Chapter 119 : The First Profound Core of Anxi
Chapter 119: The First Profound Core of Anxi
Returning to the Prince of Anxi’s Mansion, Jiang Zhaoming willed his mind, once again summoning the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror.
Light flowed across the mirror’s surface, revealing the sight of Great Jin’s national fortune.
The pillar of fortune representing Great Jin appeared even more condensed and solid than before, radiating an aura of sharp intent as though ready to surge forth.
「It seems that newly ascended Profound Core Realm expert is not far from stabilizing his realm.」
Jiang Zhaoming understood and calmly put away the mirror.
He took a deep breath, his expression solemn.
Great Jin’s addition of another Profound Core Realm meant that the decisive turning point for the Dragon Ranking might soon arrive.
And when that storm came, Anxi Prefecture would be the first to face it.
Yet, there was not the slightest trace of panic in Jiang Zhaoming’s heart.
After twenty years of steady management, Anxi Prefecture possessed profound foundations, and the cards he now held were far beyond those of the past.
He was confident that he had enough strength to handle the coming crisis.
Before taking action, he subconsciously used the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror to look toward Great Zhou’s Guanzhong Region, gazing upon its resplendent national fortune.
What he saw in the mirror steadied his heart.
The fortune of Great Zhou was vast and magnificent, blazing like the midday sun. Its radiant brilliance was by no means comparable to Great Jin’s faint fortune—the difference between the two was like that between heaven and earth.
Since obtaining the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror and gaining insight into the essence of national fortune, Jiang Zhaoming had never again doubted the true disparity between Great Zhou and Great Jin.
「It seems Father truly regards Great Jin as the whetstone to temper us royal sons.」
Understanding dawned in Jiang Zhaoming’s heart—the Emperor Father’s decision to allow Great Jin’s existence had its deeper meaning.
–– The River of Fortune.
Jiang Zhaoming’s consciousness once again transformed into the image of an old fisherman, drifting leisurely upon the boundless River of Fortune.
【Remaining Fortune: Red 5, Purple 21, Blue 43, Green 101, White *25】
Seeing the abundant reserves of fortune before him, Jiang Zhaoming’s lips curved into a confident smile.
This fortune was his greatest reliance against all future uncertainties.
No matter what moves Great Jin made, he already had countermeasures prepared.
Now that the opponent was about to gain another Profound Core Realm expert, Anxi Prefecture too needed an equivalent top-tier power to stand guard.
To directly exchange red fortune for a Profound Core expert was exceedingly difficult for him at present and would require an immense expenditure.
However, if he used fortune as the lure and combined it with other methods, achieving that goal might not be impossible.
After searching through the River of Fortune for several days, Jiang Zhaoming’s gaze suddenly fixed upon a certain area deep within the current.
He locked onto a brilliant Divine Artifact Blessing within.
【Divine Artifact · Purifying Spirit Water】: Born of the Heavenly Spirit Plane, containing five innate drops of divine water. Each drop was a peerless rarity imbued with boundless life essence, capable of allowing plants to instantly transcend their natural growth cycle.
「The Purifying Spirit Water—it shall be this one!」
A sharp gleam flashed through Jiang Zhaoming’s eyes as his mind was set.
Without hesitation, he drew out a strand of precious Red Fortune, attached it to his invisible fishing rod, and cast the line with focused intent.
Before long, a refreshing, gentle fluctuation arose.
A small, jade-green bottle exuding dense vitality appeared in his hand—the Purifying Spirit Water was his.
Jiang Zhaoming’s consciousness immediately withdrew from the River of Fortune and returned to the Courtyard of the Prince of Anxi’s Mansion.
In the courtyard, he opened his palm, and a palm-sized bottle, seemingly carved entirely from emerald jade, appeared out of thin air.
Removing the stopper, a refreshing fragrance suffused the air, carrying the breath of all living things.
Jiang Zhaoming carefully tilted the bottle toward the Origin Tree at the courtyard’s center and began to pour slowly.
滴答！
A single drop of crystalline liquid, as clear as liquid jade, precisely fell upon the thick trunk of the Origin Tree.
The instant the spirit water touched the bark, the entire tree seemed to awaken, bursting forth with dazzling emerald brilliance.
Boundless life energy surged like the tides, verdant light coursing swiftly along the veins of the trunk.
Atop the canopy, the leaves spread and flourished at astonishing speed, becoming even more lush and vibrant.
Then came an even more wondrous change.
The few Origin Fruits that originally required several years of nurturing to mature suddenly began to swell and ripen at a visible speed under the divine effect of the Purifying Spirit Water.
The fruits expanded, their surfaces gleaming as they changed from verdant green to a deep sapphire hue, radiating the rich aura of matured Origin Power.
噗！噗！
In mere moments, two of the fullest fruits ripened completely—
With a soft tremor, they detached from their branches and fell steadily into Jiang Zhaoming’s waiting palms.
Feeling the surging essence within the two fruits, Jiang Zhaoming’s heart settled completely.
How to elevate Anxi Prefecture’s top-tier power in a short span—the answer lay within these fruits.
Taking a single step forward, the ground beneath him pulsed. The surroundings blurred, and in but a few strides, space shifted—
He appeared atop the Training Grounds of the Pacifying Rebels Army stationed in Beiting County, where murderous aura surged into the heavens.
At that moment, the training grounds thundered with the shouts of battle and swirling dust.
Yue Fei, clad in black armor, was personally supervising tens of thousands of elite Pacifying Rebels soldiers in harsh joint drills. Their movements were precise and synchronized, their momentum overwhelming.
The instant Jiang Zhaoming’s aura descended, Yue Fei sensed it sharply.
He immediately gestured for the drills to halt, ordering his Vice-General to take over command, and in the next moment, his figure flashed forward.
Like an arrow released from its string, he arrived before Jiang Zhaoming, dropped to one knee, and his armor clanked in salute.
「Your servant Yue Fei pays respect to Your Highness!」
Jiang Zhaoming nodded slightly, motioning him to rise, then drew from his robes the two radiant Origin Fruits.
「Your Highness, these are...？」
Yue Fei’s gaze was instantly drawn to the fruits that pulsed with enticing Origin Power.
He had long heard that Cheng Yaojin’s strength had skyrocketed after consuming such a fruit, bringing him close to the Golden Body Realm.
However, His Highness had then said the fruits were difficult to cultivate, and though all the generals yearned for them, they could only wait patiently.
Never did he expect that within mere months, His Highness would obtain two more.
「General Yue, these are Divine Origin Fruits. You know well their effects. These two—are yours.」
Jiang Zhaoming’s tone was solemn as he extended the fruits toward Yue Fei.
Upon hearing this, Yue Fei did not immediately accept them; instead, his brows furrowed.
He clasped his fists and said, 「Your Highness, these fruits are incomparably precious. How could Yue, of such meager worth, claim both for himself? I beg Your Highness to at least—」
「General Yue, there is no need to decline.」
Jiang Zhaoming raised his hand, cutting him off firmly.
「There will be more Origin Fruits in the future. Yet your advancement concerns the very survival of Anxi—it is the utmost priority.」
Yue Fei’s heart trembled; he could feel the weight behind Jiang Zhaoming’s words.
「Your Highness means... could it be that a formidable enemy is approaching?」
Jiang Zhaoming met Yue Fei’s eyes directly and said in a deep voice, 「According to reliable information, the Jin invaders will soon gain a new Profound Core Realm expert.
The day he stabilizes his realm may well be the day he leads his army south, reigniting the flames of war.
When that time comes, our Anxi Prefecture will likely face the main force of the Jin army head-on—perhaps even one personally commanded by a Profound Core expert!」
「Profound Core Realm?!」
Yue Fei’s body shook violently, his expression turning grave.
He instantly grasped His Highness’s true intent.
Anxi Prefecture needed a Profound Core Realm expert of its own to anchor its defense—to avert annihilation.
「Your servant understands!」
Without another moment’s hesitation, Yue Fei’s eyes blazed with resolve.
He dropped to one knee, raising both hands high as if bearing a mountain’s weight.
「Your servant Yue Fei shall never fail Your Highness! Even should my body be shattered, I will protect Anxi to the end!」
This land—he had defended it for over twenty years. It was already his second home.
His hatred for Great Jin burned no less than it had in that distant world of old.
He solemnly received the two Origin Fruits from Jiang Zhaoming’s hands—as though he was accepting the very fate of Anxi Prefecture itself.
Jiang Zhaoming said no more. Grasping Yue Fei’s arm, he invoked his Earth Path Power, his body flashing with an earthy-yellow glow.
In an instant, both figures sank into the ground, traversing through the Veins of the Land.
Moments later, they reemerged at the heart courtyard of the Prince of Anxi’s Mansion, where spiritual energy gathered thick as mist—an ideal place for breakthroughs.
Yue Fei sat cross-legged at the courtyard’s center and, without hesitation, swallowed the two Origin Fruits one after another.
The fruits entered his body, transforming into two vast torrents of pure, boundless Origin Power that instantly surged through his limbs and bones.
All his pores opened, erupting with a terrifying suction force.
The dense spiritual energy within the courtyard gathered madly, forming a visible spiritual vortex that enveloped his entire form.
Jiang Zhaoming had already prepared for this moment. With a wave of his hand, a torrent of crystalline Spirit Crystals cascaded down like a waterfall, piling up around Yue Fei.
The pure energy transformed into dense spiritual mist, continuously pouring into Yue Fei’s body, providing an immense reserve of power for his breakthrough.
「Boom!」
It was as if thunder exploded within Yue Fei’s body.
His eyes remained tightly shut, his expression as firm as iron. Veins bulged across his forehead as he endured the agony and violent surges of energy that accompanied his rebirth.
The aura around him climbed step by step, ceaselessly hammering at the heavenly barrier that separated the Golden Body Realm from the Profound Core Realm.
As Yue Fei’s aura rose to an unprecedented peak, his impact reached its most violent climax.
At that very instant—
「Zheng——」
A sound like an ancient spear ringing from the dawn of time tore through the roaring spiritual currents. The vortex of energy above Yue Fei’s head exploded apart with a thunderous boom.
The endless mist recoiled wildly, dispersing in all directions.
In its place descended a colossal phantom that stood between heaven and earth, awe-inspiring and unyielding.
It was the manifestation of Yue Fei’s Dao Foundation—Lichuan Divine Spear!
As energy continued to pour in, the brilliance of the spear phantom grew ever stronger, while its form began to contract and condense inward.
The dark-golden radiance swirled and compressed rapidly until all its power, Dao essence, and spear intent were concentrated into a single point.
The light vanished completely.
In its stead floated a black pill, roughly the size of a longan fruit, above Yue Fei’s head.
That pill was pitch-black, deep as a starless void, seemingly able to devour all light and perception.
Under Jiang Zhaoming’s astonished gaze, that black Profound Core, as though returning to its rightful place among the stars, slowly descended—
And settled firmly at the very core of Yue Fei’s Dantian Divine Platform.
Yue Fei—at this moment—had returned to the Profound Core Realm!
Looking at the figure standing at the courtyard’s center, Jiang Zhaoming could no longer suppress the smile spreading across his face.
Anxi Prefecture had finally gained its own first Profound Core Realm expert.
This top-tier strength, capable of deciding the fate of nations, lifted a great weight from his heart.
Yue Fei slowly opened his eyes, divine light swirling within, as if containing countless stars in birth and destruction.
He carefully felt the vast, majestic power flowing within him and the transformation of his life’s very essence.
After a while, he withdrew his aura, stood up solemnly, and bowed deeply to Jiang Zhaoming.
「Your servant Yue Fei gives thanks to Your Highness for granting me new life. Without the divine fruit bestowed by Your Highness, allowing me to reshape my origin, this Yue might never have reentered the Profound Core Realm in this lifetime.」
Jiang Zhaoming nodded slightly and said warmly, 「General Yue, there is no need for such formality. Your realm has only just been achieved—it will take time to stabilize and adapt.」
「Your servant swears here and now—should Your Highness command it, Yue Fei shall give his life without hesitation and defend Anxi to the very end!」
Yue Fei’s voice rang with steely conviction, echoing through the courtyard.
After speaking, he clasped his fists and bowed again.
Then, with fingers pointed like a blade, he sliced lightly through the air before him.
A spatial passage silently appeared.
Yue Fei’s figure flashed and vanished into it. The rift sealed behind him as though it had never existed.
Watching where Yue Fei disappeared, Jiang Zhaoming’s eyes shone with unconcealed awe.
So this was the power of a Profound Core Realm expert—
With a mere motion, he could stir the power of space itself and traverse distances near-instantly.
Such strength was truly enviable.
「I wonder when I will be able to reach that realm—」
Expectation filled Jiang Zhaoming’s heart, but he soon steadied his mind. For now, strengthening overall power was the true priority.
He once again took out the emerald-clear bottle of Purifying Spirit Water and carefully let the remaining four drops fall one by one at the roots of the Origin Tree.
The immense vitality contained within the divine water was greedily absorbed by the tree.
Brilliant green light surged across its trunk, and its leaves grew even denser and stronger at a visible rate.
Atop the tree, several Origin Fruits rapidly ripened under the water’s influence, exuding an intense aura of Origin Power.
Finally, seven sapphire-colored fruits matured and fell to the ground, landing gently into Jiang Zhaoming’s hands.
He immediately sent word, summoning the core generals under his command.
The four Commanders of the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, as well as Qin Qiong and Aruba, soon gathered in the royal mansion.
Jiang Zhaoming solemnly bestowed the Origin Fruits upon the six generals, who were overwhelmed with emotion and knelt to express their gratitude in unison.
Thus, the core divine generals that Jiang Zhaoming had once summoned from the River of Fortune—
With the aid of the Origin Fruits, each of their strengths had now stabilized at the peak of the Myriad Phenomena Realm, and they had begun striking at the Golden Body Realm.
The high-end power of Anxi Prefecture had reached unprecedented solidity.
As for the final Origin Fruit, Jiang Zhaoming did not consume it himself. Instead, he stored it carefully for future use.
Time flowed like water, and half a year passed in a blink.
Yue Fei had completely stabilized his Profound Core cultivation. Every movement he made could now draw upon the power of heaven and earth with effortless mastery.
What stirred his heart even more was that, as his realm stabilized, many long-buried memories of that past life in the Kingdom of Jin began to resurface like waves.
When he once again gazed north toward Great Jin, his eyes grew profoundly deep.
The overwhelming killing intent buried in his very bones was almost impossible to restrain.
At the same time, Jiang Zhaoming continued to observe Great Jin’s national fortune each day through the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror.
He could clearly see that the pillar of fortune representing Great Jin, after climbing to its peak, had finally stopped rising.
「It’s done—their newly advanced Profound Core has stabilized.」
Jiang Zhaoming understood at once, his eyes flashing coldly.
Just as he had expected.
Once Great Jin confirmed the stability of their new Profound Core expert, they immediately began massive military mobilizations.
Countless elite cavalry and siege engines surged forth like a black tide, endlessly converging upon the southern border—their target, Great Zhou.
The northern prefectures of Great Zhou were instantly filled with alarm.
Fortresses such as Shanhai Pass and other great strongholds maintained round-the-clock vigilance, their beacons never ceasing.
Prince of Yan, Jiang Zhaoqian, bore the brunt of the first assault, clashing fiercely with Great Jin’s vanguard on the northern frontier.
Though he managed to repel their initial offensive, the enemy’s Profound Core expert had yet to take action—it was clearly just a probe.
Foreseeing this, Jiang Zhaoming had already given strict orders for the northern armies of Anxi Prefecture to advance preemptively.
They deployed troops to the border, fortified defenses, and vowed to keep the enemy outside the nation’s gates—to prevent the flames of war from consuming the prosperous heartland of Anxi.