City God Temple, guest courtyard.
Shen Zhui returned once more to the courtyard where he had been staying.
"Good heavens, Shen Zhui, you reached Peak Houtian so quickly?" Separated by a low wall, Zhao Hu stared at Shen Zhui in astonishment.
"Brother Hu, this is considered slow. I spent a full two hundred thousand taels at the Yun Family Merchant Guild." Shen Zhui said helplessly.
From the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm to Peak Houtian, there was practically no bottleneck. It was only because the Blood Burning Art progressed too quickly in its early stages that more resources were needed later to mend hidden injuries. Otherwise, with any other normal cultivation art, he would have broken through to Peak Houtian long ago.
"Then why have you come here?"
Shen Zhui said, "Of course, to give it a try and see whether I can take another step forward."
Borrowing the power of deities through summoning also depended on the user's realm. Someone like Yan You, who had reached Peak Houtian, could perform the Second Summon of Deity.
Now that Shen Zhui had also reached Peak Houtian, and had long since made half the progress toward the Third Summon, he naturally had to come try it.
Zhao Hu gave him a thumbs-up, then suddenly asked, "Shen, you're eighteen, right?"
Shen Zhui nodded. "Once the New Year passes, I'll be eighteen."
"Got a girl you fancy?"
"...No." Shen Zhui shook his head. For the past few years, he had lived with his life on the blade's edge; he truly had not given such matters much thought.
"What a pity my daughter is a little too young. Han Mao has a niece, though. She's about your age, only two years younger than you, Shen. She's quite a catch—well-read and polite, refined on the outside