Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

A court orchestra played melodious music, while attendants in formal attire carried silver platters as they moved about.

However, unlike the usual joyful atmosphere of a banquet, the hall was packed with people, including almost all the prominent nobles, high-ranking officials, and their families of the Kingdom of Asra, but the air was filled with an indescribable tense and oppressive atmosphere.

People's smiles were mostly stiff, their voices were extremely low, and their eyes darted around, occasionally glancing towards a certain main seat at the front of the hall.

This extremely high-profile banquet was jointly hosted by the First Prince Gravel and the Second Prince Halfas.

The stated reason was "to pray for the ailing king," but everyone knew that this was actually a "trap" to decide who would inherit the throne in the future of the kingdom, the final stage for the two princes to openly compete, demonstrate their strength, and win support.

In fact, if given a choice, a smart person would never want to attend a banquet that is clearly going to "draw blood" and where choosing the wrong side could lead to utter ruin.

However, in the Kingdom of Asura, attending a grand court banquet hosted by the heir to the throne was an inescapable "duty" and "honor" for nobles.

Absence is often seen as a sign of disrespect for the monarchy, and the risks may be greater than those of attendance.

Therefore, they had no choice but to come with a heavy heart, silently praying that the fight between the two princes would be "civilized" and that no innocent bystanders would be affected, and that it would be a quick and decisive battle.

As long as one lives to see the end, regardless of who ultimately ascends the throne, their noble status and timely loyalty will always provide them with the opportunity to continue enjoying wealth and comfort.

Perhaps the nobles' "devout" prayers moved the heavens, for the struggle between the two princes in the center of the hall quickly came to an end, without even a fierce battle breaking out.

The second prince, Halphas, was quickly defeated and, in full view of everyone, was seized by the first prince's guards and placed under house arrest.

Those nobles who had originally been dependent on the second prince were now as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their faces pale with shock.

Watching their leader being taken away, they felt like fish on a chopping board, vulnerable to being purged by the victors at any moment, their future bleak.

At this moment of despair, Chen Ming and Ariel walked into the banquet hall...

Chapter 347: Stripping the Sword Realm

Like drowning people seeing their last piece of driftwood, these desperate nobles, without hesitation, flocked towards Ariel's direction.

With eager expressions of loyalty on their faces, they chattered about their support for the princess, quickly switching allegiances and joining Ariel's ranks.

Ariel was desperately short of men at the moment, so she naturally wanted as many of these defectors as possible, like Han Xin commanding his troops.

She displayed the poise and shrewdness expected of a future queen, quickly consolidating this sudden surge of power. While the loyalty of these individuals remained to be tested, at this crucial moment in the struggle for the throne, she possessed significant political capital in her numbers.

While Ariel was busy appeasing people and receiving the political legacy of the second prince.

Chen Ming then focused his attention on the two key figures vying for the throne—the first prince, Gravel, and Darius, the superior minister who stood beside him like a shadow.

If you had to describe Darius's appearance in one sentence, it would be: a fat, bloated old raccoon.

He had a fat, bloated body that stretched his magnificent minister's robes taut; the skin on his cheeks sagged and fell, forming unsettling wrinkles; his small eyes were sunken deep in his fat, and his gaze was unpredictable.

When Darius saw Princess Ariel enter, his usual fake smile froze instantly, his loose cheek muscles twitched imperceptibly, and his small eyes widened suddenly, a hint of undisguised shock flashing deep in his pupils!

Then, he looked at Chen Ming next to Ariel with a fearful expression.

That look in his eyes was as if he had stumbled upon the Grim Reaper, wielding a scythe, silently descending in the middle of the night.

He was certainly aware of the existence of the [Invisible Guardian], and he knew even more clearly that the two top experts of the Northern God Stream, Vita and Ober, were sent to besiege Ariel on his and the First Prince's secret orders.

Now Ariel appears here unharmed, accompanied by a mysterious man, while Vita and Aubert are nowhere to be found... What this means is self-evident.

The Invisible Guardian was able to silently eliminate the Northern King and the Northern Emperor, and even the Northern Emperor, who was most skilled at hiding and escaping, failed to send out any warning messages—this strength was beyond Darius's understanding and exceeded the limits of the defenses he could set up.

If the other party wanted to take his life, it would probably be no more difficult than crushing an ant.

Darius, who valued his life highly, would naturally feel fear.

Having determined that Darius was no threat, Chen Ming's gaze then shifted to the First Prince, Gravel, who was standing in the main seat.

When Chen Ming saw the prince's face clearly, he was slightly surprised.

He originally thought that as Ariel's older brother, the world's most handsome man, the First Prince Gravel, even if he wasn't a stunningly handsome man, should at least be a handsome twenty-year-old with outstanding temperament and fluffy golden hair.

However, the reality is that Gravel's appearance is quite ordinary.

At first glance, he looked more like a somewhat down-on-his-luck middle-aged man, of medium build, who didn't appear particularly tall even in a prince's suit. He had a rather square but lifeless face, with a messy short beard on his chin and noticeable eye bags.

His overall demeanor is far removed from the image of a spirited prince that one might imagine.

At this moment, Gravel frowned and pressed his lips into a straight line as he looked at his sister Ariel, who had suddenly appeared and quickly absorbed the remnants of the second prince's power.

He seemed to notice Chen Ming beside Ariel, as well as Darius's unusually terrified expression. A hint of unease flashed in his eyes, but more so a gloomy look after being provoked.

Gravel then whispered something to Darius, who barely managed to suppress his surprise, nodded, and gave the signal.

The next moment, the side door of the banquet hall was suddenly pushed open with great force, making a loud "bang" that instantly attracted everyone's attention.

A man strode swiftly from the shadows outside the door into the brightly lit hall.

A single glance at his head reveals his race immediately—a male beastman. His most striking feature is the pair of long rabbit ears on his head!

Chen Ming remembered that in this world, this beast race with rabbit-like features was called the Miltite. They were usually known for their agility and speed.

This Miltite man was lean and muscular, every muscle seemingly brimming with explosive power. He wore a suit of lightweight, flowing black armor, its joints cleverly designed to ensure agility. The armor was polished to a mirror-like shine, reflecting the hall's lights and the astonished faces of the surrounding crowd.

Holding a long, slender sword with a chilling gleam, he walked straight to the First Prince Gravel, standing like the most loyal bulwark between the prince and Chen Ming.

Then, he announced to Chen Ming:

"I am Nakur Jad, one of the three swordsmen of the Northern God School, the Northern King's Twin Swords!"

As soon as he finished speaking, just when everyone thought he was going to launch a challenge alone, Nakul Jad, who was standing there, suddenly "split" to the left and right in an extremely strange way without any warning!

It wasn't an afterimage, nor was it high-speed movement; it was a real, distinct body splitting into two identical figures with identical appearances, clothing, and weapons!

The one on the left maintains its original posture and expression.

The one that newly "split" out on the right, as soon as it appeared, turned its head slightly and spoke, its tone carrying a hint of childish complaint:

"Brother Nakur, I think that in a situation like this, facing such a formidable opponent, we shouldn't have revealed all our names at the beginning! That would have been a tactical mistake!"

Upon hearing this, Nakur on the left instantly replaced his serious expression with a simple, enlightened look. He raised his free hand and naturally patted his younger brother on the right's head, his tone full of praise:

"Ah! That's right! This time it's different from the usual small fry we deal with... We need to be more serious! Judd is really smart!"

This interaction, resembling a stand-up comedy routine, added a touch of absurdity and eeriness to the already tense atmosphere in the hall.

Chen Ming was not surprised by this. He was familiar with the original work and naturally knew the setting of the "Three Swordsmen" of the Northern Divine Stream. Just like the classic trope in many stories that "there are five of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Clan", the Three Swordsmen of the Northern Divine Stream actually consisted of four people: Vita of the Northern King [Light and Darkness], the Northern Emperor Obel, and the twins in front of him, who were collectively known as the Northern King [Double Swords].

As for why it's called Twin Swords?

That's because Nakur and Jad are identical twins. Not only are their appearances and physiques completely identical, but their swordsmanship, fighting style, and even their thought processes are highly synchronized, even reaching a certain level of telepathy. When they join forces against an enemy, the power they unleash is far more than just one plus one equals two; it produces a wondrous chemical reaction, enough to make many powerful opponents far stronger than themselves perish.

After patting his younger brother's head, Nakur turned his gaze back to Chen Ming, his憨厚 (honest and simple) expression quickly replaced by fighting spirit. He spoke again:

"Hey! You over there, you black-haired guy! You're that legendary 'Invisible Guardian' from the capital, aren't you?!"

Judd on the right immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"To be able to break through the combined blockade of Vita and Aubert, and even prevent them from sending back messages... your strength is indeed well-deserved!"

The two brothers, one on the left and one on the right, moved in perfect sync, slightly bending down and lowering their center of gravity. Their longswords, one in front of the other, formed a seemingly simple yet unique starting stance that seamlessly integrated offense and defense. Invisible sword energy began to circulate around them, and a sharp, resonant hum could be faintly heard in the air.

"Therefore, even if it's two against one!"

"You can't call us despicable!"

This is how the brothers fight: speaking with subtle rhythmic differences, trying to distract their opponent.

however--

"What 'oh'?! So noisy!"

Chen Ming's impatient voice instantly shattered the aura that the twins had carefully created.

He didn't even make any obvious spellcasting movements; he simply raised his little finger and casually picked at his ear, as if he were genuinely bothered by Nakur and Jad's chattering conversation.

at the same time--

"Crack! Crack!"

A tooth-grinding, rapidly freezing sound suddenly rang out!

The crystal-clear, yet deadly cold, deep blue ice appeared out of nowhere as if it were alive, and with a speed beyond comprehension, it instantly swallowed up the twin brothers who were still in their starting stance!

Emperor-level ice magic – [Frozen Coffin]!

Two lifelike ice sculptures, each in an attacking posture, suddenly appeared in the center of the hall. The ice was half a meter thick, crystal clear, and the expressions on Nakur and Jad's faces, which shifted from fighting spirit to astonishment and then to complete freeze, were clearly visible inside.

Before their battle aura could even fully illuminate, they were sealed by eternal ice, their life force extinguished the instant the ice coffins were formed.

The pair of swords, which the First Prince had placed high hopes on, were transformed into two expensive "ice sculptures" in an extremely frustrating and comical way before they even had a chance to wield a single sword.

Chen Ming put down his ear-picking hand, flicked off some dust, and then cast his indifferent gaze upon the helpless First Prince Graville and Darius.

Gravel's trump card—the complete annihilation of the three swordsmen of the Northern Divine Stream—his proud barrier of martial prowess was as fragile as paper before Chen Ming. At this moment, only despair remained in his eyes, his lips trembling, yet he could not utter a single meaningful sound.

Darius completely collapsed, his obese body sliding down like a puddle of mud, slumping to the ground. He was oblivious to the dust and wine stains on his expensive minister's robes, staring intently at Chen Ming with the eyes of someone looking at a monster, as if the other party would transform into the Grim Reaper and take his life at any moment.

At that moment of utter silence, the entire arena fell silent.

"BOOM—!!!"

A loud bang suddenly came from the center of the magnificent dome that was twenty meters high in the banquet hall!

Then, to the horror of countless onlookers, the central part of the dome, adorned with intricate murals and reliefs, collapsed, creating a hole more than five meters in diameter! Shattered plaster, wood, and bricks poured down like a torrential rain!

The unluckiest person was a nobleman who was standing directly under the crystal chandelier. He and the long table with the food on it were hit directly by the collapsing main structure and the huge crystal chandelier, and he was instantly silenced.

The flying rubble and debris also affected many nobles in the vicinity, and screams, shouts, and the sound of things breaking immediately filled the air, plunging the scene into chaos.

As dust and rubble fell, a figure leaped down through the gaping hole in the ceiling, landing gracefully in the center of the chaotic hall, precisely between Chen Ming, the First Prince, and Darius.

Once the dust settled, everyone could see who had come.

It was a human woman, petite in stature, her skin covered in deep wrinkles, a testament to the long years she had lived and the loss of her youth.

However, the sword she held in her hand was no ordinary weapon. It was a sword with a golden luster throughout, with a simple and grand design, without much decoration, but the blade naturally flowed with a sacred and powerful aura. Just by standing quietly on the ground, it seemed to become the "center of gravity" of the entire space, attracting everyone's attention.

The old woman used the beautiful golden sword as a cane to support her body, her posture casual yet giving people a sense of profound depth and unfathomable mystery.

"This is really troubling. So this is what the gods and humans were warning us about in the dream..."

She muttered to herself as she looked at Darius and said, "Hey, I'm here to help you."

Water Goddess—Leda Lia!

Many of the older nobles present, especially those who were familiar with the kingdom's military system, instantly recalled this renowned and legendary name!

The Water God School, along with the Northern God School and the Sword God School, is known as one of the three great sword styles in the world.

The core essence of the Water God Style lies in its five secret techniques, said to be the strongest sword techniques comprehended and created by the first Water God. Anyone who can master three of these secret techniques is qualified to be called a Water God.

Throughout history, there have been many exceptionally talented individuals among the water gods, some even mastering four of the five mysteries. However, since ancient times, only the founding patriarch has been able to fully integrate all five mysteries.

The old woman before me, Leda Lia, is the current water goddess, and she has also mastered the three Water God Style secrets.

However, the problem is—she is an old woman. Her prime has long passed, and now, her physical functions are inevitably aging and declining. This is a natural law that no martial artist can defy.

But why, under such unfavorable conditions, is she still able to firmly wear the crown of the water goddess, with no one able to replace her?

Is it because the successors all lack talent?

That's not the case. Currently, within the Water God School, there are also several people who have mastered the three profound techniques and have reached the minimum standard to be called "Water God".

However, no one intended to replace Leda as the water goddess. They generally believed that their own power was far from sufficient and that Leda should continue to serve as the water goddess.

Why would they be so humble and willing to occupy the position of "Water Emperor"?

The answer lies in the specific content of the three profound mysteries that Leda Lya possesses.

Among the five secret techniques of the Water God Style, two are recognized as the most difficult and ultimate techniques that test talent and comprehension the most.

And Leda Lydia has mastered these two most difficult secrets!

Furthermore, with her extraordinary swordsmanship wisdom, she recombine and sublimate one of her conventional profound techniques with these two ultimate profound techniques, creating a sixth profound technique that can be described as a dream – [Stripping the Sword Realm]!

Chapter 348: A Desperate Gap

In simple terms, the effect of this ultimate technique is to create a sword domain. Within this domain, Lieda's sword skills can attack any enemy, and the omnipresent sword energy can suppress the strength of enemies within the domain.

Even more terrifying is that she can gain full field of vision perception within the area. No matter which direction the opponent attacks from, whether it is from the front, back, left, right, up, or down, she can deal with it calmly, with almost no blind spots.

When the water goddess Leda Lia made her appearance, she had already unleashed the [Sword Realm Stripping]! An invisible sword domain had already silently enveloped the entire banquet hall!

In an instant, the nobles who had just joined Princess Ariel were attacked by invisible, sharp sword energy!

These sword energies seemed to be everywhere, precise and deadly. Many nobles didn't even see where the attack came from before they were splattered with blood or seriously injured and fell to the ground!