Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen chuckled. He slowly rose up and leisurely walked down the platform, making his way to the training field. The Fang Manor’s guards followed him.

In contrast to Ji Lengyue and his Nightmare Knights, it looked like Fang Chen was going on a leisurely walk with his guards. He didn’t look imposing in the least.

The hearts of Great Xia’s civilians sank.

“They didn’t even prepare steeds…”

“It’s futile even if they did. Those Nightmare Steeds can even kick a Ki Explosion martial artist to death! Normal steeds wouldn’t be a match for them!”

“Our Great Xia’s accumulation is lacking compared to Chillwater…”

The crowd murmured.

Ji Lengyue frowned. He gazed down on Fang Chen from his horse and asked, “Young master Fang, your subordinates aren’t even wielding proper weapons. Are you really here for a military exercise?”

“Fang Chen must have known that he doesn’t stand a chance, so he didn’t bother to prepare anything.”

“Indeed. Nothing he did would make a difference.”

“Great Xia still hasn’t learned from its lesson five years ago.”

The envoys from the other three countries sneered.

Xia Yu glanced at Ye Qinghe, and the latter nodded. He ordered a eunuch to deliver tea to the Fang Clansmen, including Li Daoye and Fang Cangyou.

When Li Daoye saw the cup of tea, he remembered Fang Chen’s instruction and put it aside without any hesitation. There was no way he was going to drink it.

Xia Yu was disappointed to see that. He wouldn’t be able to get rid of Li Daoye if the latter didn’t drink the tea, and the Fang Clan would remain a threat to him.

“I don’t need weapons to deal with you,” Fang Chen replied with a smile.

“You don’t need weapons?” Ji Lengyue glanced at Li Daoye, who was sitting on the platform, before turning back to Fang Chen. “You might have the backing of a cultivator, but he isn’t going to participate in the military exercise. What makes you so confident?”

“Give it a try then.” Fang Chen chuckled.

“Very well.” Ji Lengyue sneered.

Inner ki far surpassing that of Ki Manifestation martial artists gushed from his body and wrapped itself around his body like armor, protecting him from head to toe. Even his steed was enveloped by the inner ki too.

He looked like a deity surrounded by a halo.

There were three realms to martial artists—Human Profound, Earth Profound, and Heaven Profound. Earth Profound realm could be divided into four stages, namely first stage Aureate Aura, second stage Primal Aura, third stage Origin Aura, and fourth stage Longevity Aura.

Aureate Aura martial cultivators could manifest their inner ki and harden it like metal, granting them superhuman defense. A Human Profound martial artist wouldn’t stand a chance against them at all.

“That’s the legendary first stage Aureate Aura of Earth Profound realm!”

Exclamations could be heard from the platform.

Even for Great Xia’s officials and generals, this was their first time seeing an Earth Profound martial artist. The Aureate Aura surrounding Ji Lengyue verified that he had indeed achieved a level no Great Xia martial artist had reached for centuries despite his young age.

“It’s rumored that Aureate Aura martial artists are invincible even when against tens of thousands of enemies. They can dive into the heart of an enemy army and still escape unscathed!”

“And Chillwater has more than one of such martial artists…”

“Chillwater just has to dispatch ten Aureate Aura martial artists, and it’ll be able to destroy any grade-9 state…”

Prime Minister Li Guozhu was more focused on internal affairs, devoting most of his time and energy on improving the livelihood of the populace and maintaining power balance inside the imperial court.

But after witnessing Ji Lengyue’s prowess, he began worrying about Great Xia’s future. How will Great Xia fare in the future after offending such a powerful superior state?

Great Xia’s martial artists were also astounded by the sight before them, and their eyes gleamed with admiration. Ji Lengyue might not be from Great Xia, but martial cultivation went beyond borders.

Someone who had attained a high level of martial cultivation deserved respect.

“A martial artist who has reached such a level transcends imperial authority…” Tao Yu murmured.

A scholar, no matter how well educated, couldn’t hope to suppress a martial artist of such caliber with their tongue.

“Do you see that, Jade Fairy? War God Fang might be formidable, but he’s lacking compared to Ji Lengyue…” the young scion standing near Jade Fairy shook his head as he lamented.

Jade Fairy didn’t say a word, but disdain flashed across her eyes. Ji Lengyue might look formidable now, but even she could subdue him with her Purple Lightning Talisman, let alone Fang Chen! She was looking forward to the tables being turned on Ji Lengyue.

Ji Lengyue’s show of power won over most of the people present. Great Xia’s youths looked admiringly at the aureate aura shrouding him.

Did Great Xia really have the means to deal with an expert of such caliber?

They turned their sights to Fang Chen.

“Young master Fang, I heard that you’re Great Xia’s number one martial artist. Why don’t we start with a spar between the two of us first?” Ji Lengyue said.

The crowd first looked at the seemingly divine Ji Lengyue, followed by the unseeming Fang Chen who stood with his eyes closed, and they shook their heads. A Ki Manifestation martial artist against an Aureate Aura martial artist; this was not a battle but a one-sided slaughter.

“Sure. A spar between the commanders should rouse the soldiers’ morale.” Fang Chen nodded with a smile.

The crowd felt cold sweat on their backs when they heard Fang Chen readily accepting the challenge. It didn’t boost their morale either when he strolled toward the mounted Ji Lengyue. Ji Lengyue has a steed whereas Fang Chen is on his feet. How is this a battle at all?

Ji Lengyue quietly stared at Fang Chen. A smile emerged on his face, and his steed suddenly charged forth like a bolt of lightning. The earth shook ever so slightly under his horse’s hooves.

Everyone’s eyes were on Ji Lengyue. Fang Chen had become so small to them that he wasn’t worthy of their vision anymore. Ji Lengyue and his steed leaped across the air like a deity.

The steed’s hooves were aimed at Fang Chen; Ji Lengyue planned to trample him to death!

“Ah!” The crowd gasped.

Time seemed to have slowed down in this instant.

Boom!

There was a loud explosion. The steed appeared to have stepped on something hard, causing its hooves to fracture before they could reach Fang Chen.

Before the crowd could grasp what was going on, Fang Chen pressed his palm on Ji Lengyue’s chest.

Ji Lengyue’s aureate aura immediately shattered, and his divine halo vanished without a trace. He was sent flying from his horse while spurting blood. Eventually, he crashed heavily before his Nightmare Knights.

The steed that had its hooves fractured didn’t have time to react before Fang Chen struck his palm on its head, and its massive body of over a thousand kilograms was sent flying over two hundred meters away. It fell onto the floor and became completely still.

Despite the incredible feat he had just performed, Fang Chen’s breathing remained as calm as ever. He didn’t even open his eyes from the start to the end. He chuckled softly and remarked, “That’s all Earth Profound realm amounts to.”

The crowd finally snapped out of their daze. Shock and disbelief could be seen in their eyes.