Translator: AnubisTL
"Long Xun'er, send these two into the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc. Stay there and watch over them. Don't let them get hurt."
The Emerald Peak Estate had been on the verge of collapse all morning. With no other choice, Gu Feng summoned Long Xun'er, handed her the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc, and instructed her to send the two women inside.
Long Xun'er, a newly advanced Ninth Layer of the Sea-Condensing Realm expert and descendant of the Azure Dragon, could easily subdue them.
Of course, Gu Feng wasn't foolish enough to have her restrain them, as that would only redirect their fury toward him. Instead, he simply instructed her to ensure their safety.
As for how long they fought, it didn't matter.
Hua Wenyue, still engaged in fierce combat, frowned when she saw Long Xun'er approach. Without a word, she immediately dove into the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc.
Yan Yexue, facing her, sensed the faint pressure emanating from Long Xun'er. Shocked, she quickly followed suit.
Finally, things calmed down. Gu Feng breathed a sigh of relief, while the Third Prince wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Brother Gu, this is going to be difficult in the future!"
The Third Prince took out his fishing rod and headed to the pavilion by the small lake to fish.
Gu Feng, who also enjoyed fishing, had his own rod with him. The two men cast their lines together.
"Third Prince, what kind of fish are you trying to catch?"
The Third Prince's fishing skills were legendary, yet every time he reeled in a fish, he would sigh resignedly before releasing it back into the water.
"This small lake holds five thousand goldfish. Four thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine are ordinary goldfish, but in the belly of one, I've placed a Magic Artifact.
The artifact isn't precious. I simply want to see when I'll finally catch that special goldfish."
Hearing this, Gu Feng grinned. Now that was interesting.
"May I ask how long you've been fishing like this, Third Prince?"
"Ever since I left the capital at the age of ten, I've done this wherever I've gone.
But I've never succeeded. Either I can't catch it, or the goldfish dies halfway, leaving the treasure lost at the bottom of the lake—" The Third Prince shook his head with a faint smile.
"One in five thousand, without using Spiritual Power... it's indeed a difficult catch," Gu Feng agreed, nodding. "But I, Gu Feng, don't believe it's impossible. Let's see if we can succeed in these last ten days before the end of the year!"
"Perfect. Two people fishing doubles our chances, and with Gu Feng's luck on our side, our odds are excellent," Chu Xiu said confidently, now that he had Gu Feng's help.
He had originally planned to meet the Third Prince and then return to the Great Chu Dynasty, but with the annual Great Competition between the two nations approaching at the end of the year, Gu Feng wasn't in a hurry to leave.
After Great Wei and the Great Chu Dynasty ceased hostilities, both sides agreed to send one hundred Heaven's Chosen cultivators each year to engage in a battle to the death.
The victor would receive a large stake of Spirit Veins, while the loser would forfeit their life.
The disparity between Heaven's Chosen cultivators, which was masked during the national war, became glaringly apparent in the Heavenly Pride Battle.
In the first year of the ceasefire, over half of the one hundred Heaven's Chosen sent by the Great Chu Dynasty perished.
In the second year, over sixty percent were killed.
By the third year, the death toll exceeded seventy percent.
External observers predicted that the Great Chu Dynasty's casualty rate would only continue to rise over time.
As the academy specifically tasked with training Heaven's Chosen, the Grand Harmony Academy had endured immense pressure in recent years.
All the major sects agreed that sending their disciples to the Grand Harmony Academy was akin to sending them to the underworld.
In the most recent recruitment cycle, the number of applicants had plummeted by half compared to previous years, with eighty percent of the remaining candidates possessing mediocre talent.
Watching the Grand Harmony Academy decline year after year, Prefect Chu and his colleagues were deeply concerned but powerless to intervene.
They couldn't beg the sects to send their disciples for training.
Only now did they realize that Great Wei's willingness to cease hostilities wasn't a sign of abandoning its ambitions to conquer the Great Chu Dynasty, but rather a shift in strategy.
It was a slow, agonizing death by a thousand cuts—a pain that initially went unnoticed but would eventually leave them screaming in agony.
The cultivators eligible to participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle between the two dynasties were all Peerless Prodigies renowned throughout the entire region. Their deaths not only deprived Great Chu of a generation of future pillars but also severely undermined the confidence of Chu Kingdom's younger generation.
If this continued, Chu Kingdom risked internal collapse.
In the imperial court, the impeachment of Prefect Chu grew more intense daily.
It was inevitable that the Grand Harmony Academy would collapse soon.
In this dire situation, Prefect Chu and his allies sought salvation. They sold everything they owned and kept the Cultivation Tower open year-round.
They allowed Zong Shixuan and others to enter the tower to enhance their cultivation.
Yan Yexue's rapid advancement was also a result of this.
"Third Prince, do you want to return to Chu Kingdom?" Gu Feng picked up a goldfish, sensed it, and then released it back into the lake.
"No," the Third Prince replied, shaking his head. A hint of bitterness flickered in his eyes.
Leaving without permission would reignite the war between Great Wei and Great Chu, not to mention his current status as a hostage. Even without this restriction, he couldn't return.
The Great Chu Emperor's health was deteriorating daily, and he could die at any moment. With only daughters and the Crown Prince and Third Prince as potential successors, returning now would be tantamount to suicide.
"Mm," Gu Feng nodded slightly, not pressing further on the matter.
"Will you participate in this year's Heavenly Pride Battle?"
"I can't just stand by and watch Great Chu's Heavenly Chosen perish," Gu Feng replied, showing no interest in the Heavenly Pride Battle or the fame and glory it promised.
However, in past Heavenly Pride Battles, Grand Harmony Academy had suffered heavy casualties, with many familiar names fading into history.
Among them were Pu Shaoxuan, formerly second on the Sunset Glow Sect's Inner Sanctum Heaven Ranking, and Li Huixian, who ranked third.
After entering Grand Harmony Academy, the two had encouraged each other in their cultivation, and over time, a deep affection had blossomed between them.
Had it not been for the Heavenly Pride Battle, they would likely have become Dao Companions within a few years.
Tragically, Pu Shaoxuan perished in the second Heavenly Pride Battle. Li Huixian participated in the third, specifically challenging the one who had killed Pu Shaoxuan. Sadly, her strength fell short, and she met a bitter end.
That night, upon hearing the news, Gu Feng's heart sank. If he hadn't left Great Chu five years ago, leaving no trace, neither Pu Shaoxuan nor Li Huixian, nor several other Sunset Glow Sect Heavenly Chosen, would have perished.
Fortunately, Wu Qi and others close to Gu Feng remained safe and sound.
"So many lives lost... such a pity," Gu Feng murmured softly.
"Indeed. Between the annual national war and the three Heavenly Pride Battles, Great Chu has paid a heavy price. Meanwhile, Great Li to the north is stirring restlessly, and who knows when they might launch a full-scale invasion?" The Third Prince's mood darkened as well. Helplessly burdened with poor talent, he could only sigh in despair.
"But this time is different! With you here, Great Chu will shock the world and make a comeback in the Heavenly Pride Battle!" Looking at Gu Feng, the Third Prince's gloom vanished. He clenched his fist, brimming with confidence.
"I'll do my best," Gu Feng replied modestly.
"Oh, right. I don't know if Miss Yan told you, but because you were missing for so long, my eldest brother, citing a Great Chu law, seized your shares in Swamp Fortress..."
The Third Prince's words startled Gu Feng. Great Chu did indeed have such a law, though it was rarely strictly enforced. Normally, when a cultivator died, their assets were inherited by their closest friends.
However, considering the Crown Prince's relationship with him, Gu Feng realized this was only to be expected.
"Well, if it's gone, it's gone..." Gu Feng forced a wry smile. "If I'd known this would happen, I should have listened to Sima Juncong and made a will beforehand."
"Once you shine in the Heavenly Pride Battle, the Great Chu Emperor will surely return all your shares in Swamp Fortress!" the Third Prince consoled him, then reeled in his fishing rod. "Looks like we've caught nothing again today."
Watching the Third Prince's retreating back, Gu Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. This fishing method was too tedious. He decided he'd rather not bother with it again. Turning to Shi San, he asked, "Are they still fighting?"
"Aren't they finished yet?"
Shi San held the miniature Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc, its surface occasionally flashing with light—a sign that the Array Formation was still running.
"No," Shi San replied emotionlessly, shaking his head.
"Leave it to me. You go rest."
After Shi San left, Gu Feng returned to his room with the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to check on them.
He arrived at the Martial Arts Arena and peered through the window. The scene inside left him with a strange expression.
The two women sat cross-legged on the ground, breathing heavily and glaring at each other.
Judging by the scene, their battle had been evenly matched.
In terms of talent, Hua Wenyue was undoubtedly superior. However, during her five years of wandering at sea, she hadn't been able to cultivate without distractions, and her training time had been far less than Yan Yexue's.
The latter had received part of Zhu Qingyan's legacy, coupled with her own considerable talent and focused cultivation, allowing her battle prowess to reach a level comparable to the Five Greats of Great Chu's younger generation.
Creak—
After watching from outside for a while, Gu Feng decided their battle was probably over. He pushed open the door and entered.
"You've worked hard. Go rest," he said softly to Long Xun'er first, then turned to the two women. "Ahem—are you done sparring? If so, come out for dinner!"
Hearing this, both women tilted their heads simultaneously, glared at Gu Feng, then returned to their intense gaze-off.
Uh... what's going on here?
The eerie atmosphere made Gu Feng feel awkward, unsure how to react.
"Hehe... looks like you're taking a break. No worries, more sparring is good for cultivation progress. Don't worry about dinner; I'll have someone bring it over later. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading out now." Seeing that neither woman spoke, Gu Feng quietly backed toward the door.
Before he could leave, the thunderous sounds of battle erupted again. Gu Feng shuddered and fled the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc as if his life depended on it.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
"Xun'er, do you know why they're fighting?"
Long Xun'er, who hadn't gone far, nodded. "They both think the other is the third party who shamelessly slept over last night."
Ah, so that's it, Gu Feng realized.
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on them and let them fight it out once and for all."
Gu Feng patted Long Xun'er's shoulder, speechless.
Their fight lasted for over half a month, continuing even on the day before the Heavenly Pride Battle.
Finally, Gu Feng couldn't take it anymore. He stormed into the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc and roared:
"ARE YOU BOTH DONE YET?! Stop fighting this instant!"
The roar, like a savage beast's, successfully halted the two women's battle, but it also drew their ire toward Gu Feng.
Their eyes narrowed, and their sharp gazes simultaneously locked onto him.
"Gu Feng, don't forget that Chu Youhuan is still waiting for you in the Great Chu Dynasty. How can you justify consorting with such women? Do you even realize how much pressure she's endured for you? She even left the Grand Harmony Academy to take charge of the Sunset Glow Sect on your behalf..." Yan Yexue said fiercely, her chest heaving with rage.
"Such women? Hmph, you're talking about yourself! Do you know who this is? This is Long Xun'er, Gu Feng's former fiancée. I can't stand seeing a shameless third party like you!" Hua Wenyue retorted, pulling Long Xun'er forward and striking a righteous pose. "You should be ashamed!" she added haughtily.
Gu Feng stared at Long Xun'er in astonishment. She muttered, "That wasn't even the original reason we were fighting."
Right, it's all my fault!
Gu Feng's face darkened, and his mind was in turmoil.
At the border between the Great Chu Dynasty and the Great Wei, platforms had long been erected, and cultivators from both nations had surrounded the area, leaving no room to move.
A rough estimate placed the number of cultivators at no less than several million.
Unlike the Great Wei side, where laughter and casual confidence filled the air, the Great Chu camp was steeped in a somber atmosphere.
Familiar faces, including Gu Feng's, wore grave expressions as they huddled together, discussing their strategy.
"Why haven't Monk Wu De and Yan Yexue arrived yet? Without them, this battle will be difficult!" Zong Shixuan gazed toward the Great Wei camp, his brow furrowed.
"Forget about winning or losing. The key is to ensure our comrades survive as best as possible," Dugu Ao said, his once arrogant pride tempered by five years of trials. He had become remarkably composed.
"Let's place Monk Wu De and Yan Yexue in the rear. One of us will go first to secure an early victory and boost morale!" Duan Yansheng's square face bore a jagged scar from the first Heavenly Pride Battle between the two nations.
"I'll go first. I'll kill one of them!" Wu Sheng's indomitable spirit remained unbroken. The sword intent radiating from him had become even sharper, clearly having reached the pinnacle of sword intent mastery. He was now the undisputed sword master of the younger generation in Great Chu, rivaling even the older Sword Cultivators.
"You all have to fight hard! If my Boss were here, Great Chu would never have suffered three consecutive years of crushing defeats!" Sima Juncong, once carefree and frivolous, had matured considerably. He had traveled all the way from the northern border to cheer on his comrades.
(End of the Chapter)
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