"Tiandu, relay my decree. During the Hidden Dragon Assessment, deploy additional forces to shadow the vicinity of Marquis Jianghan and protect the Jianghan Manor. You will go yourself and secretly ensure Jiang Chen's safety. Allow no threat to approach him."
"At your command."
Eastern Lu had never imagined that this Jiang family youth, who had once been such a source of frustration for him, would one day compel him—a sovereign ruler—to mobilize his strongest forces for protection.
"Jiang Chen… just what kind of person are you?" Eastern Lu fell into deep contemplation.
Meanwhile, throughout the Royal Capital, reactions were equally intense.
The Medicine Hall was, naturally, overjoyed. After all, the greater the power Jiang Chen demonstrated, the more they recognized that their partnership with him was only growing ever more solid—and their prospects ever brighter.
No one was happier than Marquis Jianghan, Jiang Feng. Over this period, he had remained behind in the Royal Capital, enduring considerable pressure.
The harassment from the Dragon Ascension Marquis's side, while kept from being too overt by the royal family's intervention, had nonetheless weighed heavily on Jiang Feng.
This time, at the Hidden Dragon Assessment, Jiang Chen had outshone both Long Yinye and Long Juxue. Even if it was only a minor edge, it was enough to fill Jiang Feng with elation.
"Chen'er, well done!" Jiang Feng had not been particularly optimistic about Jiang Chen's second task, especially the trip back to the Marquis Jianghan's territory. He had harbored his own doubts in his heart.
He knew very well that with him, Jiang Feng, present in the Jianghan territory, it was solid as iron and no one would dare cause trouble. But with Jiang Chen going back, whether those tribal chieftains or the clan elders would listen to his arrangements was entirely unknown.
Yet the facts proved his concerns were unnecessary.
Not only did Jiang Chen successfully bring the situation under control, he also conveniently eliminated the pressing threat of Jing Man. Either he wouldn't act, or he would act decisively.
Jiang Feng had to admit that his son's boldness and methods surpassed his own from when he was young.
Being surpassed by his son—Jiang Feng was quite pleased with that.
Jiang Feng had noticed that ever since the incident at the Heaven Worship Ceremony, his son had undergone a transformation that was nothing short of earth-shattering.
……
The Hidden Dragon Assessment proceeded with intense fervor.
The time for the third task had finally arrived. This task was one that all the participating feudal lords' heirs would take part in together.
Task Three: The Trial of the Endless Cavern.
The Endless Cavern, located in the northeastern region of the Eastern Kingdom, was a miraculous subterranean world.
Since the founding of the Eastern Kingdom, this Endless Cavern had never been fully excavated or explored.
Even the most outstanding powerhouses of the Eastern Kingdom had never managed to explore the entire Endless Cavern to its very end.
No one knew if the Endless Cavern even had an end.
Nor did anyone know where that end might lie.
It was an underground world, a veritable paradise for the creatures that dwelled beneath the earth.
For the trial-takers, however, this paradise of subterranean life could very well become a hell from which there was no return.
Jiang Chen’s challenge was a first-tier task, meaning its difficulty was set at the highest possible level.
"Gather one hundred Azure Spirit Pearls, or ten Silver Spirit Pearls, or one Golden Spirit Pearl!" Jiang Chen read the task requirements, his mind shrouded in a fog of confusion.
Fortunately, beneath the task scroll, there was an introduction to the Endless Cavern.
Inside the Endless Cavern, all manner of subterranean creatures dwelled. Among them was a species known as the Azure-Winged Sword Bird, each bearing a glowing azure spirit pearl atop its head.
Because the Endless Cavern was an underground realm—dark, damp, and with extremely poor visibility—the glowing azure spirit pearl atop the Azure-Winged Sword Bird's head gave it a tremendous advantage.
The Silver Spirit Pearl was a variant, found atop the head of the Silver-Winged Sword Bird, an evolved form of the Azure-Winged Sword Bird. Only one in a hundred Azure-Winged Sword Birds would undergo this transformation.
The Golden Spirit Pearl represented yet another stage of evolution—the king among Azure-Winged Sword Birds. Any single one possessed power comparable to a True Qi Grandmaster.
Through this information about the Endless Cavern, Jiang Chen gained a rough understanding of the situation.
However, the text also noted that the Endless Cavern was home to countless species of subterranean creatures, and the Azure-Winged Sword Bird was merely one of the more common Spirit Beasts among them.
"All heirs of the marquises participating in the Hidden Dragon Trial, listen well! Gather here tomorrow morning. We will set out for the Endless Cavern. Three days from now, the third task officially begins."
Princess Gouyu announced in a clear, carrying voice: "Memorize your individual task quotas, and remember—the deadline is one month. Exceed one month, and the task is considered a failure. If you gather the required quota ahead of time, you may leave early. For this task, life and death are left to fate. Those who are too cowardly or afraid may apply to withdraw."
The Hidden Dragon Trial was a matter concerning the Marquis's Token—there was no way anyone would give up.
In the martial world, the question of life and death could never be avoided. Only by undergoing trials of life and death could one grow, step by step.
"Very well. I have said all that needs to be said. Return to your respective manors tonight and assemble here tomorrow morning. Remember the appointed time—latecomers will not be waited for!"
Back at the Marquis's estate, Jiang Chen locked himself in his cultivation chamber.
This task was relatively complex. He needed to make certain arrangements.
As things stood, Jiang Chen was already at the peak of the Eight Meridian True Qi stage. With speed, perhaps three to five days; at worst, ten days to half a month—and he could potentially break through to the Nine Meridian True Qi stage.