I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 276 Killing the Enemy

"You think you can be on par with me, a pretty boy like you?"

Wang Jinhu sized Chen Ming up and down, his eyes revealing a palpable, menacing aura that was truly terrifying.

Chen Ming felt a chill run down his spine. This person was likely practicing some kind of secret technique, or his own cultivation method was very special, which was why he could generate such a baleful aura.

This also proves that he has killed many people and must have had extremely rich combat experience.

Chen Ming stared at him calmly and asked, "What do you want?"

Wang Jinhu patted the broadsword in his hand and said, "Fight me, young master, and let me test your strength and see if you are worthy of being mentioned alongside my name."

"Okay, you set the time."

This is the inner palace, so we can't take action here. We'll have to schedule another time.

Seeing that he agreed so readily, Wang Jinhu didn't press the matter further and found a place to sit down.

Chen Ming also sat back down in his seat.

Gu Zhengshan, standing to the side, frowned and whispered reproachfully, "How could you agree to him? You've only just entered the second rank, how can you be a match for him? Don't forget..."

"Shut up."

Chen Ming glanced at him, the cold glint in his eyes causing Gu Zhengshan to shiver involuntarily—this was due to the suppression of their cultivation levels.

He said coldly, "It's none of your business to tell me what to do."

Gu Zhengshan gritted his teeth, his hand clenching tightly under the table before relaxing it. He secretly vowed to teach this kid a lesson once this was over.

Chen Ming finally got some peace and quiet.

After a while, a commotion broke out in the side hall. "Look, it's the Four Absolutes Young Master!"

The one who arrived was a handsome young nobleman. In terms of appearance, only the "Peerless Gentleman" dressed up by Xia Mudan could compare to him.

Chen Ming looked closely and saw that the man had a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and exuded an air of nobility. He was a very elegant young gentleman.

It couldn't possibly be a woman, could it?

He muttered to himself.

This "Four Masters" was surnamed Duan, but no one knew his given name. He was known as a master of swordsmanship, knife skills, musical instruments, and wine. Not only was his skill exceptional, but his fame among the common people far surpassed that of the other two.

They are equivalent to folk idols.

The way this person made their entrance was like a celebrity street photo shoot on Earth; seemingly casual, but in reality, every move was carefully designed.

He was accompanied by four beautiful maids who looked exactly alike, each holding something in their hands.

A sword.

a knife.

A zither.

There is also a jar of wine.

You can tell how flamboyant this person is just by looking at them.

Of course, everyone sitting in this side hall was a man.

The woman was naturally in another side hall.

Among those present, there were quite a few who disliked these "Four Gentlemen of Gentlemen".

Chen Ming heard many people scoff, probably thinking badly about him.

After the "Four Gentlemen of ...

Chen Ming said, "It's me."

The maid said, "My young master said that if you perform poorly at the banquet, he should not mention you to outsiders again. You are on par with my young master."

After saying that, he curtsied and turned to leave.

Chen Ming found it quite interesting. After being in the martial arts world for so long, he never expected that the people who cherished their reputation the most would be these noble young masters.

Wang Jinhu and the Four Masters both came specifically to remind, or rather warn, him.

I wonder if the remaining one is like them.

After a while, the last young master made his appearance.

The young lady was dressed in a black robe, disguised as a man, and her figure was exquisite and curvaceous, making no attempt to conceal her identity as a woman.

This woman's name is Ling Qingying. Despite being a woman, she is as famous as the other two, and they are collectively known as the Third Young Master, simply because their behavior and mannerisms are different from those of ordinary women.

This can be seen from the fact that she entered a large hall that was entirely for men. She completely identified herself as a man.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, women can also inherit titles, as long as they have sufficient strength.

Her family held the hereditary title of Duke. Several years ago, she was designated as the heir apparent, destined to inherit the title and become a female Duke.

As soon as Ling Qingying stepped into the main hall, she glanced at the crowd and suddenly raised her hand.

Chen Ming felt a sharp sword intent rushing straight towards his face, transforming into a sky full of starlight before his eyes, dazzling and mesmerizing.

He raised his hand and gently touched one of the starlight beams.

The starlight that filled the sky vanished instantly.

Ling Qingying had already withdrawn her hand, glanced at him, and found a seat.

This person is incredibly bold, daring to make a move even in the palace.

Chen Ming glanced around and caught a glimpse of a general in a red cloak flashing past outside the hall. He thought to himself that Ling Qingying's status was quite extraordinary, as the guard had acted as if he hadn't seen her at all.

It seems the rumor is true; the Empress Dowager is said to be very fond of this young lady and has summoned her to the palace many times.

He had now met the three most outstanding individuals among the noble families of the capital, and tonight they would find out who was stronger.

...Finally, it got dark.

Chen Ming and the others entered the main hall, led by the eunuch.

The main hall of Qianyuan Hall is extremely large, larger than a football field. Thousands of people are seated on the left and right sides, while the royal family is in the center.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

Everyone present bowed to the emperor, who sat high on the throne.

Then, he bowed to the curtain hanging behind the dragon throne, saying, "Greetings, Empress Dowager!"

Chen Ming finally saw the emperor's true face. He was refined and well-maintained, looking to be in his early thirties. Sitting high on the dragon throne, he exuded an air of majesty.

As for the Empress Dowager sitting behind the curtain, only a graceful figure could be vaguely seen.

Sitting next to the emperor was the empress. She wasn't a stunning beauty, but she had a graceful demeanor, though she didn't look very well.

It was probably influenced by the recent incident in the court where people wanted the emperor to depose the empress.

Next to her were two concubines, both extremely beautiful and each with their own unique features.

Next to the emperor were the imperial family members. They were there as spectators today; this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was for the nobility, and the imperial family members did not participate.

Chen Ming spotted Xia Mudan at a glance. She stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens; she was a natural protagonist and the focus of attention no matter where she was.

Xia Mudan was also looking at him, her expression relatively restrained.

As soon as Chen Ming's eyes met hers, he looked away. In this setting, it was always against the rules to stare at the emperor's future concubine.

Next, an old eunuch standing beside the emperor stepped forward and said a few polite words in a high-pitched voice, nothing more than that all the ministers should work together to ensure the eternal prosperity of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Chen Ming barely listened, preoccupied with the power struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Some of the systems in the Great Jin Dynasty are quite interesting. Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress came from prominent families. In fact, there was no word of the Empress Dowager or the Empress having any family members.

It was as if they were all orphans.

This is of course impossible; it only shows that the origins of these two people are mysterious, so mysterious that they cannot be known to the world.

There's probably some secret hidden here.

The emperor was not the empress dowager's biological son. Logically speaking, under such a relationship, the empress dowager, unless she treated the emperor as a puppet, would most likely be unable to defeat him.

However, in the Great Jin Dynasty, the Empress Dowager's faction has clearly suppressed the Emperor's faction.

There is only one possibility: this emperor possesses unparalleled power.

As Chen Ming was pondering this, he finally heard the eunuch get down to business, “...According to the rules set by the founding emperor, on the night of the Ghost Festival, the sons of nobles and high-ranking officials can enter the Tower of Merit to undergo trials. The ten with the highest merit will receive a spot in a secret realm. The top five will receive a spot in a celestial abode. Those who wish to participate in the trials can go to the middle.”

finally come!

But what on earth is this Merit Pagoda?

Chen Ming had some doubts in his heart. The Gu family had never told him how the competition would be held at the Ghost Festival banquet.

He had initially thought it was going to be a contest, but now it seems that's not the case.

At this moment, Gu Haochuan, who was sitting next to him, said, "Xiao Qi, go. You just need to give it your all."

"Yes."

Chen Ming stood up and walked to the middle.

Finally, nearly a hundred people stood in the middle of the main hall.

He was somewhat astonished. No wonder the Great Jin Dynasty could suppress the world. The people present were at least at the third rank, and there were quite a few at the second rank as well.

This only includes noble families and families of high-ranking officials in the imperial court. It does not include the Six Doors and imperial relatives.

Such strength is enough to crush any other force.

The emperor waited for a while, and seeing that no one else came out, he said, "My dear ministers, kill many enemies and return in triumph."

After saying that, he waved his hand.

A white light enveloped all the more than one hundred people present and instantly teleported them away.

……

"where is this place?"

Chen Ming felt a blur before his eyes and found himself in a strange space. He looked around warily and found that the terrain was complex, with mountains, rivers, and forests.

Could this be a secret realm?
As he was thinking, a sudden warning arose in his mind, and without thinking, he used his movement technique to disappear from the spot.

Whoosh!
A sharp arrow was stuck where he had been standing, its fletching still trembling slightly.

Chen Ming hid in a large tree and looked in the direction from which the arrows came, vaguely seeing many figures in the woods.

"Good form!"

A tall general in black armor emerged from the woods, followed by a dozen soldiers also in armor.

These people are clearly elite.

However, the armor these people are wearing is a bit strange. It doesn't seem to be the style of the Great Jin Dynasty.

The general roared, "My children, the time to fight has come! For the glory of Great Wei!"

"For the glory of the Great Wei!"

The soldiers behind him shouted and charged toward Chen Ming with murderous intent.

Great Wei?

The Great Wei Dynasty has fallen.

Chen Ming mentally scoffed, but instead of fighting them head-on, he vanished in a flash.

(End of this chapter)