Chapter 854: Shen Jun

"Troubling Young Master Shen to come and ask in person..."

Seeing this person, Xing Yuan's expression darkened. Though displeased, he still introduced them: "These two are classmates of the princess, students of the Famous Teachers Academy. This is Teacher Zhang, and this is Teacher Luo!"

"So it's Teacher Zhang and Teacher Luo. I am Shen Jun!"

Shen Jun clasped his fists, raised his wine glass, and drank it down first.

Zhang Xuan and Luo Qiqi also raised their glasses and took a sip in return.

"This Shen Jun is a young master of the Shen family, one of the four great families. He is a talented youth, not only strong in strength but also having rendered meritorious service at court, appointed as a general. He is Xing Yuan's most formidable rival... In the past, Xing Yuan has often suffered losses at his hands!"

Seeing that the two did not recognize him, Wu Zhen quietly transmitted his voice.

"Four great families?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"Yes, in the Hongyuan Empire, besides the imperial family, the strongest are the four great families. Their members are either powerful or hold prominent positions, so even the imperial family has no choice but to employ them heavily. The Xing family, to which Xing Yuan belongs, is one of them, as well as my Wu family and the Liu family! In order of ranking, the Shen family is first, the Xing family is close behind in second, while the Liu and Wu families are slightly weaker..."

Wu Zhen said.

"You are also a descendant of one of the four great families?" Hearing that the man before him was also from the four great families, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

In his impression, Wu Zhen was far inferior to Xing Yuan, so he had assumed his family was not well-known.

"I am only a concubine-born son in the family, not comparable to a direct descendant like Xing Yuan..." Wu Zhen's expression turned awkward.

Some long-established great families placed great importance on the closeness of blood relations, and the status of the direct line and the collateral line differed vastly.

Xing Yuan was of the direct line of the Xing family, so it was obvious that he was valued, held high status, and possessed many treasures.

The two had been communicating through telepathy, which was extremely fast. Shen Jun now set down his wine cup and looked over with a smile: "I have come because I wish to ask a favor. I wonder if it is appropriate to speak of it."

"Since it is not appropriate, I advise you not to speak of it!"

Waving his hand, Xing Yuan seemed to know what he wanted to say and directly refused.

"Ever since I met the princess at the age of twelve, I knew she was the goal of my life. Because of this, I have worked tirelessly, and only thus have I been able to reach my current status and strength. The hardships I endured, you two, as renowned teachers, should also understand. However, I have never given up, simply because I want one day to be worthy of standing before her..."

Ignoring Xing Yuan, Shen Jun looked over with an elegant expression and began to speak slowly.

He spoke of his past with Yu Fei'er and the love in his heart.

Hearing this, Xing Yuan's face turned ashen.

Although he had given up pursuing Yu Fei'er in his heart, many people knew of his feelings. This fellow, by confessing here, was clearly undermining his dignity.

"...Therefore, I plan to ask the Emperor for his blessing in a little while. I would like to beg you all to put in a good word for me when the time comes."

Having introduced himself, Shen Jun looked over with a beaming smile.

"Put in a good word? You're dreaming!" Xing Yuan gritted his teeth, nearly exploding with rage.

"I never expected you to put in a good word for me, so don't flatter yourself!"

Not angry at all, Shen Jun smiled and looked at Zhang Xuan and Luo Qiqi before him: "I only hope the two of you can put in a good word for me... This is a small gift for our first meeting, let's be friends—it's just a token of my esteem!"

With that, he waved his hand, and a young man walked over from behind, turned his wrist, and placed two jade boxes on the table before them.

Gently opening them, spiritual energy flickered and light dazzled—each box actually contained two top-grade spirit stones.

To offer such a gift on a first meeting—this Shen Jun certainly had boldness.

His methods were also ruthless; any cultivator would find it impossible to refuse, and once accepted, when Yu Fei'er came out later, even if they didn't speak in his favor, they would find it hard to oppose him.

Gifts make one's hands short; favors make one's mouth soft.

As expected of the eldest young master of the Shen family—upon arrival, whether acquainted or not, he gave gifts, leaving you no room to refute. A clever move.

"Four top-grade spirit stones for just a few kind words—impressive, Young Master Shen! Qiqi, since he's offered, it would be rude not to accept. Take them."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Four top-grade spirit stones were equivalent to forty thousand mid-grade spirit stones—even with his current wealth, it was a considerable sum. Why not take what was offered?

"Yes!" Knowing that her teacher was always one to fleece others without mercy, and since he dared to accept, he naturally didn't care about the other's schemes, Luo Qiqi nodded, picked up the jade boxes, and stored them in her ring.

"Haha, Brother Zhang is straightforward—I'm determined to be friends with you!"

Not expecting him to accept, Shen Jun couldn't help but laugh heartily, changing his address from "Teacher Zhang" to "Brother Zhang." Before leaving, he deliberately shot a provocative glance at Xing Yuan before walking to his seat.

"Teacher Zhang..." Seeing the provocation and that Teacher Zhang had actually accepted the spirit stones, Xing Yuan was extremely anxious.

"Don't worry. You've known Yu Fei'er for so long—do you think she can be swayed by a few kind words?" Seeing his agitation, Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"This..." Xing Yuan was taken aback.

If this girl could be moved by a few nice words, she wouldn't have been so passive, and he wouldn't have pursued her for so long without results.

Yu Fei'er had her own thoughts and was very decisive; once she made up her mind, even nine oxen couldn't pull her back.

That was precisely why she would rather be a maidservant to this Teacher Zhang than accept his goodwill.

With such a personality, how could a few words change her mind?

"Since she can't be swayed, why not take the benefits?"

Zhang Xuan said: "Even if the Shen family is wealthy and this Young Master Shen is strong, four top-grade spirit stones are no small sum!"

"This... true!" Xing Yuan nodded.

The Xing and Shen families were not too far apart in standing, and his position in the family, though not as high as Shen Jun's, was not far behind.

Given his current status, it was extremely difficult to use top-grade spirit stones, and each time the number did not exceed ten. Even if the other party was stronger than him... it probably wasn't by much.

Thus, producing four at once, seemingly generous, was likely not so easy.

Probably, his aim was to embarrass Xing Yuan, never expecting that the other would actually accept...

In other words, he had originally intended to make a show, but instead encountered the unyielding Teacher Zhang, who took without hesitation, leaving him embarrassed instead...

Probably, this Young Master Shen's heart was bleeding at this very moment.

"Not bad..."

Understanding this, Xing Yuan's eyes couldn't help but light up, and the earlier displeasure instantly vanished like smoke in air.

Looking again at the Zhang master before him, he felt even more admiration, as if gazing up at a towering mountain.

In fact, as he guessed, Young Master Shen's heart was indeed bleeding at this moment.

Taking out four top-grade spirit stones was meant, first, to suppress Xing Yuan, and second, to save face for himself. He never expected the other party would actually accept them...

Actually accepted them...

And accepted them so calmly, so righteously!

Are you really Xing Yuan's friend?

How can you be so shameless?

"Brother Shen, who is that guy?"

Returning to his seat, a young man came up and quietly transmitted his voice.

A young master from the Liu family, one of the four great clans.

"A greedy fellow!"

Though frustrated, Shen Jun still snorted.

"Greedy?"

The young master from the Liu family was puzzled.

Aren't renowned masters synonymous with wealth?

How could he be greedy?

...

Shen Jun's approach was just a small interlude, of no concern to Zhang Xuan. At this moment, he looked at Xing Yuan not far away and transmitted a question.

"I heard there is a Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree in the imperial palace, which greatly aids the soul. Is that true?"

"Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree? There is indeed one."

Xing Yuan nodded.

As a direct descendant of the four great clans, he had heard some secrets of the royal family.

"Do you know where it is planted in the palace?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up as he couldn't help asking.

"It seems to be in His Majesty's bedchamber, tended by special personnel..." Xing Yuan said. "This is a royal secret; I'm not too clear on the details."

Had it been anyone else, he would not have spoken, but this was Zhang Xuan, who had saved his life, so he naturally told all he knew.

"Bedchamber?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

Although he didn't know where the emperor's bedchamber was, as long as he searched carefully, it should be easy to find.

The emperor's residence would surely have the strictest formations and defenses; searching in that direction would definitely be right.

"Hmm, I'll find a chance to send my soul over to take a look..."

He pondered silently.

With his current strength, even with the Eye of Insight and the Library of Heaven's Path, it would be impossible to find the emperor's bedchamber without being detected. But his soul was different.

The soul is formless and intangible; as long as he didn't encounter a Sacred Domain expert skilled in soul arts, it wouldn't be easy for them to discover him.

"Qiqi, when will the banquet roughly start?"

Thinking this, he turned to the girl beside him.

"The guests haven't all arrived yet; it should be about another half hour."

Looking around, Luo Qiqi said.

"That's good. I've had an insight and want to cultivate. Guard me and make sure no one disturbs me."

Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Cultivate? Here?"

Luo Qiqi's beautiful eyes widened.

With so many people here, at a banquet, everyone drinking, singing, and talking loudly... you want to cultivate?

"Yes."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright."

Agreeing, Luo Qiqi couldn't help but feel admiration.

No wonder the teacher's cultivation had advanced so quickly in such a short time; just this level of effort alone was something she couldn't match.

"Thank you."

Expressing gratitude, Zhang Xuan said no more. Sitting in his seat, he moved his mind, and his soul had already left.

Having cultivated the two professions of Magic Sound and Startling Swan, he understood the soul more thoroughly. His soul left his body silently, and no one in the hall noticed.

The soul walked out of the hall, not wandering around, but quietly rose into the air. His Eye of Insight squirmed as he looked straight around.

The formation layouts of the various courtyards in the imperial palace immediately appeared in his eyes.

"That place has the most formations..."

Soon, he found the courtyard with the most formations.

In the past, with so many sixth-level formations here, even his soul would not dare to delve deep. But with his current understanding of formations, he was almost invincible within the Hongyuan Empire. Coupled with the Eye of Insight and the Library of Heaven's Path, no matter how powerful the formation, it was like a naked beauty before him, with no secrets left.