Chapter 309 - 306: To Overwhelm
"Sigh... It can’t be helped. Since I’ve enjoyed the family’s benefits, I naturally have to step up when the family is in trouble."
After briefly explaining the situation,
Shen Tingchu said with a long sigh.
As the most outstanding young genius of his branch of the family, he had also enjoyed the most benefits.
So now, it was naturally his turn to step up.
"My condolences."
Shen Changchuan thought for a good while,
before coming up with those two words of comfort.
"Haha, it’s not the worst-case scenario, actually."
"Maybe that Zhou Lingyun is just all flash and no substance?"
"Besides, even if I’m not his match, I’ve heard he only recently ascended to the Soul Emergence Realm. With my strength at the Soul Emergence Second Layer, I might not lose to him by too much!"
Shen Tingchu said with a laugh.
Although he wasn’t very confident about the battle in two days,
he hadn’t reached the point of despair either.
Granted, Zhou Lingyun was most likely standing up for his aunt, which was why he had challenged the entire younger generation of the Shen Family. He had to be extremely confident in his own strength.
Furthermore, he came from a major clan in the Central State Immortal Cultivation World, so his strength was bound to far exceed that of Cultivators at the same level from around here.
But the gap in their age and Realm was plain to see.
Shen Tingchu didn’t think he was completely without a fighting chance.
’To have come this far before the age of fifty... who wouldn’t be considered a genius?’
"That’s true. As they say, pride comes before a fall. Maybe he’ll get careless and you’ll defeat him, Brother Tingchu."
"And from that, you will bring glory to our Shen Family’s name!"
Shen Changchuan said with a smile.
"Ha, then I’ll count on your good words."
"But speaking of which, I hear that guy is only around twenty, not much different from you, Changchuan."
"But in my opinion, compared to you, Changchuan, that kid doesn’t even come close!"
"Ah, you think too highly of me, Brother Tingchu. I was just lucky enough to have a few opportunities back in the Qi Introduction Realm, which is the only reason I could advance to the Soul Emergence Realm so quickly. I can’t compare to a prodigy from an Immortal Cultivation Clan in the Central State."
"You’re being far too modest, Changchuan!"
"Hmph, that kid only got this far because of his background. He’s had abundant Cultivation Resources and profound legacies since he was young."
"Compared to you, Changchuan, what is he? If you two switched places, I bet he’d struggle to even reach the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer!"
Shen Tingchu said with a cold sneer.
Of course, his sneer wasn’t directed at Shen Changchuan, but at that Zhou Lingyun.
He was naturally annoyed at having suddenly been saddled with this trouble simply because of the man’s existence.
"There are no ’what ifs’ or ’if onlys’ in this world. Being born into a Central State clan is a skill in itself."
Shen Changchuan said with a small smile.
He didn’t take the matter to heart.
He was long past the age of cursing the heavens for not being born into a rich and powerful family.
Complaining couldn’t change reality.
’Instead of wasting time blaming heaven and earth, it’s better to focus on Cultivation and change my own circumstances.’
After some simple small talk,
Shen Changchuan felt that the distance between them had closed a little.
"Changchuan, I heard you defeated the young apprentice of another of the Yuqing Immortal Sect’s Seven Immortal Sect Sons. How about a sparring match?"
Shen Tingchu issued a challenge to Shen Changchuan.
He was extremely curious about Shen Changchuan.
The young man had been able to fight above his level and kill someone in the Soul Emergence Realm while still in the Qi Introduction Realm. Moreover, he had also defeated a peerless genius from another Sect who was said to be on par with Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators.
It could be said,
in his entire life, Shen Tingchu had never seen a genius who could be called a Demon!
And the more rumors he heard, the more curious he became.
But back then, Shen Changchuan was only in the Qi Introduction Realm. If he had challenged him, it would have been seen as a senior bullying a junior.
Now that Shen Changchuan had advanced to Soul Emergence,
and happened to be right here,
’This is the perfect opportunity to have an exchange and satisfy my curiosity!’
He wanted to see for himself just how big the gap was between him and a peerless genius renowned throughout the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
"Alright."
After a moment of thought,
Shen Changchuan nodded and agreed.
’Speaking of which, ever since I advanced to the Soul Emergence Realm, I’ve only fought that one match against Wu Zhen’s young apprentice.’
’But, how should I put it...’
’His opponent was also a peerless prodigy who possessed a Spirit Body and had condensed a Divine Seed.’
’His "specs" were on the same level as my own.’
Because of this,
Shen Changchuan didn’t have a clear understanding of where his own strength stood within the Soul Emergence Realm.
A match against Shen Tingchu now would be good practice,
and would allow him to gain a deeper understanding of his current level of strength.
"Good, let’s go! We’ll fight outside!"
A delighted look appeared on Shen Tingchu’s face as he motioned for Shen Changchuan to follow him outside to fight.
The two of them rode on streams of light,
and half an hour later, they arrived at a desolate mountain valley two hundred li from Tian Nan City.
"Here I come!"
The two figures hovered in the sky above the desolate mountain. After cupping their fists in salute and agreeing to begin,
Shen Tingchu wasted no more words.
With that warning, he immediately launched his attack.
With a point of his finger,
a brilliant, crystalline, blood-red longsword suddenly rose from within his Dantian.
The longsword rose into the air and rapidly expanded. In the next instant, it condensed a sharp blade of light several zhang long, which came whistling down toward Shen Changchuan’s head!
A piercing sonic boom echoed above the valley, pressing down across the sky.
It was just like a missile passing through.
Everywhere it passed, the air itself seemed to be sliced open, leaving a visible white channel in its wake!
The entire desolate mountain range roared and trembled in response!
The display of power was terrifying!
If any Qi Introduction Realm Cultivators were present,
the thunderous roar of the Sword Intent sweeping through the sky alone would have likely been enough to shatter their courage!
"Watch out!"
Shen Tingchu shouted out a reminder.
This Magic Sword was his Lifebound Longsword. He had forged it from an embryo of Top Grade Purple Gold Ore and had been nurturing it with blood sacrifices and his Dantian Magical Power ever since he was in the Qi Introduction Realm.
Since advancing to the Soul Emergence Realm, Shen Tingchu had spent considerable effort to acquire all sorts of precious Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to smelt into it, finally forging it into this Lifebound Artifact.
A Lifebound Artifact like this not only had power comparable to a Treasure Artifact,
but it could also grow stronger along with his Cultivation Realm all the way to the Soul Emergence Peak!
It was also one of Shen Tingchu’s strongest offensive methods!
’He could fight above his level and kill someone in the Soul Emergence Realm while he was still in the Qi Introduction Realm... so after advancing to Soul Emergence, his strength must have undergone another transformation!’
’If I don’t go all out, it’ll be embarrassing if he beats me.’
’But... he should be able to take this attack, right?’
As the overwhelming, chillingly sharp blade descended,
Shen Tingchu was filled with confidence in his sword strike,
and numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.
But at the same time, he suddenly remembered that Shen Changchuan had apparently just advanced to Soul Emergence not long ago.
’Did I put too much power into this strike?’
’It’ll be trouble if I injure him.’
’Maybe I should hold back a little?’