Chapter 1831 - 170: Bluffing for Benefits

Celestial Palace City.

Inside the council hall.

"The North Barbarian State Preceptor, he equals the second greatest among those few others in the world!" Jiang Ning said.

"Waiting for someone?!" Prince Zhenbei’s eyes widened.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, "Just before I entered the city, I took a glance at that North Barbarian State Preceptor from a distance. The aura on him carries the scent of that Great Snow Mountain God. With that aura’s enhancement, his power is not simply second in the world!"

Upon hearing these words, Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen’s eyes instantly became vigilant.

"Prince, do you mean that the Great Snow Mountain God is now actively intervening between the North Barbarians and Great Xia?"

Jiang Ning nodded lightly, "Indeed. Although the Great Snow Mountain God has been confined within the Divine Domain of the Great Snow Mountain since ancient times, unable to step out a single foot, it is still not completely unable to influence the outside world, as the entire Northern Barbarian Grassland is full of its believers. The aura on the King Zhuanlun definitely originates from that Great Snow Mountain God."

After saying this, Jiang Ning paused for a moment, then looked up towards the northern sky outside, "Since that Honorable God has decided to intervene actively, it means it has already begun to lay out its plans. As for what its goal is—whether it’s to test the true essence of the Martial Saint or something else entirely—it’s hard to say yet. Can’t guess."

Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen’s expression became intense after hearing this, "If it’s truly as the prince says, then the recent southern march by the North Barbarians is more than just simple raids. With the backing of that Great Snow Mountain God, King Zhuanlun surely has a deeper agenda, considering he dared to dispatch troops and gave a fifteen-day time limit."

"Exactly." Jiang Ning nodded, "I suspect that this North Barbarian State Preceptor is waiting for someone, and I have a rough idea of who it might be."

The Beicang King heard this and tentatively asked, "Prince, do you mean he is waiting for you?"

"Not necessarily me!" Jiang Ning shook his head, his gaze showing a trace of deep thought, "King Zhuanlun, having gained the aura of that Great Snow Mountain God, has significantly increased in power. The previous me might not have been worthy of his attention, and news about me should not have returned to the Northern Barbarian Grassland so quickly."

"Then, what does the prince mean??" Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen furrowed his brows tightly.

"Second in the world, before me, visibly there are five individuals." Jiang Ning began to speak slowly, continuing, "Wang Jixuan, Yellow Heaven Taoist, the temple master of Qingxu Temple, the Jingang Temple Abbot Ku Hai, and the North Barbarian State Preceptor King Zhuanlun. My actual ranking among them comes from being propelled by the temple master of Qingxu and the Jingang Temple Abbot Ku Hai?"

Hearing Jiang Ning’s words, both Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen and Beicang King nodded slightly.

Previously, they analyzed this point through intelligence: neither the temple master of Qingxu nor Ku Hai showed their true strength when confronting Jiang Ning, always using short attacks against long skills.

Thus, previously, they didn’t believe Jiang Ning truly had the strength to rank alongside those five as second in the world.

But now, it’s different.

Especially Xu Zhen, who personally felt Jiang Ning’s overpowering presence, far stronger than the rumors had described.

"The North Barbarian State Preceptor, given fifteen days, along with the time for news relay and the long distance journey, the first batch to arrive would only be powerhouses above the Grandmaster level, which brings an obvious purpose!" Jiang Ning said.

"Prince means that the North Barbarian State Preceptor is attracting Wang Jixuan or Yellow Heaven Taoist, the temple master of Qingxu, and the Jingang Temple Abbot Ku Hai here?" Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen asked with furrowed brows.

"Yellow Heaven Taoist is nearly impossible!" Jiang Ning shook his head, then continued, "It’s not impossible that behind the large-scale gate raids by North Barbarians there is some contact with Yellow Heaven Taoist."

As he spoke, Jiang Ning’s mind recalled the previous conversation with the Yellow Heaven Taoist.

That day in the Xisha County valley, the Yellow Heaven Taoist once said that he instigated a rebellion to test the prestige of the new Great Xia sovereign, to see who the young emperor could dispatch to defuse the crisis.

And now, King Zhuanlun of the North Barbarians also chose this timing to march south and strike.

Situations north and south, on the timeline, they’ve nearly conspired at the same time.

How could there be such coincidence in the world?

He flashed this thought in his mind but didn’t speak it out.

Because there was no need.

The crisis of the Yellow Heaven Sect has already been resolved.

The crisis at Celestial Palace City, he has come.

Having come, he also wants to leverage this to gather some benefits for himself.

Whether it’s Celestial Palace City or the North Barbarians, both are opportunities.

Various thoughts raced through his mind swiftly.

"Prince means that the North Barbarian State Preceptor wants to attract Wang Jixuan, the temple master of Qingxu, and the Jingang Temple Abbot Ku Hai, one of these three?"

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

"The North Barbarian State Preceptor, second in the world, is certainly formidable! Now, with the added power of the Great Snow Mountain God, his strength is immense, undoubtedly second in today’s world!"

"The reason he gives a fifteen-day time period instead of directly breaking the city is to draw a truly worthy opponent here. What he desires, I fathom, is not merely a city—it’s a confrontation substantial enough to prove his current potency."

Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen replied in a deep voice, "Prince, do you mean King Zhuanlun’s target isn’t Celestial Palace City, but to lure a genuine top expert from Great Xia? He wants to seize this chance to announce to the world that he’s no longer the same?"

"I suspect this is the case." Jiang Ning nodded again and continued, "The North Barbarian State Preceptor, having received the aura blessing of the Great Snow Mountain God, his strength has burgeoned—it’s no comparison to his former self. He gives a fifteen-day term, such a brief period must be to await someone with significant clout to come. If Wang Jixuan comes, he intends to defeat Wang Jixuan, possibly even retain him, to achieve some objective. If it’s the temple master of Qingxu or the Jingang Temple Abbot who arrives, it’s much the same! The North Barbarian Grandmaster’s purpose surely isn’t that simple! With the current strength, this Celestial Palace City could easily be taken."