The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"Now it's time to comprehend the Ghost God Halberd Technique."

Chu Xiu took out the manual of the Ghost God Halberd Technique and studied it while trying to comprehend it.

Chu Xiu's comprehension was already exceptional. With the boost from the Bodhi Enlightenment Pill, he found the Ghost God Halberd Technique incredibly easy to understand. His mind was constantly filled with flashes of inspiration, which allowed him to quickly reach the entry level and even the minor mastery level in his understanding of the Ghost God Halberd Technique.

However, even after reaching this level, Chu Xiu remained immersed in comprehending the Ghost God Halberd Technique.

Although Chu Xiu doesn't use a halberd now, it doesn't mean he can't use one in the future.

More importantly, his understanding of the Ghost God Halberd Technique was more about gaining a certain level of mastery over it. This allowed him to immediately spot the flaws in Yang Xuance's Ghost God Halberd Technique when they clashed again.

After a long time.

"As expected of the Ghost God Halberd Technique."

"Even with a Bodhi Enlightenment Pill, I was unable to comprehend the Ghost God Halberd Technique to perfection; I only reached the Great Completion stage."

"However, the Ghost God Halberd Technique at its peak is already sufficient."

Chu Xiu slowly opened his eyes, a look of amazement on his face, and said, "Perhaps I can also make a halberd."

After a pause, Chu Xiu stood up and said, "It's time to go out for a walk. My Jinyiwei has more than 8,000 elite troops, and they should be arriving in Shouchun City soon."

Half an hour later.

Not only did all eight thousand elite Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) arrive in Shouchun City.

Even Mo Xuanjia, the governor of Yangzhou, moved from Liyang City to Shouchun City with a group of Yangzhou officials.

Yang Xuance remained completely silent, as if he had no intention of attacking Yangzhou at all.

Time flies.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the courtyard of the inn.

Swish!

Ying Taotie appeared out of thin air in the courtyard and bowed to Chu Xiu, who was sitting at the stone table reading a book, saying, "Reporting to the Marquis, I have just received some news."

"explain."

Chu Xiu's gaze remained fixed on the book in his right hand, and he spoke without looking up.

This inn has now been bought by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and everyone from the innkeeper to the waiters is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, outsiders were unaware of this.

After all, the innkeeper and the waiter were actually secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and outsiders naturally did not know their identities.

There was even less way of knowing that the entire inn was staffed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Yes, the entire inn.

Every room in the inn was transformed into a room belonging to the Imperial Guards.

The news that the Hongnong Yang clan had rebelled and that Yang Yan, the head of the Hongnong Yang clan and former Grand Secretary, had been killed by Chu Xiu with a single blow spread throughout the entire city of Shouchun.

After all, Mo Xuanjia had moved the entire Yangzhou governor's mansion to Shouchun City to guard against Yang Xuance, the governor of Xuzhou. In addition, the earth-shattering battle between Chu Xiu and Yang Xuance on the Huai River had already attracted the attention of the people in Shouchun City and the martial arts world. Such a thing could not be kept secret.

This caused the entire city of Shouchun to become quite desolate, with large numbers of ordinary people and martial arts practitioners leaving the city every day to avoid being affected by Yang Xuance's invasion of Yangzhou.

Everyone knows that Yang Xuance will definitely rebel, or rather, Yang Xuance has already rebelled.

Yang Xuance had wanted to storm Yangzhou before, but was stopped by Chu Xiu.

"My lord, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has officially been established!"

“In every prefecture and county of our Great Zhou Dynasty, a Tianji Pavilion has been established.”

“Tianji Pavilions have also been established in various counties of Yangzhou.”

"At this time, there was a Tianji Pavilion in Shouchun City."

Ying Taotie took a deep breath to calm his turmoil and said to Chu Xiu with great solemnity, "According to the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, once the Tianji Pavilion fully emerges, it will mean that a great era of contention is about to begin!"

"Tianji Pavilion?"

Chu Xiu raised an eyebrow and looked at Ying Taotie, saying, "Besides this, is there anything else?"

Clearly, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had long been prepared to emerge.

They had already established a presence throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.

They were just waiting for the right opportunity.

Now, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion clearly believes that the time has come.

"Your Excellency, there is one more thing. After the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was established, it issued a list of prodigies."

Ying Taotie considered for a moment before speaking.

"The Ranking of Prodigies?"

Chu Xiu looked at Ying Taotie with great interest and asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is indeed the List of Prodigies."

"There are a total of one hundred spots in this list of prodigies."

"It is said to be a ranking of all geniuses under the age of fifty in our entire Great Zhou Dynasty, below the Celestial Immortal Realm."

"Those who can be ranked on the list of geniuses are all true geniuses, prodigies, and even peerless prodigies."

“Each one of them is a truly exceptional talent!”

Ying Taotie said with a solemn expression, "The Marquis is listed on the list of geniuses."

In the list of prodigies, the Marquis ranks ninth.

"Ninth?"

Chu Xiu smiled calmly and asked, "Who are the eight people in front?"

"Reporting to the Marquis, the first of the eight people ahead is Ning Wushuang, the Daoist disciple of the Supreme Dao Sect."

"The second place goes to Mu Qingsi, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Path."

"The third place goes to Jiang Taixu, the Holy Son of the Divine Firmament Sword Sect."

"The fourth place is Murong Qingcheng, the Holy Maiden of the Yin Yang Harmony Sect."

"The fifth place is Yang Xuance."

"The sixth place is the Buddhist monk from Wanfo Temple, Wuxin."

"The seventh place is Zheng Yunzhao, the eldest son of Zheng Min, the governor of Yizhou."

"The eighth place is Zhao Anmin, the second son of Zhao Yan, the governor of Youzhou."

"The ninth place belongs to the Marquis."

Without hesitation, Ying Taotie said, "The most outstanding disciples from Buddhist or Taoist holy sites such as Xiaoleiyin Temple and Xuankong Temple are all ranked in the top thirty of the Heavenly Pride Ranking."

According to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, everyone who ranks in the top fifty of the Prodigy Ranking possesses astonishing strength and can be called a true peerless prodigy.

Each and every one of them has reached the Earthly Immortal Realm, making them invincible among their peers!

"Yang Xuance can only be ranked fifth?"

A glint of light flashed in Chu Xiu's eyes, and he said with a look of surprise on his face.

Chu Xiu had a deep understanding of just how strong Yang Xuance was.

As a result, Yang Xuance was only ranked fifth. Just how strong were the top four?

Wanfo Temple is also extremely magical.

The Buddhist disciple from Wanfo Temple was surprisingly ranked sixth.

Wanfo Temple is considered one of the most unique among the four major Buddhist holy sites.

After all, two consecutive Buddhist disciples betrayed Wanfo Temple.

I wonder if this heartless monk will eventually betray Wanfo Temple as well.

"Reporting to the Marquis, although the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has issued this list, there is only one name on it."

"Even their cultivation level and what kind of martial arts they practiced were not mentioned."

"All the information is blank."

"All we know is that the top fifty on the Prodigy Ranking have already reached the Earth Immortal Realm."

"That's all we know."

Ying Taotie hesitated for a moment, then spoke to Chu Xiu.

Do you have a complete list of the Prodigies Ranking?

Chu Xiu smiled and asked Ying Taotie.

He was still somewhat curious about the hundred peerless geniuses, or even prodigies, who were ranked on the list of prodigies.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, this is the Ranking of Prodigies."

Ying Taotie took out a booklet from her sleeve, held it up with both hands, and handed it to Chu Xiu, saying...