen had already calculated this. He immediately said, "I want one Grade-A Lower-tier fire-element escape technique and one Grade-A Lower-tier fire-element offensive Dao art — both must be secret transmissions and of the finest quality."
He was building reserves for his combat system after breaking through the Gate of Heaven and Earth.
Generally speaking, Dao arts were classified into four grades and twelve tiers. Once reaching Grade-A, each tier's gap exceeded the entire span of the previous grade. Cultivators at the Soaring Dragon realm typically used Grade-A Lower-tier Dao arts. The Inner Fane realm corresponded to Grade-A Mid-tier, and the Outer Tower realm to Grade-A Upper-tier.
Aside from those with extraordinary talent, very few could break through this limitation.
In Jiang Chen's request, "secret transmission" and "finest quality" were both critical filtering conditions.
A secret transmission meant the Dao art was not widely known and couldn't be easily countered. Finest quality meant it represented the absolute limit of Grade-A Lower-tier.
Before breaking through the Gate of Heaven and Earth, relying on his body's reaction speed and the extraordinary hovering ability granted by the Four-Spirit Body Refining Art, his speed was not significantly inferior to opponents of the same rank. But after entering the Soaring Dragon realm, cultivators could soar through the sky and dive underground — a powerful escape technique became essential.
This was why he requested the escape technique first.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuyong turned to glance at the Grand Eunuch behind him. After confirming that he had matching items in his stores, he turned back to Jiang Chen. "You've certainly chosen carefully, as though you could actually win it back. This prince accepts. Come!"
At that moment, Chongxuan Sheng spoke again. "A Grade-A Lower-tier Dao art is only useful for the moment, while a famous weapon can accompany one for life. The value doesn't quite match, does it?"
But what he said was undeniably fair.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Jiang Wuyong could hardly stoop to haggle with him.
His face dark, he said, "This prince will add ten Myriad Stones! If you have no sincerity, then let's call it off!"
At that moment, in his mind, this fat man was the most annoying person in the world.
Back in Maple City, Fang Zesheng had tried to bribe Jiang Chen with a single Dao Essence Stone.
The base unit of Dao Essence Stones was the Hundred Stone — one Dao Essence Stone contained one hundred Dao essence.
The value of ten Myriad Stones was equivalent to one thousand Dao Essence Stones, a truly staggering sum.
"Enough, enough. Let's get started, let's get started." Chongxuan Sheng, knowing there was nothing more to squeeze, walked aside with a grin.
His demeanor suggested the stakes were already in hand, an attitude practically begging to be punched.
Among everyone present, only he had a thorough understanding of Jiang Chen's true strength.
If he weren't absolutely certain Jiang Chen could win, he would never have let this duel take place.
...
Although Jiang Chen was full of confidence, he was not blindly arrogant.
Before the fight began, he addressed Jiang Wuyong. "Half of everything I've learned lies in swordsmanship. I currently have no weapon in hand. This Changxiangsi may become your trophy, but before that, please allow me one round with it."
Jiang Wuyong could not refuse such a reasonable request — nor could he stop it even if he wished. He adopted a generous air instead. "Try it for a moment, then. What harm could it do?"
Jiang Chen walked to the offering rack and once again gripped his sword.
He felt a stillness settle over his soul, as though his long-wandering heart had found a place to rest, however briefly.
So clearly and concretely did he perceive it — this was his sword.
He gripped the sword and turned.
Facing Jiang Wuyong directly: "Please!"
The platform had been cleared. Everyone both sides had brought had stepped down, and the Lian family members had all crowded below. What had been the site of a sacrificial ceremony had become an arena for two men.
The moment Jiang Chen's voice fell, Jiang Wuyong was already upon him, his speed beyond all measure — a palm struck downward!
The palm fell like heaven and earth turned upside down, its force pressing down upon the world.
Yet a Flamebloom blossomed, blooming before his palm.
Such teleportation secret arts before the Soaring Dragon realm were fearsome indeed, but Jiang Chen had witnessed countless battles in the Ethereal Realm. He was not without experience.
With lightning-fast reactions, he mobilized his Dao essence, meeting offense with offense.
Jiang Wuyong's palm descended. Purple robes billowed.
Visually, those purple robes flew higher and spread wider, nearly blotting out sky and sun, plunging everything into darkness.
The only light in that darkness — a Flamebloom — flashed once and was extinguished.
But at that very instant, within Jiang Wuyong's body, woody qi surged and bound him in reverse.
Dao Art: Binding Tiger!
With this momentary impediment, Jiang Chen had already leaped backward, about to escape the bounds of the darkness.
Inside Jiang Wuyong's body, purple energy suddenly surged, shattering the wood qi bindings. He slapped the jade belt at his waist, and within the visual darkness, a streak of cold light was born!
A sword was wound at his waist.
This sword was also a famous weapon — a flexible sword known as Beauty's Waist!
This sword cut souls and severed spirits. It killed heroes best.
Once the cold light emerged, there was no evading it.
Sensing the purple energy within Jiang Wuyong's body, Jiang Chen swiftly extinguished the opening move of the Violet Dawn Sword Art.
He realized that the Violet Dawn Sword Art he had obtained might well have been an evolution derived from the Ethereal Realm's "reference" to the Imperial Sword Techniques of the State of Qi. Using this sword before Jiang Wuyong could be courting death.
His hand settled on the sword hilt.
The hilt wrapping had been bound by Lian Que's own hands.
Meticulous. Secure.
Jiang Chen gripped the sword, gripped Changxiangsi.
As though he held the softest place in his heart.
What did his homeland look like now?
Where were the people of his homeland?
A stranger in a foreign land, a guest among strangers — his homeland unbearable to recall, beneath the bright moon!
Jiang Chen drew his sword, raising a bright moon that shattered layer upon layer of darkness.
Like a memory. Like a longing.
Once gazed upon from afar, haunting midnight dreams.
They had each gone their own way, and the moon could hardly be made whole again.
This was the Sword of the Sun, Moon, and Stars!
...
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P.S.: Last week's humble little goal wasn't achieved, oh, oh.
Average subscriptions at 97, still 3 short of hitting 100. Recommendation tickets only at 756, over 200 short. This week's little goal: average subscriptions reach 150, recommendation tickets over a thousand. If I can hit it, I'll add a bonus chapter as a goal update. Let's see if the motivation works...