Chapter Thirty-Four: A Gathering of the Mighty

"Qin Feng greets the City Lord!" Qin Feng clasped his fists in salute and spoke loudly.

"If it hadn't happened in Tianyang City, I would never have believed someone could reach the Guardian Realm at the age of fifteen!"

"A prodigy among youths, truly astonishing!" Zhao Zhonghao stood up, his voice filled with amazement.

"The City Lord flatters me," Qin Feng replied with a faint smile.

His cultivation was only at the Transforming Force level, but he offered no explanation. Sometimes, clarifying such matters only aroused others' greed.

"No need to be so formal, please sit," Zhao Zhonghao said with a smile. "I invited you here today to tell you a few things. Now that you have become a Guardian, these are matters you ought to know."

"Very well." Qin Feng sensed no airs of seniority or authority from Zhao Zhonghao, which left him with a favorable impression. He took a seat.

"Young friend Qin, are you aware of the realms beyond Guardian?" Zhao Zhonghao asked with a gentle smile.

"I would be honored if the City Lord would enlighten me," Qin Feng replied, his eyes bright with anticipation.

"On the Xuanwu Continent, the ranks of martial cultivators are divided into Manifest Force, Hidden Force, Transforming Force; Grandmaster, also known as Guardian; above that are Commandant, King, and Emperor!"

"Let me explain in detail the four major ranks: Guardian, Commandant, King, and Emperor."

"A Guardian tempers their body with inner strength; their bones become as hard as iron, able to shatter boulders and rend tigers and panthers with bare hands. At the initial stage, they possess a strength of three thousand jin, mid-stage five thousand, late-stage seven thousand. Of course, there are those with extraordinary gifts whose power greatly exceeds the standard."

"A Commandant can oversee regions and expand territories, having unblocked all twelve meridians so that their energy flows unimpeded. Blades and spears cannot harm them; they move lightly as swallows, leaping across rooftops. Early stage, thirty thousand jin of force; mid-stage, fifty thousand; late-stage, seventy thousand; their lifespan can reach one hundred and fifty years!"

"A King is the pinnacle among the great dynasties. Their true energy can be projected outside the body, killing at a distance, and forming a protective aura impervious to weapons. They can soar into the air, leaping hundreds of feet. Early stage, three hundred thousand jin; mid-stage, five hundred thousand; late-stage, seven hundred thousand; lifespan up to two hundred years."

"An Emperor—it's been over a hundred years since one has appeared. Perhaps they are now legends, transcendent beings akin to immortals or gods. Their true energy becomes indestructible, never depleting; no weapon can harm them, and they can fly at will. Early stage, three million jin; mid-stage, five million; late-stage, seven million; lifespan up to three hundred years!"

Zhao Zhonghao spoke in a solemn voice.

"Guardian, Commandant, King, Emperor—the four supreme realms!" Qin Feng's face showed his shock, his eyes burning with fervor. He longed to master such extraordinary power.

Zhao Zhonghao noticed Qin Feng's expression and smiled. He, too, had set his sights on becoming an Emperor when he first learned of these things. Yet now, he remained only a late-stage Guardian. At this thought, a trace of bitterness tugged at Zhao Zhonghao's lips.

"After breaking through to the Guardian Realm, martial cultivators are granted special privileges by the Grand Chu Dynasty: 'A Grandmaster must not be insulted. Whoever insults a Grandmaster shall be put to death!' Of course, when the dynasty is in peril, you are bound to fight for your country without question," Zhao Zhonghao continued in an even tone.

"I see. But doesn't the dynasty fear that martial artists will ignore imperial decrees?" Qin Feng asked curiously.

"Heh." Zhao Zhonghao chuckled. "Unless you become a peerless Emperor, who can withstand the onslaught of an army of a million?"

"Thank you, City Lord, for your guidance. I am deeply grateful," Qin Feng replied with a nod. Unless one was an immortal, who could resist the suppression of a million warriors?

After that, Zhao Zhonghao, wishing to befriend Qin Feng, shared with him many matters concerning the Grand Chu Dynasty.

"Guardian Qin, the Jiang family is no more in Tianyang City. Here is their wealth; please check it over."

By midday, Lin Jiutian, Feng Chengyun, Hu Xiaotian, and Chen Haitian, along with other warriors, had eradicated the remnants of the Jiang family, tallied their treasure, and delivered it to the Qin household.

"Thank you, gentlemen," Qin Feng said with a wave, signaling the household guards to haul away the dozen carriages.

"It is our honor to serve Guardian Qin."

"Guardian Qin, you are too kind!"

"Should you command it, I, Hu, would walk through fire and water for Guardian Qin!" The warriors spoke one after another.

"Grandfather, purchase century-old spiritual herbs with all the Jiang family’s wealth. Now that the Qin family has risen to the top of Tianyang City, we must strengthen ourselves quickly, for we still lack enough strongmen," Qin Feng told Qin Tianyun once the others had departed.

"Very well. Everything will be as you say," Qin Tianyun replied solemnly.

"By the way, Grandfather, here is a cultivation technique I acquired by chance—the Golden Bell Shield. It allows direct advancement to the Grandmaster Realm. I am giving it to the family," Qin Feng said, recalling the manual he had found earlier. He instructed Liu Hu to fetch it from his belongings and handed it to Qin Tianyun.

"A technique that reaches the Grandmaster Realm?" Qin Tianyun’s hands trembled as he received the Golden Bell Shield—such a treasure he had never dared even to dream of before.

"Xiaofeng?" Qin Tianyun looked at Qin Feng, at a loss for words.

"I am a member of the Qin family, too. If our family grows strong, it will help me as well. But Grandfather, such a precious technique must never be passed on except to those we absolutely trust."

"Now, I must return to my cultivation. My strength is still too weak—I must train harder," Qin Feng said earnestly to his grandfather.

With that, Qin Feng turned and went to his room, sat cross-legged, swallowed a century-old spiritual herb, and entered into meditation.

Now, consuming such herbs no longer brought him rapid improvement.

"Young master, someone from the Black Tiger Gang has delivered a letter," Wang Fu’s voice sounded outside just as Qin Feng had been cultivating for an hour.

"Come in," Qin Feng replied, opening his eyes with a hint of puzzlement.

"Young master, here is a letter from the Black Tiger Gang," Wang Fu said, handing the letter over.

"Pass the word, Wang Fu—pack up at once. We’re returning to Xuan Prefecture immediately," Qin Feng ordered after reading the letter, which reported that Ye Qinglong, the master of the Azure Dragon Sect, had broken through to Grandmaster, placing the Black Tiger Gang in grave danger.

"Yes, young master." Wang Fu asked no questions and hurried off to find Wang Bao and Liu Hu to pack and prepare the horses.

"Grandfather, something has happened in Xuan Prefecture. I must return at once," Qin Feng said after packing his things and taking his leave of Qin Tianyun, Qin Zhongkai, Murong Wei, and the others.

"Xiaofeng, here are fifteen thousand taels of gold—use it to buy rare herbs for your cultivation. Do not refuse; you have done enough for the Qin family already. Only if you grow strong will our family prosper," Qin Tianyun insisted, asking him to wait a moment before quickly fetching the banknotes sent earlier by the City Lord’s residence, Lin Jiuyang, and others to give to Qin Feng.