World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

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Secrets of fate cannot be revealed?

What a pretentious fraud!

Du Ge muttered under his breath, but his face still wore a smile. "Imperial Teacher, I believe that man can conquer the heavens."

The Imperial Teacher chuckled. "Then why is the Imperial Mentor not in control of his own fate?"

Du Ge was taken aback, suddenly realizing what the Imperial Teacher was hinting at—Pan-Universal Entertainment Company!

Now, was it really only Pan-Universal Entertainment Company that could make him lose control?

Had someone leaked the secrets of Pan-Universal Entertainment Company to the natives?

No, this guy was trying to trick him, wasn't he?

The Barnum effect used in the constellation culture Du Ge created was just this kind of thing—using ambiguous language to guide the other person to think in the direction you wanted. In simple terms, it was about enticing the other person to fill in the blanks themselves.

Upon closer thought, the Imperial Teacher hadn't actually said anything specific, yet Du Ge had already filled in Pan-Universal Entertainment Company in his mind, assuming the Imperial Teacher had figured everything out...

Imperial Teacher?

Even the emperor could be fooled by him; this guy was a master of deception!

Whether it was true or not, it was best to treat it as false for now. He couldn't let himself be fooled by a stranger.

Du Ge looked at the Imperial Teacher, feigning shock. His expression turned solemn as he sheathed his long sword. "Imperial Teacher, may I have a word with you in private?"

The Imperial Teacher turned and walked into the darkness, and Du Ge followed.

Cao Lin, with his intestines still hanging out, wanted to call out to Du Ge to heal him first, but he opened his mouth and ultimately didn't shout. If he called out and Du Ge ignored him, it would be even more embarrassing. He might as well use his own energy to heal himself!

Zhang Yizhi was pondering what the so-called secret of fate was and didn't follow them. He wasn't qualified to join the conversation between the big shots anyway.

...

Under the night sky.

Du Ge and the Imperial Teacher stood under a pavilion in the backyard of the Princess's residence, beneath which was a pond with fish.

The pond had water, which made Du Ge feel much more at ease. "Imperial Teacher, do you truly favor the Fourth Princess?"

The Imperial Teacher didn't mind Du Ge bringing him to the water's edge. He looked at Du Ge and smiled. "Compared to the Fourth Princess, I favor the Imperial Mentor more. Whoever the Imperial Mentor supports will be the ruler of this world. Since the Imperial Mentor has chosen the Fourth Princess, she should rightfully be the Empress."

Du Ge was silent for a moment before saying, "Imperial Teacher, your status is noble. It's hard for me to imagine that you would sincerely pledge your allegiance."

The Imperial Teacher said, "Mr. Leng, today I observed your battle with Cao Lin. If I had intervened during your fight, you would have surely lost. Even if I didn't join forces with Cao Lin, just by attacking the Fourth Princess during your duel, I could have severely weakened you, leading to your eventual defeat by Cao Lin."

Du Ge gave a perfunctory bow to the Imperial Teacher. "In that case, I must thank the Imperial Teacher for sparing my life."

"That's not necessary," the Imperial Teacher smiled. "Even with my interference, Cao Lin couldn't kill you. If you rise again, Chongming Kingdom would be plunged into chaos, and neither Cao Lin nor I would meet a good end. It's better to form a good relationship with you from the start, sparing this world some calamity..."

The flattery in his words made it hard not to like him!

The Imperial Teacher was a master of rhetoric.

Du Ge looked at the Imperial Teacher and said, "Though your words are nice, they are like drawing a pie on paper—hard to believe!"

The Imperial Teacher said, "I can help the Imperial Mentor persuade Cao Lin."

Du Ge smiled. "Anything else?"

The Imperial Teacher looked at Du Ge and said, "The Imperial Mentor can use your 'Linyang Daily' to announce my allegiance to the world. With me here, I can legitimize the Fourth Princess. In the future, when the Imperial Mentor conquers cities, it will reduce many obstacles."

People in this world valued their reputation greatly. The fact that the Imperial Teacher was willing to let him use his reputation for publicity meant that this allegiance was likely genuine!

Du Ge looked at the Imperial Teacher and continued to ask, "Anything else?"

The Imperial Teacher was stunned, seemingly not expecting Du Ge to be so greedy. But when he looked up and saw the dazzling Demon Star in the sky, he hesitated for a moment and said, "I have helped Wei Tingjiang before. I can persuade the old general to surrender, resolving the crisis at Langping Pass."

Du Ge continued, "Anything else?"

He wanted to see how much he could extract from the Imperial Teacher.

"..." The Imperial Teacher looked at Du Ge and shook his head. "Imperial Mentor, I am but one person. If I could give you the world, why would I need to pledge allegiance?"

"I was just joking with you," Du Ge smiled slightly and asked, "Imperial Teacher, you mentioned you could intervene in my battle with Cao Lin. What is your cultivation level?"

"Grandmaster," the Imperial Teacher replied.

"Imperial Teacher, since I reached the innate level, my power has not advanced at all," Du Ge said. "Can you find me some cultivation techniques to reach the grandmaster level?"

The Imperial Teacher laughed, looking at Du Ge and shaking his head. "Imperial Mentor, if there were cultivation techniques for the grandmaster level, would the number of grandmasters in this world be so few?"

"No techniques?" Du Ge was stunned.

"Imperial Mentor, you are a grandmaster of water magic. Do you have techniques?" the Imperial Teacher countered.

"..." Du Ge was silent for a moment before saying, "I am a Heavenly Demon possessing this body and am not familiar with the techniques of this world. If you have something to say, just say it. I personally dislike beating around the bush."

The Imperial Teacher took a breath and said, "Imperial Mentor, the innate level has techniques to follow, but the grandmaster level requires enlightenment. Once you comprehend your own path, you can become a grandmaster. Cao Lin, born a soldier, has fought countless battles. His martial path is the path of slaughter, excelling in offense. My path is derived from understanding nature, the path of nature—near water, I am water; near wood, I am wood, leaving no trace..."

"So, you were able to get within ten meters of me without me noticing?" Du Ge frowned and asked.

"Correct," the Imperial Teacher nodded.

That's not the path of nature; it's the path of assassination, ninja arts!

Du Ge asked, "In your opinion, where does my path to becoming a grandmaster lie?"

The Imperial Teacher glanced at Du Ge and said, "Since the Imperial Mentor excels in water magic, you should focus on the path of water."

The path of water?

Du Ge looked at the pond in front of him. With a thought, a ball of water floated in his palm.

He stared at the water ball for a long time but couldn't sense any principles that could be combined with martial arts.

With a flick of his wrist, Du Ge tossed the water ball away.

In the last Simulation Field, he had indeed created a cultivation technique, but that was by brute force, relying on his strong physique, with no relation to enlightenment. For someone as quick-witted as him to forcefully comprehend the path of a grandmaster was truly difficult.

Indeed.

Each world's principles are different!

Moreover, his water-controlling ability came from the Power of Poseidon, controlling water as naturally as eating or drinking, like knowing one plus one equals two.

Knowing one plus one equals two is simple, but proving it is like solving Goldbach's conjecture—an insurmountable task.

To become a grandmaster, one would need the spirit of Wang Yangming's investigation of things, not only the spirit but also actual results...

Damn it!

The martial cultivation of this world is too fantastical...

Du Ge asked, "How long did it take the Imperial Teacher to become a grandmaster from the innate level?"

The Imperial Teacher said, "I traveled across mountains and rivers, observed the changing winds and clouds by day, and watched the stars at night. It took twelve years, and one night of sudden enlightenment to become a grandmaster."

"And Cao Lin?" Du Ge asked.

"Ten years of battlefield experience, sudden enlightenment to become a grandmaster, and he comprehended the path of slaughter," the Imperial Teacher answered without reservation.

Each of them took ten or twenty years; the time span is too long!

In that time, he could have cleared out the other Alien Star warriors and left this world.

However.

Du Ge was ultimately not resigned. He couldn't always stay by the river to fight others. Without water, his combat power would be greatly reduced. What if he encountered a grandmaster?

He asked, "Imperial Teacher, who achieved grandmaster status in the shortest time?"

"Qinglan Sword Saint!" The Imperial Teacher looked towards the direction of Qinglan Sword Sect and said, "As far as I know, the current Qinglan Sword Saint became a grandmaster at the age of 24. Now, more than thirty years have passed since he became a grandmaster. His strength should have long surpassed the grandmaster level."

"What is the level beyond grandmaster?" Du Ge asked.

"The invincible level," the Imperial Teacher smiled, his gaze returning to Du Ge. "Just like you in the water, no one can kill you. In the water, you are at the invincible level."

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