Chapter 4: The City Lord's Son's Struggle (Part 3)

Su Chen's cultivation at Lingyun Academy became even more arduous. Since regaining his memories after reincarnation, almost two and a half years had passed.
He broke through from the ninth level of the Spirit Awakening Realm to the sixth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
That year, Su Chen was 19.
Such a cultivation speed was incredibly fast, even shocking the academy.
The academy's elders discussed the matter and decided to cultivate Su Chen as a potential Spirit Sea level cultivator.
Everyone considered Su Chen a genius.
Only Su Chen himself knew the reason for his rapid cultivation:
Firstly, he had already walked this cultivation path in his previous life.
Secondly, his talent, comprehension, and resources in this life were far superior to his previous one.
This was why he cultivated so quickly.
However, he was still a pseudo-Spirit Sea level cultivator.
But Su Chen had no intention of clarifying this. He figured he might as well take the free benefits; he considered it an investment from the academy.
The Xu family remained calm, and there was no news of the Su family he had founded in his previous life.
Su Chen had no time to dwell on these things; his focus was now on the once-a-decade grand competition for the younger generation of the Tianfeng Kingdom.
The academy had high hopes for Su Chen, wishing him a good ranking.
Su Chen, along with the academy elders and a group of geniuses trained by the academy, embarked on the journey to the capital of Tianfeng Kingdom.
His close friend, Li Ming, also accompanied Su Chen to the capital.
"Jiang Chen, are you confident about this competition?"
"I suddenly feel so much pressure. There are so many geniuses just from Lingyun Martial Academy."
Li Ming looked at the starry sky and couldn't help but feel lost.
In the past two years, Li Ming had also successfully broken through to the Spirit Gathering Realm, but he was still at the first level.
His best friend, Su Chen, was already at the sixth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm and was even a year younger than him.
He had originally thought Su Chen was already a genius...
However, without exception, every young disciple from the Martial Academy participating in the grand competition was no less capable than Su Chen.
Even the weakest cultivator is at the fifth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
"Geniuses are as numerous as the stars in the sky,"
Su Chen looked up at the heavens. "In any era, there will only be one moon; all other stars are destined to be overshadowed by its brilliance."
Li Ming looked at his somewhat unfamiliar best friend, his heart pounding. "Do you want to be the moon?"
Su Chen shook his head. "I am merely a tiny, insignificant star."
"But if I hear the Dao in the morning, I can die content in the evening."
"If I can see that moon, see the true prodigies of martial arts, even if my brilliance is obscured, I will be willing."
Li Ming was stunned. Was this still his best friend, the one he hung out with every day?
Suddenly becoming so lofty, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
Su Chen said earnestly, "I'm just telling you not to be afraid of failure."
"There are many in this world more outstanding than us."
Li Ming nodded, his inner turmoil resolved.
If his best friend wasn't afraid of failure, why should he?
Su Chen had one more thing left unsaid.
"Sooner or later... I, Su Chen, will become the most dazzling moon, unique and unparalleled!"
If one lifetime isn't enough, then two, three... In one lifetime, he, Su Chen, will live a life that everyone looks up to.
After Su Chen and Li Ming went back to sleep, no one noticed a middle-aged man emerging from the shadows.
"If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening... How many old fogies don't have the same open-mindedness as a young man?"
...
After a long and arduous journey, the group finally arrived in the capital of Tianfeng Kingdom.
The elders of the Martial Academy had already arranged accommodations for everyone.
Su Chen went straight to see his fiancée. When Su Chen introduced her to the members of the Martial Academy, Li Ming's face turned ashen.
"We agreed to stay single together, but you already have a fiancée!"
Su Chen chuckled dryly. He believed Li Ming would understand.
The Lingyun Martial Academy treated Wang Bailu well, but the Spirit Sword Sect did not welcome Su Chen.
Wang Bailu was a renowned beauty in the Spirit Sword Sect. Although not as famous as the sect's senior sister, one of the ten most beautiful women in the Tianfeng Kingdom, she possessed a unique charm and had many supporters within the sect.
Su Chen's arrival was like stirring up a hornet's nest; he was immediately surrounded by a crowd.
"So you're Junior Sister Wang's fiancé? I challenge you!"
"If you lose, you'll have to stay away from Junior Sister Wang!"
An older senior brother from the Spirit Sword Sect angrily challenged Su Chen.
Su Chen didn't accept.
Where did this delusional, immature guy come from?
"Are you even a man? Can't you have a fair and square duel between men?"
"If I lose, I'll disappear from Junior Sister Wang's sight forever. If you lose, then you'll break off your engagement with Junior Sister Wang."
The senior brother from the Spirit Sword Sect relentlessly pressed on, aggressively demanding.
It seemed that this would suppress Su Chen and elevate his image in Wang Bailu's eyes.
"I just feel that Miss Wang is utterly innocent, being used as a wager by a guy like you."
"If you want a duel, I'll accept, but I won't wager my fiancée. She's not merchandise; she's my future wife."
With those words, Su Chen earned the Spirit Sword Sect's respect.
Wang Bailu's beautiful eyes shone with admiration as she looked at the refined young man.
The Spirit Sword Sect senior brother, humiliated, attacked Su Chen in a fit of rage, only to be subdued in a single move, shocking the entire sect.
Finally, a middle-aged man led away the Spirit Sword Sect senior brother, who was now staring blankly, seemingly lost in existential doubt.
From beginning to end, Su Chen didn't know his name, nor did he care to.
The two were simply not in the same league.
The Spirit Sword Sect elder personally apologized to Su Chen and promised that no one in the sect would ever make things difficult for him again.
The entire Spirit Sword Sect admired Su Chen, their attitude completely reversed.
Originally, they thought Su Chen was unworthy of Wang Bailu.
Now, they worried that Wang Bailu was unworthy of Su Chen.
They were convinced that Su Chen would be a dark horse in the martial arts competition, achieving outstanding results, and that countless noble ladies would flock to him.
Wang Bailu also realized this problem; her fiancé was too outstanding, and she wondered if he would give her a letter of divorce if he became famous.
Therefore, in the days leading up to the martial arts competition, Wang Bailu spent every moment with Su Chen.
Until the start of the martial arts tournament, geniuses from all the major sects gathered together.
Wang Bailu then gave Su Chen some free time.
Su Chen felt his dark horse was about to fall.
He had become a skinny horse.
But it was alright. Although he was tired, Su Chen had fought his way through life in his previous life, constantly walking the line between life and death. His combat experience was far superior to that of these greenhorns.
Along the way, Su Chen became a dark horse in the martial arts competition, attracting the attention of numerous forces.
"Zhang Yuan, your Lingyun Martial Academy has indeed picked up a fine seedling!"
Elders from various forces gathered together, openly expressing their envy of Lingyun Martial Academy.
Nineteen years old, at the sixth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, and not only that, he even defeated a top-ten favorite.
Nangong Meng of the Tianlan Sect, twenty-one years old, at the peak of the ninth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
An elder of the Tianlan Sect, Li Qingyue's most prized disciple.
Su Chen was only at the sixth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, yet with his fearless and indomitable martial arts spirit, he forced Nangong Meng to admit defeat.
His fame spread throughout the world!
He was nicknamed—the Martial Arts Madman!