Chapter 3 Wang Family of Fragrant Swallow Valley

Zhao Sheng still smiled and said, "Third brother, don't laugh at me, my martial arts have greatly improved recently. Be careful or you might lose to me later!"

After speaking, Zhao Sheng drew his long sword, cast aside the scabbard, and aimed the tip at Zhao Zhijing.

"Come on!"

Seeing the seriousness in Ninth's expression, Zhao Zhijing shook his head helplessly and after assuming the "Phoenix Coming" stance, he said unconcernedly, "Come on, just do your best!"

Zhao Sheng, seeing the other's careless demeanor, was determined to teach him a profound lesson.

With a misstep, Zhao Sheng's figure suddenly disappeared from its spot, and the next instant, he abruptly appeared beside Zhao Zhijing, his right hand thrusting a sword at the throat, as fast as lightning.

Zhao Zhijing only saw a blur before his eyes and instantly cried out in alarm.

However, before he could raise his sword to change his move, a cold, brilliant long sword had already rested on his neck.

"You've lost!"

Zhao Sheng, with a beaming smile, looked at Zhao Zhijing and casually took back the Hundred Refinement Sword.

Fast, incredibly fast!

So fast that it stunned the onlookers.

Third brother had lost without even making a move, everyone simply couldn't believe their eyes.

Zhao Zhijing, greatly startled, couldn't help but ask, "How... how could you be so fast?"

"I just said, my martial arts have greatly improved recently," Zhao Sheng replied calmly.

"Could it be you... had a sudden enlightenment?" someone suddenly shouted from the side.

"Hmm," Zhao Sheng nodded, affirming it.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone including Zhao Zhijing looked at him with envy and jealousy.

It was rumored in the Martial World that sudden enlightenment was something you could encounter but not seek.

Once someone had a sudden enlightenment, their martial arts would dramatically improve afterward, advancing at a rapid pace every day.

How could such good fortune fall on the lazy Xiao Jiu? It truly seemed unfair!

"I don't believe it! Xiao Jiu, come and spar with me!"

At that moment, Lao Liu, Zhao Zhiping, jumped out. He was tall and strong, ranking among the highest in martial prowess among his peers, aside from two others.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing silently made way, the meaning of his action was self-evident.

"Sixth brother, come and attack!"

Zhao Sheng was here today to establish his authority and did not fear any challenges.

Besides, no one in the Zhao Family here today was worthy of his respect; they were all ineffectual fellows.

Good!

Zhao Zhiping roared and lunged with his sword, executing the White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, his sword tip thrusting directly at Zhao Sheng's chest.

Fool!

As soon as the opponent's sword move was made, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but curse inwardly.

White Rainbow Piercing the Sun was supposed to be light and fast, but in Zhao Zhiping's hands, it was executed with ferocity and overwhelming power, completely deviating from its essence.

The Zhao Family had gotten too complacent over the years, really neglecting the education of the younger generation.

Sigh, it needed to change!

Zhao Sheng sighed inwardly and with a flick of his sword, the back of his blade met the opponent's blade. Then with a slight tremor, a flick, and a release, he effortlessly neutralized Zhao Zhiping's force.

Then,

suddenly, a streak of sword light, like light smoke and thin mist, seemingly slow but actually fast, easily broke through Zhao Zhiping's defense, the sword tip firmly pressing against his chest.

"Sixth brother, this is how White Rainbow Piercing the Sun should be executed!" Zhao Sheng said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiping instantly turned beet red, stepped back in humiliation and anger.

"Who else wants to try?"

Zhao Sheng looked around calmly, his Hundred Refinement Sword slightly raised.

Impossible!

In just two days, Xiao Jiu's skills have become so profound.

Could sudden enlightenment truly be this powerful, transforming a person completely in just a few days?

Yet, the facts were there, as others tried to challenge him and were all defeated.

Indeed, the younger members of the Zhao family were justifiably defeated.

Not to mention them, if excluding the enhancement from Inner True Qi and considering only the martial arts techniques, there were no more than three people who could survive a hundred moves against Zhao Sheng.

After this event, the news of Zhao Sheng's significant improvement in martial arts quickly spread throughout Zhao Family's Castle.

Some skeptical young masters and misses daringly approached him, only to leave covering their faces in shame.

Three days later, Zhao Sheng's treatment was quietly restored to what it had been before, and his monthly allowance was even increased to two hundred taels.

He was very pleased with this arrangement, for the major lady truly deserved to be the lady of the house, being smart and conscious of the times, handling the measures very precisely.

Two days later, Zhao Sheng, carrying his sword, sought out Zhao Hetai, the manager of the third house. What did the two discuss in secrecy? No one knew except the people involved.

Yet later that evening, Zhao Hetai suddenly found Family Head Zhao Hexing.

After a brief conversation, Zhao Hexing took the initiative to gather all the house administrators and elders for a secret meeting.

A few days later, all discussions regarding the Ninth Young Master abruptly ceased. No one ever mentioned the incidents of those days again.

In a family, if some represent the face, some must be the inside. The face cannot be touched by even a speck of dust, and if blood is shed, the inside must contain it. If it cannot be contained and leaks to the surface, it could lead to the destruction of the family.

Zhao Sheng chose to silently become the "inside" of the Nanyang Zhao Family

Having lived three lifetimes, he had long passed the stage of seeking fame and profit, so what of a lifetime of glory? Could he achieve immortality?

In this life, he had only one goal: to produce a Cultivator.

...

As spring came and went, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

When the name of Zhao Zhijing, the "Jade Sword Young Master" of the Zhao family, spread throughout the Ganzhou Martial World, an ordinary carriage slowly entered through the gates of Moling City, eventually stopping in front of a three-story inn.

"Young master, we have arrived," Zhao Xiaobao said as he jumped down from the carriage, speaking respectfully to the person inside.

Three years had passed, and Zhao Xiaobao had changed a lot, growing into a handsome young man.

As for his master, Zhao Sheng...

As the carriage curtain was rolled up, a strikingly handsome young man with a tall figure and elegant demeanor stepped down from the carriage.

"Let's go in!"

Having said this, Zhao Sheng stepped forward and entered the inn.

This inn, named Yuelai Inn, was a covert operation set up by the Zhao Family in Moling City.

As soon as the master and servant appeared, they were quickly ushered by the inn's shopkeeper into a secret room.

As soon as Zhao Sheng took a seat in the secret room, the shopkeeper Zhao Sanchong immediately moved to kneel in greeting.

Zhao Sheng extended his hand to support him, emitting a streak of azure True Qi, preventing the other party from kneeling, and said, "Spare the formalities, let's get to the matter at hand."

"True Qi externalization?!" Zhao Sanchong was profoundly shocked. He hadn't expected Master Jiu, not yet twenty, to have advanced so significantly in his capabilities.

It was known in the Martial World that only top-tier experts could externalize True Qi.

What was even more frightening was that Master Jiu was only eighteen this year!

"The resurgence of the Zhao family seems promising!" Zhao Sanchong thought excitedly to himself.

In two hundred years, countless Zhao family members had practiced martial arts, producing many experts. However, there were only two true Innate Grandmasters: the original progenitor and the fifth Family Head.

The difficulty of advancing to Innate was obvious!

With this in mind, Zhao Sanchong became even more cautious and respectful towards the Ninth Young Master.

"Young Master, I have discovered a highly suspicious location. Fifty miles south of Moling City lies a mysterious canyon called Fragrant Swallow Valley.

The area is perennially enveloped in thick fog, but woodcutters often see people moving about in the valley. Occasionally, they even spot Immortals flying in from the sky. Hence, I believe there is an eighty percent chance that Fragrant Swallow Valley is a base of the Wang Family."

Zhao Sheng nodded in approval and said, "You've done well. Once the matter is confirmed beyond doubt, you may return to Zhao Family's Castle to report, and then I'll grant you thirty acres of superior farmland and increase your monthly salary by twenty taels. Additionally, I grant permission for one of your sons to be included in the family genealogy."

"Thank you for your generous reward, Young Master!" Zhao Sanchong said, moved to tears.

Not to mention anything else, just the permission to include a son in the family genealogy was enough for him to be immensely grateful.