I Only Stomp on Weaklings

Inside the Qianyuan Hall, there was silence.

Everyone looked up at the draping curtain above, all shocked to speechlessness by Chen Ming, who had broken through the seventh layer and successfully ascended to the eighth layer.

The Emperor’s face was dazed, his hand gripping the wine cup trembled slightly, spilling the wine without realizing it. His face showed excitement, bewilderment, and exhilaration.

In the five hundred years since the founding of Great Jin, this was the first time someone had ascended to the eighth layer of the Merit Tower.

Before this, only two people had reached the seventh layer.

These two were both outstanding talents who appear once in several centuries, and were already First Grade unparalleled figures before turning thirty. Later, they both became the pillars of the Great Jin Dynasty, leaving a profound legacy.

This Gu Xianyu, only Second Grade, actually cleared the seventh layer?

This is an exceptional military talent!

The Emperor’s eyes shone brightly.

...

"How—how is this possible?"

Among the important ministers present, there were also many generals who had been on the battlefield, feeling that this Gu Xianyu’s skill was not that impressive, so why could he repeatedly create miracles? Achieving feats that others would not even dare to imagine.

They couldn’t figure it out, completely couldn’t figure it out.

Among them, an elder who was the oldest suddenly said, "This is what is called, ’When the time comes, heaven and earth will work as one.’"

He spoke the truth in one sentence.

However, many people felt it wasn’t that simple. This is a trial of the Merit Tower, specially used to assess the military standards of young people.

It wasn’t the real world, how could there be such coincidences like in reality?

The various peculiar actions of this Gu Xianyu must have deep meaning.

...

Those who were most unconvinced, naturally, were Wang Jinhu and his two companions. Watching the various astonishing feats Gu Xianyu performed during the trial, they thought to themselves, it was so simple, if it were me, I could do it too.

In their view, this kid mostly relied on luck.

As of now, Gu Xianyu’s ranking had already surpassed all of them, racing ahead, with a cliff-like lead.

When he successfully broke through the seventh layer and reached the eighth layer, they were all stunned.

No matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t understand how he cleared the seventh layer and achieved such an unprecedented feat?

From today onward, the name Gu Xianyu would be enough to be remembered by many people of later generations.

This record, who knows if anyone would break it in the future.

They only hated that the person wasn’t themselves.

...

"Uncle Wu, he... ascended to the eighth layer..."

At the seat of Duke Jingguo’s residence, Gu Yurong was in a daze, her voice trembled slightly, feeling like she was dreaming. She even forgot to call Xiaoqi.

The eighth layer of the Merit Tower!

A descendant of Duke Jingguo’s residence actually ascended to the eighth layer of the Merit Tower, becoming the first since the founding of Great Jin!

"I saw it."

Gu Haochuan’s voice was somewhat hoarse, his face expressionless, yet his hands were tightly clenched, his eyes filled with intense doubt.

Also hidden was a trace of unease.

He had the feeling that things had completely slipped out of his control.

That kid actually ascended to the eighth layer!

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it himself.

What kind of person did he bring to the Gu family as a standing for Old Qi?

Gu Zhengshan stared blankly, muttering, "Master, I remember that ascending to the eighth layer allows one to be conferred the title of marquis, right?"

The rule set by the Grand Ancestor Emperor was that in the trial of the Mid-Autumn Night Banquet, anyone who could break into the fifth layer could be conferred a title. Then each layer ascended would elevate the title by one rank.

Reaching the eighth layer, one could directly be conferred marquis.

This was the only way in peaceful times to gain merit and rank without going to the battlefield.

However, in five hundred years, not many people have obtained a title through this method.

This means that if that kid came out of the Merit Tower now, he would be directly conferred a marquis, just one rank below Duke.

You must know, the ancestors followed the Grand Ancestor Emperor to conquer the world, risking their lives and making countless great achievements, only to finally secure the hereditary position of Duke.

This kid just passed a trial and could directly be conferred the title of marquis.

Gu Haochuan showed no sign of joy or sorrow on his face, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes. From now on, when you and I see him, we must address him as Marquis."

Gu Yurong sensed Gu Zhengshan’s hostility toward her seventh brother and reminded, "This is a good thing, the Gu family has produced such a talent, shining brilliantly today. He will surely earn the Emperor’s favor in the future. The Gu family might prosper because of him!"

Gu Zhengshan’s face twitched, thinking, the problem is, this kid is an impostor!

He lowered his head, not daring to let the young mistress see the expression on his face.

Gu Haochuan looked at the "Gu Xianyu" in the curtain, and softly said, "Yurong is right, perhaps we might all ride on Xiaoqi’s coattails in the future."

...

It’s over...

Among those present, no one was more panicked than Madam Xia. At this moment, her heart felt cold, realizing that things were starting to go awry.

This Gu Xianyu was originally just a legitimate son of Duke Jingguo’s residence, gifted, but only that. Without ten years of precipitation and accumulation, ascending to a high position was impossible.

As of now, he was still an insignificant figure.

Of course, this was an hour ago.

Now, this kid ascended to the eighth layer of the Merit Tower, instantly becoming the most dazzling figure in the entire court of the Jin Dynasty.

Afterwards, the Emperor would surely grant him an audience.

If he got carried away and mentioned the matter of having conducted a wedding ceremony with Yan’er, she dared not think of the consequences.

Would the Emperor become enraged? Would it even implicate her entire family?

Madam Xia became more frightened as she thought about it; this was a crime of deceiving the sovereign!