Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Jiang Chen walked out of the gate of the Gao Mansion, and then Gao Tianâai chased him.
âCousin, that wasnât what I was expecting. Iâm really sorry.â
Jiang Chen had thought that maybe she had played a prank on him, but judging from her expression, it didnât look like it. He said, âSo what were you expecting when you invited me here?â
âGrandpa.â
Gao Tianâai started to cry. From her eyes, a stream of tears fell like a broken necklace of pearls. She said, âGrandpaâs health is failing. I know heâs always been repentant...â
âTianâai!â
The man who had spoken for Jiang Chen appeared at the gate. He shouted sternly at his daughter.
Gao Tianâai had to go back to the Gao Mansion without finishing her words.
The man was staring at Jiang Chen from the gate with a long face. His look was complicated. He let out a sigh after a good while and turned around without saying anything.
Jiang Chen was thinking about Gao Tianâaiâs words.
Itâs impossible. The master of an aristocratic family of inheritance should be able to live for at least hundreds of years. Jiang Chen was confused, but he surely wouldnât go to the Gao Mansion to ask about it.
After having gone back to the Sacred Institute with Whitty, the first thing he did was to inquire about who Fang Yiâs son was.
He didnât have any friends, so he had to resort to Crimson Moon. He had learned lots of information from her.
Crimson Moon was still in the west courtyard. When Jiang Chen went to see her, he saw someone unexpected with her: Yi Qing, the class leader of the superfine class of the west courtyard.
She had a constantly shifting expression as soon as she saw Jiang Chen. It was an expression hard to describe with words.
Crimson Moon knew Jiang Chen had come to see her, so she whispered to Yi Qing.
âWhatâs up?â she came up to Jiang Chen and asked him calmly.
âI want information on a person. Is there a disciple of the Gaos in the Sacred Institute? Heâs in the Reaching Heaven State,â Jiang Chen said.
âYou sound like I have an obligation to tell you.â
âHeâs going to beat me soon,â Jiang Chen said.
Crimson Moon rolled her eyes and said quickly, âItâs probably Gao Yunge. Among the current disciples of the Gaos, heâs the only Reaching Heaven State. He is the class leader of the north courtyard. He was developing his fourth extraordinary meridian when he achieved the Reaching Heaven State.â
Her face was full of surprise. She said, âLiu Wuxin from the east courtyard, Su Li from the south courtyard, Yi Qing from the west courtyard, and now Gao Yunge from the north courtyard, are you digging your own grave?â
âI already know. Gao Yunge is still in the initial phase of the Reaching Heaven State, isnât he?â
It was impossible to enter the state system of the Reaching Heaven State as soon as one made a breakthrough. There was an initial phase before he could formally enter the state system.
For example, Jiang Chen broke through to the Reaching Heaven State from the peak of the middle stage of the Mental Wander State, so he was in the weakest phase of the initial phase.
âThatâs right, but he has developed fourââ
âExtraordinary meridians. I know.â
Crimson Moon sneered at him and said excitedly, âIâm looking forward to the great competition of the four courtyards. I heard that you were accusing Yi Qing of having elbowed you out of the west courtyard. She canât wait to teach you a lesson.â
âYeah?â
Jiang Chen glanced at Yi Qing. He knew it was Liu Wuxin who had spread the rumour.
What a low move.
It didnât matter to him. He had received the information he wanted. He pried due to doubt, âYouâre doing quite well, being a friend of hers, the leader of the superfine class. You must be popular in the west courtyard.â
âYou had the chance, too. Weâre the same. Both of us have mastered the status of being an integral part of nature. Itâs related to the creation of nature and martial arts techniques. Not all geniuses of the Sacred Institute have this kind of wit.â
Jiang Chen nodded. The creation of nature and martial arts techniques was really exceptional. He had already adapted to the benefits it had brought. For those who hadnât achieved it, of course they were very eager for it.
âI guess youâve played a lot of go recently,â Jiang Chen smiled.
âHow did you know?!â
Crimson Moon was surprised. She had been instructing Yi Qing to comprehend the creation of nature and martial arts techniques through playing go.
To return the favor, Yi Qing had been instructing her martial arts techniques and practicing.
âYour creation of nature and martial arts techniques and swordsmanship are perfect. You just need to stop being so arrogant and restrain yourself a little bit to be popular,â Crimson Moon said.
âItâs my character. I canât do anything about it. Thank you for your information.â
Crimson Moon got irritated when she heard his gratitude. She corrected him, âIâll tell you one more time. I wasnât helping you! I want to see you suffer. Thatâs all. Iâm looking forward to the day when youâre sent back. By the way, I have one more thing to tell you.â
âWhat?â
âNews came from the Hall of Heroes. Itâs said outstanding grade winners of this great competition will go to the Time Palace to practice!â
This news was indeed important to Jiang Chen. Although Yi Yuechuan had told him only the best disciples had access to the Time Palace, it would be up to the top management whether it would be open or not.
As Crimson Moon had claimed, she had told him this news not because she wanted to help him. She said to him with a smile, âIf you hadnât broken through to the Reaching Heaven State, your rival would at most be in the Heaven Grade List. It wouldnât be too difficult for you to win. What a pity.â
âYour Highness, do you want me to spend the rest of my life regretting it?â Jiang Chen found it funny.
âWeâre enemies!â Crimson Moon admitted. She thought it was natural for her to think this way.
âAll right. But princess, youâll find one day that you were actually helping me by telling me this information.â
Then he left the west courtyard.
âWhat did he say?â Yi Qing came up to Crimson Moon and asked due to curiosity.
âBullsh*t. A lot of bullsh*t.â Crimson Moon didnât bother to talk about it.
Jiang Chen had broken through to the Reaching Heaven State, so naturally, his opponents would be Reaching Heaven States, too.
He hadnât developed any of his extraordinary meridians. How would he be able to confront the disciples of the Sacred Institute?
Yet he kept putting on airs, as if he were the only clear-minded person in the world. Crimson Moon was fed up with his way of acting, so she really hoped someone would give him a beating in the great competition to wake him up.
However, in the bottom of her heart, she felt a twinge.
Jiang Chen had surprised the world many times with his confidence. Would the same thing happen this time?
âNo. Itâs impossible! He didnât develop his extraordinary meridians. Thatâs his weakness. He went against the rule countless ancestors proved to be true. This time, there wonât be any miracle,â Crimson Moon thought to herself.
âIâm really curious what those people will think if they see my extraordinary meridians develop after I achieved the Reaching Heaven State,â Jiang Chen was thinking on his way back, beaming. The disciples that passed by him didnât understand why he was so happy.
Suddenly, he heard Whittyâs voice. He smiled and said, âDonât worry. Iâm sure Iâll win. By the way, have you memorized what I taught you?â
âHeâs crazy.â
The disciples of the Sacred Institute pretended that they were passing by him, but in fact they were eavesdropping on him. They were surprised to see him talking with a mount.
But then they found it normal when they recalled what had happened to him.
âHe must have realized what he missed and he canât handle that blow!â
âWhat a pity. Iâm sorry for him.â
âChickens come home to roost. If he werenât so arrogant, things would be different now.â
The news regarding Jiang Chenâs madness spread throughout the four courtyards like the wind. Many people were discussing it.
At the same time, the great competition of the four courtyards was getting closer and closer.
The Sacred Institute would hold such competitions every few months to motivate their disciples. This time, with the reward of access to the Time Palace, all the disciples were trying their best to show their skill on the day of the competition.