Wang Family of Fragrant Swallow Valley

Zhao Sheng still smiled warmly. "Third Brother, don't laugh. My martial arts have greatly improved lately. Be careful not to lose to me!"

With that, Zhao Sheng drew his longsword, tossed aside the scabbard, and pointed the sword tip at Zhao Zhijing.

"Come!"

Seeing that Old Ninth was serious, Zhao Zhijing helplessly shook his head. He raised his sword into the stance of Phoenix Arriving and said carelessly, "Come, then. Go all out!"

Seeing his opponent act so rashly and carelessly, Zhao Sheng wanted to teach him a deep lesson.

With a shift of his feet, Zhao Sheng's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood. In the next instant, he appeared abruptly at Zhao Zhijing's side, his right-hand sword sealing his throat, swift as lightning.

Zhao Zhijing's vision blurred, and his heart immediately cried out in alarm.

Yet before he could raise his sword and change moves, an icy, snow-bright longsword had already been laid against his neck.

"You lost!"

Zhao Sheng smiled at Zhao Zhijing and casually withdrew the Hundred Refinement Sword.

Fast—far too fast! So fast it left people dumbstruck.

Third Brother had actually lost without even making a single move. Everyone could hardly believe their own eyes.

Zhao Zhijing was utterly shocked and suspicious. He could not help asking, "Y-you... how could you possibly be so fast?"

"I told you just now. My martial arts have greatly improved recently," Zhao Sheng replied calmly.

"Could it be that you attained Enlightenment?" someone beside them suddenly shouted.

"Mm." Zhao Sheng nodded, tacitly admitting it.

The moment those words came out, everyone, Zhao Zhijing included, filled their eyes with envy and jealousy.

Jianghu rumors said that Enlightenment could be encountered but not sought.

Once someone attained Enlightenment, their martial arts would greatly improve afterward, and their power would advance a thousand miles a day from then on.

How could such a wonderful fortune fall upon lazy Xiao Jiu? Heaven was truly unfair! "I don't believe it! Xiao Jiu, come exchange a few moves with me!"

At that moment, Old Sixth, Zhao Zhi Ping, leaped out. He was tall and powerfully built, and among his peers, he was one of the two with the highest martial arts.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing silently stepped aside. The meaning of that action needed no explanation.

"Sixth Brother, attack as you please!"

Zhao Sheng had come today to establish his authority, and he feared no challenge whatsoever.

Besides, among this group from the Zhao Family today, there was not a single one he thought worthy of notice. They were all good-for-nothings who could not amount to anything.

"Good!" Zhao Zhi Ping roared as he raised his sword and thrust forward. With White Rainbow Pierces the Sun, his sword tip shot straight toward Zhao Sheng's chest.

Idiot!

The moment his opponent made his move, Zhao Sheng could not help cursing inwardly.

White Rainbow Pierces the Sun was best when used with lightness and speed, yet in Zhao Zhi Ping's hands, it became fierce, domineering, and roaring with wind. It was simply heading south while the carriage went north.

The Zhao Family had lived too smoothly these past years. They had truly grown lax in educating their younger generation.

Sigh, this has to change. Zhao Sheng inwardly sighed as he swung his sword. The flat of his blade rested against the other's sword body, then the blade trembled slightly. With one tremor and one release, he effortlessly dissolved Zhao Zhi Ping's strength.

Then—

Suddenly, a streak of sword shadow drifted like light smoke and thin mist, seeming slow yet actually swift. It easily broke through Zhao Zhi Ping's defense, its tip coming to rest firmly against his chest.

"Sixth Brother, this is how White Rainbow Pierces the Sun should be used," Zhao Sheng said with calm composure.

At those words, Zhao Zhi Ping immediately flushed crimson. His face filled with shame and indignation as he retreated.

"Who else wants to come up and try?"

Zhao Sheng looked around, his expression tranquil as the Hundred Refinement Sword in his hand lifted slightly.

Impossible! They had not seen Xiao Jiu for merely two days, yet his skills had become so extraordinary.

Could Enlightenment truly be this powerful? Could it make a person shed their mortal shell and exchange their bones within just a few days? Yet the facts lay before them. The others also tried stepping forward, but every one of them was defeated.

In truth, the Zhao Family's younger generation had not lost unfairly in the slightest.

Not to mention them—even without the enhancement of Internal family true qi, judging solely by martial arts moves, there were fewer than three people in total who could last a hundred exchanges against Zhao Sheng.

After this incident, news of Zhao Sheng's great martial arts progress swiftly spread throughout Zhao Family Fortress.

Some young masters and ladies who refused to accept it took the initiative to seek him out, only to leave one after another with their faces covered.

Three days later, Zhao Sheng's treatment quietly returned to what it had once been, while his monthly allowance was raised to two hundred taels.

He was quite satisfied with this. First Madam was indeed the mistress of the household—clever, tactful, and precise in her sense of proportion.

Two days later, sword in hand, Zhao Sheng took the initiative to seek out the Third Branch Principal, Zhao He Tai. What the two discussed in secret was known to no one apart from those involved.

That very night, however, Zhao He Tai suddenly went to find the Family Head, Zhao Hexing.

After a brief discussion, Zhao Hexing personally summoned the Branch Principals and Elders for a secret meeting.

A few days later, all discussions concerning Ninth Young Master abruptly ceased. From then on, no one ever spoke again of what had happened over those days.

Within a clan, if someone served as its outer face, then someone had to serve as its inner lining. The face could not be stained by even a speck of dust. If blood was spilled, the lining had to contain it. If it could not be contained and leaked onto the face, it could become a catastrophe that destroyed the family and wiped out its household.

Zhao Sheng chose to become the hidden "inner lining" of the Nanyang Zhao Clan.

Having lived three lifetimes, he had long passed the stage of seeking fame and profit. What use was a lifetime of glory? Could it grant immortality?

In this life, he had only one goal: to sire an immortal cultivator.

Spring passed into autumn, and time flew by. In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

When the reputation of Zhao Family's Jade Sword Young Master, Zhao Zhijing, spread throughout the Jianghu of Ganzhou, an utterly ordinary carriage slowly entered through Moling City's gate and finally stopped before a three-story inn.

"Young Master, we've arrived." Zhao Xiaobao jumped down from the carriage and respectfully addressed the carriage compartment.

Three years had passed, and Zhao Xiaobao had changed greatly, growing into a fine-looking young man.

As for his master, Zhao Sheng, when the carriage curtain was rolled up, a handsome young master with a face like polished jade, a tall and slender figure, and an elegant bearing stepped down from the carriage.

"Let's go in."

With that, Zhao Sheng strode into the inn.

This inn was called Yue Lai Inn, a covert outpost the Zhao Family had established in Moling City.

The instant master and servant appeared, the innkeeper quickly ushered them into a secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, Zhao Sheng had barely taken his seat when the innkeeper, Zhao Sanchong, immediately moved to kneel in salute.

Zhao Sheng raised a hand, and a stream of Azure True Qi flew forth in response, supporting the other man. "No need. Speak of business first."

"Qi Projection?!" Zhao Sanchong's heart shook violently. He had never expected Ninth Young Master's power to have advanced so far before even reaching twenty.

One had to know that in the Jianghu, only a First-class expert could achieve Qi Projection.

What was even more terrifying was that Ninth Young Master was only eighteen this year! The Zhao Family's revival is in sight! Zhao Sanchong's heart surged without end.

Over two hundred years, countless members of the Zhao Family had practiced martial arts, and experts had emerged one after another. Yet there had only ever been two true Innate Grandmasters: the founding ancestor and the Fifth Generation Family Head.

One could well imagine the difficulty of advancing into the Innate realm!

Thinking of this, Zhao Sanchong became even more cautious and respectful toward Ninth Young Master.

"Young Master, this subordinate has found an extremely suspicious location. Fifty li south of Moling City lies a mysterious gorge called Fragrant Swallow Valley.

"This place is shrouded in thick fog all year round. Yet woodcutters often see people coming and going within the valley. Occasionally, they can even see immortals flying down from the sky into the valley. Therefore, this subordinate believes there is an eighty percent chance that Fragrant Swallow Valley is the Wang Family's base."

Zhao Sheng nodded in satisfaction. "You have done well. Once the matter is confirmed, you may return to Zhao Family Fortress to report for duty. At that time, you will be rewarded with thirty mu of arable land, and your monthly salary will increase by twenty taels. In addition, I will permit one of your sons to be entered into the Family tree."

"Many thanks for Young Master's generous reward!" Zhao Sanchong's eyes brimmed with tears of excitement.

Leaving aside everything else, merely being allowed to have one son entered into the Family tree was enough to make him offer up his liver and brains.