Chapter 322: Chapter 215: Prelude to the Battle of the Hundred Dynasties! Internal Selection, Sinister Assassination Plot!
With the introduction of the Inner Strength Method, the Martial Arts of the Xia Country will thoroughly reach a peak. The saying ’everyone practices Martial Arts’ will no longer be an exaggeration.
Although the core Techniques of True Strength haven’t been passed down, the Xia Country will definitely promote Spiritual Cultivation in the future. After practicing Martial Arts, Martial Artists’ mental states become much stronger than those of ordinary people. This enables them to enter deep sleep rapidly and strengthen themselves. The chances of breaking through to master Transforming Strength will also be far greater than before.
No matter how Freedom Country develops its genetics, as long as it can’t produce Genetic Potions above the Sixth Rank, it will always remain a step behind. Not to mention that the current Xia Country, with the beastial body of the Orochi, can completely surpass them in genetic research.
If Freedom Country wants to stabilize its position as a great nation, it can only take an unconventional path. It must start to wholeheartedly develop Mecha and create equipment capable of withstanding spiritual attacks.
「The Da Jing Dynasty.」
Jiang Shu pushed open the window. The air was exceptionally fresh after the rain, refreshing to his core.
He couldn’t help but take a deep breath, his lips slightly pursed. As a citizen of the Xia Country, he naturally hoped that his country would grow stronger and stronger.
After a brief rest, Jiang Shu left the inn.
The geniuses, renowned in every major state capital, had already arrived at the Imperial City, thoroughly igniting the atmosphere. The once-celebrated talents of the Dragon and Tiger List seemed somewhat lackluster at this moment.
「The Luo Family.」
"Brother Jiang, your talent is truly outstanding! Your Martial Arts have progressed again in such a short time," Luo Yu exclaimed, embracing Jiang Shu, unable to hide his admiration.
After stepping into the Detachment Realm, Luo Yu had used numerous resources from the Luo Family to barely stabilize his Realm, only now having the possibility to strive for the Middle Stage. Yet, upon seeing Jiang Shu today, he found Jiang Shu’s spiritual power to be like an ancient, unfathomable pool nestled between mountains.
"Brother Luo, you’re not bad yourself," Jiang Shu replied with a smile. "Is there any confirmation on Tu Yuan’s whereabouts?"
For Martial Artists, their Realm was indeed the most important factor, but Cultivation Techniques, Martial Arts, and even the Treasures one possessed were all key elements in determining the outcome of a battle. If he hadn’t succeeded in Condensing the Holy Embryo on Xuanxing, with his current strength, he probably would have only been able to pass the internal selection. In the true War of a Hundred Dynasties, he would have been reduced to a mere backdrop. But now... everything was possible.
"No. There have been too many Martial Artists entering the Imperial City recently. A Detachment Realm expert trying to conceal their identity isn’t easily detected by our ordinary Luo Family retainers. However, in the current Imperial City, Detachment Realm experts from the Imperial Palace are constantly patrolling every area, precisely to prevent any mishaps. Even if Tu Yuan is ferocious, he can do nothing against us."
"As for after the internal selection, we will directly participate in the War of a Hundred Dynasties. Once we join a Sect, we’ll leap from a carp to a dragon. Even if Tu Yuan is merely in the Detachment Realm, or even if he’s in the Furnace Fire Realm, could he possibly dare to attack our Sect?"
A hint of mockery touched Luo Yu’s lips.
Tu Ling had tried to seize the treasure; he and Jiang Shu joining forces to counter-attack and kill him was perfectly justifiable. No matter how you look at it, he was in the right. Moreover, in the Imperial City, his ’fist’ was bigger than Tu Yuan’s!
「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」
Luo Yu’s elder escorted him and Jiang Shu to the very center of the Imperial City—the Imperial Palace!
Red walls and yellow tiles, intricately carved beams and painted rafters, all resplendent and magnificent. Palaces and pavilions, terraced at various heights, presented a spectacular and majestic sight.
Imperial Palace Guards, all at the Blood Exchange Realm, stood watch at the entrance. Eunuchs of the Acupoint Passage Realm, after a brief identity verification, led the geniuses one by one into a secluded part of the Imperial Palace.
Before them lay a mountain range spanning over three hundred miles, vast enough to block out the sun and sky.
However, unlike ordinary mountain ranges, at the foot of this one, there was an opening about ten meters wide.
"Inside this mountain range, there is a Formation that will activate once we enter," Luo Yu explained softly, as a genius of the Luo Family, he naturally knew the rules of the internal selection earlier than Jiang Shu. "It will create individual virtual passages, each allowing only one person to enter. Within these passages, there will be illusions created from the Essence Blood of Mutant Beasts."
"These illusions will possess more than half the combat strength of the original Mutant Beasts. If one can pass through all the layers of tests, they’ll have a chance to reach the other side of the mountain."
"Of course, defeating the Essence Blood Illusions is merely the first step. This trial primarily tests the raw power of the geniuses. The stronger they are, the faster they can defeat the illusions, exit their passage, and reach the other side of the mountain range."
"On the other side of the mountain range, there will also be such an opening. However, that opening is extremely narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. Therefore, if someone is slow in defeating the illusions earlier, they might later have to compete with other geniuses for a spot to exit the passage."
"The first twenty geniuses to clear the trial will get to participate in the War of a Hundred Dynasties."
This internal selection appeared exceedingly simple. But often, the simpler things are, the more brutal they become. It tested not only the Realm of the geniuses but also their innate combat Talent. After all, if one were to get entangled with the illusions in their passage for too long, depleting significant amounts of Primordial Power and spiritual power, they might be eliminated by other geniuses even if they managed to eventually exit. Unless a genius possessed combat strength that put them leagues ahead of the others, each one had to plan their time meticulously.
Jiang Shu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping around. At this time, fifty geniuses had already gathered in the spacious area.
The most conspicuous among them, dressed in a python robe, appeared to be a Prince from the Imperial Palace.
Even a Prince must participate in the War of a Hundred Dynasties and enter a Sect. It’s conceivable then, just how insignificant the authority of a Dynasty is when faced with the power of the Sects.
"That’s the Seventh Prince," Luo Yu murmured. "He returned from the frontier just a year ago and broke through to the Detachment Realm immediately upon his return to the Imperial Palace. He could be considered the foremost genius within the palace."