Beginning with the Five Animals Fist to Become a Saint

The Imperial Palace.

Chengqian Hall.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside Chengqian Palace was extremely tense, and the killing intent could be triggered at any moment.

Shen Xiao's face turned ashen, and he was about to speak when a frivolous sneer suddenly came from the palace wall.

"Wait a minute."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Crown Prince of Beicang slowly step forward, past his father, and looking down at Ji Minghao on the steps.

His face was handsome, but at this moment it carried a hint of cynical mockery. His gaze swept over Ji Minghao and Shen Mengyun, finally settling on Ji Minghao's face.

“Your Highness, the Eighth Prince,” the prince’s voice was clear and resonant, yet carried an undeniable air, “in truth, there is still room for maneuver.”

Ji Minghao frowned and said in a deep voice, "What does the young master mean?"

The Crown Prince of Beicang smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the dark mass of soldiers below before finally settling on Ji Minghao.

“It’s very simple. I told Your Highness before that if the Seventeenth Princess were to marry me, I would help Your Highness. That statement still holds true today. If Your Highness agrees to marry the Seventeenth Princess to me as a concubine, I can then ask my father to stand on Your Highness’s side.”

These words shocked everyone present.

Ji Mingyuan's expression changed drastically, and anger flared in his eyes, but he suppressed it and dared not lash out on the spot.

Although he seems to have the upper hand now, the support of the Northern Cang King is crucial, and he must not turn against the Crown Prince at this moment.

Facing General Shen Xiao, the Divine Might King alone is not enough to suppress him.

Now the struggle for the throne rests solely on him and Ji Minghao.

We've reached the final step; there's no room for error.

Defeat means death; there is no other possibility.

At the same time, Ji Minghao was shocked, remembering what the Crown Prince of Beicang had said, and his hands clenched involuntarily until his knuckles turned white.

Anger and shock welled up in his eyes, but there was also some hesitation and struggle.

He was not willing to accept this situation.

Having gained Shen Xiao's support, he originally thought the situation was settled.

After all, in past struggles for the throne, powerful figures like Shen Xiao rarely participated.

Because no matter which prince ascends the throne, it will have no impact on a powerful figure like Shen Xiao.

Those who actively enter the market to place bets are mostly nobles and their ilk.

Moreover, this time they have gained Shen Xiao's support, and he is hiding in the shadows.

Unexpectedly, the Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan had already secretly secured the fates of Shenwei King Li Tianwen and Beicang King.

Two against one, unless Shen Xiao tries to disregard the rules and forcefully support him, all that awaits him is defeat and death.

At the same time, the black-clad man with a sword behind Ji Minghao lowered his aura slightly.

A subject who is disgraced by his lord shall die.

To say these words at this time, and in front of so many eyes and ears, is a blatant insult.

The Crown Prince of Beicang seemed oblivious to everyone's reactions, a smug look on his face, and continued leisurely, "Of course, Your Highness can refuse. However..."

He glanced at Ji Mingyuan, whose face was ashen, and chuckled, "Even if Your Highness refuses, once the Fifth Prince ascends the throne, the Seventeenth Princess's fate will likely be beyond Your Highness's control. Whether she is sent to my Beicang Prince's residence or given another reward will be decided by the new emperor's word. In reality, the outcome will be the same. I am speaking up now only to give Your Highness a chance to personally fulfill your sister's wishes and protect yourself."

"You unfilial son! Shut up!"

A thunderous roar suddenly exploded!

The Northern King's hair and beard bristled, his eyes wide with rage, and his black python robe fluttered without wind. A vast and terrifying pressure descended, instantly enveloping the entire Chengqian Palace.

The bricks and stones of the palace wall rustled, and the soldiers below felt short of breath and their faces turned pale. Those with weaker cultivation staggered backward.

The King of Northern Cang was clearly furious.

He never expected that his son would say such outrageous and exploitative things in such a situation, almost like blackmail, which completely disgraced the Northern Cang Prince's Mansion!
"Father!" The crown prince's face turned pale, and he still wanted to argue.

"How dare you speak again!" The King of Northern Cang took a step forward, his figure appearing before the Crown Prince like a ghost, and raised his hand to strike!
This palm strike, though seemingly slow, appeared to seal off all surrounding space, leaving the prince with no way to avoid it.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, resounding slap landed squarely on the prince's face.

The prince screamed and flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the palace wall, causing bricks and stones to shatter.

Half of his cheek instantly swelled up, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he fell to the ground in a disheveled state, his eyes filled with fear and confusion.

Without even glancing at his son, the King of Beicang turned to face downwards, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ji Minghao, Shen Xiao, and the others, and said in a deep voice, "My son has been unruly, uttering arrogant words that have insulted the royal princess. I have failed in my duty of discipline, and I apologize to the Eighth Prince and General Shen. Such absurd words are not my intention, nor do they represent the position of the Beicang Royal Palace! The struggle for the throne concerns the very foundation of the nation; how can it be treated as a child's game!"

His voice was booming, instantly dispelling much of the atmosphere created by the prince's words.

Divine Might King Li Tianwen watched coldly from the side, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

Ji Mingyuan suppressed the anger in his eyes and bowed respectfully to the King of Beicang: "King Beicang, please calm down. The young prince is young and impetuous and misspoke. However, what the young prince said makes sense. Seventeenth Sister is of marriageable age, and the young prince is also unmarried. It is just right! When I ascend the throne, I will do my part to help you and betroth the seventeenth sister to the young prince."

Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao clenched his fists even tighter.

His younger sister, Ji Mingyue, was his own flesh and blood, and they had been very close since childhood. How could he bear to use her as a bargaining chip in a political deal?

But if we don't, we'll be facing a dead end.

Having come this far, he suddenly felt a sense of resentment.

Now that things have come to this, how could he not understand that what the Crown Prince of Beicang said was the truth?

Now that Ji Mingyuan has come to power, he will inevitably make the promises he has made at this moment in order to demonstrate his stance.

By then, the outcome will be the same.

He clenched his fist and looked at Shen Mengyun and Shen Xiao beside him.

At that moment, the Crown Prince of Beicang, who had just gotten up from the ground, seemed to have heard something. A slight smile appeared on his lips, as if he were laughing, or perhaps feeling smug.

After a moment of silence, Ji Minghao slowly loosened his clenched fists, his palms bleeding from his fingernails, the blood dripping onto the floor tiles.

At this moment, his eyes held an almost deathly calm.

He looked at Shen Xiao and bowed deeply: "General Shen, Meng Yun, thank you. But let's stop here."

"Your Highness!" Shen Mengyun exclaimed in surprise. She instantly understood Ji Minghao's thoughts, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Shen Xiao glared at him, about to speak.

Ji Minghao raised his hand to stop him. He turned to the Northern Cang King and the Divine Might King on the palace wall, his voice hoarse but clear: "My two uncles, today's events all stemmed from my brothers' struggle for the throne, which has implicated too many innocent people. The victor is king, the loser is villain. Minghao concedes defeat."

He then looked at Ji Mingyuan, whose expression was complicated, and smiled bitterly: "Fifth Brother, you have won. I only ask that you treat Xiao Shiqi well, she is still your sister. And the blood flowing in your veins is still the royal blood. When you ascend the throne, you need to have the majesty of an emperor. You cannot bow your head or be subservient! The Ji bloodline is only born standing, not kneeling."

His words were filled with a resolute determination to die.

At this moment, anyone could sense the death wish that was brewing in him.

At the same time, Ji Mingyuan felt a weight lifted from his heart, but his face showed a look of deep sorrow: "Eighth brother, why do you say such a thing? We are brothers."

Ji Minghao ignored him and suddenly drew his sword from his waist, its cold light reflecting on his resolute face.

"Eighth Prince, you mustn't!" Shen Xiao shouted, his body about to move.

Li Tianwen's gaze also shifted. Ji Minghao's words echoed in his mind.

Ji Mingyuan's actions and deeds also surfaced in his mind one by one.

In the blink of an eye...

"Wait a minute."

A calm, almost indifferent voice seemed to come from a great distance, yet it also seemed to resound directly in everyone's heart, echoing from all directions and sweeping through everyone's mind.

The next moment, the sky above Chengqian Palace changed dramatically.

A dazzling streak of black and white light, like a shooting star from outer space, tore through the sky and arrived in an instant!
As the light faded, a tall figure stood silently atop the eaves of the Chengqian Palace.

The newcomer was dressed in a black robe, with a handsome face. He exuded no aura whatsoever, yet seemed to be one with the world.

His gaze lowered, sweeping across the entire room, and an invisible aura spread outwards.

It was Jiangning, which had just fled from Luoshui Lake.

He looked at Ji Minghao, who was about to draw his sword and commit suicide, and spoke calmly.

"Eighth Prince, why are you in such a hurry to die?"

Jiang Ning's voice was calm as water, yet it seemed to contain a peculiar rhythm, penetrating the tense air within Chengqian Palace and clearly reaching everyone's ears.

The moment the words were spoken, an eerie silence fell over the entire room.

All eyes turned to the figure in black robes on the eaves of the palace.

He stood there casually, with the rising sun behind him, its rays casting a faint golden hue around him, yet being gently refracted by some invisible force, forming a hazy halo.

"Marquis of Dongling!"

"Jiangning!"

Several suppressed gasps rang out from different directions.

Shen Xiao's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he looked at Jiang Ning, sensing a faint but unusual aura emanating from him.

Divine King Li Tianwen's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, his previously serene expression, which had been in harmony with heaven and earth, showed a noticeable fluctuation.

He was in harmony with the Dao of Heaven and had an extremely high level of understanding of the universe. He could sense that Jiang Ning, simply by standing there, seemed to represent the universe.

His gaze was fixed on Jiang Ning, as if trying to pierce through the hazy halo to see what changes had occurred in this young man.

"Escape from the light, the rainbow transformation technique!" He recalled Jiang Ning's entrance and was secretly shocked.

The Northern Cang King's expression changed slightly. As a martial arts master, he was knowledgeable and experienced.

Seeing the way Jiang Ning made his entrance, how could he not understand the meaning behind it?

Although he instinctively disbelieved it, the facts prevailed over all denials.

Looking at Jiang Ning, he felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.

It wasn't the overwhelming martial arts pressure, nor was it any kind of aura that oppressed him.

Rather, it was the possibility of his own speculation that brought him immense pressure.

All the martial arts legends that Jiang Ning had created in the past paled in comparison to the speculation surging in his heart at this moment.

"Brother Jiang!" Ji Minghao's sword-wielding hand stopped in front of his neck, his hands trembling slightly.

An incredulous glint flashed in his eyes, which quickly transformed into a deep sense of surprise and hope.

He just realized that continuing to struggle and fight against Ji Mingyuan was pointless.

His only chance of winning was to retreat in order to advance.

He knew that today, Chengqian Palace was not only controlled by the few forces that were on the surface, but also by many other eyes watching from behind.

The struggle for the throne is something the old guard in the royal family can't possibly ignore.

Neither what he did nor what Ji Mingyuan did could be hidden from those old guys.

Especially the current regent, Ji Xuan.

The only thing he could rely on was the gaze of those behind him.

In his view, Ji Mingyuan's actions and words were completely inappropriate.

How could the ruler of Great Xia, the heir to the throne, be coerced by a mere prince's son into marrying off his princess as a bargaining chip?

This kind of thing can be done in secret, but it can't be brought into the open.

Keeping it under the radar is a proactive exchange of interests, a political maneuver that those in power should employ.

However, if this were brought to light, it would be seen as coercion by a subject, an insult to the Ji clan, and a trampling of the throne.

He retreated in order to advance, demonstrating his backbone and the spirit that only a ruler possesses. This was his way of winning over the Divine Might King, getting Ji Xuan to step forward, and getting those old monsters from the Ji clan to join the fray.

But Jiang Ning's appearance at this moment made him realize that he had instantly gained an extra bargaining chip.

The timing and manner of Jiang Ning's appearance, in particular, reveal a great deal.

Compared to the surprise on Ji Minghao's face, the grief on Ji Mingyuan's face froze instantly, turning into a gloomy expression of surprise and uncertainty.

He stared intently at Jiang Ning, his mind racing through all the information about this Marquis of Dongling.

The greatest martial arts talent in eight hundred years, the martial arts champion, the Marquis of Dongling, the Inspector of Zeshan Prefecture, valued by the Martial Saint, with a very deep and close relationship with the Imperial Preceptor, and also a good friend of Martial King Xiang Yuan and Xiao Wuque, the Deputy Director of the Inspectorate.
Various pieces of information flashed through his mind.

But before today, no one had ever said that Jiang Ning would make his entrance in this way!

It has transformed into a rainbow!

That's not the way martial arts masters fly through the air, but a technique that can only be mastered by those who have reached the Nascent Soul Realm in the Immortal Path.

It transforms into a beam of light and a rainbow, traveling hundreds of miles in an instant.

Jiang Ning's gaze slowly swept across the entire room, a flash of black and white light appearing and disappearing in his eyes.

In that instant, Shen Xiao, Li Tianwen, and the Northern Cang King all felt a tightness in their hearts, as if every thought, every movement of their blood and qi, and even the secrets deep within their spiritual platforms had been completely pierced by that gaze, leaving them nowhere to hide!

In an instant, Jiang Ning was able to discern the order of the three people's physical strength and blood energy.

Of the three, Li Tianwen was the strongest, radiating the most intense energy.

Next is Shen Xiao.

The last one is the Northern Cang King.

Of course, this ranking only considers the strength of the physical body and the vital energy.

It has nothing to do with the strength of martial arts techniques, the depth of cultivation, or the distance one has traveled on one's own path.

True strength, however, is closely related to various aspects.

"General Shen! King Shenwei! King Beicang!" Jiang Ning greeted them one by one, then nodded slightly, showing no arrogance despite having achieved the Nascent Soul Immortal realm.

He knew that even if he achieved the realm of a primordial spirit immortal, he would still lack any immortal cultivation and be unsuitable for the environment, so the strength he could unleash would be far less than what was recorded in ancient books.

The outcome of a battle against a true martial arts master is uncertain.

And in any case, there's no need to create another enemy out of thin air. (End of Chapter)