I bear witness to immortality in the human world.

Chapter 195 Reactions from all parties
A royal palace somewhere.

Inside the magnificent palace.

A richly dressed middle-aged prince was reclining in a chaise longue, with several concubines massaging his legs and shoulders beside him. In front of him, a subordinate was kneeling on the ground, reporting to him.

"Oh? So Wu Ming really has such abilities?"

After listening to his subordinate's report, Prince Gong opened his narrowed eyes slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression, and said, "If that's the case, we can try to make contact. Xian'er happens to be in the Qianlong Academy. If it works out, it would be a good thing."

As Prince Gong of Yongguo, he was born with the most direct royal bloodline and his talent was also decent. With the help of a massive amount of resources, he also cultivated to the fifth level of blood coagulation. However, his fifth level of blood coagulation was somewhat watered down and he was considered weak among the five levels of blood coagulation. But that didn't matter. With this level, it was enough for him to secure his position as a prince.

As a prince, he had countless beautiful concubines in his mansion, and dozens of children. He didn't really care much about his children, but rather regarded them as tools for him to use in marriage alliances and maintain his power.

He wouldn't care too much about ordinary disciples in the Hidden Dragon Academy, but it's different for a top genius like Wu Ming. It's practically a certainty that he'll reach the sixth level of cultivation, and the probability of breaking through to the seventh level is also extremely high.

Such talent is more than enough to marry his princess, and coincidentally, his palace also has a suitable and outstanding woman in the Hidden Dragon Academy.

Whether it succeeds or not, it's worth a try.

……

Another prince's residence.

This is the residence of Yan Chuyu's grandfather, the Prince of Anping.

"Well, this good-for-nothing son-in-law... at least he brought something good."

Although Prince Anping was over seventy years old, he took excellent care of himself and was a master of blood clotting five times. He still looked like a middle-aged man and did not show much signs of aging.

He stood with his hands behind his back by the window of his study, listening to the reports from his subordinates, and a hint of relaxation finally appeared on his stern face.

He had high hopes for Yan Yuntian, which is why he chose to marry his daughter to him. However, he never expected that Yan Yuntian would fail to break through even the sixth level of Blood Condensation and stop at the fifth level. Although this level was a force worth paying attention to for his Prince's Mansion, his expectations were too high, so his disappointment was greater, which made him very dissatisfied with Yan Yuntian.

As for Yan Chuyu showing some talent and entering the Hidden Dragon Academy, he knew about it, but he didn't care too much. After all, Yan Chuyu was a woman. Even if she had some talent, what could she do?
Reaching the fifth level of blood is extremely difficult.

Unexpectedly, Wu Ming, a peerless genius, emerged in the Jingye City region where Yan Yuntian was transferred. Coincidentally, Yan Chuyu and Wu Ming came from the same region and had a fairly good relationship. This news stirred something in the heart of Prince Anping.

Wu Ming's talent far surpasses that of Yan Yuntian back then. If he could marry Yan Chuyu, it would be a good thing. After breaking through to the sixth level of cultivation, his Prince's Mansion would have an additional sixth-level cultivator to help him. In the future, Wu Ming might even be able to cultivate to the seventh level and become a cultivator standing at the pinnacle of Yong Kingdom. In that case, the entire Prince's Mansion would benefit greatly.

……

Yong Kingdom.

royal palace.

This is the palace where the emperor, who governs the entire Yong Kingdom, usually handles state affairs.

The palace was spacious and quiet. Occasionally, maids or eunuchs would move around, but they did so quietly without making a sound. Deep inside the inner hall, on a bright yellow carpet, a man dressed in royal robes sat cross-legged, with a table in front of him.

Suddenly, a eunuch dressed in black robes appeared, quietly approached Prince Yong, and whispered a few words to him.

Upon hearing this, Prince Yong, who was reviewing case files from various regions, paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "...It's that Wu Ming again? He truly is a once-in-a-century talent."

The Hidden Dragon Academy is extremely important to the Yong Kingdom, and naturally it receives his attention. The list of almost all the disciples is submitted to him, and Wu Ming's name, along with all the intelligence, was sent to his desk as early as the first day he entered the academy.

Prince Yong recalled the intelligence information about Wu Ming and pondered, "With such talent, he has a chance to stand out in the Hundred Kingdoms Prodigy Battle. If he really can... Hmm, issue my royal decree to let the Nineteenth Princess make contact with this person."

Wu Ming's displayed abilities have fully qualified him to marry a princess. The main reason is that Wu Ming's intelligence information indicates that he has never been married. This is not a good thing for the Prince of Yong, because someone like Wu Ming is likely to be chosen by the Great Jin Dynasty. Once he goes to the Great Jin Dynasty, he will be far away from Yong and his sense of belonging to Yong will gradually fade.

Especially when one is without a family.

Their Yong Kingdom also produced a peerless genius who entered the cultivation holy land of the Great Jin Dynasty and even broke through to the ninth level of blood condensation, becoming a 'Martial Saint'-like existence. However, the other party only returned to Yong Kingdom once many years ago to solve a crisis for Yong Kingdom. After that, all contact was completely severed, and he never inquired about Yong Kingdom's affairs again.

Regardless of whether Wu Ming has the opportunity to stand out from the Hundred Kingdoms Prodigy Battle, if Wu Ming can leave behind a family legacy in Yong Kingdom, it will only benefit Yong Kingdom and not harm it.

……

News of Wu Ming's battle on the island in the middle of the lake spread very quickly. Within half a day, it was known to all the princes and nobles of Yong Kingdom, and a few days later, the news spread throughout the entire Qianlong Academy.

……

Hidden Dragon Academy, in the northern part of the academy, underground. This is a place where Yin energy accumulates, a secret realm of Hidden Dragon Academy, known as the 'Nine Yin Cold Cave'. Deep within the cold cave, a figure wearing a Taoist robe sits cross-legged. He suddenly opens his eyes, a glimmer of light flashing in them.

"Wu Ming?"

He pondered the name for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and closed his eyes again.

Talented people emerge in every generation. It is not surprising that some dazzling geniuses would emerge in a place like Qianlong Academy. Since Yin Kun has been able to sit in the position of 'the number one person in the academy', he can accept any challenge.

……

Another place.

Martial Arts Academy.

"You mean Xue Lin, who mastered the Transcendental Spear Technique, still couldn't subdue the newcomers from the Dao Academy?"

A slender young man dressed in white sat cross-legged on a rockery, toying with a long sword in his hand, turning it over and over between his fingers, while a look of curiosity appeared on his face.

Standing beneath the artificial hill, Liu Guangyuan's eyes held a hint of respect as he said, "That's right. I've also fought him, but I'm ashamed to say I couldn't even withstand a single move..."

"Hahaha, even Xue Lin couldn't handle this guy, how could you possibly deal with him?"

The young man in white on the artificial hill burst into laughter.

He was none other than Gu Liufeng, the top student in the Martial Academy. Compared to the arrogant Xue Lin, he was much more cheerful and straightforward, which is why many disciples in the academy respected him.

Gu Liufeng gripped the sword hilt with his left hand, turned the longsword to the side, and patted it a few times in his right palm as if playing with a ruler. He said with a smile, "I'm afraid Xue Lin didn't expect that he would suffer such a setback after just mastering the spear technique... I guess he originally wanted to challenge me, but after this battle, he might have to go back and practice for another six months."

“Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Xue has mastered the Transcendental Spear Technique, which is no ordinary feat. Wu Ming is no less formidable.”

Liu Guangyuan looked at Gu Liufeng and reminded him.

Gu Liufeng leaped down from the artificial hill, patted Liu Guangyuan on the shoulder, and said with a light laugh, "Xue Lin... even if he has mastered the Transcendental Spear Technique, he is still far from being able to defeat me. There's no need to worry about him. But that Junior Brother Wu is indeed a remarkable person. He might even be a greater threat than Yin Kun. Hmm, I'll go find Yin Kun to spar with in a few days. It's been a long time since I've fought against Daoist cultivators, so I'm a bit rusty."

……

Inside the small courtyard where Wu Ming lives.

Listening to the gatekeeper's report, Wu Ming couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.

Since he first showed his talent on the island in the middle of the lake, his courtyard has become much more lively. In the past few days, people have come to visit him one after another, either inviting him to spar and compete, or inviting him to go hunting in the eastern suburbs of the capital, or inviting him to enjoy the moon and scenery.

Most of them were women from the mansions of various princes and nobles.

Wu Ming was well aware of these people's intentions. With the methods he had just displayed, and being unmarried and only twenty-five years old, he would naturally attract the attention of the top royal families in Yong Kingdom and receive offers from all sides.

He wasn't particularly interested in responding to these things at the moment. Or rather, as he devoted himself to cultivation, his resolve to pursue the Dao grew stronger day by day. Only when his path reached its end and he could no longer move forward would he be able to stop, build his own business, and enjoy the rest of his life.

Now that the future looks bright, he naturally won't stop here.

"If I receive any more invitations like these in the future, I will say that I am in seclusion and undergoing intensive training, and it is in a critical moment that I cannot go out."

Wu Ming gave an order to the servants guarding the courtyard.

"Yes."

The guard immediately bowed his head in response.

Watching Wu Ming's figure disappear into the courtyard, a hint of envy appeared in his eyes. In fact, those who could serve as attendants in the Hidden Dragon Academy were not ordinary people. He was also a scion of an official family in the capital, but his rank was not high.

Wu Ming, a dazzling prodigy throughout the entire Yong Kingdom, was an unattainable figure to him. Especially when he saw the daughters of princes and nobles extending olive branches to Wu Ming, which he turned down, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This was a true peerless hero. What ordinary people envied, Wu Ming had no interest in at all.

In fact, the concubines and maids in the various courtyards of the Hidden Dragon Academy are all trained and selected. They are all women born out of wedlock from collateral branches of various aristocratic families. When they reach the appropriate age, they are selected through layers of selection to enter the Hidden Dragon Academy. During their years in the academy, if they have the opportunity to be noticed by the academy's outstanding talents, they will have the opportunity to win over a future great figure for the aristocratic family who will be at least at the fifth level of blood cultivation and the fifth level of refinement.

If one were fortunate enough to serve someone closely and bear a son or daughter, that would be wonderful. Even if one's rank was too low to be a principal wife, one could still become a concubine. For ordinary daughters of officials from collateral branches, becoming a concubine of a powerful figure was a great fortune. Therefore, the opportunity to serve in the Hidden Dragon Palace was extremely rare.

(End of this chapter)