Free Web NovelChapter 72: Chapter 72: Shen Wuji Enters Heavenly Gate City
Shen Wuji entered Heavenly Gate City at sunset.
He did not arrive with a grand procession.
He came alone, wearing dark travel clothes and carrying a narrow black blade at his waist. His hair was tied loosely behind him, and his face was pale in a way that made him seem almost sickly. But his eyes were alive—dark red beneath the evening light, calm and measuring.
At the eastern city gate, several academy students recognized him almost immediately.
"That is Shen Wuji."
"The wandering challenger?"
"He defeated Lu Han from River Sword Academy last month."
"I heard he can suppress talents during duels."
"Is he here for Qin Yuheng?"
The whispers spread before he reached the inner district.
Shen Wuji did not react to them.
He walked through the streets as if he had already expected every gaze.
Two hours later, he appeared near Heavenly Gate Academy’s outer challenge board.
The challenge board was an old tradition. Students and visiting climbers could register formal sparring requests there. The academy did not allow random outsiders to force duels, but approved challengers with clean records could request public matches under instructor supervision.
Shen Wuji placed his name on the visitor list.
Then he wrote three challenge requests.
Shen Wuji challenges Wei Chen.
Shen Wuji challenges Zhao Tianyu.
Shen Wuji challenges Qin Yuheng.
The order mattered.
He did not begin with Qin Yuheng.
He challenged two other prominent students first.
That made the move appear fair.
It also allowed him to demonstrate strength before approaching his real target.
By morning, the academy was buzzing.
Zhao Tianyu accepted immediately.
Wei Chen accepted after confirming rules.
Qin Yuheng did not respond.
This caused more discussion than if he had declined.
"Why has Qin Yuheng not accepted?"
"Is he cautious?"
"Maybe the academy pause prevents him from fighting?" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"No, sparring is allowed."
"Maybe Shen Wuji’s talent suppression rumor is real."
"Qin Yuheng awakened through a Talent Fruit, right? Maybe that kind of talent is easier to suppress."
Qin Mo heard the rumors and looked deeply annoyed.
"People talk too much."
Qin Yuchen said, "That is part of the trap."
Qin Lian nodded. "Pressure through public opinion."
Qin Yuheng remained calm.
"What matters is not whether they talk. It is whether we let their talk choose our timing."
The first match was Shen Wuji against Wei Chen.
The Combat Arena filled quickly.
Wei Chen stood on stage with his shield, steady as always. Shen Wuji stood opposite him, one hand resting lightly on his blade.
Han Shuren supervised personally.
"Rules: controlled duel. Visitor challenge. No lethal force. No permanent injury. Begin."
Wei Chen advanced first.
His style was defensive, but not passive. He used shield pressure to control space, forcing opponents into predictable angles. Against most challengers, this worked well. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Shen Wuji watched him approach.
Then he raised his left hand.
Dark red mist spread across his palm.
Wei Chen’s shield glow dimmed slightly.
The crowd stirred.
"Suppression?"
Wei Chen frowned but continued forward.
Shen Wuji moved like a shadow sliding sideways. His short blade struck the shield edge, not to break it, but to create vibration. The dark red mist entered through that vibration and interfered with Wei Chen’s defensive energy.
Wei Chen reacted quickly, slamming his shield down to disperse the mist.
But Shen Wuji was already behind him.
The blade stopped at Wei Chen’s back.
Han Shuren spoke.
"Point. Continue."
The match lasted six minutes.
Wei Chen did not lose badly. His defense adapted, and he forced Shen Wuji to reveal several movement patterns. But in the end, Shen Wuji won by points through repeated suppression touches and angle control.
Final result: Shen Wuji victory.
The students were silent afterward.
Wei Chen was not weak.
If Shen Wuji could defeat him cleanly, his strength was real.
The second match was against Zhao Tianyu.
Zhao Tianyu entered with visible anger. Zhao Lan stood in the observer section, her expression unreadable.
Shen Wuji looked at Zhao Tianyu and smiled faintly.
"You have strong blood power."
Zhao Tianyu’s eyes narrowed.
"Do not speak nonsense."
"It is unstable."
Zhao Tianyu’s aura flared.
The match began.
Zhao Tianyu attacked fiercely. Compared with his previous duel against Qin Yuheng, his control had improved. His Crimson Beast Blood erupted with powerful force, and his strikes shook the arena.
But Shen Wuji’s style was strange.
He did not block directly.
He touched.
A palm to the wrist.
A blade tap against armor.
A step into Zhao Tianyu’s shadow.
Each contact left dark red threads that briefly slowed energy circulation.
Zhao Tianyu’s face changed.
His Crimson Beast Blood became uneven.
Shen Wuji spoke calmly during the fight.
"Borrowed stabilizing resources. Recent improvement. Anger beneath blood. Easy to stir."
Zhao Tianyu roared and attacked harder.
That was exactly what Shen Wuji wanted.
Dark red mist gathered.
For one breath, Zhao Tianyu’s own blood aura surged out of rhythm.
Shen Wuji appeared at his side and struck his chest armor with an open palm.
Zhao Tianyu was thrown backward.
Han Shuren stopped the match before further escalation.
"Winner: Shen Wuji."
The arena exploded with discussion.
Zhao Tianyu had lost publicly again.
But the more important point was Shen Wuji’s analysis.
Borrowed stabilizing resources.
Recent improvement.
Anger beneath blood.
He had read Zhao Tianyu too accurately.
Qin Yuheng watched from the upper stands.
His expression remained calm.
Qin Mo stood beside him, unusually serious.
"He really can sense something."
"Yes," Qin Yuheng said.
Qin Yuchen asked, "Will it work on you?"
"On the surface, maybe."
Qin Lian said, "He will aim for the Talent Fruit explanation."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
To the public, his first talent status had been Not Awakened. Then, after Qin Wanshan gave him an A-grade Talent Fruit, his public status became Awakened. If Shen Wuji could sense recent talent awakening or talent instability, he would try to prove Qin Yuheng’s foundation was artificial.
But Qin Yuheng’s visible second talent, Primordial Thunder Emperor Body, had indeed come from a fruit—though enhanced to SSS grade.
His true talent, Primordial Origin Evolution, remained hidden beyond ordinary evaluation.
The danger was not that Shen Wuji would discover everything.
The danger was that he might discover enough to make others ask better questions.
After defeating Zhao Tianyu, Shen Wuji looked toward the stands.
His gaze found Qin Yuheng.
The arena quieted.
Shen Wuji smiled.
"Qin Yuheng," he said, voice carrying through the arena. "Your challenge remains unanswered."
Every gaze turned.
Qin Mo whispered, "Do not let public pressure choose timing."
Qin Yuheng stood slowly.
He looked down at Shen Wuji.
"My team is under academy recovery recommendation. I will not accept today."
Whispers spread immediately.
Shen Wuji’s smile did not change.
"Tomorrow?"
"No."
"Then when?"
Qin Yuheng’s voice remained calm.
"When the academy approves, and when I decide the match has value."
The words were polite.
But they denied Shen Wuji control.
Han Shuren’s eyes showed faint approval.
Shen Wuji looked at Qin Yuheng for a long moment.
Then he bowed slightly.
"I will wait."
Qin Yuheng sat down again.
The first exchange had ended without a fight.
But the challenge had already begun.
