Chapter 42 - 37: Who the Hell Is Your Dad?

"That’s Plum Blossom Sword Intent—the Xiao Family’s Plum Blossom Sword Intent! Haha, he’s a dead man!"

"So strong! In just an instant, five plum blossoms enveloped his entire body. There’s not a single opening!"

"Who is this guy? He looks unfamiliar. To think he’s already mastered Plum Blossom Sword Intent and kept it hidden all this time... The Xiao Family really knows how to hide their talent."

"His name is Xiao Qiuyu. He came with Xiao Qiyun and hasn’t said much. I remember him!"

Just as joyful expressions appeared on the faces of the crowd, eager to see Shen Lang wounded by the Plum Blossom Sword Intent, Shen Lang smiled...

To be fair, Shen Lang’s true Cultivation was at the Power Martial Realm Ninth Heaven, and he had yet to break through to the Qi Martial Realm.

In terms of Divine Thought, he far surpassed everyone present. However, his physical strength was only slightly greater than that of a Qi Martial Realm Third Heaven Martial Artist like Shen Jianfeng—and not by much.

As for the Spiritual Power in his body, even with the powerful Tai Chi Diagram, he had only been cultivating for a few days. It was simply impossible for him to compare to Martial Artists at the Second and Third Heavens of the Qi Martial Realm.

However, his speed compensated for many of these shortcomings. Furthermore, a Thunder Element Technique like the Thunder Control Divine Technique possessed immense destructive power. Thunder Power was, after all, a force of Supreme Yang and Firmness, one of the most powerful forces in existence...

Then there was his decisive and ruthless style. The moment he acted, he had mercilessly broken Tang Chaotian’s leg before severely injuring Xu Ping and several attendants... His aura, like that of a God of Slaughter, had stunned everyone on the spot.

The reason he dared to face so many elite disciples from the Noble Families with his current Cultivation was twofold. First, he had spent years hunting Demon Beasts in the Phoenix Mountain Range, baptizing himself in blood and fire, which had forged a will far beyond that of any ordinary person. But the main reason... was the transformation he underwent after his soul merged with that of the War Emperor.

With those memories, it was as if he had lived through an entire extra Reincarnation.

The Shen Lang of today could, for all intents and purposes, be considered the War Emperor himself!

Furthermore, all the Cultivation Techniques he had practiced in those memories, his understanding of the world’s Rules, his insight into the Great Dao...

Although he hadn’t fully absorbed it all yet, it allowed him to face these not-so-weak disciples of the Noble Families as if they were nothing more than scarecrows. His breathing hadn’t even faltered.

Now, as he faced the hidden master Xiao Qiuyu and his famous Plum Blossom Sword Intent, Shen Lang couldn’t help but feel amused.

’This Xiao Qiuyu’s talent isn’t half-bad,’ Shen Lang thought. ’To successfully cultivate the Plum Blossom Sword Intent at his age means his Cultivation definitely ranks in the top five among these disciples of the Noble Families.’

’Too bad he ran into me.’

’How strong could the Swordsmanship of a minor clan like the Xiao Family possibly be?’

’Even if it’s somewhat famous in Celestial Phoenix City, it’s still just a Mortal Level Technique. The Cultivation Techniques in my memories include some that are Emperor Level. Using a Mortal Level Technique in front of me is like a three-year-old waving a piece of straw around.’

’Not only is it childish, it’s pathetic!’

Shen Lang didn’t even turn around. His right hand, holding a single chopstick, jabbed the air five times with blinding speed!

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT! The five plum blossoms, formed from Sword Intent and rumored to be capable of shredding an ordinary Martial Artist’s body, popped before him like soap bubbles!

"..." Everyone was dumbfounded.

The Xiao Family’s Plum Blossom Sword Intent was renowned in Celestial Phoenix City. Failing to master it was one thing, but once someone did, they were guaranteed to stand out and rank among the top few elite disciples of the great Noble Families.

Even those at the very top who could break the Plum Blossom Sword Intent would likely not have such an easy time.

But Shen Lang hadn’t even turned around. He’d broken the Plum Blossom Sword Intent with a chopstick?

’Could it be that Xiao Qiuyu hasn’t actually mastered the Plum Blossom Sword Intent? Is it just for show?’

This thought finally brought some relief to their faces.

But just as they sighed in relief, they heard a THUD. Xiao Qiyun, who was in the crowd, collapsed to the floor, his face slick with sweat. He was muttering to himself, "He broke the Plum Blossom Sword Intent with a chopstick... He actually broke it with a chopstick... Is my Xiao Family’s Plum Blossom Sword Intent truly so worthless?"

The hearts of the crowd, which had just settled, leaped back into their throats.

"It was the real Plum Blossom Sword Intent! Xiao Qiuyu truly cultivated it, and Shen Lang shattered it with a single chopstick..."

Just then, Shen Lang swiveled his chair around to face Xiao Qiuyu.

Xiao Qiuyu’s expression was cold and detached, but a fanatical gleam appeared in his eyes, as if he had just discovered a new world.

His reaction took Shen Lang by surprise.

’Looks like he’s a Martial Fool...’ Shen Lang shook his head slightly, then said coolly, "As a swordsman, launching a sneak attack from behind is a pretty shameless move... though I do it quite often myself. But what is this dogshit version of Plum Blossom Sword Intent? Is that really how you’re supposed to use it?"

As he spoke, he extended the chopstick flatly, tracing several elegant arcs in the air...

His movements seemed incredibly slow, yet impossibly fast, creating a bizarre sensation in all who watched.

But when Xiao Qiuyu saw this display, his eyes widened, the fanatical light within them growing even more intense.

"Cruel snow and howling wind only make it more austere; among flowers, its spirit is the most steadfast. When its time is past, it will wither and fall, too proud to beg the spring breeze for pity."

As Shen Lang drew the arcs, he recited the poem at a rapid pace. The very instant the final word, "pity," left his lips, five faint plum blossoms materialized in the air. They flashed, merging into a single point before erupting with a terrifying Sword Intent that, with a WHOOSH, struck Xiao Qiuyu square in the chest.

PUFF! Staring intently without even blinking, Xiao Qiuyu coughed up a mouthful of blood. He was sent flying backward, crashing through several tables and chairs before passing out.

"Have you all seen enough?" Shen Lang said unhurriedly, turning his head slightly.

GULP, GULP!

Without another moment’s hesitation, many of the guests began to gulp down the wine before them, finishing it all. One by one, they started to dry heave.

Shen Lang stood up, looking very pleased. His gaze fell upon the only person who hadn’t drunk the wine: Shen Fengyun!

Seeing that piercing gaze, Shen Fengyun began to tremble uncontrollably.

Although he was only being forced to drink a cup of blood-wine, he couldn’t shake the feeling that if he refused, he would be instantly decapitated.

In truth, although the two men on the floor had been struck by lightning, their lives weren’t in danger. And Xiao Qiuyu, though sent flying by the Plum Blossom Sword Intent, had clearly not been killed either.

But Shen Fengyun felt differently. Shen Lang’s glance held no overt warning, yet for some inexplicable reason, that was the feeling it gave him.

Just as Shen Fengyun’s resolve broke and his hand started reaching for the cup, Shen Lang turned away.

It was only for an instant, but Shen Fengyun was drenched, his back completely soaked in a cold sweat.

It felt as if everything that had just happened was a mere illusion...

Shen Lang’s gaze swept coolly over the crowd as he walked slowly toward the stairs. "I’m a reasonable person," he said, his voice low. "Don’t bother me, and we’ll have no problems. But if you provoke me, I’ll make you live an eternity of regret. Before you even think about coming after me in the future, first consider whether you’re capable enough."

Without looking back, he let out a derisive laugh. "Geniuses? Heh. If a bunch of idiots like you dare call yourselves geniuses, then this world is far too full of them..."

He had insulted everyone on the second floor with a single sentence, yet none of them could summon a shred of anger.

All they felt was fear, shock, and utter disbelief...

It was unclear whether Tang Chaotian and the Guard on the floor had passed out from the pain or from blood loss. In any case, the second floor had finally fallen silent.

But soon, their attention was drawn elsewhere.

Just as Shen Lang reached the top of the stairs, a woman with a cold expression blocked his path.

"You’re Shen Lang? My father wants to see you. Please come with me to the private room on the third floor." The woman’s voice was frigid, and her words left no room for argument.

Shen Lang raised an eyebrow. "And who the hell is your father?"

"What did you say?!" The woman’s face changed as a massive wave of Killing Intent erupted from her, scaring the people on the second floor half to death.

"A master at the Qi Martial Realm Sixth Heaven! Holy crap..." Shen Fengyun cried out, diving under a table.

The young woman blocking Shen Lang’s path suddenly unleashed her aura. A sharp Killing Intent swept across the entire floor, finally allowing the onlookers to guess her Cultivation level.

She was a master at the Qi Martial Realm Sixth Heaven!

This revelation shocked everyone present.

If a master of this Level were to fight Shen Lang, the entire restaurant would probably be torn apart!

Shen Lang’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly watched the woman. One was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, the other as tranquil as an ancient well—a stark contrast.

Just then, an old voice drifted down from the third floor. "Ah, Shen Lang, it’s this old fool. Come on up for a chat. And Fenghen, you should really work on that temper of yours. Are you trying to tear this place down? Do you want your old man to have nowhere to drink in the future?"

"Sima Yan?" A wry smile appeared on Shen Lang’s face. The voice was indeed familiar; it belonged to the old man who had offered to act as a witness during his fight with Xu Jianfeng.

He hadn’t expected to run into Sima Yan, the Dean of Tayun Academy’s Alchemy Institute, here—let alone nearly come to blows with the man’s daughter.

But he couldn’t really be blamed. He had never met Sima Yan, and he hadn’t even heard the name Sima Fenghen before.

"Stop staring. You’re not going to burn a hole through me. Lead the way," Shen Lang said irritably, rolling his eyes.

’This Sima Fenghen is actually quite beautiful,’ he thought, ’but she walks around with such a cold expression, like everyone owes her a hundred thousand Spirit Stones.’

’Your father’s already calling for you, yet you’re still glaring at me like you want to kill me. Are you missing a screw or something?’

’She doesn’t look that young, either—probably twenty-three or twenty-four. So immature. Unbelievable.’

’Guess the old saying about big chests and empty heads has some truth to it after all.’