Chapter 71 - Coming Home To Witness A Strange Scene

Xi Shen thought for a moment, before he said again, “I should have known the Ming Clan would pull something like this, but to think they would do it so soon and even attack a Celestial Academy disciple so close to the Academy by sending a Nascent clone from an expert no less. They must not put anyone in their eyes for them to be so brazen. I guess the protection of a powerful background can only go so far, when it comes down to it, only personal strength matters. I want to avoid anyone who Yang Su can't handling attacking him. He needs the tempering but when a cultivator too strong for him appears, then I would need the power to step in and resolve the situation. I told him that he doesn’t need to fear anyone as long as I’m his backing, but for now, that confidence only comes from the fact that I’m the second prince.”

As Xi Shen spoke to himself, he stood up from his sitting position and headed for his room door.

“As I am now, I can barely use my Heavenly Law comprehension to match the power of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. The fact I have that much power despite being only in the Bone Reconstruction Realm is good and all, but from the results of the battle just now, battling Nascent Soul Realm cultivators with laws is too much for me, and that’s not to mention that one was a clone which didn’t have the full power of a Nascent Soul expert, just a part of it. If I want to use my Heavenly Law comprehension to battle cultivators above my current Qi Cultivation Realm, then my limit is at least a 9th stage Foundation Realm expert or an early stage Core Formation Realm expert. Any higher than that and my Heavenly Physique would spread to occupy my entire physique. Which is an outcome I want to avoid at all cost.”

As Xi Shen consider the nuances of the current power he could execute, he was heading in the direction of his mother’s chambers. He was planning on heading back to the Celestial Academy to deal with a few things and checking up on Xi Shen’s injuries. But he also didn’t want to leave his mother and little sister after only being here for less than a day.

Especially his sister, if he left that mother of hers would use his absence as an excuse to bring Ling'er back with her.

Xi Shen could understand why Lady Sua, his third mother-in-law, was so strict with Ling’er and that was because her status among the concubines was low.

Since the first child she gave birth to was not a son, her support among the aristocratic families and the other Li Royal Family members decreased. So in order to compensate for not bearing a son, she wanted to wed Ling’er to an influential member of a top aristocratic family and increase her power and status.

Obviously, that didn’t bode well with Xi Shen, and from the start, he hadn’t liked the woman. She must be praying that the other concubines don’t bare a son, which would further lower her status among the Emperor’s concubines.

Xi Shen approached his mother’s chambers to see her and Ling’er inside. Ling’er had books sprawled out on a table in front of her as she sat on the ground. His mother was seated in a chair across from her, giving her instructions pertaining to the material in the books.

Xi Shen announced his presence and walked in before telling the two of his departure. And of course, Li Ling was upset, as she had no excuse now to get away from her controlling mother. That, and the fact that her brother was leaving after such a short stay.

She cried and hugged Xi Shen’s waist whilst begging him to stay for a day or two, and Xi Shen, having a soft spot for his little sister, was considered agreeing to her request, but his mother piped up and admonish Ling’er for being childish and saying that Xi Shen was now a disciple of the Celestial Academy and was thus busy with cultivation.

To comfort his little sister Xi Shen reminded her of his birthday coming up in two months, and he’ll be able to stay for the five days they were celebrating it, with her.

That seemed to cheer her up, and after wiping away her tears, Xi Shen patted her head softly and then turn to leave after saying goodbye to his mother.

With his movement technique, Xi Shen left the east wing of the Imperial Palace and move to the front entrance. Under the guards' joyous gaze, Xi Shen produced his plain twenty-meter flying boat before he set off towards the Celestial Academy, which was northeast from the Imperial City.

Strangely enough, when Xi Shen left the east wing of the Imperial Palace, more servants were seen moving around the area while carrying out their duties.

Xi Shen had set out to the Celestial Academy around the 12th hour of the day, now it was approaching the twenty-four-hour mark, the start of midday.

Xi Shen entered the Celestial Academy unhindered before he made his way to the Sword Pavilion inside the Inner Academy.

As Xi Shen approached the courtyard, he and Yang Su shared, thoughts about Yang Su’s condition appeared in his mind.

He wasn’t worried his injuries were too severe, he had personally instructed Yang Su in his Qi and external cultivation so he knew that with him cultivating the Divine Serpent Absorption Technique to the sixth stage, his power was comparable to someone in the Sea Expansion Realm that had expanded there Qi Sea to fifteen meters.

That goes for his physique as well, the Smoldering Furnace Body Cultivation method had nine stages similar to most external and internal techniques in the Four Physical Realms. Yang Su had reached its fourth stage, giving his body the power to radiate smoldering heat in its surroundings, and physical strength comparable to a low-level Sea Expansion Realm cultivator. This was all despite Yang Su still being in the Meridian Opening Realm, having open 58 meridians, an additional eight more since the Freshmen Disciple Competition ended.

All of these accomplishments Yang Su made in his cultivation in such a short period of time, was because he had the Six Elemental Qi Dao Foundation. His ability to draw out a technique's power, which relates to any one of the six elements could be considered monstrous. This also made up for his slightly low comprehension of said techniques, despite the Dao Foundation giving him a boost in comprehending the elemental laws.

Xi Shen walked through the courtyard’s gate entrance and headed for the main dining area.

‘Yang Su should have been back by now, tending to his wounds.’

As Xi Shen thought that, he turn the corner that lead to the open dining area, and the sight that greeted him all of a sudden, caused his brain to take a while to process what he was seeing.

Yang Su was sitting cross-legged on a large meditating mat, with a girl behind him. His upper robes were down as well, showing off his skinny frame that was just developing muscles.

Xi Shen stood there as he watch the girl do something behind Yang Su’s back. Yang Su was facing the entrance so he was the first to see Xi Shen appearing.

After widening his eyes slightly, Yang Su was about to call out to Xi Shen, but then he saw his elder brother’s weird expression and he realize how strange this situation might look to someone without context. This made him start to blush a little before his entire face turned beet red.

“Ah, elder brother Xi Shen don’t misunderstand the situation! This senior sister is…”

Yang Su began hurriedly trying to explain what was happening and introducing the girl behind him, but the girl upon hearing Yang Su’s sudden shout, lifted her head to see Yang Su and as if caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to do, reacted rather dramatically by yelping in surprise before pushing Yang Su forward to land face-first on the cobblestone floor.

This young girl then quickly stood up, and Xi Shen now had a clear view of her face.

She was beautiful, but not to the degree of saying that she could topple kingdoms, but she still held a bearing about her that would make most men take a second look her way.

Asides from her appearance, Xi Shen also took note of the insignia on her left shoulder that indicated her as a conclave disciple. That, and also the fact that she seemed very familiar to him.

‘A conclave disciple is here attending to Yang Su's wounds, and a girl t that. How did this situation come about?’

As Xi Shen wondered that, he approached Yang Su and lifted him off the ground. Xi Shen then looked at the small injuries on his abdomen and chest, as well as the long sword mark on his back, which was half-covered in the medicinal ointment. He saw that none of them were serious, and hadn't hit any vital areas, though he still asked Yang Su, “Are your injuries okay?”

Rubbing his now bruised nose, Yang Su nodded his head in reply.

Both Xi Shen and he then turn to the girl who was standing off to the side, before Xi Shen turned to look between Yang Su and her, before asking, “Do you mind telling me what's going on?”

With slight embarrassment, Yang Su motioned to the girl, and said, “Um… eld… I mean, young master Shen, this is senior sister Ling Xia, she’s the one I fought in the Freshmen Disciple Competition final.”

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Word Count: 1603