’But with Shen Qingyao’s and Shen Qingshuang’s proud personalities, they probably wouldn’t easily reveal their feelings to Brother Cheng.’

’And Brother Cheng is like a block of wood. When has he ever taken the initiative to show affection to a woman?’

Mu Xiaowan wanted to give Chen Cheng a hint, but seeing him engrossed in the Secret Manual, she could only shake her head. Instead, she turned and instructed the two young maids to tidy up the room.

’No matter what, Brother Cheng must not be disturbed when he’s Cultivating Martial Dao!’

Chen Cheng was indeed completely focused on studying the *Flame Sun Sword Skill* manual, not thinking about other worldly matters.

This Flame Sun Sword Skill was truly extraordinary. If one cultivated the Flame Sun Sword Stance, they could unleash a searing, burning power.

In a fight, a single move using the Flame Sun Sword Stance could directly produce flames to burn an opponent, just like an extremely powerful, high-temperature flamethrower. It was truly tyrannical.

But the Flame Sun Sword Stance wasn’t just a high-temperature flamethrower. The Flame of the Scorching Sun could be condensed into a single point, capable of melting even ordinary weapons made of Refined Iron.

It could be said that a Cultivation Technique like the Flame Sun Sword Stance was unbelievably powerful in the Muscle Strengthening Realm and the Bone Forging Realm.

However, cultivating the Flame Sun Sword Stance was much more difficult than other Sword Momentums. It required constant Cultivation under the scorching sun, using Sword Techniques to repeatedly draw upon the fiery sun’s aura until one could finally unleash the Flame Sun Sword Stance.

Once the Flame Sun Sword Stance was cultivated, one could begin to comprehend the Radiant Sun Realm. The Realm Power of the Radiant Sun Realm was even more formidable.

When unleashed, it could draw upon the fiery sun’s aura and concentrate it into the Radiant Sun True Fire—flames with a temperature no less than molten lava, enough to melt metal and stone.

Its power was self-evident!

Of course, like other legacies from Celestial Phenomenon Peak, the power of the Flame Sun Sword Skill was often affected by the weather.

The Radiant Sun Realm also required a blazing sun to best display its power.

On overcast, rainy, or snowy days, the fiery sun’s aura would be extremely weak, and the Realm Power of the Radiant Sun Realm would be greatly diminished.

The Fundamental Diagram for the Radiant Sun Realm was a world of crimson flames, with nine golden crows circling a great sun.

This was known as the Nine Crows Chasing the Sun Map!

Comprehending the Realm involved imagining oneself transforming into one of the nine golden crows, devouring the fiery sun’s aura, and then unleashing its power.

Unlike the Fundamental Diagrams in other Secret Manuals for Superior Cultivation Techniques, this Radiant Sun Realm Root Map was only one half of a complete Fundamental Diagram.

The other half was the Fundamental Diagram for the Star Moon Realm.

By merging the Fundamental Diagram for the Star Moon Realm with the Radiant Sun Realm Root Map, one could form a complete Fundamental Diagram for the Sun and Moon Realm, allowing one to comprehend the Sun and Moon Realm.

After finishing the Secret Manual, Chen Cheng wasn’t in a hurry to practice the Flame Sun Sword Skill. After all, he had too many Cultivation Techniques to work on already, and he couldn’t just dabble in each one superficially.

’It’s better to master one move than to know a thousand.’ He decided to first honestly cultivate his Qingfeng Saber Intent to Perfection.

Furthermore, Chen Cheng realized that Shen Qingyao had only given him the Flame Sun Sword Skill manual, not the Seven-Star Sword Technique manual needed to cultivate the Star Moon Realm. It seemed she was still holding something back.

’If I start cultivating the Flame Sun Sword Skill in the future, it would be best to cultivate it alongside the Seven-Star Sword Technique.’

’It would be ideal to comprehend the Fundamental Diagram for the Star Moon Realm and the Radiant Sun Realm Root Map at the same time, allowing me to grasp the Sun and Moon Realm all in one go.’

As for the Green Wave Sword Technique that Shen Qingyao had mentioned, he would have to find time to cultivate that as well.

After all, the Gui Water Realm of the Green Wave Sword Technique was extremely useful in water.

Chen Cheng already knew a little about it. Experts who had mastered the Gui Water Realm could often move freely in water, possessed the power to overturn rivers and seas, and could even stay underwater for decades at a time.

As the saying goes: "The Way of Water holds a thousand transformations; its Realm, an undercurrent; its form, a hidden dragon in the mist." This described the power of cultivating the Gui Water Realm.

Likewise, the Earth Element Realm allowed one to move unhindered through the earth, and the Wood Element Realm could be like ancient vines coiling around a mountain. The power of the Five Elements Realm was clear to see.

If he had the chance, he would naturally want to cultivate them all, master every kind of Realm, and ascend to become a Land Immortal!

Of course, this was all just wishful thinking. How could it be so easy to cultivate every Realm?

Even the Great Yu Founding Saint Emperor, who had cultivated to the Martial Saint realm, wouldn’t have dared to claim he had mastered every Realm.

"The path of Cultivation is truly arduous!"

Chen Cheng stood at the highest point of his courtyard’s roof, gazing at the nearby Vermilion Bird Courtyard.

Under the bright moonlight, a figure in white was practicing Swordsmanship on a roof—it was the Seven-Star Sword Technique.

She had long since cultivated the Seven-Star Sword Stance. Her figure was ethereal, and the Longsword in her hand gathered specks of starlight, brilliant and dazzling.

"The Shen Family truly lives up to its name as one of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City. Their foundation is so deep. Not only do they have the legacy of the Frost Snow Realm, but also this Sun and Moon Realm," Chen Cheng muttered.

Just then, a figure in purple suddenly leaped onto the roof of the Vermilion Bird Courtyard. The Longsword in her hand carried an aura like crashing waves as it swept toward Shen Qingyao’s Seven-Star Sword Stance.

Needless to say, this had to be Shen Qingshuang, using her Green Wave Sword Technique to spar with Shen Qingyao.

"Ah, women... so complicated."

Seeing the two Sword Momentums quickly clash, Chen Cheng shook his head slightly, muttered to himself, and leaped down from the roof to go inside and sleep.

In the center of the main room, on a large, soft, and comfortable brocade bed, Chen Cheng gently held Mu Xiaowan and fell fast asleep.

Seeing him so uncharacteristically well-behaved, Mu Xiaowan, however, felt no sleepiness at all. She turned over and snuggled into his strong, broad chest.

"Brother Cheng, do you think Senior Sister Qingyao and Senior Sister Qingshuang are beautiful?"

Her small, fair, and delicate hand traced patterns on Chen Cheng’s chest as Mu Xiaowan finally couldn’t resist asking in a soft voice.

Chen Cheng’s breathing was steady. Fighting off his drowsiness, he said softly, "Yes."

"Then, what if they..." A faint smile appeared on Mu Xiaowan’s face. Just as she was about to press on, she heard Chen Cheng’s long, even breaths.

"Aiya! Brother Cheng, you really are a block of wood," Mu Xiaowan said with feigned annoyance, then snuggled against his chest and slowly drifted off to sleep.

...

Under the bright moonlight.

On the roof of the Vermilion Bird Courtyard, after exchanging dozens of moves without a clear winner, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang finally stopped and leaped back into the courtyard.

However, the two had clearly not reached an agreement, as they still stood facing each other with their Longswords in hand.

"Shen Qingshuang, what is the meaning of this?" Shen Qingyao’s brows furrowed slightly as she spoke with clear displeasure.

Shen Qingshuang’s expression was cold, and she retorted with equal impatience, "Shen Qingyao, I should be asking you what you mean!

You have always been the one the Shen Family elders have focused on nurturing, the one who shoulders the hope of the Shen Family’s legacy.

All of the Shen Family’s resources are given to you first. Only after you’ve had your share do they consider the other disciples.

You, more than anyone, should cherish this, but instead of staying home and properly Cultivating Martial Dao, you’re running around showing off.

Don’t tell me you intend to betray the elders’ expectations and scheme to marry someone?"

Her thoughts exposed, Shen Qingyao’s pretty face flushed red. Flustered and annoyed, she retorted:

"What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever show off?

You’re the one... The Shen Family went to great lengths to secure you the position of Chief of the South City Guard. Instead of focusing on stabilizing the situation in the South City District for the family, you followed your own whims and ran off to the Inner City District.

If the other three great clans take this opportunity to cause trouble and snatch your Chief position, how will you explain yourself to the family elders?"

The two of them argued for a long time, but they were just beating around the bush. Clearly, neither was willing to say what was truly on her mind.

Ultimately, however, Shen Qingshuang was the more furious of the two. After all, she was the one who had brought Chen Cheng from the South City District. How could she allow Shen Qingyao to get her hands on him?

"Shen Qingyao, be honest. Have you fallen for Chen Cheng?"

Shen Qingshuang sheathed her Longsword and mustered the courage to speak her mind, though her voice was barely a whisper.

But Shen Qingyao heard her clearly. She also sheathed her Longsword, tilted her head to stare at Shen Qingshuang, and said softly:

"I was about to ask you the same thing. You’ve always been so proud and arrogant, refusing to fall behind me even in Cultivating Martial Dao. Why are you so pathetic when it comes to Chen Cheng?

Can it be? Are you truly willing to be Chen Cheng’s concubine?"

Faced with this soul-searching question, Shen Qingshuang couldn’t help but bite her lip.

She knew Chen Cheng’s personality best; he rarely changed a decision once it was made. If she really were to marry him, she would indeed only have the status of a concubine.

’The proper young lady of the Shen Family’s direct line, the proudest, most stunning beauty in all of Linji City... am I really willing to accept that?’

Seeing her expression, Shen Qingyao’s eyes lit up, and she chuckled. "So? You’re not willing to accept it, are you?

Since that’s the case, why not let go now? You’ll save yourself from a future tangled mess, needless vexation, and sorrow."

"Hmph! Shen Qingyao, you’ve planned this all out, haven’t you!" Shen Qingshuang snapped back to her senses. With a snort, she turned and stormed away.