At this moment, the name of the victor, “Qian Xiaoye,” appeared on the virtual screen, and the bustling chatter in the arena had yet to subside.
Qian Ye turned his head to look at Zhao Junhong, who had been thrown out of the arena. He was trying to get up from the ground but fell back down again. His attendants were already pushing through the crowd to reach him. However, it seemed that Zhao Junhong had only suffered a breach in his primordial force defense, leading to temporary exhaustion, rather than any serious injury. Of course, if not for Chief Steward Wen’s intervention, the full impact of the tidal surge would have been much more severe.
Qian Ye finally let out a sigh of relief, but he felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and collapsed, falling into unconsciousness.
Even Chief Steward Wen was somewhat surprised by this. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
Qi Qi leapt into the arena and rushed over to Qian Ye, beating Chief Steward Wen to it as she picked him up. The guard from the Yin family, an expert in battlefield medical care, also arrived quickly and examined Qian Ye from head to toe.
Zhao Junhong had already been helped up by his attendants. Seeing Qi Qi’s actions, he felt an inexplicable sense of caution toward Chief Steward Wen. His eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and he then whispered an order to one of his attendants.
The attendant nodded and immediately ran into the arena. This attendant was a specialized physician, far more comprehensive in his knowledge compared to the Yin family’s guard, who focused primarily on external injuries. After explaining his purpose to Qi Qi, she nodded and moved aside, allowing him to join in the examination of Qian Ye.
“He’s fine, just overly exhausted from the primordial force depletion. A few days of rest will be enough.”
Chief Steward Wen nodded, allowing Qi Qi and the attendants from the Yin and Zhao families to take Qian Ye away.
Duke Wei, who had stood up on the spectator stand, used his primordial force to project his voice across the arena, delivering a brief speech to encourage everyone before announcing the end of the Celestial Profound Spring Hunt.
This year’s Celestial Profound Spring Hunt was filled with surprises, from the hunting grounds to the arena. A fifth-level civilian guard became the most notable star outside of the aristocratic families. Regardless of how much luck he had in the promotion matches or how fortuitous his final victory was, it was an undeniable fact that he had won in the end.
However, the true standout was the second young master of the Zhao family, who was rumored to be of average talent. If such natural aptitude and strength were considered mediocre, then how extraordinary would the young talents of the Zhao family be? Some of the more perceptive nobles sensed that the peaceful imperial court might soon experience a resurgence of intrigue.
Afterward, Song Zining and Qian Ye discussed this, and they ridiculed those people.
Most people tend to follow the herd, believing whatever they hear. They thought that Zhao Junhong’s average talent was unremarkable, but they never considered the standard used to judge “average.” If the same standard were applied to themselves, what kind of evaluation would they receive?
In the end, it was just like some rural landowners attempting to predict the economic trends of a province or even a country based on their limited experience.
However, these were all public matters. The greatest hidden beneficiary of this Spring Hunt was the mysterious bookmaker who emerged the night before the final match. This person invested over a thousand gold coins, attracting a large amount of capital to follow suit.
A thousand gold coins on the upper continent was enough to buy a standard fifth-level primordial force gun. In this temporary gambling ring dominated by personal attendants and guards, such a sum was truly extravagant! Yet, this person bet all of it on a civilian guard who had only reached the finals by exploiting his opponents’ old injuries. The craziest part was that he actually won! Just in the main pot, he took home over thirty thousand gold coins!
Such a gambling event happening in the Spring Hunt camp could not escape Duke Wei’s notice. When someone reported the unusual odds to him last night, he immediately ordered an investigation into the bookmaker.
The person who caught Duke Wei’s attention was a seventh-level guard from the Song family, Song Ge. He was highly versatile, with top-tier seventh-level martial skills, but that was not the key point. A thousand gold coins was a huge sum, and it was impossible for a guard to produce such an amount. This made it clear that the person behind him was Song Zining.
Duke Wei connected this with the unusual interest the Marquis Yi had shown in Song Zining, as well as his inexplicable withdrawal in the semi-finals. He found it hard to believe that this was mere coincidence.
However, when Duke Wei requested more information, he discovered the conflict between the Song and Yin families. It seemed that Qian Xiaoye was the catalyst for the breakdown in relations between Song Zining and Yin Qi Qi. But Duke Wei, being a seasoned figure, was not swayed by such apparent feuds. He knew that both families were using this person as a pawn.
The results of the final match made Duke Wei revisit the materials he had. He wondered if the “Three Thousand Floating Leaves Technique” that no one in the Song family had mastered for centuries was truly as legendary as the “Grand Derivation Celestial Skill.” If the answer was yes, then the news would be even more shocking than the fact that a so-called “average” Zhao family disciple had surpassed many outstanding members of other aristocratic families.
Given that Song Zining had placed such a heavy bet, he must have recognized the potential in Qian Xiaoye early on, not just out of a whim or sheer luck.
Duke Wei began to suspect the intentions behind the Marquis Yi’s actions. If the “Three Thousand Floating Leaves Technique” was indeed as powerful as rumored, then Song Zining’s value would be incalculable. With him, a steady stream of talent could be unearthed.
The Empire already had a perfect example: Lin Xitang.
Relying on the “Grand Derivation Celestial Skill,” Lin Xitang not only achieved extraordinary strength but also became the only new Marshal in recent years. He nurtured countless talented disciples, none of whom went unnoticed. Lin Xitang’s military produced a steady stream of capable and fierce warriors, allowing the Lin family’s influence to grow rapidly. Within twenty years, they rose from an insignificant minor family to one of the top aristocratic families.
If the Empire were to produce another such prodigy, but this time from a noble lineage, the political landscape would surely change once more!
Duke Wei pondered for a while, then flicked a small bronze bell on his desk. Moments later, a scholarly middle-aged man entered the study, saying, “Your Excellency, you called for me?”
“Mr. Ji, please sit. Let’s try the new tea I’ve just received.” Duke Wei was exceptionally polite in front of this man, showing no trace of his high status.
Mr. Ji took a sip of the scalding tea, closed his eyes, savoring it for a moment, and then sighed, “Excellent tea!”
“I have half a catty of it. I’ll have it packed and sent to you.”
Mr. Ji smiled, “That’s very generous of Your Excellency. Since I’ve enjoyed such fine tea, I should do something for you. What can I assist you with?”
Duke Wei said, “I’m sure you’ve observed the entire Spring Hunt. What are your thoughts?”
Mr. Ji smiled, “Those from the lower classes and minor families will be screened and recruited by others. You’re likely more interested in the children from the major families, especially Zhao Junhong, Song Zining, and Wei Qiyang.”
Duke Wei was a bit surprised and said, “I’m still puzzling over Song Zining, and I was hoping to seek your advice. As for Wei Qiyang, heh, the Far East Wei family is known for its unique way of training its heirs. He has incredible talent, but his brash and unreasonable behavior is unexpected. Don’t the Wei family worry that he might cause trouble someday?”
Mr. Ji, who seemed to have anticipated Duke Wei’s thoughts, replied seriously, “Wei Qiyang’s potential is great, and he may become a Marshal in the future. This is something that was known when the Wei family requested the title of heir. However, because of his character, many people have begun to underestimate the Wei family. But what they don’t realize is that Wei Qiyang’s actions perfectly align with the mindset of the secret ‘Thousand Mountains’ technique. He acts without restraint, and if his cultivation keeps up, he will develop an overwhelming presence. This combination of character and talent could lead to further progress.”
Mr. Ji paused and continued, “Your Excellency, using force to break through is also a method.”
Duke Wei was immediately impressed. In the imperial court, there was one person who acted recklessly, breaking through obstacles with force. However, few could restrain him. This person was Imperial Marshal Zhang Boqian. Only Lin Xitang, with his meticulous and strategic style, combined with the “Grand Derivation Celestial Skill,” could check Zhang Boqian’s power.
Both Lin Xitang and Zhang Boqian served in the same court, though they belonged to different factions. They maintained a surface-level harmony, but there were many private contests, and Zhang Boqian often came out slightly worse. This was due to their personalities; Zhang Boqian was not adept at scheming, and his trusted generals, while fierce, were no match for Lin Xitang.
However, if the two were to face each other on the battlefield, more people would likely favor Zhang Boqian.
Duke Wei thought for a long time and asked, “Does the current heir of the Wei family truly have such potential?”
“The Far East Wei family has always been distinctive among the aristocratic families and has become even more low-key. But they dared to request the title of heir and aimed for the position of Marshal, indicating deeper ambitions. Wei Qiyang’s achievements may eventually rival yours, Your Excellency.”
Duke Wei nodded slowly, “So, the Wei family is worth cultivating a relationship with. How about—”
Mr. Ji, knowing what Duke Wei was thinking, cut in bluntly, “Cultivating a relationship is fine, but there’s no need to place a heavy bet. Your Excellency, none of your daughters or granddaughters are suitable for the future head of the Wei family.”
Duke Wei forced a smile. Mr. Ji was known for his frankness, and it was rare to find someone who would speak the truth in front of him. Duke Wei had risen to his position smoothly, but the higher he climbed, the less he heard the truth. This was why he always treated Mr. Ji with respect.
Duke Wei then said, “What about Song Zining? I have some information on him, but I haven’t been able to make sense of it.”
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