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Lu Chen waited in the pavilion for a while before an old man with white hair dressed in coarse clothes, followed a young maid into the courtyard. Seeing the white-haired elder before him, Lu Chen was taken aback for a moment.

This old man looked just like an ordinary commoner and did not seem to be someone with a special identity.

However, Lu Chen was no fool. Since Bai Qingqing had specifically sent the maid to inform him of this person’s arrival, it was clear that this old man was not as simple as he appeared.

Lu Chen then used the system to identify the old man.

[Name: SituCe]

[Identity: State Preceptor of the Great Sum Dynasty, one of the National Pillars, currently visiting North City partly to test the North Prince, and partly to deliver a message from the Sum Emperor.]

[Strength: Grandmaster]

[Loyalty: 50]

Seeing the introduction from the system, Lu Chen frowned.

A State Preceptor?

As one of the National Pillars and a State Preceptor, what was he doing wandering around North City instead of staying properly in the capital city? At that moment, Situ Ce said to Lu Chen, “This humble one pays his respects to the Prince. May the Prince live thousands and thousands of years!” Hearing this, Lu Chen let out a chuckle and then said, “State Preceptor, why are you wandering around North City pretending to be an ordinary old commoner? You don’t think I wouldn’t recognize you, do you?”

Seeing that Lu Chen had recognized him at a glance, Situ Ce was a little surprised.

The princes of the Sum Emperor, with the exception of Prince Lu Yi, had not seen him, so theoretically the North Prince should not know that he was the State Preceptor.

With a smile, Situ Ce then asked, “How did the Prince recognize me?”

Lu Chen calmly replied, “Although you’ve concealed your presence, in front of me, a master who is neither humble nor arrogant and can even pose a threat to me, there’s probably no one else but you, a Grandmaster, in the entire Great Sum.

At this, Situ Ce was taken aback once more.

A master!

The North Prince had actually reached the Master Realm!

How was that possible?

He remembered that when the North Prince left the capital city, he did not even have any Inner Strength and was just an ordinary person.

Practicing martial arts is not the same as maneuvering through politics; a person can conceal their thoughts when involved in political intrigue, but it’s different with martial arts. Whether you have Inner Strength or have trained in martial arts, it’s easy for others to see through.

Especially in front of someone whose realm is higher than your own, a martial artist of lower realm finds it difficult to hide their true strength.

Just as Situ Ce doubted whether he had heard wrong, he sensed the martial aura emanating from Lu Chen.

The martial aura on Lu Chen was very faint; an average person, or someone of the same realm as Lu Chen, would not be able to detect Lu Chen’s realm.

But Situ Ce was different; he was a Grandmaster. Even if Lu Chen had hidden his aura and strength, attempting to cover up the Inner Strength within his body, it would still be perceived by Situ Ce.

That’s why Lu Chen revealed right away that he was a master. There was nothing to hide in front of Situ Ce, the Grandmaster, and for the time being, he could not conceal his strength in front of a Grandmaster.

Situ Ce quickly regained his composure and praised, “Worthy of being the North Prince who defeated the thirty thousand-strong army of the Barbarian Tribe. At only seventeen, you’ve broken through to the Master Realm. It seems that before long, the Great Sum will have a Celestial at the Heavenly Human Realm to stand guard.”

Two hours ago, Situ Ce was still at the city gates, questioning whether the North Prince’s personal strength could support his ambition-of course, the ‘strength’ he considered was the military strength of the entire North City as well as the personal strength of the North Prince himself.

Now that he knew the North Prince had reached the Master Realm, Situ Ce instantly understood the confidence that underlay the North Prince’s claim to the entire North Land as his personal territory.

A seventeen-year-old master; this was a rare occurrence in the entire world, or rather, it had never happened before-there was no martial artist who had become a master before twenty, at least, not publicly known.

To become a master at seventeen indicated that the North Prince possessed an extremely terrifying martial arts talent. Judging by the rate at which he was advancing through the realms, it was possible that he could become a Grandmaster before the age of twenty-five. He has great potential to become a Celestial in the Martial Arts World.

This was even more terrifying than the Sum Emperor’s martial arts talent Situ Ce had always believed the Sum Emperor to be the most talented martial artist he’d ever seen, but he never imagined that the Sum Emperor’s son would surpass him in talent.

Keep in mind that when the North Prince was in the capital city, no one knew he knew martial arts.

If the North Prince hadn’t practiced martial arts while in the capital city but started learning martial arts after arriving in North City, then he could be said to be the most talented martial artist the Martial Arts World had seen in a thousand years.

He couldn’t be described merely as a “genius.”

He was a prodigy!

After hearing Situ Ce’s words, Lu Chen replied with a smile, “I don’t believe the State Preceptor would travel a great distance to North City just to praise me with a few words.”

“If you have something to say, State Preceptor, please be straightforward.” Hearing this, Situ Ce immediately said, “Before I discuss official matters, I would like to ask the Prince how he views the current state of the world?” Hearing this question, Lu Chen instantly realized that Situ Ce was testing him. Situ Ce was the State Preceptor and also a pillar of Great Xia; even the Sum Emperor held him in great respect. Indeed, he had the qualifications to test any Prince.

Lu Chen then countered with a question, “Does the ‘world’ referred to by the State Preceptor mean Great Xia, or does it include the other dynasties as well?” Hearing Lu Chen’s question, Situ Ce’s mind paused for a moment.

Clearly, he meant just Great Xia.

Situ Ce had not expected anyone to step outside the scope he had envisioned; when people usually referred to “the world,” they meant Great Xia, not the ’ other dynasties or nations.

After a moment, Situ Ce continued to ask, “Does the Prince really think that all the dynasties and nations in the world combined constitute ‘the world’?” Hearing this question from Situ Ce, Lu Chen was somewhat perplexed. Why did everyone in Great Xia think that ‘the world’ referred only to “Great Xia”?

It might be understandable for ordinary people to think this way, but Situ Ce was after all the Great Xia’s State Preceptor, and they clearly knew there were many other dynasties and nations beyond Great Xia.

Lu Chen then said, “It’s somewhat difficult for this prince to understand why the State Preceptor would ask this question. Are not other dynasties and Great Xia under the same world, the same sky? Naturally, ‘the world’ should include all dynasties and nations.”

Hearing Lu Chen’s words, Situ Ce showed a smile. He suddenly bowed to Lu

Chen and said, “This old man has learned a lesson.”

This…

Lu Chen was taken aback.

Just learned a lesson like that?

He had merely explained his own understanding of ‘the world.’

Situ Ce continued, “The Prince’s thoughts have far surpassed this old man.” The North Prince’s view of ‘the world’ was not Great Xia but the whole world. The North Prince’s ambition was much greater than he had imagined! Even the former Sum Emperor did not have such ambition.

Lu Chen felt that Situ Ce’s words were somewhat baffling; he could not help thinking that perhaps it was due to Situ Ce’s old age that his words seemed incomprehensible.

At this moment, Situ Ce posed another question: “This old man has one more question for the Prince. With such insight and martial arts talent, why did you choose not to participate in the struggle for succession when in the capital city? With the Prince’s insight and martial arts talent, it wouldn’t be too difficult to obtain the position of Crown Prince.”

Indeed, with Lu Chen’s martial arts talent, his insight, and the backing of the Chu Family, it would be very easy for him to acquire the title of Crown Prince; there was no need for him to come to the cold and barren North City to grow his influence.

Hearing this from Situ Ce, Lu Chen asked with a smile, “Does the State Preceptor think it is easier for a painter to create the desired effect on a blank canvas or to modify someone else’s painting to achieve that effect?” Upon hearing Lu Chen’s analogy, Situ Ce instantly understood his meaning.

Then, Situ Ce said, “So that’s the reason. No wonder you agreed without hesitation when His Majesty asked you to come to North City.”

Today’s Great Xia was controlled by powerful aristocratic families. Any reform or order from the Sum Emperor would face their obstruction, but North City was different. It was too poor to have any significant aristocratic families, at most some minor clans. The North Prince’s edicts could pass unimpeded in North City.

The North Prince could do as he pleased in North City, like painting on blank canvas however he wished.

Lu Chen said, “Your words are not quite accurate; it wasn’t for this prince to decide whether to come to North City or not, but His Majesty’s decision.” Situ Ce acknowledged, “The Prince speaks the truth.”

Lu Chen continued, “Alright, let’s end the idle talk here. The State Preceptor must be here on behalf of His Majesty. Please tell this prince directly what His Majesty’s command for me is.”

Situ Ce said, “His Majesty has instructed this old man to inform the Prince that he intends to make you the Crown Prince. You should strive hard and not fail His Majesty’s expectations.”

Hearing this from Situ Ce, Lu Chen chuckled. That was quite an offer, one that he was afraid he couldn’t accept.

Although that was his thought, Lu Chen did not say it in front of Situ Ce. Instead, he said, “Thank you for coming all the way to North City to convey my father’s words. Please tell him that I will certainly work harder and definitely not disappoint his expectations.”

With a smile, Situ Ce said, “Of course, this old man will definitely convey your words to His Majesty.”

“However, before I leave North City, I would like to say something from the heart to the Prince.”

Lu Chen said, “Please speak, State Preceptor.”

Situ Ce said, “It is indeed not easy to achieve the desired effect when painting on someone else’s canvas, but if someone is willing to offer the Prince a larger blank canvas, I hope the Prince has enough patience to wait. Surely then, the Prince’s brush will more easily outline the ‘world’ envisioned in his heart on that canvas.”

Hearing Situ Ce’s veiled hint, Lu Chen glanced at his Loyalty value, discovering that it had actually reached eighty-five.

That was a bit outrageous.

Just after a few words, the loyalty of a Grandmaster toward himself had increased so much.

Lu Chen then said, “Thank you for the reminder, State Preceptor. This prince will certainly keep it in mind.”

Originally, Situ Ce wanted to probe into matters about those great pits, but in the end, he gave up.

After hearing Lu Chen’s responses, what had caused those great pits no longer mattered.