Chapter 118 : Rumors of Great Jin
Chapter 118: Rumors of Great Jin
The few remaining Origin Fruits still required some days before ripening, so Jiang Zhaoming could only suppress his impatience and wait quietly for their maturity.
Not long after Cheng Yaojin had left, a slightly hurried figure crossed through layer after layer of palace halls, quickly striding into the core courtyard of the Prince of Anxi’s Mansion.
The newcomer was none other than the current Prefect of Anxi Prefecture, Xu Guangqi, who managed all internal affairs.
Xu Guangqi’s steps were steady but carried a trace of gravity. The moment he entered the courtyard, he bowed respectfully toward Jiang Zhaoming, who sat cross-legged beneath the Spirit-Gathering Treasure Tree.
「I pay respects to Your Majesty.」
After the salute, knowing that Jiang Zhaoming disliked empty words, he went straight to the point.
「Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the Lin Clan from the Imperial Capital seeking allegiance, how have you considered it?」
Jiang Zhaoming slowly opened his eyes. His deep gaze fell upon Xu Guangqi, and his brows faintly furrowed.
「The Lin Clan disagrees with the conditions this King proposed?」
His tone was calm, yet carried a subtle chill.
Xu Guangqi revealed a trace of difficulty on his face and replied with a bow:
「In reply to Your Majesty—the Lin Clan’s envoy stated directly that they consider Your Majesty’s terms too harsh. They seem determined to adhere to their initial proposal and hinted that if Your Majesty refuses, they may turn to the Prince of Huaijiang instead.」
Jiang Zhaoming’s brows knit even tighter.
The Lin Clan of the Imperial Capital was a top aristocratic family with an ancient heritage and profound foundation. Its power was vast—second only to the Divine General’s Mansion.
Within the clan were seven Golden Body Realm experts, tens of thousands of Blood Refining Realm elites under their command, and countless capable branch disciples—an enormous force indeed.
When such a power sought to submit of their own accord, Jiang Zhaoming had indeed felt joy at first.
However, once the Lin Clan revealed their conditions, that joy quickly cooled, replaced entirely by sharp vigilance and aversion.
The core of their terms lay in two demands: first, to possess an independent “Lin Clan Army.” From its formation to the appointment of all ranks, the army would be under the Lin Clan’s sole control.
Second, they sought to bypass the Anxi Prefecture’s military merit system and receive directly from Jiang Zhaoming a fixed quota of Body-Tempering Demon Crystals.
In Jiang Zhaoming’s eyes, these two demands were no less than planting two immense hidden dangers beneath his rule.
To allow private armed forces to expand outside the official system was tantamount to self-destruction.
And to bypass the merit structure for core resource allocation was a fundamental betrayal of the recruitment policy and fairness upon which Anxi Prefecture’s strength depended.
No matter how deep the Lin Clan’s heritage, or how vast their influence, it could never come at the cost of shaking the foundational rules of Anxi Prefecture.
With that thought, Jiang Zhaoming had already reached a decision.
His gaze turned sharp as a sword, and his tone carried unshakable finality, leaving no room for negotiation.
「Prefect Xu, you shall convey this King’s message to the Lin Clan: regarding the Body-Tempering Demon Crystals, this King may provide a portion at discretion for them to train their core descendants.
But as for the so-called Lin Clan Army—absolutely impossible. If the Lin Clan is dissatisfied and insists on defecting to the Prince of Huaijiang, this King will not hinder them.」
He paused, the corner of his lips curling into a faint, meaningful arc. His voice was low but each word carried clear weight.
「However, tell their Clan Head to weigh it carefully. The Prince of Huaijiang has governed Huaijiang Prefecture for years—his armies are strong, his roots deep.
Those seven Golden Body cultivators and tens of thousands of Blood Refining elites—just how much worth do they hold in his eyes? Are they embellishment upon embroidery, or simply dispensable?」
His words not only drew a clear boundary but also served as a veiled warning about the Lin Clan’s future predicament.
Hearing this, Xu Guangqi felt a faint shiver within.
He understood well that Jiang Zhaoming’s mind was made up, and that his reasoning was both firm and precise.
The key issues had been laid bare, yet a path of retreat still left open.
He immediately bowed in acknowledgment: 「Your Majesty’s foresight is truly profound. I understand how to reply to the Lin Clan.」
Having spoken, he did not linger. After another respectful bow, he turned and departed swiftly, preparing to deliver the Prince’s will to that colossal force from the Imperial Capital in the most tactful manner.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
Jiang Zhaoming closed his eyes again, absorbing the dense spiritual energy, as if the political contest over an aristocratic family’s allegiance had never occurred.
If the Lin Clan could submit, it would naturally be beneficial; yet if they refused, it made little difference to him.
His foundations were already deep, his cards many. He had no need to rely upon any single clan.
Besides, the Lin Clan’s arrogance and hidden instability might very well become a future nuisance.
As his thoughts drifted, Jiang Zhaoming slowly rose.
He took a single step forward—and the ground beneath him seemed to shorten the distance on its own.
In merely a few strides, his figure crossed mountains and rivers, appearing before a vast complex nestled within treacherous peaks.
This was none other than the secret location of the Wizard Academy.
「Lilian pays respects to Your Majesty.」
As Jiang Zhaoming’s aura descended, ripples like flowing water spread across the sky above the academy.
An elegant figure stepped forth from within—Lilian, the high-ranking wizard—bowing reverently before him.
「Mm.」
Jiang Zhaoming gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the orderly array of magic towers and training grounds. 「How goes the cultivation of wizards within the Prefecture?」
「In reply to Your Majesty—thanks to the many Divine Artifacts you have bestowed, the wizards’ path of cultivation has become much smoother,」 Lilian answered with quiet satisfaction.
「At present, the Academy holds forty-one Intermediate Wizards, one thousand one hundred and forty-seven Junior Wizards, and as for those who have reached Advanced Apprentice level—their number has exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand.」
Even though Jiang Zhaoming had long anticipated such progress, he could not help but feel astonishment at the scale of the Wizard Legion’s growth.
In Lilian’s former Cavern Plane, wizards had clung to rigid traditions, never transmitting their spells lightly.
Combined with that world’s small population, the wizard system had never achieved scale.
Yet here, across the vast lands of Anxi, among billions of people, there was no shortage of those born with the wizard’s gift.
Although the path of a wizard demanded far greater spiritual aptitude than that of a martial artist, their growth rate was incomparable.
For those of exceptional talent, with abundant resources, their spiritual progress could advance a thousand miles in a day.
Thus, in merely twenty years, the wizard power under Anxi Prefecture had accumulated to this astonishing level.
「Excellent!」
A flicker of satisfaction flashed in Jiang Zhaoming’s eyes.
「Intensify their training in combined spellcasting—on the battlefield ahead, this shall be our decisive weapon of victory.」
「As you command, Your Majesty,」 Lilian answered solemnly.
No sooner had her words fallen than—an unexpected change suddenly arose.
Boom!
A deep, thunderous roar echoed from the sky. Accompanied by a surge of violent spatial ripples, the Thunder Dragon appeared beside Jiang Zhaoming.
Immediately after, a colossal crimson figure, vast as a mountain, tore through the clouds. Wrapped in waves of scorching heat, it descended with a deafening crash not far from him.
Its wings folded inward, and its massive head lowered affectionately, releasing from its nostrils hot air laced with sparks.
Almost at the same time, the ground trembled violently, rumbling like distant thunder.
The earth beneath Jiang Zhaoming’s feet suddenly rose and cracked open, and a huge head covered in deep brown, rock-like scales broke through the soil.
The Rock Dragon’s steady, earthen-yellow eyes gazed at him with attachment, letting out a low, muffled growl.
The sky was soon illuminated by a radiant ice-blue glow as the Ice Dragon glided down gracefully, the air crystallizing into fine frost wherever it passed.
The Water Dragon landed lightly, shrouded in a misty aura of pale blue vapor.
The Wood Dragon arrived last, bringing with it a surge of vigorous life force—grass and trees nearby seemed to grow even more vibrant at its presence.
Six colossal elemental dragons, each resembling a moving mountain, now crouched obediently around Jiang Zhaoming.
Their massive bodies nearly filled the entire mountaintop platform.
The elemental pressure radiating from them intertwined, forming a force field so powerful it made the heart tremble.
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression remained calm, a faint, gentle smile flickering in his eyes.
He stepped forward, reaching out to softly pat each of their immense, sturdy heads in turn.
「Little ones, you’ve grown quite a bit again——」
Jiang Zhaoming quietly felt the vast energy surging within their bodies, his smile deepening.
「This power has already reached the threshold of the Golden Body Realm, hasn’t it?」
A mix of astonishment and delight rose in his heart—these elemental dragons were still in their youth, yet already possessed such terrifying potential.
When they fully matured, their might would be beyond imagination.
Sensing their “father’s” affectionate touch and praise, the six elemental dragons immediately grew excited.
Through the mysterious connection of their souls, they transmitted to Jiang Zhaoming the same intense and unmistakable desire—
To go to the Main Plane! To fight!
Feeling this near-overflowing thirst for battle, Jiang Zhaoming couldn’t help but smile helplessly and shake his head.
These young, energetic creatures, brimming with vigor and nowhere to vent it, seemed to have only one thing on their minds—“fighting.”
Ever since he had taken them to the Main Plane several years ago for training, letting them witness that vast world and its powerful alien races, they had fallen completely in love with it.
Now they pestered Lilian almost every day, eager to return to the Main Plane to “play.”
Of course, in their minds, “play” meant “battle.”
But the result was often that they provoked opponents far too difficult to handle, and in the end, Lilian had to step in and clean up the mess.
—Shaosheng Year 435, Year’s End—
Inside the grand palace hall of the Imperial Capital, brilliant lights shimmered, and the sound of flutes and strings resonated gracefully.
The annual royal banquet of the imperial clan was being held as scheduled.
Jiang Zhaoming entered the hall with steady steps. The gazes of the gathered princes, some bright, some shadowed, all fell upon him.
He walked directly to the base of the imperial dais and calmly took his seat at the place of honor on the Emperor’s right, his bearing composed and serene.
Directly across from him sat the top of the Dragon Ranking—the Prince of Huaijiang, Jiang Zhaoding. Below Jiang Zhaoding’s seat, the former Prince of Great Yan, Jiang Zhaoqian, was no longer present; in his place sat the Prince of Xuanhai, Jiang Zhaohua.
In the past twenty years, the Dragon Ranking had seen great upheavals, especially in the last decade.
Ten years ago, Jiang Zhaoming, with his remarkable merits in Ground Vein Transmission and the explosive rise of Anxi Prefecture’s military power, saw his Imperial Destiny Value soar rapidly.
At an astonishing pace, he surpassed several princes in succession, ascending forcefully to second place on the Dragon Ranking.
Three years ago, the Prince of Xuanhai, Jiang Zhaohua, suddenly rose in power. His mighty navy swept across the southern seas, conquering nations and expanding territory. His Imperial Destiny Value surged, propelling him to third place in one leap.
Since then, Jiang Zhaoming, Jiang Zhaoding, and Jiang Zhaohua, with their unmatched accumulation of imperial destiny, had become three immovable peaks—firmly securing the top three spots on the Dragon Ranking.
The once-prominent Prince of Great Yan, Jiang Zhaoqian, had now fallen to fourth.
【1. Prince of Huaijiang Jiang Zhaoding: Imperial Destiny Value 17,567
2. Prince of Anxi Jiang Zhaoming: Imperial Destiny Value 15,014
3. Prince of Xuanhai Jiang Zhaohua: Imperial Destiny Value 14,567
4. Prince of Great Yan Jiang Zhaoqian: Imperial Destiny Value 11,021 … —】
The atmosphere in the hall was slightly tense, the princes all sitting quietly.
Amid the silence, Jiang Zhaoding was the first to raise his jade cup, toasting across the air toward Jiang Zhaoming, his face carrying a faint, unreadable smile.
「Congratulations to the Prince of Anxi—your cultivation has advanced once more. Truly worthy of celebration.」
He was referring, of course, to Jiang Zhaoming’s recent breakthrough to the late stage of the Golden Body Realm.
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression remained calm, the corners of his mouth curving slightly as he raised his cup in return, lightly clinking it in the air toward Jiang Zhaoding.
「The Prince of Huaijiang is too kind.」
The two each took a light sip.
Setting down his cup, Jiang Zhaoming closed his eyes slightly, as if resting.
In truth, he was quietly activating his Qi-Observing Eye Art, sweeping his gaze across the hall.
In his sight, the fortune scenes above everyone’s heads unfolded one by one.
Above the Prince of Xuanhai, Jiang Zhaohua, a gigantic serpent intertwined in dark red coils, baring its fangs and claws with menacing force.
When his gaze shifted to Jiang Zhaoding, the scene became even more astonishing.
Above him too hovered a dark-red serpent, but one far more solid and immense.
Even more striking were the several strands of golden light, thin as silk yet dazzlingly radiant, coiled around its body.
This strange phenomenon—first noticed by Jiang Zhaoming two years ago—signified that Jiang Zhaoding had surely obtained some extraordinary opportunity, causing his fortune to grow ever deeper and harder to fathom.
The silence in the hall did not last long.
Jiang Zhaoding’s voice sounded again—not loud, but clear enough for all to hear, instantly drawing every gaze.
「Prince of Anxi, I’ve heard that the Jin Raiders will soon gain another expert of the Profound Core Realm. Once that one stabilizes their realm, I fear they’ll lead an army south again. I wonder—will your Anxi be able to withstand it?」
At those words, the hall fell deathly silent.
Countless eyes turned toward Jiang Zhaoming.
Sitting just below him, Jiang Zhaoqian trembled slightly upon hearing the words “Jin Raiders” and “Profound Core.”
In recent years, though the Great Jin had not deployed a cultivator of that realm, their raids upon the borders of Great Zhou had never ceased.
The northern front of Anxi Prefecture had also endured multiple assaults from Jin elites.
Fortunately, with Yue Fei—a peak Golden Body Realm general—guarding the border, every invasion had been repelled, leaving the enemy defeated and in retreat.
However, Yue Fei could resist those of the Golden Body Realm, but not shake one of the Profound Core Realm.
If Great Jin truly sent such a powerhouse to lead their army south, the situation would change entirely.
Thirty years ago, Anxi had been barren and frigid, not worth Great Jin’s attention.
But now, Anxi Prefecture had become the famed “Jiangnan Beyond the Pass”—a fertile, prosperous land rich in resources.
Were it not that Great Jin was still recuperating, their greed might already have driven them to devour Anxi whole.
Should Great Jin once again launch a full-scale war, Anxi Prefecture would undoubtedly be the first to bear the brunt of their fiercest assault.
Everyone held their breath, hoping to see some sign of worry or gravity on Jiang Zhaoming’s face.
Yet, to their disappointment—
Jiang Zhaoming’s faint, composed smile never wavered, as if Jiang Zhaoding’s words were nothing more than a trivial remark.
「Oh? So the Prince of Huaijiang has heard such rumors as well? This king also caught some wind of it earlier and dismissed it as mere unfounded gossip.」
Though he lacked concrete information, by observing Great Jin’s national fortune through the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror,
he had indeed noticed its recent rapid and unusual rise—something rather suspicious.
Now that Jiang Zhaoding had brought it up so pointedly, it seemed the rumor was true. Great Jin gaining a new Profound Core expert was likely no falsehood.
Jiang Zhaoding’s brows arched slightly, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.
「Oh? The Prince of Anxi seems so calm—could it be that you already have a flawless plan to counter the Jin Raiders’ Profound Core cultivator?」
He fixed his gaze intently on Jiang Zhaoming, trying to discern any hint of truth from his slightest expression.
Facing Jiang Zhaoding’s probing, Jiang Zhaoming’s smile remained unchanged. He took a slow sip of his fine wine before answering leisurely.
「The Prince of Huaijiang jests. When powerful enemies invade, this king will, of course, spare no effort to defend the borders and protect the people. As for a flawless plan—His Highness flatters me too much.」