Chapter 256: The Great Trends of the World

Chapter 256: The Great Trends of the World

In the courtyard.

Jiang Ning continued his fist practice, and every sound and conversation from outside the courtyard entered his ears.

How did Lin Qingyi come?

And who were the two people who came with her?

Doubts flashed through his mind.

Then, with his powerful five senses.

All the movements and conversations of the four people in the outer courtyard appeared vividly in his mind.

A moment later.

He heard Lin Qingyi, Jiang Li, and the girl who followed Lin Qingyi leave, obviously to avoid the cold wind inside.

But the man named Ji Minghao stood in the wind and snow, waiting for Jiang Ning to finish his practice.

"Ji Minghao?"

Jiang Ning pondered silently.

He searched his memory but had never heard of this name.

After pondering for a moment, he temporarily set it aside and continued his practice.

Outside the courtyard.

The thick snowflakes quickly covered Ji Minghao's head and shoulders, and his fox fur coat was covered in snow.

The bone-chilling cold wind blew in from the vast lake, and even with the tall courtyard walls blocking it, it still found its way through every crevice of his body.

Soon, Ji Minghao became a snowman, and his eyebrows were covered in fine snowflakes.

But in the wind and snow, he stood firm like a pine tree.

Suddenly.

Creak—

As the courtyard gate turned, the courtyard gate in front of Ji Minghao slowly opened.

The next moment, Jiang Ning, dressed in a simple white practice uniform, appeared before Ji Minghao's eyes.

Seeing this, Ji Minghao's shoulders trembled, and the snow on his body fell to the ground.

"I am Ji Minghao!"

Ji Minghao cupped his hands, his eyes blinked, and the snow on his eyebrows also fell.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning also cupped his hands and said, "I am Jiang Ning!"

After secretly sizing up Jiang Ning, a strange expression flashed across Ji Minghao's mind.

Then he smiled and said, "I have admired Brother Jiang for a long time, and today I finally get to meet you! This trip is not in vain!"

"You flatter me!" Jiang Ning smiled and then cupped his hands, "Brother Ji, please come in for a chat."

Seeing this, Ji Minghao stepped over the threshold.

"I don't know where Brother Ji is from and what is your relationship with Lin Louzhu?" Jiang Ning asked.

Ji Minghao replied, "Lin Louzhu is my sister-in-law. My younger sister and I came from the Upper City of the Royal Capital to visit my sister-in-law. When we arrived in Luoshui County and heard of Brother Jiang's past deeds, we admired you greatly, so we came to visit in person!"

"So that's how it is!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

At this moment, the doubts in his mind were suddenly cleared.

So, Lin Qingyi had already married, and she should be a significant figure in the Upper City of the Royal Capital!

A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he said, "So, Brother Ji, you are a distinguished guest from the Upper City of the Royal Capital. It is I who was rude, making Brother Ji wait for me in the wind and snow for so long!"

Hearing this, Ji Minghao smiled casually.

"Brother Jiang, you were just in the process of Bone Forging, a crucial moment, which I understand very well!"

"When I was Bone Forging, my brother unintentionally disturbed me, causing my mental power to go out of control, and my vital energy to surge uncontrollably!"

"The injuries I sustained at that time left me bedridden for three whole days!"

"To fully recover, I had to carefully recuperate for half a month!"

Hearing Ji Minghao's words, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ji Minghao's words revealed a piece of information.

It was that the man beside him, who seemed to be around the same age as Jiang Ning, had also entered the Sixth Rank of Martial Dao, just like him.

It was even possible that Ji Minghao was ahead of Jiang Ning in terms of Bone Forging progress.

Seeing that Jiang Ning did not hide his surprise, Ji Minghao smiled slightly.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Ning said, "I was just feeling proud of my strength, but I never expected that Brother Ji has already surpassed me on the path of Martial Dao. I truly admire you!"

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Ji Minghao couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

"Brother Jiang, there is something you don't know. Your words, when they fall into my ears, make me feel ashamed!"

"Oh? Why is that?" Jiang Ning asked.

Ji Minghao said, "I have an excellent background. Since childhood, I have lived a life of luxury, with countless heavenly treasures at my disposal. Even ancient rarities are not difficult for me to obtain!"

"As for wealth, it is merely a number to me."

"My martial arts mentor is a grandmaster!"

Speaking of this, Ji Minghao smiled bitterly, "And yet, I have only just barely managed to forge Jade Bones!"

"But Brother Jiang, in such a small place, the resources you can obtain are extremely limited, not to mention famous teachers and martial arts techniques!"

"Yet, at the age of adulthood, you have already entered the Sixth Rank of Martial Dao!"

"Such martial talent is awe-inspiring and makes me feel ashamed!"

"Those grandmasters who have been famous for a long time are mostly not as accomplished as you at this age!"

Listening to Ji Minghao's self-praise, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

Indeed, those grandmasters who had been famous for a long time were not as accomplished as him at this age.

Jiang Ning's martial prowess was likely inferior to Ji Minghao's.

This indirectly revealed that even the renowned Grandmaster, when he was younger, was not as skilled as Jiang Ning.

Ji Minghao also demonstrated his exceptional talent, a true Martial Prodigy, surpassing even the Grandmaster in his youth.

At this thought, Jiang Ning's heart stirred slightly.

This person, who had waited for him in the snow outside the courtyard, was indeed extraordinary.

Even the act of standing in the snow was nothing out of the ordinary.

Moreover, Ji Minghao's status was not ordinary.

This person had ambition!

He had aspirations!

Perhaps he was not an ordinary person.

Jiang Ning suddenly realized this.

Then, he said, "Brother Ji, it's cold outside. Why not come in and have a cup of hot tea?"

Ji Minghao followed Jiang Ning's gaze and saw a pavilion surrounded by verdant bamboo. On the stone table, which looked like jade, steam rose from the tea.

The steaming hot tea in the pot caught his eye, and a strange light flashed across his face.

If he hadn't known that Jiang Ning couldn't have prepared in advance, he would have suspected that his identity had been exposed, and his visit was known, hence the prepared hot tea to welcome him.

His expression changed slightly, but Ji Minghao quickly regained his composure.

Then, he smiled slightly, "Good idea! I just stood in the snow for a while, and it's indeed a bit cold!"

As soon as they sat down, Ji Minghao's eyes flashed with surprise again.

He touched the table in front of him, which felt like jade and stone, and the warmth lingered in his hand.

"What kind of jade is this? Even in the midst of the wind and snow, it's still so warm, even more so than the best warm jade in my palace!"

Ji Minghao's face showed surprise.

Jiang Ning shook his head lightly, "I don't know what kind of jade or stone this table and chair are made of. I bought this house, and these stone tables and chairs were already here!"

Ji Minghao praised, "Then you've found a treasure! In this cold winter, with heavy snow, these stone tables and chairs still have such warmth. They must be made of the finest warm jade."

"But I can't recognize this jade with my knowledge. It's indeed rare."

Seeing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

What kind of warm jade could it be?

These stone tables and chairs were heated by his fire manipulation, and the hot tea in front of him was the same.

Then, he poured the tea.

The tea poured into the cup, and steam rose immediately.

After a simple conversation, Jiang Ning realized that the man before him was a noble.

Whether it was the previous mention of freely taking heavenly materials, learning martial arts from a Grandmaster, or the information about jade and stone in the palace, all indicated that Ji Minghao was not an ordinary person.

He was not just wealthy or noble but both.

"It seems Lin Qingyi is not simple either!"

A thought slowly emerged in Jiang Ning's mind.

Then he smiled in his heart. With Hundred Spirit Blood, stepping into the Grandmaster realm, how could Lin Qingyi be ordinary?

The next moment, he gathered his slightly scattered spiritual energy.

"Brother Ji, let's drink some hot tea to warm up!" Jiang Ning said.

"Good!" Ji Minghao nodded.

He picked up the tea in front of him and blew gently twice. The floating tea leaves drifted to both sides and stuck to the cup.

The scalding tea entered his mouth, and he frowned slightly.

He had never tasted such poor-quality tea in his life.

When he drank it, it had a faint earthy taste.

Then he looked at Jiang Ning again and continued to sip the tea gently.

Jiang Ning also poured himself a cup and drank two sips of hot tea.

When he put down the teapot, Ji Minghao did the same.

At this moment, Ji Minghao's cup was already half-empty.

At this moment, he raised his hand to stop Jiang Ning.

"No need!"

"Half a cup of hot tea is enough to warm the whole body!" Ji Minghao added, "Drinking too much will make you need to pee urgently!"

Jiang Ning burst into laughter.

Suddenly, he felt that Ji Minghao in front of him was well-educated.

It was rare to hear such words from Ji Minghao.

Seeing Jiang Ning's smile, Ji Minghao's face also showed a faint smile.

Then, he extended his hand out of the pavilion and felt the snowflakes falling into his palm. Ji Minghao's smile faded.

"Brother Jiang, do you know why there's been so much snow this year, and it keeps falling?" Ji Minghao asked.

"Is there a reason for this?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Yes!" Ji Minghao nodded slightly, "This continuous snow, you probably wouldn't guess, is man-made!"

"Man-made?" Jiang Ning's heart stirred, and he seemed to understand something.

Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning, "And this year's drought and scorching heat are also man-made!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning's mind was filled with more speculations.

At the end of the dynasty, it was either natural calamities, man-made disasters, or a combination of both.

This thought flashed through his mind, and then Jiang Ning asked, "In the past few months, with such a severe drought and heavenly phenomena, could this also be man-made?"

"Of course it's possible!" Ji Minghao nodded. "The Grand Master of Daxia can summon a heavy rain that covers an entire county."

"There are many capable and extraordinary people in this world. If they secretly unite, they can alter heavenly phenomena, causing the drought to affect the Three Continents, leaving hundreds of millions of people without harvest and facing an unprecedented famine! This will lead to frequent uprisings!"

What an exaggeration!

After listening to Ji Minghao's words, these thoughts instantly came to Jiang Ning's mind.

Altering heavenly phenomena, causing the drought to affect the Three Continents.

With such abilities, even the immortals and gods recorded in books are no different!

Ji Minghao turned to Jiang Ning, "I wonder what your thoughts are on this matter, Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Ning asked, "I'm curious. If this is indeed as you say, Brother Ji, why would those who are like immortals and gods do such a thing?"

"It's simple!" Ji Minghao replied, "I heard my father discuss this before. Some believe that Daxia has been established for too long, and they are too strict with the Great Grandmaster's family!"

"They want to take over the Nine Provinces, to change the ruler of this world!"

"With continuous natural disasters, the common people will be displaced, unable to survive, and their hearts will scatter!"

"Once their hearts scatter, the eight hundred years of peace in this world will be in peril!"

"Besides this, the constant uprisings are also secretly instigated by some people. They want the court to lift the restrictions on private armies!"

"On the surface, lifting the restrictions on private armies will allow various factions to have enough troops to suppress bandits and rebels!"

At this point, Ji Minghao suddenly turned to Jiang Ning and asked, "What are your thoughts on lifting the restrictions on private armies?"

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ning immediately thought of the novels he had read in his previous life.

The novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'.

The chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms began with the powerful Yellow Turban Rebellion, leading to the gathering of heroes.

With the Yellow Turbans' strength and the central government's weakness, they were unable to suppress the rebellion, allowing local powerful families, military leaders, and officials to recruit their own armies.

This led to the gradual formation of a fragmented landscape where local lords controlled their territories, and the central government completely lost effective control over the regions.

Recalling his past life's memories, Jiang Ning shook his head. "The control of private armies should not be relaxed! If we do so, it will inevitably lead to a fragmented landscape where local lords control their territories, and with military power in their hands, the world will fall into complete chaos!"

"Indeed, great minds think alike!" Ji Minghao's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Brother Jiang, you are indeed my confidant! I had the same thoughts when I discussed this with my brother!"

"But my brother believes that the chaos in this world is mainly due to the constant uprisings. He thinks that we need to suppress them with military force, and if we show determination to fight to the death, the common people will not dare to rebel and start uprisings."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled.

"Could it be that your brother's maternal lineage is a powerful figure with military authority?" Ji Minghao glanced at Jiang Ning and nodded. "Now that I think about it, it's indeed the case!"

As Ji Minghao's words fell, he looked at Jiang Ning. "You must have guessed my identity!"

"I probably have," Jiang Ning nodded, then stood up and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"I am the eighth prince in my family," Ji Minghao said.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Jiang Ning replied.

Ji Minghao smiled. "Brother Jiang, there's no need to be so formal. Let's just address each other as brothers!"

"Your Highness, that's not possible!" Jiang Ning said.

Seeing this, Ji Minghao showed a hint of anger. "If you continue to be so formal, it's as if you don't consider me as a friend! I'm treating you as a friend and brother, being so sincere, yet this becomes a gap in our friendship!"

Seeing Ji Minghao's serious expression, Jiang Ning decided to go along.

"Then, greetings, Brother Ji!"

"That's more like it!" Ji Minghao laughed and then asked, "Brother Jiang, do you have any wine here?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

With a wave of his hand, a wine jug appeared in his hand.

"A Mystic Ring?" Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of surprise, his gaze quickly fixing on the ring on Jiang Ning's finger.

"So Brother Jiang is naturally gifted and has the potential to become an immortal. No wonder your talents are so outstanding!" Ji Minghao exclaimed in awe.

Jiang Ning smiled.

He wasn't surprised that Ji Minghao had noticed this.

As the eighth prince of Daxia, if he couldn't see it, that would be strange! This action was also a deliberate display.

Since this eighth prince of Daxia wanted to befriend him, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

Having one more friend meant one more helper and one more path.

Not to mention, this friend was a prince of Daxia. Even if their friendship after today was just a fleeting encounter, it was enough!

It's still better than having none!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end