Free Web NovelChapter 29: Chapter 29: Sword Momentum
Outside Celestial Joy Tower.
A waning moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by a sprinkle of stars.
The two walked side by side in quiet peace.
Shen Daoxing was the first to speak. "I must thank you again for today, Commandery Princess."
Shangguan Yiran waved her hand. "There’s no need to be so formal. You could have handled today’s trouble even if I wasn’t there."
With a Guardian from Senluo Hall stepping forward, not even the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince would have dared to give him trouble.
Shen Daoxing said seriously, "Regardless, I will remember this favor."
Shangguan Yiran let out a soft laugh. This was precisely one of the things she admired about Shen Daoxing.
He valued friendship and loyalty deeply. She was the same, and she admired others like him.
Shangguan Yiran asked, "Do you know why I came to the Imperial City this time?"
’The reason for coming to the Imperial City!?’
Shen Daoxing pointed to himself. "Could it be... for me?"
Shangguan Yiran looked at Shen Daoxing and shook her head. "No."
Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold endless charm.
Shen Daoxing gave a dry laugh, feeling a little awkward.
But he quickly got over it. For a peerless woman like Shangguan Yiran, countless prodigies from outside the Martial Kingdom were vying for her affection.
Seeing Shen Daoxing’s awkward expression, Shangguan Yiran couldn’t help but smile radiantly. "From time to time, Your Majesty summons those who have entered the Martial Arts Ranking. He grants them Elixirs and Martial Techniques, and offers whatever help he can."
Before entering the Martial Arts Ranking, one might be an object of courtship and sponsorship for the Royal Family’s disciples and the Noble Families. But after entering, one would be courted by the emperor of the Martial Kingdom himself.
The difference between the two was night and day.
’The Martial Arts Ranking!’
A fiery passion ignited in Shen Daoxing’s heart.
Only true experts of the same realm could enter the Martial Arts Ranking.
"Being a genius is merely a ticket to enter the Martial Arts Ranking."
Shangguan Yiran said softly, "Many geniuses before you have tried. Like carp leaping over the dragon gate, they ultimately fell short of the Martial Arts Ranking."
Shen Daoxing asked, "Do you think I can enter the Martial Arts Ranking?"
Shangguan Yiran smiled. "I look forward to that day."
The two continued walking forward as the night grew deeper.
Shangguan Yiran paused her steps and said, "Alright, let’s stop here."
Shen Daoxing nodded. "Okay."
"I’ll be leaving the Imperial City tomorrow."
Shangguan Yiran’s red lips parted as she said softly, "Shen Daoxing, I’m truly looking forward to the day we meet again."
Shen Daoxing smiled. "Me too."
With that, Shen Daoxing turned and walked into the distance.
Shangguan Yiran gazed at his departing figure and murmured to herself, "I hope you can give me a pleasant surprise the next time we meet."
Just then, Fu appeared by her side and asked, "Commandery Princess, do you think that highly of him?"
Shangguan Yiran nodded. "Yes. He has changed a lot since coming out of the Mist Forest."
Fu shook his head. "The East Continent has no shortage of geniuses, but very few in the entire continent ever make it onto the Martial Arts Ranking."
He acknowledged Shen Daoxing’s aptitude but didn’t believe he could enter the Martial Arts Ranking.
How many geniuses had fallen on their path to greatness?
’Especially someone like Shen Daoxing, who is so loyal and straightforward?’
Shangguan Yiran smiled. "You don’t understand. He has a rare and valuable quality about him."
Fu’s lips parted. He asked in surprise, "Commandery Princess, could it be that you’ve really..."
’Could Shangguan Yiran have actually fallen for that Shen Daoxing!?’
Shangguan Yiran didn’t answer, instead striding into the distance.
Fu sighed softly. ’I hope that little fellow knows his place and doesn’t get any improper ideas. Otherwise, his life will be tragic, and he might even lose it...’
Shangguan Yiran not only possessed talent that could stun the world, but her background was so terrifyingly formidable that even he found it frightening.
Although Shen Daoxing was rumored to have the Venerable Bloodline, Fu’s investigation revealed that over the past few centuries in the East Continent, other geniuses with the Venerable Bloodline had appeared. They were all dazzlingly talented at first, but their ultimate fate was to fall.
There were even rumors that this Venerable Bloodline was nothing more than a gimmick used to fool people.
...
Shen Daoxing returned to Celestial Joy Tower, where only He Ku was left standing at the entrance.
When he saw Shen Daoxing, his eyes lit up. "Shen, you’re back."
Shen Daoxing asked, puzzled, "Where’s the Ninth Princess? Didn’t I ask her to wait for me?"
Gu Yawei had not only given him the Bronze Pearl but had also spoken up for him. He had to thank her in person, no matter what.
Although the Bronze Pearl was far inferior to a Golden Pearl, it was all she had.
He Ku scratched his head. "After you left, the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince gave the Ninth Princess another tongue-lashing. They ordered her to return to the palace immediately. She’s really pitiful. I saw her secretly wiping away tears as she left..."
Shen Daoxing’s brow furrowed slightly.
’I must remember the kindness she showed me today by giving me the Bronze Pearl. And I must repay Gu Yawei a hundred, a thousand times over.’
’If it weren’t for me, why would she have suffered such humiliation today?’
Shen Daoxing took a deep breath. "Let’s go. We’re heading back."
...
Back at Wang Hu’s home, Shen Daoxing sat cross-legged and entered the Venerable Domain.
Shen Daoxing looked up and asked, "I’ve already comprehended the Gale Sword Intent and the Torrential Rain Sword Intent. Why can’t I seem to comprehend the Sword Momentum you mentioned?"
The Blood Dragon had once told him that in the path of the Sword Dao, what comes after Sword Intent is Sword Momentum.
Only by reaching the stage of Sword Momentum could one’s Sword Dao become truly intimidating.
It was an entirely different realm!
The Blood Dragon said flatly, "It means you haven’t comprehended enough types of Sword Intent."
Shen Daoxing asked, puzzled, "Not enough?"
The Blood Dragon replied, "That’s right. Right now, you are only cultivating a single Profound Tier technique, the Four Symbols Sword Technique. You’ve only comprehended two of its four Sword Intents. How many Sword Techniques do you think exist in this world? How many are there above the Profound Tier?"
"And you expect to have an epiphany and comprehend Sword Momentum after grasping just two Sword Intents?"
Shen Daoxing asked, "Then how many types of Sword Intent do I need to comprehend before I can have an epiphany about Sword Momentum?"
"I don’t know the specifics, but the more Sword Intents you comprehend, the stronger your future Sword Momentum will be."
The Blood Dragon paused. "However, at the same time, the more Sword Intents you comprehend, the more difficult it will be to grasp Sword Momentum."
’The more Sword Intents I comprehend, the stronger my Sword Momentum will be, but also the harder it will be to grasp?’
Shen Daoxing mulled over this sentence, then said, "It seems I need to comprehend more Sword Intents."
The Blood Dragon said, "Correct. But for now, the most urgent matter is to raise your own cultivation level."
Shen Daoxing nodded. In Baiyun City, there were basically no young people who had reached the Profound Platform realm, but in the Imperial City, they were a dime a dozen.
Thinking of this, Shen Daoxing began to circulate the Annihilation of Ten Thousand Swords Technique. A massive amount of Primordial Energy surged madly toward him, finally pouring into his Seven-Colored Profound Platform.
BOOM!
His one hundred and eight acupoints began to recklessly absorb the Primordial Energy, forming a terrifying vortex.
’As expected of the Venerable Bloodline.’
Even though the Blood Dragon had watched Shen Daoxing cultivate many times, it couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at this moment. ’To be able to awaken one hundred and eight acupoints for cultivation... it’s truly terrifying.’
