Chapter 27

Chapter 26: The True Stage

Shen Xiang nodded and said, "I understand, Elder Sister Youyou, when will you teach me the magic techniques?"

Bai Youyou gave him a cold look and said, "You haven't even fully mastered the Four Symbols Divine Technique of your junior sister, you're still far from it!"

Shen Xiang could currently only use the Azure Dragon Divine Technique and part of the Vermilion Bird Divine Technique. The White Tiger Divine Technique and Black Tortoise Divine Technique were exceptionally difficult to practice, requiring some special environments for cultivation.

The Azure Dragon Claw and Azure Dragon Roar within the Azure Dragon Divine Technique were relatively easy to learn, as were the Vermilion Bird Mystic Fire and Vermilion Bird Fire Wings. Although there were many powerful martial techniques within the Four Symbols Divine Technique, they all required a certain level of strength to practice; otherwise, one might suffer from a mental breakdown.

Late at night, in a secret room hidden deep underground, a series of "bang bang" sounds could be heard. It was Shen Xiang practicing martial arts. He was bare-chested, his strong muscles red and steaming. He stood firmly in a horse stance, striking the iron wall not far away. With each punch, a wave of scorching heat burst out, and the invisible force of his punches collided with the iron wall, causing the ground to tremble.

"Not bad, you've mastered the Fire King Fist in just one day. That's one of the more difficult techniques in the basic Vermilion Bird Divine Technique. You can rest now." Su Meyao was also a bit tired because she had been watching Shen Xiang practice all day.

Shen Xiang looked at Su Meyao's mature and prominent chest and chuckled, "Sister Meyao, I'm going to take a shower. Do you want to come with me?"

Su Meyao's voice was soft and alluring, her eyes full of seduction, "I'll have to call my senior sister to come with us. I'm worried you might not behave yourself."

Mentioning Bai Youyou, Shen Xiang's expression immediately stiffened, "Then forget it."

Su Meyao laughed and entered the invisible ring in Shen Xiang's hand. Inside the ring was a small house with everything needed for daily life, and the two women lived there quite comfortably.

The next day, when Shen Xiang woke up, he spat the "dragon saliva" in his mouth into a small bottle. Instead of using it to water herbs, he decided to save it for later.

Shen Xiang originally wanted to discuss alchemy with Shen Luzong, but he found out that Shen Luzong had already set out to purchase spiritual herbs and left behind a considerable amount of spiritual pills and herbs.

With ready-made spiritual herbs, Shen Xiang was more than happy to use them to refine pills, which would also increase his alchemy experience.

Three days passed, and Shen Xiang had refined all the spiritual herbs left by Shen Luzong. Since most of the spiritual herbs were of the lower-grade ordinary level, the pills he refined were also of the lower-grade ordinary level. At this point, the Shen family had a good number of pills, enough to last for a while.

In recent days, many of the young disciples of the Shen family had been surrounding Shen Xiang. He would often go to the training ground to spar with the Shen family disciples and occasionally give them some pointers, which was very helpful to them.

"Xiang'er, are you going to the Capital City Martial Arts Conference? The first prize is a high-grade spiritual True Essence Pill," Shen Tianhu suddenly came to the training ground.

Shen Xiang thought for a moment and said, "I want to go to other cities to buy some spiritual herbs, so I'll participate in the conference while I'm there."

At this moment, a Shen family disciple said, "If Shen Xiang is participating, we have no chance. But I heard that many talented people are joining this year's Capital City Martial Arts Conference, even those at the Seventh Level of the Mortal Martial Realm."

A young girl nodded and said, "I heard that some people who returned from martial arts sects are also participating."

Shen Xiang had heard these rumors. The Capital City Martial Arts Conference was held every ten years, and the participants were mainly those under twenty years old. It was held in the largest city of the Southern Wu Kingdom, the Capital City. Originally, the Capital City consisted of four large cities, but as the cities grew, they merged into one.

The Capital City was also the capital of the Southern Wu Kingdom, where the Yao family and the imperial palace were located. The powerful families of the Southern Wu Kingdom were also established there, so it was teeming with experts.

Shen Tianhu nodded and said, "The Capital City Martial Arts Conference also serves to select some outstanding individuals to join the martial arts sects. You should know that the entire Southern Wu Kingdom is subordinate to these martial arts sects."

Each martial arts family had to pay taxes to the imperial palace every year, and the Southern Wu Kingdom would then transfer these to the martial arts sects, showing how powerful these sects were, surpassing the major families of the kingdom.

"Don't think these taxes are paid for nothing. You should know that these martial arts sects protect our safety. Otherwise, places like ours would easily be attacked by demon beasts or demons," Shen Tianhu looked up at the sky, his tone serious.

The Shen family disciples were immediately in an uproar. The major sects had previously been just legends, and they never imagined that they would have such a close connection to the secular world.

The Southern Wu Kingdom was very large, with a population of over a billion, but the number of martial artists was small, and alchemists were even rarer. However, with such a large population, it was possible to find some outstanding martial artists, so the martial arts sects would come to recruit disciples every so often. The fastest and most effective way to select them was to have a competition among the most powerful young people, and the few strongest would have the opportunity to join the martial arts sects.

Shen Xiang followed Shen Tianhu to the study. On the way, Shen Xiang knew that Shen Tianhu must have something important to say, as his expression had been very serious.

Sure enough, once they entered the study, Shen Tianhu said, "Xiang'er, your great-uncle Shen Luzong has already gone to the Capital City! Although our Shen family is considered a powerful martial arts family by many, we cannot be considered a truly prosperous family unless we can enter the Capital City. So, our next goal is the Capital City."

Shen Xiang had also heard some news, such as the Yao family having some connections with the martial arts families. The Yao family did not need to pay taxes directly to the imperial palace but could pay directly to the sects.

"The Xue family has already started moving to the Capital City! Because of Xue Xianxian, the Xue family has formed a relationship with a powerful martial arts sect! We have to strive for ourselves. If we want to open a path, it can only be through you and your great-uncle," Shen Tianhu placed a hand on Shen Xiang's shoulder and said earnestly.

Shen Xiang frowned and asked, "What do I need to do? Join a martial arts sect?"

Shen Tianhu shook his head and said, "No, even if you do, our Shen family still won't receive the protection of the major sects. There is only one way now, and that is to make the major sects take notice of our Shen family and come to us on their own. The way to do that is to show your potential in alchemy."

Shen Xiang's eyes were sharp, his bright eyes gleaming. He grinned, "I know what to do. I'll pack my things and head to the Capital City to meet up with my great-uncle."

Shen Tianhu patted Shen Xiang's shoulder and smiled, "Xiang'er, your stage is not in this secular world, but in those martial arts sects where the strong gather. That is the true martial world!"