Chapter 111 Leaping Across the Air
In the southern suburbs of the Grand Xia's capital city, the weather was perfect, with gentle sunshine and a light breeze.
From noble children to commoners, almost everyone had gathered here, causing the rest of the city to appear almost deserted, with but a few people in sight.
The day of the joint military exercise had arrived, and due to the large number of participants, the emperor had ordered the soldiers to establish a warning line nearby.
A bustling crowd had gathered around the established perimeter of the training ground.
On a pre-built platform, the Grand Xia Emperor, civil and military officials, and envoys from the Guhe, Longdu, and Yizhou empires were seated. The envoys of those three empires were all sitting beside Ji Lengyue, occasionally showering the man with some flattery. They didn’t seem to care too much about the Grand Xia Emperor.
Ji Congyun and Immortal Master Zuo had also arrived but have yet to reveal their identities. They sat quietly beside Ji Lengyue. The others didn’t know who they were, but, of course, they were smart enough not to probe.
On the other side, Fang Chen, Fang Cangyou, and Li Daoye sat side by side, their faces wide with smiles. They conversed occasionally as they observed everything around them.
A hint of amusement flashed in Xia Yu’s eyes from time to time when he looked at Fang Chen.
He had naturally received the news of Xia Ji’s death and had drunk himself dead that night. That piece of news was music to his ears!
Without Xia Ji, there was no one who could compete with him for the position of crown prince!
Xia Yu’s gaze left Fang Chen and he looked at Li Daoye. There was a cold light that flickered in his eyes. "Li Daoye, a cultivator from the sixth-tier Flame Empire. Hmph."
What does being a cultivator count for?
No matter how impressive Li Daoye was, he was going to be a mere stepping tool for him to use to deal a blow toward the Frost Water Empire!
Immortal Master Zuo was also paying attention to Li Daoye. Resources for cultivators were hard to come by, and now that he had finally met a disciple from a sect, and whose cultivation wasn’t too high, it was as though a delicious dish had been placed before him.
Although Li Daoye wasn’t looking at Immortal Master Zuo, his keen senses were still able to detect the impending danger, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "You were right, my lord. That guy’s eyes hadn’t left me the moment I walked here."
Fang Chen smiled. "There’s nothing to worry about," he said. "Don't be afraid; on this day, you’re not the prey.”
Li Daoye nodded.
He wasn’t too worried with Fang Chen by his side. And anyway, no matter the opponent's cultivation level, all he had to do was hurl Purple Lightning Talismans at him...
"Lord Ji, how about visiting my Guhe Empire after the military exercise is over? We've recently discovered several new mines, and it would be most wonderful if you could provide us with a bit of guidance," flattered the envoy from Guhe. His words spurred a wave of dissatisfaction to wash over the officials and generals of the Grand Xia Empire.
Unwilling to be outdone, the envoys from the Longdu and Yizhou Empires also began inviting Ji Lengyue to visit their fiefdoms and have a look around after the exercise.
Ji Lengyue, a trace of a smile on his face, nodded slightly. "I’ll go take a look if I have the time.”
He then looked at the Grand Xia Emperor and urged, "It's getting late. Shouldn't we start?"
The emperor glanced at Fang Chen.
Fang Chen’s face was all smiles. "It’s indeed getting late.”
The emperor nodded, then solemnly said, "Then let's begin."
With that, Ji Lengyue raised his hand slightly.
The slightly more than a hundred Nightmare Knights he had brought slowly marched into the training ground.
When everyone outside saw what was going on, they quickly fell silent.
"What a terrifying aura, what elite martial artists," murmured a martial artist. "Each Nightmare Knight could be a founder of a sect."
"All of them are at the peak of the Qi Manipulation Stage, how many do we have in the capital? There are at least a hundred here, and I heard there are even more in the Frost Water Empire!"
Another martial artist shook his head slightly. "Divine General Fang was a bit too bold and rash this time. I estimate that the guards in his manor will be completely wiped out; they won't withstand a single charge."
"Of course. Unless Fang Chen leads the troops personally. However, the opponent from the Frost Water Empire is said to be in the Earth Profound Stage..."
The martial artists of Grand Xia were most knowledgeable about the strengths of both sides, but the young nobles had their own opinions. A discussion arose, and amid the skepticism toward Fang Chen, a cold voice cut through the air. "Fang Chen won't be defeated."
When everyone was pessimistic about Fang Chen, that cold voice had sounded out into the field, instantly silencing the surrounding discussions.
Feeling goosebumps, people couldn't help but look over at the source of the voice. When they saw who it was, surprise flickered in their eyes.
"Isn’t that Fairy Yu?!"
"Yes, it's her! Even though she wears a veil, her demeanor cannot be masked; it’s unlike anyone else in the capital!”
The crowds were bubbling with joy at the sight.
Fairy Yu was accompanied by a large group of women from the Jade Immortal Boat. The charming procession immediately caught everyone's attention, creating an unconsciously cleared area around them, making the surroundings appear less crowded.
In addition to the Jade Immortal Boat, the women from the riverside boat houses of Grand Xia also came, creating a lively and chattering scene.
Since Fang Chen last killed Marquis Xian Yu by the river, he had become an idol in the hearts of these women. Now that Fang Chen’s men were going to train with the Frost Water Empire, they naturally came to show their support.
Listening to the women converse with unmasked admiration about Fang Chen, many young nobles couldn't help but show deep jealousy and envy in their eyes.
"Fairy Yu, although General Fang is strong, compared to the Frost Water Empire, he still has many shortcomings. If you have such high hopes for him, he is bound to disappoint you." A handsome young noble arched his hand toward Fairy Yu.
Fairy Yu glanced at him. "Is that so?” she said, then snorted softly. “Well, I don’t think so.”
Fairy Yu talked to me!
The young noble was excited, and the nobles around him looked at him with jealousy, wishing they had spoken to Fairy Yu just now.
The young noble didn’t let his happiness show. He feigned calmness as he said, "Fairy Yu, it's not that I belittle Divine General Fang, but the Nightmare Knights of the Frost Water Empire are just truly powerful. Moreover, Lord Ji Lengyue was an Earth Profound Stage expert. I am afraid that, were he to make a move, then..." His voice trailed at the end because Fairy Yu had already cast her gaze toward the high platform, completely ignoring him as she silently watched Fang Chen.
An awkward smile crept on the young man’s face, and he took a step to the side, thinking to himself that what he had said would soon come to pass.
Over a hundred Nightmare Knights stood proudly between the heavens and earth as they rode on their mounts. Their gazes were directly toward Ji Lengyue.
Ji Lengyue offered a faint smile before leaping off the platform. He flew through the air and crossed the distance of several dozen feet in a single leap. Against the backdrop of the sunlight, his figure appeared like a celestial being in the mortal world.
In the next moment, a war horse whinnied as Ji Lengyue gracefully landed on its back. He urged the horse forward and turned his gaze toward Fang Chen.
"He... he leaped dozens of feet in the air!?"
"This kind of movement technique... It’s far superior even when compared to a Qi Core Stage martial artist!”
"How do we even fight against this..."
"Truly worthy of being from a superior empire. Our Grand Xia might have existed for hundreds of years, but we still can’t compare to that.”
Not only were the surrounding commoners awed by Ji Lengyue's agility, but even the civil and military officials on the high platform were secretly astonished.
The next moment, their gazes fell on Fang Chen.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l