Chapter 297: with translation of chapter title

Exactly.

Zhang Jiannan nodded calmly, looking at Gu Han and Gu Chen.

"If I'm not mistaken, you two must be Gu Han and Gu Chen, right?"

The two exchanged a glance and stepped forward together.

"Gu Han, Gu Chen, greetings to the City Lord."

"No need for excessive courtesy!"

Zhang Jiannan's face bore an uncontainable smile,

"This time at court, I too have basked in your glory!"

Upon hearing this, the members of the remaining five great clans were shaken to their cores.

Their eyes filled with disbelief!

They had anticipated that, as sword cultivator and spear cultivator, Gu Han and Gu Chen would surely receive the court's favor.

Even the chance to study at Ben Lang Academy seemed highly possible!

But they never imagined that someone of the City Lord's stature would openly declare, in front of everyone, that he had basked in the glory of the Gu brothers!

It's only natural for the City Lord to receive a few praises after Jiannan Prefecture produced these two heaven-chosen talents.

Such excitement from the City Lord surely isn't just simple praise!

"Today is a great joy for your Gu family, so I won't stand on ceremony—I'll address you by your general titles."

Zhang Jiannan chuckled and waved; the two Heavenly Horse soldiers behind him immediately stepped forward.

Upon the cloud tray they held lay a full set of Earth-grade supreme spiritual artifacts!

The thousands of onlookers all held their breath and stared intently.

Those at the front, seeing over ten Earth-grade supreme spiritual artifacts laid out, were stunned speechless, astonished beyond measure.

Those behind pushed forward, but the crowd was too thick to break through.

After great effort, a few managed to squeeze forward, and upon seeing the radiance, they too were dazed.

Earth-grade supreme spiritual artifacts!

Even an ordinary Martial Venerable would likely struggle to assemble a full set, wouldn't they?

Only the heads of the five great clans, with their clans' resources backing them, could barely manage to gather a set!

Yet when the City Lord arrived, he brought not one but two full sets!

"Besides these protective spiritual artifacts, His Majesty has further rewards for you two!"

Zhang Jiannan clapped his hands, and immediately two more Heavenly Horse soldiers stepped forward.

One held a spear, the other a sword, and they came to a stop before Gu Han and Gu Chen.

"These are Heaven-grade spiritual artifacts: the Golden Tiger Splitting Gall Spear and the Myriad Ren Piercing Void Sword, bestowed by His Majesty as your personal weapons."

Upon hearing the words 'Heaven-grade spiritual artifact,' everyone present held their breath, stunned.

This time, not only the heads of the five great clans, but even City Lord Liao Lun's pupils contracted sharply.

Having attained the position of City Lord, he possesses only two spiritual artifacts that have reached Heaven-grade!

These heaven-chosen talents need only reveal their aptitude, and His Majesty will personally grant them Heaven-grade spiritual artifacts!

Truly, man compares to man and it's infuriating!

Who among those who could achieve Liao Lun's stature and strength wasn't, in youth, a heaven-chosen talent that outshone peers?

But the gap between people can sometimes be wider than that between a person and a pig!

Even among heaven-chosen talents, their tier and that of the Gu brothers are incomparable!

Especially when Liao Lun looked at the Gu brothers and saw their calm, composed expressions, he was momentarily taken aback.

"Truly, heroes emerge from youth!"

A Heaven-grade spiritual artifact plus a full set of Earth-grade supreme spiritual armor.

Put out in the world, even a Martial Venerable would step forward to vie for it.

Yet the two showed no change in expression, utterly unmoved.

As if Heaven-grade spiritual artifacts were nothing special.

How could one not be astonished?

But Liao Lun didn't know that their composure wasn't due to unshakable resolve.

Rather, to them, Heaven-grade spiritual artifacts simply aren't that precious.

Gu Han's Dawn Dragon Roar Spear is a growing-type spiritual artifact, now having reached King-grade!

Even the weapon of the Ben Lang Guo's monarch might not match the Dawn Dragon Roar Spear!

He naturally looks down on the mere Golden Tiger Splitting Gall Spear.

Gu Chen, meanwhile, has not yet set out for the Sword Tomb.

The Azure Feather Sword he now holds is a gift from Gu Han, an Earth-grade supreme spiritual artifact.

Though the Earth-grade supreme Azure Feather Sword falls short of the Myriad Ren Piercing Void Sword,

but once he goes to the Sword Tomb, he will soon obtain a spiritual artifact surpassing the Myriad Ren Piercing Void Sword!

That Myriad Ren Piercing Void Sword is at best merely a transitional piece.

Nevertheless, the two brothers bowed slightly with clasped fists toward City Lord Zhang Jiannan to express their thanks.

"Besides His Majesty's gifts,"

Saying this, Zhang Jiannan paused slightly, raised his hand, and produced two precious jade boxes.

"This is a modest gift I prepared especially for you two, also a celebration of my Jiannan Prefecture producing two heaven-chosen talents."

As Zhang Jiannan gently opened the jade boxes, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out.

"This... is actually Jade Dew Pill?"

A sudden exclamation sounded.

Gu Han had taken out many pills from the treasure box before; initially he didn't pay much attention.

But when he noticed that the person exclaiming was actually City Lord Liao Lun, he immediately became alert.

Jade Dew Pill?

Among the many pills he had taken out from the treasure box, there was no Jade Dew Pill.

For the City Lord to be so surprised, it must be a rare kind of pill, right?

The Five Great Family Heads also initially did not recognize the origin of this pill.

But upon hearing the name Jade Dew Pill, they immediately reacted!

The Li Family Head suppressed his inner shock and subconsciously asked,

"Governor, is this the Jade Dew Pill that can enhance a martial practitioner's aptitude?"

Zhang Jiannan gave a light laugh,

"That's right, it is indeed Jade Dew Pill."

Jade Dew Pill is a special kind of pill.

Depending on the materials used to refine it and the alchemist's skill, it is divided into five grades.

Its effect is to allow a martial practitioner to raise their aptitude by one major realm.

A low-grade Jade Dew Pill can allow an ordinary martial practitioner with average aptitude to possess the talent to advance to Martial Master.

Each increase in the grade of Jade Dew Pill allows a martial practitioner's aptitude to rise by one level.

A second-grade Jade Dew Pill allows someone with average aptitude to break through to Great Martial Master.

Third grade is Martial Sect, fourth grade is Martial Venerable!

And a fifth-grade Jade Dew Pill is merely a legendary existence!

Although there are rumors, no one in this world has actually seen one.

"These two are third-grade Jade Dew Pills; they can allow someone with no martial aptitude at all to break through to Martial Sect!"

Upon hearing Zhang Jiannan's words, everyone was stunned.

Someone with no martial aptitude can actually reach Martial Sect?

Don't look at Gu Han, Gu Chen and the others; their martial cultivation has been smooth sailing.

The heads of the five great families have long since reached the Martial Venerable realm.

Logically speaking, for them Martial Sect is nothing at all.

But whose family doesn't have a few people with average aptitude?

For example, Gu Han practically has endless resources at his disposal.

Just by piling up raw stones, one could easily cultivate two Martial Venerables.

But everyone's cultivation aptitude differs, so stockpiling resources cannot be done without limit.