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“It has almost been a thousand years,” Jian Chen responded reluctantly. He felt extremely helpless inside. It would be reasonable if others discovered his length of cultivation if his cultivation realm was low. However, he was clearly a late Overgod now, yet the divine king still managed to tell from a single glance.

It was as if the amount of time he had been cultivating was as transparent as glass before a Godking.

However, fortunately, the Grand Imperial Protector failed to see through how long he had been cultivating. At the very least, this made Jian Chen realise that not all Godkings could tell how long he had been cultivating for.

Becoming an Overgod in less than a thousand years would definitely take the Saints’ World by surprise.

Even the prodigies that peak clans invested heavily in would struggle to achieve such a speed of cultivation.

“What a prodigy. This speed of cultivation might be unprecedented in the Saints’ World. I never thought I’d personally witness such a miraculous existence,” the Grand Imperial Protector sighed in amazement. His eyes shone as he looked at Jian Chen as if he was looking at a great treasure.

However, what he did not know was that Jian Chen had only been cultivating for roughly two hundred years. He said close to a thousand years instead so that it would not be too shocking. However, even that was enough to amaze the Grand Imperial Protector and the divine king.

“Jian Chen, with your talent, it’s a piece of cake for you to join the eternal Blood Sun Empire of the southern region. If you’re willing, even joining the Tian empire of the central region would not be difficult. You will be able to develop better in such places. Staying in my tiny Divine Kingdom of Pingtian is burying your talent,” the divine king said to Jian Chen.

Jian Chen said after some thought, “Your majesty, you are correct. If I join a powerful organization, I’ll basically have complete access to whatever heavenly resources and cultivation resources I want. However, there are always downsides when there are upsides. In exchange for the nurturing, I will lose my freedom and become trapped under many rules. I would no longer be as free as I am right now.”

“Everyone has their own reasons. With the path that I wish to take, it is inappropriate for me to join those powerful clans and organisatons of the Saints’ World. Being free may be even more beneficial to my cultivation,” Jian Chen said seriously. He had received a legacy from the Immortals’ World. As such, regardless of whether he was interested in joining a powerful organisation or clan in the Saints’ World or not, he could not afford to come in contact with them at all. Otherwise, he would be doomed.

However, the divine king and the Grand Imperial Protector nodded in much agreement after hearing Jian Chen’s words. They responded, “That’s right. Although joining a powerful clan or organisation is quite a good choice, you don’t necessarily have to join one if you want to become an expert who stands supreme over all life. It is instead easier to forge the mind and willpower of a person by undergoing trials and tribulations among mortals. In the future, you’ll still be able to become an expert who stands above all life, one who has reached the peak of the world.” The divine king stared deeply at Jian Chen and said, “Jian Chen, since you have chosen that path, I hope you can follow through with it. Although I don’t know whether you can reach the peak of the world with your talent, reaching the Primordial realm will be nothing difficult at the very least.”

Jian Chen bowed at the divine king. He knew that the divine king was really thinking for him by saying that. Perhaps, he had gained the divine king’s favor with his talent, and the divine king really hoped that Jian Chen could make it even further than he could himself.

At this moment, the divine king tossed a medallion to Jian Chen. He said, “Jian Chen, with this token, you can enter the royal collection as you wish. There are all the battle skills I have collected across the years in there. You can view them as you wish.”

“According to the rules that I set down in the past, only Overgods who have contributed greatly to the divine kingdom can enter the royal collection to pick cultivations methods or battle skills that they want, and there’s a limit on the number. For you, I won’t set down any restriction. I only hope that you can make it even further on the road of cultivation in the future.”

“Thank you, your majesty!” Jian Chen clasped his fist and accepted the medallion.

The divine king smiled. However, he seemed to think of something soon afterwards. He stared at the hazy white sky and sighed gently, “Godking Duanmu was once a shocking prodigy. His usage of the sword was masterful. He was a rare talent who was even comparable to the prodigies painstakingly raised by large sects and clans. There were very few people who were his opponent at the same level of cultivation apart from those who made it onto the Godking’s Throne.”

The divine king’s voice was filled with emotion as he seemed to be recalling the past.

Jian Chen had no idea why the divine king had suddenly mentioned Godking Duanmu. However, he did not say anything either. In just sat there quietly and listened.

“Many years ago, when Godking Duamu was still alive, I was fortunate enough to spar with him. He and I were both mid Godkings, but I was only able to last fifty moves against him. Duanmu’s battle prowess was really terrifying…”

“With Duanmu’s talent, if he fully matured, he would have definitely become an absolute power who could dominate an entire region. However, before he could reach the Primordial realm, he was slain by the vice-leader of the Empyrean Demon Cult, Huai An…”

“What a pity, what a pity. All he needed was one last step, and Godking Duanmu would have become a Primordial realm expert. With his strength that was enough to make it onto the Godking’s throne, he would have been able to face off against all three vice-leaders of the Empyrean Demon Cult all by himself even if he was only an early Infinite Prime. It’s just a pity that he failed to make it past the final step, and a great man just died like that. Sigh…”

The divine king’s voice was filled with regret. He felt regret for Godking Duanmu’s death.

Jian Chen said nothing. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, this was commonplace.

“Ling Hougong once followed me to wage wars everywhere. He fought to create the territory of the Divine Kingdom of Pingtian. On the surface, he and I are only related as vassal and king, but I have always treated him as a brother. Now that he has obtained Godking Duanmu’s legacy, his future accomplishments will definitely be extraordinary. However, he needs time to grow.” The divine king looked at Jian Chen and said, “Jian Chen, I have one thing that I must request from you. If the Ling family encounters trouble, please help them out.”

The divine king spoke extremely sincerely. Instead, Jian Chen became very confused. Was the divine king really that compassionate? As the divine king, it was reasonable for him to look after Ling Hougong. However, he actually cared for Ling Hougong’s clan so much as well.

Was it because Ling Hougong had obtained Godking Duanmu’s legacy, so the divine king was certain that he would soar up one day, which was why he cared so much about him?

“You speak too seriously, your majesty. All your majesty needs is a single imperial edict, and who will still be bold enough to touch the Ling family?” Jian Chen said.

“The Empyrean Demon Cult,” the divine king responded hoarsely.

Jian Chen’s face changed. He stared at the divine king in surprise. After a moment of silence, he said, “If even you, your majesty, cannot stop them, what can I, a mere Overgod, do?”

The divine king sighed gently. His face was filled with helplessness as he said, “Due to some reasons, I can’t take part in the matter, so I must rely on you to stop the Empyrean Demon Cult.”

Jian Chen was surprised by that. Even the Grand Imperial Protector looked at the divine king in confusion after he heard that.