Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 256: County Lord (Additional 4200)

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: County Lord (Additional 4200)

"What? Jumped into the lake to commit suicide?"

Zhong Shenxiu’s face suddenly darkened.

Although he had stood by the lake dispirited for a long time, which could easily lead to misunderstanding, could this small lake even drown him?

Even if Huang Xie replaced the lake with Yellow Springs True Water, he wouldn’t lose a hair!

"Not to mention I still have the Heavenly Show System and the Golden Finger of the Myriad Pathways... Even if I didn’t have the Golden Finger, even if there’s no hope for me to achieve the Primordial Pill in this life, why on earth would I seek death? I’m not even twenty years old yet, and as a Divine Power Practitioner, I can live up to three hundred years... Even if I returned to Fufeng, I could flaunt the mantle of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, marry eight to ten rooms of charming wives and beautiful concubines, ride horses, walk dogs, and enjoy a carefree life! It would be idiocy to seek death!"

Zhong Shenxiu always believed that life needed to be experienced, to feel everything.

To be able to feel fully and then accept death serenely at the end was the richest experience one could have in a lifetime, so why end things prematurely?

And indeed, his way of thinking was not bad.

Even though it seemed normal to the people of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect that Su Daoshi might not be able to handle the blow of falling from a possible True Inheritor to an Outer Door position, it also depended on who you compared him to.

He might not match up to the likes of Sima Shu, but once back at the Fufeng Protectorate, even Yan Beiling would have to treat him with decency and respect.

Why?

Others might not know this, but they were aware that Su Daoshi had just broken through the Gang Sha Travel and entered the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, achieving the Realm of Divine Powers!

And what about being an Outer Door Steward?

To say something unpleasant, those high-profile families would be even keener to curry favor.

If their family Disciples were to join the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, they would definitely start from the Innate and Gang Sha in the Outer Door, exactly under the management of the Outer Door Steward!

An Outer Door Steward might not be much within the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, but outside, no matter where in the Second Yan Han Empire, they carried prestige.

And because they didn’t need to cultivate, focused more on pleasure, made friends, they had quite a broad reach...

"Mm, never compare upward, only with those less fortunate than me, and I instantly feel much better..."

Zhong Shenxiu took a deep breath, turned around, and looked to see who the reckless soul was.

Immediately, a corner of a goose-yellow palace dress caught his eye.

The dress’s owner was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl with twin bun hairstyles. Although she was not fully grown, her looks were already quite striking, with a beauty mark on her forehead that made her particularly gorgeous against her snow-jade skin.

At this moment, she looked at Zhong Shenxiu with a worried gaze, comforting him, "Life is full of disappointments, but you, brother, mustn’t take it lightly..."

"County Lord, please don’t be reckless!"

Just then, a streak of light flashed, and a woman in her forties, still charming, stepped in front of the girl and guarded against Su Daoshi warily, "This man is a Divine Power Practitioner, and even if he were to stay in the lake for three days and nights, he wouldn’t die. You’re overly concerned, County Lord."

"County Lord?"

Shenxiu glanced at the girl, who smiled lightly when he looked her way, revealing two shallow dimples.

’The Second Yan Han Empire has a rule, only the Emperor’s daughters are bestowed the title of County Lord; this girl is actually the daughter of that old emperor?’

Zhong Shenxiu was slightly amazed, then he looked at the middle-aged woman, noticed her Divine Light, recognized her as a Divine Power Practitioner, and believed it to be mostly true.

"Han Shanggong, how did you find this place?"

The girl stuck out her tongue a bit fearfully at the middle-aged woman’s arrival.

"If not for this, how would I know that the County Lord was so daring as to sneak out to play with those maids?" Han Shanggong kept a stern face.

"So, you’re related to the Imperial family. I have shown a lack of manners."

Zhong Shenxiu bowed to the young girl, "I was momentarily lost in thought and did not intend to seek death. To have caused the County Lord concern, I am truly sorry ... I do not know the County Lord’s title, but I shall surely send an apology another day."

Asking a lady for her full name hastily would surely lead to being labeled a loafer.

"My title is Qingyuan ..."

The girl had just spoken a sentence when Han Shanggong stopped her, her eyes becoming more vigilant as she looked at Zhong Shenxiu, "Young man ... I will not punish you for the disturbance, so why do you not leave quickly?"

Only then did she realize that this man had a fine appearance, surely not one of those who had the wild idea to court the princess!

"I take my leave."

Zhong Shenxiu touched his nose.

He merely thought she was a good person, someone he could possibly make friends with in the future, but with such a fierce tigress blocking the way, he had no choice but to bid farewell.

As he turned to leave, he heard the chattering voice of Lord Qingyuan and couldn’t help but smile.

...

After walking some distance, Zhong Shenxiu felt somewhat bewildered.

The beautiful landscape of Daze City lay before him, and beyond that was the Longluo Smoke, yet a sudden weariness overcame him, "Perhaps it’s better to return, maybe it’s time to go back ..."

He suddenly felt homesick.

Of course, not for Su Daoshi’s hometown, but for the Fufeng Protectorate Mansion, the place in this world Zhong Shenxiu was most familiar with.

At the very least, it was far from the Emperor and had just been cleaned up, so peace was sure to follow.

With that thought in mind, that’s exactly what he did.

While preparing for the return journey, Zhong Shenxiu was also quietly contemplating where he should go from here.

The biggest key was how to break through to the Primordial Pill!

’Originally ... I had thought of going into the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect to find a solution for my cultivation in the Divine Power Realm, but now that’s completely out of the question.’

’Even if I went, as an Outer Door Steward, what significant texts could I have access to?’

’If Master Jiu Ru really has such discerning eyes, wouldn’t that mean I’ve truly hit a dead end?’

’According to him, the Primordial Pill requires utmost purity, which aligns with my own cultivation experience and Zhang Taiyi’s insights; it surely wasn’t a deception, so my biggest trouble is actually the impurities in my foundation, along with having a too-strong physical body, making it impossible to discard my cultivation!’

In truth, if one was really determined and able to pay a huge price, it would be possible to discard one’s Daoist Skill, but even Master Jiu Ru was somewhat reluctant to do so.

Everything else aside, it was the first-grade Nine Pure Immortal Light Protection Divine Power that was crucial!

Gang Sha Qi was hard to find, and once a cultivator refined it, it could no longer be restored.

It’s like asking someone to eat a bowl of rice is easy, but expecting them to vomit up an identical bowl is impossible.

Once this Divine Power was discarded, it would be almost impossible to refine it again.

Zhong Shenxiu guessed this much, but for him, re-cultivating the Daoist Skill was merely a matter of how many Heavenly Show Points it would cost.

’If it could be so simple to mend the foundation by discarding and re-cultivating ... but the real crux of the matter is that contamination of the foundation.’

His expression was complex as he stared at the [Pastor] option on his attribute panel.

’Master Jiu Ru believes I cultivated a minor Daoist Skill, leading to impurities in my foundation, but what has dirtied my foundation is much more formidable than any minor Daoist Skill ... This is a wisp of essence from the Door of Thousand Doors, and it has ... already merged with my true spirit. Even if I discarded my Daoist Skill, that wouldn’t change!’

This point, Zhong Shenxiu understood back in the previous world when he broke through the Great Grandmaster level and contaminated himself.

’So ... has my orthodox path already been severed?’