Chapter 20: Refusal

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 20: Refusal

The first step to becoming a cultivator is extremely difficult. An ordinary person must be completely calm and forget about one’self. One must be able to delve into the depths of one's body and sense the energy within one's organs.

After becoming a cultivator, the higher realms become increasingly difficult.

For many schools, the basic requirement for acceptance into the inner school and receiving teachings from renowned masters and resources is to be a cultivator of realm one. They only need to reach realm three cultivation before they could leave the mountain and have the freedom to travel outside.

Realm three, Vital Energy Realm. It sounded easy.

But this realm prevents many cultivators from leaving the mountain.

All cultivation places had many white-haired old people Energy Refinement Realm who were just doing routine work.

To reach realm three from realm two, the best way was to sense the primal energies of the universe, and to find and absorb the primal energies of the universe that matches one's vital energy.

Most people could not become cultivators because they could not sense the subtle parts of their bodies and comprehend the energies inside their body. Most cultivators would be unable to touch the primal energies of the universe, which were larger but emptier and had less of connection to one's body than their own energies.

Many cultivators had sufficient vital energy, but could not sense the primal energies of the universe. They could not sense the new power they could use and were stuck at this obstacle until they died.

They knew there was a mountain up ahead, but they could not see that mountain. This was the tragedy of many cultivators.

Coming to this mountain, feeling and seeing this mountain, and then climbing this mountain—that was the so-called realm breakthrough advancement.

The duration of a realm breakthrough varies from person to person. Some people need a few years, while others need a lifetime.

Chen Moli was actually twenty-seven years old, but his cultivation had already reached realm four.

Nangong Caishu, Xie Changsheng and the others knew that this kind of realm breakthrough speed was extremely fast.

It could almost be said that according to their current cultivation situation, and the records of their sword school… they could not possibly reach realm four before the age of twenty-seven.

At the same age, you cannot reach my cultivation.

This was the true meaning in Chen Moli’s words.

Xie Changsheng slowly raised his head. His eyes became cold as he stared at Chen Moli's gentle features.

Most cultivators looked young.

After reaching the Vital Energy Realm, one’s body would change and their longevity would increase. Many cultivation methods could keep one’s body and appearance youthful as if time had stopped.

The youth of Zhao Zhi and the Fourth Mister Zhao had surprised that cultivators from True Fire Palace of the Yan. This kind of youth was only relative.

Because thirteen years ago, First and Fourth Mister Zhao were famous in the world.

Their actual ages were much older than they appeared.

But Chen Moli was truly young.

“Go!” Xie Changsheng threw out a word and called everyone to leave together.

He lost, and he fully accepted his defeat. He could afford to lose.

Everyone remained silent and left with him.

Ding Ning’s brow furrowed deeply.

Although he thought these disciples had performed well, this kind of development had ruined his plan.

 

Chen Moli looked at the disciples' backs, and his mood grew even more gloomy.

Given the Qin's personality and practices, they would surely want to reclaim the six hundred square miles of fertile land and avenge their previous defeat.

The Chu Dynasty had been strong and prosperous for many years, but compared to these young people of Changling, the talented nobles of Chu seemed far more fragile and less fierce.

He took a deep breath to calm his expression and mind. Then he looked at Ding Ning.

He even felt that this ordinary young man was extraordinary.

The autumn breeze blew, stirring Ding Ning's hair.

Before Chen Moli could speak, Ding Ning said, “My aunt is ignoring you not because she ignores etiquette, but because I oversee many of her affairs, including the business of this shop. So if you have any matters, please discuss them with me.”

Chen Moli thought for a moment and said, “Alright, I have come because my master wishes to see Miss Zhangsun.”

Chen Moli was a retainer of Prince Li Ling.

His master was, of course, referring to the famous and legendary Prince Li Ling, an important figure who was held in high regard by all cultivators in Changling.

But hearing his words, Ding Ning interrupted, “Since your master wishes to see my aunt, why are you the one who came instead of him?”

Chen Moli fell silent.

He had not expected Ding Ning to say this.

Because Prince Li Ling was not on the same level as a woman from a wine shop. With his status, did Prince Li Ling have to personally request an audience with a woman from a wine shop?

But how could he answer Ding Ning at this moment? He could not directly state this illogical yet fundamental truth.

The conversation seemed to have reached a dead end.

At that moment, a soft clap was heard from the luxurious carriage parked at the side.

“The youth of Changling are worthy of respect.” A voice even warmer and more elegant than Chen Moli’s, and even more pleasing to the ear, rang out from within the luxurious carriage.

There was a kind of indescribable magic that a person possessed. Even if they wore the most ordinary clothes, even if their face was the most ordinary, even if they were among a crowd of thousands on a battlefield or in a bustling marketplace, when they appeared, they would attract everyone’s attention and make people feel as if they were shining.

The young man who stepped out of the carriage was like that.

He was dressed in plain blue satin, unadorned and unarmed. His face was ordinary, and his hair was tied back with a cloth ribbon, like an ordinary Qin person. However, as he slowly walked under the shade of the parasol tree, he seemed to radiate a dazzling radiance.

He was like a son of god.

The onlookers, even the most ordinary hawkers who did not know his identity, could see his extraordinary nature, and felt that he was born to be an important figure who attracted everyone’s attention.

Chen Moli respectfully stepped aside, his eyes gleaming with genuine respect and even admiration.

The only one who could make him act like this was his young master, the legendary Prince Li Ling.

Prince Li Ling, who appeared to be in his twenties, slowly walked in front of Ding Ning and stopped at a comfortable distance.

Because he was much taller than Ding Ning, he thoughtfully did not even stand up straight.

Then he smiled gently and bowed slightly to Ding Ning. He said, “Mister, you’re right. I shouldn’t have come here and stayed in the carriage. I should have come and asked to see Miss Zhangsun. I thought too highly of myself.”

Some onlookers in the distance had already guessed his identity. Hearing his words, they were both shocked and filled with admiration. They thought, Prince Li Ling was indeed as rumored and was not an ordinary person.

His words were polite and honest. When the people heard those words, they felt that Prince Li Ling was honest and open.

Ding Ning's expression was calm. He raised his folded hands in greeting and said, “Since that’s the case, Master, please express your intentions.”

Prince Li Ling looked at the calm Ding Ning, his eyes sparkling. He did not hesitate, and said humbly and sincerely, “I have come to ask Miss Zhangsun to enter my establishment.”

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Everyone in the alley who heard this was shocked and thought they had heard wrong.

Although Prince Li Ling was a hostage of the Chu Dynasty, he was still a prince. He had lived in Changling for many years. He had proven his own ability and strength, and had become a true nobleman.

In the eyes of many far-sighted people, Prince Li Ling was no different from the other princes and marquises in Changling.

Those who had seen Zhangsun Qianxue's appearance knew that she was devastatingly beautiful, but she was a woman from a wine shop with a lowly status and no background to be proud of.

Someone like Prince Li Ling would marry a noblewoman from an important family or a general's daughter even if he only got a concubine. However, someone like this openly stated he wanted to marry a woman from a wine shop?

In shock, the onlookers all stared at Ding Ning.

Everyone thought Ding Ning would be overwhelmed and unable to refuse.

Countless matchmakers had stepped foot in the doors of this wine shop in the past and failed. Everyone felt that those who had hired matchmakers did not have good enough backgrounds so Ding Ning and Zhangsun Qianxue felt there would be better options.

But at this moment… no one with a higher status than Prince Li Ling had come forward to propose.

This was a one-in-a-thousand chance of transforming from a sparrow into a phoenix.

Some onlookers even began to feel envious.

Perhaps after today, they would never be able to drink that sour wine again and look at that stunning beauty.

However, beyond their expectations, Ding Ning smiled and then seriously declined, “Thank you, Young Master, for your intentions, but I cannot agree to it.” 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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