Chapter 518: The True Strength of a Saint Ruler
With Jian Chen declining to represent the Qinhuang Kingdom in a decision to ally with the Huang family, the ancestor of the Huang family sighed. He had not felt this was an unexpected decision; he even predicted that Jian Chen would decline. Prior to this, he had been clinging onto that sliver of hope, but now, Jian Chen had essentially extinguished the final piece of hope in the ancestor’s heart.
“Senior, I am truly apologetic. This matter involves far too many players for me to make a decision.” Jian Chen spoke apologetically. From the ancestor’s face, Jian Chen could see that the ancestor’s shoulders were heavily weighed down by the pressure about his Huang family.
“This old man can understand your troubles. The Qinhuang Kingdom is one of the Eight Great Powers, but they cannot belittle any single Saint Ruler level expert like so. Even more so, they cannot offend four Saint Rulers at the same time. If it were me that stood in your shoes, I wouldn’t agree either.” The ancestor sighed.
Jian Chen hesitated for a moment, “Senior, although I cannot involve the Qinhuang Kingdom in this myself, if there is ever something I can do, then I will do my best to help the Huang family.”
Jian Chen had been honest and wasn’t lying for the sake of face, so the ancestor felt moved. Smiling, he said, “Jian Chen, this old man understands your intent. A fight between Saint Rulers is something a Heaven Saint Master cannot interfere with. Even with your excellent talent as one of the strongest on the continent, you wouldn’t be an exception to this. If you work hard and cultivate, in the future you will definitely exceed this old man. Thus, you should do your best to increase your strength. When you become a Saint Ruler, we will see if my Huang family will still need your help or not.”
Still hesitating, Jian Chen replied, “Senior, this one knows that an individual at the Saint Ruler realm is extremely strong. Back at the Sect of Dragon and Tiger, I was educated on the very tip of the iceberg of a Saint Ruler’s strength, but the clear level of it is still quite fuzzy to me. This one wonders if senior would be able to allow me to experience a Saint Ruler’s strength. This one would like to try his best to see just how big of a gap there is between me and a Saint Ruler and if I can defend myself from one.”
The reason why Jian Chen had said these words was simply to increase his knowledge on the strength of a Saint Ruler. The Saint Ruler of the Sect of Dragon and Tiger had already expressed his interest in the Origin energy of the azure and violet Sword Spirits. The Saint Ruler was afraid of Jian Chen’s identity as an Imperial Protector of the Qinhuang Kingdom, but this did not mean he was not afraid to act in secret against Jian Chen. As long as he could clearly understand the exact strength of a Saint Ruler, then Jian Chen would be able to find a plan to deal with a Saint Ruler should one attack him in the future.
“Jian Chen, the difference between a Saint Ruler and a Heaven Saint Master is even further than you can imagine. A Saint Ruler has already understood the mysteries of the world to the point where each movement they take embodies the energy of the world. As the proverbs say: all are ants beneath a Saint Ruler. In front of a Saint Ruler, a Heaven Saint Master is indeed as weak as an ant. If you truly wish to see a Saint Ruler’s strength, then this old man will let you satisfy your curiosity.” The ancestor spoke. At the last word, a barrier suddenly appeared and imprisoned Jian Chen within it.
“Jian Chen, this is the barrier that only a Saint Ruler can create. Containing the laws of the world, it is connected with the world itself intrinsically. One can say the interior of this barrier is an entirely different space. Although a barrier is unbearably weak toward another Saint Ruler, even a Heaven Saint Master is unable to break through this. Aside from the power of the barrier being depleted, a Heaven Saint Master has no chance of shattering it.” The ancestor spoke.
The ancestor’s words had clearly entered Jian Chen’s ears, but even after hearing them, Jian Chen had remained unconvinced and immediately brought out the Origin energy of the Sword Spirits. A rich amount of an azure and violet glow could be seen gathering and condensing into the form of a sword before Jian Chen chopped down at the barrier.
“It’s no use. This old man’s barrier is something that a Heaven Saint Master cannot shatter apart by himself unless the barrier runs out of power. This barrier is the energy of another domain, one that a Heaven Saint Master cannot even think of touching.” The ancestor smiled faintly, completely sure that Jian Chen would not be able to split apart the barrier he had personally put down.
At that moment, the Origin energy made contact with the barrier. With a “pop!” sound, the barrier was popped by Jian Chen’s sword as if it had been a giant balloon filled with air. After the sword had pricked through it, the barrier completely disappeared from sight.
The expression of the ancestor immediately went rigid. Staring blankly at where the barrier had dissipated, a look of disbelief crossed his face.
“Impossible, you actually broke the barrier I put down!” The ancestor spoke with a rather crestfallen and shocked voice.
He quickly recovered himself however. Staring curiously at the Origin energy in Jian Chen’s hand, he exclaimed, “What a powerful energy.”
Seeing the expression on the ancestor’s face, Jian Chen couldn’t help but have a small smile on his face. Cupping his hands, he spoke, “Senior, please advise me!”
Standing up from his stone stool, the ancestor’s eyes began to sparkle with a bright light. Firmly, he spoke to Jian Chen, “Jian Chen, a barrier is just one of the many tools of a Saint Ruler, but it is not a part of a Saint Ruler’s attacking strength. Right now I will show you the difference between a Saint Ruler and Heaven Saint Master, you may attack as you please.”
Separating himself from the stone table, Jian Chen’s right hand began to sparkle with an even brighter light of azure and violet from the Origin energy. As if two serpents or Yin Yang fish, they coiled around his arm, but they never touched one another.
Concentrating heavily on the Saint Ruler in front of him, Jian Chen had no intention to hold back. All of the Origin energy within his body had been brought out to its maximum amount. His right hand began to shake violently as the amount of power coursing through his arm had transformed it into a blur of mirror images that shot toward the ancestor with blinding speed.
With only a flash of azure and violet, the Origin energy reached three inches to the Saint Ruler’s chest before stopping. The Origin energy found itself unable to advance another fraction of an inch forward.
Jian Chen blanched in surprise. His feet slid forward in an attempt to use his entire strength to push the Origin energy forward, but he was powerless despite his attempts. The Origin energy was simply unable to go even a small inch forward.
Jian Chen’s eyes flashed as he decided to take back his sword. With a flickering of his body, he circled around the ancestor’s body to attack from the back,but the results had been the same. The Origin energy stopped moving three inches away from the ancestor’s body, it was unable to progress anymore.
“Just what in the world is this?” Jian Chen was extremely curious. This was the very first time he had seen the methods of a Saint Ruler, but even now, Jian Chen was unable to understand it.
“Jian Chen, you now understand just how large of a difference there is between a Heaven Saint Master and a Saint Ruler. Even if a Saint Ruler remains motionless, there is nothing a Heaven Saint Master can do to injure them.” The ancestor chuckled.
“Senior, would it be possible to tell me how you managed to do this?” Although he was unable to harm the ancestor at all, Jian Chen was not discouraged and even asked a question with some curiosity.
The ancestor turned around to teach and explain to Jian Chen with a smile, “That is the mystery of space!”
“Mystery of space?” Jian Chen murmured to himself in a low voice. His eyebrows furrowed together in deep thought.
The ancestor continued to explain, “A Heaven Saint Master can control the energy of the world in ways that can enable them to fly through the air. A Saint Ruler has comprehended the mysteries of the world can initially use the energy of space. I was using this spatial energy just then.”
“In the eyes of others, you are only three inches away from hitting me, but what you may not know is that in the eyes of an observer of these three inches, they are actually comprised of several kilometers. Depending on the level of comprehension on space by a Saint Ruler, this distance can be infinitesimally extended. Unless you can transverse this space or perhaps break through this space, there is no way you can harm an entity of a Saint Ruler.”
“Space, so this is the energy of space.” Jian Chen made a realization. His understanding of a Saint Ruler had increased even more now. Space was a gap that was still too far for him to cross just yet.
“You understand the distance between a Heaven Saint Master and a Saint Ruler now I take it?” The ancestor spoke in a teacherly manner toward Jian Chen.
“I understand now. The mysteries of the world are indeed massive if they can control even space itself. With that, how wouldn’t a Saint Ruler be able to fly at a tremendous speed?” Jian Chen’s face had grown serious as he spoke.
“Correct!” The ancestor replied, “A Saint Ruler who has just comprehended the mystery of space is indeed fast. For an individual with a deeper understanding of it, a single step of theirs can transverse several thousand kilometers. In today’s time, there are only a handful of men who are capable of this.”
Jian Chen’s eyebrows knit together tightly. He thought about that Saint Ruler from the Sect of Dragon and Tiger; if the speed of a Saint Ruler was that fast, then it would be fruitless to even attempt to run away from one. Although Jian Chen wasn’t sure if the Saint Ruler from the Sect of Dragon and Tiger would attack him, he couldn’t lower his guard — he had to remain wary.
Afterward, Jian Chen and the ancestor began to chat before Jian Chen finally left the mountain peak to go back to the villa by himself.
“Fourth master, you’ve returned so quickly!” As soon as Jian Chen descended down into the villa, the two elders Feng and Yun flew up to receive him as if they were all good friends.
Jian Chen smiled, “This one and the ancestor have already finished our talks and now it is time for me to return to the Gesun Kingdom. Many thanks to the two seniors and the Huang family for having me.”
Hearing this, the two elders gave each other a look — concern could be seen as wrinkles across their foreheads. Elder Feng spoke, “Fourth master, why leave so quickly? Come stay awhile!”
“There is no other choice, I have a group of friends waiting for me back home. I cannot just so blatantly leave them all on the side. There is still some matters I need to take care of with them.”
“Fourth master, it is seldom that you come by the Huang family, why not first see the young miss?” Elder Feng spoke.
Jian Chen hesitated as the memories of his days with Huang Luan suddenly appeared in his mind. He hadn’t seen her in a long time, so there was willingness to see her again.
“Fine then. It is indeed rare to come by here, I’ll go see miss Huang Luan then.”