Free Web NovelChapter 155: Chapter 155: Meeting Again
As an excited voice cried out, a commotion erupted on the street not far ahead.
The crowd parted, and a dazzling white deer, shimmering with an ethereal glow, slowly approached. It was clearly no ordinary beast.
And atop the white deer, a beautiful woman with slender, curved eyebrows and eyes as lively as shimmering water sat sidesaddle. Her almond-shaped eyes shone, as brilliant and dazzling as the spring sun.
The newcomer was none other than the Martial King’s daughter, Commandery Princess Lifen, Shangguan Yiran.
Her appearance sent the crowd into an uproar.
"Shangguan Yiran!? Is that really Shangguan Yiran from the Imperial Academy?"
"What do you mean, from the Imperial Academy? She’s Fairy Shangguan of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land now! Just a short while ago, the Sacred Land made an exception and accepted her as an Inner Sect Disciple."
"I heard that she reached the Spirit Transformation realm at just eighteen. At such a young age, she’s already comprehended fourteen Sword Intents, putting her just one step away from becoming a Sword King. She’s a monster among geniuses! No wonder even the Celestial Profound Sacred Land made an exception to take her in."
"This time, Fairy Shangguan has come to our Ancient Moon City to oversee the Sacred Land’s outer sect examination and select disciples on behalf of her master."
Listening to the discussions around him, Shen Daoxing’s expression shifted. Shangguan Yiran had originally been a disciple of the Daqian Imperial Academy. She had only returned to the Martial Kingdom because of the Divine Calculator’s prophecy. After they parted in the Martial Kingdom’s capital, she had returned to the Imperial Academy in Daqian.
’I didn’t expect that she would have already reached the Spirit Transformation realm by our next meeting.’
One could say that Shangguan Yiran was the person he knew best in all of Ancient Moon City.
An idea struck Shen Daoxing. ’Since Shangguan Yiran is from the Daqian Imperial Academy, she must be very familiar with this place. Maybe I can learn something about private ships from her.’
’The only problem is, she’s now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land, while I’m the Celestial Slaughter Star they’re hunting everywhere.’
As Shen Daoxing was lost in thought, a pleasant female voice rang out.
"Shen Daoxing, I knew you would come."
Shen Daoxing looked up and saw that Shangguan Yiran had, at some point, come to a stop right in front of him.
At that moment, Shangguan Yiran was carefully looking Shen Daoxing up and down.
Then, as if she’d noticed something, she nodded in satisfaction. "You never fail to surprise me."
Shen Daoxing smiled faintly. "Commandery Princess, it’s been a while."
"You’re here for the Sacred Land’s entrance examination, aren’t you?" Shangguan Yiran said, taking it for granted.
Geniuses from all over the East Continent were currently gathering in Ancient Moon City for the Sacred Land’s entrance examination. ’Why else would Shen Daoxing show up now, if not to join the Sacred Land?’
"As it happens, I’m one of the examiners this time. I hope you’ll perform well and surprise me again!" As she spoke, another thought occurred to her. "Oh, right. You must have just arrived in Ancient Moon City, so you probably don’t have a place to stay yet."
Then, without giving him a chance to object, Shangguan Yiran turned to an elderly man behind her and said, "Fu, take Shen Daoxing to my estate and arrange a room for him."
"Thank you, Commandery Princess!"
Shen Daoxing thanked her sincerely. He didn’t refuse her kind offer, as he happened to need an opportunity to ask about the private ships.
"Yes!"
Fu, standing behind Shangguan Yiran, nodded, though his gaze on Shen Daoxing was clearly reluctant.
As Shen Daoxing left with Shangguan Yiran, the crowd on the street instantly erupted.
"Who is that guy? He seems so close with Fairy Shangguan."
"He looks like he’s from the Martial Kingdom."
"Hey, hey, did you guys hear that Fairy Shangguan has a husband in the Martial Kingdom? Could that be him?"
"What? A Barbarian like him, from some remote little kingdom, could be Fairy Shangguan’s husband?"
"That was just a prophecy! You can’t take it seriously!"
...
Shen Daoxing followed Shangguan Yiran to a classical, elegant estate.
Shangguan Yiran seemed to have an important guest to meet, so after bidding Shen Daoxing farewell, she hurried away.
Then, Fu came to Shen Daoxing’s side. "Young Master Shen, please follow me."
With that, Fu headed into the estate, and Shen Daoxing followed behind.
The two walked in silence. Although Fu hadn’t said anything, Shen Daoxing could feel that the old man didn’t approve of him.
Finally, Fu led Shen Daoxing to a spacious bedchamber.
"I never thought you’d chase the Commandery Princess all the way to Daqian," Fu finally said, his tone grim.
"???"
Shen Daoxing didn’t understand what Fu meant.
Fu continued, "But you need to understand your place! And you need to understand our Commandery Princess’s place!"
As he spoke, Fu shot a cold glare at Shen Daoxing. "You need to realize that you are nothing but the adopted son of a minor family from some remote town. Our Commandery Princess, on the other hand, is the daughter of the Martial King. She is an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land with a boundless future. You two are from completely different worlds. Don’t you dare think a toad like you can feast on swan meat!"
Shen Daoxing was stunned for a moment, then he laughed. "Fu, you’ve misunderstood. I have no such intentions."
Fu snorted, unconvinced. "You think an old man like me doesn’t know what you young people are thinking?"
Fu gave a cold smile. "In any case, you should reflect on your own status. Stay put here for the next few days and don’t cause any trouble. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I have to step in!"
With that said, Fu turned and left without a backward glance.
Shen Daoxing was baffled, but he just smiled helplessly. He knew Shangguan Yiran had an important meeting today, so he wouldn’t get a chance to ask her about the private ships.
Shen Daoxing then entered the bedchamber, set down his luggage, tidied up briefly, and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate.
The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the Daqian Empire was incredibly rich; it was a rare opportunity that Shen Daoxing couldn’t afford to waste.
With a single thought, he activated the Annihilation of Ten Thousand Swords Technique. His one hundred and eight apertures began to greedily absorb the Primordial Energy from the world around him.
Shen Daoxing had not wasted a moment during his journey from the Martial Kingdom by Cloud Ship, cultivating the entire time. He had already reached the peak of the Seventh Layer of the Grotto Heaven realm.
The incredibly dense and abundant Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the Daqian Empire was exactly what he needed to achieve a breakthrough.
Invisible Primordial Energy gathered from all directions, surging like rivers into the sea as it poured into Shen Daoxing’s body.
...
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room.
The apertures in Shen Daoxing’s body, which had been constantly absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, suddenly paused. He felt a sense of clarity and ease wash over him, as if something within his mind had just been broken through.
An invisible power surged from within him. He had successfully broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Grotto Heaven realm.
Shen Daoxing took a deep breath, ended his meditation, and stood up. He wondered if he could get any information about the private ships from Shangguan Yiran today.
Then, Shen Daoxing slowly got off the bed and opened the door of his chamber.
BANG!
With a heavy crash, the gate to his courtyard was suddenly kicked open.
"So this is where that stinking brat from the Martial Kingdom lives?"
An unruly and extremely arrogant voice rang out.
