Chapter 18

Shen Lang, of course, could not hear the discussions of Sima Yan and the others.

However, he did know a little about the "Thunder Control Divine Technique." It was indeed from the Xuantie-level sect, Xuandao Sect, and was the most powerful cultivation method of the Xuandao Sect.

Speaking of which, the memory of the War Emperor had a deep connection with the Xuandao Sect. The founder of the Xuandao Sect had once received guidance from the War Emperor, and the Thunder Control Divine Technique was something the War Emperor had personally studied with the founder of the Xuandao Sect.

However, these matters were not to be spoken of to outsiders.

Moreover, even if he did say it, no one would believe him...

The forces in this world were divided into Qingmu-level, Xuantie-level, Lingtong-level, and so on, forming a pyramid-like hierarchy. The family Shen Lang belonged to, along with other families like the Chu and Xiao families, were known as the "Four Major Families" of Tianfeng City. In reality, these families had not even reached the Qingmu-level and were merely minor families.

The Tianfeng Mansion, or the City Lord's Mansion, of Tianfeng City was the Qingmu-level force, and these four families survived by relying on the City Lord's Mansion.

As for why a mere Qingmu-level force could control such a large city as Tianfeng City, many people were tight-lipped about it. It was said that the City Lord of Tianfeng City, Ye Xiao, came from the imperial protection sect, Huanglong Sect, of the Zichu Kingdom, and had connections there, which is why he had the opportunity to control Tianfeng City.

Above the Qingmu-level forces were the Xuantie-level forces. The reason Sima Yan and the others were shocked was not just because the Xuandao Sect was a Xuantie-level force, but because the Xuandao Sect was actually one of the Lingtong-level forces that was on par with the Huanglong Sect several decades ago!

However, it was said that the Xuandao Sect was squeezed out by other major Lingtong-level sects, and after many events, it was demoted to the Xuantie-level.

But even a worm that is stepped on will not die easily. Even if the Xuandao Sect had encountered some changes and become a Xuantie-level force, its foundation from the Lingtong-level era still remained.

The strongest cultivation method within the sect, the "Thunder Control Divine Technique," was never passed on to outsiders, and only elite disciples could learn it.

However, Shen Lang, with his Ninth Heaven of Force Martial Realm cultivation, used the Thunder Control Divine Technique to deliver a punch that shattered the layers of defense put up by Shen Jianfeng like paper, causing them to collapse instantly. This did not seem like the work of someone who had just started learning the lightning-based cultivation method.

It looked more like he had cultivated the Thunder Control Divine Technique to a very high level...

Although the Tayan Academy had a lofty status due to its affiliation with the Jialan Academy in the capital, it was, in essence, just a Qingmu-level force, not much stronger than the City Lord's Mansion.

However, the fact that Shen Lang had a connection with the Xuandao Sect, which was once a Lingtong-level force, gave it a different meaning when Sima Yan and the others found out...

"If he really has a connection with the Xuandao Sect, then if Shen Jianfeng's father refuses to acknowledge the spirit field that Shen Jianfeng promised... I might have to move my long-idle body and make him hand over the spirit field..." Sima Yan said with a bitter smile.

The other two did not speak but laughed at the same time.

In their gaze, Shen Lang had already passed through the crowd and was heading towards the cafeteria.

Shen Lang did not know what had happened, but he did not care much about it either.

In fact, among the cultivation methods he knew, there were many that were stronger than the "Thunder Control Divine Technique," but those methods had their own secrets, and some had unclear origins. The forces behind them were extremely powerful, and some could even shake the entire Starry Continent with a single move. It was better not to use them to avoid trouble.

In comparison, the Xuandao Sect was a Xuantie-level force, and it was said that it had suffered a major setback in the past few decades and had been in a period of recuperation, maintaining a very low profile.

Cultivating the cultivation method of such a sect should not cause too many problems as long as he did not make it too obvious.

Moreover, the Xuandao Sect was located in the northwest of the Zichu Empire, near the Yunfeng Kingdom, at least tens of thousands of miles away from here.

On the other hand, lightning was the most powerful and yang force in the world, and lightning-based cultivation methods were incredibly powerful with great potential for development. Therefore, he was determined to cultivate the Thunder Control Divine Technique well.

Besides, he was also hoping to use the Nine Heavens Lightning Force to temper his body after cultivation.

"Hey, are you going to tell me or not? Why did you call my name in your dream and tell me... tell me to take off my clothes?" Xue Dang quickened her pace to catch up with Shen Lang, lightly pulling on his sleeve.

Shen Lang sighed and said, "What's there to say? I just dreamed that we went hunting beasts together, and you were injured by a beast. I was bandaging your wound for you."

"Hmph!" Xue Dang said angrily, "Do you think I'll believe that?"

"That's the truth. Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't matter to me," Shen Lang shrugged.

Xue Dang wrinkled her nose and said, "Oh, so your wings have grown hard, huh? You dare to talk to me like that?"

Seemingly thinking of something, Shen Lang's body stiffened, and he stopped, turning to look at Xue Dang with unblinking eyes. "Dang, since you like to get to the bottom of things, can I ask you a question in return?"

Xue Dang was slightly taken aback and raised her eyebrows. "What is it? Go ahead, but it has to be something I know."

"I just want to ask, why do you only ask me for protection fees? Your cultivation is powerful, and you have a great reputation in the Tayan Academy. Apart from freaks like Old Chu, who in the entire Tayan Academy would dare not pay you? Why do you only ask me?" Shen Lang said firmly.

"Jingle jingle..." The bells on Xue Dang's body jingled, and a look of panic flashed in her eyes.

"Why are you asking this?" Xue Dang said, slightly flustered. "Don't think too much. I promised your sister, Shen Moran, to protect you, so I only ask you for protection fees! I can't do it for free, can I?"

Noticing the panic in her eyes, Shen Lang's heart ached, but he did not show it on his face.

He smiled lightly and said, "That's good, I understand. You've seen my battle with Shen Jianfeng today. Although I'm not very capable, I can protect myself in the academy. Don't ask me for protection fees anymore, okay?"

"What are you saying... you... you..." Xue Dang was completely taken aback by Shen Lang's sudden words, her mind in chaos, and she could not even speak coherently.

Shen Lang turned resolutely and walked away, gritting his teeth. "My point is, you've fulfilled your promise to my sister. From now on, I... no longer need your protection. Thank you."

As he spoke, he quickened his pace and soon disappeared into the distance.

Xue Dang stood still, watching his figure disappear, not moving for a long time. Finally, she stomped her foot and said, "You... you ungrateful guy! Do you think you're so great just because your cultivation has improved a bit? Who do you think you are! Do you think I don't know that you almost exhausted all your spiritual energy with that punch? And you say you don't need my protection... who cares about protecting you!"

As she spoke, her eyes misted over.

"I'm a girl... do you want me to tell you that I liked you from the first time I saw you... you jerk!" Xue Dang said in a voice so low that only she could hear it, then sat down under a tree, hugging her knees and burying her head.

What she did not know was that Shen Lang, who had walked far away, was also feeling just as distressed.

Shen Lang was extremely conflicted. After spending so much time with Xue Dang, even a wooden person could feel her affection, but he could do nothing about it.

In the past, he felt like a waste, lacked confidence, and dared not approach her. When they were together, he did not even speak to her.

Now, his cultivation had greatly improved, and he had the memories of the War Emperor and the Taiji Diagram martial soul, making his cultivation progress rapidly...

Even though his current cultivation was not high, he had the aura of a strong person...

At this point, he should have been happy and actively pursued Xue Dang.

But for some reason, every time he saw Xue Dang, he felt both extremely happy and extremely distressed, a pain that made him feel like dying...

It was a feeling that was hard to describe, especially after he had fused with the soul of the War Emperor, this feeling became even stronger.

"Unless I cultivate to a very powerful level, I can't protect her. Since that's the case, I should leave here, leave her, and stay far away..." Shen Lang thought to himself.

It was not that he lacked confidence; he simply could not be confident.

When the War Emperor self-destructed, although the memories were erased, he could still hear the heart-wrenching cries around him.

This jerk, he died so thoroughly, yet caused his loved ones such sorrow...

Even with such great power, he could not protect his loved ones. How could the current Shen Lang be so presumptuous?

Before he had enough power, he should stay away from Xue Dang and return when he was strong enough...

What good would it do to regret it after something happened?

When the edge of fate is over, the beauty fades, and the flowers fall, the two do not know each other...

There are always some helplessness in this world, and these helplessnesses are things you may never be able to change.

"Crack... crack..." The sound of footsteps on dry branches came from ahead.

Shen Lang looked up slightly, his heart suddenly alarmed. He turned around and ran as fast as he could.

A giant hammer made of flames fell from the dark sky, smashing down with a loud boom. The flames shattered and scattered, and Shen Lang let out a scream as he was knocked to the ground by the hammer.

"Brat, you dare to run when you see me!" Mentor Muyin walked over, carrying a giant hammer like a war god.

She was wearing a purple short skirt, her long legs without a trace of fat, extremely sexy, but the large, fiery red hammer on her shoulder was too terrifying to be something a beauty should carry.

Shen Lang groaned as he got up from the ground. He was not unwilling to resist, but the punch with the Thunder Control Divine Technique had already drained all his spiritual energy. He did not even have the strength to run.

"Damn, are you crazy? I haven't been to class for three days, but I had Lin Feng take leave for me. I just didn't come to see you. Is it worth using a cannon... no, a fiery hammer to hit me?" Shen Lang, in a sorry state, was so angry he jumped up and down.

Muyin, looking at his disheveled appearance with a few leaves on his head, tried hard not to laugh. "Seeing you still bouncing around means my actions were correct. Do you think I would act rashly? I know everything about your battle with Shen Jianfeng, even though I didn't see it. A fiery hammer won't do much to you, so don't change the subject!"

She said angrily, like a machine gun, "Tell me, where did you get the formula when you refined the Purple Lightning Golden Spear? How did you calculate that it would explode and at such a precise time? You never had any interest in refining before, so how do you know so much? I'm at least a third-rank Ling-level refiner, and in your eyes, I'm like a three-year-old?"

Shen Lang took the leaves off his head and said irritably, "What's the big deal? My grades weren't that bad before, at least I could pass. Later, I found an ancient book in the Phoenix Mountain Range, which recorded many refining techniques. I read it out of boredom and gradually learned a lot."

"Ancient book? Show it to me!" Muyin said, half-believing and half-doubting.

"Can't. It's at home."

"Take me to get it. Tayan Academy isn't far from Tianfeng City."

"Lost it."

"Is it at home or lost?"

"Lost at home."

"..."

"Ladies should use words, not actions. What do you mean by raising that fiery hammer? I... I was scared to death! I... Save me!"

...