Chapter 51

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Zhao Sheng looked at Zhao Hao with an unfriendly expression. Zhao Hao glanced at him and shook his head with a smile.

Zhao Sheng was already a Martial Artist at the Grandmaster level, and by all accounts, it should have been effortless for him to deal with Zhao Hao, a Body Tempering Martial Artist.

However, there was not a hint of fear in Zhao Hao's eyes; instead, they remained calm and composed.

In that calmness, there was a clear disdain.

Yan Zhaoge's eyes narrowed slightly: "The way Zhao Sheng is looking at him is no different from how he looks at me..."

"In his eyes, am I on the same level as Zhao Sheng?"

Yan Zhaoge laughed silently.

Zhao Hao asked indifferently, "What kind of punishment drink does Third Brother want to give me?"

Zhao Sheng snorted coldly: "Sixteenth Brother's cultivation has advanced rapidly these days, but your practical combat experience is inevitably lacking."

"Third Brother has some people who can help you practice."

"Gain more experience so you don't end up only dealing with dying opponents and get into trouble when you face a real tough opponent."

The disdain in Zhao Hao's eyes deepened, and he looked at Zhao Sheng as if he were a child playing a game.

Without a word, he drew his sword and stood quietly: "Who wants to teach me?"

To others, it might not seem like much, but Yan Zhaoge's insight far exceeded that of everyone else present.

From Yan Zhaoge's perspective, the moment Zhao Hao held his sword, his aura changed immediately.

He became more defiant, bold, sharp, and his sharpness was fully revealed!

He seemed like a sharp sword that had just been unsheathed, ready to soar into the sky and cleave through the heavens.

This was a pure aura, indescribable but very real.

At this moment, Zhao Hao was still a Body Tempering Martial Artist, not hiding his cultivation level, but his aura seemed to surpass most people in the world.

It was as if even a Grandmaster would be insignificant before him.

Yan Zhaoge raised an eyebrow: "Interesting, could it be that..."

Although Zhao Sheng wanted to beat Zhao Hao to a pulp with his own hands, he was already at the Grandmaster level and over ten years older than Zhao Hao.

Despite Zhao Hao's disrespectful behavior, with Yan Zhaoge present and in public, Zhao Sheng still suppressed the urge to act personally.

However, he did not intend to let Zhao Hao off easily.

Zhao Hao was at the eighth level of Body Tempering and the middle stage of Qi Guidance. The opponent Zhao Sheng found for him was also at the middle stage of Qi Guidance, but his aura was fierce, clearly accustomed to life-and-death battles, and his experience was unparalleled.

His killing aura was so thick that it could almost terrify inexperienced opponents into becoming lambs for the slaughter.

But Zhao Hao defeated the opponent effortlessly in one move!

With one sword strike, the opponent's arm flew into the air!

The ferocity of the move made everyone look on in shock.

"Such audacity!" Zhao Sheng's face turned ashen, and he waved his hand. A late-stage Qi Guidance swordsman stepped forward from behind him.

This swordsman was at the ninth level of Body Tempering and the late stage of Qi Guidance, and he was not far from reaching the tenth level, the Subtle Realm.

Zhao Hao did not seem to care and smiled as he flicked his sword: "It's all the same."

The result of the battle once again left the spectators stunned.

The winner was still Zhao Hao!

Zhao Hao laughed: "Is the next one at the Subtle Realm, or will Third Brother take the stage himself?"

As he spoke, there was a series of cracking sounds from his body, followed by a faint rumbling sound.

The rumbling did not come from outside but from within Zhao Hao's body.

Everyone was taken aback: "Internal Qi entering the bones, thunder sound cleansing the marrow? Is this the first bone cleansing and marrow cleansing after breaking through to the late stage of Qi Guidance?!"

Feng Yunsheng, who was beside Yan Zhaoge, couldn't help but smile and glanced at Yan Zhaoge.

Though she didn't speak, she clearly recalled the scene when Yan Zhaoge faced Xiao Sheng.

Yan Zhaoge, however, did not smile but looked at Zhao Hao calmly.

"This person hasn't used his full strength; he hasn't even used his most skilled sword techniques."

Yan Zhaoge could see much more than others: "His consecutive victories are due to his far superior experience and insight, as well as his control over the sword."

"Like me, a bamboo branch can be a sword, and I can still beat a Subtle Realm Martial Artist without using Inner Qi."

"This person's sword skills are extremely profound. Whether it's a wooden sword, a bamboo sword, or even using his fingers as a sword, or forming a sword with Qi, he can do it all. But because he is so devoted to the sword, he is even more unbound by material things, and with a sword in hand, he has already attained the Dao."

Yan Zhaoge smiled: "Did he suddenly become enlightened half a year ago?"

"Ha ha..."

At this moment, Zhao Hao was exuding an overwhelming aura, standing with his sword: "Does Third Brother have anyone else? Or are you planning to take the stage yourself?"

"What about Eldest Brother? Do you want to join in too? I don't mind."

Zhao Sheng's face was like water, and he smiled through gritted teeth: "Sixteenth Brother, you're quite capable, I didn't realize it before, but you're getting a bit too cocky too soon."

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

With Zhao Hao's provocation, he no longer needed to hold back and didn't have to worry about the Eastern Tang Emperor holding him accountable afterward.

"Brothers should be friendly and supportive. Sparring at the same cultivation level is fine, but a Grandmaster fighting a Body Tempering Martial Artist is going too far."

At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from a distance, and the next moment, a middle-aged man with a stern appearance appeared before everyone.

He first looked at Yan Zhaoge and nodded: "Zhaoge, it's been a long time."

Yan Zhaoge smiled: "Prince Jing, you look even better than before."

The man was the younger brother of the Eastern Tang Emperor, the second strongest person in the Eastern Tang Imperial Family, Prince Jing Zhao Shilie, whom Yan Zhaoge had met before.

However, this person's stance leaned towards the Great Sun Holy Sect, making him the biggest stepping stone for the Great Sun Holy Sect to enter the Eastern Tang Empire.

The position of the Eastern Tang Crown Prince had been undecided for a long time, and a significant factor was this person.

Both his own forces and the Great Sun Holy Sect behind him were pressuring the Eastern Tang Emperor to establish a Royal Uncle instead of a Crown Prince.

In a world where martial arts were supreme and personal strength could change the course of events, many secular rules no longer applied.

For example, if the Eastern Tang Emperor were to suddenly pass away, the Eastern Tang Empire would not only lose a ruler but also a Grandmaster.

This would be a significant loss to the overall strength of the Eastern Tang Empire.

Whether it was Zhao Yuan or Zhao Sheng, even if they ascended to the throne, they would be Grandmasters and would not be able to replace their father's high-level strength in the short term.

Someone like Prince Jing, who was weaker than the Eastern Tang Emperor but still a Grandmaster, would be fine if he loyally supported the new ruler. However, if he had other thoughts, the situation would become complicated.

In a secular dynasty, the old emperor would naturally clear away any destabilizing factors before passing the throne.

But the situation with Prince Jing was a headache for the Eastern Tang Emperor.

After all, Zhao Shilie was also a Grandmaster and an important part of the Eastern Tang Empire's strength. Killing him would harm the Eastern Tang Empire.

Moreover, behind Zhao Shilie stood the Great Sun Holy Sect. Even with the support of Guangcheng Mountain, the Eastern Tang Emperor could not easily take action.

The situation in the Eastern Tang Empire was now in a fragile balance. Although the Eastern Tang Emperor and Guangcheng Mountain had the upper hand, the hidden dangers were also significant.

After exchanging pleasantries with Yan Zhaoge, Zhao Shilie chuckled and looked at the three brothers, Zhao Yuan, Zhao Sheng, and Zhao Hao: "There's no need to resort to violence for a sparring match."

"There are plenty of ways to compete without hurting feelings."