The crowd atop the city walls erupted in earth-shattering cries of shock.
Countless gazes—filled with envy, jealousy, or disbelief—fell in unison upon the tattered young spearman on the rocky shoals.
A promise from an Earthly Sword Immortal!
A promise from Shen Xingzhi, the number one under heaven, who vowed never to be stingy!
What did this mean?
This opportunity was weightier than mountains of gold and silver, more tangible than any fame, rank, or wealth!
Several young martial artists on the walls grew red-eyed with jealousy.
They wished they could take Chen Zui’s place on those shoals, wished they were the ones who had carried the message for Gu Yiyou.
That was Shen Xingzhi!
Shen Xingzhi, the number one in the world!
A single word from him was enough to alter a person’s destiny.
Enough to make a complete nobody famous throughout the realm overnight.
Behind the battlements, Qin Tiegu stood with his hands trembling around his wrought bronze staff.
He gazed down at the battered, ragged youth upon the rocky shoals.
Suddenly, he recalled the words Qi Tianchen had spoken before their departure.
Communicate more with Young Hero Chen, and listen to his counsel.
Back then, he had not thought much of it.
Only now did he finally understand why Elder Qi regarded this young man with such high esteem.
Straddling the shoulders of a martial artist in martial attire, A-Tong waved his arms wildly in the air with excitement.
“Big Brother Chen! Hurry and say it! Ask Sword Immortal Shen to teach you a spear technique! No, wait, ask him to forge you a spear! That's not right either, Grandpa Qi is already forging one... Ask him to teach you sword arts! Cultivating both spear and sword—how majestic would that be!”
On the ninth floor of Wangchao Pavilion, Zhao Li’s expression was ghastly to behold.
Sitting cross-legged at the very center of the Sky-Stealing Sun-Swapping Formation, the canopy formed of condensed Ziwei imperial qi rotated slowly above his head. Golden and crimson formation lines intertwined around him, yet he had still not received what he desired.
He stared fixedly out the window at the rocky shoals, glaring at the youth leaning upon the spear, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Within eyes that had not yet shed the haze of a hangover surged an ink-dark jealousy.
A promise from an Earthly Sword Immortal.
Something even he, Third Prince Zhao Li, could never obtain.
Why should some nameless nobody, who had crawled out from who-knew-what remote corner of the world, receive it so effortlessly?
Yet Chen Zui’s response stunned everyone.
“What do I desire?”
He repeated the question.
Tilting his head slightly, he glanced down at the battered old spear in his hand, nicked and dented from countless clashes.
Then, looking back at the two sword immortals whose robes fluttered above the sea, the corner of his lips curved slightly.
“I have never thought about this question. Nor do I need anything.”
As soon as those words were uttered, the entirety of Jinyang City fell dead silent.
The thousands atop the city walls looked as if someone had clamped their throats shut at the same time.
Dumbfounded, they stared at the composed young man upon the rocky shoals.
The wrought bronze staff in Qin Tiegu’s grip nearly slipped from his hands; A-Tong’s flailing arms froze midair.
Even Zhao Li atop Wangchao Pavilion stared blankly for a second.
Then, a sneer escaped him.
“Fool. An immense opportunity placed right before his eyes, and he doesn't even know enough to grasp it. A man like this is unworthy of concern.”
Out on the sea, Shen Xingzhi narrowed his eyes.
Looking at Chen Zui, the scrutiny in his gaze grew sharper than before.
In his long life, he had met all kinds of people.
Yet this young man’s reaction defied all expectations.
He was not putting on an act, not playing hard to get, and not employing some scheme of retreating to advance.
He truly did not care.
“You risked being shredded by sword qi to charge into the center of a battlefield between two Earthly Sword Immortals, nearly throwing your life away in the process. And without seeking any reward, just to deliver such a message?”
Shen Xingzhi’s tone carried a hint of bafflement, but far more of it was deep intrigue.
“Why not?” Chen Zui smiled faintly and countered.
“Since I promised someone, I should see it through. No matter the price, it must be done. If one cannot even uphold a promise, why practice martial arts? Why train with the spear? Why walk the martial world at all?”
Silence hung over the rocky shoals.
There was only the rhythmic crashing of waves against the reefs and the sea wind whistling through the red tassel on the spear shaft.
Shen Xingzhi was stunned for a moment.
Then, he threw his head back and burst into laughter once more.
This time, his laughter was even more resonant, more carefree, and more uninhibited than before.
The sword intent carried within the laughter surged straight into the highest heavens, churning the clouds above the entire Eastern Sea once again.
The last rays of the setting sun poured down through the rifts in the clouds, bathing Chen Zui in light and illuminating his youthful, chiseled face with a brilliant glow.
“Good! Good! Good!”
Shen Xingzhi proclaimed “good” three times in a row, each word heavier and louder than the last.
Turning toward Lü Beisheng, he laughed.
“I finally understand why that boy Gu Yiyou asked him to bring me this message.”
Clasping his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttered wildly in the ocean breeze.
“Because now I know that I truly do not owe the Grand Zhao martial world a single shred.”
Shen Xingzhi’s voice was not loud, yet it resonated clearly throughout all of Jinyang City.
The people on the city walls exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend why the number one sword immortal under heaven would suddenly speak such words.
But Lü Beisheng understood.
Shen Xingzhi continued, his tone carrying a trace of self-mockery.
“I originally thought that because I failed to attend that battle back then, the Grand Zhao martial world had lost much of its martial spirit. At the end of the day, that decisive duel concerned the struggle over martial fortune between Grand Zhao and Grand Shuo. My absence from the battlefield, regardless of the reasons, meant I owed this martial world in the end.”
Glancing toward Lü Beisheng, an apology crept into his eyes.
“Including you, Lü Beisheng. Being trapped in Wangchao Pavilion for twenty years, forced to destroy your own natal sword. When it comes down to it, that was also because I was burdened by too many reservations back then, giving the imperial court an opening to suppress the martial artists of the realm. I thought these debts would weigh upon my heart for the rest of my life.”
He turned back, looking at Chen Zui once more.
“It seems I, Shen Xingzhi, was far too arrogant. Each generation has its own martial world. Each generation has its own grievances. This martial world does not belong to me, Shen Xingzhi, alone.”
He paused, his voice suddenly rising. Every word rang out like an inscription carved into stone with a sword.
“I, Shen Xingzhi, am truly gratified. The martial world before me had seniors like Old Immortal Qiu holding up the sky. In the martial world of my era, there were Liu Yinsheng, Qi Tianchen, and all those peers who dared to draw their swords even knowing they were outmatched. And after me, there is you, Lü Beisheng. Trapped in Wangchao Pavilion for twenty years—anyone else would have grown despondent long ago. Yet not only did your sword intent not wither, it has grown even purer and sharper than it was twenty years ago. You have not let down this martial world.”
Pausing for a beat, his gaze rested on Chen Zui, a meaningful smile gracing his lips.
“And even more fortunate is that this martial world will still have young men like him in the days to come.”
Shen Xingzhi turned back to face Lü Beisheng and slowly withdrew his hands from behind his back.
In that instant, those bare, empty hands radiated a brilliance that none could look upon directly.
It was not sword light, but pure, unadulterated sword intent.
Witnessing this, even Lü Beisheng, the Sword God ranked second under heaven, could not help but tighten his grip on “Sheiru.”
“Lü Beisheng. Now, I have nothing left to hold back.”
His voice was as calm as still water, yet it caused the entire Eastern Sea to tremble.
“Didn't you want to see me go all out?”
A carefree smile surfaced on Shen Xingzhi’s lips.
“Now, as you wish.”
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