Chapter Nineteenth: The Position of the Holy Son

  Although Jiang Lao was the master of Tian Nan Fu, with boundless power and influence, there were still things that he couldn't achieve. This world was vast, and the things he could control were very few. The reason he paid so much attention to Xu Hua and went to such great lengths to help him was because he had expectations of Xu Hua! What he valued wasn't Xu Hua's current strength, but his potential. He was certain that Xu Hua would become a strong person who could surpass even himself, and he was also certain that Xu Hua was someone who would repay kindness, able to help him fulfill the wishes he couldn't achieve on his own.

  "Xu, you're too modest. If someone like you isn't considered anything special, then who is? At least this Da Cang Ling can't be found anywhere else. Xu, actually I have a favor to ask of you, I hope you can help me."

  "Old Ginger is being serious, if I could do it naturally I wouldn't decline, but brother you can't even do it yourself, what can a mere student like me do?" Xu Hua didn't directly accept, everything needs to be done within one's capabilities, he knew Old Ginger valued his potential, but potential isn't the same as actual ability.

  Ginger Old Brother's expression was somewhat melancholic as he said, "Some things have been buried in my heart for a long time, and I'm getting anxious. In the blink of an eye, two hundred years have passed. I think back to when I was also the young master of the Ginger family, but now I'm just a lonely old man. Three hundred years ago, the Ginger family I belonged to was also a top-notch force in the Southern Domain, with dozens of people in the clan reaching the level of Martial Honorable, and my grandfather was even a high-ranking expert in the later stages of Martial Honorable."

  "Our family didn't like to make enemies, but everything changed after Father got a mysterious treasure map from who-knows-where. A group of unknown masters came to our door demanding the map, and when we refused, they started killing people. They were butchers. Except for Grandfather and me, all the hundreds of people in our family, young and old, were slaughtered."

  "In the end, for my safety, Grandfather still gave them the treasure map, but they didn't plan to let us go. Luckily, my grandfather was powerful and took me to escape, but he was seriously injured in the process. In the end, we escaped to Mount Taihang and established the Tiannan Mansion, originally intending to cultivate some outstanding talents for future revenge, but until Grandfather's death, no such talent was found."

  "When my grandfather died, I had already entered the Wu Zun realm. So, I took over the Tian Nan Fu and in the following hundred years or so, I continued to break through to the late stage of Wu Zun, reaching the level of my grandfather at that time. However, this is far from enough. I am almost two hundred years old now, even if I can live up to three hundred years, my strength will not be enough to avenge."

  "My strength is pretty good, but compared to my arch-nemesis, the Yin Yang Temple, it's still far from enough. Although my strength is not weaker than the top masters of the Yin Yang Temple, the number of martial arts experts in the Yin Yang Temple is not something that the Tian Nan Prefecture can compare with. I had almost given up hope, but then you suddenly appeared before me, with a strength at the late stage of Martial Emperor at just 18 years old - such a monstrous talent is rarely seen even among the seven major powers. You are the most promising person I have ever met, so I hope you can help me. As long as you agree, from now on, the Tian Nan Prefecture will be yours, and you can get the higher-ups of the academy to do anything for you."

  Elder Jiang looked at Xu Hua expectantly, waiting for his response. Xu Hua was also willing to agree to Elder Jiang's request in his heart, but he didn't immediately respond and instead said with a hint of teasing: "Elder Jiang, aren't you afraid that I'll take over your school but not help you exact revenge?"

  Looking at the smile on Xu Hua's face, Jiang Lao knew that this kid should have agreed, and his heart suddenly felt relieved. "Hehe, my vision has always been good, and I won't be wrong this time either."

  Actually, Old Jiang had already investigated some of Xu Hua's information clearly and had a general understanding of his temperament, which is why he would say such things.

  "I don't know if Brother Jiang can tell me what kind of strength the school has, so that I can have a bottom line in my heart!" Xu Hua's words were already a disguised agreement, and Old Jiang was naturally very happy to reveal some secrets of the school.

  "Nowadays, the strongest in the Academy is me, followed by the two Deputy Heads and the Elder of the Law Enforcement Team, who are all at the mid-term of Wu Zun. The high-level officials in the Academy were also students of the Academy before, they joined the Academy after graduation, and became high-level officials of the Academy after many years, their loyalty to the Academy is unquestionable. There are thirteen Wu Zuns in the Academy, as for Wu Huang, there are countless, more than a thousand, among whom eighteen people are about to break through Wu Zun, do you think such strength is satisfactory?"

  Xu Hua listened to Jiang Lao's words, but instead of being extremely happy, he was shocked and said: "A school that has only developed for less than two hundred years has accumulated so many strong people. As the ruler of an empire with thousands of miles, it must have a profound foundation!"

  "This is indeed true, the foundation of an empire is absolutely terrifying. Take the country of Shan for example, on the surface, the strongest warrior is the previous ruler of Shan, but in reality, his strength was only at the mid-stage of Wu Zun. If I were to fight against him with my Tian Nan Fu, it would be a guaranteed defeat, and at most, only I and two vice-heads as well as the chief elder of the law enforcement team could escape. However, don't underestimate our academy, we are also one of the few top-notch powers in the Southern Domain, although we can't compare to the very top-tier powers, but if it were just Shan Guo, even if our academy were to be destroyed, they wouldn't have many people left either. What's most terrifying about an empire is its army, not its strongest warriors."

  Hearing that the power of an empire was so terrifying, Xu Hua felt that his accumulation was still too shallow. With the current strength of the Blood God Palace members, they were completely unable to contend with the imperial machinery. The Blood God Palace still had a long way to go if it wanted to become a powerful force that could roam the continent with him.

  "It seems I still have a long way to go!"

  Jiang Lao looked at Xu Hua with increasing satisfaction. An eighteen-year-old youth, possessing strength far surpassing his peers, yet not being arrogant and having such awareness was truly rare.

  "Xu young brother, in a few more days it will be the day when the Dragon and Phoenix List of the Academy is reopened for the third year. With your strength, you are absolutely worthy of being the first person. This time I will announce to the outside world that whoever takes the first place will be appointed as the Holy Son of the Academy, with a status equivalent to that of the Deputy Master of the Academy. This will be beneficial for you to build your own team."

  Xu Hua thought for a moment, although he felt that it would put himself in harm's way, but Xu Hua decided that he couldn't just hide all the time. On the Tian Xuan continent, everyone worshipped the strong, and some things had to be done openly. As for who else could be first on the Dragon Phoenix List apart from him, so he nodded in agreement.

  Three days later is the day when the Dragon and Phoenix List will be reopened, and students who think they have the ability are all preparing their last trump card. On this day, a piece of news made many people restless.

  "Why did the higher-ups in the Academy suddenly arrange for a Holy Son's identity? And the power of the Holy Son is astonishing! It's equivalent to that of the Deputy Headmaster!"

  "What a pity! The Holy Son must be the first on the Dragon and Phoenix List! We have no hope, I can only hope to compete for the top 40 at most."

  "Who says it's not? I'm saying that this Holy Son is either Xu Ning or Jian Chen. Of course, I think Jian Chen has a higher chance."

  "This remark is quite wrong, I think the Holy Son should be among the three."

  "Oh! I wonder who this third person is."

  "Of course it's Xu Hua, the senior who is comparable to Gemini."

  "He's okay, I guess! But I think he's got a long shot."

  "Anyway, there's still hope, let's go visit him, if he becomes a saint, we can also benefit from it!"

  "That's what they say, but do you know where he is?"

  "Thief, thief, this is also one of the things I admire most about him. He's very low-key and has already taken the lead without anyone noticing. Hehe, we can't find him, but we can go make friends with his relatives."

  "You mean... right, let's go, before others think of it, we'll go now."

  When the news of the establishment of Shengzi reached the academic circles, the most excited one was Mu Feng, the leader of the Hu Bang. However, he wasn't excited because of happiness, but rather due to anger. He had already become a strong warrior and was planning to develop the Hu Bang into a power that could rival the Jian Men and Qiang Tang. But now, the academic circles were suddenly talking about establishing a Shengzi. Mu Feng, although arrogant, knew he was no match for Xue Ning and Jian Chen, so this Shengzi would definitely not be him. In the future, the Shengzi would surely establish his own sect, leaving no room for the Hu Bang.

  Mu Feng looked at his subordinates with an extremely gloomy expression and said: "What are your thoughts?"

  "Boss, it's really a case of plans being overtaken by changes. I think we're done for this time, and the only option left is to go seek refuge with Xu Ning or Jianchen."

  Bang!

  He had just finished speaking when he was slapped by Mu Feng and became dizzy.

  "You useless thing, I told you to think of a way, not to betray our gang."

  "You said" Mu Feng pointed at another person again.

  The person pointed by Mu Feng stuttered and said, "Boss, I don't know."

  Bang!

  "At a critical moment you tell me you don't know, what are you even eating?"

  "Could it be that none of us in the Tiger Gang know?"

  Murong Feng's furious voice thundered in everyone's ears.

  At this time, He Jiong suddenly stood up, and Mu Feng saw a glimmer in his eyes. "He Jiong, what's your plan?"

  "Headmaster, this position of Holy Son is the first time it has been established since the founding of Tiān Nán Academy. In the past 200 years, there have been students in the academy who can be compared to the twin stars, but why did you decide to establish a Holy Son at this particular time?"

  He Jiong's question made Mu Feng calm down from his rage, he thought for a while and didn't know why, so he looked at He Jiong again.

  Seeing Mu Feng's inquiring expression, He Jiong began to elaborate on his thoughts.

  "I think this sacred position, the academic institution is not prepared for Gemini."

  Listening to He Jiong's words, several people immediately retorted: "How is that possible? The Academy clearly stipulates that only the first place on the Dragon and Phoenix List can become that Holy Son."