Free Web NovelChapter 23: Chapter 23: Conflict
The Imperial City of the Martial Kingdom.
Spanning tens of thousands of miles, it was the largest and most populous city in the Martial Kingdom. With ten times the population of Baiyun City, it was a scene of immense prosperity.
This was the true heart of the Martial Kingdom, a place where countless young Martial Artists came to chase their dreams.
"I’m finally here."
At the foot of the Imperial City’s walls, a travel-worn Shen Daoxing looked up at the towering ramparts, a faint ripple stirring in his heart.
The walls stood five zhang high, forged from a special material. From a distance, they looked like a coiled horned dragon, imposing and indestructible.
Inside the Imperial City, the great avenues paved with bluestone were dozens of meters wide, and the roars of beasts echoed one after another.
A two-zhang-tall green ape stood there, a young man sitting cross-legged on its shoulder, cutting a truly imposing figure.
Shen Daoxing thought to himself, ’As expected, the Imperial City is full of experts. To think someone could capture a Profound Platform realm demonic beast as a mount.’
Shen Daoxing had changed into a fresh set of clothes. A black robe covered his tall, straight figure. The murderous aura he once carried was completely washed away, leaving only a calm, profound steadiness.
This was highly unusual.
It was a rare quality to find in a young man not yet thirty.
And this very sight caused the eyes of Zhao Ziqi, who was standing not far away, to light up.
She was currently entangled in some trouble and desperately needed to shake it off. The sudden sight of Shen Daoxing gave her an idea.
"Hey, I need you to do me a favor. Just play along."
Without a shred of hesitation, Zhao Ziqi walked up to Shen Daoxing’s side. Before he could react, her delicate hand gently took hold of his arm, and she assumed the posture of a demure, dependent maiden.
Shen Daoxing’s brow furrowed. He instinctively took three or four steps back, successfully evading Zhao Ziqi’s grasp.
Zhao Ziqi lunged at empty air. A flicker of annoyance flared in her heart, and she shot Shen Daoxing a harsh glare, muttering under her breath, "Didn’t you hear me? I asked you to help me. What are you dodging for?"
Shen Daoxing said coolly, "My apologies. I don’t like getting too close to strangers, especially women."
"You!"
Zhao Ziqi’s beautiful eyes widened in a glare.
She was, after all, a daughter of the Zhao Family’s Direct Lineage and one of the four famous beauties of the Imperial City. In the past, didn’t all the talented young men who saw her stare blankly, their minds filled with improper thoughts?
It was no exaggeration to say that if Zhao Ziqi so much as hinted she needed help, more than ninety percent of the men in the Imperial City would come running, fawning and flattering her. Their desperate attempts to please, to lick her boots, made them look like dogs.
But today, the man standing before her actually said he didn’t want to get too close to her.
Like a proud peacock, Zhao Ziqi said, "Do you have any idea who I am? In this entire Imperial City, countless men yearn just to exchange a few words with me, begging me for a chance to get close. And you? You don’t cherish this opportunity?"
Her words were tinged with a hint of complaint.
But she had to admit, the man before her did possess a unique sort of temperament.
That calm, profound, and severe aura of his was incredibly attractive.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have singled him out at a glance.
Shen Daoxing glanced at Zhao Ziqi, then turned and walked away without a change in his expression.
"Stop! Did I say you could leave?"
Zhao Ziqi was genuinely furious. In all her years in the Imperial City, this was the first time a man had completely ignored her, acting as if a beauty like her wasn’t even worth a second look.
This was simply infuriating!
"I, Zhao Ziqi, asked for your help! That’s an honor for a brat like you. Did you think an opportunity like this would come along just any time?"
"Forgetting about being moved to tears with gratitude and feeling honored, you actually have the nerve to act all aloof. Who do you think you are?"
Zhao Ziqi stepped in front of Shen Daoxing, her voice laced with anger and ridicule.
"Miss Zhao, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t we agree that I’d see you home?"
Just then, a gloomy voice drifted over from a distance.
’Damn it, that disgusting Ye Tian really did follow me.’
Zhao Ziqi bit her lip, then commanded with the speed of a thunderclap, "I’m ordering you now: stand in front of me and block that pig-headed oaf from pestering me. If you do, I’ll pretend this whole thing never happened. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it."
With that, Zhao Ziqi reached her delicate hand toward Shen Daoxing’s arm again.
"Not interested."
Shen Daoxing dodged Zhao Ziqi’s hand, leaving her standing there awkwardly.
He had no desire to be someone else’s shield.
"Bastard!"
Zhao Ziqi couldn’t hold back any longer. She couldn’t believe this man would be so utterly disrespectful. She roared, "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you disregard me?"
Who the hell do you think you are!?
Shen Daoxing stopped in his tracks, his eyelid twitching slightly.
Zhao Ziqi said coldly, "Brat, if you don’t give me a reasonable explanation today, don’t even think about leaving this place."
At that moment, a portly man in lavish golden robes hurried over, his face a mask of sycophancy. "Miss Zhao, what’s happened?"
The man’s belly was like a water bucket, his facial features were all squished together, and his eyes were narrowed into a single line.
This was none other than Ye Tian.
Hmph!
Zhao Ziqi crossed her arms, declaring emotionally, "I ran into some blind fool who dared to defy my orders again and again."
Normally, she despised this pig-headed Ye Tian, but right now, Zhao Ziqi felt even more resentment toward Shen Daoxing for his disrespect.
After all, wherever she went, she was a beauty who was the center of attention, chased and adored by all.
She had always enjoyed special privileges, but in front of Shen Daoxing, she received no preferential treatment whatsoever.
Ye Tian had long been infatuated with the beauty before him. Seeing his chance, he sneered, "Brat, get your ass over here and kneel down and apologize."
His words carried a commanding tone, as if he were scolding a servant.
Shen Daoxing said, "Say that again?"
Zhao Ziqi took a step forward, a cold smirk playing on her lips. "My Zhao Family is one of the great Noble Families of the Martial Kingdom. Did you not even bother to ask around? Killing you would be no different from crushing an ant."
"Now! Immediately! Kneel and apologize to me!"
Shen Daoxing asked lightly, "I’ve only just arrived, so I’m not familiar with the situation. Is the Zhao Family really that impressive?"
Is the Zhao Family really that impressive?!
Everyone present was stunned when they heard this.
’Who is this kid? He doesn’t even know about the Zhao Family?’
"What an arrogant brat. Let’s see if your bones are as hard as your words."
Ye Tian let out a low roar and charged toward Shen Daoxing.
Seeing this, the surrounding crowd all shook their heads.
"He’s probably some kid from the countryside who doesn’t understand how things work in the Imperial City."
"What a poor fool."
"Ye Tian is no ordinary character."
...
As a member of the Ye Family’s Direct Lineage, Ye Tian wasn’t exactly top-tier, but he still possessed the cultivation of a Third Layer Profound Platform Martial Artist.
BOOM!
Where the Fist Force passed, the tyrannical gale it created formed a massive wave of Primordial Energy.
A Profound Tier, mid-grade Martial Technique! Overlapping Waves Fist!
The Fist Force surged forward like a tidal wave, one crest following another.
With Ye Tian using his full strength, the attack displayed an even more terrifying might.
Shen Daoxing’s feet remained firmly planted, but the Primordial Energy within his body surged like a mighty river.
Without any attempt to dodge, he threw a punch straight forward.
BANG!
The moment their fists collided, Ye Tian felt an immense force travel up his arm. He was sent flying back several zhang, spitting blood.
Silence!
The surroundings instantly fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
One punch!
With just a single punch, Ye Tian was down on the ground!
This young man’s strength was terrifying!
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.
Clearly, they had all misjudged him.
This black-robed young man was no ordinary person either.
