Chapter 18

A torrent of talent surged.

Within Jiang Mu Ming, a power utterly distinct from martial cultivation rapidly rose.

It firmly occupied a place within his body.

Under the Talent Infusion, it gradually grew to rival the martial strength of the early Profound Spirit Realm.

In other words.

Jiang Mu Ming now relied solely on his talent to wield the power of the Profound Spirit Realm!

When the two were stacked together.

He could unleash even greater force.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen could sense the abyss-like, ocean-deep talent within Jiang Mu Ming.

His suspicions grew ever more certain.

This path of talent cultivation was pioneered by Jiang Mu Ming himself, merely transmitted to him through the medium of a novel.

No wonder the other claimed his ambition was to spread the way across the world.

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

"And this talent cultivation method is profoundly mysterious, capable of many things that martial arts cannot achieve."

"Perhaps, with the cultivation of talent, I am not beyond saving..."

He was known to the world as the Confucian Immortal; the path of Confucianism naturally posed no challenge to him.

Without needing to cultivate.

A stream of talent now nurtured his body from within.

With only a period of recuperation.

He might even reknit his severed meridians, fully restore his peak cultivation, and perhaps take a step further into the Profound Spirit Realm!

Then, whether Jiang Mu Ming wished to spread the way across the world or restore the Western Chu kingdom.

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 the Famous Sword Manor.

Now, the whole world knew.

Every faction had reacted. From Tian Qi City, the Little Master of the Academy, Xiao Ruo Feng, had been dispatched.

And he was now right here in Gan Dong City!

Gan Dong City, Marquis Zhenxi's Manor.

Baili Dongjun had failed to master the Sword Drawing Art, and in his frustration, drank himself into a stupor.

Yet this unexpectedly triggered the latent inner force hidden within him.

With one slash, he cut through a straw dummy armored in mail several meters away, and even cleaved the house itself in two.

But as luck would have it.

Xiao Ruo Feng, who had just arrived from the Academy, was present.

He witnessed the scene.

Xiao Ruo Feng was well-traveled and knowledgeable; with a single glance, he recognized the source of Baili Dongjun's inner force—it came from Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's Art of Medicine People!

By using medicinal wine, one could unknowingly plant inner force within a person's body.

"It seems the matter I came for has borne fruit." Xiao Ruo Feng understood that Baili Dongjun was the person he sought.

Now, then.

It was time to do what a Prince of Northern Li must do!

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

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

Parting the mist.

Xiao Ruo Feng moved as if riding the wind, landing atop a massive boulder.

"This junior, Xiao Ruo Feng, pays respects to Senior Confucian Immortal."

Within the courtyard, fallen petals covered the ground.

But contrary to Xiao Ruo Feng's expectations, the place held not only Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

There were also two others of unknown origin.

One stood holding an umbrella, heroic and spirited; the other sat beneath a tree reading a book, elegant and carefree.

And beside them, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen played a zither while admiring the flowers.

"You bear the surname Xiao, so you come on behalf of the court. I wonder what the court intends."

The Confucian Immortal Gu Chen let out a light laugh, strumming his zither with an air of calm.

"Sir, you are a remnant of Western Chu. By law, you should be taken into custody and handed over to the Dali Temple for trial."

Yet the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen showed not a trace of fear.

He remained as composed as drifting clouds and gentle breezes.

He said, "This matter could be entrusted to many—local governors, the Dali Temple, the Crown Prince's Shadow Guard. But he chose to send you. That means your standing is quite special."

"He wants to use the glory of capturing me, this remnant of Western Chu, to help you build your merits."

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

Xiao Ruo Feng smiled with confidence.

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

A disciple of the world-renowned Li Changsheng, he was the foremost among the Eight Princes of Northern Li.

The peerless Young Master Fenghua.

Even if his opponent was the Confucian Immortal of the famed Ruxian and Jianxian duo, long established in renown.

He was willing to fight, eager to fight!

A young man, too, had a young man's confidence!

Xiao Ruo Feng drew his long sword.

Pointing it straight at the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen, a dharma manifestation emerged behind him, and a surging Sword Qi burst forth.

Yet Gu Chen merely flicked his sword-like fingers.

In an instant, over a dozen long swords materialized, dissolving Xiao Ruo Feng's strike.

Beneath the tree.

Yu Sheng Mo walked over, holding an umbrella.

She commented, "A good seedling, but nothing more."

With a single glance, she saw through Xiao Ruo Feng's depths.

Li Changsheng's sword.

He had learned at most a ten-thousandth of it.

Still, mastering even a ten-thousandth of Li Changsheng's sword was enough to make one famous across the world.

But against the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

It fell far short.

Jiang Mu Ming did not watch the battle. Not even the current Xiao Ruo Feng, nor Xiao Ruo Feng at his peak, could be a match for the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

The reason he waited here.

Was not for Xiao Ruo Feng, but for others.

The Lawless and Unrestrained from Beyond Heaven!

He intended to protect the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

The Lawless and Unrestrained must die!

In the midst of the battle, Xiao Ruo Feng unleashed his strongest strike, Third Under Heaven.

But the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen remained as unruffled as ever.

He swept up a flurry of falling blossoms.

Transforming them into a Falling Blossom Giant Sword, which struck Xiao Ruo Feng to the ground in a single blow, blood spilling from his mouth.

As for the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

He was as calm as always, as if he hadn't even exerted himself.

"With you like this, what right do you have to take me away?"

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

To him, the current Xiao Ruo Feng was truly far too weak.

But Xiao Ruo Feng did not lose heart.

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

He said, "Having met you today, sir, I now understand what it means to be as far apart as clouds and mud."

"I, Ruo Feng, was arrogant."

The so-called Eight Princes of Northern Li, before a figure like the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

Were still worlds apart.

"A young man ought to have a young man's arrogance," the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen said, unconcerned. "Go back and tell your emperor of Northern Li."

"We old friends of Western Chu have no intention of restoring the kingdom for now."

"But if anyone wishes to reignite conflict and is set on wiping out us Western Chu folk, this Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's sword is not without its edge."

At this moment, the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen was different from the version in the original story who was about to die.

He possessed the Talent Cultivation Technique.

Restoring his cultivation and returning to his peak was merely a matter of time.

And behind him lay the last hope of Western Chu—the sole surviving royal bloodline of Western Chu, which he had to protect!

Though... it seemed Jiang Mu Ming didn't need his protection anyway.

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

Xiao Ruo Feng's face showed worry.

Northern Li had always feared that the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen harbored thoughts of restoring the kingdom, and now they saw that the small courtyard where Gu Chen resided held more than just him alone.

This meant the remaining forces of Western Chu were larger than Northern Li had imagined.

So how could Northern Li possibly let him off?

"Then I'll stay here and wait for them to come."

But just then.

Two powerful auras approached from outside the courtyard.

The Confucian Immortal Gu Chen furrowed his brow.

"Who goes there?!"