"Don't ask why. After you accept it, go to the Taiwu Sect. If they don't let you join, give them the Golden Spirit Fruit in exchange for a chance to take the entrance exam. I believe with your talents, you will definitely pass," Shen Xiang said.
Leng Youlan was taken aback; she found it hard to believe that Shen Xiang would help her so much.
"Youlan, your father, General Leng, died on the battlefield a few years ago. It hasn't been easy for you to come all this way alone. How about we become sworn siblings? I'll also be heading to the Taiwu Sect, so we can look out for each other!" Shen Xiang thought of Leng Youlan's background and, seeing her lonely and pitiful state, couldn't help but have this idea.
Leng Youlan was momentarily stunned, biting her lip as her eyes brimmed with tears. But she smiled at Shen Xiang and said, "Younger sister pays her respects to elder brother!"
Shen Xiang grinned, "Youlan, you have the Ice and Fire Physique. You can only find a future in those martial arts sects. I will do my best to help you."
Previously, Leng Youlan had harbored some doubts, but now she no longer suspected Shen Xiang had ulterior motives for her. She understood Shen Xiang's current status; a man like him would not lack for women, and men of such status would not do foolish things for a woman.
Though they had just met, they had been aware of each other for a long time, and now, upon meeting, it felt as if they had known each other forever!
Shen Xiang's help and the care he showed her deeply moved her. This was the first time since her father's death that someone had offered her such significant help, so she was more than willing to be Shen Xiang's younger sister. Long before this, she had already been impressed by Shen Xiang's strength and secretly admired him.
"Brother, I will definitely remember your kindness! I'll set off right now; my internal condition is somewhat complicated, and I don't want to delay any longer. Remember to help me teach that Song Nanming a good lesson!" Leng Youlan smiled at Shen Xiang and said.
"Youlan, take this. Be careful on your journey!" Shen Xiang said as he handed her a small jade vial filled with high-quality pills, which moved Leng Youlan greatly.
Leng Youlan's father had died on the battlefield three years ago, and over the years, she had been struggling alone to improve her strength, showing how strong-willed she was.
Her eyes moistened again as she nodded, saying, "Please allow me to pay my respects to you."
Shen Xiang immediately hugged her and laughed, "My good sister, there's no need for that! Be careful on your way!"
"I will definitely become strong, and you must come find me!" Leng Youlan wiped her tears, her heart filled with joy at the feeling of being cared for again.
"Mm! I will definitely come," Shen Xiang said as he stroked her soft white hair.
"Brother, how about I don't leave just yet? I know about your grievances with the Yao family, and I might be able to help you!" Leng Youlan's demeanor changed back to her previous pride, filled with fighting spirit and looking like a female warrior, though her gaze toward Shen Xiang remained gentle.
Shen Xiang shook his head with a smile. "No need; our Shen family can handle it. Your health is the priority."
Leng Youlan bit her cherry lips, resolutely saying, "Brother, in the future, I will fight alongside you and never hold you back."
Shen Xiang nodded with satisfaction and asked, "You know the way, right?"
"Yes, I've already gathered information about various sects. Although the road is a bit perilous, I can manage it; you don't need to worry!" Leng Youlan replied.
Shen Xiang escorted Leng Youlan out of the city, watching her ride away on a swift horse…
In the afternoon, Shen Xiang had his match. To his amusement, when he arrived at the martial arts stage, he was informed that his opponent had forfeited.
His strength was well-known, and the bloody scene from yesterday when he killed Yao Cong was still fresh in everyone's mind, causing fear towards Shen Xiang's capabilities.
Now that he had reached the finals, it was a match between him and Crown Prince Song Nanming, which made everyone very curious. Many believed the prince's strength was unfathomable because he had defeated Leng Youlan and was the crown prince of Nanshu Kingdom, possessing ample resources and having learned many formidable martial arts.
But Shen Xiang knew that the prince was not as strong as Leng Youlan; he merely relied on some despicable tricks. Shen Xiang had long since decided that if the prince used those ice needles against him, he would not show any mercy.
In the days since the Danwang Pavilion opened, business had been booming, drawing away many of the Yao family's customers. Shen Xiang was worried that Shen Furong, an elder from the Shen family, hadn't taken any action. He had just killed an important member of the Yao family yesterday, and based on Shen Furong's past behavior, he should have come to the Danwang Pavilion to cause trouble.
Shen Xiang guessed that there must be some reason behind it, and he also received word from his father that most of the capable members of the Shen family were already on their way, and they would arrive in the royal city soon, coming in secret.
That night, while cultivating in his secret chamber, Shen Xiang suddenly sensed several auras of the eighth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm appearing in the Danwang Pavilion. He was startled awake and hurried out of the chamber, following the auras to the main hall.
"Father!" Shen Xiang exclaimed in surprise, then looked at the other people, among them two middle-aged men and three elders.
"Uncle Yihan, Uncle Haohai, Grand Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder!" Shen Xiang was astonished and hurriedly bowed to these elders. Except for Shen Haohai, Shen Yihan and the other three elders were all at the seventh level of the Ordinary Martial Realm, but they had now reached the eighth level!
"Brat, that thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Grass is still effective, right?" Shen Haohai laughed. He had felt quite distressed when he lost to Shen Xiang that day, but now, seeing the scale of the Danwang Pavilion, he was amazed.
Shen Yihan smiled slyly and said, "I didn't expect you to establish such a pill shop in such a short time and to have drawn in someone like the Dan Wang. Our Shen family will definitely become the strongest family in Nanshu Kingdom."
The other three elders chimed in with praise.
A bald old man said, "The Yao family is a major obstacle to our Shen family entering the royal city, and so is Shen Furong!"
"Grand Elder is right. Luckily, we were able to get in touch with an ancestor of the Shen family. He helped us break through to the eighth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm with spirit pills! He can't interfere in worldly affairs, so he let us clean up the house and take care of Shen Furong…" The Second Elder made a "kill" gesture.
Shen Xiang frowned and asked, "What's Shen Furong's strength? How many people have come from our Shen family?"
Shen Tianhu replied, "We brought three hundred elite disciples, all above the fourth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm, along with us old geezers."
Shen Tianhu was also at the eighth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm. Now the Shen family had six eighth-level warriors. With Shen Xiang included, that made seven—a formidable force in the Nanshu Kingdom.
"Shen Furong's strength is probably at the ninth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm. If we six join forces, we might barely hold him off," the Grand Elder said with a serious expression.
Shen Xiang smiled slightly, "If a conflict breaks out between the Shen and Yao families, you all can just rush into the Yao family. Leave Shen Furong to me!"
Shen Tianhu and the others were momentarily stunned, their mouths agape in shock.
"Son… did you break through to the ninth level of the Ordinary Martial Realm?" Shen Tianhu asked in astonishment.
Shen Xiang's lips curled into a slight smile. "I'm only at the eighth level, but I think I should be able to hold Shen Furong off for a while. That way, you elders can overwhelm the Yao family with your strength."
Shen Tianhu sighed in relief. If Shen Xiang had reached the ninth level at his age, they'd have to find a tofu block to smash their heads against. But the fact that Shen Xiang had reached the eighth level still astonished them. They all understood that Shen Xiang's strength couldn't be judged by normal standards. He had defeated Shen Yihan, who was at the seventh level, when he was only at the fifth level. Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines.
Shen Tianhu and the others left to lead the three hundred elites to ambush outside the Yao family's square tomorrow, while Shen Xiang adjusted his state to prepare for all kinds of situations the next day.