Free Web NovelChapter 129: Chapter 129: Martial Kingdom’s Old Ancestor
Shen Daoxing didn’t know why the Martial King wanted to betroth a princess to him.
But since Princess Anyun was unwilling, Shen Daoxing wouldn’t force the issue. He had no interest in offering a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder.
Compared to matters of romance, he was far more concerned with increasing his strength. ’Women would only slow down my cultivation.’
After a moment of thought, Shen Daoxing decided to return to the Treasure Pavilion to continue his training. He had killed Xia Junze and won the life-or-death duel, so on paper, his grudge with the Celestial City Academy was settled.
However, given the way those people from the Celestial City Academy behaved, Shen Daoxing didn’t believe for a second that they would let the matter rest.
Furthermore, the incident with Crown Prince Yonghong had made him understand that while the Martial King bore him no ill will, that didn’t mean other members of the Martial Kingdom’s Royal Family felt the same.
His situation was still dangerous.
Just as he was about to head back, a gentle female voice spoke up. "Young Master Shen, might we have a word?"
Shen Daoxing turned to see a voluptuous woman.
"And you are...?"
Shen Daoxing asked, puzzled.
The woman smiled faintly and revealed her identity as the Eldest Princess.
Shen Daoxing was rather surprised. The Eldest Princess of the Martial Kingdom was unexpectedly young. She was of the same generation as the Martial King, so she should be quite old.
’The palace must have some Secret Technique to preserve one’s youth and beauty,’ he mused.
After stopping Shen Daoxing, the woman didn’t mention anything else. She began talking directly about the Ninth Princess, recounting various tales from her childhood. She spoke of the princess’s charm, her kindness, and the many injustices she had suffered.
Shen Daoxing was a little confused as to why the Eldest Princess was telling him so much about the Ninth Princess, but he listened quietly all the same.
Because the Ninth Princess was born to His Majesty and a palace maid, and also due to her appearance, she held a very low status in the palace. She was often bullied by the other princes and princesses and had a difficult life.
If not for the Eldest Princess’s protection, the Ninth Princess would have likely been driven out of the imperial palace long ago.
One could say that the Ninth Princess had been raised by the Eldest Princess since she was a child.
And so, the Eldest Princess continued to talk endlessly to Shen Daoxing about the Ninth Princess’s life.
It wasn’t until she had led Shen Daoxing to her own Hening Palace that she finally asked, "Young Master Shen, do you know why His Majesty wanted to betroth Princess Anyun to you?"
"I do not!"
Shen Daoxing shook his head.
"It is because the Dragon Vein can be passed down through the bloodline. As long as you have a child with one of our royal princesses, the Royal Family of our Martial Kingdom can once again possess the Dragon Vein."
The Eldest Princess explained slowly.
It suddenly dawned on Shen Daoxing; he now understood the Martial King’s intentions.
The Dragon Vein originally belonged to the Martial Kingdom; it had only entered his body through a twist of fate. Passing it on to the Royal Family through the next generation was perfectly reasonable, and he wouldn’t lose anything in the process.
Besides, the Martial King had helped him so much—he was a world apart from those old geezers at the Celestial City Academy.
With this in mind, Shen Daoxing looked at the Eldest Princess. "So, Your Highness, the reason you’ve told me so much about the Ninth Princess is..."
The Eldest Princess nodded, then hesitated. "You should be able to see Yawei’s feelings for you. I know this puts you in a difficult position. After all, the Ninth Princess has a low status and an unsightly appearance, but Yawei, she..."
But before the Eldest Princess could finish,
Shen Daoxing spoke up, "I am willing!"
"You are willing?"
The Eldest Princess looked at Shen Daoxing in shock. "Young Master Shen, you don’t mind Yawei’s status? You don’t mind her appearance?"
Shen Daoxing smiled. "Your Highness, in terms of status, I am merely an adopted son of the Shen Family, and I have now even left them. My standing is even lower than the Ninth Princess’s. Moreover, when I came to the Imperial City, the Ninth Princess was the first person to show me any respect, and she has helped me so much. If I must marry a princess, I would much prefer the Ninth Princess over the arrogant Princess Anyun."
"Truly?"
Surprised, the Eldest Princess confirmed again, "Young Master Shen, you don’t mind the Ninth Princess’s appearance?"
"I don’t mind!"
Shen Daoxing nodded seriously.
"Good! I will go inform my brother at once!" the Eldest Princess exclaimed, overjoyed.
Afterward, the Eldest Princess personally saw Shen Daoxing out of Hening Palace.
Watching his departing figure, the Eldest Princess nodded in appreciation. "He is a man who values loyalty and integrity."
Then, she gave a meaningful smile. "I think... our Weiya will not disappoint you."
...
After leaving Hening Palace, Shen Daoxing was led by Eunuch Li back to the side hall where he had stayed before.
By now, the sky had grown dark. After washing up and hastily eating the dinner a palace maid brought, Shen Daoxing sat on his bed to meditate and rest. Unconsciously, the one hundred and eight acupoints on his body began to silently absorb the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.
These days, Shen Daoxing had made cultivation a constant practice; even when resting, he did not forget to train.
Outside his room, the candlelight in the imperial halls gradually went out, and the entire palace fell quiet, sinking into a tranquil silence.
But beneath this tranquility, hidden currents swirled. The imperial palace was never a place to be judged by its surface.
In a hidden valley in the mountains behind the imperial palace, a meandering stream flowed quietly. The banks were lush with dense trees, a vibrant green scene where birds chirped and flowers bloomed.
Yet in this place teeming with life, there was a deathly still cave surrounded entirely by dark brown earth.
If any plant attempted to grow near it, its life force would be completely absorbed by an invisible power, causing it to wither and turn to dust.
Even birds flying overhead would occasionally plummet without warning, their energy rapidly drained away. They would shrivel at an incredible speed, ultimately becoming a pile of dried bones.
The deathly still cave and the vibrant green foliage around it formed a stark contrast.
SWISH! SWISH!
Just then, two figures leaped from the distant forest.
Soon, the figures of King Zhenwu and King Xianqing appeared.
The two men approached the cave but stopped far from the dark brown earth. They stood at a distance, clasped their fists, and bowed respectfully toward the entrance.
"Gu Tian, a thirty-sixth-generation descendant of the Great Wu Royal Family, comes to pay his respects to the Old Ancestor!"
"Gu Heng, a thirty-sixth-generation descendant of the Great Wu Royal Family, comes to pay his respects to the Old Ancestor!"
The moment their words faded, a blast of wind suddenly shot out from the cave, sending them flying.
"Get out! Do not disturb me unless it’s something important!"
A deep, hoarse voice echoed eerily from within the cave.
King Zhenwu and King Xianqing exchanged a look of terror.
Sprawled on the ground, King Zhenwu hurriedly said, "Old Ancestor, the Dragon Vein Origin of our Martial Kingdom has appeared!"
"But... but the one who obtained the Origin’s power is not a descendant of our Royal Family," King Xianqing added.
Instantly, the cave fell silent, with no response.
King Zhenwu and King Xianqing exchanged a look of surprise.
WHOOSH!
Just then, a faint breeze stirred at the mouth of the cave, and a gaunt old man appeared.
The old man was incredibly thin, little more than skin and bones, looking as if a gust of wind could knock him over at any moment.
And yet, this old man, who seemed to be in his twilight years, possessed a pair of piercingly sharp eyes.
...
