215: Chapter 215: Shen Cangshan

Rumors never need any evidence. They only need a sufficiently sensational topic and a sufficiently silent party involved to ferment in the shortest time into a "truth" that everyone firmly believes. After Hun Muxiao crushed Li Xuantong, rumors that Shen Cangsheng was "scared" spread across every corner of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy as if they had wings.

“Shen Cangsheng hasn't made a move for so long; he must be scared. The number one on the Heaven Board is scared of a freshman—who would believe that?” “It's no wonder. Li Xuantong didn't even last half an incense stick's time. What could Shen Cangsheng do if he went up? I heard Hun Muxiao didn't even draw her sword. If Shen Cangsheng goes up and loses too, his reputation as number one on the Heaven Board will be completely ruined.” “I used to admire Shen Cangsheng quite a bit, but I didn't expect him to be someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong.” Similar remarks spread rapidly among the students, becoming more and more ridiculous as they were passed around. Some said Shen Cangsheng was already preparing to transfer academies, some said he planned to graduate early to avoid Hun Muxiao, and even more ridiculously, some swore they had seen with their own eyes Shen Cangsheng secretly watching the recording of Hun Muxiao's battle, only to lock himself in his cultivation room for several days, pale-faced and afraid to come out.

To this, Shen Cangsheng himself did not respond with a single word.

The silence of the Heaven Board's number one made the rumors grow even more rampant. It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Shen Cangsheng finally appeared. He didn't go to the plaza, nor did he go to the meeting hall; instead, he went straight to Building 7 of the Grade A District. When that slender figure appeared in front of Building 7, the entire street of the Grade A District fell silent. All the passing students stopped in their tracks in unison, their gazes collectively snapping toward the same direction.

Shen Cangsheng stood before Building 7, dressed in green robes, his figure as tall and slender as a pine. His face was not particularly handsome, but between his brows was a composure and dominance that could only be refined by long occupying the top spot. He did not knock, but merely stood with his hands behind his back, calmly looking at the tightly shut door before speaking. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly resonated down the entire street, every word sounding as if it had been released only after careful deliberation: “Hun Muxiao, I am Shen Cangsheng. Tomorrow at noon, at the main stage of the Martial Arena—I challenge you to a battle.”

The entire street was dead silent. A challenge. The number one of the Heaven Board had personally come to her door to issue a challenge, without having anyone pass the message, without conveying it through an elder, but standing before her door himself to issue the invitation in the most solemn manner. How was this being afraid? This was clearly treating the other party as an opponent truly worthy of a battle!

A moment later, the door of Building 7 was pushed open from the inside. Hun Muxiao leaned against the doorframe, still wearing that fiery red flowing fairy dress, still with that lazy demeanor. Her peach blossom eyes swept over Shen Cangsheng, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips: “The number one of the Heaven Board personally coming to my door is indeed giving me face. So many people want to see me fight you; if I don't agree, wouldn't that be too inconsiderate?” She paused, her tone as casual as if she were agreeing to a post-meal chat. “Sure. Tomorrow at noon, I'll be there on time. However—you can warm up first. If I make things too embarrassing for you, just like I did with Li Xuantong, it won't be easy for me to get by in the academy in the future.”

Shen Cangsheng did not get angry. He merely looked into Hun Muxiao's eyes, a highly pure light surging within his usually calm gaze. It was not anger, nor was it provocation, but the excitement that would only ignite in a true martial artist when encountering an opponent worthy of going all out. “See you tomorrow,” he said, then turned and departed. His green robes fluttered slightly in the wind, his steps steady as a pine, his spine perfectly straight. From beginning to end, there was not a single word of redundant nonsense, nor even an extra glance. The spectating students automatically parted to make a path on both sides, their eyes following that back as it gradually receded, and then, in unison, an uncontrollable burst of discussion erupted—the number one of the Heaven Board challenging the number two. Tomorrow at noon, at the main stage of the Martial Arena. This battle would be the most anticipated duel in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy in recent years.

Leaning against the doorframe, Hun Muxiao watched Shen Cangsheng's receding figure, a trace of surprise flashing in her peach blossom eyes. Having been rumored about for so many days, anyone else would have exploded with anger, yet he acted as if he had heard nothing. Coming to find her only now was not because he was afraid, but because he needed time to adjust his condition. This composure and calmness actually made her look forward to tomorrow's battle a bit more. Just as she was about to turn and go back inside, she suddenly sensed the transmission jade slip inside her storage ring vibrate slightly. She closed the door, retrieved the jade slip, and sent her soul power into it. Her father's voice slowly resonated in her mind.

“Xiao Xiao, how is the progress over at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy? How is your observation of Mu Chen and Luo Li going?”

Leaning by the window, she briefly replied that Mu Chen had counterattacked with a common entry slot to obtain an eighth-grade spiritual seal, showing indeed high talent and a sufficiently composed temperament. Luo Li was very sharp, having sensed that she was hiding her strength on the very first day. Both were promising talents. As for herself—she paused, then added another line in the jade slip, “Father, I crushed the previous number two of the Heaven Board, and now I am the number two. Tomorrow, the number one of the Heaven Board personally came to challenge me, and I have agreed.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the jade slip before Hun Feng's voice sounded again, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness mixed with pride: “Are you there to be an undercover agent or to challenge the dojo? Forget it, anyway, with the strength of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, no one can do anything to you. Mind your boundaries, and don't beat their number one too miserably—after all, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy is one of the Five Great Academies of the Great Thousand World, so leave them some face.” Hun Muxiao chuckled, replied that she understood, and put away the jade slip. Leaning back by the window, she gazed at the clouds in the sky painted pale gold by the setting sun. Tomorrow at noon, at the main stage of the Martial Arena. Shen Cangsheng—number one on the Heaven Board, peak of the Tongtian Realm, the strongest among the students of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. She would certainly see just how capable this number one of the Heaven Board, revered by all the students, truly was.

Meanwhile, at the Burning Heaven Mountain Range.

The main hall of the Shitian Domain was brightly lit. Hun Feng leaned against the back of his chair, holding the jade slip Xiao Xiao had just sent back, a helpless smile on his face. That girl hadn't been at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy for long, yet she had already become the number two of the Heaven Board and was going to fight the number one tomorrow. He had clearly told her to keep a low profile and secretly observe Mu Chen and Luo Li, but she, on the contrary, had directly made herself the focus of the entire academy. But this was fine too—a person with a calm and introverted temperament like Mu Chen would only actively approach her if his curiosity was truly piqued. Although Xiao Xiao acted flamboyantly, she handled her boundaries perfectly.

He put away the jade slip, his gaze falling upon the sand table in the hall. The sand table marked the distribution of forces in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range and its surrounding areas. Recently, many newly marked green dots had appeared on the outer perimeter of the Shitian Domain—these were small and medium-sized forces that had recently submitted to the Shitian Domain. Most of these forces were rogue cultivators and small sects from the Chaotic Demon Sea who could no longer survive under the oppression of the Three Saints Sect. Having heard that the Fire Swallowing Clan and Lei Meng Tribe were thriving in the Shitian Domain, they came to join one after another, drawn by its reputation. There were old mercenary groups acting as guides, small families pursued by enemies, and even a tiny sect that had rowed all the way from the opposite shore of the South Sea, totaling about three hundred people with the strongest among them being only of the Sovereign Realm, traveling all this way just to ask, “Are you still recruiting?” Hun Feng rejected no one, subjecting all who submitted to an evaluation according to the rules—those whose strength met the standard were incorporated into the regular army, while those who fell short were assigned to logistics or outer perimeter patrols. The sphere of influence of the Shitian Domain had quietly expanded by several folds over these past few months.

Outer Perimeter Commander Lei Meng stood beside the sand table, still with that bald head and scarred face, but he was already a completely different person compared to when he was robbing paths in the Chaotic Demon Sea. He wore a clean and neat black martial outfit, with an outer commander token of the Shitian Domain hanging at his waist, as he reported the recent submissions with great excitement. “Territory Master, this month alone, there are six small forces from the Chaotic Demon Sea that actively came to submit, totaling nearly two thousand people. There are also three other forces on the way, arriving the day after tomorrow at the earliest. Your subordinate has already arranged for them to station in the three satellite cities on the outer perimeter of the Burning Heaven Mountain Range, and they will be incorporated into the regular army once the evaluation is complete.”

Hun Feng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed green dots on the sand table. Starting from those tens of thousands of elites of the three tribes, combined with the Fire Swallowing Clan, Lei Meng Tribe, and the rogue cultivators and small forces of the Chaotic Demon Sea that had successively submitted during this period, the overall strength of the Shitian Domain had more than doubled. “Continue to expand the outer defense line. Arrange the newly submitted forces in the satellite cities first, and incorporate them into the regular army once they pass the evaluation. Keep a close eye on the Three Saints Sect; although they have no movement for now, they will notice our speed of expansion sooner or later.” Outer Perimeter Commander Lei Meng cupped his fists to accept the command, then turned and strode out of the main hall.

Hun Feng leaned against the back of his chair, his gaze landing once more on the vast region marked with the words “Shitian Domain” on the sand table. Develop quietly, accumulate strength. When the strength of the Shitian Domain was great enough, it would be time to formally step onto the stage of the Great Thousand World. And that day would not be too far off.