Free Web NovelChapter 1688: Chapter 41: Where Kings Reside
It’s not that his body couldn’t handle it, but Jiang Wang had already begun to adapt.
Tracing Jiang Wang’s journey so far, the Four Spirits Body Refinement Technique laid the foundation for his physical body. Later, he consumed the Shimen Grass gifted by Lady Li, enjoyed the heavenly bath of the Hot Spring Palace before the expedition to the Guanhe Platform, and then the exclusive Five Mansions simultaneous body refinement unique to Tianfu cultivators. He also completed the Starlight Tempering Body of the External Building Environment under extremely abundant star power...
Unconsciously, his physical body had become quite formidable. Although it might not yet rival Zhongxuan Zun who could hammer Na Liang, it was no worse than the average military cultivator.
With such a body and familiarity with the Power of Zhong Xuan, he quickly adapted to the heavy Zhong Xuan environment.
Zuo Guangshu was very pleased.
According to his original estimation, Jiang Wang should have needed about six to ten days to fully adapt to the environment of a hundred times the Power of Zhong Xuan. The previous genius they invited for assistance took fifteen days.
So as soon as he received Jiang Wang, he hurried to Luo Mountain, not even setting up a reception banquet, very pressed for time.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wang completed his adaptive training in just three days, saving them time for subsequent training—
Yes, besides training in the extremely heavy Zhong Xuan environment, there were many other training categories later on.
The Mountain and Sea Purgatory created by the Zuo Family mimicking the Mountain and Sea Realm environment without regard for resources, was not just a few rooms constructed with an extreme Zhong Xuan environment.
To be honest, just an environment of Power of Zhong Xuan oppression cannot be considered "purgatory"...
Jiang Wang happily ended his training in the Zhong Xuan environment, having no time to rest. He was dragged by Zuo Guangshu through various crystal doors one by one—
As soon as entering the door, the skin cracking, and blood starting to burst, the Gold Purgatory...
Great trees entwining, enemies everywhere, the Wood Purgatory...
With tremendous pressure making one suffocate, the Water Purgatory...
Additionally, there were the Fire Purgatory, Earth Purgatory, Wind Purgatory, Thunder Purgatory...
Various extremely harsh environments, all staged one by one at this secret base in the valley of Luo Mountain.
You could say Jiang Wang was ascending the knife mountain and descending the oil pot, akin to the legendary eighteen levels of hell. Not even starting the Mountain and Sea Realm, he was already suffering enough along with Zuo Guangshu.
Even with his tenacity, his brows furrowed, and his face soured daily.
In just half a month, Jiang Wang nearly forgot his purpose for coming to Chuguo. Was he here to assist? Clearly, it was to serve time!
He was completely relying on a sense of not wanting to lose face in front of his juniors to maintain basic dignity.
In contrast, Zuo Guangshu, who entered various extreme environments with him every day, was always spirited.
So much so that Jiang Wang began to suspect whether the Mountain and Sea Realm was really that harsh? Was Zuo Guangshu deliberately tormenting him? Was this revenge?
Regardless of how grueling the Mountain and Sea Purgatory got, Zuo Guangshu never missed a session of training, and as his elder brother, he had no reason to escape.
Speaking of, the children of top aristocratic families have top-notch resources and enjoyment for cultivation in the world. Yet, the hardships they endure to temper themselves are not any less.
The most important point is they can safely endure hardships and temper themselves.
Take Zuo Guangshu for instance.
The resources needed to construct a Mountain and Sea Purgatory are unimaginable for Jiang Wang.
With this Mountain and Sea Purgatory, Zuo Guangshu could pre-adapt to various harsh environments securely at his home...
Those from less privileged backgrounds naturally have to adapt only when they encounter the environments.
Every environment difficult for Transcendent cultivators is truly life-threatening.
In most harsh environmental dilemmas in life, the former only needs to consume resources to adapt, while the latter must expend their lives.
This is the distinction.
Thus, why is it said that these aristocratic families can generally spot geniuses, because their geniuses are guaranteed to grow into geniuses. While those from less privileged backgrounds may not shine in time.
Of course, reaching the level of prodigies like Dou Zhao or Zhongxuan Zun can’t just be cultivated solely by good family backgrounds.
Talent, effort, flair, and opportunity, all are indispensable.
After adaptive training in the Mountain and Sea Purgatory for a full eighteen days, they finally arrived at the moment of exiting.
But for the sake of dignity in front of his juniors, Jiang Wang almost shed tears.
He’s not someone who can’t endure hardships. What kind of predicaments hasn’t he faced along the way? But changing hardships every day like this is unbearable...
So much that he lost much of his reverence for Huang Weizhen, even suspecting whether Huang Weizhen had some sadistic hobby to create such purposefully torturous Mountain and Sea Realm.
Grabbing at random, he removed the water droplets that dampened both his and Jiang Wang’s clothes and hair. After coming out of the Water Purgatory, Zuo Guangshu was noticeably in better spirits than when he came out of other purgatories.
Because this was a purgatory where he could genuinely gain an advantage over Jiang Wang.
With bright eyes and a charming smile: "How was it? The training effect was great, right?"
Even his clothes and hair couldn’t stay dry, soaked by water, proving the difficulty in that particular purgatory.
Jiang Wang indifferently replied: "Not bad."
Zuo Guangshu casually said as he walked along the corridor, "We can go to Ying City now, to rest our bodies and minds and adjust our state. Moreover, my grandfather has long wanted to meet you."
Jiang Wang, as the taciturn elder brother, was concise—
"Sure."
Exiting from the Mountain and Sea Purgatory, leaving the massive stone gate behind.
Jiang Wang felt an intense sense of relief.
He truly wanted to lie down under the open sky and have a good sleep.
But he had to maintain the dignity of an elder brother, so instead of relaxing, he appeared full of nostalgia, frequently looking back, unwilling to part.
"Let’s go, let’s go." Zuo Guangshu pulled him, "We can come back next time when we have time."
"No worries, no worries, even if we don’t have time, I wouldn’t insist as your brother..."
On the stone tower, "Scar Uncle" watched the two walking away with an expressionless face.
The handsome young man in aqua-colored finery stood about half a head shorter than the elegant man in a blue robe beside him.
The former tugged at the latter’s sleeve to guide him outside, playfully bantering all the way.
The man with the large knife scar on his face watched for a long, long time.
...
...
The Chu capital is called "Ying."
Where ancient kings once resided.
Naturally the prime city of the Southern Territory.
Unlike Linyi City, which is towering and mighty, it is a city of dreamlike enchantment—
Houses as beautiful as maidens, vibrant in color.
See flying eaves and contending corners, dancing upon green sparrows.
With moon-adorned towers, lights hang all night.
Witness heavenly dragon boats, wandering the star seas. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Mountain of the goddess overlooking the marshes of Yun Meng.
Veil of waterfall, embracing the frost-horned rhino.
Flower carts rove long streets, handsome men and beautiful women dance on grand drums.
Sturdy warriors pluck lutes, each note intense like battle cries.
The red Zhuzhong tree, soaring hundreds of yards high, said to have a history older than Chuguo.
Wu Zhu covers with floral patterns, singing melodies that have endured a thousand years in Chu Territory.
...
Jiang Wang is worldly-wise.
Hanging monastery, the towering city spanning three hundred miles, the highest flying Supreme Royal Court...
But no city or building matches the splendor of Ying City.
Every detail is a blessing of inspiration, an embodiment of beauty.
It even reshaped Jiang Wang’s perception of beauty.
How can mere words describe this city?
How to convey even a tenth of its magnificence!
The sparse notes in "History of Chiseling the Sea," came alive when Jiang Wang witnessed this city firsthand.
"Unforgettable!" Jiang Wang couldn’t help but exclaim.
Sitting in a lavish carriage with jade-threaded patterns, the Young Master of Great Chu watched him looking around, overwhelmed, eyes swirling with amusement. He said, "You haven’t seen the most beautiful yet. Come at New Year’s Eve, when fog rises at Goddess Peak, frost-horned rhinos cross the streets, and phoenixes fly in the heavens!"
Jiang Wang showed an astonished expression at lacking worldly experience, "A true phoenix?"
The Young Master smiled proudly, "Naturally!"
Jiang Wang could only marvel, unable to imagine.
Speaking of which, in the last few years, he spent almost every New Year’s Eve on the road, never truly experiencing the atmosphere of New Year’s Eve in any city.
Except for the poignant memory... in the rain.
Zuo Guangshu’s carriage, naturally, traveled unimpeded in Ying City.
So when it was stopped, it was particularly surprising.
"What’s going on?" Zuo Guangshu’s voice, though not entirely mature, showed remarkable authority at this moment.
The carriage driver replied from outside the curtain, "Young Master, it’s..."
"It’s your sister!" a melodious voice said.
"Where have you been hiding these days..."
Jiang Wang’s vision blurred as a tall woman squeezed into the carriage.
She was also taken aback upon seeing Jiang Wang.
...
...
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P.S.:
The most challenging part to write in this Chapter was the one hundred and forty-eight characters describing Ying City.
