Chapter 667 - 152: Duel of Twin Prodigies, Moonlit Pact
Chapter 667: Chapter 152: Duel of Twin Prodigies, Moonlit Pact
Under the moonlight.
Lin Chen and Pei Qingming were alone in the courtyard, with no one disturbing them.
Their figures elongated under the moon’s glow.
The two were now recognized as the most powerful talents not only in Liang... but in all nine kingdoms.
"Brother Pei, what do you think of the Canglan Sect and the East Sea Divine Palace?"
From Gao Zeming, he learned that the sect was very interested in Brother Pei. Upon discovering that Brother Pei had cultivated a flawless Sword Path Will, he immediately sought him out upon leaving the courtyard.
Pei Qingming did not ask if Lin Chen was here to persuade him because he believed Lin Chen was not there to recruit him for the Canglan Sect.
"What do you think will happen to Liang in the next ten years?"
Pei Qingming did not directly answer Lin Chen’s question but instead posed another question.
Lin Chen was momentarily stunned; he vaguely guessed Brother Pei’s thoughts.
"Brother Pei, I think Liang will not face any danger in the next ten years. I will also discuss with the sect to see if we can provide some protection to Liang."
Lin Chen smiled. Brother Pei’s words implied that if Liang’s future was unstable, he would choose the East Sea Divine Palace.
The East Sea Divine Palace is the number one sect in the Eastern Sea region, and one of the twenty-four super sects, essentially the overlord of this maritime region. If Brother Pei became a disciple of the East Sea Divine Palace and later reached the Innate Realm, those innate martial artists would certainly not dare to target Liang.
Even if Liang were truly in crisis, Brother Pei could return immediately.
The Canglan Domain is in the heartland of the Flame Dynasty, taking several months to return. If Liang faced an urgent situation, it would be too late for him to make it back in time.
From the standpoint of Liang or selfishness, choosing the East Sea Divine Palace is naturally the best option for Brother Pei.
But he had inquired from Steward Gao and knew from him what a flawless Sword Path Will meant.
Answering Brother Pei with "Liang will be stable in the next ten years" was to encourage him to pursue his path of Sword Dao instead of choosing the East Sea Divine Palace for the sake of Liang.
"I asked Steward Gao of the sect, and he told me that throughout the Flame Dynasty, there are some super sect sword cultivators who reach the Innate Fifth Realm, but those who reach the Innate Sixth Realm all come from the Guixu Sword Tomb, which is a sacred place for sword cultivators."
After Lin Chen finished speaking, he looked toward Pei Qingming, who lowered his head, fingers caressing the sword scabbard at his waist, deep in thought, when a voice came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Go to Guixu Sword Tomb."
Lin Chen and Pei Qingming looked up simultaneously to see Kong Qifeng at the door, both standing up.
"Lord Kong."
Kong Qifeng first nodded at Lin Chen, then turned his gaze to Pei Qingming, saying solemnly: "Qingming, you’ve done enough for Liang over the years. If not for Liang, you might have already entered the First Grade."
Hearing Lord Kong’s words, Lin Chen’s face showed a look of surprise. Brother Pei had suppressed his martial arts realm breakthrough for Liang?
"The Lord knew?"
"With your talent, how could you remain unremarkable for so many years? Thinking back now, you entered the Seventh Grade at twenty-one, while the Han Kingdom’s genius Fei Mingxi, of your era, entered the Seventh Grade three months after you. However, in the Sixth Grade, Fei Mingxi surpassed you, advancing two months faster, three months faster at the Fifth Grade, and six months at the Fourth Grade."
Kong Qifeng’s aging eyes turned to Pei Qingming, filled with wear: "If not for Liang, how could Fei Mingxi surpass you with your talent? You feared Han Kingdom would impose sanctions on our country’s trade of martial arts resources with other countries?"
Pei Qingming nodded: "At that time, the Han Kingdom was the foremost of the Nine Kingdoms, and Fei Mingxi was its top talent. If I, as a disciple, surpassed Fei Mingxi, Han Kingdom would undoubtedly sanction Liang, not allowing its martial path to rise. One Pei Qingming isn’t daunting, but having multiple Pei Qingmings in Liang would be."
Lin Chen’s face showed emotion, realizing the meaning behind Brother Pei’s words.
With Han Kingdom’s behavior, they would never allow anything that might affect their status. If Brother Pei surpassed Fei Mingxi, Han Kingdom would become wary of Liang. Today, a Pei Qingming emerges, then tomorrow, a second or even third may arise...
Conversely, as a genius, Brother Pei, touted as the greatest talent in three hundred years of Liang, was surpassed after three lower-grade realms, slowed down, and seen as unimpressive by Han Kingdom, marking the three-hundred-year genius of Liang as merely that.
Remarkable in the beginning, insignificant in the later stages.
Brother Pei secured a non-sanctioned path for Liang’s upcoming young martial artists.
Any sanction would have a delayed effect and wouldn’t impact Brother Pei because Liang’s trade with various countries for martial arts resources still had some stock. But one year, two years, three years down the line... as those stocks depleted and certain herb materials needed for pills ran out, it would affect the successors.
Recalling his martial path over the past few years, Lin Chen remembered how he garnered fame after entering the Martial Arts Mountain, even breaking Brother Pei’s record afterward, but Han Kingdom never took him seriously.
Because Brother Pei set a precedent, in the eyes of Han Kingdom’s strong, no matter how dazzling the beginning, it was useless, with potential exhausted later on, just another Pei Qingming.
Lin Chen finally understood the significance of Brother Pei’s question about "Liang’s future in the next ten years."
Brother Pei genuinely cares for all of Liang.