"Winning first place allows one to go to the inner cabinet and choose an item, Xu Huixiang is probably aiming for that."
"He just entered the service under the Crown Prince, right?"
The one revealing the secret hesitated as well, saying, "How would I know that?"
"But, with treasures stored there, hasn’t anyone tried to take them?"
"Take? What’s there to take?" The revealer scoffed, "Back when he went berserk, that one man hunted down seventy-six bandits of Yan Mountain, wiped out a whole region’s bandits, destroyed thirteen Martial Arts sects, and so terrorized them that Chen Chengbi ensured that place’s peace and order for thirty years."
"Have you forgotten the title ’King Chen Sha’?"
"Were it not for his royal family status and long absence from the Martial World, he would undoubtedly be among the top ten Grandmasters."
"That old man is in the royal family."
"Moreover, it’s said that there are two members of the Imperial Family with deep and domineering Inner Strength, not inferior to Chen Chengbi. Everyone knows there are many treasures in the royal cities of Chen Country and Ying Country, but why has no one taken them?"
Everyone fell silent, then changed the subject to avoid the awkwardness, "However, I’ve heard that his opponent is also not bad, it’s Li Guanyi, the one who previously subdued the Ghost Market."
The bearded man from the Third Layer Heaven said, "He is indeed formidable, but after all, he is a full four years younger than Xu Huixiang. With a four-year gap, and Xu Huixiang bolstered by all sorts of Elixir Pills since childhood and personally instructed by the Sword Saint, such resources are not something that Imperial Guard can compete with."
"What’s more, he cares a lot about this particular victory."
"I heard he specifically sought out generals skilled with spears and Battle Halberds from the army, and since yesterday has been crafting a Combat Skill aimed at Li Guanyi. A Fourth Layer Heaven General personally demonstrating the use of the Battle Halberd, he’s definitely got an edge..."
"What, that’s possible?"
"Hmph, the Crown Prince’s top swordsman, it’s only right that he mobilizes cultivators from the Military School to spar within the army."
The Mystic Turtle Dharma Form floated back, perching on Li Guanyi’s shoulder.
It did not stretch out its paw toward the Book Collection Pavilion again.
Instead, it clutched Li Guanyi tightly with its paws, a pair of mung bean-sized eyes staring intently at the young man.
It seemed like it said nothing.
And yet, it was as if it had said everything.
"Alright, alright, I will definitely go upstairs this time, okay?"
"Let’s see what thing has attracted you so much."
Li Guanyi patted it, smiling comfortingly.
The small Mystic Turtle stared at him with wide eyes, as if it was about to say, "You swear."
Li Guanyi allowed the Dharma Form to disperse and strolled back to the Xue Family’s residence, contemplating seriously. His parents’ matters involved the Ying Imperial Family, which he had already considered, therefore, Li Guanyi was not unsettled by this information.
His thoughts returned to the two immediate issues that needed to be resolved.
Second, Xu Huixiang as an opponent.
Images of Xu Huixiang’s numerous records flashed through Li Guanyi’s mind, the Sword Saint’s grandson, a nineteen-year-old third-layer Heavenly Materials genius, a gentle demeanor, unparalleled Sword Qi traversing freely, who had mastered Taoist Sword Control and Confucian Heart Sword.
He walked through the Sword Tomb unarmed, not even lifting a sword, a prodigal swordsman of the Sword Saint lineage, the most likely candidate to earn such a title, who once cut off a river flow with a simple horizontal slash for a whole three breaths.
Even if he rarely made a move.
He still ranked thirty-fourth among the Martial World warriors at the age of standing strong.
Li Guanyi had witnessed his sparring; almost every stroke effortlessly defeated an opponent. He didn’t even draw his sword up to the quarter-finals. Li Guanyi felt immense pressure; he had only opened his Ancestor Acupoint in the second layer. The only advantage he had left was slight.
Li Guanyi made a quick judgment.
A physique of Golden Muscle and Jade Bone, Dragon Veins and Tiger Marrow represented short bursts of explosive power. What normal Martial Artists reached with a limit-burst once would leave them utterly exhausted, for those with Dragon Veins and Tiger Marrow, it was just their normal output.
And their blood and qi circulated faster, including the "Eternal Moon Undying Body."
After considering for a long time, Li Guanyi found the situation very bad.
Compared to that young Sword Saint, his most significant feature was.
And Li Guanyi, who possessed several Absolute Skills, also had the power to end the fight directly, but only if he, who hadn’t opened his Eye Acupoint, could keep up with his opponent’s movements and stably land his Absolute Skills on the opponent.
Of course, Absolute Skills were his trump cards, more important than victory and not to be exposed.
As Li Guanyi pondered this, suddenly a faint noise came from around the corner. He looked up to see a familiar figure appearing at the wall.
Hair white with age, tall in stature, it was Chen Chengbi.
The old man smiled at him, then suddenly appeared by Li Guanyi’s side.
He grabbed him and started sprinting.
"Old man, what are you doing?"
Chen Chengbi laughed excitedly:
"Xu Huixiang got a peak Fourth Layer General to train with him, so I need to find someone for you too. At least to ensure you can have a good, impressive fight with Xu Huixiang. It has to be fun, kid, don’t lose to the Sword Saint’s snotty grandson."
Li Guanyi couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "What are you planning to do?"
Chen Chengbi stuffed a bun into the youngster’s mouth, saying, "Eat up."
"Cough cough, a mountain man has his own scheme."
Soon Li Guanyi would learn whom the elder wanted him to meet.
Chen Chengbi arrived at a temple, where a young monk said:
"Senior, the living Buddha has just gone to bed."
Chen Chengbi said, "Gone to bed? No, no!"
The elder kicked the door open, shouting loudly:
"Hey, hey, hey, old baldy, get out!!!"
"The possibility of the strongest physique from ancient to present times lies here!"