Chapter 18

The surging talent energy washed through him.

A power entirely different from martial cultivation rapidly rose within Jiang Mu Ming.

It firmly occupied a place inside his body.

Under the Talent Infusion, it gradually became strong enough to stand on equal terms with the martial cultivation of the early Profound Spirit Realm.

In other words.

Jiang Mu Ming now possessed the power of the Profound Spirit Realm simply by relying on his talent energy!

With the two powers layered together.

He could also unleash even greater strength.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen could sense the talent energy within Jiang Mu Ming, which was practically as vast as an abyss and an ocean.

The speculation in his heart grew increasingly certain.

This path of talent cultivation had been pioneered by Jiang Mu Ming. He had merely used the form of a novel to spread the Way to him.

No wonder he had said that his ambition was Spreading the Way Across the World.

If such a power truly emerged, then this world would inevitably be changed by Jiang Mu Ming!

"Moreover, this method of talent cultivation is incredibly profound. It can accomplish many things that martial cultivation cannot."

"Perhaps as I cultivate my talent energy, I may not be beyond saving after all..."

He was known throughout the world as the Confucian Immortal. Naturally, the path of Confucian cultivation would not trouble him.

There was no need to cultivate.

At this moment, the talent energy within him was already nourishing his body.

He only needed some time to recuperate.

Perhaps he could reconnect the severed meridians within his body, completely recover his cultivation from its peak, and might even advance further, entering the Profound Spirit Realm!

When that time came, whether Jiang Mu Ming wanted to spread the Way across the world or restore Western Chu.

He would be able to help!

But he did not know that an invisible crisis was closing in on him.

Baili Dongjun had exposed the Western Chu Sword Song at Famous Sword Manor.

By now, everyone under Heaven knew.

The various forces had also responded. Tian Qi City had sent Little Master of the Academy, Xiao Ruo Feng, here.

He was now in Gan Dong City!

Gan Dong City, Marquis Zhenxi's Manor.

Baili Dongjun had failed to master the Sword Drawing Art. Depressed, he drank himself senseless.

Yet he unexpectedly triggered the inner force hidden within his body.

With one sword, he cleaved apart an armored straw dummy several meters away, and even cut the house in half along with it.

But unexpectedly.

Xiao Ruo Feng, who had come from the Academy, happened to be there.

He witnessed the scene.

Xiao Ruo Feng was well-informed. With one glance, he knew the source of Baili Dongjun's inner force: it came from Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's Art of Medicine People!

It could use medicinal wine to plant inner force within a person's body without them realizing it.

"Looks like the matter I came to handle has already borne fruit." Xiao Ruo Feng understood that Baili Dongjun was the person he had been looking for.

Then next.

It was time to do what he had to do as a Northern Li Prince!

After leaving Marquis Zhenxi's Manor, Xiao Ruo Feng headed straight for the nearby small courtyard where Confucian Immortal Gu Chen lived in seclusion.

The spies from Tian Qi City had long since found his residence.

Breaking through the mist.

Xiao Ruo Feng seemed to ride the wind as he landed atop a huge boulder.

"This junior is Xiao Ruo Feng. Greetings, Senior Confucian Immortal."

Inside the courtyard, fallen flowers covered the ground.

But contrary to what Xiao Ruo Feng had expected, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen was not the only one here.

There were also two people whose identities and origins were unknown.

One stood holding an umbrella, heroic and dashing. The other read beneath a tree, handsome and carefree.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen was also nearby, playing the qin and admiring the flowers.

"Your surname is Xiao, so you must have come on behalf of the imperial court. I wonder what the court intends to do."

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen gave a light laugh and calmly played the qin.

"Sir is a remnant of Western Chu. You should rightly be taken into custody and handed over to the Dali Temple for judgment."

Yet Confucian Immortal Gu Chen showed not the slightest fear.

He remained as calm and unruffled as ever.

He said, "Many people could handle this matter—the local governors, the Dali Temple, or the Imperial Guard Bureau directly under the straightforward Crown Prince. Yet he chose to entrust it to you. It seems your position is rather special."

"You wish to use the glory of capturing me, a remnant of Western Chu, to help accumulate merit."

"But do you think you can take me away?"

Xiao Ruo Feng smiled confidently.

He replied, "This junior would like to try."

He was the foremost of the Eight Princes of Northern Li, having studied under the world-renowned Li Changsheng.

The peerless Young Master Fenghua.

Even though the person standing before him was Confucian Immortal, one of the famed Ruxian and Jianxian, who had made his name long ago.

He was willing to fight—and wanted to fight!

Young people had the confidence of young people!

Xiao Ruo Feng drew his long sword.

He pointed it straight at Confucian Immortal Gu Chen. A Dharma Aspect appeared behind him, and mighty sword energy surged forth.

Yet Gu Chen merely swept out a finger.

More than a dozen long swords materialized, dispelling Xiao Ruo Feng's sword technique.

Beneath the tree.

Yu Sheng Mo approached with her umbrella.

She appraised him. "He is a good seedling, but nothing more."

With one glance, she had seen through Xiao Ruo Feng's abilities.

Of Li Changsheng's sword.

He had learned at most one ten-thousandth.

Yet being able to learn even one ten-thousandth of Li Changsheng's sword was enough to make him famous throughout the world.

But against Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

It was far from enough.

Jiang Mu Ming did not look toward the battle. Forget the current Xiao Ruo Feng—even Xiao Ruo Feng at the height of his growth could not possibly be Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's opponent.

The reason he was waiting here.

Was not to wait for Xiao Ruo Feng, but for some other people.

Lawless and Unrestrained from Beyond Heaven!

He had to protect Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

Lawless and Unrestrained had to die!

Amid the battle, Xiao Ruo Feng unleashed his strongest sword, Third Under Heaven.

But Confucian Immortal Gu Chen remained calm and unruffled.

He swept up the fluttering fallen flowers.

They transformed into a Falling Blossom Giant Sword, and with a single strike, it sent Xiao Ruo Feng crashing to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.

As for Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

He was as calm as ever, seeming not even to have exerted any strength.

"With strength like yours, what makes you think you can take me away?"

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen stood with his hands behind his back.

The current Xiao Ruo Feng was simply far too weak for him.

But Xiao Ruo Feng was not discouraged.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands in salute.

He said, "After meeting you today, I finally understand what it means for clouds and mud to be worlds apart."

"I was arrogant."

The so-called Eight Princes of Northern Li were still far too lacking before someone like Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

"Young people should naturally have the arrogance of youth." Confucian Immortal Gu Chen did not mind. Instead, he said, "Go back and tell your Northern Li Emperor."

"We, the old friends of Western Chu, have no Thought of Restoration for the time being."

"But if you wish to reignite the conflict and insist on exterminating us people of Western Chu, then I, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen, may have sheathed my sword, but its edge has not dulled."

The Confucian Immortal Gu Chen of this moment was different from the Gu Chen who was about to die in the original story.

He possessed the method of talent cultivation.

Recovering his cultivation and returning to his peak was only a matter of time.

Behind him stood the last hope of Western Chu—the sole surviving member of Western Chu's imperial bloodline, whom he had to protect!

Although... it seemed Jiang Mu Ming did not need his protection at all.

"Then Northern Li will be even less willing to let you go."

Worry showed on Xiao Ruo Feng's face.

Northern Li had already feared that Confucian Immortal Gu Chen harbored thoughts of restoring the nation. Now they had seen that there was more than just Gu Chen in the small courtyard.

This meant that the remnants of Western Chu were stronger than Northern Li had imagined.

How could Northern Li possibly let him go?

"Then I will wait here for them to come."

But just then.

Two powerful auras approached from outside the courtyard.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen frowned.

"Who?!"