The System Arrives: Leading My Clan to Become the Strongest

94: Chapter 94 The Ninth Level of Golden Core is Nothing to Fear; the Nascent Soul Lies Hidden, Awaiting Its Time to SpeakOver the next few days, people continued to arrive in succession.

For a time, the entire Capital was bustling with traffic and noise; the streets, usually busy, were now packed tight with various carriages and pedestrians.

Among them were children of noble families dressed in silk, swords at their waists and arrogance in their eyes; travel-worn Sect Cultivators with steady breaths, their cultivation clearly impressive; and many more practitioners carrying weapons, gathered in small groups, heatedly discussing the upcoming Qingfeng Martial Meet.

Outside the Zhao family estate, it was even more crowded.

Many small and medium-sized forces allied with the Zhao family sent representatives to visit, either bringing gifts or trying to find out who the Zhao family’s candidates for the tournament were.

Zhao Lifeng stood by the attic window, watching the endless stream of people below with a faint smile in his eyes—these people had all come to seek refuge with his Zhao family, and the family would provide some assistance within certain limits.

On the other side, Jiang Chen and the others were indifferent to the changes in the Capital.

After learning they couldn’t go out, Jiang Feng and the others stayed in their rooms to Cultivate.

Over those few days, other courtyards within the Royal Courtyard were also gradually occupied.

In the living room.

”Brother Jiang, are you satisfied with your stay these past few days? Do you want to move?”

Huangfu Shenghua said as he looked at Jiang Chen. After settling the Jiang Family in the Jingyun Courtyard two days ago, he had returned to his residence in the Capital to see his grandfather, Huangfu Jinghong.

As for why he hadn’t arranged for Jiang Chen and the others to stay at his residence, it was because his grandfather was the one in charge there, and their family had been away from the Capital for too long; only this Jingyun Courtyard had remained exactly as it was.

Jiang Chen set down his teacup and looked up at Huangfu Shenghua, a faint smile in his eyes.

”Jingyun Courtyard is quiet and elegant, which suits me perfectly. There’s no need to change.”

Huangfu Shenghua smiled at the response, poured himself a cup of tea, and changed the subject to the main point.

”Speaking of which, the regulations for the Qingfeng Martial Meet have been released. This time is different from previous years; the first round will be a massive free-for-all, and Sect Cultivators are allowed to participate. The Zhao family will likely use these rules to their advantage.”

Jiang Chen’s hand paused slightly as he raised his teacup, his eyes darkening.

”Sect Cultivators? Weren’t they barred from participating in the past?”

”I don’t know the specifics, but there are rumors that the top few from this tournament will go elsewhere to compete. I’m not sure if it’s true or not.”

Huangfu Shenghua said after a moment of thought. He had occasionally heard some news at his grandfather’s residence these past few days, but he wasn’t sure of its authenticity.

”Competing elsewhere? Is there an Imperial Dynasty of a higher rank than the Yuan Kingdom?”

Hearing Huangfu Shenghua’s explanation, Jiang Chen thought for a moment but had no clues.

”Tell me more about this Qingfeng Martial Meet.”

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Chen looked at Huangfu Shenghua and asked again.

Huangfu Shenghua leaned in closer and lowered his voice.

”My grandfather revealed that the Chief Judge for this tournament is Huangfu Xuance. He is an Old Ancestor from another branch, and their branch is very close to Zhao Lifeng.”

Jiang Chen rubbed the rim of his cup with his fingertip, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

”So what? A martial arts gathering ultimately depends on strength. Any schemes or tricks, I, Jiang Chen, will shatter with a single punch.”

”I like your confidence, Brother Jiang.”

Seeing Jiang Chen so domineering, Huangfu Shenghua laughed heartily, then turned serious.

”However, Brother Jiang, although the Zhao family isn’t worth mentioning, we still have to be cautious. The Zhao family has quite a network; you might find yourself outnumbered and isolated.”

He knew about the conflict between the Jiang Family and Zhao Kun from the Zhao family a few days ago. He wanted to help, but he lacked the power.

Having left the Capital since childhood, he currently had no one to call upon. As for his grandfather, he wouldn’t offend the Zhao family for Jiang Chen’s sake.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen’s hand holding the teacup paused. He looked up at Huangfu Shenghua, the smile in his eyes fading slightly, replaced by a sense of certainty.

”Outnumbered and isolated? Not necessarily.”

Jiang Chen’s fingertip slid gently across the rim of the cup. His tone was so calm it was rippleless, yet a faint, cold light flashed in his deep eyes, too quick to catch.

”Those Golden Core Cultivators of the Zhao family may seem numerous and powerful, but in reality, they are nothing more than paper tigers.”

Huangfu Shenghua frowned, clearly not reassured by these words. Instead, he urged anxiously:

”Brother Jiang, don’t be careless! Zhao Lifeng is incredibly sinister, and the methods of the Zhao family’s Golden Core Cultivators are quite bizarre. Especially their Old Ancestor, who is now at the Ninth Layer of Golden Core. Even if you are in the Golden Core Stage, fighting many alone—two hands can’t fight four!”

He was truly worried about Jiang Chen. After all, in his eyes, Jiang Chen was at most at the mid-Golden Core Stage. Going head-to-head with the Zhao family, the chances of winning were slim.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen suddenly chuckled. He took a sip of tea, letting the fragrance wash over his lips and teeth before speaking leisurely:

”Ninth Layer of Golden Core, Peak?”

He paused intentionally, his gaze landing on a bird flying past the window. His voice was as light as the wind:

”It’s just the Ninth Layer of Golden Core. Do you think if I couldn’t even handle such a small trouble, I, Jiang Chen, would dare lead the Jiang Family into this Capital?”

These words sounded full of confidence, but to Huangfu Shenghua’s ears, it seemed like Jiang Chen was just putting on a brave face. He sighed:

”Brother Jiang, I know you’re proud, but...”

”Rest assured.”

Jiang Chen interrupted him and looked over, a reassuring smile in his eyes.

”Since I dare to participate in this Qingfeng Martial Meet, I naturally have my reliance. If the Zhao family wants to play dirty, I’ll play along. However, there’s one thing...”

Huangfu Shenghua was stunned and wanted to ask more, but seeing Jiang Chen pick up his teacup again with lowered eyes, looking like he didn’t want to say more, he could only swallow his worries.

How could he know that the ’reliance’ Jiang Chen spoke of was not some Golden Core Stage method, but the absolute suppression of a Nascent Soul expert?

Those opponents who seemed incredibly troublesome to him were, in Jiang Chen’s eyes, nothing more than ants that could be crushed at will.

Seeing his calm and unruffled demeanor, Huangfu Shenghua’s worries didn’t diminish at all; he only thought Jiang Chen was forcing himself to stay strong.

He opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him further, but Jiang Chen raised his teacup and said flatly, ”It’s getting late. If Brother Huangfu has nothing else, please see yourself out.”

The intent to see the guest out was clear. Huangfu Shenghua could only sigh and take his leave.

When Huangfu Shenghua reached the courtyard gate, he paused and looked back at the living room of Jingyun Courtyard. Ultimately, he didn’t go back in to say more. He just sighed softly and turned to disappear from the Royal Courtyard.

At that moment, at the Capital city gate, a flying boat sped in from the distance.

In a short while, it stopped near the city gate. One by one, young men and women descended from the flying boat, about a dozen in total.

”Junior Sister Feiyan, this is the Capital. Once we’re inside, I’ll take you around. I used to come here often, and I’m very familiar with everything in the city.”