The news of Chen Qing's impending arrival quickly spread among the scions of various powerful sorcerer families. The source of the news was the disciples of these families who were cultivating in Jiangnan, leaving people both skeptical and extremely excited!
There's a reason why aristocratic families have such high expectations. For lower-ranking aristocratic families, the academy is the best platform for them to promote their outstanding children. Before the Duke of Song founded the academy, even if those aristocratic families with weak power produced the most talented children, without good techniques and resources, they would eventually become mediocre.
The establishment of the academy gave outstanding children from lower-class families an opportunity for advancement; otherwise, a genius like Mu Hongqing, who broke with his family, would not have been able to become the educational administrator of the Great Jin.
Leaving the capital means leaving the academy. No one knows whether the Chen Household in the South Sea will follow the example of the Duke of Song and establish an academy, or whether it will become a situation where large families monopolize the academy again. In this world, apart from the capital, the only place that still has the academy model is Jiangnan!
Furthermore, the development prospects in Jiangnan are even better!!
According to the latest intelligence, Jiangnan Academy not only teaches unique encyclopedic techniques, but has also occupied the West Sea Dragon Palace and established the mysterious Dragon Palace Academy. It is said that students who go there can have priority in learning the secret techniques of the Dragon Palace. Such an opportunity is a fatal temptation for those genius sorcerers who once looked down on encyclopedic techniques.
It's highly unlikely that they can stay in the capital. Some elite children from small families, or mediocre children from large families, all regarded this year's enrollment at the Jiangnan Academy as their only chance. However, this only chance has been forcibly taken away by the crazy royal court!
Will Chen Qing really come?
In various restaurants, scions of prominent families from different social circles gathered to discuss this topic.
Whether from a large or small family, even the elite scions of the large families are paying close attention. After all, the situation in the South Sea is an unknown, and the more options available, the better. If Jiangnan Academy continues to be open to the world, it will be like having another choice for these outstanding scions. Nobody wants Chen Qing to completely fall out with the capital!
"I don't know, according to intelligence, he came in person."
"It seems Jiangnan still can't swallow this insult."
"Nonsense, if your fiancée were insulted like that, could you swallow it?"
"Childish talk." One of the white-robed sorcerers shook his head and laughed, "Why can't you swallow it? Princess Mingxue isn't exactly a beauty of national renown. The relationship between Jiangnan and the imperial court is already superficial. Why take this risk for a princess who isn't valued?"
"Indeed, Chen Qing is no longer the newly recruited sorcerer he once was. He is the King of Qin of Jiangnan, with an extremely noble status and a vast power under his command. Would he really risk his life for a woman?"
"That's hard to say."
Others held a different view, arguing. "This concerns reputation. If Chen Qing swallows this insult, it means that Jiangnan is currently strong on the outside but weak on the inside. In that case, the imperial court will not allow Jiangnan to occupy West Sea. Chen Qing's visit this time is not simply for Princess Mingxue, but to demonstrate his power!"
"Coming to demonstrate in person?" someone chuckled. "Isn't Chen Qing, a mere scholar, afraid of getting into trouble by coming to the capital in person?"
"A scholar?" someone scoffed. "Have you been cooped up at home lately and haven't heard anything? Chen Qing defeated Duke of Qin Lu Ming of Qin in front of everyone. Do you really think he's just a scholar? He might be an ancient monster who's lived for countless years."
And so, amidst a cacophony of discussions and rebuttals, the story spread like wildfire through various restaurants. Now, this gossip was common knowledge among the upper classes, and everyone wanted to know whether Chen Qing would really dare to come.
In a secluded room of one of the restaurants, a group of unexpected people were listening to the gossip.
The people at that table were dressed in Central Plains clothing, but their physique and appearance were very different from those of people from Central Plains. The burly man at the head was nine feet tall, with a hooked nose and triangular eyes, and had a definite cold and evil look. If the people from the Court of State Ceremonial were here, they would definitely recognize him as the mastermind behind this incident: the second prince of the Wutu Kingdom, Wutu Gu!
"Your Highness, look at these monkeys from the Central Plains, chattering incessantly, all discussing whether Chen Qing dares to come to the capital to compete with you for a woman."
"Ha, those spineless cowards from the Central Plains, especially these self-righteous sorcerers. What do they know? It would have been better if Chen Qing hadn't come. Since he dared to come, it just so happens that His Highness is still missing one head from the Central Plains."
"Does he deserve it? The spoils of war on His Highness's waist are the heads of princes from various countries. What is Chen Qing's status? Does he even deserve to be our His Highness's spoils of war?"
"Hey, you can't say that," another burly man chuckled, revealing his beast-like fangs. "No matter what, he's been granted the title of king. Even though he's a king of a different surname, he's still a king of the Central Plains. Our prince doesn't even have a single spoil of war from a Central Plains crown prince."
That's true.
"Alright." The burly man interrupted everyone's discussion, glanced out the window, and said, "What they said is right. That Chen Qing is no simple man. After all, he's someone who could personally kill Lu Ming. In the eyes of these Central Plains people, if Chen Qing dares to come, I should be able to slink back like a dog."
Hahahaha!
Upon hearing this, all the burly men burst into wild laughter.
These frogs in a well!
" Lu Ming? I thought he was someone from the past. Who among you here even cares about him now?"
"Indeed, they don't understand. They even think about escaping these Ghost Temple in the capital. How foolish."
"They'll soon realize that their previous understanding is utterly meaningless now!"
Despite the arrogant voices of his subordinates, Wutu Gu did not refute them. He touched the skull-shaped jewelry at his waist, smiled slightly, and said, "Duke Lu Ming of Duke of Qin was once a war god who made the Southern Barbarians tremble with fear. Both rulers of the Wutu Kingdom died at his hands. He was a man who could make even a child cry."
He had originally intended to one day personally twist off his head, but unexpectedly, he was killed first by an unknown figure.
This man has risen to power by stepping on Lu Ming's head, so he must bear the brunt of Lu Ming's past hatred. His subordinates are right; his collection is indeed missing the head of a Central Plains king!
"We've finally arrived."
Outside the Central Plains, Ao Zhen and his group were few in number, but they were conspicuous enough.
The black horse, covered in dragon scales, was twice as tall as the dragon steed of the capital. Its aura was astonishing; even flying insects dared not approach within three zhang (approximately 10 meters).
On the giant horse, besides the two Yaksha generals brought by Ao Zhen, there were also two deputy generals from the Sea God Guard. Now, under Tian Heng's devoted training, they had all crossed the threshold of the Transcendent realm. Although they tried their best to suppress their aura, people could still feel a strange fear from a distance.
Leading the way was West Sea Ao Zhen, who looked heroic in her silver armor. Having not been to the Central Plains for hundreds of thousands of years, everything was new and exciting to her. However, her imposing aura made the imperial guards who came to greet her dare not even breathe.
The group couldn't help but wonder, just how badly has Jiangnan fallen into disarray?
Can the imperial court really afford to offend at least this much?
In the middle of the procession, inside a sedan chair, a man disguised as Chen Qing dared not even breathe loudly.
The pressure from the surroundings was almost suffocating her.
"Calm down, take a deep breath," Shen Qi, who was standing next to him, reminded him with amusement.
The other person rolled their eyes at Shen Qi: "Does deep breathing even work? Can't you make those guys outside tone it down a bit? Don't end up suffocating before you even get to show off!"
"That won't do." Shen Qi shook his head slightly.
Why not?
"We're here to bluff, otherwise there'd be no bluff at all. And you have to adapt to all of this. You can't even handle the pressure from your own people now? When we get to the capital, there will definitely be many more tests. What you'll face then will be many times more difficult than what you're facing now. If you can't even handle this, what will you do later?"
"This is really troublesome." A Li frowned. "Why does Chen Qing have to come in person to welcome a princess?"
"We have no choice but to come." Shen Qi said solemnly, "The royal family wants to probe the depths of Jiangnan, and the Southern Barbarians also have new plans. The latest news is that the former Spirit Snake Goddess of the Earth Dragon Cave, who is also Madam Lu's mother, has been killed, and the one who killed her is none other than this Second Prince, Wutu Gu!"
A Li was taken aback upon hearing this. She knew about the Spirit Snake Goddess of the Earth Dragon Cave; she was a being close to the Transcendent realm. The fact that the Second Prince Wutu Gu could kill her meant...
"Well, the Second Prince has most likely already possessed Transcendent powers. What we're facing is far more than just the royal family!"