"That's really interesting."
The emperor rubbed his fingers together, staring intently at Chen Qing as he stepped onto the stage from the crowd!
The intelligence that Chen Qing was likely not in Jiangnan was obtained through a huge investment in enticement and the turning of numerous scouts, and it also fits the current situation in Jiangnan.
Six months ago, during that duel, Chen Qing fought Xiao Mingyue alone, who had already been infected. However, due to a certain force, he was unable to witness the outcome. In the end, Xiao Mingyue died, and her body was sent back to Jiangnan. Chen Qing did not appear for the next six months.
The intelligence came from some high-ranking military officials in Jiangnan, including some disciples of sorcerers, which is why he conducted this probe.
As expected, Jiangnan reacted strongly, but his flaws became increasingly apparent. In order to cover up the fake Chen Qing, he even brought Princess Ao Zhen from the West Sea, which perfectly matched the woman's prediction.
Within the Dragon Palace faction, besides the Four Dragon King, there are not many people qualified to become Dragon King Level. Ao Zhen of the West Sea is one of them, and he has extremely high prestige in the West Sea. The fact that the West Sea Army and the Dragon Palace faction in Chen Qing's faction have not yet turned against each other is largely due to Ao Zhen's role in mediating the conflict.
Once Ao Zhen dies in the capital, Jiangnan's operations in the West Sea will immediately collapse. Once internal strife breaks out, it will be the best opportunity for the court to recover Jiangnan.
He didn't believe it was all a smokescreen, that Ao Zhen would take such a risk, and that his men would die needlessly, all for a single surprise attack?
The emperor stared intently at Chen Qing. So where had this guy been for the past six months? Why was he here?
"The Emperor seems surprised?" The Empress Dowager's voice suddenly rang out.
"Does the Empress Dowager know something?" The Emperor turned to look at the aged woman.
Over the years, he had been quite tolerant of the old woman from the Xiao Household. After all, his resources and power actually came from the Xiao Household, and the old woman held a very high position in the Xiao Household. Even though he now controlled other forces, he still did not intend to give up the Xiao Household brand, so he did not take any action against this old woman whom he actually disliked.
Of course, this is on the premise that she doesn't get in my way.
"The Emperor overestimates this old woman." The Empress Dowager's expression remained unchanged. "What are you doing now? What ability do I have to interfere?"
The emperor frowned. The Empress Dowager did have some influence in the capital, but it was unlikely that she could interfere in current major events.
In the initial distribution of the Dragon Palace, the Empress Dowager's influence wasn't even qualified to participate, demonstrating her weakness. On the surface, everyone still gave face to the last elder of the Xiao Household, but in reality, when it came to matters of interest, the old man's power was completely insufficient.
Thinking of this, the emperor withdrew his gaze. "Indeed, I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect that young scholar would actually dare to come."
"He's the one who beat Lu Ming, why doesn't he dare to come?"
"Then let's see for ourselves." The emperor laughed, "Is it all just hype?"
Xiao Mingxue glanced at the Empress Dowager beside her out of the corner of her eye, her heart filled with indescribable complex emotions. In the past, many princes and princesses thought that the old Empress Dowager in the palace was just a stubborn old woman. Now it seems that they all underestimated this elder. In front of such a dangerous father, she could remain calm and composed, and her lies were so natural and smooth that her father was able to easily let it go.
Moreover, he did not stubbornly confront his father as usual; his retreat was natural, time-saving, and advantageous.
Perhaps everyone misjudged this old lady.
"I am quite curious myself," the Empress Noble Consort Xiao came to report to me, saying that the scholar was a very intelligent man who was perfect for Mingxue and would definitely treat Mingxue well. Noble Consort Xiao has always opposed marrying her daughter into a military family and wanted to find a scholar, but she didn't expect to misjudge him. He's such a restless little tiger cub. Heh, I don't believe he can beat Lu Ming, but he personally fought this battle for Mingxue. His manly spirit is at least not lacking."
"It seems the Empress Dowager is quite satisfied." The Emperor looked at Chen Qing as he walked onto the stage, and without turning his head, said, " Mingxue, what do you think?"
"My daughter's belongings are packed. My husband won the battle, and I'm going to Jiangnan with him."
Everyone: "."
Her eagerness to marry is drawing criticism. Although the emperor's daughter has awakened her bloodline, she still seems to be acting like a typical young woman, completely oblivious to the situation.
How could Chen Qing possibly beat that guy?
Many veteran military generals could see that if three Lu Ming came to Wutu Gu now, they would all be sending themselves to their deaths!
--
"I'm so surprised you came!" Wutu Gu grinned, a happy smile spreading across his face as he watched Chen Qing walk step by step onto the arena.
Chen Qing was different from him. He went up on stage in a very ordinary manner, without any imposing presence. He looked like a scholar who had come up to receive the results of the exam, and you couldn't tell that he had come up to fight to the death.
"What's so surprising?" Chen Qing looked at the other party with amusement. "You challenged me to a duel, did you expect me not to come?"
"I really hope you come!" Wutu Gu loosened his muscles and took off the coat he was wearing, revealing an incredibly exaggerated physique.
"It's the real you who can come. Lu Ming is the God of War of the Central Plains. Back then, he single-handedly killed the top experts of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Southern Barbarians. I grew up listening to his legends, and he died at your hands."
"Only by truly defeating you can the Southern Barbarians rise again!"
Hearing this, Chen Qing couldn't help but smile.
"Why are you laughing?"
" The Southern Barbarians will never be able to stand up again." Chen Qing sneered at the other party, "From the moment you planted the Ghost Temple in the Southern Barbarians, you have been unworthy to say such things. Back then, the rulers of the Sixteen Kingdoms invaded the Central Plains, and their true desire was to establish merit and achieve great things, to free their people from that barren land, and to occupy the resource-rich Central Plains. Although their positions were different, and although they lost at the time, at least they had a point in saying that it was for the Southern Barbarians to stand up. But what gives you the right?"
"You dare to treat your own people like livestock to feed other things?"
Upon hearing this, Wutu Gu's face turned extremely ugly, and at the same time, the emperor on the viewing platform also looked slightly gloomy.
The Empress Dowager smiled gently, "Well said!"
emperor. "."
"Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles!" Wutu Gu sneered, "Dare you say that you created the Jiangnan as it is today without making any sacrifices?"
"No!"
Wutu Gu: "."
The other person's reply was so natural that he was momentarily at a loss for words.
"I will not sacrifice anyone. I never have, I don't now, and I never will!"
The sacrifices in this world are different from those in the previous one; they are literally about the death of livestock, human sacrifice, which is so commonplace in this world.
He didn't know if he could completely change the world, but one thing was his bottom line: he would never be tainted by any of the world's inhuman vices, not even a little bit!
"Hypocritical!" Wutu Gu sneered. "Hypocritical to the point of being nauseating."
"If a person can be hypocritical their whole life, that's actually not bad. Of course, a beast like you wouldn't understand that. Alright, shut up. If you want to fight, then come at me." Chen Qing waved his hand impatiently. "I'm in a hurry today!"
boom!
Without any warning, Wutu Gu made his move. The Southern Barbarians didn't have the custom of bowing before Central Plains, and with the opponent being so provocative, he had no interest in learning such unnecessary formalities.
One moment they were about ten feet away from Chen Qing, the next they appeared in front of Chen Qing as if they had skipped a beat.
No one on the viewing platform could clearly see Wutu Gu's movements, not even a shadow. The only things left were his afterimage and the spatial distortion caused by the excessive wind speed as he rushed forward!
All the martial artists gasped in shock. Now they were certain that no matter how many Lu Ming came, they wouldn't be a match for this monster!
But to their even greater surprise, Chen Qing clearly saw the other party's movements!
A fair and delicate hand, clearly the hand of a scholar who grew up holding a calligraphy brush, effortlessly grasped the enormous fist that was as hard as an iron hammer coming straight at him.
With a deafening roar, the entire arena sank instantly, and the surrounding barrier shattered in an instant!
All the warriors immediately stood up, both astonished by the terrifying nature of the battle between the two, realizing that even the palace grand sorcerer's barrier couldn't withstand the aftershocks, and filled with immense anger and fear that the tens of thousands of citizens of the capital who were watching would likely suffer today.
If today's competition results in the deaths of a large number of people in the capital, then the Great Jin will truly have lost all face!
Just as all the warriors were about to shout for the two to stop, a strange scene unfolded.
The terrifying force generated a sandstorm that resembled a sea storm, yet not a single grain of sand escaped to the outside.
The sorcerers, realizing this, all looked toward the court sorcerer master in charge of the barrier.
"It wasn't me," the master said, his hands trembling as he pointed at the arena. "There's a new barrier."
This strange scene instantly brought the panicked people back to their senses, their faces turning pale, and they stared at everything in bewilderment.
Who is it?
All the sorcerers breathed a sigh of relief, and the warriors also relaxed slightly, quickly looking around. Could there really be such a skilled barrier master here at this time? Was he brought by Chen Qing?
Amidst the dust and smoke, watching Chen Qing effortlessly catch his punch, Wutu Gu laughed excitedly, "You really didn't disappoint me. I hope you can keep me happy for a while longer."
"How long is 'a little fun'?" Chen Qing frowned. "I'm really in a hurry."
Wutu Gu's smile froze. The other party's nonchalant attitude really annoyed him. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed the situation around him and said, "You even brought a sorcerer as a helper?"
How did you figure that out?
"So, did you set up that barrier?"
Chen Qing looked at the other person curiously. "Then who do you think it is?"
Wutu Gu: "."
He wanted to refute, but he immediately saw that Chen Qing's other hand was clearly maintaining some kind of spell by undoing a hand seal.
Seeing the protective barrier around them that prevented even a speck of sand from escaping, Wutu Gu immediately understood the situation.
This guy, while dealing with me, also released a protective barrier that enveloped the entire training ground!