Outside the gates of the provincial capital, nearly everyone was plunged into shock and bewilderment. None could have imagined that the chief officials of every government office in the entire city, figures of immense power and Grandmaster-level powerhouses alike, would bow so deferentially to a youthful boy.
"Hiss... Who is that youth? How can even Provincial Governor Ning and Divine General Yan be saluting him?!"
"An imperial prince? The crown prince?"
"Stop talking nonsense! How could a prince or the crown prince arrive at the provincial city riding a lone horse? He would surely be flanked by countless guards."
"Then who in the world is he?!"
"Old Daoist, didn't you claim your knowledge was vast and that you knew every major event across all of Qin Province? Why don't you tell us who he is?"
"Ha! Good question! I actually do know. That person is none other than the most renowned prodigy in our Qin Province—Huang Tian, proclaimed by the Grandmaster Roll as the gathering of a province's martial fortune over a thousand years!"
"The Huang Tian who defeated and killed the Demonic Cult's Saint Yin as a Rank Four?!"
"Even so, he doesn't deserve... No, what I mean is, would that truly warrant so many dignitaries leaving the city to welcome him with such honor?"
"..."
The onlookers whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Faced with everyone's salutes, Huang Tian leaped down from his mount and politely returned the gesture. "Gentlemen, there is no need for such ceremony."
Only after he spoke did the hundred-odd officials and luminaries straighten their backs, their gazes burning with fervent admiration as they looked upon Huang Tian.
Ning Heyuan and Yan Zhong exchanged a glance, and Ning Heyuan spoke first. "In truth, before Assistant Commissioner Huang reached the provincial city, I learned from my subordinates of your clash with Xiahou Yang. I was just about to set out with Brother Yan to support you, only to soon receive word that you severed Xiahou Yang's arm and pursued him over a hundred li. I wonder where Xiahou Yang is now—did he escape, or..."
Huang Tian untied the cloth bundle from the side of his saddle and handed it over. "His head is here."
A jolt went through Ning Heyuan's heart. He accepted it with great care, slowly unwrapping the cloth, and a severed head was revealed. "It really is Xiahou Yang!"
Portraits of the Demonic Cult's various Saints were widely circulated throughout the five states—or rather, widely posted as wanted notices. As the governor of a province, Ning Heyuan naturally recognized Xiahou Yang's visage.
Beside him, Yan Zhong's eyelids twitched. Ever since learning that Xiahou Yang's arm had been cut off, he had known the chances of the man escaping alive were minuscule, but actually seeing the severed head still shook him deeply.
This was Saint Yang, the most outstanding among all the Demonic Cult's Saints!
The favorite disciple of the Demonic Cult Master!
A Rank One Grandmaster who had struck terror and paranoia into the martial world of the State of Lan!
Rumor had it that the Demonic Cult Master had evaluated him as "practically invincible beneath the realm of Celestial Beings," which was why he had confidently allowed him to roam the State of Lan, challenging warriors across all quarters to forge an invincible heart.
Yet who could have thought that by merely coming to Great Gan to avenge his younger brother, he would lose his life right here!
What was most frightening was that the person who killed him was a martial artist who had only just entered Rank Three!
'Slaying Xiahou Yang as a Rank Three is enough to earn the title of Supreme Grandmaster! Then what about Rank Two—could he fight a Celestial Being? No, most likely not; Celestial Beings are far too formidable! But if Rank Two cannot, could Rank One do so?'
The moment that thought surfaced, stormy waves surged through Yan Zhong's heart. 'In days past, Yin Fenghai killed a heavily injured Celestial Being as a Rank One, shaking the five states. Meanwhile, our Chief Commander Wan Shenyang stood his ground against a Celestial Being as a Rank One without falling into disadvantage, stunning the entire world. Both of them were heroes seen once in a thousand—or ten thousand—years... Could Huang Tian contend for supremacy alongside them?!'
What occurred to Yan Zhong naturally occurred to Ning Heyuan as well. But Ning Heyuan was pondering something even further: 'Can Huang Tian become a Celestial Being? A Celestial Being with a lifespan exceeding three hundred years!!'
No one ever had absolute certainty of breaking through to the realm of Celestial Beings. History was not lacking in brilliant Rank One Grandmasters who had been brought to a dead end before the divide of Celestial Beings.
'However, Huang Tian is different. He isn't merely brilliant; he is the kind... the kind of genius born once in a thousand years! Not just once in a millennium for our Qin Province, but a genius born once in a millennium for all of Great Gan and the five states!'
The Grandmaster Roll's assessment of Huang Tian had still been too conservative!
While sighing inwardly, Ning Heyuan handed the head to a trusted confidant at his side. That confidant received it as gingerly as if holding up a colossal mountain. The surrounding officials and commanders craned their necks toward the head in his hands, their eyes wide as they held their breath.
Ning Heyuan praised, "Many say Xiahou Yang was at the absolute peak among the Rank One realm. Yet Assistant Commissioner Huang slew him without a scratch, proving to be a cut above him. Truly, you may be called a Supreme Grandmaster!"
Yan Zhong followed with several compliments of his own, his warm flattery so effusive that even his closest subordinates found it teeth-numbingly sweet. Heaven knew that during his time in the army, Yan Zhong had always been renowned for his stern and icy demeanor; who would have imagined he possessed such an amiable, genial side!
Huang Tian responded to the two with a faint smile, then turned his gaze toward the officials of the various offices. Wherever his eyes swept, everyone displayed warm, friendly smiles. When his gaze fell upon several chief commanders of the Martial Restraint Guard in particular, their bodies trembled, and they bowed once more.
They had no choice. The earlier incident with Niu Kuanyu had been too egregious, souring the relationship between the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard and Huang Tian. Consequently, they kept their posture exceedingly humble.
Huang Tian had no intention of venting his anger upon them; moreover, the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard had already sent the Frost Saber and other gifts as an apology. That slight discord was already considered water under the bridge. He smiled faintly and said, "We are all colleagues in the same service. There is no need for such formality."
Hearing this, the Vice Commanders and Assistant Commissioners of the Martial Restraint Guard all breathed a sigh of relief, expressions of immense ease spreading across their faces.
Just then, Ning Heyuan spoke up. "I have already had a banquet prepared in the yamen. Brother Huang, please join me inside to drink to our hearts' content."
"You are too kind. Lead the way."
The party mounted their horses again. With Ning Heyuan and Yan Zhong flanking him on either side, more than a hundred people escorted Huang Tian in their midst like stars clustering around the moon. Mounted high on his steed, he seemed to remember something, turning back to cup his fists slightly toward the stunned members of the merchant caravan to bid them farewell.
The moment he turned his head, thousands of people looked back at the same time. Grandmaster-level powerhouses, warriors bearing blades and swords, scions of prominent clans, common townsfolk, and refined scholars all turned to stare at the middle-aged man in brocade and his companions.
Being scrutinized by thousands of people—many of whom held far higher status and greater martial strength than himself—made the brocade-clad middle-aged man stiffen all over, his scalp prickling. Fortunately, the shock brought him to his senses in time, and he hurriedly bowed in return. The rest of the caravan members also bowed in a fluster, their hearts pounding wildly.
Rumble~
The sound of hooves gradually faded into the distance. Only after Huang Tian and the rest had entered the city did the brocade-clad middle-aged man and his retinue finally recover their senses.
"The whole city's purple-and-vermilion nobility bowing to one man—what sheer magnificence!" Within the caravan, an escort guard's face beamed with yearning and reverence.
"So he was the far-famed Huang Tian. No wonder he possessed such an extraordinary bearing." The blue-clad girl's face flushed. "To think I actually spoke quite a few words with him... He's so approachable..."
Seeing his daughter like this, the middle-aged man sighed softly and whispered, "Don't dwell on it. A person like him is far beyond our reach."
The blue-clad girl froze. Indeed, such a figure belonged to an entirely different world from theirs. Had it not been for this chance encounter, they would never have had the opportunity to even lay eyes on him, let alone converse with him.
Just as she was caught between joy and sorrow, several men dressed as wealthy merchants approached the middle-aged man with beaming smiles, subtly inquiring about their relationship with Huang Tian. Upon learning that it was merely a chance encounter along the road, they showed no disappointment; instead, they generously offered to purchase all the medicinal herbs the caravan had transported, suggesting they could cooperate frequently in the future.
For the middle-aged man, this was an unexpected windfall. Of course, it also made him appreciate even more the sheer magnitude of Huang Tian's influence: merely traveling the same road with him and receiving a parting farewell was enough to open up broader connections and markets for his business...
'Is this the weight carried by the pinnacle of a province, a Supreme Grandmaster...'
***
Inside an elegant hall of the provincial yamen.
Ning Heyuan, Yan Zhong, and Huang Tian took their respective seats. Upon the low tables before them were laid out fine wines, sumptuous delicacies, and seasonal fruits.
"Brother Huang forcefully slew Xiahou Yang; this calls for celebration. I shall drain this cup!" Ning Heyuan laughed and drank his wine.
Yan Zhong said, "Assistant Commissioner Huang has broken through to Rank Three and attained the realm of Grandmaster, gaining a lifespan of three sixty-year cycles from now on. That too deserves celebration." With that, he downed a cup as well.
In this manner, under the deliberate flattery of the two, dozens of cups of wine were consumed. When the wine had flowed for three rounds and the dishes had been sampled five times, Huang Tian finally stated his purpose: "I wish to enter the book pavilions of the various yamen in the provincial capital to read through their martial arts techniques. I wonder if the two of you could grant me this convenience..."
Ning Heyuan broke into hearty laughter. "That is a trifling matter! Brother Huang, enter our provincial yamen's book pavilion whenever you wish; every record and collection therein is yours to peruse."
"The same goes for my Black Armor Army. There is no need to be polite," Yan Zhong said.
"And the book pavilion of Six Doors..." Ning Heyuan pondered briefly and added, "If Brother Yu were here, he would not refuse either. I will make the decision on his behalf and agree to it. In short, the book pavilions of every yamen, all their records and martial arts techniques, are yours to read at will."
Brother Yu referred to the Rank One Divine Constable from Six Doors who had been dispatched alongside the commander of the Qin Province Martial Restraint Guard to support Yong Province.
"Then I offer my thanks to both fellow Daoists." Huang Tian felt a flicker of joy.
"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it!"
Both men wore broad smiles. Permitting Huang Tian to enter the book pavilions cost them nothing, yet it earned his friendship—a wonderful bargain indeed!
After drinking some more wine, the feast came to an end. Huang Tian stood to take his leave and headed straight for the provincial yamen's book pavilion, wasting no time at all.
And while he remained in the provincial capital reading through martial techniques, the news of his slaying of the Demonic Cult's Saint Yang, Xiahou Yang, spread throughout Qin Province and even all of Great Gan in a mere matter of ten-odd days.
***
Funing County.
Inside the Company Office, Xu Shu, Xie Zheng, and Long Zhang stared at the urgent dispatch delivered by carrier eagle, looking at one another in profound shock.
After a long while, Xu Shu said in a raspy voice, "The other day, Assistant Commissioner Huang suddenly galloped out of the county seat, declaring he was going to take someone's head. At the time, I wondered who he was pursuing. Now I know—it was Xiahou Yang..."
Xie Zheng swallowed hard. "Although I guessed that once Brother Huang attained Rank Three, his abilities would place him among the absolute apex of Rank One, I never imagined he could actually kill Xiahou Yang. That was a Demonic Cult Saint who made the entire martial world of the State of Lan hold its breath in trepidation!"
Long Zhang remained silent for a few breaths. "Even the Demonic Cult Master said that unless a Celestial Being emerged, it would be difficult to kill Xiahou Yang. Yet Huang Tian managed to slay him... Don't forget, Brother Huang is currently only at Rank Three!"
A Rank Three, slaying an absolute peak Rank One!
"The realm of Celestial Beings is in sight!" Xu Shu and Xie Zheng exclaimed in unison.
If even a prodigy like him could not become a Celestial Being, then hardly anyone in the world could.
Xie Zheng rose excitedly, pacing around the room. He suddenly drew the precious sword at his waist. The blade rang crisp and clear, as if echoing his emotions.
"A Celestial Being! A Celestial Being! To think that I, Xie Zheng, have the honor of being friends with a future Celestial Being!"
Recalling something, he grinned at Long Zhang. "Brother Long, do you still remember when we sent a duel challenge to Brother Huang?"
Long Zhang looked thoroughly embarrassed, covering his face in chagrin. "Don't mention it, don't mention it anymore!"
Seeing his sheepish look, Xie Zheng and Xu Shu clutched their bellies in laughter until tears streamed from their eyes.
***
Kunyun Commandery City, official yamen.
Zhou Tu, Yu Jingcheng, and Bai Yuanfu stared at the urgent letter before them, their heads buzzing.
Yu Jingcheng was dazed. "I remember when we left the commandery city to reinforce Funing, Huang Tian was only capable of killing Rank Three martial artists. How is it that in just over two months, both Xiahou brothers have fallen by his hand?"
Bai Yuanfu shook his head repeatedly. "Assistant Commissioner, haven't you gotten used to it yet? Huang Tian simply isn't human!"
Hearing this, Zhou Tu chuckled wryly. "Suppressing Commander Bai is right. Huang Tian really doesn't resemble a human at all."
Yu Jingcheng stroked his beard and murmured blankly, "Ever since I came out of secluded cultivation these past few months, I've felt like I'm living in a dream. It's just too surreal!"
The other two nodded in deep agreement. Bai Yuanfu especially had witnessed with his own eyes how Huang Tian had walked out of the Guard Academy step by step, advancing with fierce determination and soaring rapidly to the very summit of Qin Province!
Recalling the first time he had met Huang Tian, the youth had been an ordinary Rank Eight martial artist. In the blink of an eye, a few months had passed, and he had already reached a height where one could only look up in awe.
Bai Yuanfu let out a long sigh of wonder. "Huang Tian is extremely likely to become the next Chief Commander, clashing against Celestial Beings as a Rank One!"
Yu Jingcheng's lips parted slightly, and he slowly nodded. "Highly likely, highly likely."
He was already this strong at Rank Three—what would Rank Two be like?
And wouldn't Rank One be even more terrifying?!
Clashing against Celestial Beings was by no means an empty boast!
Zhou Tu felt a jolt in his heart. "If he truly can reenact the Chief Commander's magnificent feat, then once he breaks through the divide of Celestial Beings, wouldn't he instantly become an elite among Celestial Beings?!"
In the past, Wan Shenyang had fought Celestial Beings to a draw as a Rank One. The moment he broke through, he immediately claimed a spot in the top ten of the Celestial Being Ranking!
Several decades later, his cultivation had reached divine heights, ranking him third on the Celestial Being Ranking!
One could say that the greatest deterrent of the entire Great Gan imperial court was Wan Shenyang!
A single pillar upholding Great Gan's heavens!
"Yin Fenghai, Wan Shenyang, Huang Tian, and the masters of the five divine armaments all appearing in the same era... It truly makes one's blood surge..."
Within the official yamen, the news spread rapidly. Xia Hong, Tie Qi, and the others were tremendously inspired. All the officials and clerks throughout the yamen felt honored by association, their faces bright with smiles. Soon, this wave of excitement spread to the neighboring Guard Academy, sending it into an uproar as well.
"What's going on? Why is it suddenly so noisy over there?"
Instructor Xu, who was guiding the martial students in stance training, heard the commotion from the distant Black-grade Drill Ground No. 2. He could not resist standing on the earthen platform to peer in that direction.
"Huang Tian... Xiahou..."
Hearing a few words faintly drift over, he grew unable to contain his curiosity. He called over a martial student and told him to go ask what was happening. Before long, that student ran back with a look of utter shock, resting his hands on his knees as he panted heavily.
"In-Instructor! They... they are saying that Assistant Commissioner Huang Tian broke through to Rank Three and forcefully slew the Demonic Cult's Saint Yang upon the Raging Dragon River! His strength is invincible beneath the realm of Celestial Beings!!"
"Ah..."
Instructor Xu stood gaping, his mouth wide open, showing none of his usual stern, rigid demeanor.
Only after a good while did he close his dropped jaw, muttering in a daze, "Did I... really train a Yin Fenghai?!!"
Chapter 130