I Want to 'Verify the Cards'

Not long after.

On the yellow earth training ground.

Shen Zhou threw punches over and over, familiarizing himself with his body and strength after his breakthrough.

Beside him, Dongfang Pangpang couldn't stop sighing. "I thought breaking through one realm in a month was already impressive, but you've gone and broken through two in a single month, leaping from Blood Coagulation Fourth Realm to Blood Coagulation Sixth Realm. And on top of that, your 'Golden Body Art' has broken through to the second layer, 'Stone Skin Realm.'

Be honest with me, just what kind of monster are you?"

Shen Zhou shot him a glare and ignored him.

But the reason he could break through so quickly was, of course, because of his second Entry, 'Daily Enlightenment,' combined with the 'Wild Desolate Art.'

'Daily Enlightenment' let him learn anything fast, and even when he was just training, it put him in an excellent state. The 'Wild Desolate Art' could refine essence into qi; as long as his body could handle it, he could keep supplementing with food, refining that essence, and feeding it back into his flesh in a continuous cycle.

Add to that medicinal baths and the various rare herbs and beast meat the Qin Family sent over for him to use freely, and it was no wonder Shen Zhou had achieved such astonishing cultivation speed.

It was also for this reason that Shen Zhou no longer felt so resistant to becoming the Qin Family head.

After all, he who eats the food is soft, and he who takes the gifts is short.

Just as he finished his punches, Qin Mingyue walked over gracefully carrying a tea tray. When she reached the two of them, she smiled gently and said, "I just brewed some top-grade Golden Silk Tea. It'll help regulate your qi and blood. Come, give it a try."

Come to think of it, ever since they returned from North Mountain Mine, Qin Mingyue had been treating Shen Zhou better and better.

Every day, she washed his clothes, cooked his meals, brought him tea and water, and at night she made his bed and folded his blankets, taking care of his daily needs with meticulous attention.

Dongfang Pangpang had teased him more than once, saying that Qin Mingyue was like Shen Zhou's little wife now—so gentle and obedient, a far cry from the cold, icy person she'd been when they first met.

After Qin Mingyue finished pouring the tea, cleaned up the tea set, and left, Dongfang Pangpang couldn't help but rib him again. "Shen Zhou, your little wife treats you this well—when are you two getting married?"

Shen Zhou was taken aback. "I never said I was going to marry her."

Dongfang Pangpang looked puzzled. "I remember back when the Qin Family set up the arena for the sword-pulling, they promised that whoever pulled the sword would not only get the Qin Family's full support and resources but also marry the Qin Family's jewel. Are they trying to back out? No, that doesn't fit either. If they wanted to renege, they wouldn't have let Qin Mingyue follow you around, and they definitely wouldn't be making you the family head."

Shen Zhou said, "Stop thinking about it. It's me who doesn't want to."

Dongfang Pangpang was surprised. "You don't want to? Why?"

Shen Zhou replied, "It's hard to explain to you. Just think of it as me not being interested in her."

Dongfang Pangpang was dumbfounded.

What the hell? The number one beauty in Flying Bird City, and someone actually wasn't interested?

If it had been anyone else, he would have thought they were crazy.

But when it came to Shen Zhou, he somehow found it reasonable.

Shen Zhou's way of thinking was sometimes really hard to understand.

Dongfang Pangpang shook his head and asked again, "Since you're not interested in her, then why does she follow you around and treat you so well?"

At that, Shen Zhou looked in the direction Qin Mingyue had gone and said with a curious expression, "Yeah, why does she? It can't be that she's after my good looks, can it?"

Dongfang Pangpang gave Shen Zhou a disdainful once-over, then flipped him off. "Pfft, shameless!"

Shen Zhou chuckled.

Then, as he watched the direction Qin Mingyue had left, his eyes slowly narrowed.

In truth, ever since the incident on Martial Hall Street, Shen Zhou had suspected Qin Mingyue's motives for getting close to him. It was just that a series of events had delayed his investigation.

Later, he'd been too busy cultivating to pay her any mind.

But recently, Qin Mingyue had been doting on him more and more, to the point that even the people around him were starting to notice something unusual. This forced Shen Zhou to take the matter seriously again.

"Looks like it's time to 'check the card,'" Shen Zhou thought, a plan forming in his mind.

That afternoon.

The sun was warm, and the breeze was gentle.

Shen Zhou wore a simple set of plain clothes, his hair tied up in a bun with a hairpin. He was on the training ground, loosening up his muscles by practicing with the Taixuan Sword. Before long, Dongfang Pangpang came over.

Seeing the Taixuan Sword in Shen Zhou's hand, Dongfang Pangpang's hands itched with desire. He swallowed his pride and sidled up. "Shen Zhou, when I first came to Flying Bird City, it's a pity you'd already pulled the sword. Otherwise, with my talent, maybe the Taixuan Sword would have acknowledged me as its master.

How about letting me give it a try?"

Dongfang Pangpang had asked to try the sword many times before, but Shen Zhou had never agreed. After the mine incident, their relationship had grown closer. Seeing how badly the guy wanted it, Shen Zhou smiled and tossed the Taixuan Sword over. "Fine, I'm tired of practicing anyway. I'll take a nap. Go ahead and try."

With that, Shen Zhou walked over to a big tree beside the training ground, lay down on a reclining chair, and settled in.

Dongfang Pangpang caught the sword with a grin and started swinging it around.

But after a couple of moves, he looked disappointed. "Why isn't it reacting?"

He refused to give up. He tried all sorts of methods—channeling his qi, dripping blood on it—but nothing made the Taixuan Sword respond.

Finally, Dongfang Pangpang gave up. "Forget it. Maybe this sword really isn't for me."

He turned around to return the sword, but when he looked back, Shen Zhou had fallen asleep in the reclining chair. It seemed he was truly exhausted; there was even a faint snore.

Dongfang Pangpang shook his head helplessly. "This guy trains so hard every day. I thought he was made of iron, but I guess even he gets tired."

With that, he leaned the sword against the side of Shen Zhou's lounger and said, "Shen Zhou, I'm leaving the sword here for you. I'm off now."

Shen Zhou let out a half-asleep grunt in response, then drifted back to sleep.

Dongfang Pangfang didn't think much of it and turned to leave.

The training ground fell silent, leaving only Shen Zhou alone, surrounded by an unusual stillness.

Before long, a figure appeared carrying a plate of pastries.

Qin Mingyue!

Arriving under the large tree, she looked at Shen Zhou resting there and intended to wake him. But just as she was about to speak, her gaze suddenly fell on the black, fire-poker-like iron sword placed beside the lounger.

In an instant, Qin Mingyue froze.

The words she wanted to say caught in her throat, and in the end, she swallowed them back down.

Taixuan Sword!

The ancestral divine weapon!

Qin Mingyue's expression shifted sharply.

Ever since Shen Zhou had defeated her with a single strike back at the Qin Family, resentment had festered in her heart.

Why?

Why was she, a descendant of the Qin Family, unable to earn the recognition of the ancestral divine weapon?

Why could an outsider, relying on that same divine weapon, possess such overwhelming, heaven-defying strength?

So at that moment, a bold idea had taken root in her mind.

She would seize the sword!

That was why she later told her great-aunt that she was willing to follow Shen Zhou.

That was why she later obeyed all of Shen Zhou's arrangements.

That was why she swallowed her pride, willing to serve him like a maid or servant, tending to his daily needs.

All of this was merely to get close to him, to observe him, and then to seize the sword when the chance came.

When she watched Shen Zhou temper his body and circulate his energy day after day, never once practicing swordsmanship, she had speculated that perhaps the Sword Spirit had not fully acknowledged him yet. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Sword Spirit have passed down the ancestor's technique, the Taixuan Sword Scripture?

Otherwise, why would he abandon the near for the distant and choose body refinement instead?

As long as the Sword Spirit hadn't fully accepted Shen Zhou, she still had a chance.

To that end, she had even spared no expense to acquire a thousand-year-old Ancient Cultivation Secret Art, one that could help her awaken the Sword Spirit.

Once she could establish communication with the Sword Spirit, Qin Mingyue believed that with her Qin Family bloodline, she would surely earn the Taixuan Sword's choice and recognition.

At the very least, Shen Zhou would no longer be the only option.

But all of this hinged on one condition: she had to get her hands on the Taixuan Sword first.

And now, the Taixuan Sword was right before her eyes!

Qin Mingyue instinctively reached out her hand.

Then she hesitated.

A woman's intuition told her this was a trap, a test from Shen Zhou.

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that Shen Zhou, who always stored his sword within his body, would leave it so carelessly out in the open?

Yet, staring at the Taixuan Sword so close at hand, she feared that if she let this chance slip by, she might never have such a good opportunity to approach it again.

"Forget it. Even if it's a trap, I'll accept it. As long as I get the Taixuan Sword, as long as I earn the Sword Spirit's recognition, everything after that won't be a problem."

Qin Mingyue made up her mind and grabbed the Taixuan Sword.

With the sword in her hand, she felt a surge of excitement, but she quickly forced herself to calm down. Without wasting any time, she immediately dripped blood onto it to claim ownership.

She tried to use her bloodline power to awaken the Sword Spirit, and at the same time, test once more whether she was the destined wielder of the Taixuan Sword.

But the blood dripped onto it, and there was no reaction at all.

"Still no good, huh?"

"Then I'll have to use the secret art to awaken the Sword Spirit!"

Qin Mingyue didn't let herself dwell on disappointment. She raised the sword and slashed her own palm, letting the blood flow freely.

At that moment, Qin Mingyue was frighteningly calm and decisive.

Then, she quickly formed hand seals.

As one profound, intricate, and bizarre hand seal after another took shape, the blood on her hand seemed to come alive, moving on its own toward the Taixuan Sword. On the sword's blade, it gradually condensed into a talisman glowing with a blood-red light.

The atmosphere turned eerie and uncanny.

"Condense!"

Finally, Qin Mingyue let out a low shout. The talisman on the Taixuan Sword seemed to activate, suddenly bursting with brilliant light.

The Taixuan Sword trembled violently and let out a resonant hum.

Like a sleeping person suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water.

An angry, loli-like voice then came from within the sword body: "How dare you, you bad guy, why did you disturb my slumber? You... eh, who are you?"

Hearing this voice, Qin Mingyue's eyes lit up. "It worked—the Sword Spirit has been awakened!"

But just as she was rejoicing, a voice suddenly came from behind her, and its opening words made her expression shift drastically.

"So you really were after the Taixuan Sword."

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