"Five Great Grandmasters!"
Gu Qingfeng’s expression flickered slightly.
He was aware that the Ji Family royalty had a legacy built up over thousands of years, but he had not anticipated such depth.
Five Great Grandmasters!
What a concept this was.
Over ten thousand years, in the Nine States, the number of Great Grandmasters who had appeared openly was not much greater than this.
Now,
a single Ji Family royalty wielded control over five Great Grandmasters, highlighting the terrifying extent of their resources.
However, upon further thought, Gu Qingfeng felt this was to be expected.
After all, the Ji Family royalty ruled over the Nine States, and even if an Immortal Family was covetously lurking in the background, it was not entirely impossible for them to have hoarded a portion of resources to cultivate a few Great Grandmasters.
"But just relying on five Great Grandmasters to change the current situation doesn’t seem to be that simple!"
Gu Qingfeng pondered to himself.
The presence of five Great Grandmasters was certainly formidable, but with many Immortal Sects and families now eyeing the Nine States, such a force attempting to reverse the tide with just five Great Grandmasters had a slim chance of actual success.
However,
at this point,
the Ji Family royalty had no way out.
Without revealing their ultimate hand, they were likely on the brink of extinction.
Therefore,
no matter the circumstances, these five Great Grandmasters could not remain hidden.
"Continue to monitor the situation in Central State. Inform me immediately of any developments!"
Gu Qingfeng ordered dispassionately.
The Hidden Guard promptly acknowledged and withdrew.
The emergence of five Great Grandmasters was bound to escalate the situation in Central State to a climax.
In Gu Qingfeng’s view, the chaos in Central State would not last much longer.
The only question,
was who would be the ultimate victor.
But regardless, it was highly likely that the Ji Family royalty would not be the winner.
Again, that same point.
The five Great Grandmasters were strong indeed.
But which of these Immortal Sects lacked a profound foundation?
To expect five Great Grandmasters to hold off these powerful clans and sects was nothing more than a joke.
Unless,
the Ji Family royalty had an even stronger legacy up their sleeve, that would be a different matter altogether.
However,
the current situation in Central State also seemed advantageous in Gu Qingfeng’s eyes.
After all, with the Ji Family royalty revealing such strength, it was bound to draw the attention of all parties, which would make Gu Yang’s actions somewhat easier.
When the time came for him to take charge of Qingyun State, he too would possess the qualifications to truly contend for supremacy over the world.
With that thought set,
Gu Qingfeng continued his cultivation in seclusion.
For him, nothing was more important than enhancing his own power.
——
"Five Grandmasters of the Ji Family royalty… it’s no wonder the Taixuan Dynasty has stood at the pinnacle of the world for three thousand years. Such a foundation was probably not even anticipated by the Ji Family themselves!"
In Nanyang County, Gu Yun also felt deeply moved upon learning of this news.
The Divine Martial Sect, as a top-tier sect established by the Martial Ancestor, currently had no living Martial Arts Grandmasters.
Looking now at the Ji Family royalty, that could bring forth five Grandmasters at once,
it was evident how severely the Divine Martial Sect had declined.
But there was no helping it.
In name, the Divine Martial Sect was the hegemon of Wuzhou, but in today’s Martial World, where Magicians held sway, the sect had very little influence in Wuzhou.
Thus, the heritage of the Divine Martial Sect could not compare with that of the Ji Family royalty.
However,
upon truly learning that the Ji Family royalty could field five Grandmasters, Gu Yun couldn’t help but feel inwardly shaken.
Now, the recently ascended Grandmaster, Sword Daoist, also showed a flicker of emotion on his face.
"Five Grandmasters, to fight against them would indeed be a delightful matter!"
After breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, the Sword Daoist also longed for a battle with other Grandmasters to verify his strength.
But the Sword Daoist was well aware that if he really went to Central State, chances were he wouldn’t get to engage with other Grandmasters before being suppressed by the other Immortal families and sects.
Therefore,
this thought remained just that for the Sword Daoist—a mere thought.
Hearing this, Gu Yun looked at him with a smile, "Sword Senior, with your profound strength and having ascended to the Grandmaster Realm, you are certainly equal to the Grandmasters of the Ji Family royalty.
Moreover, with the king’s ambition to vie for the world, many strong contenders will surely emerge to stop him. Why would you worry about a lack of opponents?"
Gu Yun addressed the Sword Daoist with the respect due to an elder.
It wasn’t just because the Sword Daoist was now a Grandmaster while he, a Sect Master from the Divine Martial Sect, was merely a half-step away from that realm.
Considering merely the difference in age,
the Sword Daoist was much older than Gu Yun, who naturally showed the due amount of respect.
"Sect Master Gu is very learned, and in my opinion, it won’t be long before you break through to the Grandmaster Realm."
Hearing Gu Yun’s words, the Sword Daoist looked at him and smiled faintly.
Gu Yun shook his head, "Breaking through to the Grandmaster is easier said than done!"
Although he was a half-step away from being a full Grandmaster—a mere half-step separating him from the Grandmaster Realm—that half-step, if luck wasn’t on his side, could stall him for a lifetime.
Throughout history, many geniuses had been stuck just shy of the Grandmaster Realm, never able to take the final step towards mastering the realm.
This was also one of the reasons why many warriors in their later years would choose the path of Refining Evil into their bodies.
The path of Martial Arts could be a dead end.
One can only step back and seek the next best option.
Like the Sword Daoist who, from the beginning to the end, always harbored a strong desire for Martial Arts, such individuals are indeed few and far between.
At this moment,
Gu Yang, listening to the words of the several people below and understanding the current situation in Zhongzhou, immediately spoke up.
"Five Martial Arts Grandmasters from the Ji Family’s royal family have emerged, and all eyes are bound to converge on Zhongzhou. The Guangyang Army has already seized Taishan and Nanyang Counties, and I believe that we should take this opportunity to capture Chi River and Dan Yang Counties as well, thereby gaining complete control over Qingyun State."
The Nine States of the realm.
The Guangyang Army must control at least one state’s territory to qualify to vie for supremacy in the realm.
For ordinary people, controlling a state is not so simple.
But to Gu Yang, taking down Qingyun State did not seem to be much of a challenge.
First came the submission of the Divine Martial Sect.
Then the fealty of the Iron Sword Sect.
In terms of renown and foundation, the Iron Sword Sect naturally could not be compared with the Divine Martial Sect, but given that the Iron Sword Sect had produced a Martial Arts Grandmaster like the Sword Daoist, they could not be judged by common standards.
Moreover, with Nanyang County’s submission and the Iron Sword Sect’s allegiance, a Martial Arts Grandmaster publicly declared his allegiance to Gu Yang, which also caused an uproar in the Martial World.
For a while,
many Martial Artists from the Martial World came to join in droves.
With this development,
Gu Yang’s forces grew even stronger.
Under such a power, taking down Qingyun State was naturally effortless.
"Shi Zhen, this time you will be the main commander, I will give you an army of 800,000 and five Innate Grandmasters, responsible for attacking Dan Yang County!"
"Your subordinate will certainly live up to Your Majesty’s great expectations!"
Shi Zhen was overjoyed and immediately accepted the command with a salute.
Being the commander in charge of an army and attacking Dan Yang County, he naturally understood the magnitude of this opportunity.
If he could take Dan Yang County, it would undoubtedly be a great achievement.
Although the strength of Dan Yang County was not weak, Shi Zhen was quite confident.
800,000 troops.
He himself had also broken through the limit of Refining Organ and stepped into the Grandmaster Realm.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
Coupled with the assistance of five Innate Grandmasters, taking down Dan Yang County was naturally not a big problem.
After all, the foundation of Dan Yang County was also different from that of Nanyang County.
The latter had the Immortal Sect of the Tianyang Sword Sect stationed there, while the former was not quite as strong.
Moreover,
now that the Guangyang Army had captured two counties in succession, its reputation was resounding, and Dan Yang County was unlikely to dare to clash head-on with the Guangyang Army, even if it had some foundation.
Upon hearing this, the other generals looked on with envy.
Such a great achievement was naturally enviable to them.
Sensing everyone’s gaze, Gu Yang paused and then his gaze fell on Jiang Mo.
"This time, in attacking Chi River County, Jiang Mo, you will be the main commander, and Xue Cheng, you will be the deputy. I will also give you an army of 800,000 and five Masters to set out for battle."
"There’s only one requirement for this battle, and that is to take Chi River County with the fastest speed and the lowest casualties!"
"Yes!"
Jiang Mo and Xue Cheng both saluted with their fists, their faces filled with excitement.
Especially Xue Cheng.
Although he was the deputy commander, given his status as Defector General from the court, being valued in this way was enough for him in his own eyes.
After appointing the main commanders for the two forces, Gu Yang passed down other commands, with only one goal in mind: to take the two counties and completely control Qingyun State.
—
In Zhongzhou,
outside the Capital city.
The army was attacking the city.
The flames of war affected all sides, with countless soldiers perishing.
"Boom!"
The ferocious blade wind seemed capable of splitting the heaven and earth. With one slash, hundreds to thousands of soldiers exploded into clouds of blood, without even a chance to scream before falling dead on the spot.
This scene
caused the others to change their expressions dramatically.
Atop the city wall,
stood a young man in white, fluttering like a peerless war god descending upon the world, his brows filled with an indifferent chill—that was a disregard for life.
"Whoever dares to approach the Capital by half a step, this will be their fate!"
As soon as these words were uttered,
the enemy’s siege did not slow down in the slightest.
Seeing this,
the young man in white’s expression turned cold. With a swing of his long blade, hundreds of beams of light shot out instantly, slaughtering countless enemy soldiers on the spot. Blood and limbs flew, creating an extremely horrifying scene.
Just then,
a voice filled with rage came through.
"Ji Shendao, as a True Intent Grandmaster, what pride do you find in attacking ordinary people? Let me, your opponent, come to meet you!"
The moment the words fell,
the void trembled.
A horrifying and chilly aura erupted, shaking the cosmos, and a hand formed of Spiritual Power suddenly pressed down towards the young man in white.
"Desolate State’s Li Family!"
Ji Shendao’s eyes went cold, torrents of True Qi poured into his long blade, followed immediately by a terrifying Blade Intent that tore through the cosmos, fiercely cleaving down towards that hand.
With this one slash,
it split the heaven and earth
as if it could Divide Rivers and Cut Off Flow.
That hand formed of Spiritual Power was completely shattered under the slash, and a middle-aged man was forced to retreat from the void, looking at Ji Shendao with a grave expression in his eyes.
"Not unworthy of being the most outstanding genius of the Ji Family’s royal lineage six hundred years ago, your strength is indeed remarkable!"