Squad Victories Decided, a Vicious Tiger Devours Its Cub

The moment Jiang Ping'an entered the Courtyard Gate, he saw Princess Bailing seated at a stone table beneath a precious tree in the front courtyard, sipping tea. A set of tea utensils shimmering with a lustrous treasure glow and a pot of freshly brewed fragrant tea sat atop the table. About half a zhang behind Princess Bailing stood a middle-aged Maidservant whose aura was as unfathomable as the sea.

Jiang Ping'an could not help taking another look at the precious tree.

The tree was crystalline and emerald green, shrouded in seven-colored hazy radiance. Wisps of visible mist-like essence draped down from its branches and leaves, maintaining a high concentration of essence beneath the tree.

This was a Seven-Colored Essence Tree. It normally absorbed vast quantities of Heavenly Essence and stored it away. Whenever living creatures were beneath it, it released essence, keeping the area under its canopy rich with concentrated essence.

Jiang Ping'an had read about it in a book titled "Rare Flowers, Exotic Herbs, and Precious Trees." Seven-Colored Essence Trees were scarce and precious, exceedingly rare.

He had not expected one to be planted in Princess Bailing's Residence. It had likely been transplanted here after she moved in.

As Princess Bailing savored her tea, she exuded a noble, elegant air. Her incomparably beautiful young face bore an added touch of tranquil grace, and together with the seven-colored, hazy precious tree above her, she looked like a scene from a painting.

She did not rise to welcome Jiang Ping'an, merely offering him a faint smile.

Fairy tales are all lies. A princess can't possibly be approachable.

Jiang Ping'an could not help singing a line of lyrics in his heart as he walked toward Princess Bailing.

"Princess." Jiang Ping'an cupped his hands.

Princess Bailing set down her teacup and asked, "What is it you wish to discuss with me?"

"Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng came to see me just now. They hope to compete for one of the top two places within the squad. I am unwilling to give up a top-two position as well," Jiang Ping'an said calmly. "I am worried something may happen during this afternoon's match, so I came to give you advance notice."

Princess Bailing pondered briefly, then said, "It is only natural that all of you wish to compete for the top two positions in the squad, but that could easily lead to everyone fighting their own battle. What countermeasure do you have?"

"That depends on Your Highness's arrangements," Jiang Ping'an said, kicking the ball back to her.

He had yet to display overwhelming strength, and he still bore the label of a "Mortal Body" on his forehead. Princess Bailing might not trust him even as much as Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng.

Princess Bailing smiled faintly, a teasing glint in her eyes, before saying, "I understand the situation now. Thank you for informing me."

Seeing that Princess Bailing had no intention of joining hands with him in private, Jiang Ping'an was not disappointed. So long as Princess Bailing was not caught off guard and defeated by some sudden development on the arena, he would not have to reveal more of his strength because one tree could not hold up a collapsing house.

"Farewell." He cupped his hands crisply, turned, and left Princess Bailing's Residence.

Once Jiang Ping'an had left and the Courtyard Gate closed, Princess Bailing immediately abandoned her noble, elegant sitting posture and became more casual.

The middle-aged Maidservant behind her said, "Princess, you handled that well just now."

"But wasn't I putting on too much of an air?" Princess Bailing pursed her tender pink lips slightly, a trace of guilt surfacing on her face. "Someone came to visit, and I did not even offer him a seat."

The middle-aged Maidservant smiled. "If you did otherwise, he would mistake it for special favor and develop unrealistic hopes. You were doing it for his own good. He is your neighbor, so you must be even more careful not to grow close to him too easily."

"Being a princess is so tiresome. Even making a friend is difficult. You never know who is sincere and who is merely putting on a false face," Princess Bailing said gloomily.

The middle-aged Maidservant only smiled and did not respond.

After a while, Princess Bailing asked, "Lady Qin, how much of what Jiang Ping'an said was true?"

(A female court historian was an official position for women within the imperial palace.)

"It should be true," Lady Qin said. "That young man likely guessed that you do not trust him very much, so he did not directly suggest that you join hands with him in private."

Princess Bailing nodded slightly and asked, "How strong is he?"

"From what I observed, his True Essence aura was rather weak, and he did not seem to be concealing anything. The rumors that he has a Mortal Body are not false," Lady Qin replied. "For him to reach the Primordial Sea Realm at such a young age, his comprehension must be astonishing."

As the female official personally responsible for protecting Emperor Qian's most favored princess, she had long gathered intelligence on Princess Bailing's surrounding neighbors, including Jiang Ping'an. She knew that Jiang Ping'an's comprehension was astonishing, perhaps something seen only once in a hundred years.

That afternoon, the third round of matches was about to begin at the Grand Martial Plaza in the central district.

By the third round, only seventy-five squads remained. They were all fairly strong, and after two rounds of competition, they had basically mastered the methods of squad combat.

They still had to draw lots.

Princess Bailing drew the first match on Arena Three. Before she could even learn who her opponents were, she was asked to step onto the arena.

Squad 135 still adopted the formation it had used in the first two rounds, while the opposing squad had clearly studied Squad 135 and adjusted its formation accordingly.

With Princess Bailing in its ranks, Squad 135 had become the center of attention and was more easily targeted.

As the referee's declaration that the match had begun fell, the opposing Squad 99 formed a Five Elements Array and steadily pressed toward Princess Bailing.

Princess Bailing swiftly cast a spell at them, but it was blocked by the protective barrier produced by the Five Elements Array and failed to scatter the enemy formation.

Princess Bailing's expression could not help turning grave.

At that moment, in order to seize contribution points, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng no longer stayed by Princess Bailing's side. Both took the initiative to attack, even making contact with the enemy before Hong Feng, who stood at the front.

The situation of everyone fighting their own battle unfolded exactly as expected.

Jiang Ping'an did not rush to attack the enemy alongside Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng, instead continuing to harry them from the flanks.

Squad 99 had a Five Elements Array and cooperated closely. They were also sufficiently wary of him. With the Willow Branching Movement and Xun Star Swordplay, Jiang Ping'an gained no real advantage in the short term.

Perhaps because they had won the previous two rounds too easily, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng traded several attacking moves without results and could not help unleashing their ultimate moves.

They had indeed learned several High-grade Martial Skills, but they had only just begun. As they rushed to unleash their ultimate moves first, they exposed flaws everywhere. Before their techniques could truly be released, they were defeated by the enemy.

As Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng were lifted off the arena through the air by the Instructors outside the arena, Hong Feng was quickly defeated as well.

Only Princess Bailing and Jiang Ping'an remained. Two against five—they were at an undeniable disadvantage.

Princess Bailing glanced at Jiang Ping'an, but saw no sign that he intended to come over and protect her.

I didn't expect to be forced to reveal my trump card so soon. She felt somewhat helpless.

At once, she cried out sweetly, "Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix!"

The next moment, the Heavenly Essence in the surroundings surged, and heaven and earth changed color. A phenomenon appeared behind Princess Bailing.

A brilliantly colored Phoenix radiating golden light emerged from the void. Its piercing cry shook the True Essence of those around it until it nearly collapsed. The Phoenix soared high, and countless phantom spirit birds flew in from all directions.

At such a phenomenon, every spectator beneath the arena was left staring dumbstruck in overwhelming shock.

So this is a Primordial Sea Phenomenon. Jiang Ping'an gazed at the phenomenon behind Princess Bailing and secretly marveled. Princess Bailing's True Essence surged enormously all at once, while that phoenix cry shook the True Essence of everyone nearby to the point of collapse. Squad 99, standing directly before her, must be suffering even worse. A Primordial Sea Phenomenon truly is formidable!

At that moment, Princess Bailing condensed a spell, completing it almost instantly. A terrifying fireball over three zhang—ten meters—in diameter formed and smashed toward Squad 99.

"We surrender! We surrender..." someone in Squad 99 snapped back to their senses and screamed in terror.

At that moment, an Instructor outside the arena intervened and redirected the massive fireball into the sky.

Having narrowly escaped death, every member of Squad 99 was filled with lingering fear. Cold sweat soaked their bodies, and their legs went weak.

The referee announced, "Squad 135 wins!"

Jiang Ping'an sheathed his sword and walked up to Princess Bailing, saying with a broad smile, "The Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon was incredible. It scared everyone senseless. We can just lie down and win the next round."

"Why didn't you come protect me just now?" Princess Bailing asked, somewhat displeased.

Jiang Ping'an kept smiling unconcernedly. "Because I knew Your Highness did not need protection."

Princess Bailing gave a nearly inaudible snort.

On the morning of the third day, the fourth round of matches was held.

Just as Jiang Ping'an had expected, their opposing squad surrendered outright.

Squad 135 became one of the nineteen victorious squads. Princess Bailing and Jiang Ping'an ranked among the top two within the squad and obtained the qualifications to participate in the first ranking matches.

The first ranking matches were not held immediately and were postponed until the end.

During that time, Jiang Ping'an did not watch any matches, busying himself with refining pills and cultivating.

White Emperor City, Zhennan Marquis Estate, Great Peng Courtyard.

Su Yingluo received a letter from Zhao Zhenming.

After reading its contents, anger appeared on her usually holy face, and intense killing intent shot from her normally calm, unruffled eyes.

Her precious son and daughter had actually been bullied—and by that wretch, who had even used such despicable, underhanded means.

"What a vile beast! Back then, I repeatedly softened my heart and spared your life. Yet not only do you fail to know gratitude, you instead harbor jealousy and scheme at every turn to harm my children!"

She did not heed Zhao Zhenming's request in the letter and immediately dispatched someone in secret to "deliver salvation" to Jiang Ping'an in Yujing.

After calmly considering matters for a while, she suppressed her rage and killing intent, burned the letter, and went to find Zhao Yingpeng.

Zhao Yingpeng was still cultivating in his separate courtyard.

"Husband, Zhenming sent a letter home," she said directly.

Upon hearing the name "Zhenming," Zhao Yingpeng could not help revealing a trace of paternal affection. He smiled and said, "Is that so? Where is the letter?"

He held out his hand to Su Yingluo for it.

Su Yingluo gently shook her head. "I burned the letter. I feared that after reading it, you would fly into a rage and do something regrettable."

"What exactly happened to Zhenming?" Zhao Yingpeng immediately pressed, his tone anxious.

Su Yingluo sighed softly. "I truly do not wish to say."

After saying that, she turned and left, unusually refusing to comply with Zhao Yingpeng.

Anxiety filled Zhao Yingpeng's heart. How could he still have the mind to continue cultivating? He wanted to go force Su Yingluo to tell him.

However, he suddenly recalled that Zhao Zhenming's letter had arrived rather quickly. It had probably been rushed back by a servant.

Thus, he instead sought out the person who had delivered the letter and found Old Hai.

Discovering that Old Hai had personally delivered the letter made Zhao Yingpeng realize even more that his beloved son's situation in Yujing was very bad.

Old Hai was Zhao Zhenming's guardian. Such menial errand work as delivering letters should have been handled by attendant servants, unless some special circumstance had arisen.

Old Hai concealed nothing and recounted, from beginning to end, the conflict between Jiang Ping'an, Zhao Zhenming, and Zhao Jinglian.

Before Zhao Yingpeng had even heard it all, he was already incomparably enraged, roaring without end, "You bastard! That lowly maid should never have been allowed to bear you in the first place!!!"

After his fury subsided, he personally summoned a Dragon Transformation Realm family retainer and sent him to Yujing to cleanse the family of its misfortune and kill Jiang Ping'an.