Chapter 478: Constitution

Ever since he made contact with Wang Ji,

Cheng Feng and Wang Ji have rarely interacted.

After all, since he has to listen to Wang Ji and go to the Great Zhou Martial Arts Tournament together, he really ought to understand the situation better.

If he wants to ask for anything more, he fears he'll be done for.

Originally, Cheng Feng felt that was not a place a grassroots Martial Artist like him could go.

But he also couldn't figure it out: why would Wang Ji choose him?

To say she has taken a fancy to him, that is likely impossible.

Deep down, Cheng Feng has also had fantasies of the "domineering Wang Ji falling in love with me."

But he has quite a few Concubines, is greedy for beauty, and his children are almost old enough to run errands.

What is Wang Ji after?

Being after his wealth is even more impossible; could he possibly be wealthier than Wang Ji??

He is likely overthinking it.

As Wang Ji summoned him multiple times, Cheng Feng simply decided to open up.

Otherwise, keeping it hidden in his heart would always be unsettling.

During Wang Ji's third summons, Cheng Feng finally could not hold back.

In the warm pavilion filled with the fragrance of tea, he set down his teacup and simply laid his cards on the table: "Your Highness, I, Cheng Feng, know exactly how much I'm worth.

My children are almost old enough to run errands; I am a vulgar man, greedy for wealth and lust.

You are surrounded by experts; since you want me to accompany you to the Martial Arts Tournament, what exactly are you after from me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold aura flashed and vanished from behind the screen behind him—that was a warning.

Wang Ji, however, smiled and spoke bluntly: "Cheng Feng, do you have some kind of special constitution?"

Cheng Feng's heart skipped a beat. So it was for his Flood Dragon Body.

There was nothing he couldn't say about that; the key was what he could get in exchange.

He was currently lacking a technique that could lead directly to the Gang Qi Realm, and the person before him was the only noble he could reach who held a higher status than the Pacification Office Yamen.

Thoughts raced through his mind, but his face showed a perfectly measured bitter smile: "So that is why Your Highness asked. As for this constitution of mine..."

He paused, looking straight at Wang Ji, "I don't know if it counts. I was born in the countryside and my knowledge cannot compare to Your Highness; as of now, I have only gained a little insight into Body Tempering Techniques, making Your Highness laugh."

The warm pavilion fell silent.

Wang Ji looked at this brazen man, a flash of appreciation in her eyes. Talking to a smart person is effortless; there is no need for concealment.

Wang Ji picked up her teacup but did not drink; she only used the lid to gently brush aside the foam, looking at Cheng Feng with a half-smile.

"You don't know if it counts?" She set the teacup back on the table with a soft click, "Cheng Feng, you rose from humble beginnings to where you are today; is it not because of this constitution? Do you have no idea yourself?"

Cheng Feng gave a dry laugh and did not respond.

Wang Ji did not mind and continued on her own: "Among the Martial Artists of this world, those who can reach the peak of the Martial Dao are either born with extraordinary talent or have heaven-defying luck. The concept of constitutions has been recorded since ancient times, and there are merely two types."

She held up a finger: "The first type is the innate constitution. Through a stroke of luck, born of heaven and earth, such people are one in ten thousand. They are born a cut above others; when practicing the same tier of techniques, their combat power can be more than thirty percent higher."

"The second type is the inherited constitution, where one's ancestors were outstanding, leaving a trace in the bloodline that awakens across generations."

Cheng Feng subconsciously touched his nose.

His ancestors were poor farmers for eight generations; going back three generations, there wasn't even a Martial Apprentice, so it clearly had nothing to do with that.

He relied entirely on the Panmian.

Hmm, he couldn't say that.

"The third type," Wang Ji held up another finger, "is acquired opportunity. Either by consuming a Heavenly Treasure or by practicing some special Body Tempering Technique, one forcibly grinds a Mortal Body into a precious body.

Although this type of constitution is acquired, its foundation is often more solid than an innate one because it was polished through one's own hard work."

Her gaze landed on Cheng Feng, meaningful: "As far as I know, you went from a Martial Arts Hall Martial Artist to the Hong Sect Leader in Qingxi County,

and during that time there was a major change. According to what I have learned, you encountered a giant python that was traveling the river and about to transform into a flood dragon; after devouring its flesh and blood, that should be when the change occurred."

"So she has investigated me!!!"

"But it seems she doesn't know about the flower blooming and fading."

Cheng Feng's heart was in turmoil, but on the surface, he only picked up his teacup and took a large gulp to hide the shock in his eyes.

"Since Your Highness even knows this, I have nothing left to hide." He smacked his lips and simply admitted it,

"That time was indeed a brush with death; I almost became a snack for that giant python.

After swallowing its flesh and blood, my whole body felt like it had been burned by fire; I almost died from the pain.

Later, when I recovered, I found that my Body Tempering Technique had progressed by leaps and bounds, as if I had eaten an Immortal pill."

He paused, but still couldn't help asking: "But Your Highness, what does this have to do with me accompanying you to the Great Zhou Martial Arts Tournament? With my meager strength, I fear I wouldn't even be able to stir up a ripple in your eyes."

Wang Ji did not answer immediately.

She was silent for a moment; in the warm pavilion, only the crackling of the charcoal fire remained.

Cheng Feng noticed that Wang Ji's fingers were gently rubbing the edge of her teacup, as if she were weighing something. Given her status, the things that would make her weigh her words were likely not trivial.

"The Great Zhou Martial Arts Tournament," Wang Ji finally spoke, her voice a few degrees lower than before, "is ostensibly a grand event for Martial Artists of the world to compete for rankings, but the true core lies in seeking the Immortal."

"Seeking the Immortal?" Cheng Feng frowned. He had never heard this term.

"It is said that at the founding of the Great Zhou, the first generation Great Zhou Emperor was once a disciple of an Immortal. Later, he performed great deeds and was rewarded with a fiefdom to establish a nation, with the time of the reward being a millennium. Now, the time limit is almost up, so the Great Zhou has internal troubles and difficulties; there are people who want to replace them."

"And if they want to continue, they need to keep performing meritorious deeds. Becoming a disciple of an Immortal Sect can extend the time for the Great Zhou; even if it is just a hundred years, that is still good."

Cheng Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely guessed something.

Wang Ji looked at him and said word by word: "Therefore, the Great Zhou has been searching for geniuses and cultivating Martial Artists; that is one aspect. But Martial Artists with great destiny and great opportunity are even harder to find.

And you, an 18-year-old Organ Refining Mid-stage Martial Artist, apart from those geniuses in the Great Zhou's major sects who have been raised with massive resources since childhood,

given your resources and your aptitude, you can almost be called top-tier."

The warm chamber was so quiet that the fall of a needle could be heard.

Cheng Feng's mind raced. If he still didn't understand after things had been put this way, he would have wasted all these years in vain.

Wang Ji was not consulting him; she was telling him—you are useful, which is why I sought you out. This actually made him heave a sigh of relief.

A useful chess piece lives longer than a useless discarded one; he understood this principle.

"So, Your Highness needs my aptitude?" Cheng Feng set down his teacup, crossed his hands, and rested them on his knees, turning serious for once. "Then let's speak plainly. I can risk my life for you, but Your Highness must at least provide a meal."

"What do you want?"

"A cultivation technique." Cheng Feng did not hesitate, his gaze burning as he stared at Wang Ji. "A technique that can allow me to step into the Gang Qi Realm. I won't hide it from Your Highness, I have been stuck at the Organ Refining realm for a long time; without a superior technique, continuing further is a dead end. The resources at the Pacification Office are also limited."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Wang Ji's mouth curved slightly, carrying a hint of expectation.

"You certainly dare to ask. A superior technique that leads directly to the Gang Qi Realm could bankrupt a small noble family if put on the market, yet you ask me for it with such empty words?"

"Your Highness just said it yourself, I come from a humble background and have nothing of value to offer."

Cheng Feng spread his hands, his roguish nature surfacing again. "Only this life of mine is worth a little something. If Your Highness feels it's not a good deal, then let's pretend today's conversation never happened."

Watching his thick-skinned demeanor, Wang Ji was not angry; instead, she picked up her teacup and took a genuine sip.

She had seen too many people tremble before her, not daring to say an extra word; it was precisely Cheng Feng's audacity to bargain with her that she found refreshing.

The point was, Cheng Feng's special constitution was indeed quite valuable.

"I can give you the technique." Wang Ji set down her teacup, her tone shifting. "But not now."

Cheng Feng frowned.

"I must first test your constitution."