Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor
Chapter 173 Shi Xuan

Chapter 173: Chapter 173 Shi Xuan

Over Western Wasteland City, a wild wind howled, filling the sky with dust and sand.

Atop the city walls of Western Wasteland City, Long Chen, having heard Shi Feng’s words and seen Elder Changqing’s speechless expression, couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Elder Changqing, after all, was the Northwest Desert King, the sovereign ruler over vast territories in the Northwest. Probably no one had dared to talk to him like this for many years. He himself had also been rendered speechless by this "evil demon’s" surprising remarks before.

Long Chen said to Elder Changqing, "Prince, Young Master Feng’s insights into Martial Arts are indeed unparalleled in the Yunlai Empire. Even my master, Nalan Yuan, who for many years could not advance into the Martial Sect Level, recently made a breakthrough to Martial Sect thanks to Young Master Feng’s guidance."

"What!" Long Chen’s statement sent shock waves through Elder Changqing like a stormy sea crashing violently in his heart. These words were even more shocking than the Martial Arts Realm insights that Shi Feng had just imparted.

"I had also heard that Nalan National Master recently broke through to the Martial Sect Level, all thanks to Young Master Feng’s guidance!" Elder Changqing looked at Shi Feng, somewhat incredulously saying, "Nalan Yuan has been stuck at the Nine-star Martial Emperor stage for twenty years without a breakthrough, and yet this young man, how old is he, really!"

"Old Man Nalan is of dull aptitude; if he hadn’t met me, another ten years would have passed without him achieving the Martial Sect," Shi Feng said bluntly.

"Er..."

Everyone fell silent. It seemed only this "evil demon" would dare to declare the strongest person in the Yunlai Empire of dull aptitude.

In the southern heartland, Mingao City is the largest and most prosperous city in the south, and for no other reason than it being the residence of the once Southern General and now Prince of the South, Shi Jintian.

Through the skies of Mingao City, a streak of silver light flashed rapidly, descending towards the Southern King Mansion. At the gates of the mansion, a few guards in green armor saw the silver light coming down, and one leader hurried out, respectfully asking, "May I know who you are and what brings you to the Southern King Mansion?" Anyone capable of flying has to be at least at the Realm of Martial King, a rarity in the Yunlai Empire, so these guards dared not be disrespectful.

Upon hearing the guard’s question, the silver light paused in the void, floating above the Southern King Mansion, revealing the figure of a silver-armored youth with long hair flowing and a silver cape furiously flapping in the wind. His face was handsome, and he exuded a commanding presence, stern and magnificent, as if a Silver-armored War God had descended.

"If the junior general seeks an audience with the Prince of the South, please allow me to announce your arrival," the head guard said even more deferentially after seeing the figure in silver armor, marvelling that someone so young could fly.

"Haha." Looking down at the guards below, the silver-armored youth chuckled happily and said, "Tell my father and mother that their son, Shi Xuan, has returned!"

"Shi Xuan! Young Prince Shi Xuan!" Hearing the words of the silver-armored youth, the head guard gasped in surprise. Having been in the Royal Residence for so many years, he naturally had heard of the Young Prince Shi Xuan, who, at the age of four, had followed a master into the mountains to learn and had not returned since. Yet, only eight years had passed, and looking at this silver-armored young general, he appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old.

But what he had just said was, "Tell my father, my mother," to claim a false identity, this person was capable of flying! How could such a genius pretend to be someone else’s son?

"Please wait a moment, I will go in and announce your arrival," the head guard said. Before getting a clear confirmation of the visitor’s identity, he dared not casually address him as the Young Prince, but he also dared not delay and promptly ran into the mansion.

It wasn’t long before a beautifully dressed woman of remarkable appearance and dignity ran out from the mansion, her hair neatly arranged, exuding elegance and nobility. A single glance was enough to confirm her exceptional status.

Seeing the woman, the other guards quickly knelt on one knee and saluted, "We greet the Princess Consort!"

"Greetings, Princess Consort!"

This person was none other than Princess Long Yan, the eldest daughter of Long Ao, the Holy Emperor of the Yunlai Empire, and wife of Shi Jintian, the King of the South.

As soon as Long Yan stepped out of the house, she lost her usual composure, her eyes scanning the scene in front of her as she asked the guard, "Where is my Xuan?" Her son had left her side when he was four, and eight years had since passed without her seeing him even once, so it was no wonder that even the usually dignified Long Yan would appear so discomposed.

Just then, a handsome man in a golden Python Dragon Robe with an imposing aura and a full heavenly countenance followed out from the residence. The guards, upon seeing him, once again called out in a low shout, "Greetings to the Prince of the South." This person was the former General of the South, the current Prince Consort, now the Prince of the South—Shi Jintian!

"Dad, Mom!" At that moment, from above the Royal Residence, the joyful call of the silver-armored young general rang out, and then, that silver figure landed before Long Yan.

"You! You’re Xuan? That’s impossible!" Long Yan staggered a few steps backward, somewhat unable to recognize her own son. This wasn’t at all what she had imagined—her Xuan was but twelve, and ought to still look like a tender child. The person before her seemed to be at least eighteen or nineteen.

Shi Jintian stepped forward beside Long Yan, placing a large hand on her retreating figure, and gazing intently at the silver-armored youth in front, he said, "It’s Xuan, no mistake! Our son has always grown faster than other children. Look, there’s a mole between his eyebrows."

Seeing Shi Xuan, Shi Jintian was also startled within, as he couldn’t see through his son’s Martial Arts Cultivation at all.

"Is it really Xuan?" After hearing Shi Jintian’s words, Long Yan looked carefully again at the silver-armored youth before her. Indeed, there was a mole identical to the one her son had as a child.

"Haha, it seems Dad still holds his son in his heart and recognized me at a glance! Mom, it looks like you haven’t been thinking of your son these years," laughed Shi Xuan. Being away from home for eight years, under his master’s guidance in the mountains, he spent countless nights yearning to see his birth parents. Now, they stood before his eyes.

"Xuan! It’s truly my son Xuan!" After confirming it was her son, Long Yan rushed forward and embraced her long-missed child, unable to believe that he had grown so much.

"Mom, what’s wrong with you? Don’t cry, I was just joking earlier. I’ve come back, you should be happy," Shi Xuan said to Long Yan.

"Silly child, your mother is just too delighted, that’s why she’s like this."

"Oh." Shi Xuan nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite grasping the sentiment.

"Xuan, having followed your master and learned martial arts for so many years, what Realm has your Martial Arts Cultivation reached?" asked Shi Jintian at this moment.

"Father, your son has reached the Martial Sect Realm!" Shi Xuan replied to Shi Jintian.

"The Martial Sect Realm! The Martial Sect Realm! Hahaha, good, very good! What about Long Xin, the Fifth Prince, who dares call himself the number one genius? Compared to my son, Shi Jintian, he is nothing; but a firefly to the bright moon. From now on, my army has gained another peerless general, haha, hahahaha." Shi Jintian laughed heartily; his son was truly exceptional. His eldest son Shi Xuan, at just twelve, had already reached the Martial Sect Level, and his second son Shi Le, who possessed Innate Divine Strength and an Innate Divine Body, was only eight years old and had already attained the Nine-star Martial King Realm.

And then there was that prodigy Shi Feng! He had really misjudged him back then, and now he had turned the Yunlai Empire upside down. He had even killed Feng Luohan, the Deputy Sect Master of the Skywind Sect. It seemed that all the seeds Shi Jintian had sown, each one, were like evil demons!

Now with the Yunlai Empire in chaos, and with the return of his son Shi Xuan, perhaps Shi Jintian himself had a chance to contend for the throne!