I Can Replicate Martial Arts

"Zhao Rui, can you handle this?!"

...

While various factions had their eyes on him, Zhao Rui was flying toward Great Shang with Miao Miaomiao and Mo Ling’er to attend King Chonghou’s enthronement ceremony.

"Once we’re in Great Shang, forget just male models—I can summon any man you want. Celebrities, actors, Martial Dao masters..."

"COUGH! COUGH!"

"Oh, come on, don’t be so petty. We’re just messing around. Besides, you can take your pick of the maids in my mansion. If you want a celebrity, I can find one for you, too..."

"Ow! I was just kidding! So petty."

Mo Ling’Er rubbed her butt, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"Don’t you learn from her! And stay away from her from now on."

Zhao Rui shot Mo Ling’er a glare before turning to give Miao Miaomiao a warning look.

"Hee hee, Ling’Er is just teasing you on purpose."

Miao Miaomiao chuckled softly, covering her mouth.

"It had better be a joke."

Zhao Rui sneered.

A frightened Mo Ling’Er stuck out her tongue playfully and didn’t dare spout any more nonsense.

The trio braved the Gang Wind, speeding along until they soon arrived at the new royal capital of Great Shang.

The royal capital was festooned with lanterns and streamers, radiating a joyous atmosphere of peace and prosperity.

King Chonghou had ruled this land for many years; his subjects and subordinates here essentially recognized only him as their Marquis King.

Prince Zi Gui, a monarch who had lost his homeland and was known only for his hedonism, was disliked by both the common people and the soldiers. Thus, when he arrived in the new territory of Great Shang, the populace showed little joy or enthusiasm.

Instead, they secretly hoped King Chonghou would make a move.

Now that King Chonghou had finally driven out Prince Zi Gui to become the new lord of Great Shang, the entire nation, from the highest echelons to the common folk, was naturally overcome with joy and celebration.

"Whoa, is this your home?"

As they approached the Mo Mansion, Miao Miaomiao exclaimed in disbelief.

She had tried to imagine the height of luxury, but seeing the real thing still left her breathless.

Compared to the Mo Mansion, so-called luxury homes and villas paled in comparison.

There was simply no comparison.

"The Witch Venerable has returned!"

At the sight of Mo Ling’Er, the guards at the gate hurriedly bowed, and a series of order officers relayed the news deeper into the mansion.

Soon, two graceful young women emerged at a brisk pace, leading a retinue of maids.

"We pay our respects to the Venerable Lord!"

"You may all rise. Is my father in the mansion?"

"Venerable Lord, the master is out and has not yet returned. The Young Master is home."

"Mm. Understood."

Mo Ling’Er nodded and led the other two inside.

Miao Miaomiao stuck her tongue out at Zhao Rui. Clearly, everything she was seeing was beyond what she, a modern woman, could have ever imagined.

The trio passed through numerous hall doors and courtyards before finally arriving at a garden the size of a soccer field, where they found Mo Longteng admiring flowers with his wives and concubines.

"Brother Zhao! Haha, it looks like it took my sister to finally bring you here. Your leaving without a word had the Marquis King and my father worried sick."

Mo Longteng stood up and said with a hearty laugh.

"I had some worldly affairs to attend to. You have quite the refined tastes, Brother Mo."

"Just a way to pass the time. Yun’Er, this is the hero from the Central State I’ve told you about, Zhao Rui..."

"A pleasure, ma’am."

Everyone exchanged greetings and sat down in the pavilion, making small talk while admiring the flowers and watching the fish.

The fish in the pond were all prized varieties with charming appearances. They were all so lively and agile that it was clear they were no ordinary creatures.

Throughout their conversation, servants would periodically bring over various snacks and refreshments, which included not only ancient foods from Great Zhou but also modern, delectable Western pastries and other gourmet treats.

The sheer variety was staggering.

The servants would even peel fruits, place the flesh on plates, and prepare a variety of delicious beverages on the spot for everyone to enjoy.

Miao Miaomiao had never enjoyed such treatment before; she was so reserved and flustered that she didn’t know how to act.

It took her a long time to finally get used to it.

After they had been chatting for over an hour, Mo Wuji returned to the mansion and immediately met with Zhao Rui.

He conveyed King Chonghou’s greetings and concern, and hinted that after the enthronement ceremony, when titles were conferred upon the officials, Zhao Rui would be granted the title of Duke.

Hearing Mo Wuji’s words, Zhao Rui was taken aback for a moment. ’A Duke?’

’Is their attempt to win me over this extravagant?’

But on second thought, it seemed reasonable. Never mind his peerless Martial Arts, which only a handful of people in all of Great Zhou could rival; his past achievements alone—defeating the Oran people, driving away the Returning Ruins Beast, and causing Prince Zi Gui’s utter rout—were enough.

Accomplishments like these were more than enough to be granted the title of Duke.

"In that case, my thanks to His Majesty."

Zhao Rui accepted with composure. ’These are just worldly possessions. If I truly wanted them, they’d be easy enough to obtain.’

He didn’t particularly care for such things, but since it was being offered, he saw no reason to refuse.

"I wonder, what is the Central State’s view on Prince Zi Gui and our current king?"

Mo Wuji asked, probing for information.

"I’m just a common man; I don’t get involved in these political matters. You can dispatch envoys, establish communication, and reduce any unnecessary friction."

Zhao Rui said with a smile.

"I will report this to His Majesty. Our two lands share a common heritage; we should indeed interact more in the future."

Listening to Mo Wuji, Zhao Rui offered a few noncommittal replies.

He didn’t want to get involved in such talk, let alone try to distinguish truth from falsehood.

All that mattered was that it didn’t affect the daily lives of him and his family.

After conversing with Mo Wuji for the better part of the day, Zhao Rui was courteously escorted to a side residence to await the enthronement ceremony.

「Meanwhile, on the Pangu Continent, tens of thousands of miles away.」

A majestic grand hall stood imposingly atop the peak of a Snow Mountain.

A wide flight of stairs, so long the end was out of sight, stretched from the summit to the foot of the mountain, comprised of what must have been tens of thousands of steps.

Dozens of people in varied attire hurried up from the foot of the mountain and swiftly entered the grand hall.

"Oh? In that case, this king should perhaps send someone to offer congratulations."

"Reporting to the Great King, Prince Zi Gui’s whereabouts are unknown. This subject suspects it may be connected to the Central State."

"The Central State? Their ambition is not small. A pity that in the face of absolute power, all schemes are nothing but the antics of a buffoon."

Upon the throne, the man’s gaze was as sharp as lightning. As his words fell, snowflakes actually began to drift down within the great hall.

Along with the snowflakes came arcs of Thunder Power, which emitted a fierce, crackling sound upon striking the ground.

"Your Majesty’s Divine Skill is peerless..."

The officials below all bowed deeply, chanting words of praise.

"You are all dismissed!"

Once the important matters had been discussed, the man on the throne gestured for everyone to depart.

As soon as everyone was gone, the man began clutching his chest, his face deathly pale as he gasped for breath.

’This Realm breakthrough was too reckless! Those damned Celestial Demons,’ the man lamented with a helpless sigh.

"Order the Palace Master of the Great Snow Mountain Ming King Palace to travel to the Boundary Wall, effective immediately. He is to station his forces there and closely monitor the movements of the Celestial Demons."

The man beckoned with his hand. A dark figure descended from above, and upon receiving the order, vanished from the great hall without a word.

...

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Zhao Rui changed into a set of Great Shang robes and, bringing the two women along, headed for the site of the enthronement ceremony.

As a "Marquis King" of a new era, King Chonghou had always been quite progressive, readily adopting new and better ways of doing things.

It was how he had managed to preserve the lands of Central Asia intact.

For this enthronement, King Chonghou had also incorporated many modern elements, crafting a ceremony that was both luxurious and solemn.

Upon reaching the ceremonial grounds, Zhao Rui and Mo Longteng ascended the stairs, while Mo Ling’er and Miao Miaomiao stayed behind to experience the excitement among the common people.

"Is that the banner of Great Zhou? How dare they come?"

Just then, a contingent riding small and medium-sized Exotic Beasts appeared on the street outside the ceremonial grounds.

Although the contingent was not large, its presence was immense. A single glance revealed they were battle-hardened soldiers.

This group made no attempt at subtlety, brazenly displaying the banner of Great Zhou as they advanced imperiously toward the location of the ceremony.

Before long, an official went out to meet them. They exchanged hushed words for a good while, and the group seemed extremely dissatisfied. In the end, only the chief and deputy envoys followed the official toward the ceremonial hall.

The rest of the soldiers were left behind.

They stood at attention with solemn, downcast eyes and grave expressions. Their posture was ramrod straight. The Exotic Beasts beside them would occasionally shake their heads, but not a single one dared to bolt or run wild.

"Their military discipline is that strict? So these are the soldiers of Great Zhou?"

Watching from the street, Miao Miaomiao, who had been exploring the area, couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise at the sight.