Volume One, Chapter 16: The Scheme of the Sixth Princess Liuli and the Generous Ranking Rewards

At this moment, Zhao Yi’s voice rang out: “Your Highness, I’ve heard that this time’s Shiya Sword Competition has far richer rewards than previous ones. Do you hope to claim first place?”

In the Shiya Sword Competition, the higher the ranking, the more generous the rewards. Zhao Yi hoped that Gu Changfeng could secure the top spot.

If that happened, the extent of the rewards would be beyond measure.

A faint smile curved Gu Changfeng’s lips as he said, “I came here precisely to take first place.”

Many great figures would appear at the Shiya Sword Competition, but Gu Changfeng remained completely unflustered. No matter how many powerful opponents emerged, he would suppress them all and claim first place.

“I have faith in Your Highness,” Zhao Yi said firmly in response to Gu Changfeng’s words. Whatever his lord said, he was confident it could be accomplished.

Zhao Huaian’s expression grew anxious. “Gu Feng, among the participants this time is a six-time champion. Are you really that confident?”

A six-time champion was someone who had consecutively won six championships. Such a person’s strength was beyond doubt.

From Zhao Huaian’s perspective, Gu Changfeng’s ambition to seize first place was indeed a difficult task.

“Just watch my performance,” Gu Changfeng said lightly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yao, who had intended to advise Gu Changfeng not to set his goals so high, immediately abandoned the thought.

He was a nobleman, after all. Of course, a nobleman could set such lofty goals—and he would surely achieve first place in the Shiya Sword Competition.

Gu Changfeng then turned his gaze to Zhao Yi. “Zhao Yi, keep an eye on Princess Liuli the Sixth. She’s very likely to cause trouble.”

Princess Liuli the Sixth was a pampered daughter of the Liuli Empress, capable of anything. Gu Changfeng had no desire for her to disrupt his focus.

“Your Highness, rest assured. Princess Liuli the Sixth won’t cause any trouble—at least not from the beginning to the end of the competition,” Zhao Yi said firmly.

Princess Liuli the Sixth had already met Qing Tianyuan, the master of the Divine Sword Manor. No matter what, she would give him face. If her actions caused Qing Tianyuan to lose face, she wouldn’t dare show up at Divine Sword Manor.

“That’s good. I’m going to begin my cultivation,” Gu Changfeng said, sitting cross-legged. Streams of energy swirled around him. He then looked at Ling Yao and said, “Ling Yao, guard outside. Do not let anyone enter the pavilion to disturb my cultivation.”

“Yes, my lord,” Ling Yao answered sweetly and left to stand guard outside the pavilion. Her gaze was resolute—anyone daring to interrupt Gu Changfeng’s cultivation would pay the price.

Not even Princess Liuli the Sixth was exempt.

---

On another pavilion,

Princess Liuli the Sixth ascended with several female guards.

One Ninth-Rank female guard looked at the princess and asked softly, “Your Highness, I can help you resolve what happened earlier.”

“Help me resolve it?” Princess Liuli the Sixth laughed immediately.

“You and your guards were all defeated by that lowly commoner in a single strike. What ability do you have to challenge him one-on-one? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

The Ninth-Rank female guard had no chance in combat against Gu Changfeng’s power. If she tried to kill him, she would most likely be wiped out by him.

“I...” the guard stammered.

She was left speechless by the princess’s words. The princess was right; she had no qualification to fight Gu Changfeng.

Princess Liuli the Sixth then asked, “When you fought him, were you able to sense the level of his strength?”

She wanted to know exactly how strong Gu Changfeng truly was.

The guard replied, “Your Highness, his strength is at the Grandmaster level.”

As she spoke of Gu Changfeng’s power, her voice trembled violently. The blow Gu Changfeng had dealt her made her deeply realize he was a Grandmaster-level warrior.

“Grandmaster...” Princess Liuli the Sixth whispered slowly, disbelief shining in her eyes.

That lowly commoner was actually at the Grandmaster level. To defeat him, she might have to call upon my Empress Mother or Fairy Auntie.

Only those two might have a chance at overcoming him.

Beyond them, no matter how many people were sent, no one could defeat a Grandmaster. They would only become his prey.

The Ninth-Rank guard said, “Your Highness, if you need, I can send a message to the Empress, requesting her presence at Divine Sword Manor.”

Princess Liuli the Sixth had lived a life of luxury and privilege. She had never suffered such disdain before, and the opponent was even a Grandmaster.

“No need,” the princess refused the idea. “We are still at Divine Sword Manor. If we provoke conflict between the Liuli Empire and the manor, that would be extremely undesirable.”

Princess Liuli the Sixth knew Qing Tianyuan was not someone to provoke lightly. If her desire for revenge against Gu Changfeng caused a rift between Qing Tianyuan and her Empress Mother, the situation would be difficult to resolve and no one wanted to see that.

The Ninth-Rank guard immediately grasped the meaning behind her words. “Your Highness, I understand what must be done.”

Princess Liuli the Sixth waved her hand, and the guard respectfully left the pavilion.

After the guard’s departure, Princess Liuli the Sixth fixed her gaze on Gu Changfeng, who was cultivating. Clenching her hand tightly, she ground her teeth and said, “The humiliation you dealt me, I will repay a thousandfold. When the Shiya Sword Competition ends, that will be the day you die.”

---

Only a quarter of an hour remained before the Shiya Sword Competition began. Gu Changfeng finished his cultivation at this moment.

“Not much time left before it starts, right?” Gu Changfeng asked Zhao Huaian.

Zhao Huaian nodded lightly. “Brother Gu, your timing is impeccable. There’s just a quarter of an hour left before the competition begins.”

During Gu Changfeng’s cultivation, no one disturbed him. It was as if he had entered a state of enlightenment, so neither he nor Zhao Yi wanted to interrupt him.

Yet Gu Changfeng ended his cultivation precisely a quarter of an hour before the competition began—his mastery of timing was truly exceptional.

Gu Changfeng clenched his palm slightly. “As expected.”

Suddenly, a spatial rift tore open in the sky, and Qing Tianyuan’s figure stepped through.

People on the various pavilions saw Qing Tianyuan and bowed respectfully. “We greet the master of Divine Sword Manor.”

Qing Tianyuan waved his hand indifferently and said to the crowd, “It is my honor that you have all come to participate in this Shiya Sword Competition at Divine Sword Manor.”

“The rewards for this competition are as follows. Have a look.”

Qing Tianyuan clenched his palm slightly, and one by one, jade boxes floated before him, each emanating a distinct aura.