Chapter 50: High Stakes All-Around

The moment the Sun-Moon Blade was unsheathed, it clashed with the spiritual dragon in a brilliant display of light.

A thunderous explosion resounded, shaking heaven and earth, as Xiao Yinglong and Zhang Shen engaged in battle.

Both were men of unyielding resolve and ruthless action. They lunged into combat with a single strike, their powers evenly matched, akin to the sharpness of needles meeting the resistance of wheat stalks.

Xiao Yinglong had mastered the Body of Overbearing Iron, a physical body of remarkable strength and resilience. Along with his Blood-Crying Soul-Stealing Claw technique and Dragon Claws, he had few equals within the Innate stage. Even a warrior at the peak of the ninth layer of the Innate stage would struggle to last more than several dozen moves against him.

However, today he faced Zhang Shen.

‘Curious? His physique doesn’t seem inferior to mine. Could he have cultivated a body-strengthening technique comparable to the Body of Overbearing Iron?’ he wondered.

What further startled Xiao Yinglong was Zhang Shen’s exceptional sword technique, overwhelmingly dominant and virtually peerless. Even Xiao Yinglong’s formidable Blood-Crying Soul-Stealing Claw technique could not suppress it.

The battle intensified, the turbulent shockwaves scattering clouds and whipping up gusts of fierce winds as the two figures darted and weaved through the sky.

The reverberations of their clash rapidly attracted the attention of all practitioners in Yousha Town. They watched the showdown between Xiao Yinglong and Zhang Shen from a safe distance, fearful of being injured by the residual energies.

The fight lasted for a full two hours. Xiao Yinglong unleashed an array of techniques, each meticulously parried or dodged by Zhang Shen’s masterful sword technique.

Throughout the skirmish, Zhang Shen not only showcased the Great Sun Blade Technique and Cold Moon Blade Technique but also exhibited other blade techniques he had perfected over time.

His mastery allowed him to effortlessly switch between various sword techniques and maneuvers.

Xiao Yinglong was dumbfounded. 

‘How has he found the time to master so many blade techniques? This is unprecedented.’

“Enough. No more fighting,” declared Xiao Yinglong, waving his hand in surrender. His appetite for the battle had waned.

Before him, Zhang Shen stood as an unfathomable abyss, impossible to probe or gauge. Xiao Yinglong felt that only a fight to the death would reveal the true extent of Zhang Shen’s capabilities.

Both sides had merely engaged in a clash, far from a life-or-death duel.

“Very well. If Brother Xiao opts not to continue sparring, let’s bring it to an end,” said Zhang Shen, grinning. 

Until now, he’d merely been warming up.

If he’d been intent on victory, even without revealing his physical prowess, the advantage offered by his heightened senses alone would have enabled him easily to defeat Xiao Yinglong. However, that wasn’t necessary. What Zhang Shen sought was to assert his dominance, not to stand out like a crane among chickens.

A stalemate against Xiao Yinglong was satisfactory.

Though Xiao Yinglong was reluctant to continue, he couldn’t help but feel disgruntled for having suffered a silent loss. Consequently, his tone was anything but cordial.

“Hmph. Given that you’re the one backing Hongyuan City, I won’t dwell on their breach of contract. Just ensure they steer clear of my Heijiao City in the future,” he said, turning to leave.

“Brother Xiao, please hold on a moment,” Zhang Shen called out.

While the issue seemed mostly resolved, he sensed that Xiao Yinglong would harbor resentment. Though no action would be taken as long as Zhang Shen remained present, accruing additional enemies was never desirable.

“The sudden breach of contract by Hongyuan City was unforeseen. I am willing to provide compensation and forge a friendly alliance with your Iron Banner Gang,” Zhang Shen offered.

Xiao Yinglong was intrigued. Matching Zhang Shen blow-for-blow indeed warranted some respect. Besides, the prospective alliance between two such formidable Innate stage combatants promised abundant mutual benefits.

In light of these prospective gains, their previous fight seemed insignificant.

Moreover, despite his irritation, Xiao Yinglong couldn’t help but admire Zhang Shen. Facing an opponent who could both challenge him and yet remain undefeated evoked feelings of camaraderie.

As for his earlier instruction that Zhang Shen’s associates should avoid Heijiao City in the future? 

That could easily be overlooked, assuming their upcoming negotiations proceeded smoothly.

“Very well, I’ll grant you this courtesy,” Xiao Yinglong said, taking the opportunity to graciously step back.

Instead of venturing into the city, Zhang Shen summoned his disciples to set up a wooden table and serve spirit fruits and spiritual beast meat of Acquired-grade quality. 

This high level of hospitality left Xiao Yinglong feeling deeply honored. Even in his day-to-day dealings, he wouldn’t entertain guests with such luxurious offerings, not even of the Acquired-grade variety. This gesture fully satisfied his sense of self-importance.

Zhang Shen was not one to make empty promises. He took out a storage bag containing the agreed-upon compensation, successfully flexing his power before extending an olive branch, a tactic he employed with impeccable finesse.

This straightforward and generous approach resonated with Xiao Yinglong.

As they conversed, a sense of mutual admiration grew between them. While it was uncertain how much of this was genuine or mere theatrics, it certainly seemed heartfelt on the surface.

“Brother Xiao, your claw technique is unparalleled, and your physical prowess unmatched, no wonder you hold such an esteemed reputation.”

“Brother Zhang, you’re equally formidable. The unpredictable nature of your blade techniques is beyond anything I’ve seen before. You’ve mastered various schools of swordsmanship to an astonishing degree.”

Exchanging a knowing smile, they understood each other without the need for words.

The two discussed some cultivation insights, and while the content wasn’t profoundly deep, it left Li Zhi, who was attending to them, thoroughly impressed. 

This was also Zhang Shen’s way of introducing Li Zhi to Xiao Yinglong, aiming to prevent any future incidents like what had happened with Qin Lang.

After a spirited conversation, as the sun approached the horizon, Xiao Yinglong prepared to depart. His original mission to address Hongyuan City’s breach of contract was now resolved, and a verbal agreement with the newly formed Ancient Covenant had been struck. There was no longer any reason for him to stay.

“Brother Zhang, there’s something I’d like to bring to your attention.”

“What might that be?”

Xiao Yinglong said, “You mentioned earlier that you hail from Hongyuan City.”

Zhang Shen nodded.

“Now that you’ve established your own sphere of influence, it seems you intend to take Hongyuan City away from this barren expanse known as the Endless Wilderness,” Xiao Yinglong remarked. “But tread carefully. The human territories are far harsher than the Endless Wilderness. Even I have only dared to establish the Iron Banner Gang and have been cautious not to involve my family too much.”

Saying this, he let out a contemplative sigh.

“Without the power of a True Core, you’re like a drifting water plant in these lands. Vulnerable and subject to the whims of greater forces. When you’re on your own, you have the flexibility to advance or retreat. However, once you have weaknesses close to your heart, you give others leverage against you.”

With that, Xiao Yinglong departed, leaving behind words that were courteous on the surface but laden with deeper implications.

“Though he may be overbearing and ruthless, he is also a man of fairness and integrity,” Zhang Shen silently evaluated.

Xiao Yinglong had spoken the truth, a fact Zhang Shen was already aware of, given the harsh realities of the human territories.

“If I hadn’t reached the True Core stage of physical strength, giving me a trump card, I wouldn’t dare to start consolidating my influence here just yet.”

While Zhang Shen had resolved to hide his true physical prowess, having it allowed him some room for preemptive moves. 

Noticing that Li Zhi seemed anxious due to Xiao Yinglong’s cautionary remarks, Zhang Shen playfully flicked her forehead, making her yelp.

“Thinking ahead is beneficial, but overthinking can be detrimental. If your master, as wise as he is, isn’t concerned, what’s there for you to worry about?”

He subtly dropped a hint. What Li Zhi made of it was up to her. In any case, Zhang Shen had no intention of admitting anything.

In the wake of this conflict, the various factions in Yousha Town fell into a subdued silence. Any previous troublemakers who had obstructed the unification efforts of the Ancient Covenant had vanished. Those who had witnessed Zhang Shen’s formidable abilities, like Zhang Si and Li Zhong, now felt completely reassured, and they began aggressively expanding the Ancient Covenant’s influence.

Upon hearing the news from Zhang Si, Hongyuan City was elated. They promptly assembled a team of elite individuals from all three families to reinforce the Ancient Covenant.

The Zhang family alone wouldn’t be enough, besides, these families had been allies for years. If one were to rise, all would rise together, leaving no one behind.

Among them, one individual was particularly noteworthy–Zhang Yu, Zhang Shen’s uncle, who had once put Zhang Shen through a minor test.

Though bound by close blood ties, the emotional connection between them wasn’t especially strong. This was due to Zhang Yu’s constant preoccupation with family affairs and Zhang Shen being wholly consumed by his cultivation pursuits. Despite this, Zhang Shen welcomed Zhang Yu warmly.

He was well aware of his uncle’s remarkable abilities. After his grandfather, Zhang Tianlong, Zhang Yu was the next in line being groomed for the role of the Zhang family’s leader. His high standing within the family was not only because of his status but more so due to his exceptional talents and capabilities.

In contrast to Li Zhong, who was skilled in practical affairs, Zhang Yu excelled in both internal management and military strategy, a natural boon for the Ancient Covenant.

So, it was only natural for Zhang Shen to greet him with great enthusiasm, particularly considering their close familial ties.

Zhang Yu had a complicated look on his face. 

After initially testing Zhang Shen, he knew that Zhang Shen would inevitably become a crucial support for Hongyuan City, a keystone akin to a golden beam under the sea. However, he hadn’t expected this day to come so soon.

Yet this feeling was fleeting. After all, he had foreseen this outcome and merely misjudged the timing.

What dominated his emotions now was sheer joy and elation.

“After six years, Uncle, you’ve attained the Innate stage. Congratulations are indeed in order,” Zhang Shen expressed his commendations.

The resources that Zhang Shen had left behind had, as Zhang Yu had predicted, ultimately benefited him. More importantly, Zhang Yu had lived up to the family’s expectations by reaching the Innate stage.

“Is Grandfather and are my parents doing well?” 

Zhang Shen had gotten a bit of news about them from Zhang Si, but he still needed reassurance from Zhang Yu to completely ease his mind. 

Fortunately, everything was fine, no unfortunate events had transpired. 

Zhang Yu even recounted some amusing stories involving Zhang Feng and Zhang Miaohao. 

In contrast to Zhang Shen, who had been sensible since his youth, these two little rascals were always getting into situations that left one not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The parenting experience that Zhang Zhen and Lin Yanqing had gained from raising Zhang Shen proved utterly ineffective for these two troublemakers, leaving them baffled and overwhelmed. Ultimately, it was Grandfather Zhang Tianlong and Uncle Zhang Yu who stepped in to handle the youngsters. 

This situation led to the childless and single Zhang Yu forming a strong bond with the mischievous duo. 

Listening to these family stories lifted Zhang Shen’s spirits. 

“Uncle, I’ll be entrusting you with the internal affairs of the Ancient Covenant from now on,” he said. “Yousha Town is within human territory, a different environment compared to Hongyuan City. The subtle differences here require cautious management. I know it’ll be a heavy burden for you, Uncle, but I have every confidence in you.”

With Zhang Yu’s arrival, Zhang Shen successfully delegated responsibilities, freeing up time to continue his cultivation practice. 

Instead of staying in Yousha Town, he returned to his secluded spot at Luoshui Reverie for focused cultivation. It wasn’t that he couldn’t stay in the town, rather, his training activities drew too much attention and could inadvertently reveal secrets. 

The only snag was that Luoshui Reverie was far from Yousha Town, making the communication somewhat inconvenient.

He was also running low on the warning talismans he had, which weren’t even designed for this particular purpose. 

“It looks like I’ll need to find time to purchase some communication talismans,” Zhang Shen pondered. 

Given his current financial standing, would he, perhaps, be able to afford a True Core-level communication talisman?