Martial Cultivator

After the grand ceremony ended, Chen Chao left the palace with his three disciples. He paused briefly at the palace gates. This Lord Warden Commander then quickly walked over to Li Heng, who was about to return to guarding the tombs. Chen Chao opened his mouth, as if to speak, but hesitated.

Li Heng knew what Chen Chao wanted to say and shook his head. “With this half-crippled body of mine, even if I force myself, how long could I last? I am not like you young people, who still have so much time ahead. If it is time to step down, then step down. With each generation, the new replaces the old. Why stubbornly cling to a position and refuse to yield?”

It turned out that after the ceremony, Li Heng had formally stepped down from his position as the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial. In other words, from today onward, whether or not he returned to the palace, he would no longer be that Eunuch Li whom countless attendants both respected and feared.

Li Heng looked at Chen Chao and joked with a smile, “I’ve seen His Highness get married, now I just wonder when I’ll get to see you marry.”

Chen Chao said nothing.

Li Heng patted Chen Chao on the shoulder and smiled. “Alright, I’m leaving. You’re still young, and your shoulders can bear the weight of Great Liang. Carry it a while longer, consider it the shameless request of us old fellows.”

“Mr. Li, please rest assured.”

Chen Chao clasped his hands.

Li Heng turned and walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back and said, “Oh, right, I heard you made quite a bold declaration in the northern lands?”

Chen Chao asked, “Does Mr. Li think there is anything inappropriate about it?”

Li Heng shook his head. “It’s not that I think there’s anything inappropriate. I do not doubt in the slightest that if that day truly comes, you will do exactly as you said. But when that time comes, though it may be heroic, it would not be a good thing for the people of the world.” ”So I only hope that day never comes, that you, Chen Chao, become the unrivaled martial artist of this age, that Great Liang becomes an unprecedented dynasty, and that the entire human race accomplishes what has never been accomplished before!”

After saying this, Li Heng turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Chen Chao stood where he was and silently sent her off.

“This guy, saying just a few words, and yet he has some real presence.”

Yu Xiyi had come over here at some point in time. He fiddled with his ear, tilted his head, and said with a grin, “I hear this one is at the end of Nepenthe?”

Women who reach the end of Nepenthe are rare, but they do exist. But a eunuch reaching the end of Nepenthe? Judging by appearances, this one was likely the only one.

Chen Chao rolled his eyes at Yu Xiyi. For this friend of his, there were many moments where he felt truly helpless.

Yu Xiyi stroked his stubble and suggested, “Find a place for a drink? I happen to be craving one.”

Chen Chao looked at him, shook his head, and said seriously, “Do me a favor.”

Yu Xiyi was startled, then took a few steps back, looking as if he’d seen a ghost. “Just talk if you have something to say, don’t be so serious! Every time Your Father sees you like this, I get scared.”

And indeed, thinking about it, every time Chen Chao spoke with that level of solemnity, it was almost always about something life-risking. First killing Yinli, then killing Wuyang, there wasn’t a single easy task in any of it.

Chen Chao grinned. “Don’t be scared. This time, I’m not asking you to kill the Sword Sect’s Sect Master. The Ministry of Works has a batch of armor. Escort it to the Northern Frontier and make sure nothing goes wrong on the way.”

Having a great sword immortal provide an escort, before this, Great Liang could never afford such a luxury. But now, things were different.

Yu Xiyi exhaled in relief. This task was manageable, it was not considered much trouble.

“The Ministry of Works will keep producing armor continuously. The first batch, five thousand sets, you deliver to the Northern Frontier first.”

Chen Chao smiled. “By the time you return to the Divine Capital, the second batch will probably be ready or nearly so. You can rest for a few days, then make another run.”

“Hang on, listening to you, this isn’t just one batch or two?”

Yu Xiyi wasn’t that naive. Even the dumbest person, after spending time around someone as clever as Chen Chao, wouldn’t remain foolish for long.

Chen Chao praised him. “Great Sword Immortal Yu, you’re really smart.”

“Of course. Who do you think I, Yu Xiyi, am? How could I not understand your little schemes?”

Yu Xiyi said with a smug smile.

Chen Chao smiled. “I think this burden isn’t something just anyone could bear. Only you, Great Sword Immortal Yu, have the ability. Anyone else? I doubt they’d manage it.”

Yu Xiyi nodded in agreement. “Now that you put it that way, yeah, it makes sense. Aside from me, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else fit for this job.”

Jiang Xiao’an covered her face and sighed mournfully. Her master, well, in front of Martial Uncle Chen, it seemed like he’d always come up short.

Yu Qingfeng had a gloating look on his face. Look at that. what’s the use of being powerful when you still get completely played by your own master?

As soon as he thought this, Chen Chao turned his head to Yu Qingfeng and smiled, “Little Yu, you going with your Martial Uncle Yu is also a kind of training.”

”Ah?!”

Yu Qingfeng pouted, looking miserable. “Master, my injuries haven’t healed yet.”

“Then how else will you train?”

Chen Chao put on a stern face, completely unyielding.

Yu Qingfeng tugged at He Liang, looking pitiful. “Then let Little He go with me?”

“Little He just went out once; he still needs time to process what he saw and experienced. As for you, go with Martial Uncle Yu and really take a proper look around.”

After settling this, Chen Chao looked at Yu Xiyi and smiled. “Do you want to take Xiao’an along? If not, I’ll look after her in the Divine Capital.”

Yu Xiyi hadn’t planned to bring Jiang Xiao’an, but after hearing Chen Chao, he quickly waved his hand. “No way, I can’t leave her in the Divine Capital, I wouldn’t feel at ease!”

Jiang Xiao’an also wanted to go, but she didn’t want to go alone. She glanced at Ning Qingnian, who nodded slightly.

“Martial Uncle, let Qingnian come with me!”

As soon as Jiang Xiao’an said this, Yu Xiyi immediately felt it would be troublesome.

Chen Chao looked over, and Ning Qingnian nodded.

Chen Chao smiled. “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Great Sword Immortal Yu. If it weren’t for Great Sword Immortal Yu, I honestly wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them with anyone else.”

Yu Xiyi grumbled, but in the end didn’t refuse and accepted the task.

Finally, the great sword immortal asked out of curiosity, “Do you still have any urgent matters in the Divine Capital?”

Chen Chao thought for a moment and shook his head. “Everything’s been arranged. During this period, I’m going into closed-seclusion, to see if I can take a step forward.”

Yu Xiyi widened his eyes and cursed, “You animal!”

Jiang Xiao’an said unhappily. “Master, be like a spring breeze!”

Chen Chao burst into laughter.

Though he said this, he actually wasn’t confident about breaking through.

But even without confidence, he had to attempt it, because over at the demon race, the situation was urgent - a great war was about to break out.

There was no time left.

Chen Chao let out a sigh.