Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Might as Well Take It
The monumental battle atop Celestial City Mountain was so immense that it naturally drew the attention of the entire imperial city.
Whether by someone’s deliberate design or pure coincidence, within a few days, the story of Shen Daoxing’s deeds spread throughout the Martial Kingdom. Soon, everyone knew that the kingdom had produced another genius, one comparable to Xia Junze.
Meanwhile, the actions of Celestial City Academy caused its reputation to plummet.
The Sword Institute, which had all but vanished and been forgotten by everyone, re-entered the public eye.
In hidden corners of the Martial Kingdom, many old-timers sighed, gazing at the sky as dust-covered memories resurfaced. They remembered a time when the Sword Institute had been glorious and prosperous—the greatest academy in the entire Martial Kingdom.
That is, until the sudden emergence of Celestial City Academy.
After all, they themselves had once been disciples of the Sword Institute.
「The next day, on Desolate Mountain.」
Shen Daoxing held a boulder more than twice his size high above his head, trudging forward one laborious step at a time.
Behind him, He Ku carried a similarly massive boulder on his back, panting and drenched in sweat as he walked.
"Faster, faster! You can’t even last one lap? How do you expect to get stronger with that kind of willpower?"
Bai Yi scolded, standing atop the boulder on He Ku’s back as he raised a flask for a swig of wine.
He Ku’s talent was far inferior to Shen Daoxing’s, but right now, the Sword Institute had more teachers than students. What they desperately needed were disciples.
Since He Ku wanted to join the Sword Institute, Bai Yi naturally wasn’t going to refuse him.
As for Lin Haitao, his injuries were too severe and required several more days of rest, so the duty of training the disciples fell to Bai Yi.
"Elder Bai, we’re from the Sword Institute. We use swords; we’re Sword Cultivators. Why are you making us do Body Refining?"
He Ku asked, panting with exhaustion and confusion.
"Who says Sword Cultivators can’t practice Body Refining? The world says we excel at offense but are poor in close-quarters combat. That is precisely our greatest weakness, and one we must remedy. Fights on the path of cultivation are never honorable duels. If someone disarms us, are we supposed to just give up and let ourselves be captured?"
Bai Yi said nonchalantly.
"I didn’t even eat my fill today! I have no energy!"
He Ku grumbled but still pushed himself to move forward.
Walking ahead, Shen Daoxing nodded. ’That makes perfect sense.’ He gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. Even though the entire imperial city was hailing him as a once-in-a-century genius, he felt his own strength was still far from sufficient.
During his confrontation with Chen Guanggu, Bai Bo, and Ren Changfeng, Shen Daoxing had felt utterly powerless. Once they closed the distance, he had no way to retaliate. ’I have to get stronger.’
On the desolate summit, beside a few simple thatched huts, two youths ran, panting for breath, balancing boulders twice their own size as they struggled onward.
Not far away, on Celestial City Mountain, ornate palaces with carved railings and jade inlays stood in abundance. There, disciples of the academy practiced their swordsmanship in perfect unison on the training grounds.
The two scenes formed a stark contrast.
A short while later, an elegant figure could be seen leaping rapidly between the tree branches at the base of Desolate Mountain. Soon, Ling Shuanghua arrived at the summit.
After landing, a grave expression appeared on Ling Shuanghua’s icy face. "Xia Junze is on his way back from the Celestial Awakening Empire! He’s bringing with him the Celestial Flame Sword, one of the World Divine Soldiers. His cultivation has already reached the seventh level of the Grotto Heaven realm!"
Bai Yi raised an eyebrow and turned to Shen Daoxing.
"The Celestial Flame Sword is ranked twenty-first among the World Divine Soldiers. They say the Nanli Divine Fire it contains can incinerate anything. Are you scared, kid?"
"I’m not," Shen Daoxing said flatly, and continued his laps around the thatched hut with the massive boulder in his hands.
’What’s a Divine Soldier ranked twenty-first among the World Divine Soldiers? The Great Ming Demon Sparrow in my hand is ranked second among the Ancient Ten Great Demon Soldiers.’
"Good! A disciple of the Sword Institute should fear neither heaven nor earth and possess the courage to challenge anything."
Bai Yi chuckled. "But being unafraid is one thing; being able to win is another entirely. As the saying goes: despise the enemy strategically, but respect him tactically. Kid, from this day forward, the Sword Institute will pour all of its resources into training you."
Shen Daoxing paused, stunned. He looked around at the desolate landscape and the few thatched huts nearby. "Besides these huts... what other resources does the Sword Institute have?"
"None!"
Bai Yi said, shaking his head without a moment’s hesitation.
...
Shen Daoxing was speechless.
Bai Yi laughed. "The Sword Institute may be a little poor and lacking in resources, but aren’t there plenty of ready-made ones right next door?"
As he spoke, Bai Yi pointed past the Desolate Mountain toward the nearby Celestial City Mountain.
Shen Daoxing still didn’t understand.
Bai Yi waved his sleeve, and a Flying Sword shot out. He grabbed Shen Daoxing and, just like that, they were in the sky, performing Sword Flight.
Shen Daoxing watched as the Desolate Mountain below grew smaller and smaller.
Soon, the two of them landed quietly in a valley on Celestial City Mountain.
Shen Daoxing was instantly hit by a refreshing fragrance. He looked up and saw the nearby valley shimmering with a dazzling, colorful light. All manner of Spirit Herbs and Immortal Elixirs glittered under the bright sun, swaying in the breeze.
Without a doubt, this had to be the Spirit Medicine Garden of Celestial City Academy.
"Shh, follow me!"
Bai Yi whispered, pulling Shen Daoxing into a dense thicket to hide.
A moment later, a patrol of Celestial City Academy’s Garden Guardian Stewards passed by.
Once the Garden Guardian Stewards were a safe distance away, Bai Yi emerged with Shen Daoxing and led him toward the Spirit Medicine Garden with the ease of someone who knew the way by heart.
Seeing how practiced Bai Yi seemed, Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but ask, "Elder Bai, have you done this before?"
"Nonsense!"
Bai Yi turned his head and said with a perfectly straight face, "What are you talking about? I am the dignified Grand Elder of the Sword Institute. How could I possibly lower myself to engage in such furtive acts? I’m only doing this for you."
Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude.
Soon, the two of them reached the depths of the valley and entered the Spirit Medicine Garden.
Bai Yi’s eyes lit up at the sight of the valley overflowing with Spirit Herbs and Immortal Elixirs.
Holy Spirit Grass, capable of reshaping meridians and regenerating flesh on bare bone!
Celestial Heart Flower, able to replenish one’s blood and qi to extend life!
Snake Saliva Fruit, which can neutralize all poisons and nourish the physical body!
’Every single one is a rare and wondrous spiritual medicine. Celestial City Academy truly lives up to its reputation as the number one academy in the Martial Kingdom. They’re obscenely wealthy, far beyond anything the Sword Institute could ever hope to match.’
Shen Daoxing carefully picked a few precious Spirit Herbs and Immortal Elixirs, tucking them inside his robes. But when he looked up, he saw Bai Yi wave his sleeve and stuff a huge swathe of Immortal Grass inside his own clothes without the slightest bit of restraint.
Shen Daoxing stared, stunned for a moment. ’Right,’ he thought, ’these all belong to Celestial City Academy. Why am I being so reserved? It’d be a waste not to take them!’ At that, Shen Daoxing opened his storage pouch and began harvesting the plants by the armful.
"Wait!"
Just then, Bai Yi suddenly put out a hand to stop him.
"What is it?"
Shen Daoxing asked, turning his head in confusion.
"Those Spirit Grasses you’re picking have only been growing for a few months; they haven’t fully matured yet. What a waste to pick them now. It won’t be too late to come back for them once they’re fully grown."
Bai Yi said with a perfectly straight face, as if the Spirit Grass were already his property.
...
Shen Daoxing was speechless.
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