Free Web NovelChapter 5: Chapter 5: The Life-and-Death Pact
"Fierce Bull Rushing into the Wild!"
Shen Shi’s fist shimmered with a dark light, like the thick horn of a fierce bull. It carried a boundless sharpness and an aura of energy, making the surrounding air WHOOSH.
This was the Shen Family’s high-grade Yellow Tier Bullish Fist Technique.
The Mighty Divine Fist, on the other hand, was a high-grade Profound Tier technique, far surpassing the Bullish Fist Technique.
Shen Daoxing shifted his stance, stepping forward with his left foot. He clenched his fists, which were now wreathed in a layer of brilliant, dark light that would make anyone’s heart freeze with fear.
The two fists collided, unleashing a tremendous noise.
BANG!
Shen Shi’s entire body was sent flying like a kite before crashing to the ground, where he lay howling in agony.
All the Shen Family experts stared in astonishment at the scene before them, frozen in place.
"Shen Shi was actually no match for Shen Daoxing?"
"But he started cultivating a full year before Shen Daoxing!"
"How is this possible!?"
...
Everyone rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Lying wretchedly on the ground, Shen Shi roared at the other Shen Family experts, "Shen Daoxing is rebelling! He’s rebelling! What are you all just standing there for?"
The experts present were from two factions: one loyal to the old ancestor, the other to the previous Patriarch.
The experts from the former Patriarch’s faction had been severely suppressed, so they now stood their ground, a hint of hesitation in their eyes.
But a cold light flickered in the eyes of the experts from the old ancestor’s faction.
Seeing this, Shen Yuerou quickly cried out, "Daoxing, you have to get out of here!"
Shen Daoxing patted Shen Yuerou’s hand. "Don’t be afraid. They’re nothing but a bunch of weaklings!"
A bunch of weaklings!
Hearing this, the experts from the old ancestor’s faction all showed looks of anger.
Someone said, "Shen Daoxing, don’t get too arrogant."
"Cut the crap."
Shen Daoxing said with a trace of disdain, "If any of you want to kill me, then come and try!"
The moment Shen Daoxing’s words fell, the courtyard erupted into an uproar.
Then, the entire estate became utterly silent.
Everyone felt as if Shen Daoxing had become a different person, so arrogant and domineering.
Most of the experts present were in the Acupoint Opening Realm. There were even some at the Eighth or Ninth Layer. These people were the true pillars of the Shen Family. Against so many experts, even a master at the Profound Platform Realm might not be guaranteed victory.
Seeing this, a glimmer of light appeared in the eyes of the experts from the former Patriarch’s faction.
Killing Hongyu, felling Shen Shi with a single punch, and provoking so many experts—this was not something an ordinary person could do.
"Third Brother! Should we help Shen Daoxing? He’s the Patriarch’s..." an expert from the Patriarch’s faction whispered.
"Be patient!"
The white-haired old man beside him waved his hand. He was Shen Bai, one of the few experts from the former Patriarch’s faction who had survived the purge.
"Come on, then!"
Shen Daoxing continued to scan the crowd, shouting coldly.
For a moment, the experts from the old ancestor’s faction were so intimidated by his presence that not a single one dared to make a move.
"The Shen Family has always forbidden internal conflict."
Just then, a cold voice drifted over from a distance. "If you’re really so capable, then join the competition for the White Cloud Order. We can schedule a death match. Do you dare?"
The crowd followed the sound and saw that the newcomer was none other than the Shen Family’s current Young Master, Shen Shaotian.
"Young Master!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, all the Shen Family experts spoke with respect.
"Shaotian!"
Shen Shi looked as if he had just seen his savior.
"A death match? Fine!"
Shen Daoxing said flatly, "I accept this death match."
The courtyard exploded into an uproar once more!
After all, no one had expected Shen Daoxing to actually dare to accept the challenge.
’Shen Daoxing knew that Shen Shaotian wanted to inflict a heavy blow on him during the competition. Then, he would have both him and the Patriarch Shen Changqing executed, thus cementing his own status as the genius with the Venerable Bloodline.’
"Daoxing..."
Shen Yuerou tugged on Shen Daoxing’s arm, her face filled with worry.
Just then, an elder asked curiously, "Young Master, your Three Tides Heart Method... it seems a little different?"
Everyone turned to look.
The Three Tides Heart Method was a low-grade Profound Tier technique, considered the Shen Family’s foundational Heart Method.
Shen Shaotian lifted his head and said calmly, "What I am cultivating is the mid-grade Profound Tier Nine Tides Heart Method. It allows me to open and cultivate twenty-four acupoints."
At that, all the experts present gasped in shock.
The number of acupoints one could open determined a Martial Artist’s future. The more one opened, the harder it became to open the next.
Cultivating with twelve acupoints was already fast. Wouldn’t cultivating with twenty-four be twice as fast?
The Shen Family experts were all thrilled.
If Shen Shaotian participated in the competition for the White Cloud Order, he would surely shake the whole of Baiyun City.
Seeing this, a Shen Family elder wept with joy. "As expected of our Shen Family’s Young Master! The Shen Family is truly about to rise..."
Those in the Shen Family who had been wavering between the two now found their resolve completely solidified.
’But Shen Daoxing was unconcerned. He knew that the Annihilation of Ten Thousand Swords Technique he cultivated allowed him to open one hundred and eight acupoints.’
’It was a true Invincible Technique!’
’If word of it got out, it would unleash a storm of blood across the entire Martial Kingdom.’
Shen Shaotian looked at Shen Daoxing, a mocking sneer playing on his lips.
’Shen Daoxing is a dead man!’
This was the most honest thought in everyone’s mind at that moment!
Shen Shi, in particular, stared coldly at Shen Daoxing, like a starving wolf.
Shen Daoxing patted Shen Yuerou’s hand and asked, "There’s one last thing I want to ask. What crime did the Patriarch commit to be sent to the mines?"
Shen Yuerou’s heart tightened.
Her grandfather, Shen Changqing, the former Patriarch of the Shen Family, was still toiling away as a mine slave.
Shen Shaotian said indifferently, "As Patriarch, Shen Changqing violated family rules and was punished by the old ancestor. That’s why he was banished to the mines. He will return to the family on the day of the White Cloud Order competition. You can see him then."
"Good."
Hearing this, Shen Daoxing took Shen Yuerou’s hand and prepared to leave.
Someone growled, "You killed Hongyu. Are you just going to leave like that?"
Shen Daoxing said, "Let the old ancestor come and question me himself."
At this, Shen Shaotian spoke up. "Since Shen Daoxing is participating in the White Cloud Order competition, he can be considered to be fighting for the glory of our Shen Family. All other matters can naturally be settled after the competition is over."
Hearing Shen Shaotian speak, the surrounding experts said no more.
Shen Shi walked over at this moment and whispered, "Shaotian, why did you reveal the matter of the Nine Tides Heart Method?"
The Nine Tides Heart Method was something the old matriarch had taught Shen Shaotian in private. It was a Heart Method that only the Patriarch could cultivate and was not something to be spoken of openly.
Shen Shaotian said domineeringly, "After fusing with the Venerable Bloodline and absorbing the residual essence, my cultivation has already reached the first layer of the Profound Platform Realm. It doesn’t matter whether I say it or not."
"The first layer of the Profound Platform Realm!?"
Shen Shi was inwardly stunned. The number of experts in the Profound Platform Realm in the entire Shen Family could be counted on one hand; there were only a few masters from the older generation.
Yet Shen Shaotian had actually reached the Profound Platform Realm. It was no exaggeration to say he was strong enough to sweep through the entire younger generation of Baiyun City.
Shen Shi asked, confused, "Your strength is far above Shen Daoxing’s. Why don’t you just..."
Shen Shaotian sneered and shook his head. "You don’t understand. I must defeat and kill him during the White Cloud Order competition. Only then will no one ever again believe that he is the genius born with the Venerable Bloodline..."
Realization dawned on Shen Shi, and he said no more.
Just then, a Shen Family servant ran over in a panic. "Young Master, an expert from Celestial City Academy has arrived! They heard that the Young Master possesses the Venerable Bloodline and are insisting on seeing you."
Celestial City Academy!?
All the Shen Family experts were shaken. This was the foremost of the Martial Kingdom’s four great academies! It had been decades since they had come to Baiyun City to recruit students, yet this time they had sent an expert to the Shen Family personally.
Their purpose in coming was surely because of the world’s blessing!
A look of delight appeared in Shen Shaotian’s eyes. "I’ll go right now."
With that, he hurried toward the Shen Family’s main hall.
The spirits of the experts from the old ancestor’s faction soared, and their faces flushed with excitement.
The experts from the former Patriarch’s faction, whose hearts had just been surging with excitement, now lowered their heads, a trace of despair in their hearts.
"Shen Shaotian’s rise to power is unstoppable now."
Shen Bai sighed, looking up at the sky, and said nothing more.
Soon, numerous experts arrived in Baiyun City, but they all headed straight for the Shen Family estate, seeking out Shen Shaotian.
This made the experts from the other major families restless, especially those who were on bad terms with the Shen Family.
For a time, Baiyun City was in turmoil, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface.
Everyone knew that the Shen Family was about to rise, and the heavens over Baiyun City were about to change.
