Chapter 838

"You have plenty of spirit, and a fair bit of skill, too."

"Just as you said, although your cultivation is shallow, since His Majesty has designated you, no one in this world can object, and the Net will certainly follow your orders."

"But whether you can make them truly submit—that depends on your own methods."

Having said this, Zhang Han turned around and tossed a token to Chen Pingping.

"This is my personal token. With it in hand, the Net will show me some face."

"Though the Net and the Black Ice Terrace belong to different branches, cooperation is inevitable. If you have matters in the future, you may come to find me."

Chen Pingping held the token with a smile.

"Many thanks, General Zhang Han."

"You should be thanking His Majesty!"

697. Fan Xian: Sword Saint Ge Nie?

A moment later, Zhang Han led the Imperial Guards and vanished without a trace.

The thick, oppressive killing intent also dissipated, allowing Fan Jian and the others to quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

Wu Zhu remained silent for a long time before speaking softly:

"That squad of Imperial Guards just now—the weakest among them were at the peak of the Ninth Grade. The strongest were at the peak of the Grandmaster realm. There were about sixty Grandmasters in total."

"With such a number of Grandmasters, plus that General whose cultivation I couldn't even discern, yet whose every movement shifted the celestial phenomena—these hundred-plus people are enough to suppress the entire world."

"There is no need for a massive army to mobilize."

Having said this, Wu Zhu looked at Fan Xian.

"Is this what you called the Black Ice Terrace?"

Just as Fan Xian was about to answer, a voice sounded silently beside everyone's ears.

"That was not the Black Ice Terrace; it was merely the Imperial Palace's guard unit. Besides overseeing the Black Ice Terrace, General Zhang Han is also a battle-hardened general."

"Father trusts him, so he holds the concurrent position of Commander of the Imperial Guards."

"The number of Imperial Guards in the palace is roughly ten thousand. The minimum requirement for entry is the late stage of Innate, which is likely what you call the peak of the Ninth Grade."

Everyone turned their heads toward the sound, and a handsome, elegant youth with an overflowing scholarly aura came into view.

Behind him followed a swordsman with an indifferent expression.

The youth smiled and bowed to the group.

"A first meeting. Welcome to Great Jean. General Zhang Han was not trying to intimidate you just now. He holds many posts, and he has requested to resign from his position in the Net many times."

"He hopes someone can take over the Net from him, but since you have just arrived, your strength is..."

"General Zhang Han was merely expressing some concern from the perspective of Great Jean. However, since Mr. Chen Pingping was able to accept the General's token, he has already acknowledged you."

"However, in terms of strength, Mr. Chen Pingping still needs to improve significantly. The assassins of the Net—though I hate to say it—are indeed arrogant."

"If you want to suppress them, you must at least not be weaker than them."

The youth paused, then smiled again:

"Apologies, Father has been away for a long time, and I was a bit too excited. I forgot to introduce myself."

"I am Fusu, the Eldest Imperial Prince of Great Jean. I am currently overseeing the state on Father's behalf, as none of my brothers or sisters are willing to take up the treasures of Great Jean, preferring to focus solely on cultivation."

"So, I took the liberty of becoming the current Crown Prince."

Everyone was suddenly enlightened and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Fusu gave a wry smile and said helplessly:

"If possible, I would prefer the title of Eldest Imperial Prince. Regardless, everyone, please do not be so formal. This is not the imperial court; there is no need for such tedious etiquette."

Fan Xian and the other young people quietly observed Fusu. They saw that he was gentle and refined, with a temperament as warm as jade; anyone could see he was a gentleman.

Compared to the many Imperial Princes of Southern Qing, the Eldest Imperial Prince Fusu appeared much more sincere.

"I was originally going to pay my respects to Father first, but since General Zhang Han has issued an order for court, it must involve you all. Come with me."

"On the way, I will also teach you some of the rules of the Great Jean court."

Fan Xian hurriedly said with a grin:

"Then many thanks, Your Highness. By the way, Your Highness, who is this..."

Hearing this, everyone subconsciously looked at the person behind Fusu.

Fusu smiled and said softly:

"This is the Sword Saint of Great Jean, Ge Nie, a descendant of the School of Diplomacy, and also the sword teacher to Father and myself. He is a disciple of Master Guiguzi."

"Sword Saint Ge Nie!"

Fan Xian's eyes grew even more fervent.

"The School of Diplomacy—it is rumored that during the era of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when nations were at war, the School of Diplomacy already had a name that shook the world."

"When they are angry, the feudal lords tremble; when they are at rest, the world is at peace."

"Sword Saint Ge Nie has inherited the Vertical Sword Art of the School of Diplomacy, the 'Hundred-Step Flying Sword,' said to leave no one alive within a hundred paces."

"Seeing you today, Master Ge Nie truly has an unparalleled demeanor."

Everyone looked at Ge Nie with some shock. The latter raised his eyes and glanced at Fan Xian.

In an instant, an overwhelming sword intent enveloped everyone. If General Zhang Han's aura from before was like a surging, turbulent sea...

Then Ge Nie's...

...was like the bottomless abyss of the ocean, devoid of light and sound.

Had Ge Nie not withdrawn his gaze, it is feared that many would have sunk into the ravages of his sword intent right then and there.

698. Chi You? Great Jean still has Chi You?

After the pleasantries, Fusu led everyone toward the imperial court.

Shadow and the others could only follow silently behind them, though the looks they cast toward Ge Nie from time to time were filled with a fanaticism as if they were seeing a god.

Only those who practiced the Dao of the Sword could understand what level of figure Ge Nie was.

The sword intent revealed in that one glance was already invincible in the world.

If one could comprehend even a fraction of it, transcending the Grandmaster realm would likely be effortless.

Fan Xian, however, was quick to get familiar. Before long, he sidled up to Ge Nie and said excitedly:

"Master Ge Nie, I have long admired your name. May I ask what your cultivation level is now?"

Ge Nie did not answer; he did not like to speak.

Fusu, standing to the side, smiled:

"Master Ge Nie just broke through to the Earthly Immortal realm a few days ago. He has not yet fully stabilized his realm, and his aura is unstable. If you were impacted, please forgive him."

"Master Ge Nie was originally guarding the fierce beasts of West Lake with Master Guiguzi and Master Wei Zhuang, but because he broke through, they returned to Xianyang temporarily to rest."

"However, since Father has rarely returned today, all the court officials and members of the Hundred Schools of Thought will certainly return to pay their respects."

As he spoke, Fusu looked back at the horizon. Just then, a streak of light flew past, and Fusu pointed at it with a smile.

"Look, they are coming."

Everyone looked back, somewhat shocked:

"Flying back? Could it be that these are also cultivators?"

"That is not quite the case."

Fusu shook his head.

"Cultivators are still only those recognized by Father, as well as the Imperial Family of Great Jean."

"Those are all above the Celestial Phenomenon Grandmaster level. Upon reaching the Celestial Phenomenon Grandmaster level, one can fly briefly. Earthly Immortals can traverse the void at will, and can even ascend to the cosmos."

"As for Shattering the Void... I am not very clear on that either. Great Jean currently does not have many beings who have shattered the void."

Fan Xian nodded thoughtfully.

"Doesn't that mean Master Ge Nie is considered one of the top experts in Great Jean?"

Before Fusu could answer, Ge Nie denied it.

"No, I wouldn't even make it into the top twenty."

"Uh... how can that be? Master Ge Nie has already reached the Earthly Immortal realm."

Fan Xian was dumbfounded, and Fusu smiled:

"This matter is a secret of Great Jean. However, since you were brought back by Father, you must have gained his trust, so telling you is no harm. The strongest experts of the Hundred Schools of Thought are basically all at the Shattering the Void level, or at the very least, Half-Step Shattering."

"There are also quite a few Earthly Immortals."