Chapter 108: Far-Reaching

As Shen Yu withdrew his brush, the true dragon gradually faded from view.

Zhao Ji gazed at Shen Yu, stunned by his display of calligraphy, and was suddenly reminded of the sword strike he had unleashed at the Yang family estate.

It was just as peerlessly domineering.

There are certain people in this world who, regardless of their cultivation level or social standing, appear the most graceful and charismatic the moment they engage in the pursuits that were born to them.

The clean paper was returned to the stone table. The wisp of tea smoke that had been curling upward had vanished long ago. Everyone on the circular platform finally snapped out of their mesmerized stupor. Dongfang Duan’s expression was filled with reluctance, yet he could do nothing. From the very moment the brush touched the paper, he knew he had suffered a crushing defeat. However, this strange, overwhelming method of victory—devoid of technique and reason—was something he found difficult to accept.

After a brief silence, the judge, a disciple of the Dongfang sect, consulted his manual and spoke calmly: "First place, Shen Yu."

In the normal course of events, the top three would usually be evaluated. Yet, he only announced the first-place winner. Ordinarily, this would invite dissent, but not this time. Even the most uninitiated onlooker could see that this near-divine level of artistry was simply not in the same league as the others.

Shen Yu stepped off the platform and frowned slightly. "How many more of these trials are there?"

Yang Pan’er, shaking off her shock, replied, "The winners of each category will advance to the final showdown."

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow. "A group battle?"

Yang Pan’er nodded. "Yes."

Shen Yu scanned his surroundings, puzzled. "Why isn't there a category for just fighting?"

In the world of cultivation, no matter the path one takes, the most fundamental and important aspect is combat strength. It is a world of the survival of the fittest; to embark on the path of cultivation is to walk a road of blood and storms. He could understand why the final outcome was decided by a common skirmish, but he failed to see the point of all these elaborate distractions. Where was the meaning in them?

Yang Yuanhao, who had been silent until now, offered an explanation: "It is primarily for the sake of quotas and interests. The top five gain control over the distribution of the immortal jade spiritual veins outside the city. As for why there were no fighting trials at the start..." He gave a bitter smile. "The Qingxu Sect has taken first place in the Spring Trials for decades, and their disciples possess resources that far exceed those of the rest of the Linshan Kingdom. So... there was no need."

There was no need, because the winner was always the Qingxu Sect anyway.

Shen Yu offered a simple "oh" and wandered off. The calligraphy trial concluded quickly, but the other competitions continued in full swing. Talented men vied for dominance across chessboard grids. A seventy-year-old man, devoid of any cultivation, sat in quiet meditation on a high platform. Three scholars sat together, discussing the fate of the nation. Nangong Rou, the eldest daughter of the Nangong family, orchestrated strategies on a formation board with a lazy expression.

Shen Yu did not linger anywhere, merely glancing over each scene. Yang Pan’er followed behind him, worried. "Shen Yu, will you be able to beat them later?"

"Since I am here to help you annul your engagement, it is only natural," Shen Yu replied.

Yang Pan’er whispered, "What if you can't win?"

Shen Yu thought about it seriously. "Then I will run."

Yang Pan’er scratched her head and nodded heavily.

...

The Spring Trials lasted from noon until the following day. Most of those present were cultivators and felt no fatigue; furthermore, there were many buildings around the platform for rest, complete with fair-faced maids, making the atmosphere quite pleasant. Yang Yuanhao, having passed his prime and worn down by years of toil, had long since retired to rest.

Late at night, the sounds of clamor still echoed from afar. Shen Yu stood at the edge of the platform, gazing into the distance. Yang Pan’er, though her eyelids were drooping, stubbornly sat on a small stool beside him and fell fast asleep, leaning against him.

Zhao Ji brought a luxurious shawl and draped it gently over the girl. Shen Yu glanced at her. Zhao Ji’s expression remained unchanged as she asked, "You have been staring at the sky for so long. What exactly are you looking at?"

Shen Yu replied calmly, "People are always easily attracted by distant scenery, forgetting what is right before their eyes."

Zhao Ji listened in silence.

Shen Yu gestured toward the starry sky. "The vast sea of stars, the infinite firmament of spiritual energy—under such heavenly phenomena, human strength is so small and fragile, yet it appears so magnificent. But no one here even has the thought to look up; instead, they obsess over mediocre artifacts and pills. That is why I do not understand."

Zhao Ji sneered. "You come from the Dao Sect, born to be revered by all, which is why you possess such peerless, domineering intent. But everyone here is fighting for their lives for cultivation resources. When your horizons differ, how can what you see be the same?"

Shen Yu did not correct the errors in her words. He was silent for a moment, then nodded. "That is reasonable."

Zhao Ji looked toward the stars and sighed. "Even if you win this trial, it won't change much for the Yang family. They are merely gasping for their last breath." She had heard of Shen Yu of the Dao Sect; Fang Hen of the Lingyun List had once been defeated by him, so she did not worry about the outcome of this competition. But she was concerned about other matters.

Shen Yu said indifferently, "I am here to end Yang Pan’er’s engagement. The Spring Trials hold no meaning for me."

The old servant retorted, "The Qingxu Sect’s roots are deeply entwined throughout Qianliu City. How do you intend to resolve that?"

Shen Yu replied calmly, "I shall simply kill a few more people."

...

Zhao Ji stared into Shen Yu’s eyes, as if trying to discern something. A behemoth like the Dao Sect was naturally a terrifying force to a small sect like the Qingxu. However, the power of one man and the power of an entire sect were completely different concepts. Behind the Qingxu Sect stood Broken Blade Mountain—a major power comparable to the Guiyun Immortal Sect before the great chaos—and it housed one of the world’s top-tier cultivators. She was worried, or perhaps afraid, that Shen Yu would act recklessly, leave, and ultimately bequeath an even greater catastrophe to the Yang family.

Shen Yu said coolly, "When I speak of a resolution, I mean a complete one. As for you, regardless of the reason, the demon race must not recklessly plague the mortal world. I spared you once, but there will not be a next time."

The fox demon narrowed her eyes, a faint trace of demonic aura radiating from her. It was rare to be spoken to in such a manner by a cultivator of his standing.

Shen Yu did not look back, asking indifferently, "Seeking death?"

The old servant watched his retreating figure. For some reason, she was reminded of that sword strike. After hesitating for a long moment, her aura finally settled back into stillness.

Both remained silent.

On this circular platform suspended a thousand feet in the air, some were joyful, some were melancholic, some were dreaming beautiful dreams, some were full of regret, and one was gazing at the sea of stars. This scene was just like the mundane life of the world.

As the red sun began to reveal its light in the distance, ten thousand rays of dawn burst forth from the boundless darkness, resembling that glimmer of hope within the human heart.

After a long period of stillness, finally, the day dawned.