Bab 12: The genius known as Wang Ling III

Enough was enough, an era had already been form on top of his previous one. The realm is now stable and the throne of the strongest has been warmed enough for years, meaning, the king is to return right away.

Right now he's only an insignificant ant that can be trampled by anyone if they want. But after he bid enough time and did a good job of cultivating and making use of his family's resources then his strength would quickly soar.

Half an hour passed and Wang Ling got ready immediately. He stretched his body before picking up the sword he had left on the ground. His body was still aching but does not matter.

The road to cultivation was always treacherous and hard. One would suffer countless wound in a single fight and would even lose an arm or a leg in some cases. If Wang Ling couldn't even tolerate this amount of pain then he's not worthy to hold the title of strongest.

Wang Ling breathed in and out until his mind was still. He recalled the memorized set of sword technique he was given and proceeded to mastering them.

However, unlike what he did with the Thunder Fist where he completed the maneuver with ease. Wang Ling took his time with mastering this skill. Not because he was bored and had too much time, no, it was because he was surprise to see that the martial technique he was casually given was a high quality sword art.

From its basic movement along Wang Ling was surprise to see that movement of the blade was good enough to be considered as an earth level. Wang Ling nodded his head in satisfaction.

He chose to practice this technique with all his heart. He began with the first form of the technique.

[Wave Ripple], the wave ripple was a simple technique yet a deadly one. It only had one action which was a thrust of the sword. With a single thrust of the sword, the onslaught of a violent wave shall be stopped.

Wang Ling could see the principles of the technique, so he practiced it with all his heart. There were only three forms in the Tidal Wave Sword he was given.

The first form was the Wave Ripple which he was practicing now and the other two was [Tidal Slash]and the third was[Ocean's Lull]. The two techniques were good in their own right, but because Wang Ling was in no hurry he chose to completely master this technique.

He estimated that if he gave it all, he will reach consummation for Wave Ripple in three days in the least and four days at most. Well if he struck it and became lucky, he will be able to master the Wave Ripple in less than two days.

Wang Ling had a lot more sword technique that's as good, if not better than the Tidal Wave Sword.

There was the Beheading Sword of the Thousand Slaughter faction as an example but Wang Ling chose to master this technique because he was interested in peering at the core of the Wang family sword art.

From what he could tell with the three forms of the Tidal Wave sword, the Wang family focuses on the balance of the sword.

With this intention in mind, Wang Ling began mastering the sword.

He only stopped soon after his body could not hold on anymore. He practiced his sword a total of three hours before he stopped.

The mastery of his Wave Ripple has reached the level of minor accomplishment. Wang Ling only have to solidify his comprehension a little more and he will be able to unleash half of the sword technique's might even without the presence of spirit qi.

His throat at this moment was very dry. He was thirsty enough to jump at any fountain he would find. Thankfully there was no fountain, pond, or anything like that so he was spared from drinking dirty water.

It took a while but Wang Ling managed to regain some of his strength while lying on the ground. He sat on the grassy floor and began checking his body.

There was no clear change with his body but he was sure that his 'unused' body was getting the hang of strenuous work outs. After this event, Wang Ling called for a maid so he can take a nice warm bath.

He ordered some maids to prepare a bath for him and soon enough he was washing himself in the bath. He made sure to wash himself thoroughly. He relaxed for a bit until he remembered about the banquet for Wang Hong.

He sighed and tried to think of a reason why he should or shouldn't go. It took him a good ten minutes before he decided to go the banquet.

"Hope there's good wine."

He said to himself before getting out of the bath. He took a new set of fresh clothes and changed. He now wore a pure white robe that has no intricate design. The robe was simple and had nothing that screams of being a young master.

Nothing this down, Wang Ling nodded his head in satisfaction. He didn't really like wearing flashy outfit so he made Butler Sun get him this set of clothing.

Butler Sun actually rejected this notion because he said it was unbefitting his status but after a week of continues persuasion, Wang Ling managed to make him accede to his demands.

Wang Ling was feeling comfortable. His body was aching yes, but that just meant he was working hard. It was still another eight days before he could properly cultivate, but this was enough for him.

As night came to replace day, the Wang family manor started becoming more and more lively. The banquet for Wang Hong's return was starting.

Wang Ling sighed and lazily went out of his courtyard. While walking down the path to the banquet hall, after for a while the vibrant banquet hall that is full of came to view.

The outside of the banquet hall was dazzling unlike the other buildings of Wang family manor. The banquet hall was truly a place suited to hold a joyous occasion.

On top of the banquet hall's door, there was carvings of a Phoenix. From what he heard from Wang Yue, the Phoenix carving symbolizes life and how a man should be reborn like a Phoenix when he enters the banquet hall.

Whether they be angry or sad, the instant they entered the banquet hall whether it be a man or woman should have a smile on their faces like they had just been reborn from the ashes of battler which is everyday life.

The door of the banquet hall was wide and spacious. Even if ten people walk in side by side, the door would still have room for one more.

On the path to the door of the banquet hall, there were quite a number of people entering. He didn't recognize any of these people so they should be youths from outside the manor.

These people were young, they carried gifts with them and had a smile on their faces. Judging from the way they dress, they were most probably nobles of the kingdom.

Seeing them walk in his house like this made Wang Ling remember one certain thing.

[That's right, my father is the General.]

He had forgotten all about the matter about being a noble. The Wang family manor just lack the political struggle of an aristocratic family so he forgot all about it.

There were no stuck up uncles or aunts who wish to take over his father in this place. There were no stupid nobles going up to their front gates demanding some outrageous demands or explanations, this made Wang ling forget that he was a noble in a kingdom.

He wasn't complaining about it or anything, but he did feel a little conflicted about being a noble in this kingdom. His family is basically just him and Wang Yue, if you put Wang Hong in that list then there would only be three of them.

His mother was somewhere else, he was unsure what she was doing but from the looks of it she is cultivating or in seclusion. His father was in the frontlines of the southern border fighting god knows what enemy.

Wait, the enemy of his father was demons and the savages of the southern plains. Without much going on in their family, Wang Ling felt that the Wang family was just some affluent family and not some noble.

[I better stop thinking about this. I'm already contended with my current status.

I'll leave this kingdom soon enough anyway. Wait, should I bring Yue and Butler Sun with me without telling father? Or should I go to the southern border first before I leave?]

He didn't want to think about the complicated life of nobles so he drop this matter altogether. Matters of the future should be placed on the shoulders of his future self.

Wang Ling walked at the direction of the banquet hall. The youths saw him walk passed them without giving them a look and found this action displeasing. They were the young masters and miss of the noble family of the Azure Skies Kingdom, being ignored like this was a first for them

This is especially infuriating for these nobles because they are the best of the best when it comes to cultivation. To save the detailed explanation, these young ones were the so-called geniuses of their families who has too much pride in their bones.

Of course Wang Ling was well-aware that they were nobles but who gives a crap about them, really? There were like twenty people in the path way, should he greet them one by one as he walk to the banquet hall?

If he really did do that, he will feel more exhausted than when he practice in his martial techniques.

Besides, these young people are prideful and if they see a person wearing such shabby looking clothing like he does, there is a high chance they would think he was some kind of servant who is there to assist them.

If that really occurs and someone commanded him, he will naturally turn them down and his actions of turning down a noble might infuriate people so Wang Ling chose the most effective way of dealing with these kinds of situation… which is to avoid them entirely.

This might incite the rage of others because his actions were too arrogant. But this will at least let him make him save the energy of having an argument with arrogant and pompous brats who thinks too highly of themselves.

Wang Ling directly entered the banquet hall. The moment the maid who was by the door of the banquet hall saw Wang Ling, she immediately bowed and took the initiative to lead him to his assigned table.

[It seems like Butler Sun already made plans for me.]

This was his first time in the banquet hall. The interior of the banquet hall was spacious and beautiful. The atmosphere inside the banquet hall was very vibrant and full of life, tens of youths were talking joyously.

Wang Ling observe their smiles and couldn't help but shake his head. The forced smile they show in gatherings such as this is till force like it had always been.

Beautiful female nobles who were dressed neatly and handsome young masters who are dressed to impress the females were socializing with one another without a care for the world.

Wang Ling walked pass these kind of people until he reached a table where a cute little girl was busily reading her books about spirit plants. Beside the little girl were ten plates of food and a lot of meat. The little girl was garnering attention towards her but the little girl was ignoring them as she was too absorbed with the book she was reading.

Wang Ling saw this and had the urge to laugh when he saw this sight. Wang Yue was usually shy even around him, if not for his interactions with her in the past and their earlier conversation in the back garden where Wang Yue grew slightly attached to him.

There's a high chance that Wang Ling and Wang Yue would still avoid talking to one another. However, right now, the image of a shy little girl was nowhere to be found. The little girl in front of Wang Ling was a bookworm who does not care about her surroundings not a shy one.

Wang Ling sat beside Wang Yue. Not wanting to bother Wang Yue's reading, Wang Ling just sat there beside her, not saying much. When he sat beside Wang Yue, the surrounding people also shot him an observing look and seeing how poorly he dressed, many gave him a look of disdain.

Not bothering to make any form of response to their provoking gazes, Wang Ling started looking around the banquet hall. He noticed that Wang Hong was nowhere to be found so he drop the idea of looking for Wang Hong.

While Wang Ling was idling away, Wang Ling focused on thinking about his next steps. Closing his eyes, Wang Ling started organizing is thoughts.

Time flew by and soon enough, Wang Ling was jolted from a loud clamor. He raised his head and noticed that people were looking at a certain direction. He turned his head and there he saw Wang Hong together with Butler Sun.

Wang Hong wore a red battle robe. He honestly look like a warrior, but because of his elegant facial features, he look like a heroic figure from the legends. Wang Ling saw this and couldn't help but remark: "Show off."

Seeing this, he ordered some maids to get him some wine. He thought that there would be a show where Wang Hong will start having some conversations with these nobles and with the wine he ordered, he wanted to listen in to what people are talking about.

Things were about to get lively, in so many different ways. But then, just as the wine he asked for came, a loud and arrogant voice was heard.

"Brother Wang, I have been waiting for your return. Come and let us get this started already, you promised the youths of the Azure Skies Kingdom a sparring session when you come correct?"

The arrogant fellow who started shouting all of a sudden was a noble who looked like he was in his early twenties. With a sword in hand, the noble pointed it Wang Hong and declared a challenged.

This challenge would usually make the mood of the banquet turn sour or unpleasant. But strangely enough, the challenge of the noble incited the battle spirit of many other people.

"Haha, if you didn't say that I would've issued the challenge myself. Brother Wang, let me have the rematch I have been itching to get since two years ago."

"Wang Hong, come and let us see if you can defeat me this time. I have trained for years, since your last departure, I am prepared to take you on now."

Wang Hong who had just arrive heard the challenges smiled and nodded his head.

"It would be my pleasure to have a bout with you. I dare promise a duel and I will accept your challenge today."

Taking out his spear, Wang Hong emitted his intent to fight.

Wang Ling looked at this sight and was flabbergasted. Just what kind of banquet was this? Why was he not informed?

A terrible foreboding appeared in his heart.