Despite being escorted by the kingdom's elite troops,
Marquis Tenglong was power-hungry and would never allow even a single stumbling block on his path to seizing power. And Jiang Chen was clearly that stumbling block.
What surprised Jiang Chen slightly, however, was that the journey had been completely smooth. Forget about ambushes or surprise attacks—even the faintest trace of covert surveillance was nowhere to be found.
"Could Marquis Tenglong have had a change of heart? Decided not to make a move? Or does he have some other scheme?" Jiang Chen found it puzzling and couldn't quite figure it out.
Two days later, the convoy safely arrived at the outskirts of the Endless Cavern.
The Endless Cavern was located in the northeast of the kingdom. At the edge of a mountain valley, the army set up camp.
Princess Gouyu stood high atop a temporary pavilion: "We camp here tonight. At dawn tomorrow, you will enter this valley. Inside this valley lies the entrance to the Endless Cavern. There are many entrances, but they are all within this valley. Once you enter, you must find your own way in and find your own way out."
"Remember—whether you get lost in the valley or inside the cavern itself, the kingdom will not send anyone down to rescue you. Once you enter the Endless Cavern, life and death are in your own hands. So stay sharp—use every ounce of your focus."
The camp was set up. Jiang Chen chose a spot beside a large tree and sat cross-legged.
Although he knew full well that Princess Gouyu's defensive arrangements would inevitably revolve around him, Jiang Chen wasn't the type to entrust his safety to others.
That night, Jiang Chen never once deactivated his Wind-listening Ear. Not the slightest rustle of wind or movement escaped his ears.
Yet once again, the night was strangely peaceful.
Jiang Chen almost began to wonder—had Marquis Tenglong really decided not to make a move? Or perhaps, in Marquis Tenglong's eyes, he, Jiang Chen, simply wasn't worth the effort?
After mulling it over, he decided it wasn't worth worrying about.
The next morning's sunlight fell upon the outskirts of the valley. Every heir of the noble houses looked energized, their eyes filled with keen anticipation as they gazed into the depths of the valley.
"Chen Ge, I've got good news. I broke through again last night!" Xuan Fatty sidled up and said excitedly.
Just two or three months ago, Xuan Fatty had still been at the fifth-meridian True Qi level, placing him near the bottom among the noble heirs.
Back then, Jiang Chen had taught him the True Acumen Resonance technique, helping him break through to the sixth meridian. Who would have thought that Xuan Fatty would break through yet again, reaching seven meridians and successfully entering the upper ranks of the True Qi Realm?
Xuan Fatty had chosen the defensive task, meaning he was competing to maintain his family's position as Fourth-Rank Nobles, and was executing a Fourth-Rank mission.
Seven-meridian True Qi was more than sufficient for the Fourth-Rank mission tier.
Huqiu Yue had broken through to eight meridians last time but hadn't advanced further this round. However, he had already located the ninth True Qi vital acupoint and was not far from reaching the ninth meridian.
"Chen Ge, I have you to thank for this." Huqiu Yue's eyes shone with deep gratitude. This time, he was challenging for Second-Rank Noble status.
The first two Second-Rank missions had been completed successfully.
If this third mission was also completed, the Huqiu clan would be promoted to Second-Rank Nobility!
"Stay focused, and be careful!" Jiang Chen warned each of them in turn.
The noble heirs gathered in small clusters. With the final task imminent, many of them were feeling a touch of nervousness.
Standing together was, in a way, a form of mutual comfort.
Princess Gouyu seemed to have dressed up deliberately today. She had shed her usual revealing leather armor and instead wore a dignified palace gown, lending her an even more regal air of nobility.
"Everything that needed to be said, I have already said. I now declare the third mission officially open. Based on the current noble rankings, you will enter the valley one by one from lowest to highest. Half a quarter of an hour between each entrant."
This arrangement was clearly designed to prevent vicious competition among the noble houses, ensuring no one began sabotaging rivals inside the valley.
Those with lower rankings were generally weaker, so they went in first.
From low to high—the arrangement was entirely reasonable.
One after another, Xuan Fatty and Huqiu Yue entered. Marquis Jianghan ranked fourteenth among the noble houses, so by the time he went in, a fair amount of time had already passed.
"Jiang Chen, the Endless Cavern stretches on without limit. Be careful. The first and second levels are open for free movement; on the third, you must be at your most alert, as King-level demonic beasts may appear there, with combat strength at least comparable to human True Qi Grandmasters. The fourth level and above—absolutely do not set foot there. Remember, that is forbidden ground. Countless geniuses have ventured in rashly, and not a single one has ever come back. Even Spirit Realm powerhouses who enter the fourth level face grim odds. Mark my words—remember this!"
Princess Gouyu admired Jiang Chen openly and made no secret of it. Before everyone present, she delivered her personal warning.
Jiang Chen's relationship with the royal family was hardly a secret anymore. Even so, seeing him receive such special attention from Princess Gouyu still provoked a faint twinge of jealousy among some.
Jiang Chen nodded. With a single push, his figure shot into the valley.
The instant he entered, Jiang Chen activated his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil and raised his Wind-listening Ear to full alert.
Never harbor thoughts of harming others, but never neglect vigilance against being harmed.
Though none of the heirs who had entered before him posed any real threat, Jiang Chen was a person reborn with two lifetimes of experience. He knew when caution was warranted.
Inside the valley, tangled vegetation grew thick and wild. Towering trees too broad for two arms to encircle blocked out the light, casting the valley into deep gloom.
Without haste, Jiang Chen began searching for the entrance to the Endless Cavern.
Before long, he spotted a narrow opening some three or four li away. The passage wound and twisted, with numerous forks branching off along the way.