Even for those like Lu Shuhua from great and influential families, raising a Martial Saint required draining all their resources, and sometimes that still wasnât enoughâit depended on luck.
In the past, not so many were tempted to try.
Because the Champion Leader mostly dominated the martial arts competitions with overwhelming victories.
But this year was different.
Chen Sansi had only achieved Refining Internal Organs Small Success!
Many of them had reached Refining Internal Organs Perfection and would be able to transform their energy soon, standing a great chance to snatch the position of the True Inheritor.
After the mentorship ceremony concluded, the crowd dispersed on their own.
Starting from tomorrow, they would need to report to the barracks daily, to train or carry out missions.
"Princely Heir, are you... youâre about to transform your energy?"
Yin Hanwen earnestly expressed his concern, "Princely Heir, youâve shared with me that the complete âGolden Crow Heavenly Dragon Saber Techniqueâ can elevate your realm faster, but it damages the body. You are still young, in the future..."
"Heaven rewards the diligent!"
Cao Fan interrupted him, "To suppress him by a mere small realm level and still not win, if this Princely Heir were to be overtaken by him, wouldnât that be even more disgraceful? How could I afford not to try my hardest?"
Previously, he had relied on the set boundaries of the platform to gain a suppressive advantage, otherwise, the defeat would have been even quicker and more brutal!
This gave him a full measure of pressure and motivation in his heart.
"Moreover..."
Cao Fan continued, "Donât forget, I came to Liangzhou partly for Sun Xiangzong, and partly to establish my authority in the military. If I could take control of the Northern Territoryâs military power, my position would be more secure."
The Imperial Family, in most cases, does not have just one descendant.
Not to mention competition for the position of Crown Prince, even the position of Princely Heir is coveted.
He had several brothers back home...
Especially the last time he visited the palace, he saw his youngest brother riding on Grandpaâs neck.
If he could make a name for himself in the Northern Territory, only then could he be truly worry-free.
"Princely Heir..."
Yin Hanwen looked full of worries.
He might flatter on ordinary days, but unlike Wen Qiushi, he and Cao Fan grew up together and truly cared for each other.
"Hanwen, you donât understand."
Cao Fan forced a bitter smile tinged with self-mockery: "We Cao Family members are born noble, but we also live burdensomely. Once we lose, itâs not just our position at stake but our entire fortunes and lives. How could we not fight our hardest?"
"Princely Heir!"
Yin Hanwen, clenching his fist, declared, "The only thing Hanwen can do is to assist the Princely Heir with his life."
"Hanwen, in private you donât have to call me Princely Heir, just calling me Brother Fan is fine."
Cao Fan patted his shoulder, speaking with an air of gravity, "If one day I truly attain that position, I will still rely on you as my right-hand man."
"I wouldnât dare."
Yin Hanwen bowed respectfully.
"Ah~"
Cao Fan did not persuade further, just gazed at the departing figure of Chen Sansi, clenching the Azure Dragon Crescent Saber in his hand even harder, driving it inches deep into the ground.
He was determined to win, using all of his might!
...
"Junior fellow apprentice, please come in."
At the Governor Mansionâs gate, Fang Qingyun said with a smile, "Master is waiting for you in the backyard."
"Senior brother, let me push it."
Chen Sansi took the wheelchair from the servant and wheeled him inside.
As he officially crossed the threshold, he felt inexplicably nervous.
"Young master, did you damage my dragon bone carriage?"
"..."
As soon as they returned,
a maid approached them, her tone was respectful indeed, but it also carried real reproach.
"I just touched it!"
Sun Buqi argued, "Your thing was already broken, donât put the blame on me."
"Young master, you must fix it for me, it took a month to craft it myself."
The maid dragged Sun Buqi toward the side yard, not forgetting to bow before leaving.
"..."
"General Fang!"
"Have met Mr. Chen!"
"..."
Similar situations continued to occur.
The servants in Governor Mansion observed the rules, yet they did not show any signs of oppression, giving off the vibe of nannies rather than slaves.
Passing by a courtyard, they even heard the sound of reading aloud.
"The mansion has a private school."
Fang Qingyun explained, "Both maids and family servants can study here. If they pass the assessments held by the mansion, they can shed their lowly status and take part in the imperial examinations; practicing Martial Arts is also an option, as there are specialized instructors here."
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"But it stopped a few years ago because doing so led the Capital City to suspect that they were nurturing insiders to infiltrate the court."
"Even if they learn and practice Martial Arts, they canât shed their lowly status; it all depends on their personal interest."
"Why arenât you saying anything, junior fellow apprentice?"
"Is it that you find it unbelievable? This doesnât match the descriptions in the saint books about strict hierarchical distinctions where everyone knows their place, from the ruler to the ruled."
"Hmm."
Chen Sansi nodded slightly, "It is surprising."
But what surprised him was that such a scene should not exist in this world.
"It seems, you arenât too shocked either?"
Fang Qingyun was somewhat taken aback.
He didnât dwell on it, but instead explained, "Master, being born a slave, nearly died from beating for being insubordinate. Fortunately, the current Emperor redeemed him and gave him the opportunity to learn Martial Arts, allowing him to climb to where he is today."
"But he has never been happy."
"Especially as he aged and rose in ranks, he saw more and realized the unhappiness increased, but he couldnât pinpoint the problem or know how to solve it."
"Later, Master encountered an Immortal who enlightened him, leading him to transform the mansion in this way. Indeed, since then he has felt much more at ease."
"An Immortal?"
Chen Sansi caught the essential word; "Does an Immortal truly exist in this world, and Governor⊠has Master really met one?"