Free Web NovelChapter 127: Chapter 127: I’ll Definitely Hold Back Next Time
「Inside the Jinluan Great Hall.」
"Your Majesty, the Dragon Vein of the Martial Kingdom’s Royal Family cannot be lost! The throne cannot be passed to an outsider! We implore Your Majesty to decree the living sacrifice of Shen Daoxing to honor our ancestors and retrieve the Vein!"
A crowd of princes and nobles knelt in unison before the Martial King, shouting as one.
Among them were even many elderly lords who had not attended court in years, having come specifically for this matter.
"Emperor, are you really going to hand over the thousand-year legacy of our Gu Family to an outsider?"
King Zhenwu stood in the hall, his eyes sharp as he stared at the Martial King upon the Dragon Throne.
Yet the Martial King remained unmoved as he looked down at the kneeling princes and nobles.
After a long silence, the Martial King finally spoke:
"I have my own plans for this. There is no need for further discussion."
He then waved a dismissive hand. "That is all. You may all leave."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
The nobles cried out in alarm.
King Zhenwu snorted. "Fine! Since my Brother is unwilling to act, then don’t blame me!"
"King Zhenwu, what do you intend to do? Do you dare lay a hand on Shen Daoxing?"
The Martial King’s expression darkened.
King Zhenwu gave a sly grin. "Don’t worry, Brother. I would never lay a hand on a junior. But the Martial Kingdom is a vast place... it would be hard to say what sort of ’accident’ Shen Daoxing might run into."
"What are you implying?"
The Martial King had a bad feeling.
The moment he finished speaking...
A eunuch scrambled into the hall, crying, "Disaster, Your Majesty! Crown Prince Yonghong has started a fight with Shen Daoxing!"
The Martial King’s gaze turned cold as he glared at King Zhenwu. "This was your doing."
"Ah, Brother, you wound me with such accusations."
King Zhenwu let out a strange laugh.
"My son has always had a great appreciation for talent. It’s only natural that Yonghong would want to personally test the strength of a genius like Shen Daoxing."
King Zhenwu added meaningfully, "It’s just that Yonghong never knows how to hold back."
As soon as King Zhenwu finished speaking...
ROAR!
A long, heavy dragon’s cry suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw a majestic Five-Clawed Golden Dragon appear outside the hall.
"That’s Crown Prince Yonghong’s bloodline power."
"So this is his power after awakening! Crown Prince Yonghong truly is the strongest of the younger generation in the Royal Family!"
Someone in the hall exclaimed in awe.
King Zhenwu spoke in a mocking tone, "Oh dear. Look, Brother, my son is being reckless again! I do hope that Shen Daoxing can hold on!"
His words were filled with regret, but he couldn’t suppress the smile on his face.
But no sooner had King Zhenwu spoken...
ROOOOAR!
A second dragon’s cry, even more majestic and powerful, thundered through the entire imperial palace.
Then, with a loud BANG, Gu Yonghong’s body flew in from outside the hall, crashing to the floor with a heavy THUD.
"Huh!?"
Stunned, King Zhenwu stared.
He saw Gu Yonghong bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, barely breathing.
"Yonghong!"
Greatly alarmed, King Zhenwu rushed forward, lifted Gu Yonghong, and shoved an Elixir into his mouth.
Just then, Shen Daoxing walked in, led by Eunuch Li.
Seeing Gu Yonghong in King Zhenwu’s arms, Shen Daoxing stepped forward with a faint smile. "Crown Prince Yonghong, are you alright? It was my mistake, I was careless and struck too hard. I’ll be sure to hold back during our next sparring session!"
"Shen Daoxing, you...!"
Furious, King Zhenwu lunged forward, raising a palm to strike.
The Martial King suddenly spoke up. "Brother, it was merely a spar between juniors. Since Crown Prince Yonghong is not in mortal danger, let the matter drop."
With that, the Martial King waved to a nearby eunuch. "Men, gift Crown Prince Yonghong a bottle of high-grade Rejuvenation Pills."
King Zhenwu’s face darkened, but he had no choice but to back down. His expression was utterly foul.
’Yonghong had lost. And he had lost to the power of the very same Ancestral Dragon bloodline.’
’Clearly, Shen Daoxing’s Ancestral Dragon bloodline was far stronger than Yonghong’s.’
’This was a vicious slap in the face to the Royal Family!’
The nobles to the side began to mutter in disbelief:
"Did Shen Daoxing just use the power of our Royal Family?"
"How could he wield such immense power? It’s even stronger than Crown Prince Yonghong’s post-awakening power!"
"Hmph!"
King Zhenwu snorted. Feeling he had lost too much face to remain, he stormed out.
Seeing this, King Xianqing hurried after him.
"Wait, Wang!"
Once outside, King Xianqing quickly called out to King Zhenwu.
"Wang, are we really going to let this go? If His Majesty truly passes the throne to Shen Daoxing, will the Martial Kingdom still belong to the Gu Family?"
King Xianqing said urgently.
"What do you propose?"
King Zhenwu turned to look at King Xianqing.
King Xianqing paused, as if after long consideration. "Why don’t we ask the Old Ancestor to come out of seclusion?"
"The Old Ancestor?"
King Zhenwu fell silent for a moment before saying hesitantly, "His lifespan is nearly at an end, and he’s at a critical juncture in his secluded cultivation, attempting a breakthrough. Is it really appropriate to disturb him now?"
"Wang, our Old Ancestor has been in seclusion for hundreds of years without a breakthrough. With his life nearing its end, I fear his chances were gone. But now, by a stroke of luck, Shen Daoxing has brought out the Dragon Vein Origin."
King Xianqing paused, then added with deep meaning, "Perhaps... this is a perfect opportunity."
King Zhenwu stared blankly for a moment before realization dawned on him. He looked at King Xianqing in astonishment.
King Xianqing couldn’t help but laugh. "If the Old Ancestor can break through to the Refining Dust Realm, what neighboring kingdom could possibly be our Martial Kingdom’s match? We might even become an empire!"
"You’re right!"
...
「Back inside the Jinluan Great Hall.」
Shen Daoxing had paid his respects to the Martial King and was now standing below, waiting.
’He didn’t know why the Martial King had summoned him, but he figured it was about the Dragon Vein.’
However, since he had entered, the Martial King had not spoken a word, merely scrutinizing him from head to toe.
After a moment, the Martial King suddenly stood up and said slowly, "Shen Daoxing, follow me."
With that, he turned and headed toward the back of the hall.
Shen Daoxing was confused but could only follow.
"Your Majesty..."
Seeing the Martial King about to leave, the nobles started to speak, but he turned and shot them a cold glance, silencing them all.
Once they left the Jinluan Great Hall, the Martial King spoke a few words to a nearby eunuch, dismissing everyone in the vicinity until only he and Shen Daoxing remained.
The Martial King led Shen Daoxing on a stroll through the imperial palace, and before long, they arrived at a pavilion.
"Shen Daoxing, I hear you’re from the Shen Family in Baiyun City?"
The two sat down in the pavilion, and the Martial King spoke slowly.
Shen Daoxing nodded. "I was an orphan adopted by Patriarch Shen, but I no longer have any connection to the Shen Family."
"I’m aware of that."
The Martial King nodded. He had already investigated Shen Daoxing’s background. "Baiyun City is a fine place. A pity the people there aren’t very friendly."
"Your Majesty has been there?"
Shen Daoxing was slightly surprised.
The Martial King smiled faintly. "I was there nineteen years ago."
’Nineteen years ago?’
’Isn’t that when I was born?’
Slightly stunned, Shen Daoxing suddenly asked, "Your Majesty... did you know my mother?"
