Chapter 678: Identity

Chapter 678: Chapter 678: Identity

If there is any place in the Imperial City least affected by the "Major Examination," it would be none other than the Xuanqing Guard.

They were not like the Local Government Offices, and certainly not like the Imperial City Four Gate Guards, forever anxious and perplexed, worried that upon waking the banner atop the city gates might bear a new name, and even more concerned that some "insignificant" little thing they’d once done in secret would be exaggerated and exposed, sending them to ruin.

Everyone in the Xuanqing Guard folded their arms and watched the spectacle with considerable ease, even feeling quite proud of their identity as Xuanqing Guard and of Pang Ban’s choice in the matter of the royal "Major Examination." Otherwise, Xuanqing Guard might very well have plunged into chaos like all the other vital offices within the Imperial City.

"The southern campaign is going smoothly now. Zuo Yuliang used a surprise attack to break the deadlock and then followed with a frontal assault; both tactics were executed beautifully. Now, the Barbarian Race has little room left to maneuver, unless they can utterly defeat Shen Wanlin’s forces at White Head Gorge, and then shift the battle to Jianchuan to retake its commanding heights.

But it’s unlikely. They have yet to reestablish their Royal Court. It seems the Dynasty’s raids over the years have truly dealt substantial harm to the Barbarian Race; they can no longer find a hero who can firmly command the masses."

As usual, a routine meeting was held today in the Commander’s Office, and afterwards, Jiang Cheng was asked by Pang Ban to stay behind.

Jiang Cheng, attentive as ever, replenished Pang Ban’s tea with fresh leaves and boiling water, standing by his side listening to Pang Ban’s analysis of the southern situation while chiming in agreement. As for Zuo Yuliang’s current campaign, it was indeed splendidly fought. Previously, few called him a "famous general," but now such acclaim is widespread.

Is Zuo Yuliang truly a famed general? Jiang Cheng believed that whether he qualified was not for the present generation to say, but for those to come. One thing was certain: in military affairs, Zuo Yuliang commanded Jiang Cheng’s respect.

"And that disciple of yours has brought you honor again this time. Heh, to think I never noticed how sly that boy could be—his mind is truly a jumble of ideas. I wonder, just who was his initial cultivation mentor, to have imparted such a breadth of miscellaneous lore?

Have you ever asked him about this matter?"

Pang Ban was in a fine mood. All the Xuanqing Guard needed to do was firmly align themselves with the reigning Emperor; the Princes’ mortal contests were entirely irrelevant to them. They would neither assist nor offend. Whoever took the throne in the end, they would act according to protocol—thus making no enemies.

Of course, while the Xuanqing Guard aligned closely with the Emperor, they also kept a strict watch on all movements within the Imperial City, the Princes, and the relevant factions, watching events unfold out of both prudence and foresight.

It was simply unexpected that the southern campaign would advance so rapidly, and that Zuo Yuliang could, even across such a great distance, withstand the initial pressure and then launch an immediate counteroffensive. Not only has he completely broken the deadlock, he has encircled White Head Gorge; the spearhead of his forces is now but a step away from piercing the Barbarian Race’s vital regions.

Word is, the assault on White Head Gorge has already commenced—what remains unknown is how the fighting has been in these past few days.

Jiang Cheng passed the teacup to Pang Ban, stepped back a few paces and offered a slight bow, saying, "My lord, I know very little of Shen Hao’s childhood. I’d only heard he had a cultivation mentor early on, but besides that, there was nothing of note. Moreover, Shen Hao is a late bloomer as far as talent is concerned; his previous cultivation techniques and cultivation were poor. I suppose that so-called mentor was but a wandering loose cultivator."

Jiang Cheng was prepared for such questions, but could give no concrete answer. After all, he hadn’t recruited Shen Hao into the Xuanqing Guard; when they first met, Shen Hao was already a Flag Officer. What little background he knew of Shen Hao came from his personal records in the Xuanqing Guard’s Records Room. Beyond that, how could he investigate the origins of an orphan who had fled famine?

Besides, did Jiang Cheng even think it necessary?

"I know what you’re thinking. Let me tell you: as for Shen Hao, you cannot view him with the eyes or status of a mere ’Deputy Thousand Households.’ His potential is vast—so great, in fact, that I believe it far surpasses yours. Do you know that he’s already broken through the final bottleneck of the Gathering Spirit Realm and formally stepped into the Primordial Pill Realm?"

"Yes, my lord. Shen Hao mentioned it to me in a private message."

"Many believe that Shen Hao’s steady cultivation progress is all thanks to the enlightenment opportunity he gained at Chang Baifeng last time. Few people attain such epiphanies, but over thousands of years, there have been enough recorded cases, haven’t there? Yet, when has anyone ever, like Shen Hao, advanced so swiftly—crossing an entire Great Realm in just one or two years?

I specifically checked; aside from a few legendary cases in the Cultivation Realm, there’s no record of anyone attaining an epiphany and then progressing as extravagantly as Shen Hao. Moreover, as you just said, he’s a classic yet rare ’late bloomer’—so apart from that chance enlightenment, could it be that his own innate talent has now truly awakened, catalyzing this rapid cultivation progress?

Do you think someone like him could rival those so-called Celestial Prides within the First-class Sects or even the Super Sects, in terms of cultivation potential?"

Jiang Cheng’s eyes involuntarily widened, regarding the smiling Pang Ban with disbelief. He could accept calling Shen Hao a "genius," for Shen Hao certainly seemed to deserve it. But...Celestial Pride? Wasn’t that a bit much?

"You don’t believe it? Heh, do you know that since joining the Xuanqing Guard, Shen Hao has been cultivating almost solely by self-comprehension? Even when breaking through the Gathering Spirit Realm, he relied exclusively on his own insight into cultivation techniques, with not a hint of external guidance. Would you have dared to do the same back then? Would you have been capable of so much?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng was genuinely startled. Indeed, with Pang Ban’s reminder, he realized that beneath that shocking rate of cultivation advancement, an even more terrifying trait lurked—Shen Hao’s comprehension, and the potential that such comprehension hinted at.

"So now you understand?"

"My lord, you mean to say Shen Hao may one day..."

"It’s possible. Though that day is far off, things must be prepared in advance. Shen Hao is a promising candidate. As long as his cultivation keeps pace, his temperament becomes more tempered, his methods more ruthless, and his judgment sharper, he will only improve. Thus, Shen Hao’s background must not be treated lightly. You interact with him most—be vigilant."

Jiang Cheng understood now: Pang Ban was telling him that Shen Hao’s current importance to the Xuanqing Guard went far beyond that of a "capable subordinate." Shen Hao was being groomed by Pang Ban as a potential successor.

In such a case, Shen Hao’s origins needed to be thoroughly and unmistakably clear.

Of course, Pang Ban had not confided everything to Jiang Cheng. For example, he long ago assigned men to investigate Shen Hao’s records. He had pored over the details of Shen Hao’s birthplace, Xin Liangcheng, no fewer than five times. But apart from the fact that there had indeed been a famine that year and that some refugees had fled to Jingxi, there was not a trace of further information concerning Shen Hao.