Shen Cangsheng had just returned.
Hearing the commotion inside, he rushed in.
When he saw the palm seal on the ground and the shattered stone tablet, he grabbed Shen Fan’s hand and said with a trembling voice, “Fan’Er, you’ve broken through to the Second Rank!”
Shen Fan nodded enthusiastically.
Seeing his father’s reaction, he didn’t know what to say.
“I knew it! My son, Shen Cangsheng’s son, is no piece of trash!” Shen Cangsheng was overjoyed.
He held Shen Fan’s hand and laughed loudly.
“My son isn’t useless! He’s broken through to the Second Rank of Meridian Opening!”
Shen Cangsheng laughed until tears streamed down his face.
He had thought that even with the help of the Essence Mushroom, Shen Fan would need one or two months of arduous cultivation to break through to the Second Rank of Meridian Opening.
But now, Shen Fan had done it in just one day!
What did this mean?
It meant that his son, Shen Cangsheng’s son, was not useless!
It meant his son’s Cultivation Talent had awakened, just like his own had all those years ago!
“Our son isn’t useless, Huang’Er, is he?” Shen Cangsheng murmured to the empty air, laughing and crying at the same time.
Seeing Shen Cangsheng so emotional, Shen Fan almost revealed the secret of the Yin-Yang Divine Coin, but he ultimately held his tongue.
‘It’s true that I’m no worse than those so-called geniuses now.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say my talent has awakened.
But the origin of this object is too mysterious.
The fewer people who know about it, the less danger there will be.’
“Fan’Er, take it one step at a time. Father will be waiting for the day you become a true powerhouse!” Shen Cangsheng sighed with emotion.
“I will.” Shen Fan squeezed Shen Cangsheng’s hand.
The next day, early in the morning, Shen Fan practiced a set of the Monument-breaking Palm before stopping.
‘At my current strength, there’s still a gap between me and a disciple at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening,’ Shen Fan muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
The Nine Ranks of Meridian Opening, with each rank a new peak, grew stronger the higher you go.
A disciple at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening is just one step away from becoming a true Martial Artist.
The density of their Primordial Qi, the strength of their Flesh Body, and the quality of their Martial Techniques were all far superior to his own at present.
His Monument-breaking Palm was fine for dealing with ordinary opponents, but against a true expert, it was inadequate.
Therefore, he needed to cultivate a higher-tier Martial Technique.
‘My priority now is to go to the Library Hall and select two Martial Techniques.
I need to improve my strength, win the martial debate, and then push for the Third Rank of Meridian Opening.’
The Library Hall was a key location in Black Water Academy, situated in the central area.
As Shen Fan made his way over, he encountered, for the first time, disciples of the Third Rank of Meridian Opening in twos and threes.
There were even a number of Martial Artists who had entered the Fourth Rank.
The powerful auras they emanated put a great deal of pressure on him.
The closer he got to the Library Hall, the more people there were on the path.
Suddenly, he stopped, his expression complex as he watched three people emerge from the Library Pavilion.
“Whoa, look! It’s Zhao Minji, the number one beauty of the Outer Courtyard! The daughter from the Imperial Capital General’s Mansion!”
“And Liu Jie! One of the Outer Courtyard’s top ten masters! The eldest son of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!”
“Why are they walking together?”
Listening to the crowd’s comments, Shen Fan felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
He murmured, “To think I’d run into you here.”
Zhao Minji was dressed in a white martial arts uniform, a long sword hanging at her waist.
Her bright eyes, red lips, fine nose, and elegant brows were all features of unparalleled beauty, but the aura she exuded kept everyone at a thousand li’s distance, just like her cold sword.
She was the favored daughter of heaven in Black Water Academy.
It was said that she had even cultivated a High-tier Martial Skill to a certain Realm, earning her a place among the Top Ten Disciples of the Outer Courtyard.
Following behind her was a young handmaiden, happily chatting and laughing with a tall, slender man with sword-like brows and star-like eyes.
This man was none other than Liu Jie, ranked third among the Top Ten Disciples of the Outer Courtyard.
Liu Jie had distinguished himself from the thousands of Outer Courtyard disciples, a testament to his immense strength and talent.
It was said that he could deal with an ordinary Outer Courtyard disciple at the Peak of Meridian Opening Third Stage with just one hand.
Aside from the other Top Ten Disciples, no one else was a match for him.
The young handmaiden was enjoying her conversation with Liu Jie when she suddenly stopped.
Staring at the motionless Shen Fan, she tugged on Zhao Minji’s sleeve and called out, “Miss, isn’t that your useless fiancé? What’s he doing here at the Library Hall?”
Hearing this, Liu Jie, who was behind her, frowned, and his gaze turned cold as he looked at Shen Fan.
“Shen Fan!” The icy expression on Zhao Minji’s face softened slightly, a hint of a smile seeming to touch her lips.
She and Shen Fan had been childhood sweethearts, growing up together without a care in the world.
But after they entered Black Water Academy, she was the favored daughter of heaven while Shen Fan was just a piece of trash, and the two had gradually drifted apart.
After arriving at Black Water Academy, everyone around her was sycophantic, and she didn’t have a single person she could truly talk to.
She had wanted to talk to Shen Fan, but he had been unwilling to speak with her.
It was for no other reason than the fact that Shen Fan was considered useless.
Whenever he was with her, the other disciples would always gossip!
Shen Fan was at that hot-blooded age; how could he endure the mockery of others?
Naturally, he became unwilling to meet with her.
This was especially true after someone revealed the arranged childhood engagement between them.
Even more people started mocking Shen Fan, saying he was a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh!
It made Shen Fan feel even more inferior.
‘I haven’t seen him in a long time.’
Zhao Minji wanted to walk over to him.
“It’s you,” Shen Fan said.
He sized up Zhao Minji, a bitter feeling in his heart.
‘Back then, Zhao Minji was a recognized Martial Dao genius.
She started her training at fifteen and reached the Third Rank of Meridian Opening in just one year.
Judging by her aura now, she’s already at the Peak of Meridian Opening Third Stage.’
‘Compared to her, I also started training at fifteen, but after a year, I was still stuck at the First Rank of Meridian Opening.
The difference was like that between the clouds and the mud.
Truly the most useless of the useless.’
‘Back then, standing before Zhao Minji, I was so ashamed of my inferiority that I didn’t even dare to meet her. everything is going to change.’
‘One day, I will show the world that I’m not useless, and I’m not a toad lusting after a swan!
I am your fiancé, Zhao Minji!’
“Long time no see,” Shen Fan said with a smile.
Zhao Minji was slightly taken aback.
She felt that the Shen Fan of today was far more confident than before.
“Hey, Useless Shen! Get lost! Don’t disturb my Young Miss and Young Master Liu’s conversation!” the handmaiden shouted, one hand on her hip as she pointed at Shen Fan’s nose.
“You’re not worthy of my Young Miss!”
“Huh? Isn’t that Useless Shen? What’s he doing blocking Zhao Minji’s path?”
“Has he lost his mind? A peerless beauty like Zhao Minji, with such high talent… is she someone he can cling to? Sigh, a man has to know his own limits.”
…
Seeing the expressions on Shen Fan and Zhao Minji’s faces, and then recalling the relationship between them, an imperceptible flash of killing intent crossed Liu Jie’s eyes.
Shen Fan’s brow furrowed.
The crowd’s words ignited a nameless fire within him.
He was no longer useless.
‘What a bunch of short-sighted fools!’
“Xiaomei!” Zhao Minji stopped her.
“Young Miss!” Xiaomei protested stubbornly.
“How can you speak to him like that!” Zhao Minji scolded Xiaomei, then turned to speak to Shen Fan.
But Shen Fan brushed past her.
Shen Fan didn’t want to explain himself.
‘Let them wait for the assessment!
That will be explanation enough.’
Shen Fan hadn’t gone far before someone caught up to him.
“So you’re the useless Shen Fan?” Liu Jie sneered, stepping in front of him.
Liu Jie had been pursuing Zhao Minji for a long time.
In his mind, only he was worthy of such a favored daughter of heaven.
The fact that Shen Fan was her fiancé—and that Zhao Minji’s attitude toward him was somewhat unusual—was unforgivable.
Shen Fan grew wary.
“Look, Liu Jie is picking a fight with Useless Shen.”
“Useless Shen is just asking for it. Who doesn’t know that Liu Jie is pursuing Zhao Minji!”
“Liu Jie is ruthless. He’s one of the top three disciples in the Outer Courtyard, with a cultivation at the Peak of Meridian Opening Third Stage. One move from him could probably turn that useless guy into a real cripple!”
…
Shen Fan wasn’t afraid of Liu Jie causing trouble, but his priority was getting into the Library Hall.
Not wanting to be delayed, he said in a low voice, “Move.”
“What did you say?!” Liu Jie was stunned.
It was as if he hadn’t heard Shen Fan clearly, or perhaps he was just shocked that the Outer Courtyard’s infamous Useless Shen would dare to speak to him in such a tone.
“Get lost!” Shen Fan said again.
“Haha! You’re telling me to get lost? You, Useless Shen, are telling me to get lost!” Liu Jie acted as if he’d just heard the world’s greatest joke.
He puffed out his chest, pointed at Shen Fan, and sneered, “I’ll give you one chance. Kneel and kowtow three times, and I’ll forgive your insolence. Otherwise… I’ll cut out your tongue!”
“Try me,” Shen Fan said, completely unafraid.
He knew he wasn’t Liu Jie’s match, but he was at the Second Rank of Meridian Opening.
With the help of his Soul Eye and his Monument-breaking Palm at the Great Success stage, if he fought with his life on the line, Liu Jie wouldn’t get off easy either.
“You’re courting death!” Liu Jie hadn’t expected Shen Fan to be so defiant.
A mere piece of trash, acting so arrogant in front of him, in front of everyone.
If he didn’t teach him a proper lesson, where would he put his face?