What is this ultimate skill?

After being lectured by Jiang Changsheng, Jiang Ziyu had no choice but to give up the idea of joining the army, and from then on, he practiced even more diligently.

That very month, the Emperor decreed that the granddaughter of Minister of Justice Yang Che be betrothed to Prince Wei. The news spread throughout the city, causing much discussion among the people. In recent years, the Emperor's presence had been weak, and the Crown Prince could be said to have been in sole control of the court. The Emperor actually arranged a marriage for Prince Wei, which made people's minds wander.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is really going too far, it's too rude. His Majesty is still here, yet he dares to say he wants to lead the army himself. Why doesn't he just call himself 'zhen'?"

Chen Li said indignantly, "The Crown Prince of yesteryear was much better. Although he didn't practice martial arts, he had the makings of an emperor."

Wang Chen, who was sweeping the floor, felt a pang in his heart upon hearing these words, but he didn't feel resentful. He had grown accustomed to his days of cultivation in the temple, which were leisurely but not dull, and free from scheming.

Jiang Ziyu was studying in the palace, so Chen Li was even more unbridled in his criticism of Jiang Yu.

Jiang Changsheng sat cross-legged under the Earth Spirit Tree, not even opening his eyes, and said casually, "Since you're so dissatisfied, then serve Ziyu in the future. You should be able to see through the marriage His Majesty arranged for Ziyu, right?"

Chen Li frowned and said, "Does His Majesty want to win over factions for Prince Wei? When His Highness the Crown Prince returns, he'll probably be unhappy."

Besides the two of them, only Wang Chen was in the courtyard. Xu Tianji and Ping An were practicing martial arts with other disciples in the training field. Chen Li was already familiar with Wang Chen. Although he didn't know Wang Chen's background, Wang Chen was too ugly and rarely went out, so there was no need to worry about him spreading rumors.

Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes and said, "I will support Prince Wei."

After breaking through the sixth level of the Dao Follows Nature Skill, he stopped pretending.

Empress and the Yang Family had already been successfully won over, and next was the Chen Family.

Even though Jiang Changsheng's strength was outstanding, if he wanted Jiang Ziyu to ascend the throne smoothly, he still had to cultivate his own power for Jiang Ziyu. Jiang Changsheng didn't want to guard him for the rest of his life.

Moreover, no matter how strong he was, the world was vast, and if he wanted to consolidate imperial power, how could he rely on one person's strength?

Chen Li's heart beat faster. He had sensed a change in Jiang Changsheng's attitude before, but he didn't expect Jiang Changsheng to be so thorough this time.

Wang Chen didn't have any thoughts. He also felt that Jiang Ziyu had the makings of an emperor.

Chen Li hesitated and said, "Now that the Great Jing empire is teetering on the brink of collapse, wouldn't it be bad for us to seize power at this time?"

Jiang Changsheng said, "Then do you think that under the leadership of the current Crown Prince, Great Jing really has hope?"

Chen Li's expression changed, he was indeed very dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, but this matter was too important.

"Ziyu is still growing. If the Chen Family joins in, when he ascends the throne in the future, how could the Chen Family's treatment be inferior to what it is now? Chen Li, time is running out. The Chen Family made the decision too late back then." Jiang Changsheng stared into his eyes and said meaningfully.

Having known each other for nearly thirty years, this was the first time Chen Li had seen such ambition in Jiang Changsheng's eyes.

He couldn't help but suspect Jiang Changsheng's motives and couldn't help but ask, "Changsheng, is it just because Prince Wei is your disciple?"

Jiang Changsheng said, "I pursue the Immortal Dao and know the Mandate of Heaven. The Mandate is not with Yu, but with Ziyu."

What nonsense!

Chen Li wanted to question him, but when he thought of Jiang Changsheng's two tribulations of thunder, and that he was now over forty but looked like an eighteen-year-old young man, all the signs indicated that Jiang Changsheng might really not be an ordinary person.

"Is there really a Mandate of Heaven?" Chen Li swallowed and asked.

Jiang Changsheng said, "The Mandate of Heaven, besides fate, also depends on human effort. The Crown Prince has no ambition, but Ziyu has ambition comparable to His Majesty. I have deduced that the future Great Jing empire will far surpass the present. The true Great Jing golden age will begin after Ziyu ascends the throne. This is also the reason why I am willing to take him as a disciple."

Chen Li was silent.

Wang Chen recalled Jiang Ziyu's extraordinary qualities and became even more awed by Jiang Changsheng.

Prince Wei was indeed remarkable!

Half a cup of tea later, Chen Li took a deep breath, his eyes becoming firm as he said, "Changsheng, the Chen Family is tied to Prince Wei. If he loses, you must ensure that the Chen Family's bloodline survives."

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "Brother Chen, in the future, you will find these words of yours laughable. The Chen Family's prosperity is coming."

The head of the Chen Family was the Minister of Revenue, and many of his descendants held official positions. With their support, Jiang Ziyu would have even more trump cards.

After making his decision, Chen Li felt relieved and became impassioned, beginning to discuss with Jiang Changsheng how to pave the way for Prince Wei.

Two of the Six Ministries supported Prince Wei, providing a sufficient foundation in terms of civil affairs, but they lacked military strength, namely an army.

Factions without an army are just paper tigers!

In the forty-first year of Kaiyuan, Crown Prince Jiang Yu personally led an army of 300,000 to aid Can Province, advancing with irresistible force. Jiang Yu pressed the attack, advancing deep for several months, eventually encountering a nearly 500,000-strong army of Gu Han, resulting in a fierce battle unseen in fifty years, historically known as the Battle of Blood Origin.

The two dynasties successively deployed nearly a million soldiers, fighting fiercely for several days, with casualties exceeding 500,000, a pyrrhic victory for both sides.

Jiang Yu led 50,000 iron cavalry to provide support, escorting Jiang Yu in retreat, only then did the battle end.

This battle made the surrounding dynasties restless. Great Jing and Gu Han had been at war for over a decade, and after this battle, they were likely to be severely weakened.

Within Great Jing, the Thirteen Provinces were all restless, and remnants of the previous dynasty were on the move again, with various rumors spreading throughout the land.

Great Jing was in even greater danger!

In this year, Jiang Ziyu was twelve years old, and Ping An was twelve years old.

Inside Dragon Arising Temple.

Minister of Justice Yang Che, Minister of Revenue Chen Ruqi, and Chen Li were discussing important matters in the courtyard. Jiang Ziyu and Ping An were also present, while Xu Tianji took Huang Chuan away to avoid suspicion.

"My Yang Family has already recruited private soldiers in Qian Province, Yu Province, and Fang Province. Now that the northern border is in chaos, the imperial court pays very little attention to the south. Besides us, other aristocratic families are also secretly hoarding troops. A chaotic world is likely approaching," Yang Che said with emotion.

Chen Ruqi sighed and said, "A chaotic world is an inevitable trend. I have learned that the remnants of the Chu Dynasty have begun to move again, gathering Jianghu forces on a large scale. It is said that even Grandmaster figures in the martial world are about to take action."

Jiang Ziyu snorted and said, "When I grow up, I will surely suppress the universe and drive out the barbarians!"

At the age of twelve, he was already high-spirited. Throughout history, there was no shortage of young monarchs, so his ambition was great, and he couldn't wait to descend the mountain immediately.

Ping An, not far away, was even more exaggerated. Although only twelve years old, his figure was already comparable to that of an adult. After the Mystic Inner Overlord Body reached completion, his physique grew at an exaggerated speed within a short year, making him look like a humanoid beast.

The current Ping An was already a genuine Peerless Expert. He was only twelve years old, and he would surely step into Heavenly Connection in the future, and a Heavenly Connection expert suitable for battlefield combat!

Chen Li looked at Jiang Changsheng and frowned, "Changsheng, when will we start our uprising?"

Jiang Changsheng was looking at his Incense value, which had exceeded a thousand. He was hesitating whether to deduce the strength of the Great Vehicle Dragon Tower, but it only cost a thousand Incense value. His tribulation had consumed more than two thousand Incense value and only allowed him to pass half of the tribulation, indicating that the Great Vehicle Dragon Tower was far less dangerous to him than the lightning tribulation.

Forget it, let's be cautious!

Start the deduction!

Can I easily defeat the Great Vehicle Dragon Tower?

The word 'easily' was crucial.

Jiang Changsheng said, "It's not the time yet. The forces you control are too small. You need at least 100,000 iron cavalry."

[Requires 1000 Incense value, continue?]

"Ten thousand iron cavalry is not easy to train. Ten thousand fine steeds, plus the preparation of carts to transport provisions, would require at least three hundred thousand horses, and the cavalry would need long-term training," Yang Che said with a frown.

A word appeared before Jiang Changsheng's eyes:

[Capable]

This word was full of weight, making Jiang Changsheng beam with joy. He then said, "There are still four years. I hope you all can prepare before Ziyu turns sixteen. That will be when the hidden dragon emerges from the abyss, and the world will change. Before that, I will cultivate Ping An into a Heavenly Connection Realm expert."

Yang Che, Chen Ruqi, and Chen Li couldn't help but look at Ping An, their eyelids twitching.

What kind of freak is this kid?

A sixteen-year-old in the Heavenly Connection Realm sounds impossible, but with Ping An's physique, coupled with the Spirit Gathering Pill and the spiritual energy of the Earth Spirit Tree, it's not impossible!

The four chatted for a while, and Chen Li and the others left.

Jiang Changsheng then began to guide Jiang Ziyu in cultivating the Universe Heaven Scripture. The stronger Jiang Ziyu's martial arts, the safer he would be in the future.

Spring passed and autumn came.

Two years passed.

In the forty-third year of Kaiyuan, the Jin Dynasty to the east of Great Jing formed an alliance with Gu Han and jointly invaded Can Province and Hong Province in the northern border. Crown Prince Jiang Yu had to withdraw and return to Jing City.

The whole world could see that Great Jing was at the end of its rope. Order became increasingly chaotic in various places, bandits roamed, and the people lived in misery.

In August of this year, the heat was intense.

Dragon Arising Temple welcomed another peerless expert to challenge them.

"Tian Shan Ji Que is here to challenge, death means entry into the Hero's Graveyard!"

A domineering shout resounded throughout Dragon Arising Temple, like a loud bell, alarming everyone.

Xu Tianji was moved, turning to look at Jiang Changsheng, and said, "Tian Shan Ji Que is one of the Five Grandmasters. He retired from the martial world fifty years ago and is now almost a hundred years old. With nearly a hundred years of cultivation, Taoist Priest, you must be careful."

Five Grandmasters!

Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes. The strongest Grandmaster in the Great Jing martial world had finally appeared. He sensed it, and the opponent should have already entered the God Heart Realm, with true qi stronger than Xu Tianji's.

He stood up and said, "It seems the Hero's Graveyard's reputation has completely spread. Prepare to break ground!"

Everyone excitedly followed. The Five Grandmasters were legendary figures, practically martial arts myths.

A martial arts myth against a martial arts myth!

This was a battle that was rare to see in decades!

Jiang Changsheng led everyone to the front of the mountain gate, where some pilgrims had also come to join in the excitement.

Ji Que wore a white robe, his hands behind his back, his body sturdy, but his face was weathered, with a full head of white hair, looking like he was in his sixties or seventies, but in reality, he was nearly a hundred years old. That Grandmaster aura was visible to the naked eye, as if even if the sky fell, he could hold it up.

Upon seeing Jiang Changsheng, Ji Que narrowed his eyes, carefully sizing him up, and said, "Changsheng Taoist Priest seems to be proficient in the art of preserving youth."

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "Who doesn't want to be younger? Today, I thank Senior for coming to enhance the Hero's Graveyard's reputation."

Ji Que snorted, "This old man's end is near. Rather than wither and die in the deep mountains, I'd rather fight the current martial arts myth. You are very strong, so strong that this old man cannot see through you. With someone like you in the Great Jing martial world, old fogeys like us can leave in peace."

He raised his right palm and slammed it towards the ground. True Qi erupted, and twelve azure sword shadows actually condensed behind him, distributed in a fan shape, their aura fierce and chilling.

Without another word, he struck Jiang Changsheng with his palm, and the twelve azure sword shadows shot out rapidly, tearing through the air. The sword light flashed, visible even to the people in Jing City.

Jiang Changsheng waved the Kirin Whisk, its long bristles stretching out, directly dispersing the twelve sword shadows.

If Ji Que was overbearing, then Jiang Changsheng was calm and collected. Which was stronger and which was weaker was already evident.

"He held back back then." Xu Tianji thought to himself.

He had stayed in Dragon Arising Temple for nine years and had not stopped practicing. He was already stronger than before, but compared to Ji Que, he was still far behind. Yet such a powerful Ji Que had no prestige in front of Jiang Changsheng.

Ji Que was moved, never expecting his unique skill to be so vulnerable. His eyes were cold, and he placed his right hand behind his back again, charging towards Jiang Changsheng in one step.

Boom!

True Qi erupted, and Ji Que actually transformed into an azure sword, about to pierce through Jiang Changsheng in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Changsheng raised his hand, extending his index finger from his left hand, and shot out spiritual power.

Clang—

The azure sword was shattered, and Ji Que landed, staggering back several steps. Fresh blood gushed uncontrollably from his mouth. His eyes widened, his figure swaying, and he stared fixedly at Jiang Changsheng, asking, "This... what... unique skill..."

Jiang Changsheng said, "Chen Family, Qi Finger."

Thump!

Ji Que fell, dying with eyes wide open, a pool of blood spreading beneath him.

Before his death, his last thought was, who exactly is this Chen Family?

To actually possess such unparalleled unique skills!