Free Web NovelChapter 108: Chapter 108: Slaughter Sword Intent, Ancient Wilderness Sword Intent
The Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince exchanged a look. They felt that for someone of Shen Daoxing’s caliber to merely help the Ninth Princess pass the trial was a great waste of his talent. After trying to persuade him for a while longer, they saw that Shen Daoxing was resolute and wouldn’t change his mind. The two shook their heads in regret and finally gave up.
Afterward, they all chatted for a while longer. It wasn’t until the sky began to darken that the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince, citing other business, rose to take their leave.
Once the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince had completely left the room, the Ninth Princess looked up at Shen Daoxing. "Shen, I thought you would agree to help either the Eldest Prince or the Seventh Prince. After all, compared to them, I can offer you little in the way of resources or status."
Shen Daoxing offered a faint smile. "Ninth Princess, since I’ve already promised to help you pass the Dragon Vein Trial, I will see it through. That is my commitment to you, and it’s not something that can be swayed by anything the Eldest Prince or the Seventh Prince might offer."
The Ninth Princess was deeply moved. She rose and bowed solemnly to Shen Daoxing. "Shen, I, Yawei, will never forget the great kindness you have shown me today. I will surely repay you twofold in the future."
"Please, don’t say that, Ninth Princess. It was thanks to your timely warning that day that I was able to rescue the dean."
Shen Daoxing raised his hands and returned the bow.
The Ninth Princess then took her leave.
Shen Daoxing got up to leave, but just as he stepped out of the private room, he saw the Eldest Prince doubling back. The prince pulled Shen Daoxing aside, glanced around to ensure they were alone, and whispered:
"Shen, don’t be so quick to refuse my earlier offer. Please, reconsider it! If you change your mind, come and find me! I mean it! I sincerely want you to be my advisor! If you agree, I will make you the National Preceptor of the Martial Kingdom in the future!"
"..."
Shen Daoxing was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. But he had made a promise to the Ninth Princess, and he couldn’t possibly go back on it.
Shen Daoxing then tactfully refused the Eldest Prince once more. The prince shook his head in resignation and departed reluctantly.
Then, Shen Daoxing tried to leave again. He had only taken a single step when he saw the Seventh Prince had also doubled back. The prince pulled him aside and made a nearly identical offer to the Eldest Prince’s.
"..."
Shen Daoxing.
’So this is the downside of being too popular.’
It took a great deal of time for Shen Daoxing to extricate himself from the Seventh Prince’s persistence and return to the Desolate Mountain.
...
Early the next morning, as Shen Daoxing stepped out of his thatched hut, he saw Bai Yi waiting for him. Dressed in straw sandals and gnawing on a deer leg, he looked like he had something on his mind.
Before Shen Daoxing could even ask, Bai Yi said, "Follow me!"
Bai Yi pointed a finger toward the sky, and a snow-white Flying Sword shot out.
Bai Yi then grabbed Shen Daoxing, and the two of them sped toward Celestial City Mountain via Sword Flight.
As Celestial City Mountain loomed larger before them, Shen Daoxing grew puzzled.
Just yesterday, they had paid a visit to the Alchemy Pavilion at Celestial City Academy.
"Elder Bai, why are we coming to Celestial City Academy today?"
Elder Bai didn’t answer. Instead, he landed at a secluded spot on the mountainside of Celestial City Mountain.
Shen Daoxing looked around. The area was overgrown with weeds, with no sign of even a small path. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. The only landmark was a dilapidated, dried-up well standing not far away.
Bai Yi led Shen Daoxing over to it. Before Shen Daoxing could react, Bai Yi gave him a gentle push, sending him tumbling into the well.
Shen Daoxing’s vision went black as he felt himself falling into what seemed like a bottomless cavern.
After what felt like a long time, he landed with a THUD on a hard surface.
Puzzled, Shen Daoxing looked up and froze.
Beneath the old well lay a vast, seemingly endless space. There was nothing but dark brown earth and jagged, grotesque rock formations.
The moment he landed, a chilling, murderous aura washed over him. He could faintly see the countless glints of flashing blades and swords. A single glance was enough to feel a violent energy that pierced his very soul—a terrifying, desolate feeling, as if it had existed since antiquity.
This dried-up well concealed a Grotto Heaven!
Just then, Elder Bai landed from above.
"Elder Bai, what is this place?"
Shen Daoxing asked, puzzled.
"This is an ancient battlefield from the Ancient Times. No one knows why it appeared inside this small, dried-up well. All that is known is that this place is filled with countless Sword Intents and a potent killing aura. Its existence is a secret unknown even to Celestial City Academy."
"If even Celestial City Academy is unaware of it, how do you know so much about it, Elder Bai?"
Shen Daoxing asked curiously.
"Celestial City Mountain was originally called Celestial Sword Mountain. It was the ancestral home of our Sword Institute before it was taken over by Celestial City Academy. Naturally, it holds many secrets that they are unaware of."
Realization dawned on Shen Daoxing.
"Do you see that dark red glow and that silver-white light? Those are the Slaughter Sword Intent and the Ancient Wilderness Sword Intent. They are the two strongest Sword Intents here—a level of Upper Upper Sword Intent that even Upper-class Sword Intents cannot compare to."
Bai Yi pointed to the two glows in the distance. "If you can comprehend these two Sword Intents, your power will certainly rise to a whole new level. But be warned, the Sword Intents here are all exceptionally violent. You must be extremely careful."
"Understood!"
Shen Daoxing nodded. He now understood why Elder Bai had brought him to this place.
He then resolutely stepped forward, walking deeper into the area.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Instantly, several fierce Sword Intents bombarded his body with a chilling, sharp force. Fortunately, his physical body was now tough enough that they only produced a series of dull thuds without causing any damage.
Only then did Shen Daoxing understand why Elder Bai had insisted he train his physical strength.
Shen Daoxing then ventured deeper, leaped into the air, and his entire body erupted in brilliant light. With unparalleled might, he threw a sudden punch, smashing it against the dark red glow.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rang out.
The dark red glow shuddered violently. Shen Daoxing felt as if he had punched an incomparably hard block of adamant, and the force sent him flying backward.
’The Slaughter Sword Intent really is incredible.’
A look of excitement crossed Shen Daoxing’s face. His interest piqued, he leaped into the air again.
As if enraged, the red glow flared brilliantly and surged menacingly toward Shen Daoxing.
The surrounding Sword Intents, as if controlled by some unseen will, suddenly went berserk, surging toward Shen Daoxing like a tidal wave.
In an instant, the world itself seemed to change color as a palpable killing intent saturated the air!
Not to be outdone, the silver-white Ancient Wilderness Sword Intent also stirred. Emanating an aura of vast desolation, it shot forward with irresistible momentum, hurtling down like a meteor.
Seeing this, Elder Bai smiled knowingly. "Kid, this Slaughter Sword Intent and Ancient Wilderness Sword Intent aren’t so easily comprehended. An ordinary person might not grasp them even after a decade. A genius like Xia Junze would still need several months. Why, back in my day, it took me..."
He trailed off, shaking his head, afraid that finishing the thought would crush Shen Daoxing’s confidence.
Elder Bai then casually found an empty spot, lay down, and prepared to take a nice long nap. ’I wonder if the kid will have even a hint of an insight by the time I wake up.’
However, just as Elder Bai lay down and closed his eyes...
