Chapter 545: The Failed Path (I)
At Profound Light Tower, they had eaten and drunk their fill, indulging in a lavish feast. This time, it was Lin Zheyu treating. He needed Qiu Kun's help with something, so he had taken the initiative to host the banquet. It had to be said, the food at Profound Light Tower was truly exceptional.
Even after coming here so many times, Lin Zheyu never grew tired of it. No wonder Profound Light Tower had become the most famous restaurant in Yanwu City. The prices here were astonishingly high, yet that did nothing to stop the endless stream of diners. If one arrived late, they would sometimes have to wait quite a while before a private room became available.
Inside the private room, after eating and drinking to their satisfaction, Lin Zheyu placed a hand on Qiu Kun's shoulder. Qiu Kun took the initiative to activate the chains of shackles within his body, allowing Lin Zheyu to sense them freely. The forthright man wore a proud expression. The shackles on his body had already shattered by more than half, though the broken fragments still remained deeply embedded within his flesh and cells.
Even so, Lin Zheyu could clearly sense that the aura emanating from Qiu Kun was two to three times stronger than when they had sparred before. Back then, Qiu Kun's strength had already reached its peak. Under the restraints of the Heavenly Dao Shackles, there had been no possibility of further advancement. But now, having broken free from part of those shackles, Qiu Kun gave off the feeling of a tender sprout breaking through the soil, filled with the potential to continue growing.
The power of his shackles is weaker than mine. Even if I were to compare mine with his unbroken shackles, the gap would still be enormous.
This was Lin Zheyu's first impression upon sensing the power of the Heavenly Dao Shackles within Qiu Kun. The shackles inside Qiu Kun were far too weak. Even though Lin Zheyu had yet to break through to the Divine Repository realm, the shackles that had taken shape within his own body were already immensely thick. If the Heavenly Dao Shackles within Lin Zheyu were as thick as an adult's thigh, then those within Qiu Kun were not even as thick as a wrist.
Is this vast difference caused by the disparity in foundation, groundwork, and martial cultivation potential established before reaching the Shackles realm...?
At this moment, the smug Qiu Kun had no idea what Lin Zheyu was thinking, nor had he seen the terrifying, thigh-thick shackles within Lin Zheyu's body. Otherwise, the proud look on his face would likely have vanished, replaced by something far more complicated.
***
Time passed slowly. Qiu Kun did not rush Lin Zheyu. He knew well how difficult the Shackles realm was. Even for the most talented martial artist, breaking through to it was no easy feat.
"Heh. Even if you're a genius, I've still gotten ahead of you for now. That makes me half your guide," Qiu Kun muttered with a chuckle as he watched Lin Zheyu immersed in comprehension.
He had lost rather badly in his last fight with Xiao Yu, and Qiu Kun planned to spar with him again later to regain some face. If he did not take the chance to beat him now, once Xiao Yu grew stronger, there would be no opportunity left. When Xiao Yu eventually became a great power, Qiu Kun would be able to brag about this, gaining plenty of face.
More than four hours later, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes. His expression was calm, revealing nothing of what he was thinking.
"Fellow Xiao, how did your comprehension go?" Qiu Kun asked with a grin, lifting the wine jar and taking a large swig.
"I've gained greatly from this. Many thanks for your help, Fellow Friend. If you ever have need of me in the future, do not hesitate to ask. As long as it is within my ability, I will give it my full support," Lin Zheyu said solemnly, cupping his hands.
"Haha, you're too polite, Fellow Friend. It's just a small matter and not worth mentioning. Come, drink. After this, we'll have a round. I lost too badly last time, so I've got to win some respect back. Don't lose too badly, haha!" Qiu Kun said, raising his wine jar as he laughed.
Lin Zheyu was briefly taken aback, replying with a slightly odd expression, "Uh... sure."
He thought he should hold back later and not let Qiu Kun lose too badly. Otherwise, if this forthright man ended up too embarrassed to face him in the future, he would be losing a pretty good friend.
More than two hours later.
Qiu Kun bared his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath. Bruises and swelling covered multiple parts of his body, and even under the nourishment of his blood qi, they refused to fade. Lin Zheyu had held back when striking earlier, so it had not actually hurt this much. Qiu Kun was simply exaggerating, putting on a pained expression to show how miserable he felt.
"Fellow Xiao, tell me honestly—you really haven't broken free of your shackles?" Qiu Kun asked for the eighteenth time.
Lin Zheyu shook his head helplessly. "I really haven't."
In their spar just now, he had easily defeated Qiu Kun, as expected, and had even held back. That immediately left Qiu Kun feeling unbalanced. He had already broken free of his shackles. Though not completely, he could still be considered a half-step Shackles realm expert. Yet, facing Xiao Yu, who was only at the peak of the Divine Repository realm, he still lost. Even if Xiao Yu had opened his spirit divine repository and awakened a powerful spirit divine ability, the gap would still be far too great.
"I don't believe it. You've definitely broken one of your shackles. Otherwise, how could you be this freakish? Even Woo Yixuan's brother probably wouldn't be able to beat you." Qiu Kun protested, shaking his head.
Woo Yixuan's brother, Woo Yiyan, was hailed as the most outstanding genius among the three ancient esteemed martial families in nearly a thousand years, with terrifying strength. He was on a completely different level from Woo Yixuan. In Qiu Kun's eyes, even when Woo Yiyan had been in the Divine Repository realm, he likely had not been as monstrous as Lin Zheyu.
"Think whatever you want." Lin Zheyu waved his hand, somewhat speechless.
The two slowly passed through the western city gate and entered Yanwu City.
"Ah ha! I've got it. You're not some kind of bloodline martial artist, are you? I've heard that in ancient times, there were many bloodline families, but over time, only a few ancient martial families retained complete bloodline inheritances. In Great Wei, there are only the Kong, Woo, and Ning Families. You wouldn't happen to be from some bloodline family lost from another continent, or a descendant of some extinct ancient martial family, would you?" Qiu Kun's eyes widened as he spoke excitedly, convinced he had uncovered the truth.
As a force within Great Wei, the Martial Alliance required one condition for entry: one had to be a martial artist of Great Wei and bear no hostility toward it. These matters were all verified during the Heart Questioning Trial. Thus, Qiu Kun did not suspect that Lin Zheyu came from another continent or from an ancient martial family outside Great Wei.
Lin Zheyu rolled his eyes and curled his lips. "No, you're overthinking it. Have you ever sensed any other bloodline aura from me?"
After all this time, although he had yet to uncover the mystery of the golden energy within him, Lin Zheyu had realized that it was somewhat different from so-called bloodline powers. They felt as though they shared a common origin, yet in truth, there was a vast difference between them.
Only Lin Zheyu himself could detect the abnormalities of the golden energy. Other martial artists could not perceive its resemblance to bloodline powers at all. To them, the golden energy he used was simply the result of a special technique he cultivated. He had deliberately tested this on Bai Lin, Zong Linjing, Qiu Kun, and others, and none of them noticed anything unusual.
"Hm, that's true, I haven't. Damn, this world is so unfair. How can a martial artist as freakish as you even exist?" Qiu Kun cursed.
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