Chapter 1004: The Mastermind (2)
Editor: Henyee Translations

However, his true soul power did not sense anything too powerful.

Palace Master Yan rolled her eyes. “The Immortal Realm is already at the top of the mortal world. What I’m talking about is not simple. Yes, after breaking through to the Immortal Realm, one will receive an invitation. The faction behind the invitation is rumored to be the Longevity Realm, the ninth realm.

“It’s just that no one has ever seen a true cultivator in the Longevity Realm. They only encountered powerhouses in the immortal realm. However, the number of immortals in this faction is indeed far more than the five top factions. It’s just that they rarely interfere with the mortal world.

“I’m not sure why your father was besieged by this force, but it rarely happens.”

Shen Ping snorted in his heart. He most likely felt that his father had some secret and coveted it. “Palace Master, where is this force?”

“Don’t know. No one knows.” Palace Master Yan shook her head. “I’m guessing that the Jin Tang you’re talking about might come from this faction. In fact, over the years, the five top factions have also guessed that this faction has arranged for some members of the organization to travel in the mortal world.

“Marquis Zhenbei, it’s better if you don’t ask around. When you break through to the Immortal Realm, you will naturally receive an invitation. At that time, you can contact them.”

Shen Ping smiled and said, “I promise you, Palace Master.”

Palace Master Yan heaved a sigh of relief, “You’re able to comprehend the Sword Dao from the diagram of mountains and rivers. Your talent is rare in the world. Since Jin Tang is also interested in the diagram of mountains and rivers, you have to be careful. I will tell Xian’er not to use the sword technique you taught her during the exchange of swords.”

…

Several days later, the Sword Dao Exchange of Seeping River Academy officially began. The entire exchange would last for half a month. The first few days were mainly to give the swordsmen of the various prefectures in the world a chance to compete. In the middle few days, it was a spar between the top 100 members of the Cosmos Ranking. The last few days were the exchange between the Sword Dao experts of the five top factions.

In the past few days, there were many people even in the counties around Lijiang City.

Shen Ping brought Yun Yue, Yun Xia, and Yue Zhu to sit at River Gazing Tower to watch the competition of swordsmen in the city. A few days ago, it was held in Lijiang City. There were ten arenas for exchange, and River Gazing Tower was the best place to watch.

Princes have reserved the private rooms. If not for his status as the Marquis of Zhenbei, he would not even be able to take a seat by the window. Shen Ping was not interested in the exchange, but Yue Zhu and the others wanted to see it very much, so he brought them over.

“This swordsman’s swordsmanship is not bad. It has the concept of a rushing river. Unfortunately, he hasn’t comprehended it yet.”

“Not bad, not bad. I didn’t expect there to be some good seedlings among the ordinary swordsmen.”

“The Yuhua Shen Dynasty has the most swordsmen. Every time there’s an exchange, there will always be some good seedlings. It’s said that if they perform well, even if they can’t join the five top factions, they can still go to some large factions or medium-sized factions in the prefecture.”

All around, the onlookers were talking loudly. Yuhua Shen Dynasty had very few entertainment methods. A grand event like this would naturally attract many people and also make many people excited. At the same time, it was also an opportunity for some ordinary swordsmen.

Shen Ping ate the osmanthus cake and watched the competition, but he was thinking about Jin Tang. However, he was just thinking about it since he had nothing to do. Jin Tang, including the factions behind it, was nothing in his eyes. They were nothing more than transcendent factions in this world. To him, increasing his comprehension of the Sword Dao was the most important.

“Although Sword Saint Taixuan is a little cold, she can still be trained. It’s more interesting to subdue a fierce horse!”

His thoughts drifted to Huo Ru again. After experiencing so many worlds, it wasn’t like he hadn’t encountered women with fiery tempers and who didn’t hide their colors. If he could subdue them, it would be an interesting thing.

Yue Zhu and the twins, Yun Yue and Yun Xiao, were very excited and kept clapping. At this moment, a prince walked over. His gaze fell on the beautiful twins. “These two must be the beautiful concubines raised by the King of Dongchang. Marquis of Zhenbei, how about a deal? As long as you give them to me, just tell me what you want.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the twins’ faces turned pale, and their interest in watching the swordsman competition disappeared.

Shen Ping casually glanced at this prince. There were more than ten princes in the Yuhua Shen Dynasty, and only three could compete for the position of Crown Prince. The person in front of him was a prince on the edge and didn’t have any real power. In the future, he probably wouldn’t even be able to get the title of a king.

“If I want your life, will you give it to me?” he retorted rudely. What kind of Tom, Dick and Harry dares to clamor in front of him?

The prince’s face immediately darkened, and the guard beside him stood up and said coldly, “Marquis of Zhenbei, you’d better watch your attitude. You’re not worthy of humiliating the royal family!”

Shen Ping glanced around. The eyes of the guard beside the prince became empty, and his heart seemed to have been crushed. Soon, blood flowed from his seven orifices and he fell to the ground. However, the onlookers acted as if they did not see it.

“Don’t test my patience. I’ll give you ten breaths to disappear from the River Gazing Tower.”

The twelfth prince was so frightened that his entire body stiffened. It was another guard who reacted and hurriedly pulled the prince away with the corpse.

Yue Zhu could not help but say, “Marquis…”

Shen Ping reached out and interrupted, “Don’t tell me that there will be any trouble. Our House of Zhenbei guards the north and has killed countless demon soldiers and demon generals. How can any prince provoke us? Hmph, this prince looks brainless, but he actually has other schemes behind his back.”

He’s right. Now that the position of Crown Prince was in the air, the other princes wanted to compete. Naturally, they had to rope in all the major factions in the world. The House of Zhenbei was a force that could not be ignored. Ever since he rose, the princes of the Imperial Capital had sent many envoys.

Just now, the Twelfth Prince had only used some methods to scheme. He supported the Third Prince. If he offended him, the Third Prince would not be able to rope him in.

The twins, Yun Yue and Yun Xia, were touched. Clearly, they did not expect Shen Ping to get into a conflict with the prince for the sake of beautiful concubines of their status. This matter was just a small interlude for Shen Ping.

Over the next 10 days, he watched the swordsmen competition every day. In the next few days, the arena exchange shifted to Seeping River Academy. Sitting in a seat, it was quite interesting to watch the competition between the top hundred members of the Cosmos Ranking.

Madame Yu was also beside him. From time to time, she would comment, “My son, those who can enter the top 100 of the Cosmos Ranking are all rising juniors in the world, especially the top ten. All of them are experts in the Earth Immortal Realm. You have to observe them carefully.”

However, after watching a few rounds, he felt drowsy. These Sword Dao experts of the Cosmos Ranking were all acting. They did not show their true strength at all. Perhaps at their level, they had long understood each other’s strength. If they were not confident, they would not easily reveal their trump cards.

But when they were competing for the top five, the real fun of the competition began. After all, the top five could stay in Seeping River Academy for half a year. Shen Ping also saw the white-robed youth. The other party’s sword intent was more inclined to a killing sword. His sword moves were sharp and fast as lightning. Especially when combined with his movement technique, he looked like a ghost.

“He actually comprehended a trace of the profundity of the wind. No wonder he dared to boast shamelessly and wanted to kill me!”

He looked on with interest. Although the white-robed young man had not entered the Dao, he was not far from the Dao.

Compared to that, the other top ten of the Cosmos Ranking had mediocre performances. Although they were very pure in terms of sword intent and were even stronger than Madame Yu’s Snowflake Sword Intent, in Shen Ping’s opinion, they were barely satisfactory.

In fact, generally speaking, stepping into the Immortal Realm was easier for one’s sword intent to comprehend the realm of the Sword Dao. Most of the Earth Immortals only perfected their sword intent and made it close to perfection.

Not long after, it was Yao Xian’s turn. Even without using the Water Splitting Sword Technique, she only used more than ten sword techniques to defeat the white-robed youth.