Strongest War Emperor

”I’ll... I’ll go see how their cultivation is going.”

Shen Lang took a bite of the fruit in his hand, stood up, and walked toward the lake, a little flustered.

”Hmph!” Nalan Ziyun snorted softly. Her eyes followed his retreating back, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

A faint blush colored her cheeks. Her expression was a playful mix of smile and smirk, exuding a captivating charm that left the approaching Shen Jianfeng dumbfounded.

”Once you’ve seen the ocean, no other water will do. You two definitely have a thing.”

Shen Jianfeng’s poetry addiction was acting up again.

But he had likely forgotten Nalan Ziyun’s fierce reputation back in Celestial Phoenix City. The words had barely left his lips when a fragrant scent wafted over, and Nalan Ziyun’s fist slammed into his chest.

”Black Tiger Heart Stealing!”

Shen Jianfeng’s vision went black. Before he could even cry for help, he was hit with several more punches and kicks, beaten straight to the ground.

On the other side, Shen Lang was explaining the key to controlling one’s power to the group.

”Mo Ge and Senior Sister Zi Lan were able to stand on the water’s surface as soon as they learned this spell because they have one thing in common...”

Zhan Wuji nodded and said, ”Right. We all know they’re both Martial Arts geniuses.”

”...” Shen Lang smacked his lips a couple of times. ”It has nothing to do with being a genius... The reason they can do it is actually very simple. Their minds are free of distracting thoughts. With no interference, they can fully immerse themselves, which allows them to control their power with such precision.”

”So you’re saying we can’t do it because our minds are a mess?” asked Su Rong, the Sect Leader’s daughter, sounding a little dejected.

Shen Lang shook his head. ”Not necessarily a mess. Take you, for example, Senior Sister. Your gaze never once leaves Mo Ge. If things continue like this, unless you change your mindset, you probably won’t be able to walk on the lake until you reach the Spirit Martial Realm Fifth Heaven.”

The people around them immediately started to snicker.

Anyone from the Profound Dao Sect knew about Su Rong’s feelings for Mo Ge.

No matter where Mo Ge was or what he was doing, as long as he was nearby, Su Rong’s eyes would basically be glued to him.

Su Rong’s face flushed crimson, and she shot Shen Lang a harsh glare.

Just then, Zi Lan smiled faintly and said, ”Shen Lang is right. A Spirit Martial Realm cultivation is more than enough to achieve this. What’s more important is your state of mind. ’If the heart is like ice, the heavens can fall without alarm; facing ten thousand changes, one remains serene; the spirit is calm, the qi is tranquil.’”

”So, when you practice this, the first step is to completely immerse your mind and spirit, to reach a state of serenity amidst constant change.”

As she spoke, she began to walk slowly across the lake’s surface, looking like a celestial fairy.

Just as Zi Lan was walking toward the center of the lake, back at the shore, Shu Lan’s foot touched the water’s surface, and then she slowly stood upon it.

The crowd, which had just been captivated by Zi Lan, was now completely stunned.

In terms of cultivation, Shu Lan, who had just broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm First Heaven, was definitely the weakest among them!

To think...

Shen Lang glanced at Shu Lan, a little surprised, and saw her looking back at him with a warm smile.

”Junior Sister Shu Lan did very well, really well.” Shen Lang nodded in approval. ”It’s because her mind is also free of distractions that she could do this so easily. Later, you all can ask her how she did it and what it felt like.”

Zhan Wuji said, utterly dejected, ”As a man, I can’t even do something a junior sister can. I feel like jumping in the lake...”

Everyone immediately burst into laughter.

Shaking his head, Shen Lang began to chant: ”’If the heart is like ice, the heavens can fall without alarm. Facing ten thousand changes, one remains serene; the spirit is calm, the qi is tranquil. Forget the self and maintain the one, the six roots will be firmly settled. Cultivate Qi at the Precepts Stage, be selfless and non-acting.’”

Behind him, Shen Jianfeng was sobbing, tears streaming down his face.

Shen Lang was puzzled. ”I know you like to recite poetry, but this is a cultivation mantra, not some sad poem. You don’t have to play along so dramatically, crying your eyes out like this, do you?”

”I’m not playing along, I was beaten up... Cousin, you have to stand up for me! I just recited a single line of poetry in the garden, and that woman Nalan Ziyun went for the kill! It was either ’Black Tiger Heart Stealing’ or a kick to the crotch!” Shen Jianfeng’s tears flowed even more fiercely.

”It’s fine, it’s fine. Getting beaten up is also a form of cultivation.” Shen Lang patted Shen Jianfeng’s shoulder. ”Look, it’s because you haven’t been beaten up as much as them that your cultivation isn’t as strong.”

”...” Shen Jianfeng was on the verge of a breakdown.

’A beating is a beating, but the person doing the beating makes all the difference!’

’With the way Nalan Ziyun fights, she could easily send a grown man to the palace to become a eunuch!’

Jie Fengqing sighed, his eyes red. ”Watching the junior sisters and brothers walk onto the lake one by one was already hard enough. Now, seeing your tears, I want to cry too...”

Pushing aside these messy thoughts, the group silently chanted the spell Shen Lang had taught them while concentrating Spiritual Power in their feet, and then they tried again and again... and fell into the water again and again.

While Shen Lang was guiding his fellow disciples in their cultivation...

a group of people walked out of the Seven-Colored Spirit Vulture Garden on Songdu Peak.

The two men leading this group were both acquaintances of Shen Lang.

One was Liu Hai, who had attacked Shen Lang alongside Xiao Tong in the Wooden Man Alley, only to be thrashed by him.

The other was the fatty Chen Tianci, whose ultimate life goal was to become the Barbarian Emperor and who had been tricked by Shen Lang twice!

The two had met while training outside the sect and had hit it off quite well.

After witnessing Chen Tianci’s astonishing strength, Liu Hai had given him his own family’s cultivation technique in order to befriend him.

Once the two became friends who could talk about anything, Liu Hai, on their way back, indignantly recounted how he had been ”bullied” by an Outer Disciple, hoping Chen Tianci would back him up.

As a member of the Barbarian Race in the Human Race’s territory, Chen Tianci was looking to make more friends and learn more Human Race cultivation techniques. Upon hearing Liu Hai’s story, he didn’t hesitate for a second and dragged him straight up Songdu Peak.

Back at Qingfeng Stronghold, Chen Tianci had hidden his cultivation while waiting for the Thousand-leaf Fruit to ripen.

But after entering the Profound Dao Sect, he revealed his eye-catching prowess.

In a sect like this, only by showing off your talent could you get the Sect’s attention, obtain more resources, and gain access to high-level cultivation technique manuals.

So, Chen Tianci wasn’t just there to back up Liu Hai; he wanted to use this opportunity to sweep through Songdu Peak and make a name for himself.

Since he wanted to make a name for himself, he naturally had to make a big scene.

So, the moment he stepped out of the Seven-Colored Spirit Vulture Garden, Chen Tianci immediately attacked, beating down Tian Hao and Yan Qi, who were blocking the path with a group of underlings and demanding a toll.

The two poor idiots thought that with tacit approval from above and the deterrent of Shen Lang’s reputation, making a fortune here would be both safe and easy.

They thought no one would dare to refuse payment or cause trouble.

But they had no idea that this group charging up the mountain had just returned from outside the sect and had never even heard of the legendary Shen Lang.

And among them was Chen Tianci—Shen Lang himself had once said that even Nalan Ziyun with her Nebula Chain was probably not his match!

”Bastards! You’re too arrogant! How dare you come to Songdu Peak to cause trouble! Don’t you know my junior brother—PUH!” Before Yan Qi could finish, Chen Tianci stomped on him again.

This Chen Tianci fellow was chubby, his face often bearing a cheerful smile, making him look like a portly innkeeper.

He had a harmless-looking face, but his actions were ruthless.

With that one stomp, the big oaf Yan Qi was driven deep into the ground.

Seeing this, Tian Hao learned his lesson. He knew these newcomers meant trouble and that saying too much would only get him beaten, so he chose to remain silent.

’These sons of bitches! They’d even lay a hand on someone like me who’s still seriously injured! Later, when my men find Junior Brother Shen Lang, I’ll make sure you’ll wish you were dead! Just you wait! When Shen Lang gets here, we’ll see how he deals with you! Son of a bitch! Daring to mess with people from Songdu Peak, you must be tired of living!’

’Even the Sect Leader is polite to us now, and the masters of the other peaks greet us with smiles. Where did this fat bastard come from, daring to beat people up on Songdu Peak?’

Just then, Chen Tianci turned his head to look at Tian Hao. ”Hm? Big Zongzi, your eyes tell me you’re not very convinced, are you?”

”Watching your own brother get beaten while you just stand there... that’s not a very good look, is it?”

As Chen Tianci spoke, he cracked his knuckles with a smirk.

Gritting his teeth, Tian Hao said, ”So what if you can beat me, fatty? If you’ve got the guts, go fight my junior brother! Acting all arrogant in front of me is pointless. If you defeat my junior brother, you’ll definitely become famous throughout the Profound Dao Sect!”

”Oh?” A look of excitement appeared in Chen Tianci’s eyes. ”Songdu Peak has someone like that? To think I’d stumble upon something so interesting by accident!”

Liu Hai sneered. ”Senior Brother, he’s definitely trying to trick you. The kid’s just trying to scare us.”

”It’s just the Outer Sect’s Songdu Peak. What kind of powerful figure could possibly be there?”

”Based on the information I got from other disciples, the strongest guys on Songdu Peak are only at the Spirit Martial Realm Third Heaven.”

”Of course, to them, Spirit Martial Realm Third Heaven is already very powerful, but in front of you, Senior Brother... heheh, what does that even count for?”

While mocking the people of Songdu Peak, Liu Hai seized the opportunity to furiously kiss up to Chen Tianci.

”Very good!” Chen Tianci patted Tian Hao’s face. ”Today, I, Chen Tianci, will let you witness the power of a true expert! I’ll show you how I’m going to sweep through your Songdu Peak!”

He turned to Liu Hai and said, ”Liu Hai, let’s go! We’ll fight our way in together! Let me see what’s so special about this Outer Sect’s Songdu Peak!”

Just as Chen Tianci and his group were storming up the mountain...

a disciple from Songdu Peak was already sprinting toward Feixian Garden.

And not long after Chen Tianci’s group had left, Sect Leader Su Wenxuan also arrived, leading a retinue with a smile on his face.

Every person in this group had an extraordinary bearing and a powerful aura.

Among them, two men and a woman in courtly attire were particularly outstanding. Their auras were imposing, and their eyes, as they opened and closed, were filled with a majesty befitting the leaders of a sect!

And following behind them, among the group, was none other than the woman Shen Lang had encountered in the hot spring!