Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Number 1 Genius of the Martial Kingdom
On the way back to the Shen Mansion.
Shen Yuerou looked at Shen Daoxing carrying the Great Ming Demon Sparrow on his back and chuckled. "This Big Black really suits you."
The greatsword was enormous. With it on his back, Shen Daoxing looked as if he were carrying a slab of black iron. The aura it gave off, however, was terrifying. A faint black light glimmered on the great black sword’s surface, giving it a noble and mysterious air.
Shen Daoxing also smiled. "It certainly is nice."
The second of the Ancient Ten Great Demon Soldiers... what an incredible opportunity this was for an ordinary Martial Artist!
Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the street ahead.
On the wide road ahead were two fine steeds. One was clearly an A-Class Warhorse from the military, the kind only generals were permitted to ride. The one beside it was even more remarkable, a swallow-violet color, looking strikingly similar to the legendary Sarlu Purple.
If the horses were this extraordinary, their owner’s status went without saying. Their identity couldn’t be described with the word "rich" alone; one would have to add "noble" as well.
An old man sat atop the Top-Grade Horse, while a woman sat on the purple steed beside it. The woman had a beautiful face, with a pair of delicate willow-leaf eyebrows that curved with a hint of a smile. Her eyes, lively as water and shaped like almonds, shone with a captivating charm and a brightness as dazzling as the spring sun.
Forget the fine steed she rode; her face alone was enough to capture everyone’s attention.
The old man said in a low voice, "Commandery Princess, this is Baiyun City."
The woman nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings before landing on Shen Daoxing. "What kind of Cultivation Technique is he practicing? He’s able to open more than thirty acupoints for cultivation?"
Typically, the higher the grade of the Cultivation Technique, the more acupoints it could awaken.
But it also required a certain caliber of Bloodline Mark. Not every Martial Artist could open over thirty acupoints for cultivation.
"Hm?"
Shen Daoxing’s brows furrowed when he heard her. ’This woman can actually see some of my secrets. Even the Shen Family’s own ancestor couldn’t see through me.’
’This is enough to prove that the woman before me is no ordinary person.’
A glint appeared in the woman’s eyes. "In a remote place like Baiyun City, I imagine most Martial Artists only open nine acupoints for cultivation. For you to be able to open over thirty, you must be Shen Shaotian, the one who bears the Venerable Bloodline Mark, right?"
"I am Shangguan Yiran, and I have come here today specifically for you."
As her voice fell, the crowd erupted like a volcano.
"Shangguan Yiran!? She’s the Martial King’s daughter, Commandery Princess Lifen, Shangguan Yiran!?"
"They say she’s a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius in our Martial Kingdom! I heard she awakened the Fire Phoenix Bloodline Mark, allowing her to awaken forty-nine acupoints for cultivation. She’s already at the Profound Platform Realm at just sixteen!"
"Heavens, someone can actually open forty-nine acupoints for cultivation! Isn’t that a heaven-defying cultivation speed?"
"Her appearing in Baiyun City... could it be because of that rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"Commandery Princess Lifen is a heaven-gifted prodigy of unparalleled beauty. Countless scions of noble families and young geniuses have pursued her, but the Commandery Princess looks down on them all. His Majesty asked the Divine Calculator of Celestial Pillar Mountain to perform a divination for her. The prophecy said her husband would be a prodigy who bears the Venerable Bloodline."
"Then she must be here for Shen Shaotian."
"If Shen Shaotian can get on good terms with the Commandery Princess, wouldn’t the Shen Family ascend to the heavens in a single step?"
...
When Shen Daoxing heard the woman’s name, his heart skipped a beat.
After all, the name Shangguan Yiran was simply too famous in the Martial Kingdom. From the highest officials and nobles down to the common folk, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know it.
The number one genius of the Martial Kingdom!
She had awakened the Fire Phoenix Bloodline at the very beginning of her cultivation journey.
Reaching the Profound Platform Realm at sixteen—such aptitude was a rarity even in the entire history of the Martial Kingdom.
What was most terrifying was that at the age of seventeen, Shangguan Yiran had even comprehended Sword Intent.
If all went as expected, Shangguan Yiran was very likely to become one of the most top-tier Sword Dao masters in the Martial Kingdom.
Coupled with her Royal Family status, she was destined to become a true pillar of the Martial Kingdom in the future.
The Shen Family’s Crown Prince, the Heavens’ Blessing—none of these were even worth mentioning in her presence.
’This Shen Shaotian is not bad looking, but his cultivation is only at the Ninth Layer of the Acupoint Opening Realm. Is he really my fated one?’
Shangguan Yiran sized up Shen Daoxing and said coolly, "Let me see your strength."
Shen Daoxing replied just as coolly, "Sorry, you have the wrong person. I am not Shen Shaotian."
Shangguan Yiran’s willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"
Shen Daoxing explained, "Shen Shaotian, the one who received the Heavens’ Blessing and possesses the Venerable Bloodline, is at the Shen Mansion."
"You’re not Shen Shaotian?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Yiran inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
’Shen Shaotian did, after all, receive the Heavens’ Blessing. His cultivation shouldn’t be this poor.’
"I’m not."
Shen Daoxing said, shaking his head.
Shen Yuerou’s mouth fell slightly agape. She wanted to say that Shen Daoxing was the true genius with the Venerable Bloodline.
But there was no point in saying any of that now.
Shangguan Yiran glanced at Shen Daoxing. "How about you become my attendant?"
’In a small place like Baiyun City, being able to open over thirty acupoints means his Bloodline Mark must be quite good.’
Shen Daoxing shook his head and said coldly, "Not interested."
"Insolent!"
Hearing Shen Daoxing’s blunt refusal, the old man shouted, his body leaping like a goshawk as he grabbed for Shen Daoxing’s shoulder.
Shen Daoxing’s brows knitted. He activated his Path of Power and gave a sudden jolt.
THUD!
A tremendous force instantly erupted. The old man felt a sharp ache in his arm, and his feet slid backward across the ground.
"Such powerful force!"
Surprise flickered in Shangguan Yiran’s heart as she watched.
Shen Daoxing said coldly, "Aren’t you being a bit too presumptuous?"
’The woman before me has a status worlds apart from the Shen Family. A single sentence from her could plunge me into a state of eternal damnation.’
"Brat, do you have any idea what you just gave up?"
The old man said coldly, rubbing his arm. "Countless young heroes would kill for this opportunity. To become my young miss’s attendant is an immense stroke of fortune."
"An immense stroke of fortune?!"
Shen Daoxing sneered, his hand tightening on the hilt of the Great Ming Demon Sparrow. He then slapped the flat of the blade against a nearby boulder.
THWACK!
The black blade struck the stone heavily, but the boulder remained perfectly intact.
"Daoxing, let’s go, quickly."
Shen Yuerou, afraid the situation would escalate, quickly grabbed Shen Daoxing’s hand and pulled him toward the Shen Mansion.
"That brat..."
The old man watched Shen Daoxing’s departing back with a hint of impatience, but then he noticed that Shangguan Yiran’s expression was grave. "Miss, what is it?"
Shangguan Yiran pointed at the boulder. "Fu, look!"
"How is this possible!?"
Fu looked over, and his face instantly filled with horror.
The once-solid boulder had now been reduced to a pile of fine powder.
Shattering a boulder wasn’t difficult. The difficult part was pulverizing it into fine powder. Even he might not be able to control his strength with such precision.
But that young man had done it with a single strike of his sword. This meant the youth’s level of Sword Dao was incredibly high.
Even if he hadn’t comprehended Sword Intent, he couldn’t be far from it.
How could it not be shocking that Baiyun City had such a talented Swordsman!?
Shangguan Yiran took a deep breath. "I never expected a small place like Baiyun City to have such a genius. Truly remarkable. Now I’m even more curious about this Shen Shaotian."
"That girl called him Daoxing, and they were heading in the direction of the Shen Mansion. Could he be a disciple of the Shen Family as well?"
Fu said respectfully from the side, "Miss, aren’t you going to see Shen Shaotian? We will know the truth once we visit the Shen Mansion."
Shangguan Yiran nodded. "Then let’s go and see."
