Chapter 235: Chapter 138: A Meeting of Minds
Late afternoon. The setting sun cast its slanting rays.
In a quiet courtyard in Guangfu District, the heart of the South City District, flowers of every color bloomed in profusion. They vied for splendor in the hazy glow of the setting sun.
This was the Shen Family’s villa in Guangfu District, not far from the South City District City Guard Headquarters. Shen Qingshuang spent most of her time here, in this small courtyard, cultivating the Martial Dao.
A jade-green longsword danced in her hand, forcibly gathering wisps of white, frosty light and radiating a grim, deadly aura.
A chill permeated the air wherever the blade pointed, and her Sword Momentum grew ever fiercer.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
As her Sword Momentum peaked, it unleashed waves of frigid air. The vibrant flowers and green leaves of the garden were sliced apart, and deep, haphazard gashes were gouged into the soil.
Shen Qingshuang abruptly stopped, pulling her sword back. A flicker of frustration crossed her beautiful face.
The weather was growing warmer and drier, making it much harder to execute the Frost Snow Sword Stance than it had been in winter. ’It feels like there are so many more obstacles to comprehending the Frost Snow Realm.’
The Frost Snow Sword Technique hailed from the Natural Peak of the Great Dao Sect. Its essence lay in observing frost and snow to comprehend the Frost Snow Realm. The colder the weather, the easier it was to gather frosty energy and unleash the technique’s tremendous power. In dry, warm weather, however, grasping that frosty energy was far more difficult.
Linji City rarely experienced weather like this. This year, however, was vastly different. The new year had only just passed, marking the start of early spring, yet the climate was already this arid. It was baffling.
’This year is shaping up to be a once-in-decades drought. If I want to make any further progress in comprehending the Frost Snow Realm, I’ll have to rely on some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Otherwise, my cultivation could be delayed by more than half a year.’
Many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were suitable for comprehending the Frost Snow Realm, such as Ice Soul Jade Marrow and Thousand-Year Cold Jade. These treasures were typically hidden deep within the earth’s ley lines, making them difficult to find.
However, during a hot drought year, these kinds of treasures were paradoxically easier to find.
Unable to bear the heat and aridity, many Demon Beasts that thrived in frigid environments would venture deep into the ley lines, seeking refuge near places that contained Ice Soul Jade Marrow or Thousand-Year Cold Jade.
The piece of Ice Soul Jade Marrow and the block of Thousand-Year Cold Jade the Shen Family currently possessed had both been found by the family’s Ancestor across the land during a drought decades ago.
The Ice Soul Jade Marrow was kept in the family Ancestor’s cultivation chamber. Though only the size of a palm, it kept the chamber, several yards in diameter, in a state of perpetual, extreme cold.
The Thousand-Year Cold Jade was about ten feet across. The chill it emanated was weaker, but it could still envelop a space roughly seven yards in diameter, and its frosty aura would not dissipate no matter how hot the weather grew.
As one of the family’s Direct Descendants prioritized for development, Shen Qingshuang was also qualified to use the Thousand-Year Cold Jade for her cultivation and to comprehend the Frost Snow Realm. However, she would have to share it with Shen Qingyao.
Cultivating together was always awkward, so Shen Qingshuang couldn’t be bothered to return to the Shen Family estate to practice.
She had prepared for this long ago, constructing an underground chamber in her South City District villa. Its walls, floor, and ceiling were all built from blocks of ice harvested in winter. While not as effective as the Ice Soul Jade Marrow or the Thousand-Year Cold Jade, it was serviceable enough for cultivation during the hot summer months.
’If this year really is a once-in-decades drought, I could leave the city to try my luck searching for Ice Soul Jade Marrow or Thousand-Year Cold Jade. I’ll just have to wait and see.’
Having made up her mind, Shen Qingshuang prepared to head to the underground chamber.
Just then, Xiaoxing hurried in to report.
"Miss, Chief Constable Dai Qingfeng has something to report. He’s waiting outside."
"Let him in," Shen Qingshuang said coolly.
Her thoughts turned to matters in the Lishui District. ’I deliberated for a long time before sending Dai Qingfeng there. At first, I didn’t pay him much mind, thinking his talent in the Martial Dao was inferior to Yan Jian’s.
’But Dai Qingfeng’s performance since arriving in Lishui District has been a pleasant surprise.
’When Yan Jian was at the Lishui Sub-Department, he seemed respectful and utterly obedient, but he was secretly ambitious, constantly plotting to use the Shen Family’s influence to strengthen his own Yan Family.
’His work proved unreliable; he was even deceived and ended up providing her with false intelligence. It was a major disappointment.
’In hindsight, I have to admit I was completely fooled. Yan Jian was all flash and no substance, incapable of handling any real responsibility.
’Dai Qingfeng is the exact opposite. He’s down-to-earth, dutiful, and knows his place—a bit like Chen Cheng, actually.
’Of course, Dai Qingfeng is also different from Chen Cheng. Chen Cheng seems humble, but he’s incredibly proud deep down. At times, I even find him somewhat inscrutable. A man like that is extremely difficult to manage.
’But I watched Chen Cheng rise through the ranks. I know that he, like Liu Yunfeng, is a man of unwavering principles and capable of gratitude.
’So even though Chen Cheng can be a bit unruly, I can still trust him.
’Dai Qingfeng lacks that prideful streak, and he isn’t pretentious and theatrical like Yan Jian. He reports everything to me, never makes his own decisions, and only acts on my orders.’
"Greetings, Lord Shen."
Dai Qingfeng followed Xiaoxing inside and bowed respectfully.
Shen Qingshuang nodded slightly. "You’ve come so suddenly. Is there trouble in Lishui District?"
Dai Qingfeng replied earnestly, "Nothing major, my lord. I have withdrawn the constables who were patrolling near the Zhou Family residence."
"Good. You’ve done well." Shen Qingshuang praised him freely. She was the one who had ordered Dai Qingfeng to withdraw the constables patrolling near the Zhou Family residence.
Her intention, of course, was to deal with the Zhou Family. This wouldn’t be an official operation, nor was it a directive from the Shen Family—it was her own plan. She intended to annihilate the Zhou Family herself. As for when she would strike, it would be the moment she comprehended the Frost Snow Realm. She would use the Zhou Family to test her blade.
