Chapter 435: So Jealous I Could Die 10

After the old man’s continuous explanations.

Li Ruoxuan finally understood what the old gentleman Shang meant.

He was implying that…

Ordinary rank nines can usually only, by chance, procure the key to step into a higher level when on the verge of death which would let them break through if they were lucky.

That was how the seven grand masters did it before.

They all unintentionally broke through the barrier when they were at a very old age.

With the Harbinger’s existence, however, there was the possibility of rank nines breaking through earlier.

However, there were no free meals in this world. One even needed to willingly fight at the front lines and become part of the suicide squad just to get a prison meal.

That was why Li Ruoxuan did not believe that Shang Li had shared this with him just out of hopes that he could ascend.

After all, these grand masters have deliberately blurred the notion of the Harbinger and called them the fated person instead … They certainly did not want the other ordinary rank nines to enter into grand mastership.

They were afraid this would break the world’s structure.

Shang Li noticed how quiet Li Ruoxuan was and knew that the scheming State Preceptor was not that easily deceived.

He quickly said, “Si Jin is more powerful than a grand master. In my opinion, he cannot possibly be used by Northern Liang.

“That child is too special, his power too mystical. If he wants to betray Northern Liang, then he can easily do so. That’s why Northern Liang needs other grand masters to maintain this peace.”

…

“You want me to ascend into grand mastership…” He just knew that this old man could not possibly be that kind!

Shang Li did not initially intend to share the truth but there was no escaping Li Ruoxuan when it came to certain things. He pondered for a moment and said, “I have two motives. First, I wanted to ascertain whether that little lady is indeed the Harbinger. Secondly, if you can successfully break through and become a grand master, then that would be the best scenario. If not, that would at least confirm that she is not the Harbinger.”

He was bluntly admitting to using him? Li Ruoxuan felt some admiration for Shang Li all of a sudden. He cupped his fist and bowed slightly. “Thank you, old sir, for revealing this news to me.”

Li Ruoxuan knew everything about the situation now.

Shang Li had no reason to stay any longer.

He left the same way he arrived.

Li Ruoxuan walked over and stood by the window; he was silent for a long time.

Then, he called for Zhu Shen.

“Did any of you notice some suspicious person sneaking into the courtyard?”

“No, we did not, Your Excellency.”

“…”

As expected of a grand master.

Coming and leaving without a trace.

Zhu Shen looked at the quiet Li Ruoxuan and thought, ‘Could it be that someone was here just now?’

Li Ruoxuan called Zhu Shen in and told him briefly about what Shang Li had revealed.

After Zhu Shen listened to him, he was completely bewildered.

“According to what he said, I would be able to ascend into grand mastership by getting close to Qi Qingyao. But I have the feeling that this old fox deliberately shared this information to use me.” Li Ruoxuan touched the eye patch over his right eye. His remaining left eye looked extremely stern.

Zhu Shen nodded. He also felt that was the case.

Li Ruoxuan instructed Zhu Shen to brew some tea.

Zhu Shen soon brought the tea over.

Li Ruoxuan looked at the tea in the white porcelain tea bowl, muttering as if speaking to himself, “If he claims that I could reach enlightenment by getting close to her, then why haven’t I ascended despite having been close to her several times already?”

Zhu Shen pondered for a moment and said, “Your Excellency, I think that if the Harbinger really were to exist, then channeling their power would not be as simple as just getting physically close to them. If not, wouldn’t everyone in the Qi Residence also have become grand masters? Lu Yan, in particular, would be the first to be affected given his rather close relationship with her. He has been on good terms with her for a few months now yet we haven’t seen the young master Lu ascend beyond rank seven…”

Li Ruoxuan replied, “I know. That’s why I called you here to discuss the loopholes in Shang Li’s words.”

Zhu Shen racked his brains for a moment and said, “Could it be that certain words spoken by the Harbinger possessed the function of inducing enlightenment?”

Li Ruoxuan said, “She is not a living Buddha. Surely she can’t suddenly utter some great noble truths?”

“…” That made sense. Zhu Shen scratched his head, indicating that he could not come up with anything.

Li Ruoxuan suddenly had a thought.

He had previously ascertained that Jiang Yeqian fancied Qi Qingyao, and Shang Li had just revealed such news to him. What if he were to hurry up and propose marriage, pretend to marry Qi Qingyao, and then look at Jiang Yeqian’s reaction?

If Qi Qingyao agreed, then he would just marry her.

He was not lacking in money as the State Preceptor either. He could afford to raise her triplets. This woman was not bad-looking either and was also rather interesting. He would not be taking a loss by marrying her.

If she really was the Harbinger, he might just be able to ascend into grand mastership after getting into bed with her.

Even if she did not agree, then he could at least lure out Jiang Yeqian’s true feelings into the open!

He could hit two birds with this.

…

…

Jiang Yeqian was checking through the large pile of files that Bai Mei had brought over when he suddenly sneezed.

He frowned thoughtfully.

His luck had really hit rock bottom today.

First, that woman almost pissed him off to death, now someone else was cursing him at night!