Martial Cultivator

Chapter 174: Desolate North, Youth, Future

The Warden was still waiting for Chen Chao in the study room.

This meeting was ordinary, without any other things. It was just a very ordinary meeting.

The Warden stood up from behind his desk, made Chen Chao sit down, and then had someone bring him a cup of tea for him.

Chen Chao sat down obediently, then started drinking the tea.

The tea was average, it was not some fine tea. It was obvious that it should not appear in the Warden Office.

The Warden looked at Chen Chao as if he knew what he was thinking and smiled, saying, "I don't like to drink tea. When I was in the northern frontier army before, I'd drink some alcohol after a battle. Isn't the taste more interesting than tea?"

Chen Chao did not say anything.

The Warden said with vicissitudes of emotion, "To be honest, in the beginning, I never thought you would become champion. The most outstanding existences among the foreign cultivators didn't come. But no matter how you look at it, it shouldn't have been you taking first place. Yet, you really surprised me. It's not an exaggeration to say that you are one of the most talented prodigies in our Great Liang Dynasty."

The admiration in his eyes was evident when speaking.

Chen Chao felt it and smiled, "Your Excellency, does that mean that you have to give me more rewards?"

The Warden did not answer this question, but looked at Chen Chao and asked, "Have you been to the palace?"

The matter of entering the palace could not be concealed from the eyes of these prominent figures.

Chen Chao nodded his head.

"Have you met His Majesty?"

If he wanted to meet Her Majesty one last time, he would naturally have to meet the Great Liang Emperor first. It was inevitable because he would not be far from the imperial palace at this time. Therefore, anyone who wanted to go to that place could only face him.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chao nodded.

The Warden praised, "Indeed, well done. Since you were able to leave under His Majesty's eyelids, I no longer have any worries."

After the Great Liang Emperor met Chen Chao and did not do anything afterward, it actually already conveyed a lot of information.

The Warden rubbed his cheek and then started talking about the official business, "You emerged as the champion of the Myriad Willow Convention, proving how remarkable you are. Logically speaking, I should heavily nurture you. Now, I've chosen a path for you. Care to listen?"

Chen Chao nodded. These were things he should receive, so he was not worried about anything.

"Becoming champion and killing foreign cultivators, although it wasn't your first time killing, it wasn't a simple matter no matter how you look at it. The safest plan for you now is to stay in the Divine Capital. I'm planning to send Song Lian to the Northern Frontier. The position of Commander of the Left Guard will be vacant, and you can take over. You'll be safe in the Divine Capital."

The Commander of the Left Guard was one of the leaders of the Divine Capital's two guard divisions. It was not outrageous to call it a high-ranking and influential position.

Chen Chao was silent for a moment and said, "I'm still young and at this cultivation level."

A Divine Trove martial artist could serve as the warden for a county, but even if one aimed to become a warden at the prefecture level, it would be difficult. However, the Warden was presenting Chen Chao with the position of Commander of the Left Guard in the Divine Capital. This was an even higher position than a prefecture-level warden.

The Warden smiled and said, "There isn't a youngster as outstanding as you in my warden faction. You have a high chance of taking over my position."

Lord Warden Commander...

That was the highest position for a military official.

A true pillar of the Great Liang Dynasty.

The so-called rising through the ranks probably meant this.

Chen Chao felt a wave of emotions.

But he quickly shook his head and took a deep breath.

The Warden smiled and said, "When that day comes and you go to the Xie Family again, they will open up the main entrance."

In the eyes of important figures, there were naturally many things. Standing at a high position naturally allowed one to see more. Many people were aware of Chen Chao's visit to the Xie Family, and an existence like the Warden would certainly be one of them.

After all, he was a genuine big shot.

Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "It's not that simple."

The Warden said profoundly, "The Xie Family rose to power and position due to Great Liang, but now they are no longer the Xie Family of Great Liang. It's hard to say."

Currently, the two great noble families of the Great Liang Dynasty were the Xie Family and the Wei Family. The Wei Family had a much longer history than the Xie Family, but their relationship with the Great Liang Dynasty could not be compared to that of the Xie Family.

But with the passage of time, even the relationship between the Xie Family and the Great Liang Dynasty seemed to be less close than before.

Chen Chao could only remain silent. He did not know what to say in response to such words.

The Warden smiled and said, "This is just one path, and it's also the one I least want you to choose."

If the path to becoming Lord Warden Commander was so smooth and without experiencing storms and hardships, one would never become an extraordinary figure.

Just like this current Warden, he also went through a lot before becoming the Warden Commander.

"To throw you into the Northern Frontier. There are the true martial artists of the Great Liang Dynasty on that Great Wall."

The Warden felt emotional and repeated, "I'm not just talking about that Great General, but everyone on that Great Wall. They are all true martial artists."

"The definition of a martial artist has never been a certain kind of so-called cultivator."

The Warden's gaze was firm as he said softly, "Valiant martial artists, warriors who resist foreign aggression."

"Immortal cultivators say that our Great Liang Dynasty are all martial artists and look down on us? But I'm very proud of the two words, martial artist."

The Warden looked at Chen Chao and said, "I am truly proud to be called a martial artist alongside those people in the Northern Frontier."

Chen Chao's gaze was complex. When he first met this Warden, he did not have any thoughts or feelings. But this second meeting made it seem like the Warden truly regarded him as his own family's junior, so his words this time were very amiable.

Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "It seems like this lowly official isn't too willing to go to the Northern Frontier to kill demons for the time being."

Going to the Northern Frontier to kill demons was a very dangerous task. One wrong move and he might end up dying in that place.

The Warden looked at him, some emotions in his eyes. But it was definitely not disappointment or anything else.

"Although the Northern Frontier is the fastest place for you to excel, it's also not the path I want you to take. You are part of my warden faction, if I throw you into the Northern Frontier, Your Father is afraid that guy won't let you go and will forcefully keep you in the Northern Frontier Army. Although there are a few talented pups there, I keep having this feeling that if you go, you won't be able to come back anymore."

The Warden smiled and said, "You're of my warden faction, you should be groomed by myself no matter what."

Chen Chao looked at the Warden, suddenly having a somewhat bad premonition.

"I already have an idea for the third path."

The Warden looked at Chen Chao, the excitement in his eyes becoming more and more intense.

……

……

Chen Chao walked out of the Warden Office.

Song Lian was still waiting here for him.

This Commander of the Left Guard looked at Chen Chao and asked, "How did it go?"

There was also some anticipation in his eyes.

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is Your Excellency going to the Northern Frontier?"

Song Lian looked at Chen Chao and sighed, saying solemnly, "The situation in the North isn't good right now. The demons have deployed heavy forces in the Northern Frontier and the imperial court plans to mobilize many cultivators over... I also want to go and take a look. It's been a long time since I've been with those old comrades."

Song Lian served under that Northern Frontier Great General back then. Later, due to certain reasons, he returned to the Divine Capital and became the current Commander of the Left Guard.

In fact, this time when the imperial court mobilized cultivators to the Northern Frontier, Song Lian volunteered to go.

"What about that Elder Sister? Getting married first?"

Chen Chao suddenly remembered a problem and looked at Song Lian very seriously.

Song Lian frowned and said, "Get married? Not discussing after I return? What if I really die at the Northern Frontier? Do I leave her as a widow?"

Chen Chao said, "It's obvious that she wouldn't mind."

Song Lian said, "I mind."

This Commander of the Left Guard rarely showed such seriousness.

The first half of his life was lonely. Now that he found someone and was about to achieve a happy ending, the Commander of the Left Guard smiled and asked, "Did Lord Warden agree?"

Chen Chao thought of something... and said with surprise, "You proposed the idea?"

Song Lian smiled and said, "Since I'm leaving, naturally, this position of commander has to be vacated. Since you have already become the Deputy Commander, then... what's the problem with being the commander?"

Chen Chao furrowed his brow and said, "What about qualifications and cultivation level..."

"That's not something I need to worry about, that should be something for Lord Warden to worry about. Since he has already agreed, what's the problem?" Song Lian unfastened the waist token from his waist and handed it to Chen Chao.

The word "Commander" on the waist token was very prominent.

Chen Chao took the waist token and said, "Just temporarily. Out of the three paths, this is the first one. I've chosen the third path."

Song Lian raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you thinking, kid? When Your Father returns, are you not returning this position back to Your Father?!"

Chen Chao joked, "When you come back, won't you become the Lord Warden Commander?"

Song Lian cursed, "Go to hell!"

Chen Chao burst into laughing, laughing so hard that he bent over.

"But I see that you'll have opportunities in the future, kid. If that day really comes, if we can help His Majesty a helping hand, perhaps we can achieve something that the entire human race hasn't been able to do for so many years."

Song Lian lamented, "The thirty thousand miles of the desolate north, that's the sore spot of the entire human race."

……

……

The Dean entered the palace again.

The imperial palace was still draped in mourning colors.

That Emperor was waiting for him by the lake.

The Dean arrived here and spat out a turbid breath.

The Great Liang Emperor went straight to the point, "It's that child, no need to guess, he's Our nephew."

The Dean smiled and said, "It seems that the outcome isn't bad. It's different from what everyone thought."

The Great Liang Emperor said, "He says he didn't come for the throne, but what do those people at the back think?"

The Dean shook his head. "Based on my understanding of that child, he's very tenacious. There won't be too many problems."

The Great Liang Emperor asked, "So We can trust him?"

The Dean smiled and said, "Royal family bloodline. I remember Your Majesty and the former Crown Prince were close brothers."

Among the sons of Emperor Lingzong, the current Emperor and the former Crown Prince were naturally the closest brothers.

"Yes, that's why We have felt guilty towards him for many years."

The Great Liang Emperor looked at the Dean and said, "Since that's the case, We won't think about it too much."

The Dean nodded and asked, "Is Your Majesty going to throw him to the North or somewhere else?"

"There will be a war in the North, it's very dangerous right now. We really can't bear to do that. But how can he grow without experiencing hardships?"

The Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, "We already have an idea."

The Dean was rather unhappy "Since you already have an idea, why did you summon me to the palace?"

The Great Liang Emperor looked at him and said, "How to fight in the north, this matter still needs some thought."