Chapter 72: Shen Jingxiao Was Defeated, and the Imperial Capital Was Bound to Be Shaken
At the instant their fists collided, Shen Jingxiao’s expression changed drastically. A sharp pain shot through his arm, his fist split open, and blood gushed forth as if his hand would shatter completely.
He had believed that since this power did not belong to Shen Yanzhou, the latter’s physical body must be frail. As long as he could get close enough, he would be able to suppress him instantly.
Yet, to his shock, a terrifying force beyond imagination surged forth, capable of annihilating everything in its path, effortlessly crushing and obliterating his protective Qi.
“It seems, Shen Jingxiao, you are no more than this.”
Taking advantage of his momentum, Shen Yanzhou did not relent. His punch carried on with undiminished might, its dreadful power like a mountain crashing forward. With a thunderous boom, it tore through the air.
A sharp cracking sound followed as Shen Jingxiao’s protective Qi shattered instantly.
He grunted, and in the next breath, his entire body was flung through the air like a torn sack. His long hair, once tied neatly under a crown, came loose in an instant, his previously scholarly composure utterly ruined—he looked completely disheveled.
The exchange had taken place in but a fleeting moment. By the time Ran Yi and Chunchao reacted, they saw Shen Jingxiao hurled away, one of his arms nearly ruined, hanging limply and dripping with blood.
The two froze on the spot, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
“What kind of power is this?”
Shock and disbelief filled Shen Jingxiao’s eyes.
Suspended in midair, he struggled to steady himself, one hand reaching up to fix his loosened hair crown, attempting to restore his composure. But the more he tried, the more pitiful he appeared.
The “Solar Body Art” he practiced granted him an extraordinarily domineering protective Qi, blazing like a scorching sun that could repel most attacks.
Yet under Shen Yanzhou’s inner strength and true Qi, it shattered like an eggshell—fragile, brittle, destroyed at a single touch.
“The power that kills you.”
Shen Yanzhou’s body flashed like lightning. He knew Lin Qingcang’s strength would not last long, and thus he intended to end the battle swiftly.
Activating The True Explanation of Primordial Unity, countless vortices of Primordial Qi within him hummed, streams of the Breath of Primordial Chaos surged from his nose and mouth, forming a haze of radiant Qi that resembled the primal chaos itself.
In that moment, it was as if he stood within a domain impervious to all laws.
“What kind of fortune did this child receive?”
Shen Jingxiao grew increasingly alarmed, one of his arms nearly crippled.
From their brief exchange, he had already realized that Shen Yanzhou’s current power far exceeded his own—and within that power was something transcending even the First Rank: an Intent.
“Magneto-Heaven Blade!”
He retreated rapidly, shouting as he unleashed a blazing arc of golden-red light. It rolled forward like a flood, fierce and unending, as if heavenly jade were descending from beyond the skies, merging into a vast river of light that surged down upon the approaching Shen Yanzhou.
Shen Yanzhou drew upon the Breath of Primordial Chaos within him, channeling Lin Qingcang’s power into his fist.
He strode forward, the ground quaking beneath his feet, dazzling light blooming in his palms like a golden sun rising and falling within the courtyard.
The next moment, a terrifying tremor echoed out—it was as though the void itself had been struck.
The entire courtyard trembled violently; the ground erupted, pillars snapped, walls crumbled, and stones flew into the air, raising clouds of dust that blanketed the sky.
Ran Yi and Chunchao, having sensed something terribly wrong, had already fled the courtyard.
The power Shen Yanzhou now displayed was no longer something they could intervene in.
A thunderous boom! resounded!
The aftermath burst outward in a blinding explosion of light. Radiance filled the heavens like a rain of brilliance, dazzling beyond measure.
The surrounding buildings collapsed entirely. From above, one could see streaks of devastation spreading outward—like plow lines carved deep into the earth, leaving utter ruin in their wake.
“Pffft—”
Shen Jingxiao spat a mouthful of blood. His hair was a tangled mess, and his Magneto-Heaven Blade shattered—the very technique capable of slaying any Third Rank opponent was now casually crushed between Shen Yanzhou’s fingers.
The power this youth displayed defied all sense.
“Shen Jingxiao, if you have no other means left, then perhaps today shall be your death day.”
Shen Yanzhou advanced step by step, his tone indifferent yet filled with killing intent.
“At most, three more breaths.”
“I won’t be able to hold on after that. That convenient father of yours is far stronger than the usual Second Rank. After that strike, he should have no strength left to retaliate.”
Lin Qingcang’s faint, weary voice sounded in Shen Yanzhou’s ear.
Shen Yanzhou’s steps paused briefly. He wasn’t surprised—after all, Lin Qingcang existed merely as a remnant thought, not even a true fragment of a soul. With time, he might recover slightly through rest, but not much.
Three strikes—that was already his limit.
Today marked the second.
The final strike would mean Lin Qingcang’s complete dissolution, and the old man certainly would not be willing to reach that point.
Shen Yanzhou sighed inwardly. He knew very well that Shen Jingxiao’s hidden cards were no fewer than Shen Tian’s, perhaps even more formidable.
With his current means, truly killing Shen Jingxiao was almost impossible.
“You unfilial wretch, do you intend to kill your own father today?”
Seeing Shen Yanzhou hesitate for an instant, Shen Jingxiao immediately transformed into a streak of lightning, pulling away without hesitation.
His eyes were dark and venomous. He had never expected that one day he would be beaten down and forced to flee in disgrace by Shen Yanzhou—the son he had always dismissed and belittled.
“Ran Yi, summon the Four Fiends immediately!”
Shen Jingxiao ordered, though his mind remained vigilant, his gaze locked on Shen Yanzhou’s every move.
“Father, what do you mean by this?”
“Even a tiger will not eat its cubs. I’m not as heartless as you are. After all, I was raised and sheltered by the Prince’s Mansion all these years—otherwise, I would have drowned in the filth of Vermilion Bird Street long ago. Such kindness, I still remember it well.”
“Besides, if you were to die, I imagine Mother would be deeply saddened.”
Shen Yanzhou gently shook his head, making no move to pursue further. The vast, oceanic force surging around him slowly receded and faded.
Shen Jingxiao’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe for a moment that Shen Yanzhou’s words were sincere. The murderous intent earlier had been unmistakable. Most likely… the power that did not belong to him could no longer be sustained.
Yet he could not be sure. What if Shen Yanzhou was deceiving him?
How many times could this mysterious, unfathomable power be used?
“You’d best hope that’s truly what you mean.”
Shen Jingxiao said coldly.
He did not continue attacking either. Having already suffered serious injuries, he would not take risks again before determining the origin of Shen Yanzhou’s power.
“As long as Father doesn’t wish to harm me, why would I ever think of killing you?”
“Besides, logically speaking, the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion still needs me alive, doesn’t it?” Shen Yanzhou said with a faint smile.
He still held the card of Tantai Yuxian in his hand.
When he had made his move earlier, he had already lifted the restriction and could have Tantai Yuxian appear at any moment.
But Shen Jingxiao was clever. Unable to gauge all of Shen Yanzhou’s trump cards, he had chosen to grit his teeth and swallow the loss rather than take another risk.
Thus, Shen Yanzhou had been able to save that card for later.
“You’re right. The Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion indeed still needs you alive.”
Shen Jingxiao closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his expression had returned to that gentle, scholarly calm from before.
If one ignored his disheveled hair, his tattered appearance, and the blood-soaked, almost shattered arm—
Negative emotions from Shen Jingxiao +33 +43 +45…
To be able to bend and stretch—this was a trait Shen Tian shared with Shen Jingxiao.
Shen Yanzhou chuckled inwardly. This was exactly what he wanted—Shen Jingxiao’s hatred and helplessness toward him.
All of that resentment would serve as nourishment for his own growth.
It would not be long before he no longer needed Lin Qingcang’s power to face Shen Jingxiao head-on.
Schemes and plots—within this world where power was everything—were far too fragile.
“Heir…”
Now that the fight had ceased, Chunchao finally dared to step out. Her eyes, fixed on Shen Yanzhou, were filled with disbelief.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Yanzhou smiled and pinched her cheek.
“How were you… so powerful just now?”
Had it been before, Chunchao would surely have struggled. But now she only stared blankly at him, letting him do as he pleased.
“Want to learn? I could teach you. But I doubt that little head of yours could manage it.”
“……”
Chunchao had thought the sky itself was collapsing moments ago, yet Shen Yanzhou looked entirely unbothered.
“Your Highness.”
Ran Yi appeared behind Shen Jingxiao, gazing at the ruins around them—devastation everywhere—and had no idea how to resolve the situation.
Shen Jingxiao frowned. In his current state, explaining this would be difficult.
However, this was not something he should be concerned about.
His eyes darkened. Shen Yanzhou had hidden his true strength for years, now revealing it in one stunning display—deceiving everyone in the mansion.
It was Shen Yanzhou who now owed the world an explanation.
If he failed to explain properly… would that not mean he could be suspected of being a spy planted by the Nether Cult?
Of course, this narrative would require careful manipulation to fully separate the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion from suspicion.
On the surface, he could do nothing to Shen Yanzhou—but in secret, he had countless means.
“No need to worry.”
Having thought it through, Shen Jingxiao waved his hand toward Ran Yi.
The tremendous noise and chaos just now had already drawn the attention of many within the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion.
Several retainers and honored guests, having sensed the commotion, rushed toward the source of the disturbance at once.
In broad daylight, it was as if a meteor had crashed from the heavens—the impact was immense. Even though many areas of the Prince’s Mansion were inscribed with formation arrays, they could not suppress the shockwave.
Not only that—many residences throughout the Imperial Capital had also heard the explosion.
As the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty, strict order was maintained—patrol guards roamed day and night, and both the Bureau of Immortal Inspection and the Chilin Guards conducted constant rounds. Who would dare cause such chaos here?
Many noticed the direction of the blast—it had come from none other than the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion—and they could not help their astonishment.
…
“Your Highness, what has happened here?”
Before long, within the courtyard reduced to ruins and rubble, numerous retainers and guests of the Prince’s Mansion arrived, staring blankly at the devastation.
Especially seeing the Demon Suppression King himself—his robe bloodstained, one arm hanging limp and still dripping—had he been attacked by a formidable enemy?
But as one of the peerless masters of this era, and within the very heart of the Imperial Capital—who could possibly wound him?
Several family elders, including Shen Zhigao, who had been waiting for news from Shen Jingxiao, hurried over upon hearing the disturbance.
“I was just sparring with Yanzhou and failed to control my strength. Accidentally destroyed the courtyard.”
“Yanzhou has hidden his abilities well all these years. Even as his father, I was completely deceived.”
Facing everyone’s confusion, Shen Jingxiao still seemed dazed from what had happened. Then he shook his head and explained calmly.
Afterward, he looked at Shen Yanzhou, his tone gentle once again: “Yanzhou, for you to have concealed such depth all these years truly surprises me. Tell me, where did you learn such skill? Who is your master?”
Shen Yanzhou acted as though unaware of Shen Jingxiao’s schemes.
Putting on the facade of a dutiful son, he smiled and said, “Father forgets—this is all the result of your secret tutelage over the years. Your son’s talent is dull. Without your guidance, how could I possibly possess such skill today?”
“Yanzhou, you jest. I possess no such ability.”
“Heh, since that’s the case, why not take advantage of this moment and let Yanzhou make a name for himself in the Imperial Capital? After hiding and humbling himself all these years, it’s time he was recognized.”
“His Majesty, in court this very day, praised the younger generation of talented generals, encouraging them to win glory on the battlefield and expand the realm’s borders.”
“My son Yanzhou—though not born of my blood—is dearer than one. With such extraordinary talent, he should surpass his peers and earn unparalleled merit.” Shen Jingxiao said with a gentle smile.
“Then your son thanks Father for his generosity,” Shen Yanzhou replied with an equal smile.
He had already foreseen this outcome. Displaying such exceptional strength, Shen Jingxiao would certainly push him into the limelight deliberately.
Originally, he had planned to stay hidden in the shadows and grow quietly.
Unfortunately, things could never always unfold as one wished.
Still, it was only a bit more trouble—not an unsolvable problem.
Had Ran Yi and Chunchao not witnessed their battle with their own eyes, they might have believed the two were truly a “benevolent father and filial son.”
The other retainers who had arrived also faintly sensed something strange beneath the surface—there was a subtle tension in the air, mixed with meanings they could not decipher.
But they had understood one thing: “sparring with Shen Yanzhou.”
In other words, the one who had left the Prince himself injured, nearly crippling an arm—was Shen Yanzhou?
The gathered retainers and honored guests found it utterly unbelievable.
The family elders like Shen Zhigao were even more astonished, as if hearing something utterly impossible.
This wastrel Shen Yanzhou—they had watched him grow up themselves. He had never been taught any martial arts, not even literacy. How could he possibly possess such power?
But those words had come from Shen Jingxiao’s own mouth—could they be false?
“How could that be possible?”
The few elders stared at Shen Yanzhou’s faint smile, their vision darkening as their hearts struggled to accept the truth.
Though Shen Jingxiao smiled gently, the corners of his mouth were slightly stiff.
He had sacrificed his dignity to drag Shen Yanzhou down with him. Wasn’t he so fond of hiding and feigning weakness? From today onward, let’s see how he manages.
From now on, Shen Yanzhou would undoubtedly be thrust into the center of attention in the Imperial Capital—causing an uproar.
At such a young age, to stand against a Second Rank martial powerhouse like himself and even injure him—
How would he explain that? What awaited him was a storm far greater than he could imagine.