"What?"
He was startled and horrified.
If he hadn't known that Qu Bai couldn't lie, his first thought would have been that it was impossible.
What does it mean for Shan Hai to be sixteen years old?
Even Shen Qian, who is known for his outrageous behavior, thought it was a bit outrageous.
Wang Shuo was famous throughout the country at the time, but he was only a martial arts master at the age of sixteen.
In fact, in the general perception of the outside world, geniuses like Shen Qian and Wang Shuo, who broke through the barriers of mountains and seas in their freshman year, are already considered to be unparalleled in their predecessors.
"Due to some considerations that I am not sure about, the military community kept the news under wraps. For the next few years, I was behind various 'doors' until the reconstruction of the military in Jiangzhong, which is when I came here."
Qu Bai stared blankly for a while, then whispered, "Don't think that breaking through the Mountain and Sea Realm at sixteen is so earth-shattering. Before I went to the capital, Marquis Wuding told me personally that I... am not the fastest one."
Shen Qian narrowed his eyes. Marquis Wuding had been in charge of military affairs for over a century, so his knowledge and experience were naturally exceptional.
Looking back now, although breaking through the Mountain and Sea Realm at the age of sixteen completely violated the innate limitations of human martial artists, it was impossible for someone like Ning Zhaoyi to become a martial artist at the age of seven. So it doesn't seem so incredible that someone could break through the Mountain and Sea Realm at an even younger age.
"There are countless geniuses and prodigies in the world. We can only represent the generation of the last five years. Above and below them, there are countless terrifying figures!"
Qu Bai smiled.
"I reckon that twenty-four years old is probably the natural limit for the Nine Heavens Battlefield. You know, in this day and age, the real definition of a young martial artist or the younger generation is often a martial artist under fifty years old."
Shen Qian nodded slightly, showing no objection to this point.
Warriors of the Mountain and Sea can easily live for hundreds of years, and the lifespan of kings and nobles is even more of a mystery. If what the third senior brother said about King Zhouyi is true, then it is practically the same as immortality.
From this perspective, fifty years may sound like a long time, but in the grand scheme of a martial arts career, it can only be considered a period of immaturity.
"Then, to your knowledge, among the younger generation under fifty, are there any who have already achieved the status of kings or nobles?"
Having discussed this, Shen Qian couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and asked a question.
"Yes!" Qu Bai nodded without hesitation. "And there's more than one. The best among them is said to be only one step away from becoming a Martial King!"
Upon hearing Qu Bai's words, Shen Qian vaguely recalled that on the day he had overcome all obstacles in the practical test of the martial arts college entrance examination and finally shattered the mirror, Minister Ma Gongzuo had had a deep conversation with him.
At that time, he also mentioned someone who was the most talented martial artist he had ever seen in his life, apart from Shen Qian.
He was enfeoffed as a count at the age of thirty, only one step away from becoming King Wu.
Since the first nine kings, whether due to the limitations of the times or something else, the human race has not had a warrior who can be crowned a king for a very long time.
There are many different opinions and interpretations regarding the reasons for this.
In any case, once that person actually takes that step, he will likely stand directly at the pinnacle of humanity.
In fact, as far as Shen Qian knew, there was another person who had a chance of reaching the position of King Wu, and that was his senior brother Jiang Huan.
This is not only based on external consensus, but also on the teachers' evaluations.
Despite appearing to be nearly two hundred years old, Jiang Huan is still only at the Mountain and Sea level. However, his "Dao" is incredibly powerful, and he is said to be among the top ten beings in the Dao of Heaven.
To be able to follow such a "path" for a hundred years is itself an extraordinary achievement.
The teacher himself said that once the eldest brother breaks through to the King level, he can directly become one of the strongest among the Kings. This is the advantage brought by his foundation.
As Chen Qian's thoughts drifted away, Qu Bai continued in a low voice, "I am first and foremost a soldier, and only secondly a so-called martial arts genius. My status and position dictate that I cannot act impulsively at any time, and I cannot take risks even if there is only a one percent uncertainty... That's why I envy you."
Shen Qian snapped out of his daze, glanced at Qu Bai's resolute profile, and then sighed.
A peerless genius who stepped into the world of mountains and seas at the age of sixteen, capable of astonishing the entire nation, is willing to hide everything, shining only among military warriors on those monotonous and even unknown battlefields in foreign lands...
Shen Qian had no idea what Qu Bai had gone through over the years, or what his mental journey had been like. He could only pat the other man's shoulder in silence.
There are many paths in this world, and everyone makes different choices. He cannot accuse someone of taking the wrong path.
Perhaps it's better to watch Jiang Zhongjunwu's classmate suffer physical pain than to let him die right under your nose due to an accidental slip.
Judging from the trump cards that Ning Zhaoyi later revealed, the other party was fully capable of doing so.
Qu Bai glanced at Shen Qian, who seemed lost in thought, and felt a moment of complex emotions.
Actually, there was one more thing he didn't tell Shen Qian.
Before he came, the instructions from the Earl of Pingyang and others made him realize that if necessary, he would even sacrifice himself to help Chen Qian.
Perhaps he didn't realize before he sank that he was the one truly chosen by the military.
"However, before sinking..."
Qu Bai suddenly stared at Shen Qian, a flame seemingly burning in his eyes, "If the time is right, our agreement will still stand, just consider it as... I also want to be willful for once."
"good."
He answered decisively before sinking.
He and Qu Bai should have had a battle long ago, but for various reasons, it never happened.
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