Free Web NovelChapter 155: Chapter 154: Celestial Eye
A week passed quickly.
It had taken three days to advance from Yi Lei to Jia Lei. Adding this past week, a total of ten days had gone by.
For other Martial Artists, ten days was but a fleeting moment, but for Zhao Xuanqi, it was more than enough time to accomplish a great deal.
Ten days ago, he had only just achieved the initial stage of Heart Tongxuan. Now, he had already consolidated his Heart Tongxuan cultivation to its peak, and his strength had advanced once more. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
And now, the council meeting of the Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce was finally being held.
「Somewhere in Jinmen, inside a large ballroom.」
A black car pulled up outside the ballroom. The doors opened, and Zhao Xuanqi, Yan Shuntao, and Ning Dao’an stepped out. An attendant immediately hurried over, respectfully welcoming them and ushering them inside.
The ballroom floor had been cleared, and a makeshift arena stood in the center. Not far from the arena was a large, round conference table, obviously prepared for the upcoming council meeting. Several long tables were also set up in the ballroom, laden with exquisite drinks and pastries. Attendants moved back and forth, giving the event the air of a small cocktail party.
Contrary to what one might expect, the ballroom was far from empty. There were several dozen people, men and women, all conversing in low voices.
The Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce had a total of eighteen council members. However, under them were many smaller bosses and entrepreneurs who relied on the Chamber’s influence. As the council meeting would have a great impact on the Chamber, they also had the right to participate and be informed.
Zhao Xuanqi and Ning Dao’an followed behind Yan Shuntao, and their entrance immediately drew everyone’s attention.
"Has Mr. Yan arrived? Between the two men behind him, which one is Zhao Xuanqi, the one who defeated the successor of the Western Border Wu Family?"
"He advanced to Jia Lei with a perfect record! That’s an achievement only a master of the First-class Armor Arena tier could manage. Where on earth did Mr. Yan find such an expert?"
"The position of Chief of the Martial Arts Department will likely fall to him this time... I just wonder what the Chairman and Vice Chairman will think."
"Chairman Luo is getting old, and his energy isn’t what it used to be, while Mr. Yan is still in his prime. If the person he’s backing can secure the position of Martial Arts Department Chief, he’ll probably take over as the next chairman. But no matter how you look at it, this is a good thing. Having such an expert protecting the Chamber, regardless of who found him, is ultimately beneficial for all of us."
"..."
The crowd in the ballroom immediately broke into hushed discussions.
After entering the ballroom, Yan Shuntao led Zhao Xuanqi and Ning Dao’an briskly in a specific direction.
There stood an old man with white hair and a slightly stooped figure. He was dressed in a dark purple robe, holding an exquisitely carved mahogany cane, and wore a pair of reading glasses on his face. A kindly smile played on his lips.
Behind this old man stood a tall, middle-aged man. His eyes were downcast, his shoulders broad. He wore an old-fashioned, navy-blue robe, giving him the appearance of a Taoist scholar.
Most striking was the deep mark on the bone between his eyebrows. From a distance, it looked as if a sword was hanging there, or perhaps like a third, unopened Celestial Eye.
"Chairman Luo, my apologies for being late. Have you been well recently?"
Yan Shuntao approached the old man and spoke respectfully.
This old man was the number one figure in the Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce, Chairman Luo Shizun. Now over seventy, he had witnessed both the peak and the decline of the Chamber. He had inherited the ideals of Shang Zhenhua’s generation of industrialists, and he himself owned businesses throughout the Divine Land. He held immense prestige within the Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce; one could even say he had watched Yan Shuntao grow up.
"My health has been quite robust lately, Shuntao. This gentleman behind you must be Mr. Zhao, correct?"
Luo Shizun smiled and waved his hand at Yan Shuntao, indicating that he shouldn’t stand on ceremony, then turned his head to look at Zhao Xuanqi, who was behind Yan Shuntao.
"Indeed. This is Mr. Zhao. Mr. Zhao, this is the Chairman of our Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Luo Shizun."
Yan Shuntao made the introductions.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Luo."
Zhao Xuanqi smiled and nodded at Luo Shizun.
"Truly a fine and talented young man with a limitless future. The Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce will have to rely on your care in the days to come."
"You’re too kind, Mr. Luo," Zhao Xuanqi said.
After they exchanged a few more words, Luo Shizun began to converse with Yan Shuntao, primarily to go over some matters regarding the meeting beforehand.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xuanqi’s attention shifted to the middle-aged man who looked as if he had a sword hanging between his brows.
As if sensing Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze, the middle-aged man slowly lifted his downcast eyes and met Zhao Xuanqi’s stare.
In that instant, Zhao Xuanqi felt a sharp glint of light shoot out from the mark between the man’s brows—the mark that resembled both a hanging sword and a Celestial Eye. Accompanied by the man’s gaze, it pierced straight toward his eyes like an unsheathed Flying Sword.
’Oh?’
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression flickered. He knew this was an effect produced by the sudden release of his opponent’s Spirit after it had been intensely focused.
The Eye-witnessing Technique: a gaze like a sword, Spirit surging forth from the Mud Ball Palace to harm another from a distance.
This was Xuanmen Swordsmanship—the Flying Sword Technique!
His expression remained calm as he simultaneously flared his own Spirit to meet that gaze.
CLANG!!
As that sharp glint of light entered Zhao Xuanqi’s body, the middle-aged man actually seemed to hear the sound of striking metal, as if a sharp sword had struck a hard block of iron.
At the same time.
CRACKLE!
A faint sound of static seemed to echo through the air. For a brief moment, everyone talking within a dozen-meter radius of the two men fell silent in uncanny unison, as if they had all received an electric shock.
However, the effect quickly vanished. The crowd, seemingly unaware that anything unusual had happened, resumed their conversations.
’Causing electricity to manifest from nothing!’
Seeing that Zhao Xuanqi’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest, a flash of astonishment crossed the middle-aged man’s face. He then gave Zhao Xuanqi a slight nod of acknowledgment before lowering his gaze once more.
"His name is Guo Tianyou," Ning Dao’an said in a low voice to Zhao Xuanqi. "His cultivation is from the same branch of the Mystic Sect as mine. His style is called ’Celestial Eye Swordsmanship.’ It incorporates the essential Profound Technique of the Mystic Sect’s Taoist lineage for opening the Celestial Eye. He constantly nourishes his spirit in the Mud Ball Palace, which is why, upon reaching a high level of cultivation, the ’Celestial Eye Sword Mark’ appears between his brows. He wields both a tangible sword in his hand and the Mystic Sect’s intangible Flying Sword from his Mud Ball Palace simultaneously. His strength is not to be underestimated, but from the looks of it, he poses no threat to you."
He had witnessed their clash just now. Guo Tianyou’s Eye-witnessing Technique of the Celestial Eye Sword had been effortlessly shattered by Zhao Xuanqi’s terrifying Spirit. Zhao Xuanqi hadn’t even blinked. This made Ning Dao’an realize that Guo Tianyou was absolutely no match for him.
In Celestial Eye Swordsmanship, the greatest threat was the Flying Sword within the Mud Ball Palace.
Before long, Yan Shuntao finished his conversation with Luo Shizun. He took his leave with Zhao Xuanqi and Ning Dao’an to continue greeting the other council members in the room.
"Mr. Guo, what do you think of him?"
Luo Shizun asked Guo Tianyou, watching as Yan Shuntao walked away.
"He’s young, but his Intent is like Vajra. A remarkable figure. My Flying Sword cannot cut him. If I were to face him in the arena, my chances of losing would be far greater than my chances of winning. Mr. Luo, you should make preparations."
"Preparations? There’s no need for preparations. To receive the help of an expert is a blessing for our Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce. At my age, there are some things I can’t just hold onto and take to my grave. I think Shuntao is very promising. The original mission of our Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce was to revitalize the south and enrich the Divine Land. Shuntao should be able to carry on this will," Luo Shizun said with a light chuckle.
"I’m afraid some people won’t agree so easily," Guo Tianyou said.
"Success depends on human effort." freewebnøvel.com
Luo Shizun shook his head slightly, took a pocket watch from his coat, and checked the time. He frowned, then waved over a subordinate. "The meeting is about to start. Why aren’t Wei Zonglong and several other council members here yet? Go make a call and find out."
"Yes, Mr. Luo. Right away."
The subordinate bowed slightly and was about to turn and carry out the order when he suddenly heard a commotion at the ballroom entrance.
Led by an attendant, a group of seven council members, headed by Wei Zonglong, entered the ballroom together. They moved as one, a large and imposing contingent that radiated a strange, oppressive aura.
