Chapter 143: Sword Discussion Assembly
Fire Dragon Commandery Prince pulled Zuo Longlin down and quickly apologized, saying, "My son was merely acting on impulse when he offended the Minister. I hope the Minister will not be angry."
Minister Ning snorted coldly and said, "Fire Dragon Commandery Prince, in the future, you must discipline your son better, lest he bring disaster upon Fire Dragon Commandery. Ning An, see the guests out."
An old steward walked out and escorted Fire Dragon Commandery Prince and Zuo Longlin out.
Minister Ning kept Cloud Wu Commandery Prince and Zhang Ruochen behind, and they continued to exchange words for a long time. Only after the night banquet did he send people to escort Cloud Wu Commandery Prince and Zhang Ruochen back to the manor.
Returning to the manor, Zhang Ruochen clutched the Sword Discussion Invitation in his hand, staring at the elegant handwriting on it. He really couldn't figure out why that Thirteenth Commandery Princess would send him the invitation.
Zhang Ruochen put away the Sword Discussion Invitation and stopped thinking about it. He entered the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, intending to refine another drop of Half-Saint True Liquid before the Sword Discussion Assembly.
Two days later, Zhang Ruochen took the Sword Discussion Invitation and went directly to the Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom's royal palace to participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly.
The so-called "Sword Discussion Assembly" was actually a way to select a consort for the Thirteenth Commandery Princess. Only those geniuses who had been screened by the Thirteenth Commandery Princess were qualified to participate.
Aside from that, even Cloud Wu Commandery Prince could not set foot inside the royal palace.
It could be said that this was a gathering of the younger generation's top experts. The finest talents from various countries assembled together, competing in swordsmanship. Only the strongest swordsman could marry the Thirteenth Commandery Princess.
The location for the Sword Discussion Assembly was chosen at the Golden Phoenix Garden of the Thousand Water Royal Palace, guarded by three thousand imperial guards. Only those with the Sword Discussion Invitation could enter.
The Thousand Water Royal Palace appeared exceptionally grand and magnificent, with rows of vermilion, towering halls and suspended eaves and pagodas. In some of the large squares, powerful fourth-rank barbarian beasts were penned, bound by bowl-thick iron chains, exuding a soul-shaking, powerful aura.
Even the ordinary imperial guards guarding the Golden Phoenix Garden possessed Mysterious Extreme Realm cultivation, something the Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom's imperial guards could not compare to.
With just a single thousand-man imperial guard unit, they could crush Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom's hundred-thousand-strong army.
A Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position imperial guard squad leader blocked Zhang Ruochen's path, his expression extremely serious. "Please show your Sword Discussion Invitation, young master."
Zhang Ruochen took out the silver-cast invitation and showed it to the imperial guard squad leader.
The imperial guard squad leader's gaze immediately became respectful. He bowed slightly and said, "Please enter, young master."
Zhang Ruochen walked into the Golden Phoenix Garden and saw many rare medicinal herbs planted in the flowerbeds, emitting a pleasant medicinal fragrance. Moreover, the spiritual energy in the air was extremely dense, almost four times that of the Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom's royal palace.
In such an environment, a martial artist's cultivation speed would certainly be much faster than elsewhere.
Above the pond in the Golden Phoenix Garden, a formation was arranged. Suspended above the formation was a nine-meter-square battle platform.
At this moment, many talented individuals had already arrived by the pond. They were not only princes from other commandery kingdoms but also outstanding figures from some of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom's great families and major sects. Every single one was a top expert of the younger generation, none of them ugly, none of them mediocre.
Mediocre and ugly people had long been eliminated by the Thirteenth Commandery Princess.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen spotted a familiar figure. It was none other than the number one expert of the Martial Market Academy's Eastern Courtyard, Xun Guihai.
He had also come to participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly!
Xun Guihai was sitting not far from the Thirteenth Commandery Princess, wearing the brocade martial robe of the Martial Market Academy, looking handsome and spirited. Just by looking at where he sat, one could tell that the Thirteenth Commandery Princess thought highly of him.
Besides Xun Guihai, three other young men were sitting beside the Thirteenth Commandery Princess.
Those three young men all exuded a powerful aura, each one no weaker than Xun Guihai.
Upon arriving at the Golden Phoenix Garden, Zhang Ruochen felt a strange sensation in his heart. He had clearly come to Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom to seek reinforcements, so why was he participating in this inexplicable Sword Discussion Assembly?
Even stranger, how could so many talented individuals have gathered here from all over?
Was everyone here to seek reinforcements?
"I am Chen Tianshu. May I ask your esteemed name, young master?" A young man of seventeen or eighteen appeared beside Zhang Ruochen at some point, asking with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Chen Tianshu and noticed that this person was exceptionally handsome, even surpassing Xun Guihai.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Zhang Ruochen."
Chen Tianshu seemed quite familiar, staring at the distant Thirteenth Commandery Princess, and laughed, "You also want to win first place in the Sword Discussion Assembly and take the beauty home?"
"Hmm?" Zhang Ruochen was slightly taken aback.
What did "take the beauty home" mean?
Chen Tianshu said, "Look at those people down there. Every one of them wants to display astonishing talent to capture the Thirteenth Commandery Princess's heart. But they don't realize they are just green leaves. The ones who truly have a chance are only the four sitting up there. Xun Guihai of Daqian Commandery Kingdom, Tuoba Linsu of Longchuan Commandery Kingdom, Left Minister's disciple Liu Xin, and Half-Saint disciple Qing Chibai."
"Wait... what did you just say? Winning first place in the Sword Discussion Assembly can capture the Thirteenth Commandery Princess's heart?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chen Tianshu said in surprise, "Don't you know? The Sword Discussion Assembly is for selecting a consort for the Thirteenth Commandery Princess."
Zhang Ruochen said, "..."
Chen Tianshu looked at Zhang Ruochen's expression and suddenly understood, saying, "No wonder you're standing at the back. So you really didn't know the purpose of the Sword Discussion Assembly. Oh well, since we can't compete with those four top prodigies anyway, let's just stay here and watch the show!"
"I understand!"
Zhang Ruochen recalled what Cloud Wu Commandery Prince had told him and finally understood what was going on.
Cloud Wu Commandery Prince actually wanted him to marry the Thirteenth Commandery Princess. If Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom and Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom formed a marriage alliance, then the Four Directions Commandery Princess would naturally not dare to attack Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom.
However, Zhang Ruochen simply did not like that Thirteenth Commandery Princess. In fact, he felt some aversion, so naturally, he could not marry her.
Chen Tianshu was right. Since he couldn't win anyway, he might as well stay and watch. Such a gathering of talented individuals from various countries was a rare event.
Among those attending the Sword Discussion Assembly, besides the talented individuals from all over, there were also other commandery princesses and noble ladies of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom.
If any of them took a fancy to a particular talented individual, they could take the initiative to show favor and express their affection.
Any force would spare no effort to recruit talented individuals with potential, even using marriage alliances to build closer relationships with them.
This was the enduring survival strategy of great families and major sects!
At the same time, talented individuals also needed the cultivation resources provided by these major forces to truly become powerful.
It could be said that they were mutually beneficial and win-win. Marriage alliances were just the simplest and most direct way to establish a relationship.
Not far from the Golden Phoenix Garden, there was a Flying Immortal Pavilion.
The Flying Immortal Pavilion appeared to be a massive pavilion suspended in midair, but in reality, it was a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure.
The surface of the Flying Immortal Pavilion was covered with formation inscriptions. Even though it floated above the Golden Phoenix Garden, no one could detect its existence.
At this moment, the Thousand Water Commandery King and Queen, along with more than ten beautiful concubines, were all standing atop that Flying Immortal Pavilion, looking toward the Golden Phoenix Garden.
In addition, the ten most powerful ministers of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom were also in the Flying Immortal Pavilion, including Minister Ning.
These ten most powerful ministers also represented the ten major forces of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom, second only to the royal clan. Each force was far more powerful than a medium-sized commandery kingdom.
The Thousand Water Commandery King looked to be in his forties, with a beard, wearing a crown and a golden robe, exuding an imperial aura. He said, "Left Minister, who do you think will win first place in this Sword Discussion Assembly and marry the Thirteenth Commandery Princess?"
The Left Minister of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom, the head of the ten most powerful ministers, had white hair and a youthful complexion, giving off an immortal aura. He smiled and said, "My disciple, Liu Xin, is only twenty-two years old and has already reached the Earth Extreme Realm Late Stage. Moreover, he has cultivated his sword intent to the high-level realm of Sword Follows the Heart. Perhaps he has a chance to win first place."
Grand General Gongsun Lin laughed and said, "Liu Xin's talent is indeed very high, but unfortunately, he is much older than the Thirteenth Commandery Princess. I, on the other hand, think Qing Chibai has a much greater chance. He is only twenty years old and has already broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm Middle Stage. Moreover, he is the personal disciple of Blood Sky Half-Saint, and his sword intent realm is unfathomable."
The Right Minister, sitting not far away, laughed and said, "Liu Xin and Qing Chibai are both extraordinary talents of our Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom. I think, since the King has sent invitations to over a hundred surrounding countries, we should give the princes of medium and lower commandery kingdoms a chance."
"For example, Xun Guihai of Daqian Commandery Kingdom. Although he is only at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection, he has reached fourteenth place on the Xuan Ranking. He is definitely a genius with limitless potential."
...
All ten most powerful ministers were vigorously recommending juniors related to them, arguing until their faces were red.
The Thousand Water Commandery King looked at Minister Ning, who was sitting silently to the side, and laughed, "Minister Ning, everyone else has juniors participating in the Sword Discussion Assembly. The Ning family is also a top family of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom. Haven't you sent any talented individuals to participate?"
Minister Ning smiled and said, "The younger generation of the Ning family does have a few Xuan Ranking geniuses with decent talent, but unfortunately, they are far inferior to Liu Xin, Qing Chibai, and Xun Guihai. I didn't let them participate, to avoid embarrassment."
Minister Ning changed the subject and said, "However, I would also like to recommend a genius to the King. He is not a Half-Saint disciple, nor a successor of a major force, nor does he have Earth Extreme Realm cultivation. But he is a top-tier prodigy."
The Thousand Water Commandery King showed some interest and laughed, "Minister Ning, who are you referring to?"
"His name is Zhang Ruochen, a prince of the lower commandery kingdom Cloud Wu Commandery Kingdom. He is seventeen years old this year, and his martial cultivation has reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Middle Extreme Position..."
Before Minister Ning could finish, Grand General Gongsun Lin, sitting to the side, laughed and said, "Too ordinary, too ordinary. Such geniuses, in our Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom, even if there aren't a thousand, there are at least eight hundred."
Minister Ning smiled and said, "Grand General, please hear me out before saying that. Zhang Ruochen only awakened his Divine Martial Mark at the age of sixteen. Up to now, his cultivation time is less than a year."
Upon hearing this, the smiles on the faces of the other nine most powerful ministers completely vanished.