Chapter 282: Realm of the Ultimate Way
He Qian seemed to know that Shen Daoxing had just met with He Yu. "Young Master Yang," she asked, concerned, "what did my eldest brother just say to you?"
Shen Daoxing didn’t think it was a big deal and saw no need to tell He Qian. He shook his head. "It was nothing."
But He Qian still looked uneasy. "Young Master Yang, my eldest brother has always been prejudiced against outsiders. Whatever he said to you, please don’t take it to heart."
"Of course I won’t."
Shen Daoxing smiled faintly and shook his head. He truly wasn’t bothered by the Eldest Prince, He Yu. ’My only concern is that if I delay any longer, those people from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land will come after me.’
He Qian paused, then suddenly turned to look at a spot behind her and called out faintly, "Wei Xiong!"
From an inconspicuous, shadowy corner, a burly man slowly emerged.
The man was tall with sharp eyes, his bulging muscles rippling with explosive power. A single glance revealed he was a master of extraordinary skill.
He Qian explained, "My eldest brother is very hostile and prejudiced toward outsiders. I’m afraid he might try something against you. Wei Xiong is my Hidden Guard, and I’m ordering him to stay with you at all times for your protection."
’Protection?’
Shen Daoxing turned to look at Wei Xiong, studying him for a moment. He then raised his clasped hands in a respectful salute to the princess of Tianze. "I thank you for your kind intentions, Princess, but I do not require any protection."
He had far too many secrets; he couldn’t have someone following him around at all hours.
But He Qian shook her head, her tone firm. "No. My eldest brother is capable of anything. Wei Xiong must stay and protect you."
Shen Daoxing sighed and shook his head in resignation. "Princess, if I may ask, how does your Hidden Guard’s strength compare to Yang Ye of the Great Sui?"
He Qian paused. "He is not his equal."
"And what about compared to Sikao Dao of Daqi?" Shen Daoxing pressed.
Again, He Qian paused before shaking her head. "He is not his equal either."
Shen Daoxing smiled faintly. "Then, Princess, do you still believe I require his protection?"
He Qian immediately fell silent.
Shen Daoxing raised his clasped hands in another salute, then turned and walked away.
Shen Daoxing had far too many secrets to be constantly followed. As for the Eldest Prince, He Yu, if he wanted to cause trouble, he was welcome to try. Just as Elder Blood Dragon had said, his cultivation had advanced too rapidly. The power inside him needed to be properly integrated, and the fastest way to do that was through constant combat.
Watching Shen Daoxing’s departing figure, He Qian’s face was still etched with worry.
The Hidden Guard Wei Xiong behind her looked displeased. "Your Highness, why do you worry about a person like that? As a Hidden Guard, I was personally assigned by Your Majesty to protect you and you alone. Asking me to protect him already goes against the royal decree, and the man isn’t even grateful. He is the height of arrogance."
"No! You truly don’t need to follow him."
But He Qian suddenly shook her head. "Because both of them, Yang Ye and Sikao Dao, died by his hand."
’Yang Ye and Sikao Dao both died by his hand?’
The Hidden Guard, Wei Xiong, was stunned speechless. "He’s that strong?"
But He Qian still looked uneasy. "No, my eldest brother is capable of anything. I have to go with him."
With that, her figure flickered and vanished as she rushed after Shen Daoxing.
"Your Highness!"
The Hidden Guard, Wei Xiong, froze for a second before hastily giving chase.
’When did the princess ever care so much about someone?’ Wei Xiong wondered, puzzled.
...
"Young Master Yang, the Qinyuan Festival isn’t for another couple of days. We still have some time. Why don’t you let me show you around and give you a taste of Tianze’s sights?" He Qian said, catching up to Shen Daoxing with a radiant smile.
Seeing her sincerity, Shen Daoxing nodded. After all, his cultivation had hit a bottleneck, and simply returning to his rooms to meditate would be of no use.
He Qian immediately broke into a charming smile and led the way for Shen Daoxing, heading out of the imperial palace.
He Qian didn’t say where they were going. She seemed to be wandering aimlessly through the city of Tianze with Shen Daoxing, having deliberately dismissed the palace maids who attended her.
The entire city of Tianze was currently adorned with lanterns and streamers. People bustled about, preparing for the Qinyuan Festival with a joyous air.
The appearance of Shen Daoxing and He Qian naturally drew a great deal of attention.
After all, Princess He Qian of Tianze had never before been seen out alone with a man—let alone a complete stranger from outside the kingdom.
This naturally stirred up considerable jealousy and hostility, and the nobles of Tianze were quick to stir.
This was exactly what Shen Daoxing had hoped for. ’This body is in desperate need of a good workout.’
However, the confrontation he had anticipated never came, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
What Shen Daoxing didn’t know was that all along their route, whenever a displeased noble of Tianze looked ready to cause trouble, He Qian’s Hidden Guard, Wei Xiong, would appear before them in the very next moment. Afterward, none of them dared to make a move.
Before they knew it, Shen Daoxing and He Qian had arrived at a training field.
The field was vast. Soldiers in silver-white armor stood along the perimeter, forming a large circle.
In the center of the training field, He Yong held a great saber, his body glowing with a brilliant golden light. With a loud roar, he brought the saber slashing down.
Instantly, a golden Sword Gang several dozen feet long shot out, splitting the ground of the training field in two and carving a deep trench down the middle.
It was a simple slash, yet it was filled with immense power. The seemingly carefree Third Prince of Tianze was already a master at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
Opposite He Yong stood a burly, middle-aged man in armor. He stood ramrod straight, arms crossed over his chest.
"Rise!"
He roared, and in the next instant, a dazzling brown light erupted as a massive mountain materialized before him.
He Yong’s enormous Sword Gang flew toward it.
CLANG!
A sharp, metallic crash rang out.
The burly man in armor didn’t move an inch. With a loud BANG, the massive Sword Gang shattered upon impact.
Shen Daoxing could clearly sense the ultimate Earth Attribute power emanating from the burly man. ’This man is a Spirit Transformation cultivator in the Realm of the Ultimate Way!’
"Heh heh heh, Third Prince, that slash of yours is still a little lacking."
A faint smile touched the burly man’s rugged face.
But his words had barely faded when another, resonant voice called out:
"Then how about this spear of mine?"
In the next instant, a sharp longspear plunged from the sky like a falling star.
BOOM!
A brilliant cyan light erupted.
CRACK!
A sharp crack echoed.
The massive mountain instantly shattered.
Afterward, a middle-aged man in cyan battle armor slowly descended.
With a single glance, Shen Daoxing sensed the ultimate Wood Attribute Spiritual Power emanating from him. ’This man is also a Spirit Transformation cultivator in the Realm of the Ultimate Way.’