Perhaps it was due to Jiang Wu You’s esteemed identity, but Jiang Wang had always overlooked her cultivation base. The very title of Hua Ying Palace Master, her station, was sufficient to command respect without needing the backing of formidable strength.

Yet, upon closer examination, Jiang Wu You, as the Great Qi imperial family’s third daughter, did appear rather unremarkable in her cultivation. Crown Prince Jiang Wu Hua, though seemingly ordinary, had reached the peak of the Outer Building realm. Her two younger brothers, Jiang Wu Xie and Jiang Wu Qi, now held realms that were certainly no less than hers. Jiang Wu Qi’s profound and immeasurable depth went without saying.

During the events at Seven Star Valley, Jiang Wu Xie was still slightly outmatched by Lei Zhan Gan. With his current perspective, Jiang Wang might simply dismiss him with a casual “but so.” However, Jiang Wang always felt that Jiang Wu Xie’s strength was not as simple as it appeared. That striking Red Luan Spear of his was astonishingly impressive. Perhaps his true power would manifest after entering the Inner Mansion realm.

And Jiang Wu You…

Recalling now that moment on Tian Ya Tai, when Ji Shao Qing sought to flee, Jiang Wu You unleashed a single strike with her Fang Tian Ghost God Halberd. Why did Gu Huai Xin immediately intervene? Beyond simply wishing for Ji Shao Qing to have a dignified battle, there lay another possibility – that with a single halberd strike, Jiang Wu You would have slain Ji Shao Qing!

Jiang Wang was acutely aware of Ji Shao Qing’s strength. Though he himself had personally defeated and killed the man, he never felt capable of ending him with a single blow. Yet, Jiang Wu You, also in the Inner Mansion realm, seemed capable of precisely this. At least, in Gu Huai Xin’s eyes, it appeared so.

Just how strong was Jiang Wu You, in the Inner Mansion realm?

The position of the nation’s heir was, of course, not solely determined by cultivation. But the competition for that seat was multifaceted. If Jiang Wu You lacked sufficient strength, if her future path was not broad enough, leaving such a significant weakness, and without overwhelming advantages in other areas… how could she possibly contend with the other several palaces and not fall behind?

Indeed, on many occasions, she had been notably more high-profile, more proactive. Overseas, she could not only mobilize administrative-level hidden agents of the Diao Hai Lou but also held sway on Jue Ming Island, even extending an invitation to Qi Xiao. This was a remarkable display of influence. What did she rely upon? Putting aside other aspects, in terms of cultivation, what was her reliance?

“What path?” Jiang Wang inquired.

Zhong Xuan Sheng replied, “She is attempting to cultivate the True Martial Body, to lead martial arts into the Dao, and with the Dao to guide martial arts. To integrate the martial Dao into the existing cultivation system! To control the power of the martial Dao using the cultivations of Teng Long, Inner Mansion, Outer Building, and even Shen Lin, Dong Zhen, and Yan Dao!”

Jiang Wang was utterly astonished. He knew now that the martial Dao was a completely new path. Many respectable and fearsome figures were climbing this road, striving for their own glory and establishing another peak for the human race.

But now…

The martial Dao was still in its exploratory phase. Yet, someone was already researching how to integrate it into the current cultivation system. Just as the flying sword techniques of the ancient flying sword era had evolved into the Dao sword techniques of today.

Jiang Wu You was also one of those who believed in the future of the martial Dao, but her conviction ran deeper. The martial Dao had not yet succeeded, yet she had already begun to explore the possibility of fusing it with the present-day cultivation system. This was incredibly difficult.

To what extent was it difficult? Consider this one point. With Jiang Wu You’s enviable cultivation talent and her mastery of the Great Qi imperial family’s top-tier technique, the Supreme Zi Wei Central Heaven Canon, having received transmission of both the Tian Jing and Di Wei sections – whether cultivating step by step or specializing in the martial Dao, her current achievement should have been at least in the Shen Lin realm or the twenty-first heaven of the martial Dao. Yet, she was now over thirty years old, an age no longer considered youthful for a prodigy, and still lingered in the Inner Mansion realm!

And she was still so heroic and vigorous, not showing the slightest hint of hesitation or defeat. Jiang Wang had occasionally visited her at Hua Ying Palace, and each time he found her either practicing with a blade or a halberd. Upon her, one could never sense the setbacks she faced. Especially when she was still vying for the heir’s position, with countless eyes across the court and country fixed upon her. Yet, she remained trapped in the Inner Mansion, trudging along with difficulty.

But no matter when he saw Jiang Wu You, she was always noble, majestic, heroic, and extraordinary. She walked her chosen path with unwavering determination. What kind of powerful heart was this? What kind of resolve and courage was needed? This was truly… admirable!

Jiang Wang felt once again that this truly real world was a galaxy of dazzling stars! There were so many luminously brilliant figures!

“Hua Ying Palace Master never told me this,” Jiang Wang said, with a difficult-to-describe emotion. “Learning this now, it truly fills me with immense admiration.”

Zhong Xuan Sheng stated, “Matters involving Hua Ying Palace are naturally not widely publicized. But in the top circles of Lin Zi, everyone knows, although previously not many believed she could succeed. As for now… not many feel she cannot. Everyone understands it is simply a matter of time, sooner or later.”

Her unprecedented path, a first in history, had likely already shown its initial outline. Otherwise, there would not have been that halberd strike on Tian Ya Tai.

Jiang Wang was lost in thought for a moment, his heart stirred.

Zhong Xuan Sheng, meanwhile, recalled the conversation between Jiang Wu You and the Great Qi Empress during the Grand Master Ceremony that day. That dialogue, of course, would not have spread outside. Jiang Wang was unaware of these words, but as the direct son of the top-tier prominent family, the Zhong Xuan clan, he naturally had means to hear them.

The Empress had attempted to persuade Jiang Wu You to recruit Jiang Wang as a consort. That day, Jiang Wu You had said, “Jiang Wang himself possesses the demeanor of a hero, but your subject also harbors the ambition of a hero; this is not a matter of triviality!”

In that moment, even the Great Qi Empress could not utter a word of “no.”

Who could say that Jiang Wu You was not a hero? Even he, Zhong Xuan Sheng, though strictly avoiding involvement in the imperial succession struggle, also held Jiang Wu You in high admiration. Yan Fu had been beaten by Jiang Wu You, left to scurry away clutching his head, daring not to show his face. Was it simply because he couldn’t defeat her?

There was a poem written by the people of that time that said, “The Jiang clan has a daughter named Wu You; men of the world are likely ashamed to behold her!”

Sometimes, when he saw Jiang Wu You, he truly would feel a sense of shame!

“I greatly anticipate the day Hua Ying Palace Master’s True Martial Body is successfully cultivated,” Jiang Wang said.

“Anticipation is one thing,” Zhong Xuan Sheng’s words shifted, and he said with deeper meaning, “You have only agreed to one matter; you cannot devote your entire lifetime to it. Becoming a consort, no matter how talented you are, can only lead to obscurity.”

“…Jiang Wang was somewhat speechless. “I truly want to knock open your brain and see what you think about all day!” But facing the expectant gaze of Fourteen… he could only wave his hand helplessly. “What rambling nonsense you speak!”

Jiang Wang truly found it difficult to understand why this fatty could deviate so far from any topic. One moment it was the True Martial Body, the next it was about being a consort! But he did not know that this matter had truly been mentioned before, and if not for Jiang Wu You’s firm attitude…

Zhong Xuan Sheng pursed his lips with profound inscrutability, not offering a clear explanation. He turned and asked, “You knew early on that Zhang Yong was not right, didn’t you?”

“Back in Cloud Mist Mountain…” Jiang Wang did not hide it. Instead, he was somewhat surprised. “How did you know?”

Zhong Xuan Sheng leaned back and laughed proudly. “I just know!”