Chapter 599
Almost without hesitation
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. It seemed that he wouldn't be able to say goodbye to Mu Wansu in person this time.
He felt a slight regret, but he could only give up, he thought to himself.
Since you're not here, let's hope we meet again someday.
After leaving Shidingzhai, Jiang Xuan finally arrived at the Spirit Pattern Master Commune.
When Chu Feng met Jiang Xuan, he was very enthusiastic. He pulled him aside to drink tea and chat, and the conversation mostly revolved around the provincial examination that had just ended. Chu Feng praised Jiang Xuan's performance highly.
The two chatted for about half an incense stick's time before Jiang Xuan put down his teacup and explained his purpose.
"Brother Chu Feng, I have come to bid you farewell. The provincial examination is over, and I will soon be setting off for the Forbidden City to participate in the national examination."
Upon hearing this, Chu Feng's face showed a look of sudden realization, and he then sighed with emotion.
"The Forbidden City... Come to think of it, it's been many years since I've been back."
His tone carried a complex and enigmatic meaning, a mixture of nostalgia and a subtle, almost imperceptible, sense of melancholy.
Jiang Xuan recalled that Mu Wansu had vaguely mentioned that Chu Feng seemed to have been expelled from the clan in the Forbidden City because of some past events, and that's why he came to Yanxia City for refuge.
He noticed the fleeting complex expression in Chu Feng's eyes and felt a slight stirring in his heart.
He looked at Chu Feng and spoke earnestly.
"Brother Chu Feng, once I arrive in the Forbidden City, if there is an opportunity... I will do my best to help you return to your clan and reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to you."
Upon hearing this, Chu Feng was completely stunned! His hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air as he looked at Jiang Xuan in disbelief.
He had never told Jiang Xuan about his past in detail, but he never expected that the other party would know and make such a solemn promise at this moment!
An indescribable surge of heat rushed into Chu Feng's heart, making his nose tingle slightly and his eyes feel hot.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to express his gratitude, but found that his throat was blocked by something, and he was speechless for a moment, his heart filled with huge surprise and overwhelming gratitude.
Jiang Xuan smiled slightly as he looked at him, stood up, and said.
"No need for words of gratitude. You can thank me when I am truly of help in the future. Farewell, Brother Chu Feng, take care."
After saying that, Jiang Xuan cupped his hands in greeting to Chu Feng, then turned and left the Spirit Pattern Master Commune.
Chu Feng stood there, staring blankly in the direction Jiang Xuan had left, motionless for a long time, his heart filled with mixed emotions and turbulent feelings.
……
I have met all the people I needed to meet, and said all the things I needed to say.
As Jiang Xuan walked back to the courtyard, he looked up at the familiar sky of Yanxia City.
He knew it was time to begin the final preparations for his journey to the Forbidden City, the symbol of imperial power and the heart of the nation. The road ahead was destined to be fraught with thorns, but he had no choice, and... he was fearless.
I have met all the people I needed to meet, and said all the things I needed to say.
Back in the secluded courtyard, Jiang Xuan went straight to the stone table in the courtyard, took out a meticulously drawn parchment map of the empire's thirty-four provinces from his storage ring, which he had bought at a bookstore in the city, and carefully unfolded it.
The map is marked with great detail on mountains, rivers, cities, and fortresses.
He picked up a specially made seal script brush and drew a striking red circle on the location representing Yanxia City in the Southwest Province. Then, with sharp eyes, he began to examine the long route from Yanxia City to the Forbidden City, the center of the empire.
Just then, Xue Jin walked over silently. He glanced at the map, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy old eyes, and suddenly reached out and snatched the seal script brush from Jiang Xuan's hand.
"Kid, watch closely."
Xue Jin's voice was slightly hoarse as he turned his wrist, quickly drawing three clear lines on the map with his seal script brush.
“This one to the west,” Xue Jin pointed to the western road with the tip of her pen.
"It requires traversing thirty-seven cities of varying sizes and crossing hundreds of mountains, including some treacherous and perilous places. The journey is the longest and most unpredictable, with various unexpected changes that can easily occur."
The pen tip moved eastward.
"The one to the east looks like a sea route, which seems to avoid many troubles on land."
But you must understand, this is the most turbulent time of year in the Annihilation Sea. Storms rage, tsunamis occur frequently, and ferocious deep-sea beasts roam. Almost no fleet dares to cross at this time of year; the risks are extremely high, and survival is a slim chance.
Finally, the seal script brush landed on the straightest and shortest line in the middle.
"The middle road is the official main road and the first choice for most cultivators. Although there are a few dangerous passes along the way, one can basically pass through without hindrance if traveling by spirit pattern shuttle or large spirit pattern warship."
"But—" Xue Jin's tone suddenly became more serious, and she looked at Jiang Xuan with a solemn expression.
"This route is bound to be heavily guarded by the enemy, with numerous checkpoints set up to intercept you! In my opinion, it would be better to take the western route. Although it is longer, the risk is relatively smaller, and it is easier to avoid their main surveillance."
Jiang Xuan's gaze swept across the three paths, and without any hesitation, he pointed directly at the shortest path in the middle, his tone resolute.
"Let's go down the middle!"
Xue Jin frowned.
"Kid, have you thought this through? Since they know you're going to the Forbidden City, they'll definitely lay a trap on the route you're most likely to take!"
Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes sharp as knives.
“Senior, the distance from Yanxia City to the Forbidden City is more than ten thousand miles. Even if their power is great, can they really block the entire route? There must be weak points they can’t cover. Besides, since they promised to only send cultivators below the Spirit Sea Realm, as long as I don’t encounter any old monsters at the Spirit Sea Realm, why should I be afraid?”
Seeing Jiang Xuan's confident and resolute eyes, Xue Jin knew that further persuasion would be useless.
This kid has an indomitable spirit and a drive to take risks.
He sighed, stopped trying to persuade him, and threw the seal script brush back onto the table.
"Since you've made up your mind, then so be it. How do you plan to travel?"
Xue Jin asked.
"Ride the spirit-patterned shuttle."
Jiang Xuan answered crisply and decisively.
"It's fast enough and relatively comfortable, saving a lot of energy and time to deal with potential attacks."
As he spoke, he carefully rolled up the map and tucked it into his pocket.
Then he said to Xue Jindao.
"Senior, the official provincial examination certificates should be issued in two days. Could you please go and collect them for me?"
Xue Jin nodded; he certainly wouldn't refuse such a small matter.
But he still had some doubts.
"And you? What are you going to do these next two days?" Jiang Xuan's face revealed a meaningful smile, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"I need to prepare some... gadgets."
"A little gadget?"
Xue Jin was puzzled.
"Hmm," Jiang Xuan nodded, his tone flat, yet carrying a chilling undertone.
"Some...little killing gadgets. After all, you can't expect your enemies to talk about chivalry and have a fair one-on-one duel, can you? It's always good to have more tricks up your sleeve."
This can be considered a practical application of my skills as a spirit rune master.
After saying that, he didn't say anything more, turned around and went into his room, closing the door behind him.
In order to purchase this detailed map of the empire, as well as the large amount of special spiritual materials and medicines needed to prepare the "trinkets" that followed, Jiang Xuan almost spent all of his remaining savings of more than 10,000 gold coins.
But he felt it was all worth it.
……
Meanwhile, in the distant and ancient imperial capital, the Forbidden City.
Deep within an ancient mansion with over a thousand years of history, exuding an aura of vicissitude and majesty.
A young woman dressed in a magnificent purple robe, exuding an aloof and powerful aura, was gathering several young men and women who clearly came from extraordinary backgrounds.
The girl appeared to be about seventeen years old, with stunning beauty, yet her brows carried an aloofness and an innate sense of superiority.
She is none other than Chi Zangmei, the direct descendant of the Chi family, one of the seven most prestigious clans in the Forbidden City. At such a young age, she already possesses the formidable cultivation of the Spirit Sea Realm!
Beside her, the four or five well-dressed noblemen, though each possessing an extraordinary air, all appeared quite respectful and even somewhat awe-inspiring in front of Chi Cangmei.
With a wave of her jade hand, Chi Cangmei unfolded an imperial map on the table, almost as detailed as the one in Jiang Xuan's hand.
She stretched out her slender fingers and drew three routes on the map, which were exactly the same as the three routes that Xue Jin had pointed out to Jiang Xuan!
"Look carefully at these three routes from Yanxia City in the Southwest Province to the Forbidden City: West, Central, and East."
Chi Cangmei's voice was clear and crisp, yet it carried an unquestionable tone of command.
"I want you to deploy sufficient manpower along these three routes! You must stop that boy named Jiang Xuan from entering the Forbidden City!"
Upon hearing this, everyone showed a hint of disapproval on their faces. A young man in a brocade robe couldn't help but speak up.
“Miss Cangmei is just a kid from the southwestern border, a mere Human Realm cultivator. Is it worth us making such a fuss? Deploying defenses on all three fronts will require a considerable number of people. Just the Spirit Realm cultivators alone will probably require mobilizing over a thousand people, which will be a huge expense!”
The others nodded in agreement, feeling that this was overkill and making a mountain out of a molehill.
Chi Cangmei glanced coldly at everyone, but did not immediately refute them. Instead, he took out an ancient animal skin scroll from his sleeve and threw it on the table.
"See for yourselves."
The group picked up the scroll with a puzzled look and took turns flipping through it.
As they read on, the dismissive look on their faces gradually disappeared, replaced by growing astonishment and seriousness!
The scroll details Jiang Xuan's various deeds after entering Yanxia City.
The battle in the rainy night forced many powerful families to bow down; in the arena, he defeated Huang Jianchen, a member of the Huang family of the Forbidden City; at the Azure Sea Dojo, he destroyed the Earthly Gang Realm puppet and entered the Heavenly Gang Realm secret chamber for training; especially the last column, which clearly marked his origin - Blood Slaughter Camp!
"The Bloodthirsty Camp?!"
Someone gasped in shock.
Everyone understood what the words "Blood Killing Camp" meant! It was a place that trained killing machines, and everyone who came out of it was a ruthless, fierce fighter, a master of assassination, infiltration, and survival techniques! Jiang Xuan's previous achievements, combined with his background in the Blood Killing Camp, suddenly seemed even more convincing and threatening!
However, some still felt that using such a massive force to stop such a person was a bit excessive. A tall woman hesitated before speaking.
“Miss Cangmei, even if this young man has some skill and a special background, if we really want to stop him, perhaps there is a more… less strenuous way?”
Just then, the carved wooden door of the hall was gently pushed open, and a young man dressed in a simple blue robe walked in slowly.
Upon seeing the man in blue, all the young people present, including Chi Cangmei, showed expressions of surprise.
The man in blue had an ordinary face, and his complexion was even a bit sallow, suggesting that he was not in good health.
But his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, as if they could see into people's hearts.
He walked with a composed gait, exuding an aura of unwavering steadiness.
"Xu Qianjing?!"
Why is he here?
Someone exclaimed in a low voice, revealing the identity of the newcomer.
Xu Qianjing is the most outstanding genius of Qinglu Academy's Shence Branch in recent years! Although he is not known for his personal martial arts, he is extremely proficient in troop deployment and tactical simulation. In many simulated confrontations with his peers, he won first place with his unpredictable tactics and is known as one of the top tactical masters among the younger generation! His status and influence are, in some aspects, no less than some veteran powerhouses.
When Chi Cangmei saw Xu Qianjing, a rare look of solemnity appeared on his usually cold face.
She personally got up and poured Xu Qianjing a steaming cup of spiritual tea, her tone filled with obvious respect.
"Senior Brother Xu, you've arrived."
Xu Qianjing nodded slightly, calmly sat down, took the teacup, and his gaze swept calmly over the map spread out on the table and the people present, finally landing on Chi Cangmei. His voice was gentle and composed.
"Since Miss Cangmei invited me, how could Qianjing dare to refuse? Just now outside the door, I vaguely heard you all discussing Jiang Xuan from the Southwest Province?"
Chi Cangmei nodded and said in a deep voice.
"That's right. Senior Brother Xu is well-informed and must already know that this young man has passed the provincial examination in the Southwest Province."
Xu Qianjing gently blew on the steam rising from his teacup, his tone remaining calm, but his words caused everyone present to change their expressions once again.
"Not only that. I just received confirmation that Jiang Xuan ranked first in the overall score of the provincial examination in the Southwest Province."
He paused, looked up at Chi Cangmei, and added a crucial piece of information.
"Moreover, as far as I know, his cultivation level is still stuck at the Human Gang Realm."
Chi Cangmei's pupils contracted slightly as he confirmed.
"Human Realm? First place in the provincial examination? Is the information accurate?"
"It's true."
Xu Qianjing put down his teacup, a meaningful expression appearing on his sallow face.
"What's even more noteworthy is that in the third round of the 'Six Jia Tournament,' his group, besides himself, included four Earth Gang Realm cultivators and one... Heaven Gang Realm cultivator."
He paused deliberately, looking at the astonished faces of the crowd, before slowly continuing.
"And the final result was that he single-handedly defeated all five opponents—the four Earthly Realm experts and the one Heavenly Realm expert—and advanced powerfully." (End of Chapter)