Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 3 Wang Family of Fragrant Swallow Valley

With a lingering grin, Zhao Sheng remarked, "Third brother, you shouldn't mock me; my martial arts skills have seen a massive breakthrough lately. Watch yourself, or you might find yourself defeated by my hand!"

Following his words, Zhao Sheng unsheathed his long sword, tossed the scabbard aside, and leveled the blade's point toward Zhao Zhijing.

"Come!"

Noticing the gravity in the Ninth Young Master's gaze, Zhao Zhijing gave a helpless shake of his head. He assumed the "Phoenix Coming" posture and said with an air of indifference, "Proceed, then. Give it your all!"

Observing the other man's lack of concern, Zhao Sheng grew determined to provide him with a stern lesson.

With a sudden shift in footwork, Zhao Sheng’s form vanished from its original position. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared at Zhao Zhijing's side, his right hand driving the sword toward the throat with the speed of a lightning bolt.

Zhao Zhijing saw nothing but a blur before his vision and let out a startled cry.

But before he could even lift his weapon to parry, the cold, shimmering steel of the long sword was already resting against his skin.

"You have lost!"

Wearing a radiant smile, Zhao Sheng looked at Zhao Zhijing and retracted the Hundred Refinement Sword with a casual motion.

Fast—it was incredibly fast!

The sheer velocity of the move left the spectators in a state of shock.

The Third brother had been defeated without even getting a chance to strike; the onlookers found it hard to believe what they had just witnessed.

A stunned Zhao Zhijing could only stammer, "How... how could your speed be so great?"

"As I mentioned, my martial arts have improved significantly of late," Zhao Sheng answered with composure.

"Could it be that you... experienced a sudden enlightenment?" someone from the crowd suddenly shouted.

"Hmm," Zhao Sheng nodded, confirming the suspicion.

The moment he admitted it, everyone present, including Zhao Zhijing, stared at him with eyes full of envy and resentment.

Within the Martial World, it was widely known that sudden enlightenment was a rare blessing that one could only encounter by luck, never by force.

Once a person underwent such an epiphany, their martial arts would see a meteoric rise, progressing at a staggering rate every single day.

How could such a stroke of fortune happen to the indolent Xiao Jiu? It felt truly unjust!

"I refuse to believe it! Xiao Jiu, spar with me!"

At that moment, Lao Liu, also known as Zhao Zhiping, stepped forward. He was a man of sturdy build and great height, ranking near the top of his generation in terms of martial prowess, second only to two others.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing silently stepped back, his intent clear.

"Sixth brother, feel free to attack!"

Zhao Sheng had come here today specifically to assert his dominance and welcomed any challenge that came his way.

Furthermore, none of the Zhao Family members present were worthy of his admiration; he viewed them all as mediocre talents.

"Good!"

With a roar, Zhao Zhiping lunged forward, executing the White Rainbow Piercing the Sun technique, aiming his blade directly at Zhao Sheng's chest.

Foolish!

The moment his opponent initiated the move, Zhao Sheng cursed silently.

White Rainbow Piercing the Sun was intended to be nimble and swift, yet Zhao Zhiping performed it with brute force and heavy power, completely losing the essence of the technique.

The Zhao Family had grown far too arrogant over the years, clearly failing to properly train the younger generation.

Sigh, things needed to change.

Zhao Sheng breathed a silent sigh and, with a flick of his wrist, met the incoming attack with the back of his blade. With a subtle vibration and a deft redirection, he neutralized Zhao Zhiping’s momentum with ease.

Then,

A sudden flash of sword light emerged, drifting like thin mist—seemingly sluggish yet actually reaching its mark in an instant. It bypassed Zhao Zhiping’s guard effortlessly, the tip of the blade pressing firmly against the man's chest.

"Sixth brother, this is the proper way to execute White Rainbow Piercing the Sun," Zhao Sheng remarked with indifference.

Hearing those words, Zhao Zhiping’s face turned a deep shade of crimson, and he retreated in a mix of shame and fury.

"Does anyone else wish to try?"

Zhao Sheng scanned the crowd calmly, his Hundred Refinement Sword held slightly aloft.

This was impossible!

In a mere two days, Xiao Jiu’s abilities had reached such a profound level.

Was sudden enlightenment truly so potent that it could entirely reshape a person in such a short span of time?

The evidence was undeniable, however, as every other challenger who stepped up was soundly defeated.

Indeed, the younger generation of the Zhao family was rightfully bested.

In fact, if one were to exclude the boost from Inner True Qi and focus solely on technical skill, there were no more than three people in the family who could hold out for a hundred moves against Zhao Sheng.

Following this display, the news of Zhao Sheng's incredible martial advancement spread like wildfire through Zhao Family’s Castle.

A few skeptical young masters and ladies tried to test him themselves, only to retreat while hiding their faces in embarrassment.

Three days later, Zhao Sheng’s status was quietly reinstated to its former glory, and his monthly stipend was even raised to two hundred taels.

He was quite satisfied with this outcome; the First Lady was truly a capable matriarch, being both intelligent and pragmatic enough to handle the situation with precision.

Two days afterward, sword in hand, Zhao Sheng went to see Zhao Hetai, the manager of the third house. The details of their private discussion remained a mystery to all but those involved.

However, that very evening, Zhao Hetai paid a sudden visit to the Family Head, Zhao Hexing.

After a short talk, Zhao Hexing took it upon himself to summon all house managers and Elders for a clandestine meeting.

Within a few days, all gossip regarding the Ninth Young Master vanished. No one spoke of the recent events ever again.

In a clan, if some members represent the "face," others must serve as the "inside." The face must remain spotless, and if blood is spilled, the inside must be there to catch it. If the inside fails to contain the mess and it leaks to the surface, the family risks ruin.

Zhao Sheng chose to quietly become the "inside" for the Nanyang Zhao Family.

Having experienced three lifetimes, he had long since moved past the desire for fame or wealth. What was a lifetime of prestige compared to the pursuit of immortality?

In this reincarnation, he had but one objective: to become a Cultivator.

...

Spring turned to autumn as time marched on; in a flash, another three years had slipped away.

While the name of Zhao Zhijing, the "Jade Sword Young Master," became famous throughout the Ganzhou Martial World, a simple carriage rolled slowly through the gates of Moling City, eventually halting before a three-story tavern.

"Young Master, we have arrived," Zhao Xiaobao announced as he leaped from the driver's seat, addressing the occupant with deep respect.

Three years had transformed Zhao Xiaobao into a handsome and capable young man.

As for his master, Zhao Sheng...

When the carriage curtain was pulled back, a remarkably handsome youth with a tall, elegant stature stepped out.

"Let us go inside."

With those words, Zhao Sheng led the way into the establishment.

This inn, known as the Yuelai Inn, served as a hidden base for the Zhao Family's operations in Moling City.

The moment the master and servant appeared, the shopkeeper quickly escorted them into a private, secure chamber.

As soon as Zhao Sheng took his seat, the shopkeeper, Zhao Sanchong, immediately moved to drop to his knees in greeting.

Zhao Sheng reached out to steady him, releasing a thread of azure True Qi that physically prevented the man from kneeling. He said, "Skip the formalities; tell me what you have found."

"True Qi externalization?!" Zhao Sanchong was struck with awe. He had not anticipated that the Ninth Young Master, not even twenty years old, would have reached such a high level of Cultivation.

It was common knowledge in the Martial World that only peak-level experts could project their True Qi outside the body.

Even more startling was the fact that the Ninth Young Master was only eighteen!

The revival of the Zhao family is within reach! Zhao Sanchong thought with great excitement.

For two centuries, many in the Zhao family had pursued martial arts, producing several experts, yet only two had ever reached the level of Innate Grandmaster: the founding ancestor and the fifth Family Head.

The path to the Innate realm was notoriously difficult.

With this realization, Zhao Sanchong became even more humble and attentive toward the Ninth Young Master.

"Young Master, I have located a very suspicious site. Fifty miles to the south of this city lies a strange canyon known as Fragrant Swallow Valley.

The place is constantly buried under a thick mist, yet local woodcutters claim to see figures moving within. Occasionally, they even witness Immortals descending from the heavens. Because of this, I am eighty percent certain that Fragrant Swallow Valley is a stronghold for the Wang Family."

Zhao Sheng nodded in approval. "You have done well. Once this is fully verified, you may return to Zhao Family’s Castle to report. I will reward you with thirty acres of prime land and a monthly raise of twenty taels. Furthermore, I grant you the right to enter one of your sons into the official family genealogy."

"I thank the Young Master for his immense kindness!" Zhao Sanchong replied, his eyes welling with tears of gratitude.

The promise of land and money was one thing, but the chance to have his son officially recognized in the clan genealogy was a gift beyond measure.