Chapter 346 - - 344 Grandmaster Realm_1

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Heavenly secrets not to be divulged?

Such a pretender!

Duge scoffed but still maintained a smile on his face, “State Preceptor, I believe that man can conquer fate.”

The State Preceptor chuckled, “Then why is the Imperial master not the master of his own fate?”

Duge was shocked and suddenly understood what the State Preceptor was referring to—the Pan-Universe Entertainment Company!

Now, was the Pan-Universe Entertainment Company the only thing that could control him?

Did someone leak the secrets of the Pan-Universe Entertainment Company to the natives?

No, wait, he must be bluffing, right?!

The Barnum effect used in the constellation culture Duge created was just that, leading the other party towards the conclusion he desired through ambiguous statements. In short, he was tempting the other party to fill in the blanks with their imagination.

Thinking about it, the State Preceptor hadn’t said anything specific, yet he had already filled in the Pan-Universe Entertainment Company in his mind, assuming the State Preceptor had everything figured out…

The State Preceptor?

He could even fool the emperor; this guy was a master of deception!

Real or fake, it was best to treat it as false for now. He couldn’t let a stranger pull one over on him.

Duge looked at the State Preceptor, feigning shock, his expression turned solemn, and sheathed his Longsword, “State Preceptor, may I have a word with you aside?”

The State Preceptor turned and walked into the darkness, with Duge following.

Cao Lin, with his intestines still hanging out, wanted to call Duge back to heal him first, but after opening his mouth, he ultimately didn’t call out. If he did and Duge ignored him, it would be even more embarrassing. Better to just recover using his own cultivation!

Zhang Yizhi pondered what this heavenly secret might be, not following them. He wasn’t yet qualified to be part of a conversation between such big shots.

…

Under the night sky.

Duge and the State Preceptor stood under a pavilion in the backyard of the princess’ mansion, situated above a lotus pond with fish.

There was water in the lotus pond, and Duge felt much more at ease, “State Preceptor, do you truly favor the Fourth Princess?”

The State Preceptor didn’t mind Duge bringing him to the water’s edge and looked at him with a smile, “Compared to the Fourth Princess, I am more optimistic about the Imperial master. Whomever the Imperial master supports will be the ruler of this world. Since the Imperial master has chosen the Fourth Princess, then she should rightfully be the Empress.”

Duge was silent for a moment before he said, “With your esteemed identity, State Preceptor, it’s hard for me to imagine that your loyalty is sincere?”

The State Preceptor said, “Mr. Cold, today, I watched your entire battle with Cao Lin. Had I intervened during your fight, you would have been undoubtedly defeated; even if I didn’t join forces with Cao Lin, attacking the Fourth Princess while you were locked in a decisive battle would’ve significantly weakened you, ultimately leading to your defeat by Cao Lin.”

Duge politely offered the State Preceptor a fist salute, “In that case, I should thank the State Preceptor in advance for sparing my life.”

“There’s no need for that,” the State Preceptor chuckled, “With my interference, Cao Lin wouldn’t have been able to kill you either. If you rise again in the future, Chongming Country would inevitably be in dire straits, and neither Cao Lin nor I would come to a good end. It’s better to forge a good relationship with Mr. Cold from the start, to spare this part of the world from some disaster…”

With such veiled flattery, it was hard not to feel some fondness towards him!

The State Preceptor was a master of persuasive speech.

Duge looked at the State Preceptor and said, “That may be so, but the things you’ve said, State Preceptor, are as unbelievable as pies drawn on paper—hard to convince anyone!”

The State Preceptor said, “I can help persuade Cao Lin on behalf of the Imperial master.”

Duge laughed, “Anything else?”

The State Preceptor looked at Duge and replied, “The Imperial master can use your ‘Linyang Daily Newspaper’ to announce my allegiance to the world. With me around, I can vindicate the Fourth Princess. In the future, as the Imperial master conquers territories, obstacles will be significantly reduced.”

In this world, reputation mattered greatly to everyone. If the State Preceptor was willing to let his reputation be used for promotion, nine times out of ten, his pledge of loyalty was real!

Duge looked at the State Preceptor and continued to ask, “Anything else?”

The State Preceptor froze, seemingly not expecting Duge to be so insatiable, but upon looking up at the dazzling Demon Star in the sky, he hesitated for a moment, then said, “I have a favor with Wei Tingjiang. I can help convince the old General Wei to surrender, lifting the threat at Wolf Ping Pass.”

Duge pressed on, “Anything else?”

He wanted to see just how much he could extract from the State Preceptor.

“…” The State Preceptor looked at Duge and shook his head, “Imperial master, I am but one man. If I could hand over the world to you, why would I bother to come and pledge my allegiance?”

“It was just a joke I played on the State Preceptor,” Duge said with a slight smile, and asked, “Earlier you mentioned you might intervene in my fight with Cao Lin, may I ask what realm you are in, State Preceptor?”

“Grandmaster,” replied the State Preceptor.

“State Preceptor, since I entered the Innate realm, my power has not improved by an inch,” Duge said. “Could you find me some cultivation techniques that could lead me to the Grandmaster realm?”

The State Preceptor laughed. He looked at Duge and shook his head: “Imperial Master, if there were cultivation techniques for the Grandmaster realm, wouldn’t the number of Grandmasters in this world be too numerous to count?”

“No cultivation techniques?” Duge was stunned.

“Imperial Master, as a great master of the Water Art, do you have any cultivation techniques?” the State Preceptor asked in return.

“…” Duge fell silent for a moment, then said, “I am Heavenly Demon who has taken over a body; I am not clear about the cultivation techniques of this world. State Preceptor, feel free to speak your mind directly. Personally, I really dislike beating around the bush.”

The State Preceptor was momentarily taken aback, then said, “Imperial Master, the Innate realm has cultivation techniques to follow. However, reaching the Grandmaster realm depends on enlightenment. Comprehending your own Enlightenment Dao will lead to becoming a Grandmaster. Cao Lin comes from a soldier’s background, having fought countless battles in his life. His martial dao is realized from the battlefield, the Way of Killing, adept in offensive and defensive tactics; while my dao is gained from perceiving the Way of Nature, close to water, like water, close to wood, like wood, leaving no trace…”

“So, you could encroach within ten meters of me without my noticing?” Duge frowned and asked.

“Correct,” nodded the State Preceptor.

So you’re not following the Way of Nature, you’re practicing the art of assassination, ninjutsu!

Duge asked, “Then, in the State Preceptor’s opinion, where lies the path to my martial Grandmaster realm?”

The State Preceptor glanced at Duge and said, “Imperial Master, since you excel at water-series art techniques, you should focus on cultivating the Way of Water.”

The Way of Water?

Duge looked at the pond in front of him and with a thought, a sphere of water was already floating in his palm.

He stared at the water sphere for a long time but couldn’t sense any principles from it that he could integrate with martial arts.

With a flick of his hand, Duge tossed the water sphere away.

In the last simulation, he did indeed create a cultivation technique, but it was through his vigorous physique that he forcefully made a breakthrough, which had nothing to do with enlightenment. To expect someone as mentally agile as him to forcibly comprehend the Grandmaster’s path was asking for quite a challenge.

Indeed.

The principles of one world are different from those of another!

Moreover, his ability to control water was innate from the Sea God’s Power; manipulating water flow was as natural to him as eating and drinking, as simple as one plus one equals two.

Knowing one plus one equals two is simple, but deciphering that equation is like tackling Goldbach’s conjecture, extremely difficult.

To become a Grandmaster, unless he embodies the spirit of guarding benevolence and integrity, he must not only have the perseverance to seek the principles, but he must also truly discover something from it…

MBD!

The cultivation levels in this world are too fantastical…

Duge asked, “State Preceptor, how long did it take you to go from Innate to Grandmaster?”

“I traversed mountains and rivers, observed the changing clouds by day, and watched the constellations at night. It took me twelve years, then one night I had a sudden enlightenment and became a Grandmaster,” the State Preceptor explained.

“What about Cao Lin?” Duge inquired.

“Ten years of war on the battlefield, sudden enlightenment to Grandmaster, obtaining the certification of the Way of Killing,” the State Preceptor explained thoroughly.

Everyone seems to take ten or twenty years, far too long a time!

With that amount of time, he could have cleared out the other Alien Warriors and left this world.

However.

Duge was nevertheless not disheartened. He couldn’t be constantly by Yang River fighting with others; away from water, his combat power would greatly diminish. What would he do if he encountered a Grandmaster?

He asked, “State Preceptor, who is the one who understood the Grandmaster realm in the shortest amount of time?”

“Qinglan Sword Saint!” the State Preceptor looked towards the direction of Qinglan Sword Sect, saying, “To my knowledge, the current Qinglan Sword Saint was certified as a Grandmaster at the age of 24. Now, more than thirty years have passed since he became a Grandmaster, so his strength must have already broken through to Great Grandmaster.”

“And what realm is Great Grandmaster?” Duge asked.

“Invincible Realm.” The State Preceptor smiled and his gaze returned to Duge, “Just as no one can kill you in water, you in water are in the realm of a Great Grandmaster.”

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