https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-198-The-Cold-Northern-Path-s-Rising-Talents/13026253/
Chapter 197: Fame Spreads
Chapter 197: Fame Spreads
The Usha River Basin.
As one of the two major rivers in Yu County, the Usha River was already quite wide, reaching hundreds of zhang at its broadest point. Now, during the high tide, the river swelled, flooding its banks and stretching as far as the eye could see.
On a high slope in the eastern part of the river, over a hundred monsters emerged from the water, led by a fifth-rank water demon named Ranjiang. They were attacking the officers of the Demon Slayer Bureau and the Surveillance Bureau who were guarding the riverbanks.
Ranjiang.
Its body resembled a child, but it had fish scales, a serpent's tail, and sharp spines protruding from its spine. It was also quite large, nearly ten zhang in length, and was one of the more common fifth-rank monsters found in rivers. Like Feng Yi, it had a specialized name due to its prevalence.
The officer fighting Ranjiang head-on wore a purple official uniform and was none other than the lord of Yu City, Xue Huai Kong.
Xue Huai Kong wielded a long spear, engaging Ranjiang in a fierce battle. Although he managed to leave several bloodstains on Ranjiang's body, the wounds were not severe, and he was unable to defeat the demon. Furthermore, Ranjiang's wounds were healing at a visible rate, indicating an exceptional regenerative ability that ordinary monsters lacked.
"..."
Xue Huai Kong's brows furrowed, feeling a sense of helplessness.
He didn't mind fighting this demon, but the problem was that his men were also engaged with numerous other monsters, and more were emerging from the water to join the fray. The situation was not favorable, unless he could defeat Ranjiang and lend his support to his men. However, Ranjiang's formidable self-healing ability made it difficult for him to defeat the demon.
However.
Just as Xue Huai Kong was feeling troubled, his gaze suddenly shifted, and he spotted a white-robed figure striding across the river's surface in the distance. In what seemed like an instant, the figure approached, drawing near.
"Inspector Yan has arrived!"
The officers of the Demon Slayer Bureau and the Surveillance Bureau on the scene were all invigorated by the presence of Inspector Yan.
A renowned figure among the officers.
Inspector Yan Jingqing was responsible for the entire Usha River Basin. Even the common martial artists knew of his reputation as a Sixth Viscera Realm cultivator, standing at the sixth level of the Bone Marrow Washing Realm. He was an almost invincible existence in the land of Yu County.
As the white-robed guards and the officers of the Surveillance Bureau were filled with awe, Inspector Yan Jingqing stepped ashore. His gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield, but his expression remained calm, and he made no excessive movements. He simply stood there with his hands clasped behind his back.
One step,
Two steps,
Three steps,
As Yan Jingqing advanced, a white-robed figure, a dozen or more monsters froze in place wherever he passed. Their bodies were silently covered in dense cracks, then crumbled into a pile of shattered bones and flesh! Yan Jingqing continued forward, crossing the chaotic battlefield. Dozens, even hundreds of monsters froze and shattered into fragments of bone and flesh. Even Ranjiang, who had been fighting Xue Huai Kong, froze solid when Yan Jingqing approached. Its massive body solidified, blood vessels spread across its body, and then it shattered into countless pieces!
Almost as soon as Yan Jingqing stepped ashore, the chaotic battle came to an abrupt halt.
The scene fell into a deathly silence.
The most astonishing sight was not just the shattered remains of the monsters, but also the fact that none of the officers from the Demon Slayer Bureau and the Surveillance Bureau were affected. Not even their clothing was damaged, as all the invisible attacks were concentrated solely on the monsters.
The awe-inspiring scene left the nearby officers of the Demon Slayer Bureau and the white-robed guards of the Surveillance Bureau standing by the river, they were all frozen in place, unable to move, let alone pay their respects to Inspector Yan.
"Inspector Yan."
Even Lord Xue Huai Kong was stunned by the spectacle and quickly regained his composure, bowing respectfully to Yan Jingqing.
Yan Jingqing glanced at Xue Huai Kong and spoke calmly, "Lord Xue, you've worked hard. Rest here for a while, and if there are no other issues, continue your patrol along the riverbank."
"Yes."
Xue Huai Kong respectfully acknowledged.
Yan Jingqing's gaze swept across the battlefield, then turned towards the vast river. He seemed deep in thought for a moment before shaking his head and saying,
"It seems I underestimated him."
He knew that Chen Mu had reached the Fifth Viscera Realm and possessed exceptional comprehension and strength.
Slaying the Water Demon Feng Yi!
Subduing Huanhuan Demoness!
Defeating Gu Hong of the Heavenly Sword Sect!
These true transmitters of various sects were no match for Chen Mu, who emerged from the remote land of Yu County.
Yan Jingqing had always believed that Chen Mu was better suited for a path similar to his own, climbing the ranks of officials in Yuzhou. But now it seems that even as a disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect, Chen Mu can excel among his peers.
I think he's even more impressive than Meng Dan Yun."
Yan Jingqing couldn't help but exclaim.
However, it wasn't just about talent and strength. Yan Jingqing valued Chen Mu's administrative and leadership abilities, while Meng Dan Yun admired Chen Mu's talent and power. Indeed, Chen Mu's exceptional martial talent and strength were evident, and it was clear that he was destined for greater heights beyond the confines of Yu County.
Not far away.
Xue Huai Kong stood there, astonished.
Master of the Trinity of Wind, Thunder, and Fire, Chen Mu had reached the Fifth Viscera Realm. He had slain Feng Yi, subdued Huanhuan, and defeated Gu Hong.
Xue Huai Kong was momentarily stunned, feeling as if he were deciphering an ancient text. How could Chen Mu have advanced to the Fifth Viscera Realm so soon after entering the Bone Forging Realm? And how had he progressed to the second step in three different realms? It would require an extraordinary level of insight and talent.
In the Yu Prefecture, the residence of the Xue family.
"Cough, cough..."
Gu Hong entered the courtyard, his clothes stained with blood, his aura weak, and his eyes lacking their usual luster.
But his steps suddenly halted.
His gaze, now dim and lifeless, fixed on a figure in the courtyard, a man in a simple green robe standing under a pagoda tree.
"Master... Master..."
Gu Hong's eyes widened in surprise, and he knelt before the man in the green robe, saying, "Master, why have you come?"
The man in the green robe slowly turned around, revealing a face of a man in his thirties or forties, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a transcendent aura. Even Yan Jingqing, if he were here, would be shaken by this face, for this man was the youngest Grandmaster of the Sky Sword Sect, renowned across several states a decade ago.
Jiang Changsheng glanced at Gu Hong and said, "I was investigating the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and happened to pass by here... But after just one defeat, you've lost your spirit. What kind of decorum is this?"
"I'm ashamed, Master," Gu Hong said, kneeling in the mud.
He had experienced defeats before, even within the Sky Sword Sect, but his mindset and mental state were different, and so was the impact. This time, he had achieved perfection in the Heart Sword Concept, reaching the second step, brimming with confidence and ready to dominate the true disciples of various sects. Yet, he had been defeated by a single sword, causing his cultivated Heart Sword Sword Intent to almost shatter.
Jiang Changsheng slowly turned around, his gaze lingering on the pagoda tree, and suddenly asked, "Do you think your left senior brother, the only one to walk the Sky Sword lineage in a century, will surpass me in the future?"
"Well..." Gu Hong hesitated.
Zuo Qianqiu was indeed a peerless genius of the Sky Sword Sect, but Jiang Changsheng had entered the Bone Marrow Washing Realm at a young age, becoming a renowned sword master across several states. Even if Zuo Qianqiu's path in the sword arts was stronger, who could say that Zuo Qianqiu would definitely surpass Jiang Changsheng in the future by transcending the Bone Marrow Washing Realm, entering the Blood Transformation Realm, and reaching the pinnacle of the sword path?
"Then, what about Chen Mu?" Jiang Changsheng continued.
Gu Hong remained silent, knowing that Jiang Changsheng wasn't interested in hearing about how a junior disciple could compare to a master.
Even Zuo Qianqiu, he dared not claim that he would become an existence surpassing Jiang Changsheng, let alone Chen Mu.
Jiang Changsheng said calmly, "Since your left senior brother began his martial arts journey, he has never been defeated. When I was young, my talent didn't match his, but I took one step at a time to reach where I am today, becoming a Grandmaster through the Heart Sword. I dominate the Northern Region, but you... where have you reached so far?"
As his voice trailed off, Jiang Changsheng's figure silently vanished, leaving only his last words echoing in the courtyard.
Gu Hong stood in the mud, stunned, and after an unknown amount of time, he slowly rose and took a deep breath, gazing in the direction where Jiang Changsheng had disappeared. "Thank you, Master, for your teachings."
In the distance, Jiang Changsheng glanced at the courtyard and nodded slightly at Gu Hong's figure.
"Chen Mu..." he muttered.
According to the rumors he had heard, Chen Mu was indeed a rising star of Yuzhou, but no one knew how far he would go in the future. Perhaps Gu Hong, who had reestablished his Heart Sword, would surpass him, or maybe Chen Mu would have the qualification to challenge Zuo Qianqiu, but regardless, they were still the younger generation, not yet in Jiang Changsheng's immediate concern.
The Great Xuan Dynasty was vast, with a large population and numerous heroes. Various sects and factions vied for power, and although the realm was gradually descending into chaos, it was often in times of turmoil that true heroes emerged, and martial arts flourished.
Once one entered the Bone Marrow Washing Realm and became a Grandmaster, their influence extended far beyond a single state, encompassing the entire Great Xuan Dynasty.
The younger generation, at the very least, needed to be ranked on the Gale Wind Rankings to even enter Jiang Changsheng's field of vision.
And that was no easy feat.
The Great Xuan Dynasty consisted of ninety-nine states, divided into nine regions. The northernmost region, including Yuzhou, was known as the Cold Northern Path, and among these eleven states, only those with strength rivaling the Grandmasters below the Bone Marrow Washing Realm were eligible for the Gale Wind Rankings.
This ranking was established by the Horizon Sea Pavilion, located in the central state of the Cold Northern Path, and it only listed thirty names, with Yan Jingqing being the last on the list.
Whether it was Gu Hong, Chen Mu, or Zuo Qianqiu, they were all still a long way from reaching that level.
In the chaotic times, amidst the turbulent rivers and lakes, only a few would rise above the rest, like Chen Mu, Zuo Qianqiu, and Hua Nongyue, the true disciples of their generation, but no one knew how many would become renowned across the land.
"It's said that the Horizon Sea Pavilion, in addition to the Gale Wind Rankings, is also creating a New Talent Register..."
Jiang Changsheng shook his head slightly.
Then, his figure silently disappeared from the courtyard.
...
In Yu City, at the residence of the Yu family, a thick fog enveloped the ancient courtyard, making it impossible to see even a few inches in front of you.
Yu Jiujiang, wearing a conical hat, sat by the pool, and the mist around him condensed into droplets of dew, silently falling.
"Grandfather, there's big news, good news!"
Someone suddenly rushed into the courtyard.
Yu Jiujiang slightly lifted his hat, "What's the matter? What's so exciting?"
The young man quickly explained.
Yu Jiujiang remained silent for a moment, then said after a while, "I understand. You may go."
The young man, puzzled by Yu Jiujiang's calm demeanor, still retreated respectfully.
But as soon as he left, Yu Jiujiang's gaze turned to the pool, and a sense of relief finally appeared on his face, followed by laughter, which echoed through the courtyard.
...
In the year 1428 of the Great Xuan calendar, the flood that had lasted for over a month in the Yu Prefecture gradually subsided, and the rivers returned to their peaceful state.
At the same time, the news of Chen Mu's entry into the Five Viscera Realm, his defeat of a monster, and his victory over a true disciple spread throughout the Yu Prefecture and gradually reached other counties, eventually reaching the Seven Mysteries Sect, causing a stir!
Since Chen Mu began his martial journey four years ago, his reputation had finally spread beyond the Yu Prefecture, becoming known across the entire Yuzhou.
(End of Chapter)
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