CH 267

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In a sealed off courtyard in the Shang Clan Manor, heatwaves wreaked havoc as they swept through the lands. Even though they were three feet away from the entrance, Shang Ke and the rest could still feel the searing heat.

“Damn it. If we try crafting another graded weapon in the future, we definitely cannot do it in the city!” Shang Ke raised his head to look at the skies above the manor and saw that the void was turning blurry from the heat.

“Who could have expected this? Even after two whole months, the weapon isn’t complete… Now, the entire city knows that we’re trying to craft a graded weapon…” Shang Yang muttered at the side.

Shang Jian added, “No matter what, it’s his first time refining a graded weapon. It’s amazing he managed to hold on until now. If nothing goes wrong, our Shang Clan will really be able to produce a master blacksmith capable of refining graded weapons this time…” 

Shang Yang was still unconvinced. “Hah… This is all because of our support. He’s a wandering cultivator who managed to get his hands on some inheritance. Without our support, he won’t be able to gather enough materials to create graded weapons even if he had fifty years! Moreover, Second brother gave him that item to increase the success rate. Of course he’ll succeed this time.” 

Shang Ke turned to look at Shang Jian all of a sudden and asked, “Did your third brother say anything?” 

Shang Jian shook his head and sighed, “I received news one and a half a month ago that he was in the northern region. The last I heard from him was a month ago when he entered the Changfeng City. With his speed, he might already be somewhere in the Thousand Leaf Mountain Range.” 

“A month…” Shang Ke sighed. Next, he turned to ask Shang Yang, “What about Yan Qi? Did he bring any news?” 

“All he does is to play with birds all day… However, he didn’t bring any news with him. From the way he behaves, he even looks like he can communicate with the Mutated Rain Swallows… Is that even possible?”

Shang Ke glanced at him from the corner of his eye and Shang Yang immediately shut his mouth.

“Fifth Uncle, did the institution send any news? The ambush on Patriarch Kou was such a huge matter. However, two months have passed since then. Has there really been no clues at all?” Shang Jian sighed.

Shagn Yang added, “Yeah! Seventh Sister returned to the institution a month and a half ago. Why hasn’t she been back?”

Shang Ke sighed and shook his head. “First of all, no news is good news. A missing Kou Chongxue is actually the most terrifying existence of all.” 

Shang Jian interrupted, “This… Do you think everyone else will be terrified because of the institution’s decision to not investigate the matter?” 

“What’s there to investigate? How are we supposed to start? A cultivator who refined his origin dipper is already a peak existence under the heavens! If he wishes to hide himself, no one will be able to locate him! If he dies, I’m sure the disturbance to the heaven and earth qi will alert everyone in the surroundings.” 

“Even if that’s true, did no one try to probe the situation?” Shang Yang followed up with another question even though his previous one was ignored.

A soft sigh escaped Shang Ke’s lips. “That’s why I forbade everyone from leaving the city. Anyway, Ji Wenlong reached the large completion stage of the Martial Extermination Realm. It’s even possible that he comprehended his fourth martial intent. With him in the institution, it’s enough to deter those with nefarious intentions…” 

“Ji Wenlong already entered the large completion stage of the Martial Extermination Realm?! No wonder…” Shang Jian’s expression turned solemn. “That would mean that the situation will only become clearer once the matter with the Mysterious Coral World is settled…” 

The three of them stood in silence outside the courtyard for a little longer before Xu Huizhu came looking for Shang Jian. Seeing as no one else was left, he rubbed his hands together and turned to Shang Ke with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Dad, this… Once Master Duan Hong completes the refinement, why don’t you lend me the spear for a bit?” 

Seeing how Shang Ke’s pupils constricted and how he was about to start a lecture, Shang Yang quickly explained himself. “Wait! Don’t misunderstand. I’m not going to take the spear for myself. However, Little Xia is missing right now. Why not lend me the weapon to increase my fighting strength for now? I’ll return the spear the moment he returns!” 

Releasing a long sigh, Shang Ke didn’t answer his question. Instead, he asked one of his own. “I told you to recall the members of our Shang Clan from the Ji Continent two months ago. Where are they now?” 

An awkward smile appeared on Shang Yang’s face. “This… Dad, your daughter-in-law, and your grandchildren were on their way. However, the Tongyou City broke out into chaos recently and I told them to remain in the Changfeng City for the time being. When the situation takes a turn for the better, they’ll return immediately.”

A snort left Shang Ke’s lips and his time became a little more severe. “Well, let me ask you another question. You squandered away a lot of resources back in the Ji Continent. How much have you contributed to the family since then?” 

With his face flushing red, Shang Yang didn’t know how to reply.

“Looks like you know what shame is…” Shang Ke sneered. Nodding his head slowly, he looked at the sealed entrance to the courtyard Duan Hong was in. “How successful is your comprehension of the Triple Providence Chapter and the Providence Spear?” 

“I somewhat completed the first chapter, and there were some parts of the Providence Spear I was confused by. I managed to create two moves from my understanding of the Providence Spear.” Shang Yang muttered.

Chuckling in amusement, Shang Ke chided, “That’s it? You had the balls to ask for the spear after developing two moves? You’re not worthy.” 

With a trace of reluctance in his heart, Shang Yang pouted, “If I’m not qualified to use the spear, is that little brat worthy?”

“Yes, he is.” Shang Ke stared resolutely at his son and sighed.

After he spoke, Shang Ke turned to leave. As he walked away, he muttered without even turning his head, “That kid improved upon the Chaos Essence Lightning Palm when he was in the Martial Realm. He practically made a perfect version of it. Next came the advancement formula. He completed an entire inheritance for cultivators to enter the Martial Extremity Realm with the corresponding martial art, secret art, and advancement medicine. In the Martial Extremity Realm, he cultivated at least six sword intents and made his own martial intent. Do you know how many people have their eyes on him? That’s why your second brother gave Duan Hong the material to increase the chances of successfully refining the weapon. He’s trying to get on his nephew’s good side too! Back in the battlefield between the two worlds. That little fellow killed close to a hundred cultivators of the Azure Spiritual World. His contributions to the war on the Tongyou Peak, the beast tide that came after, the takeover of the Mysterious Coral World, and even the battle on the Four Spiritual Peak after was legendary! There were times when he changed the tide of the battle himself! There’s no need to mention how many contributions he made to our clan. Moreover, you’re one of those who benefited from it. Back when our convoy was attacked in the city, he defeated the geniuses of the other four institutions alone. Not too long ago in the Tongyou Institution, he suppressed all four Martial Intent Realm core disciples of the four institutions. He’s not even eighteen yet and you’re approaching thirty. What do you think? Do you think you can compare yourself to him?” 

Shang Ke’s figure was nowhere to be seen, but his words rang in Shang Yang’s ears.

All of a sudden, a loud ringing filled the skies and brought him back to attention. A crimson streak emerged from the sealed courtyard and tore through the heavens.

“I did it! It succeeded!” Duan Hong’s booming laughter emerged from the sealed courtyard. 

Shang Yang turned around to leave despite the birth of a blacksmith capable of creating graded weapons. He didn’t turn his head back at all, and as Duan Hong’s laughter grew louder, his footsteps became more hurried.

…

In the depths of the Thousand Leaf Mountain Range.

A soft whistle came from above as an arrow accurately stabbed into a grouse that was flying in mid air.

The body of the bird exploded into a thousand pieces and so did the arrow.

Shang Xia, who was holding on to a bow, looked at the feathers that were falling from the skies and sighed. “Well, accuracy isn’t much of a problem now. In fact, that’s barely a challenge. With my divine sense, I can lock on to most things, much less a tiny little bird like that.” 

Shang Xia shook his head as a bitter smile revealed itself on his face. He understood that locking on to a bird was no trouble, but experts who were on the same level as himself would have no problem avoiding his divine sense if he tried shooting them down.

After all, it had been several days since he left seclusion and despite the bow being a low-grade weapon, he was a newbie when it came to using it. All he had was several days of practice with it. There was no way he was going to be as good as Yin Lian who tried hunting him down previously.

As Shang Xia looked around him, he had a sense of his surroundings. However, he had no idea where he was in the entire Thousand Leaf Mountain Range.

With the mountain range extending all the way across the Ji, You, and Bing Continents, Shang Xia knew that all he had to do was to travel in the northern direction. That was where the You Continent was located.

Raising his head to gather his bearings, he casually retrieved the bow into his Embroidered Cloud Case. Pushing against the ground, his body soared through the air and he flew for over ten feet before landing on the ground below.

Ordinarily, cultivators would have to enter the Martial Extermination Realm before they could fly. They would use their extermination origin to counteract gravity to keep them in the air.

However, when a cultivator entered the Martial Intent Realm, they were already able to affect the heaven and earth qi in their surroundings to a certain extent. They could glide across the air to cross a certain distance.

Ever since he exited seclusion, Shang Xia discovered that his divine sense could practically merge perfectly with his surroundings. He could use the heaven and earth qi in his surroundings to increase the distance he could travel in the air.

Previously, he experimented several times with his ability to glide through the air. If the terrain was relatively flat, he would be able to travel close to a hundred feet through the air. If he was on an elevated surface, he might be able to move nearly twice that when going to a region of lower elevation.

Naturally, Shang Xia could tell that merging completely with the world around him wasn’t the smartest thing to do. If his divine sense made a complete fusion with the world, it might be difficult for his consciousness to return to his body.

On the third day of his travels, he finally left the mountain range. He saw a giant city in the distance as the sun was about to set.

“This… This is the Changfeng City!” Shang Xia gasped.

From what he knew, the You Continent wasn’t exactly flourishing. There were only two places that had ‘city’ in their name, and one of them was the Tongyou City where he originated from. The second was the Changfeng City in front of him.