Chapter 1298: Zhao Tu

The silhouette in the cloak and hemp robe gradually receded into the distance.Another rider galloped forth, clad in the standard leather armor and saber of the Royal Tent Cavalry, a golden cape fluttering behind him, bearing the mark of thunder. He was, in fact, a Commander of Ten Thousand!

Upon approaching, this Royal Tent Cavalryman, despite his imposing and dignified appearance, bowed his head to the one who stood before him, asking, "Your Highness, is there a problem with that fellow?"

The Great Pastoral Empire had only two "Your Highnesses," being the Pastoral Emperor's son and daughter.

The elder brother was named Helian Zhaotu, and the younger sister, Helian Yunyun.

Thus, the one who had just interrogated Jiang Wang was, surprisingly, a Prince of the Great Pastoral Empire!

Zhao means bright, Tu means strategy.

The Great Pastoral Empress, in naming her son thus, made no secret of her ambitions.

Naming her daughter Helian Yunyun, on the other hand, was a matter for the world to discuss. As others said, Yun Yun, etcetera... As a mighty Empress, she did not concern herself with the gossip of commoners.

Upon hearing the question, Helian Zhaotu smiled faintly. "The First Inner Mansion under Heaven, come to seek an old friend. What problem could there be?"

"Oh?" The cavalry general raised an eyebrow. "Is he then Jiang Wang?"

"Eight or nine times out of ten," Helian Zhaotu said casually. "He likely guessed my identity as well."

"To be able to escape from under Zhao Xuanyang's hand, this person is indeed no simple matter!"

"I fear it is not merely an escape..." Helian Zhaotu remarked. "Zhao Xuanyang is still nowhere to be seen!"

The cavalry general paused. "Does he have a powerful backer?"

As for Cao Jie, it was only through the cooperation of the Equal State and the Pastoral State that the change of generals was accomplished in secret. If Qi could silently deploy another True Person besides Shi Mingcheng and Wen Yanyu, without anyone knowing, it would truly be underestimating Jing's intelligence capabilities.

Therefore, if Jiang Wang's escape had been aided by a powerful figure, it must have been someone outside of Qi.

"Who knows?" Helian Zhaotu considered for a moment, then said, "Do not make a fuss about this matter. Let Qi negotiate a good price; it will be beneficial for us too."

The cavalry general said, "Zhao Xuanyang is still missing, yet he has come running to our Pastoral State. Does this not have a touch of leading misfortune eastward?"

"Do not let your thoughts run wild," Helian Zhaotu glanced at him with a half-smile. "Even if Jing truly believes Zhao Xuanyang was killed by us, what of it? If he wishes to lead misfortune, let him lead it. Between us and Jing, this account of one or two incidents matters little. Why not do a favor for someone?"

The cavalry general scratched his head, chuckling. "This subordinate was merely thinking that since he is an old friend of Zhao Rucheng, and thus on Princess Yun's side, with his talent and background, he might become a strong reinforcement for that side in the future, and so..."

"Remember this: Though my sister and I are competing, we are not enemies. I, Helian Zhaotu, have no need to suppress anyone to gain an advantage. On the contrary, the better my sister performs, the stronger her influence, the more brilliant her abilities. Only then will my future ascension be truly uncontested."

Helian Zhaotu turned his horse's head, saying lightly, "What I strive for, is it merely that single position?"

The grand ambitions of others, Jiang Wang did not concern himself with.

He merely sensed acutely that the Royal Tent Cavalryman who had questioned his origins was not of simple status.

He was also too lazy to play games of guessing each other's identities. He would simply leave.

He did not bother to ponder the other party's identity or intentions.

Avoiding trouble was precisely his foremost objective on this journey.

Since Zhao Rucheng was not in the Pastoral State, and the battlefield was inconvenient to approach, he could only let it go. He would directly change course and head towards Qu, continuing his journey to the Hanging Temple.

The grasslands had their scenery, and he had his journey.

A cloak, a hemp robe, a dragon-head staff, walking from day into night.

The night on the grasslands was so tranquil, the world unveiled, the stars and moon clear and bright.

Jiang Wang gazed up at the starry sky, feeling his yearning—

He had already achieved the Heavenly Mansion, and could erect his Starlight Sacred Tower at any time, sending forth his "voice" to the cosmos from the distant starry sky, the voice of the Dao...

In a sense, he could also shape that single point of starlight in the endless river of stars.

This desire to climb to greater heights was truly gnawing at his heart and lungs.

However, he could only endure it.

Under the illumination of the Five Mansions, the Five Mansion Sea had largely recovered. Currently, he was exploring the inner chambers of the fifth Inner Mansion, seeking hidden treasures and understanding himself.

He needed the Heavenly Mansion to be complete before he could erect his Star Tower in a state of utmost prosperity. In this day and age, he was qualified to pursue more peak achievements.

Sitting quietly under the bright night sky of the grasslands, Jiang Wang divided his attention, entering the Illusory Realm of Tai Xu.

The benefits that Chong Xuan Sheng had requested for many days had finally arrived.

In the star river space, the two still sat opposite each other.

Chong Xuan Sheng slapped out two jade slips, his face full of arrogance. "'Five Senses Hell,' an A-grade high-rank soul technique. 'Wrath,' an A-grade mid-rank secret technique of the State Treasury, of the same lineage as 'Jealousy' which you learned before, one inheriting from the other."

"How is it?" he asked. "Satisfied?"

These two Daoist techniques were simply perfect!

The A-grade low-rank "Jealousy," with a cultivation threshold only at the Soaring Dragon realm, was simply not presentable in the battles Jiang Wang was currently experiencing. But Jiang Wang would not forget the subtlety of this Daoist technique.

This "Wrath" and "Jealousy" belonged to the same lineage, but "Wrath" was a rank higher. With Jiang Wang's current cultivation realm, it was just right for use.

Moreover, with "Jealousy" as a foundation, mastering and using "Wrath" would not be too complicated.

With Jiang Wang's current cultivation realm, he should not spend too much effort on A-grade mid-rank Daoist techniques. Provided the quality was guaranteed, the easier they were to master, the better.

As for the A-grade high-rank "Five Senses Hell," it was an even greater surprise. The Daoist techniques Jiang Wang could now control across realms, apart from those he created himself, were likely only those related to the soul.

His soul power, far exceeding that of cultivators of the same rank, had not had many ways of utilization until now, like sitting on a treasure mountain. Having accumulated to this point, it was merely the "Bright Sun Pupil," and half of the "Single Rider Entering Formation" diagram cut from Xiang Bei.

With this "Five Senses Hell," it would be like giving wings to a tiger.

"Ah Sheng, my brother," Jiang Wang looked at him sincerely, his hand already having collected the two jade slips. "You are too considerate!"

These two Daoist techniques could be said to be completely in line with Jiang Wang's current situation. To ask for benefits from the Qi court and get them to this "tailored" extent, the effort he put in was definitely not small.

At least "two taels of fat" worth of effort!

(This is a method of measuring Chong Xuan Sheng's calculations created by Xu Xiangqian. For example, "one catty of fat" worth of effort is like overturning the Ju Bao Merchant Association. Normally, when he sweet-talks people or scams for information, it's about "one qian of fat" worth of effort...

It must be said, it's quite eccentric.

But it is widely used among his friends like Li Longchuan and Yan Fu; everyone enjoys calculating it.)

Chong Xuan Sheng glanced at him scornfully, sneering, "If you were sincere, you should be holding my hand right now, not the cultivation methods."

"It's not too late now." Jiang Wang reached out with a smile, only to have his hand slapped away by the胖子.

"You wish! Do you think my Fourteenth sister has no opinion?"

Jiang Wang: ???

Genius in one second: m.173kxsw