Sent to Mine

The two faced off, powerful spiritual energy rising around them and whipping up enormous waves.

Hearing the threat, the Third Prince sneered. "He dared lay his hands on Qianluo. The fact that I didn't kill him was already giving the Shen Family face."

The Guard Team could no longer hold back upon hearing such rampant words and were about to draw their swords.

Shen Li narrowed his eyes. He was the first to regain his calm, sizing up the Third Prince.

Judging by his attire, he should be one of Great Zhou's high-ranking nobles. At such a young age, he possesses this level of cultivation... among those I know, there are only a few possibilities.

Thoughts flashed through Shen Li's mind. After eliminating possibilities, he thought of someone and could not help testing the waters. "Could you be His Highness the Third Prince?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Guard Team's expressions changed sharply. They immediately withdrew their Murderous Aura; clearly, events had developed far beyond their expectations.

The strength of the Great Zhou Imperial Family was plain for all to see. Compared with the Shen Family, it was superior in every respect.

The resources provided by countless millions of citizens were an unimaginably vast sum. Not to mention that the imperial family's Old Ancestor was a legendary Great Golden Core Cultivator, someone the Shen Family was absolutely in no position to challenge.

The later stage of every realm was also called the Great Cultivator realm. A Great Golden Core Cultivator was an apex existence with hopes of reaching Nascent Soul. Even the Lone Swan Sword Sect had to treat one with caution.

The Third Prince, Zhou Ziyou, possessed outstanding talent and was deeply trusted by the Human Emperor. No one wished to offend such a great figure.

When Zhou Ziyou nodded, Shen Li could not help cursing inwardly. Those two idiots couldn't even keep their eyes open. They dared offend just anyone.

He felt as though he had been handed a scorching hot potato. Backing down would damage the Shen Family's prestige, yet pressing the matter meant confronting the Third Prince. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Shen Kuangtao had only just awakened from his shock. Upon hearing that he had offended Great Zhou's Third Prince, his whole body convulsed, and he fainted again.

It was Shen Yun who stepped forward to ease the situation, pointing at Shen Kuangtao as he said, "This person has some grievances with me, so he took this opportunity to strike back at me. Captain Shen Li can investigate the matter."

"Oh!? Such a thing happened?"

With someone providing him a way out, Shen Li's spirits immediately rose. Seeing Shen Kuangtao making a complete fool of himself, he said with a look of disgust, "Who is this man, to dare behave in such a manner? He has gravely violated the Clan Rules and must be severely punished."

A quick-witted guard immediately said, "His name is Shen Kuangtao. He only has Qi Refining First Layer cultivation and only wormed his way into the Guard Team through connections. We've long found him unpleasant."

It took Shen Qingshu quite a while to climb up from the ground. With bitterness on his face, he said, "I was the one who brought Shen Kuangtao into the Guard Team. Please punish me, Captain."

His guts had turned green with regret. Shen Yun was not only exceptionally gifted, but also knew an important figure like the Third Prince. He had to be out of his mind to wade into this muddy water.

I should draw a clear line between myself and Shen Qiu from now on.

Shen Qingshu sighed inwardly, finding his previous habit of bending with the wind rather laughable.

Shen Li folded his arms over his chest and said in a deep voice, "You failed to judge a person properly. Your salary will be docked for one year as a warning to others. As for a black sheep like Shen Kuangtao, send him to mine for me. The Gengjin Ore Vein happens to be short on workers recently. Release him after three years."

Upon hearing this punishment, everyone could not help shuddering.

Gengjin ore was incomparably hard, and spiritual energy had to be used throughout the entire mining process. Even a man of iron could not endure a full day of it. Over time, one's cultivation would even regress. It was the Shen Family's cruelest punishment.

They carried away the half-dead Shen Kuangtao. Shen Li laughed heartily and said, "The criminal has already been sentenced. Is the Third Prince satisfied with this?"

Zhou Ziyou did not answer. Instead, he turned and asked gently, "Qianluo, what do you think?"

Lin Qianluo lifted her eyes and said calmly, "This is enough. Don't cause trouble for Yun again."

Only then did Zhou Ziyou nod. "I had no wish for conflict. It was simply that fellow who kept pressing too hard. Please convey my intentions on my behalf, Captain Shen Li."

Shen Li breathed a sigh of relief and laughed loudly. "Your Highness is too courteous. We were at fault first in this matter. Please be magnanimous."

The disturbance thus subsided. Shen Kuangtao slowly came to, and upon hearing that he was to be banished to the mines, he looked as though his parents had died, howling and wailing like a ghost.

Shen Li was closest to him, and the ringing in his ears grew so loud that he directly slapped Shen Kuangtao unconscious. The world became quiet once more.

Only then did everyone realize that Shen Yun was not only extraordinarily talented, but also had an extremely formidable background. They immediately marked him down as someone not to be provoked.

Within Misty Peak, Shen Qiu learned of the news. There was not a trace of expression on his face, and he remained utterly unruffled, as though he had undergone a Heaven Overturning transformation.

He was currently cultivating in a detached courtyard. Judging by his Aura, he had already broken through to the Second Layer of Qi Refining and was only one step away from the Qi Refining Third Layer.

Before him floated a mass of pitch-black mist—deep, dark, and mysterious, as if it had come from beneath the Nine Nethers. Vaguely, the face of a woman could be seen within it.

"That Shen Yun is your opponent?"

The woman's voice was ethereal, as though it had drifted from antiquity, echoing through the courtyard.

Shen Qiu nodded. Since the day of the test, this mysterious being who called herself Azure Venerable had appeared before him and had remained lodged within his Sea of Qi ever since.

Azure Venerable said she could offer him help, but the price of every intervention was a karmic debt.

Shen Qiu did not understand what she meant. He guessed that she was likely some sort of ancient Remnant Soul, and he both guarded against her and sought to make use of her.

Azure Venerable seemed to know what he was thinking and said faintly, "By your description, he should possess a spirit body."

At the words "spirit body," Shen Qiu immediately asked, "What is a spirit body? A special kind of physique?"

"Correct. The body is like a Treasure Vault, and cultivation is the process of constantly unlocking it. A spirit body is like being born with the key to that vault."

"A powerful spirit body can make cultivation Half the Effort, Double the Result. The Shen Yun you described should possess one; otherwise, someone with a Three-Attribute Spirit Root could not possibly cultivate to the Qi Refining Third Layer in a month."

"..."

Hearing Azure Venerable's explanation, Shen Qiu could not help murmuring, "So this is what gives you confidence. No wonder you are always so calm and composed. In your eyes, I'm probably just a clown capering on a stage."

Shen Qiu clenched his fists. He had once believed he had long surpassed that figure, but it had only been wishful thinking.

Azure Venerable took everything in and said faintly, "Your aptitude is far beyond his. There is no need to belittle yourself."

Shen Qiu's expression changed abruptly, and he asked urgently, "What do you mean by that?"

"For ordinary people, allowing their Dao Heart to fall into darkness is no different from seeking their own death. But you are different. Negative emotions will instead unleash your true potential."

"You possess the Nine Nether Spirit Body, and that is why I appeared." After a pause, her tone became incomparably solemn. "I can help you walk a path of legend."

Azure Venerable's words contained a great deal of information, and Shen Qiu's expression changed again and again.

"So I possess a spirit body as well. Shen Yun, I am no worse than you." Shen Qiu clenched his fists and asked, "What exactly is this path of legend that Venerable speaks of?"

Azure Venerable's voice became increasingly ethereal as she recounted an ancient secret. "Why were the ancient prodigies undefeated among those of the same realm, able to sweep across all before them without equal? It was because they could fuse multiple kinds of spiritual energy into one furnace and achieve ultimate sublimation. And you barely possess the qualifications to walk this path."

Shen Qiu Took a Deep Breath, catching certain clues from her words. "Spiritual energy can actually be fused? Wouldn't that directly multiply its power?"

Azure Venerable affirmed, "Correct. You possess the Nine Nether Spirit Body. Although your spirit root aptitude leaves something to be desired, you can barely cultivate two layers of spiritual energy."

Shen Qiu's face lit up with delight. "Once I cultivate two layers of spiritual energy, will I be able to defeat Shen Yun?"

Hearing this, Azure Venerable laughed disdainfully. "An existence like him would be as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns even in ancient times, qualified to ascend among Extreme Realm Prodigies. If you had two layers of spiritual energy, you could defeat him in a single breath."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiu said decisively, "Please guide me, Venerable."

The woman in the black mist cast him a half-smiling glance and said faintly, "Rest assured. With This Seat making a move, Shen Yun is nothing but Worthless Trash. The price is only one karmic debt. That is quite a bargain, is it not?"

Her words were filled with temptation, as though they could stir the deepest desires hidden within one's heart.

Shen Qiu was slightly dazed. Thinking of Shen Qingruo's radiant face, he said in a deep voice, "I agree to your terms."

"Then let us begin."

As Azure Venerable's voice fell, black mist enveloped Shen Qiu. His body became secluded and deathly still as his Aura underwent a transformation.

"Shen Yun, at the Family Grand Competition, I will definitely defeat you."