Xiao Sheng Takes the Blame

Just as Xiao Fenghua's mind was shaken, falling into immense shock and self-doubt.

A powerful aura erupted suddenly, without any warning.

Boom—!!!

This wasn't a pressure directed at anyone; it was merely the natural release of a powerful phenomenon when one's cultivation breaks through.

That's right, Zhang Yu's reward had arrived, and he had broken through.

This is... Ninth Rank?

The aura of a Ninth Rank martial artist?

Xiao Fenghua's pupils constricted, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. Her exquisite face was filled with disbelief and shock.

Before she came, she had already mobilized the power of the Jing Prince's Estate to investigate Zhang Yu thoroughly.

All intelligence clearly indicated that this Eldest Young Master of the Marquis Yong'an's Estate had extremely poor martial arts aptitude. After cultivating for three years, he had only barely reached the First Rank.

But now... this Ninth Rank aura, which many martial artists who had cultivated for decades could only dream of reaching, was being emitted from this "waste" without reservation.

In just over a day?

First Rank to Ninth Rank?

This was simply a fantasy!

"It seems he hid his cultivation before. He must have already possessed Eighth Rank cultivation and just happened to break through today."

Xiao Fenghua found a plausible explanation, but she was still deeply shocked.

Xiao Fenghua was twenty-five years old this year. With her exceptional talent and top-tier resources, she was currently only at the peak of the Seventh Rank.

Jiang Luohan, hailed as the number one prodigy of the Wei Kingdom, was twenty-one this year. With Zhang Yu's Bodhi Pills and various resources piled upon her, she had only just broken through to the Seventh Rank.

Yet, Zhang Yu before her, who appeared to be two years younger than her, had already broken through to the Ninth Rank.

"Ninth Rank at twenty-three years old..."

Xiao Fenghua's mind went blank, only this shocking thought echoing wildly in her head.

"The Wei Kingdom has existed for over three hundred years, and there has never been such a record.

No, not just the Wei Kingdom. Looking at 'Qingzhou', where the Wei Kingdom is located, and even the neighboring few continents, there has never been any news of anyone reaching the Ninth Rank of martial arts at the age of twenty-three."

She suddenly recalled ancient records mentioning that in the legendary Tianzhu, which gathered the world's destiny, there seemed to be such exceptionally talented "Holy Sons" and "Divine Maidens."

But those were just vague legends, as distant as two different worlds from her "Qingzhou" and the Wei Kingdom.

And now, a living, breathing Ninth Rank martial artist, only twenty-three years old, was sitting in the Heavenly Prison opposite her.

At this moment, Xiao Fenghua finally had a "reasonable" explanation for Du Jun's courtesy and the obedience of the mysterious Formation Grandmaster (Chen Dongpeng).

Yes, it was Zhang Yu's talent.

Martial arts talent so heaven-defying it was despair-inducing.

No wonder someone as arrogant as Du Jun would lower himself to befriend him, calling him "young friend."

Because what Zhang Yu displayed was unparalleled potential, capable of reaching Grandmaster and even glimpsing higher realms.

Investing in him was investing in a future martial arts titan.

No wonder that Formation Grandmaster was willing to hide his name, work as a handyman at Dingsheng Workshop, and take orders from him.

Besides the temptation of formation inheritance, Zhang Yu's own potential and future were likely important reasons as well.

"He... he broke through to Ninth Rank in front of me... is he warning me?"

Xiao Fenghua's heart grew cold, a chill rising within her.

A Ninth Rank martial artist was indeed nothing in front of the Wei Kingdom's royal family, which had Grandmasters guarding it.

Xiao Fenghua's own background meant she wasn't afraid of a Ninth Rank.

However, a Ninth Rank at twenty-three years old was a completely different matter.

It represented infinite possibilities and a terrifying future.

As long as he didn't fall midway, reaching Innate and achieving Grandmaster was almost a certainty.

There was even a high probability of breaking through to Great Grandmaster.

Such an existence, even if their current strength was not at its peak, was enough to make any force treat them with caution, or even strive to befriend them.

Because no one knew what height he would reach in ten or twenty years.

Offending such a peerless genius who might stand at the pinnacle of the continent in the future?

That would be digging their own grave!

Moreover, he already had the support of Du Jun, a Pill Dao Grandmaster, and a Formation Grandmaster. Even if others wanted to nip him in the bud, it was probably unrealistic.

After realizing this, cold sweat broke out on Xiao Fenghua's back.

All the previous contempt and disdain she had for Zhang Yu had long since vanished, replaced by deep apprehension, lingering fear, and a hint of uncontrollable... desire to befriend him.

The Jing Prince's Estate was in a critical period of "nine dragons seizing the throne." If they could gain the help of this future titan, even just forging a good relationship, it would be an immeasurable boost to the Estate!

"But..."

New doubts arose in Xiao Fenghua's mind. "If he possesses such talent and strength, and has connections like Du Jun and a Formation Grandmaster, why would he allow himself to fall into such a predicament, to be imprisoned in this dark and sunless Heavenly Prison?"

"With the methods and background he's displayed, escaping this charge would be as easy as turning his hand over."

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

Gazing at Zhang Yu in the cell, whose aura was gradually receding, Xiao Fenghua felt the mist shrouding this young prisoner growing thicker and thicker.

He was no longer just a "mysterious" prisoner, but a monster carrying heaven-defying talent and hiding astonishing power.