Free Web NovelChapter 184: Chapter 184: You Don’t Need to Argue
Even the Ancient Sword Marquis, who was usually single-mindedly focused on his cultivation and paid no mind to other matters, stopped in his tracks and gave Shen Daoxing a second look.
"Hehehe, excellent! Excellent!"
Yue Wuchen clapped and smiled faintly. "This generation of young disciples is truly full of talent. To think that Shen Mo Feng, ranked second on the Martial Arts Ranking, was utterly powerless to resist. With Shen Daoxing’s strength, even if he were to face the Ancient Sword Marquis, the outcome would be uncertain. It seems the Martial Arts Ranking is in for a major shake-up."
Beside him, Yuwen Sword Fool said nothing, his sharp eyes fixed on Shen Daoxing.
After a moment of silence, he stared at the weapon in Shen Daoxing’s hand and spoke with deep meaning, "The Demon Soldier Poison Fiend. The Demon Soldier ranked ninth on the Demon Soldier Ranking, the former Magical Artifact of the Heart-devouring Elder. It hasn’t appeared in this world for several hundred years. To think it has shown up here now... Interesting! Very interesting!"
Meanwhile, a deep blue ancient sword nestled in his arms trembled slightly, as if in anticipation of something.
At this moment, Zhao Wufeng slowly walked to the center of the terrace and announced the result: "Shen Daoxing wins."
As Zhao Wufeng’s voice faded, a tall man stood up. "Shen Daoxing, we of Luojia Mountain claim you!"
It was Chen An, the representative disciple from Luojia Mountain.
Luojia Mountain was a place in the Celestial Profound Sacred Land second to none in its abundance of Spiritual Qi. Its Immortal Herb Garden was the largest medicinal garden in the Sacred Land, containing no shortage of ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Grass and Immortal Elixirs. Every year, countless outer sect disciples competed for a chance to enter.
Chen An’s words had barely faded when a skinny man next to him stood up. "On what grounds must Shen Daoxing join your Luojia Mountain? Shen Daoxing, come to my Qiongcang Mountain! If you’re willing, you can take your pick of any Spirit Beast in our Spirit Beast Garden!"
This was Wu Yi, a disciple from Qiongcang Mountain.
Qiongcang Mountain was the largest Holy Mountain in the Celestial Profound Sacred Land, spanning a thousand miles. It boasted the largest Spirit Beast Valley in the entire Sacred Land, home to every kind of rare and exotic Spirit Beast imaginable.
After those two had spoken, a portly man stood up. It was Zhong Heng of Jade Balance Mountain. "Shen Daoxing, come to our Jade Balance Mountain! As long as you enter our mountain gate, my master will personally forge any Immortal Magical Artifact you desire."
Shen Daoxing hadn’t even said a word, but the three were already arguing endlessly, each trying to talk over the other.
Just as the three of them were arguing heatedly,
Shangguan Yiran’s indifferent voice rang out, "There’s no need for you to argue. My master has already chosen Shen Daoxing. He will not be joining any of your Holy Mountains."
"What?"
The three were shocked to hear this. "Junior Sister Shangguan, doesn’t your Yunxiao Mountain have a rule against accepting male disciples?"
Shangguan Yiran glanced at Shen Daoxing and said calmly, "Rules are made to be broken. Just because Yunxiao Mountain didn’t accept male disciples in the past doesn’t mean we won’t in the future. I think my junior and senior sisters of Yunxiao Mountain would be more than willing to have Shen Daoxing join us!"
"!!!"
"!!!"
"!!!"
The three of them were utterly stunned.
With Shen Daoxing’s victory, the top two competitors of the grand competition had been decided. Tomorrow would be the most important battle—the fight for first place.
Shen Daoxing didn’t spare Shen Mo Feng a single glance in the pit below the terrace, turning and walking off the stage.
At that moment, no one in the crowd dared to look down on him anymore. Shen Daoxing had proven everything with his own strength.
Below the terrace, Lv Yunsheng was already waiting. Seeing Shen Daoxing, his face lit up with unconcealable joy. "That was amazing, Brother Yang! Seeing the look on Shen Mo Feng’s face when you put him in his place was so satisfying. It felt great! You should have been even more ruthless."
Lv Yunsheng, unable to hide his talkative nature, began chattering incessantly in front of Shen Daoxing, recounting Shen Mo Feng’s miserable state on the stage, growing more and more excited as he spoke.
The two hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Shen Daoxing saw Shangguan Yiran standing in a courtyard not far away, her back to them, as if she were waiting for someone.
Shen Daoxing walked over.
This time, Fu, who was waiting outside the courtyard, did not block his path. He simply stood outside, his head lowered in silence.
"Commandery Princess!"
Shen Daoxing clasped his fist in salute.
"Shen Daoxing, you truly never fail to surprise me!"
Shangguan Yiran turned to look at Shen Daoxing. "I have already reported your performance over the past few days to Yunxiao Mountain. My master has accepted you as an Inner Sect Disciple. As for tomorrow’s battle, you can set your mind at ease. Even if you lose to the Ancient Sword Marquis, you will still be a disciple of our Yunxiao Mountain."
Shangguan Yiran wanted to put Shen Daoxing’s mind at ease so that he could fight without reservation tomorrow.
In truth, Shen Daoxing hadn’t participated in this assessment with the goal of entering the Celestial Profound Sacred Land, but he still bowed respectfully. "I am grateful for the Commandery Princess’s consideration."
Afterward, Shen Daoxing and Shangguan Yiran chatted for a while longer, mostly about everyday matters in the Martial Kingdom. After talking for quite some time, Shen Daoxing finally left with Lv Yunsheng.
Watching Shen Daoxing’s departing figure, Fu, who had been standing outside the courtyard the whole time, had a strange expression on his face and said nothing.
Fu hesitated for a moment.
Suddenly, with a THUD, he knelt before Shangguan Yiran. "Commandery Princess, this old servant is guilty of a crime!"
Shangguan Yiran looked at Fu in confusion. "Fu, what is the meaning of this?"
Then, Fu recounted in full detail how he had repeatedly blocked Shen Daoxing from seeing Shangguan Yiran several days ago.
Instantly, Shangguan Yiran’s expression turned cold.
"Fu, I don’t want this kind of thing to ever happen again. Go and apologize to Young Master Shen personally."
Shangguan Yiran said coldly.
"Yes!"
Fu nodded respectfully, then rose to his feet and headed in the direction Shen Daoxing had gone.
...
In a remote guest room in Heroes Tower, the Ancient Sword Marquis was meditating on his bed, his body bathed in a brilliant, flowing light. Slowly, a glow emanated from the Dantian in his abdomen. A Profound Platform gradually emerged, with six sharp swords hovering above it. Each sword exuded a soul-stirring aura, filled with the power of decisive slaughter.
If anyone had been present, they would have been astonished to find that the Ancient Sword Marquis actually possessed a four-colored Profound Platform.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a slight breeze swept through the room.
In the blink of an eye, a man with sharp eyes appeared in the room, his arms crossed around a sword.
Seeing this, the Ancient Sword Marquis retracted his Profound Platform, ended his cultivation, and stepped off the bed. He clasped his fists in salute. "Senior Brother!"
Yuwen Sword Fool nodded, then said indifferently, "The Saintess has already made a promise. The winner of this competition will become her dual cultivation partner!"
The Ancient Sword Marquis nodded. "I’ve heard something of it."
"Tomorrow’s match is extremely important for our Steward Hall. Master has always wanted to establish a Holy Mountain for us Steward Disciples, but his requests to the Saint Master are always opposed by the other Seven Great Mountain Masters, especially Yunxiao Mountain. If you can become dual cultivation partners with Dongfang Wan’Er, the Saintess of Yuqing Mountain, Master will gain the support of Yuqing Mountain!"
Yuwen Sword Fool said flatly, "Therefore, you must win tomorrow."
With that, Yuwen Sword Fool paused and looked at the Ancient Sword Marquis. "What do you think of that Shen Daoxing’s strength?"
"He is an opponent worthy of a serious fight."
The Ancient Sword Marquis said calmly.
Yuwen Sword Fool, however, shook his head and held out the ancient sword he was cradling to the Ancient Sword Marquis.
The Ancient Sword Marquis looked down to see an ancient, unadorned blue Treasure Sword. Its aura was profound and unfathomable. The hilt was carved with a Taotie that seemed almost alive, its inky black eyes meeting his gaze with an unconcealable greed.
