Chapter 146: You Are the Myth in My Heart
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Chapter 146: You Are the Myth in My Heart
As Ning Xiaochuan stepped out of the Law Enforcement Hall, he saw Zhang Linshan lying on the ground in a pitiful state.
Zhang Linshan had only half his body left—his legs had been severed at the knees, leaving him drastically shorter. His lower body was drenched in blood, his robes soaked crimson.
Ning Xiaochuan walked up to Zhang Linshan and slowly crouched down. "Do you know why you ended up crippled while I remain unharmed?"
Zhang Linshan clenched his robes tightly, hatred burning in his heart as he gritted his teeth. "Why?"
"Because you failed to see the bigger picture. Did you really think the Cloud Marquis ordered my death just because I killed Yao Jindao? Or simply to prevent the marriage alliance between the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and the Golden Roc Prince's Manor?" Ning Xiaochuan said.
Zhang Linshan stared fixedly at him.
Ning Xiaochuan continued, "This is a struggle between two political powers. Both you and I are merely pawns in the hands of the decision-makers. The only difference is that I am a more valuable pawn, so I remain unharmed, while you became the sacrifice."
Ning Xiaochuan refused to remain a pawn. His only path was to cultivate diligently, grow stronger, and become one of the decision-makers himself.
"Ning Xiaochuan, don’t get too smug. I won’t let you off. Sooner or later, I’ll make sure you die!" Zhang Linshan’s murderous gaze bore into him.
"I’ll be waiting."
Ning Xiaochuan gently patted Zhang Linshan’s arm, silently implanting a strand of Annihilation Sword Qi into his body.
It was a subtle strand, hidden within his meridians.
An enemy like Zhang Linshan, even without legs, was still a threat.
Ning Xiaochuan had to eliminate him—root and branch. With the Annihilation Sword Qi embedded in his body, it would gradually erode his meridians. Within three months at most, Zhang Linshan would die as the sword qi shredded his entire meridian system.
Of course, Zhang Linshan remained unaware of the lethal sword qi now coursing through him, still plotting his revenge against Ning Xiaochuan.
Just then, Ning Xiaochuan saw the Spiritual Void Venerable emerge from the Law Enforcement Hall. He moved to thank her—Ning Xiaochuan always repaid kindness and vengeance in equal measure.
"Whoosh!"
The Spiritual Void Venerable didn’t even glance at him. Her speed was astonishing as she swept past him in an instant. By the time Ning Xiaochuan tried to pursue her, she had already vanished from the ancient street, reappearing in Emperor's City.
With another step, she disappeared into the towering mountains of the Emperor's Ruins.
It was a speed beyond human comprehension.
"So fast!" Ning Xiaochuan exclaimed.
The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy gazed toward the outskirts of Emperor's City. "She’s already 50 kilometers away... 60 kilometers... 75 kilometers... 150 kilometers..."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Is she really that fast? Even a Martial Venerable couldn’t match that speed."
The Deputy Headmaster replied, "A Martial Venerable is far slower than her because she wields the power of Time and Space. Your grandfather once said that you possess the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace, which means your potential is no less than hers. Perhaps you’ll meet again in the future."
"You know my grandfather?" Ning Xiaochuan was surprised.
The Deputy Headmaster said gravely, "Let’s return to Furnace Mountain first."
Ning Xiaochuan, Ning Xin'er, and Murong Wushuang all followed the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy back to Furnace Mountain, returning once more to the academy's halls.
The Deputy Headmaster met privately with Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Xin'er, saying, "To put it plainly, that old fellow Jian Pavilion Marquis and I are life-and-death friends. Fifty years ago, I even served as the Chief Heart Nurturer of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. After helping the house cultivate a group of Heart Nurturer disciples, I came to the Emperor's Ruins to teach and later became the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy."
"Ning Xiaochuan, when you first entered the Emperor's Ruins, your grandfather sent me a message asking me to look after you. That old man cares about you more than just a little."
Ning Xiaochuan, sharp-minded, suddenly understood. "I see. In previous Opening Battles, the Deputy Headmaster never personally attended, yet this time, you went."
The Deputy Headmaster laughed heartily. "Exactly! After receiving your grandfather's letter, I rushed over immediately, even neglecting the Intermediate Elixir I was refining. Fortunately, you didn’t disappoint me—your talent surpasses even what your grandfather boasted in his letter."
His expression then turned grave. "Your grandfather mentioned in his letter that the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is currently plagued by internal strife and external threats, with fierce factional conflicts. A significant portion of the house’s influence in the Emperor's Ruins is no longer under his control, and they may secretly attempt to kill you. So, until you pass the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge, it’s best not to venture into Emperor's City lightly."
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Why would passing the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge remove these concerns?"
"Because once you pass the seventh layer, you can freely enter and leave the Emperor's Ruins."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "But isn’t it said that once the Heavenly Gate closes, new students must remain in the Emperor's Ruins for five years before leaving?"
"That applies to ordinary students, because even if they spend five years, they’d never pass the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge. But I believe in you—you won’t need five years to achieve it." The Deputy Headmaster spoke with full confidence.
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "So that’s how it is."
The Deputy Headmaster smiled. "Which group of students have you seen the most in the Emperor's Ruins?"
"The first, second, and some third-year students. I haven’t seen any fourth-year students," Ning Xiaochuan replied.
The Deputy Headmaster nodded. "Because the vast majority of them have already passed the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Some have joined the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion; others have gone outside the Emperor's Ruins on missions; some have entered the military to lead troops in battle. And of course, some remain in the Emperor's Martial Palace, recruiting students and forming alliances to firmly control the academy’s disciples."
Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "That’s exactly what the Cloud Marquis and Yue Wuyang are doing, right?"
"Otherwise, why do you think the Cloud Marquis House has grown so powerful in just ten years? It’s because Yue Wuyang has a firm grip on the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace—this new generation of strength." Yu Qianqian walked in from outside, bowing respectfully to the Deputy Headmaster.
Ning Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes. "All the major marquis houses should understand the importance of the Emperor's Martial Palace. They should know that whoever controls the young talents controls the future. So why have they stood by and let Yue Wuyang seize this power?"
Yu Qianqian pondered for a moment before speaking, "There are three reasons. First, this power isn’t truly in Yue Wuyang’s hands. Yue Wuyang is merely a sharp blade wielded by the Jade Emperor. The one who truly controls the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace is the Jade Emperor."
Ning Xiaochuan fully agreed with this point. Without the Jade Emperor’s backing, Yue Wuyang could never possess such immense influence.
Yu Qianqian asked, "Do you know what the two most powerful military forces in the Yulan Empire are?"
"The Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion."
Yu Qianqian nodded. "Then do you know where these two forces are stationed?"
Ning Xiaochuan replied, "That’s a closely guarded secret of the Yulan Empire, the most mysterious aspect of these forces. No one knows where their camps are located… Wait—could it be that both the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion are stationed in the Emperor's Ruins?"
Yu Qianqian nodded again. "Exactly. That’s the second reason. Both the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion are firmly under the Jade Emperor’s control, and they are both garrisoned in the Emperor's Ruins. With the deterrence of these two terrifying forces, it’s no difficult task for the Jade Emperor to let Yue Wuyang dominate the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace."
"And the third reason?"
Yu Qianqian fell silent for a moment before continuing, "The third reason is that Yue Wuyang’s talent is truly extraordinary. He reached the Earthly Venerable Realm at the age of 26 and was conferred the title of Martial Venerable, becoming the youngest Martial Venerable in the Yulan Empire—and the youngest in the history of the Emperor's Martial Palace."
"He is a living myth in the eyes of all the students there. Almost every young martial artist who comes to apply to the Emperor's Martial Palace sees him as their spiritual idol, their object of worship."
"So, once these martial artists are admitted, they scramble to join the Cloud Alliance. With such a mythical idol in place, isn’t it effortless for Yue Wuyang to keep the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace under his thumb?"
Ning Xiaochuan could well understand Yu Qianqian’s words, as he had encountered many martial artists who idolized Yue Wuyang—those who practically regarded him as a god.
Yu Qianqian’s gaze fixed on Ning Xiaochuan, her eyes cool and piercing. "Xiaochuan, I need your help."
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "What can I do for you?"
Yu Qianqian replied, "I came to the Emperor's Ruins under my father’s orders to disrupt the current power structure of the Emperor's Martial Palace and reclaim control over it. To achieve this, we must first shatter the myth Yue Wuyang has created—only then can we crush the Cloud Alliance in one fell swoop. And the best way to break a myth is to create another one."
Ning Xiaochuan said calmly, "You think I have the potential to become a myth?"
Yu Qianqian nodded. "You’ve always been a myth in my heart."
As soon as the words left her lips, a faint blush spread across her cheeks, and she quickly added with a hint of shyness, "What I mean is, you’re definitely more outstanding than Yue Wuyang. You can lend me a hand, right?"
Ning Xiaochuan gave her a deep look. "This is what I owe you."
A knowing smile appeared on Yu Qianqian’s face.
Shattering Yue Wuyang’s myth would be no easy task. At the very least, Ning Xiaochuan wasn’t confident he could become a Martial Venerable by the age of 26.
However, Ning Xiaochuan was determined to work hard and give his utmost effort with the greatest diligence. He would cultivate diligently. Although he had lost the opportunity to train in the Heavenly Palace for five days, Ning Xiaochuan did not feel the slightest regret, for he believed there were still other ways to quickly improve his cultivation.
As Ning Xiaochuan stepped out of the Law Enforcement Hall, he saw Zhang Linshan lying on the ground in a pitiful state.
Zhang Linshan had only half his body left—his legs had been severed at the knees, leaving him drastically shorter. His lower body was drenched in blood, his robes soaked crimson.
Ning Xiaochuan walked up to Zhang Linshan and slowly crouched down. "Do you know why you ended up crippled while I remain unharmed?"
Zhang Linshan clenched his robes tightly, hatred burning in his heart as he gritted his teeth. "Why?"
"Because you failed to see the bigger picture. Did you really think the Cloud Marquis ordered my death just because I killed Yao Jindao? Or simply to prevent the marriage alliance between the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and the Golden Roc Prince's Manor?" Ning Xiaochuan said.
Zhang Linshan stared fixedly at him.
Ning Xiaochuan continued, "This is a struggle between two political powers. Both you and I are merely pawns in the hands of the decision-makers. The only difference is that I am a more valuable pawn, so I remain unharmed, while you became the sacrifice."
Ning Xiaochuan refused to remain a pawn. His only path was to cultivate diligently, grow stronger, and become one of the decision-makers himself.
"Ning Xiaochuan, don’t get too smug. I won’t let you off. Sooner or later, I’ll make sure you die!" Zhang Linshan’s murderous gaze bore into him.
"I’ll be waiting."
Ning Xiaochuan gently patted Zhang Linshan’s arm, silently implanting a strand of Annihilation Sword Qi into his body.
It was a subtle strand, hidden within his meridians.
An enemy like Zhang Linshan, even without legs, was still a threat.
Ning Xiaochuan had to eliminate him—root and branch. With the Annihilation Sword Qi embedded in his body, it would gradually erode his meridians. Within three months at most, Zhang Linshan would die as the sword qi shredded his entire meridian system.
Of course, Zhang Linshan remained unaware of the lethal sword qi now coursing through him, still plotting his revenge against Ning Xiaochuan.
Just then, Ning Xiaochuan saw the Spiritual Void Venerable emerge from the Law Enforcement Hall. He moved to thank her—Ning Xiaochuan always repaid kindness and vengeance in equal measure.
"Whoosh!"
The Spiritual Void Venerable didn’t even glance at him. Her speed was astonishing as she swept past him in an instant. By the time Ning Xiaochuan tried to pursue her, she had already vanished from the ancient street, reappearing in Emperor's City.
With another step, she disappeared into the towering mountains of the Emperor's Ruins.
It was a speed beyond human comprehension.
"So fast!" Ning Xiaochuan exclaimed.
The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy gazed toward the outskirts of Emperor's City. "She’s already 50 kilometers away... 60 kilometers... 75 kilometers... 150 kilometers..."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Is she really that fast? Even a Martial Venerable couldn’t match that speed."
The Deputy Headmaster replied, "A Martial Venerable is far slower than her because she wields the power of Time and Space. Your grandfather once said that you possess the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace, which means your potential is no less than hers. Perhaps you’ll meet again in the future."
"You know my grandfather?" Ning Xiaochuan was surprised.
The Deputy Headmaster said gravely, "Let’s return to Furnace Mountain first."
Ning Xiaochuan, Ning Xin'er, and Murong Wushuang all followed the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy back to Furnace Mountain, returning once more to the academy's halls.
The Deputy Headmaster met privately with Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Xin'er, saying, "To put it plainly, that old fellow Jian Pavilion Marquis and I are life-and-death friends. Fifty years ago, I even served as the Chief Heart Nurturer of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. After helping the house cultivate a group of Heart Nurturer disciples, I came to the Emperor's Ruins to teach and later became the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy."
"Ning Xiaochuan, when you first entered the Emperor's Ruins, your grandfather sent me a message asking me to look after you. That old man cares about you more than just a little."
Ning Xiaochuan, sharp-minded, suddenly understood. "I see. In previous Opening Battles, the Deputy Headmaster never personally attended, yet this time, you went."
The Deputy Headmaster laughed heartily. "Exactly! After receiving your grandfather's letter, I rushed over immediately, even neglecting the Intermediate Elixir I was refining. Fortunately, you didn’t disappoint me—your talent surpasses even what your grandfather boasted in his letter."
His expression then turned grave. "Your grandfather mentioned in his letter that the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is currently plagued by internal strife and external threats, with fierce factional conflicts. A significant portion of the house’s influence in the Emperor's Ruins is no longer under his control, and they may secretly attempt to kill you. So, until you pass the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge, it’s best not to venture into Emperor's City lightly."
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Why would passing the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge remove these concerns?"
"Because once you pass the seventh layer, you can freely enter and leave the Emperor's Ruins."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "But isn’t it said that once the Heavenly Gate closes, new students must remain in the Emperor's Ruins for five years before leaving?"
"That applies to ordinary students, because even if they spend five years, they’d never pass the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge. But I believe in you—you won’t need five years to achieve it." The Deputy Headmaster spoke with full confidence.
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "So that’s how it is."
The Deputy Headmaster smiled. "Which group of students have you seen the most in the Emperor's Ruins?"
"The first, second, and some third-year students. I haven’t seen any fourth-year students," Ning Xiaochuan replied.
The Deputy Headmaster nodded. "Because the vast majority of them have already passed the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Some have joined the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion; others have gone outside the Emperor's Ruins on missions; some have entered the military to lead troops in battle. And of course, some remain in the Emperor's Martial Palace, recruiting students and forming alliances to firmly control the academy’s disciples."
Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "That’s exactly what the Cloud Marquis and Yue Wuyang are doing, right?"
"Otherwise, why do you think the Cloud Marquis House has grown so powerful in just ten years? It’s because Yue Wuyang has a firm grip on the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace—this new generation of strength." Yu Qianqian walked in from outside, bowing respectfully to the Deputy Headmaster.
Ning Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes. "All the major marquis houses should understand the importance of the Emperor's Martial Palace. They should know that whoever controls the young talents controls the future. So why have they stood by and let Yue Wuyang seize this power?"
Yu Qianqian pondered for a moment before speaking, "There are three reasons. First, this power isn’t truly in Yue Wuyang’s hands. Yue Wuyang is merely a sharp blade wielded by the Jade Emperor. The one who truly controls the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace is the Jade Emperor."
Ning Xiaochuan fully agreed with this point. Without the Jade Emperor’s backing, Yue Wuyang could never possess such immense influence.
Yu Qianqian asked, "Do you know what the two most powerful military forces in the Yulan Empire are?"
"The Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion."
Yu Qianqian nodded. "Then do you know where these two forces are stationed?"
Ning Xiaochuan replied, "That’s a closely guarded secret of the Yulan Empire, the most mysterious aspect of these forces. No one knows where their camps are located… Wait—could it be that both the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion are stationed in the Emperor's Ruins?"
Yu Qianqian nodded again. "Exactly. That’s the second reason. Both the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and the Dragon Warriors Battalion are firmly under the Jade Emperor’s control, and they are both garrisoned in the Emperor's Ruins. With the deterrence of these two terrifying forces, it’s no difficult task for the Jade Emperor to let Yue Wuyang dominate the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace."
"And the third reason?"
Yu Qianqian fell silent for a moment before continuing, "The third reason is that Yue Wuyang’s talent is truly extraordinary. He reached the Earthly Venerable Realm at the age of 26 and was conferred the title of Martial Venerable, becoming the youngest Martial Venerable in the Yulan Empire—and the youngest in the history of the Emperor's Martial Palace."
"He is a living myth in the eyes of all the students there. Almost every young martial artist who comes to apply to the Emperor's Martial Palace sees him as their spiritual idol, their object of worship."
"So, once these martial artists are admitted, they scramble to join the Cloud Alliance. With such a mythical idol in place, isn’t it effortless for Yue Wuyang to keep the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace under his thumb?"
Ning Xiaochuan could well understand Yu Qianqian’s words, as he had encountered many martial artists who idolized Yue Wuyang—those who practically regarded him as a god.
Yu Qianqian’s gaze fixed on Ning Xiaochuan, her eyes cool and piercing. "Xiaochuan, I need your help."
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "What can I do for you?"
Yu Qianqian replied, "I came to the Emperor's Ruins under my father’s orders to disrupt the current power structure of the Emperor's Martial Palace and reclaim control over it. To achieve this, we must first shatter the myth Yue Wuyang has created—only then can we crush the Cloud Alliance in one fell swoop. And the best way to break a myth is to create another one."
Ning Xiaochuan said calmly, "You think I have the potential to become a myth?"
Yu Qianqian nodded. "You’ve always been a myth in my heart."
As soon as the words left her lips, a faint blush spread across her cheeks, and she quickly added with a hint of shyness, "What I mean is, you’re definitely more outstanding than Yue Wuyang. You can lend me a hand, right?"
Ning Xiaochuan gave her a deep look. "This is what I owe you."
A knowing smile appeared on Yu Qianqian’s face.
Shattering Yue Wuyang’s myth would be no easy task. At the very least, Ning Xiaochuan wasn’t confident he could become a Martial Venerable by the age of 26.
However, Ning Xiaochuan was determined to work hard and give his utmost effort with the greatest diligence. He would cultivate diligently. Although he had lost the opportunity to train in the Heavenly Palace for five days, Ning Xiaochuan did not feel the slightest regret, for he believed there were still other ways to quickly improve his cultivation.
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