Chapter 342: Chapter 254: Encountering Tian Jing Again, The Origin of ’Innate Master’!
Long before the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ was set, the court had already closed the transfer channels.
There are also various other measures, all to protect the rights of the Small State Academy’s disciples and the martial artists of the localities.
Because of this, places like Jian Province, and its nine academies were able to stably select the Top Eight, with most members being native Jian Province people.
Provinces’ competitions, selecting the Heavenly Pride of each province!
The court did it!
So, it’s not out of the question that the ’Weapon List’ and the ’Human List’ may also potentially descend to the Lower States. Maybe Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi are not qualified to be on the list at all—it’s just that Jian Province had no one else, and to unite the Jian Province people, the two were promoted onto the list?
Uncertain.
One can only say it’s highly possible.
But——
"Even though the court’s policies have protected the rights of us local martial artists of Jian Province, it’s undeniable that compared to the other Central and Upper States, Jian Province indeed has a significant gap."
"Our ’Top Eight,’ compared to Central State’s ’Top Twenty’ and Upper State’s ’Top Thirty,’ also have tremendous gaps."
Ni Mengtong quickly glanced over the nine major academies’ leaders present: "’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’s’ rules have been significantly altered compared to the provinces’ competitions. You must clearly explain to the students when you return. Let them go into it lightly, without any mental burden, and have each and every one of them adjust their state to strive and shine in the limited matches."
"This Sword Discussion only has ’Twelve Strong Teams’ and ’Other Teams’ as levels, with no other rankings. However, their performance in the Sword Discussion will determine the ranking of each academy and the amount of resources each province, county, and academy will have next year."
...
Ni Mengtong urged the academy leaders to motivate their disciples, while she went straight to find Jiang Bianliu.
As previously mentioned——
The biggest supporter allowing Ni Mengtong to become a sealing border official is her mentor behind her.
Having an Innate Grandmaster behind her was enough to make her the military official of a province. Additionally, if she could gain Jiang Bianliu’s support, perhaps she could advance further in her career.
Therefore, along the way, Ni Mengtong can hardly be said to be ingratiating, but she indeed often hangs around Jiang Bianliu, striving to make her presence felt.
Such as now——
"Elder Jiang."
"The Zhou family sisters seem much better, don’t they?"
In the name of visiting the Zhou Family Sisters, Ni Mengtong actually came to seek Jiang Bianliu.
In the small courtyard.
Among the Zhou Family Sisters——
The third sister, Zhou Wen, had fully recovered.
The second sister, Zhou Jiao, and the fourth sister, Zhou Hui, were also almost well, able to walk and move normally, indistinguishable from ordinary people, but their inner strength was still not smooth, still unable to spar, requiring quiet recuperation.
However, all three of them were gradually improving.
But the eldest sister Zhou Yan and the youngest sister Zhou Hao were doing very poorly. They had been in a coma since being ambushed by cultists on the eve of the Jian Province Competition’s group stage, and even today, they remain unconscious.
Moreover——
"Although their complexion seems much better, they’re actually deteriorating."
Jiang Bianliu shook his head.
The sisters’ meridians were utterly shattered, their bodies in total disarray. From Jian Province to Cang Mountain, Jiang Bianliu meticulously tended to them along the way, using medicine when needed, cultivating when needed. Even upon arriving at Cang Mountain, he sought help from an old friend skilled in medical skill, and a bigwig from the Traveler Department voluntarily sent miracle treasure medicine, but none of it had any effect.
The two’s ailments are beyond remedy!
Difficult, difficult, difficult!
"Alas!"
"Elder Jiang’s efforts are already the fortune of their several lifetimes."
Ni Mengtong sighed and was full of emotion.
Actually, she couldn’t understand Yan Chuan’s actions at all. Zhou Yan and Zhou Hao were clearly fatally injured, yet he insisted on saving them, even entrusting Jiang Bianliu to watch over and escort them all the way to Cang Mountain.
Jiang Bianliu was unrelated to the Zhou Family Sisters, but his efforts and attention along the way were observed by Ni Mengtong. Jiang Bianliu’s concern was only because of Yan Chuan’s entrustment.
But for Yan Chuan to use his favor with an Innate Grandmaster here, exhausting it so, was truly something Ni Mengtong couldn’t understand.
"The Zhou Family Sisters?"
"Two worthless people!"
"Not worth it!"
Could it be for the other three that are fine?
For example, Zhou Jiao and Zhou Hui?
These two learned Yan Chuan’s swordsmanship during the Jian Province Competition group stage, their comprehension and potential are indeed good, but compared to a favor with an Innate Grandmaster, it still isn’t worth it.
Ni Mengtong couldn’t understand.
Just like she couldn’t understand why Yan Chuan wasn’t coming directly to Cang Mountain to prepare for battle, but instead going east to take a detour and wander around——
"Yan Chuan’s actions are skywalking!"
Truly beyond ordinary comprehension.
...
"Rumor has it that Chess Stone was on the central peak, and a woodcutter once happened upon it. In later generations, people could find it nowhere, as layers of clouds and flowers hid it."
"What a beautiful mountain!"
As Ni Mengtong thought of Yan Chuan, Yan Chuan arrived.
Reaching Chess Stone Peak, Yan Chuan looked up at the mountain with good spirits. Since leaving Jian Province, there had been many twists and turns along the way, but ultimately, there was more excitement, more gain. Now finally arriving at Cang Mountain and coming to Chess Stone Peak, looking back on this journey and looking forward to the way ahead, Yan Chuan felt a great deal of emotion.
Beside him.
Wang Zhengyi, weary and dusty, also felt boundless heroism: "The world’s battlefields span the Nine Provinces, a thousand years witness the harsh stone of Sun and Liu. Let’s just see if the chessboard is still at the peak, exhausting the woodcutter’s ax yet the game remains uncollected."
This ’Sun and Liu’ are not Sun Quan and Liu Bei, but the kings of the two major northern regimes during the ’North and South Three Kingdoms’ period a millennia before Great Yan. In the new dynasty, due to the widespread popularity of unofficial histories, they are extremely famous.
Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi climbed over mountains and arrived at Chess Stone Peak, reflecting on this journey with infinite emotion. Thinking of the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ right before their eyes, they also had limitless anticipation.