Undercurrents Stirring

Shen Feng slowly walked onto the Martial Arts Arena, no longer as calm and composed as before. Every step seemed heavy.

Could I defeat Shen Yun if I were in his place?

He searched his heart and already had his answer.

When the signal to begin rang out, Shen Feng was still thinking about it. The moment he considered the consequences of losing, he could no longer remain calm.

"Not good!"

Only when water arrows filling the sky came hurtling toward him did he snap back to his senses, hastily casting the Fire Wall Technique to defend himself.

Shen Qingruo pressed her palms together. Azure and blue light reflected across the entire arena, like ten thousand arrows fired at once. The Water Arrow Technique and Wood Spear Technique complemented each other, actually suppressing Shen Feng.

"His mind is in turmoil. At this rate, he won't be able to bring out his full strength at all."

Shen Yun stood with his hands behind his back. Under the perception of his Spiritual Sense, every detail entered his view.

Shen Wude said with a grin, "Shen Feng has lived beneath the halo for too long. Glory has already become his obsession."

Just as the two had expected, Shen Feng fell into self-doubt. His Flame Dao Method was far more powerful than Shen Qingruo's, yet he hesitated with every move and his resolve wavered, leaving him unable to defeat her for a long time.

Shen Qingruo, on the other hand, remained unruffled, like a swimming fish weaving through the sea of fire filling the sky.

The Yimu Spirit Body began to show its might. Not only did her spiritual power recover at a rapid pace, but her Wood Element Dao Method was also enhanced. Against Shen Feng, she did not fall behind in the slightest.

Could it be that I am merely mediocre?

Shen Feng had enjoyed smooth sailing since childhood. With the aptitude of a Dual Spirit Root and cultivation that left others far behind, he naturally held pride in his heart.

He had believed the tournament championship was already in the bag. Shen Yun's forceful rise had dealt him a crushing blow, and now even Shen Qingruo could stand toe-to-toe with him. This plunged him into self-doubt.

Shen Feng's focus grew more and more scattered, and his Dao Methods were no longer as smooth as they had been at the start. Gaps appeared in his airtight wall of flames.

"Good chance."

Shen Qingruo's eyes lit up. Under her control, the water arrows traced unimaginable arcs and struck Shen Feng's body.

His right arm was pierced through by a water arrow. Unable to maintain his Dao Method any longer, the fire wall collapsed in an instant.

"Not good!"

Shen Feng hurriedly counterattacked, unleashing the Flame Great Hand once more, but it was already too late.

The Wood Spear Technique arrived in an instant and stopped one inch before his heart. His expression stiffened, and he weakly lowered his hand.

"Shen Feng has lost!"

The result was beyond everyone's expectations. There had just been voices questioning whether Shen Qingkong had gone easy on Shen Qingruo, but now the facts lay before them. Shen Qingruo had defeated the even stronger Shen Feng, and no one dared make another disparaging remark.

Shen Li and Shen Hong wore ugly expressions. Even Shen Feng had been defeated, and not a single person from the Lightning Vein had reached the finals.

The several elders had not expected this either, and they were deeply disappointed by Shen Feng's performance.

"His temperament is so fragile. What a waste of such fine talent."

Shen Leiyuan could not quite save face. Shen Feng had practically been raised by his own hand, yet now he had been defeated by someone below his realm. Did that not mean he had failed in his teachings?

They could see that Shen Feng had not even brought out half his strength. The spiritual power of the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining was more than twice that of the fifth layer—how could he have lost so easily?

Those of the Lightning Vein all looked dejected. Only the Second Elder's eyes were unfathomably deep, revealing a trace of a hidden smile.

The tournament entered the finals, which should have been its most thrilling battle. Yet the many spectators watched until they were drowsy.

"Moistening all things is the true essence of the Dao of Water, while the Dao of Wood should place even greater emphasis on endless growth and renewal..."

Shen Yun only defended and did not attack, pointing out Shen Qingruo's shortcomings. With his current foundation, his guidance came from towering heights, directly striking at the true essence of Dao Methods.

Shen Qingruo listened attentively. Her earnest appearance made her even more captivating, and beneath the azure-blue radiance, she looked like a divine maiden in a painting.

The finals had turned into a lesson match. Fortunately, no admission was charged, or someone would probably have demanded their Spirit Stones back.

"That's enough. If you want to exchange pointers, go somewhere else."

The Fifth Elder could not help shouting. He truly could not bear to watch any longer.

The tournament came to an end amid an absurd atmosphere. Though the result left people speechless, the process had been wonderfully spectacular.

Only by evening did the clamor gradually subside.

Shen Feng wandered alone beneath the moon, a wine cup in hand. He raised his cup to invite the bright moon, looking especially desolate.

"Hahaha! What number one genius? Now I've lost, and I no longer have a place in the core sequence. I'm nothing but a mediocrity."

Shen Feng was drunken and bleary-eyed, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

All of a sudden, a fierce wind swept through the forest. Leaves rustled loudly in the gale, and dust flew up from the ground.

"Who is it?!"

Shen Feng narrowed his eyes. A tall figure emerged from the darkness, and he instinctively raised his guard.

Only after seeing the newcomer clearly did he relax. "Greetings, Second Elder."

Shen Heng stopped before him and said meaningfully, "If the family had allowed you to join the core sequence sooner, today's outcome would not have been like this."

Shen Feng gave a bitter smile. "Perhaps. But it is already too late to say such things."

Shen Heng studied him for a moment, then suddenly said in an unfathomable tone, "You need a higher platform, and I can give you that opportunity."

The night mountain wind carried a chill. Shen Feng shivered slightly as the cold breeze blew away his drunken haze. "What do you mean, Second Elder?"

Shen Heng's gaze was sharp as blazing torches. "Don't you want to clear your father's name? Is the Lone Swan Sword Sect enough for you to realize your ambitions?"

Shen Feng's expression changed drastically. He stared at the other man in disbelief as towering waves surged within his heart.

As though he had not noticed Shen Feng's wariness, Shen Heng muttered to himself, "What a heroic figure Shen Lang was, yet he died to the schemes and treachery of his own people. No wonder your state of mind has become unbalanced."

Shen Feng clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "What does the Second Elder want me to do?"

He had devoted himself to becoming part of the core sequence in order to wipe away his father's humiliation. Otherwise, why would he have become so consumed by gains and losses, only to be defeated by Shen Qingruo in the end?

The Second Elder curled his lips and said unhurriedly, "The Shen-Su Families have already formed an alliance and are preparing to send their younger generation into the Lone Swan Sword Sect. I want you to become a Hidden Agent and gather intelligence on them for me."

Shen Feng frowned deeply, feeling as though he had fallen into a carefully arranged trap. Hesitation showed on his face.

Seeing this, the Second Elder gave a cold smile. "Have you forgotten how Shen Lang died? What treasonous crime? It was nothing more than someone fearing that their own position would not remain secure."

Shen Feng's face twisted savagely. Those words finally made him resolve himself completely. "Fine. I accept your terms."

The Second Elder was not surprised in the least. He took out a black Dharma Talisman and said, "This is a Communication Talisman. I will notify you if anything arises."

Shen Feng accepted the Transmission Talisman. Seeing that the Second Elder had no intention of saying more, he turned and headed down the mountain.

A Moment Later, a hoarse voice rang out. "If he learns that Shen Lang died by your hand, I wonder what expression he will wear."

Shen Heng's face was cold and ruthless. "Shen Lang was too outstanding. He had already affected the Shangguan Family's grand plan. He had to die."

The person in the shadows fell silent for a moment, then Slowly Said, "You have lurked within the Shen Family for an entire sixty years. Just what is the secret within Tianwei Mountain?"

Shen Heng lowered his eyelids and said Word by Word, "I only know that it is related to an ancient Void Immortal. As for the truth, we must ask that Mister Fang."

"Mister Fang..."

The newcomer stepped out from the shadows. She was a short Old Woman in gray robes, leaning on a Skull Cane. Her face, as weathered as tree bark, was filled with apprehension.

"To investigate the secret of Tianwei Mountain, the Lone Swan Sword Sect must deal with Mister Fang," Shen Heng said with a vicious expression, his voice cold. "So the Shen Family must perish. Otherwise, how can the Shangguan Family fish chestnuts from the fire?"

Hearing his words, the Old Woman nodded in agreement and said fiercely, "The Shangguan Family has poured countless efforts into the secret of Tianwei Mountain. Now that Shen Changkong's lifespan is nearing its end, we absolutely cannot allow a second Golden Core to emerge from the Shen Family. Otherwise, all our efforts will come to nothing."

Shen Heng raised his hand, carrying the air of a master strategist with all the pieces in his grasp. "With Shangguan Dongjun stationed in the Lone Swan Sword Sect, the Shen Family's younger generation cannot stir up any waves. And with Shen Feng as our Hidden Agent, he can instead help us pass along false information."

The Old Woman tapped the ground with her Skull Cane and praised him repeatedly. "Fellow Daoist, you are indeed resourceful and farsighted. This old woman shall await the good news."

Shen Heng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the countless lights of the Shen Family below the mountain. The hatred in the bottom of his eyes seemed ready to become substantial.

"Shen Family, you are destined to vanish into ashes in my hands..."