371: Have I wasted my life?

Chen Heng, who had somewhat resembled a human, transformed into a monster covered in black armor in the blink of an eye.

Yu Jiang, caught off guard, had already lost the opportunity to distance himself from Chen Heng and was grabbed by the arm.

What followed was very simple: Chen Heng lifted Yu Jiang and slammed him onto the ground.

This scene was quite déjà vu, like Hulk smashing Loki.

In front of Chen Heng, exerting fifty percent of his strength, even Yu Jiang, using his Formless State, was no match.

Although he could occasionally retaliate, inflicting some negligible damage on Chen Heng, it was ultimately a one-sided crushing… A few minutes later, the battered and bleeding Yu Jiang lay amidst the rubble, looking up at the azure sky.

The entire Ore mountain had been leveled by Chen Heng.

No, it should be said it transformed from a mountain into a valley.

Not only was the Wu Family's Ore mountain gone, but a chasm like an abyss had also appeared on the ground.

"That was refreshing," Chen Heng said, tying his long hair into a ponytail and sitting beside Yu Jiang, who was questioning his life.

"You're truly impressive, to be able to fight me to this extent."

"Mm…" Yu Jiang remained silent, only letting out an "Mm" before falling quiet again.

After a while, Yu Jiang's injuries finally recovered, and he sat up again.

Both of them were not looking very tidy at the moment.

Chen Heng was basically naked, while Yu Jiang had a few strips of cloth hanging on him.

"How exactly did you do it?" Yu Jiang thought for a moment, then asked the question that had been puzzling him.

"Do what?" Chen Heng turned to look at Yu Jiang, not understanding his question.

"How did you Break through the limits of 'human' purely with Qi and blood?"

Yu Jiang was also stunned; he had thought Chen Heng would understand.

"Well… I just Cultivated, and then it happened," Chen Heng rubbed his chin; he really did seem to have just Cultivated and then Broke through to the Martial Extreme Realm.

"…" Yu Jiang fell silent; he had tried countless methods to Break through the limitation of 'human.'

He had even hovered on the brink of life and death countless times, only to Break through using some clever means.

And you're telling me you just Cultivated and it happened??

"I am three hundred and fifty years old this year," Yu Jiang said out of the blue.

"I spent a hundred years reaching Xiantian Grandmaster, but I felt there was an even stronger existence beyond Xiantian Grandmaster."

"The second hundred years, I Cultivated from scratch to Mahayana, but still didn't touch that level of feeling."

"For the next hundred years, I tried countless methods to become stronger, but all were fruitless."

"Just when I thought I would be forever trapped, I suddenly thought of a path no one had ever taken."

"That was to combine spiritual power and Qi and blood."

"I succeeded, spending a full twenty years researching this method."

"Before I met you, I thought I was invincible, but Chen Heng, you truly taught me a lesson."

"Heroes emerge in abundance, and I… am merely at the starting point of a new path."

Yu Jiang sighed and shook his head slightly, seemingly dejected by Chen Heng's beating.

"Don't be disheartened," Chen Heng patted Yu Jiang's shoulder.

"Although you've just stepped onto the starting point, you're old enough, with more experience."

"Unlike me, I'm only seventeen this year, lacking in all sorts of experience; there are still many areas where you are stronger than me."

"…?" Yu Jiang's eyes shifted from disappointment to despair.

"You're seventeen?"

"Yup, didn't New Years Day just pass? I'm seventeen," Chen Heng nodded, completely unaware of how shocking his statement was.

"I might as well die…" Yu Jiang lay directly on the stone, a stream of clear tears flowing from the corner of his eye.

I've struggled for over three hundred years, and I'm not even as good as a seventeen-year-old kid.

Isn't that useless… But after a while, Yu Jiang stood up again.

"Today's spar with you has greatly benefited me, and it also made me realize that Xiantian Grandmaster is indeed not the end of the Martial Dao."

Changing into a clean set of clothes, Yu Jiang resumed his previous appearance as the Emperor.

He was like a completely different person from the self-pitying wretch he had been moments ago.

"So, shall we continue when we're free?" Chen Heng also stood up, pulling out a spare set of clothes from his dragon skin pouch.

"This…" Hearing that Chen Heng still wanted to fight, sweat immediately broke out on Yu Jiang's forehead.

Although he also enjoyed sparring, he didn't like being beaten like a club.

"Let's talk about it when we're free, let's talk about it when we're free," Yu Jiang repeatedly waved his hands, afraid that Chen Heng would start fighting him right now.

"After all, I am busy with state affairs and need to govern a country. I'll find you when I have time, okay?"

Yu Jiang quickly switched to Emperor mode, finding a seemingly reasonable excuse.

This was only possible because Chen Heng was unaware of the power structure of the Chengtian Empire.

Once Chen Heng knew that he was just a rubber stamp, and that the Council of Elders handled most matters, Yu Jiang would not have a moment of peace until Chen Heng left the Chengtian Empire.

"Alright, what a pity," Chen Heng shook his head, walking shoulder to shoulder with Yu Jiang towards the Royal Capital.

After the two had walked far away, Wu Lei finally approached from a distance with dozens of Household Servants.

"…" Looking at the ruined Ore mountain and Ore field, Wu Lei's heart was almost broken.

"Fortunately, all the workers were off today, otherwise something truly terrible would have happened."

Heartache aside, if it allowed His Majesty and Chen Heng to have a satisfying fight, then this small Ore mountain was nothing.

Moreover, he had witnessed His Majesty's never-before-seen Formless State, and even Chen Heng's demon-god-like appearance.

Thinking about it that way, it seemed quite worth it?

"All of you listen up, not a single word of what you just saw can be leaked."

Wu Lei turned and scanned his Household Servants.

"Not even if your own parents ask."

"Once I find out that someone has leaked the forms of His Majesty and Chen Heng, they will spend their entire life imprisoned on Turtle Peak!"

"Yes, Family Head!" The Household Servants nodded repeatedly; they all knew the severity of Turtle Peak.

Besides, no one would dare listen if they talked about the battle they had just witnessed.

They couldn't possibly say that their Emperor was being beaten by a seventeen-year-old boy, could they?

That would just be asking for trouble.

"Alright, go back and call all the miners. Salvage as much Ore as you can."

"Don't forget to calculate today's wages for the miners."

…After this battle, Chen Heng's entire body felt greatly relaxed.

His mood was naturally excellent.

After a night's rest, Chen Heng also went to help at the Imperial Research Institute at their invitation.

The texts recording the Fusion and Transplant technique were all in Chinese characters, which the people at the Imperial Research Institute couldn't understand at all.

They could only ask Chen Heng for help… Pushing open the door of the Imperial Research Institute, those familiar figures did not appear.

There was only one Researcher busy cleaning up trash in the entire Research Institute.

"Where is everyone?" Chen Heng grabbed the Researcher and asked.

"Mr. Chen, you're here! I'll take you to them!"