Chapter 45: The Destined Son-in-Law (7) |
Inside the Eastern Martial Secret Realm, a gilded token materialized in Su Chen's hand. This was none other than the legendary Command of the King. With this token, he could unconditionally command the Li Clan to fulfill three requests.
Outside the Eastern Martial Secret Realm, a towering path of light stretched straight toward Eastern Martial City. The entire city trembled. Every citizen bowed their heads in reverence. The one who had arrived was the current ruler of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty.
Heavenly Origin King, Li Xuanyuan.
"What matter could possibly summon His Majesty the King here?"
The crowd buzzed with astonishment. But soon the sharper minds among them reacted, their expressions turning to shock as they realized: "Could it be… the legendary Command of the King has reappeared?"
Only something of monumental importance could disturb King Xuanyuan. When the Eastern Martial Secret Realm opened once more, and the many young prodigies emerged, the suspicions of the crowd were finally confirmed.
Li Xuanyuan's figure appeared beside Su Chen. A rare smile softened the stern lines of his majestic face. "Young one, are you the one who obtained the Command of the King left behind by Grand Ancestor?"
Seeing Li Xuanyuan again—and being addressed as "young one"—left Su Chen feeling slightly out of place.
In his vague memories, little Xuanyuan had once trailed behind him, calling him "Great-Grandfather" with wide-eyed admiration. He had watched the boy grow step by step. Now he stood before him as a dignified king. Truly worthy of being his descendant.
Golden starlight faintly shimmered in his palm as the token appeared.
Li Xuanyuan sensed a faint, familiar aura. He could not pinpoint its source. The token in Su Chen's hand carried a presence that felt intimately known to him. It was Great-Grandfather's aura. Undeniably so.
Within Eastern Martial City, countless gazes burned toward the golden token in Su Chen's hand.
Jealousy, greed, envy…
Everyone understood. This young man had just struck unimaginable fortune.
Li Xuanyuan examined the token carefully. After confirming its authenticity, he nodded solemnly. "It is indeed the Command of the King left by Grand Ancestor himself. With this token, you may command our Li Clan to fulfill any three wishes unconditionally. Even if you demand to become the king of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty, the Li Clan will comply without hesitation."
His tone was utterly serious. Those words sent a fresh wave of envy crashing through the assembled powers of Eastern Martial City.
The throne… The position countless people had dreamed of their entire lives. Now within reach.
Yet inside, Su Chen only muttered to himself. If he chose to claim the throne of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty, he would likely be dead within a decade. He knew the temperament of the descendants he had raised all too well. It was not that such a character was flawed. Only with that exact nature could the Li Clan endure and advance even further.
Moreover, he had no desire to become king again. In his previous life, he had grown weary of it. In this life, he wished only to pursue the martial path. To live for himself.
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Su Chen spoke gravely. "I have no desire to become the king of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty, nor do I covet the throne. My first wish is simple: permission to enter the Li Clan's Scripture Pavilion and study the cultivation methods and martial techniques kept within."
Li Xuanyuan was mildly surprised. 'This young man seems to share the same unyielding heart for the martial path as Big Brother.'
Big Brother, of course, referred to Li Xuanbing.
Li Xuanyuan nodded. "That is no issue. As long as you swear an oath never to transmit any of our Li Clan's techniques to outsiders."
Su Chen inclined his head. "Naturally."
After Su Chen solemnly swore the martial oath, Li Xuanyuan continued. "Your first wish is granted. What is your second?"
Su Chen shook his head. "I haven't decided yet. When the time comes and I know what I need, I will make the request."
Li Xuanyuan smiled faintly. "Very well. Our Li Clan still owes you two more wishes."
He personally escorted Su Chen back to the capital and led him straight to the Scripture Pavilion. Word of the unknown youth who had obtained the legendary Command of the King spread like wildfire across the Heavenly Origin Dynasty. With it, he could make three unconditional demands of the Li Clan—even claiming the throne itself—and the Li Clan would comply without question.
Stories of ordinary people seizing heaven-defying opportunities and rewriting their fates had been immortal legends since ancient times. Thus, tales of Su Chen acquiring the Command of the King traveled thousands of miles in mere days.
When people learned his first wish had been nothing more than entry to the Li Clan's Scripture Pavilion, countless voices sighed in disappointment.
What an utter waste. Anyone else would have seized the throne without hesitation. Power, beauties, endless cultivation resources—all within arm's reach. To think such a priceless treasure had fallen into the hands of an idiot. Truly squandering divine favor.
…
Su Chen remained unaware that news of the Command of the King had already swept the entire dynasty. He was completely immersed in studying the Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique.
To his astonishment, it turned out to be a Venerable-grade technique—surpassing even king-grade and sovereign-grade methods. Even with five hundred points of Comprehension in this life, comprehending it remained extraordinarily difficult.
The Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique consisted of nine layers. Su Chen could only grasp up to the sixth.
"What kind of monstrous genius must Li Shenhua have been in his time? What sort of unparalleled prodigy could create such a technique?"
Su Chen felt genuine admiration for this ancestor of the Li Clan. He took the Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique with him.
Two full years passed in secluded study. His cultivation soared, reaching the seventh layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. At twenty-one years old, achieving the seventh layer of Spirit Sea far surpassed the speed he had managed in his previous life.
When he finally emerged from the Scripture Pavilion, Su Chen sought out Li Xuanyuan once more and stated his second wish. A slot to participate in the Profound Origin Sacred Land's disciple examination.
Li Xuanyuan was taken aback. Such a request posed no burden to the Heavenly Origin Dynasty. On the contrary, if Su Chen successfully entered the sacred land using a slot granted by the dynasty, the Heavenly Origin Dynasty itself would gain tremendous prestige and benefits. He agreed without hesitation.
Su Chen joined the Heavenly Origin Dynasty's delegation and traveled to Mysterious Spirit City for the disciple assessment. This time, the supervising elder from the Profound Origin Sacred Land caught Su Chen by surprise. It was none other than his old brother from the previous life—Lin Wu.
Now approaching six hundred years old, Lin Wu had aged. His hair had turned completely white. Yet the weight of centuries had only deepened his presence. The once ordinary martial artist who scraped together gold coins day after day had become an elder of the sacred land that commanded the deference of a hundred nations.
When Lin Wu saw Su Chen, a kind smile spread across his face. He appraised him warmly. "Not bad at all. If you pass the assessment, come find this old man."
Of course, Lin Wu had heard the rumors: the Command of the King left behind by their old friend had resurfaced and fallen into this young man's hands. Their old companion had vanished without a trace. Perhaps they would never meet again.
In his heart, Lin Wu already regarded Su Chen as the successor of that old friend. Should the youth pass the examination and enter the Profound Origin Sacred Land, Lin Wu would not mind securing him a powerful backer. That was the advantage of having connections.
The many young prodigies watched as the sacred land's envoy singled Su Chen out for praise. Their thoughts varied, yet they reached one unanimous conclusion. This young man's future was limitless. He could only be befriended—never offended. Once he joined the Profound Origin Sacred Land, he would soar to unimaginable heights.