Chapter 257 - 254: Contention
"Uh, and who might this be..."
Seeing Shen Changchuan speak, the Song Family Ancestor finally turned his attention to him.
Because Shen Changchuan had come with Shen Tingchu, the Song Family Ancestor’s first impression was that he was the Shen Family junior who had come to use the Spirit Realm quota.
Normally, the Song Family Ancestor would have certainly exchanged a few words with him to curry favor with this talented junior of the Shen Family.
But because the prodigy from the Nanyang Sect had interfered and snatched the quota, the Song Family Ancestor was agonizing over how to persuade Shen Tingchu. He had no mental energy to spare for getting on Shen Changchuan’s good side.
Besides, the quota had been stolen.
After they had gone back on their word, the other party was bound to be extremely displeased.
It was no longer worth the effort to get on their good side.
Thus, the Song Family Ancestor had paid Shen Changchuan no mind.
He hadn’t even been interested enough to ask for his name.
"Young man, you may not know this, but the one who came for the quota is Mo Lingfeng, the senior-most Outer Disciple of the Nanyang Sect. That man is no ordinary Qi Introduction Realm Cultivator. Years ago, he publicly challenged a Soul Emergence Realm Cultivator and fought them to a draw."
Perhaps dismissing him as a mere Qi Introduction Realm cultivator, Elder Song didn’t wait for a reply and spoke directly.
"Young friend, you may be a prodigy peerless among your generation, but that man is a monster the likes of which this domain hasn’t seen in a hundred years. What’s more, he comes from the great Nanyang Sect. There’s no need to clash with him..."
Elder Song’s words seemed tactful on the surface,
but everyone present understood their true meaning.
He was essentially saying: if you can’t win, don’t go looking for humiliation.
"Thank you for your concern, Elder Song. This junior has his own plans. Please, just take me there."
"You... How can you be so incapable of telling what’s good for you?!"
Elder Song’s expression changed, his face turning livid.
In his eyes, this young man from the Shen Family was being foolishly ignorant, like a frog in a well, simply seeking his own death!
"Hmph!"
Just then,
a cold snort came from Shen Tingchu, who was standing to the side.
"That Mo Lingfeng you’re so determined to cozy up to might be impressive, but my Shen Family junior is no slouch either!"
"His name is Shen Changchuan! He has been accepted into the Dragon Cloud Sect and is an Outer Disciple under Master Wandering Dragon, one of the Yuqing Seven Sons!"
"Mo Lingfeng may be the number one Outer Disciple of the Nanyang Sect, but is our Shen Changchuan not the number one Outer Disciple of the Dragon Cloud Sect?"
Shen Tingchu’s expression grew even more displeased.
And at this moment,
upon hearing Shen Changchuan’s name,
the Song Family Ancestor’s face changed dramatically.
He couldn’t help but cry out in shock:
"Could it be... the Shen Changchuan who, one year ago, defied a higher Realm to kill a Soul Emergence cultivator while only at the Qi Introduction Realm, shaking the entire Tian Nan Domain?!"
...
"Changchuan, I was inconsiderate in this matter. I never expected such an accident to happen."
"But... isn’t this too risky? How about we just forget it? I can find some other opportunities for you to reach Soul Emergence to compensate you?"
「Night.」
Shen Changchuan’s residence.
Shen Tingchu declined the Song Family’s banquet invitation and went to Shen Changchuan’s residence. Upon seeing him, Shen Tingchu, who had been worried all day, couldn’t resist trying to persuade him.
Mo Lingfeng!
’He was someone who, years ago, was already capable of fighting a Soul Emergence Realm True Cultivator to a standstill with only a Qi Introduction Realm Cultivation!’
’The uproar back then...’
’Even I, here in the Tian Nan Domain, had heard of it.’
’This was a peerless monster, the likes of which the entire domain sees only once a century!’
’How could he be a match for such a powerful foe?’
’Of course,’
’Shen Tingchu knew Shen Changchuan’s strength was considerable.’
’A year ago, he had also killed an injured Soul Emergence Realm Demon Cultivator.’
’He too had fought above his Realm, an event that shook the Tian Nan Domain.’
’But Shen Tingchu had long since heard the specific details of that battle.’
’In his view,’
’Shen Changchuan’s ability to kill Xu Ziming came down entirely to luck!’
’If it weren’t for the fact that Xu Ziming was already injured and had diverted a large portion of his power to seize Qi and Blood and Vitality from his surroundings, causing his own strength to plummet... And if Shen Changchuan hadn’t possessed a Treasure Artifact, using it to take advantage of his opponent’s carelessness and instability, suddenly erupting with its full power to grievously wound Xu Ziming before he could even use his many techniques, leaving him powerless to resist...’
’...then there’s no way Shen Changchuan could have defied a higher Realm and killed a Soul Emergence cultivator.’
’It would have been absolutely impossible!’
’In fact, that was the case.’
’With Shen Changchuan’s Cultivation at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Realm, he could activate the Treasure Artifact’s power three times at most before reaching his limit!’
’If he were facing a normal Soul Emergence Realm True Cultivator,’
’they would only need to dodge three times at most,’
’and all your Magical Power would be completely exhausted,’
’leaving you as meat on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered!’
That’s why,
in Shen Tingchu’s opinion,
Shen Changchuan was still a long way from being a True Cultivator who could genuinely defy a higher Realm and defeat someone at Soul Emergence.
In contrast,
that Mo Lingfeng from the Nanyang Sect had fought a Soul Emergence Realm expert to a draw head-on!
’How can he possibly win?’
"Changchuan, you must not fight someone just because your pride is wounded..."
Shen Tingchu urged earnestly.
Besides, in his view,
it wasn’t really necessary.
An opportunity that could help one advance to the Soul Emergence Realm was incomparably precious to a Qi Introduction Realm Loose Cultivator or those from small and medium-sized factions.
But to him, a Soul Emergence Realm cultivator backed by the Tian Nan Shen Clan, it was just... so-so.
If he spent some time looking, he could still find other such opportunities.
And since Shen Changchuan was in the Dragon Cloud Sect, his channels for obtaining similar items would only be greater!
There was no need to clash with the prodigy of the Nanyang Sect over this.
"Clan Uncle, this isn’t a matter of pride, nor am I being petty because I can’t stand to see a benefit slip away. It’s because this Dream Traveling Immortal is of great use to my Cultivation."
Shen Changchuan shook his head, a little exasperated.
He naturally understood Shen Tingchu’s worries.
It was just that this matter wasn’t as simple as advancing to Soul Emergence; it was about condensing his Spirit Body.
He couldn’t just give it up so easily.
Besides,
’Why does everyone think I can’t beat him?’
’A year ago, it would indeed have been difficult for me to defeat him.’
’But now,’
’after a year of arduous Cultivation,’
’I’ve compensated for the past flaws in my Cultivation, mastered more Magic, and even achieved an Entry Level understanding of my Sword Array Divine Techniques... my progress has been enormous!’
’With the help of my Treasure Artifact, I’m not necessarily without a fighting chance.’
’Win or lose,’
’that will be decided after we fight.’
"Besides, although the Nanyang Sect, like the Dragon Cloud Sect, is a subordinate Sect under the Yuqing Immortal Sect... these kinds of Sects are actually competitors."
"If one day I wish to use the Dragon Cloud Sect as a stepping stone to reach the Yuqing Immortal Sect, then in the future, they will inevitably become one of my rivals competing against me in the arena..."
"For now, let’s just say I’m getting a preview of the methods of these future opponents."
Shen Changchuan said.
Hearing this,
Shen Tingchu opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing more.