Chapter 114: The Princess of the Dynasty

Gazing at the book titled *Phantom Fist*, Xin Lang hesitated. “Should I practice it myself, or use the upgrade device to learn it?”

Having gained experience from studying the Heavenly-level technique *Qi Transformation Art*, Xin Lang knew that learning a Heavenly-level martial skill required 100 experience points, and that upgrading it by one rank also demanded 100 experience points.

In other words, using the upgrade device’s learning function, Xin Lang needed 200 experience points to master the mid-rank Heavenly-level *Phantom Fist* and upgrade it to the high-rank Heavenly-level. Luckily, the device still had 213 experience points remaining.

“Forget it. Since I’m already so broke, holding onto these 200 points won’t generate more experience. I might as well use them!” Xin Lang decided.

“Learn! Upgrade!” he commanded.

First, Xin Lang used the upgrade device to learn the mid-rank Heavenly-level martial skill *Phantom Fist*, then he upgraded it to the high-rank Heavenly-level *Seven Shadows Fist*.

“Excellent! After upgrading *Phantom Fist* to the high-rank Heavenly-level, its power surged, transforming into *Seven Shadows Fist*. It can even be used as a phantom footwork technique! That cost 200 experience points!”

However, despite now possessing a high-rank Heavenly-level skill, Xin Lang couldn’t freely use it, as his internal energy was limited.

Ordinary first-tier Grandmasters couldn’t even unleash a high-rank Heavenly-level martial skill once after accumulating a month’s worth of internal energy, yet Xin Lang could use three Heavenly-level super skills daily after just one day’s cultivation. This showed how immense the internal energy absorbed through the super weapon *Heavenly Halberd* was.

When Murong Yueyin traded the mid-rank Heavenly-level *Phantom Fist* for Xin Lang’s third-grade Saint-level potion, she never considered whether Xin Lang had enough internal energy; she only weighed whether *Phantom Fist* was worth her Saint-level third-grade artifact *Blue Silver Saint Lu*. Fortuitously, Xin Lang had the super weapon *Heavenly Halberd* to help absorb the world’s internal energy.

With the high-rank Heavenly-level skill in hand, Xin Lang settled his mind and began serious cultivation.

Battling at the Grandmaster tier required internal energy. Having a strong bow and sharp arrows was useless without the strength to shoot them.

Xin Lang controlled his internal energy through his meridians while simultaneously refining essence into energy. At first, managing both was incredibly difficult and less efficient than focusing on one alone. Yet he refused to give up, knowing that once he mastered the art of multitasking, it would greatly benefit him—his recovered internal energy would be ten to a hundred times what he currently lost.

At noon and evening, Xin Lang went out to replenish his strength. As a first-tier Grandmaster, “refining the body’s essence” was also a crucial source of internal energy, and he would never abandon it.

He cultivated until midnight. After zero hour, he finally ran his internal energy through his meridians for ten full cycles, completing the upgrade device’s daily task.

“Finally, I have some experience points again!” Xin Lang sighed, looking at the meager 113 experience points left in the upgrade device.

Xin Lang jumped down from his bed, stretched his body, and after a quick internal scan, unleashed the high-rank Heavenly-level skill *Seven Shadows Fist*.

His body shifted, feet stepping in a changing pattern. Two afterimages appeared, then each split again. In the blink of an eye, seven manifestations of Xin Lang stood in the room.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Seven muffled strikes echoed as each phantom delivered a decisive punch. If he encountered Huang Shiyu now, Xin Lang could easily send him flying with a single blow.

After the seven punches, the phantoms merged back into Xin Lang’s true form.

“Damn, using *Seven Shadows Fist* once consumes so much internal energy!” Xin Lang’s stored energy instantly depleted by a quarter.

“It seems relying solely on the *Heavenly Halberd* won’t do. If I face a high-tier Grandmaster with more internal energy endurance, I’ll still lose. I must rapidly advance my realm!”

Since defeating Huang Shiyu, ranked tenth on the Golden List, Xin Lang had been quietly cultivating in his dormitory. However, his words after that victory had stirred up a tremendous uproar at the Martial Arts Academy.

The Golden List of the academy consisted of ten students: Huangfu Huijing, Long Zhanyi, Ling Tian, Sima Tao, Shangguan Ningyu, Guo Chongyang, Murong Yueyin, Hu Qingqing, Zhang Liang, and Huang Shiyu.

Among them were four female students—Huangfu Huijing, Shangguan Ningyu, Murong Yueyin, and Hu Qingqing—known as the academy’s Four Beauties.

Huangfu Huijing was the strongest, holding the top spot on the Golden List.

Xin Lang’s boast—“The Four Beauties of the academy are my exclusive treasures. Whoever dares set their sights on them, no matter their rank on the Golden List, must kneel and apologize to me!”—had offended everyone who admired these four women, including Huangfu Huijing and Shangguan Ningyu.

*Ling Residence of Summer Capital.*

After Ling Feng was instantly defeated by Xin Lang on the nineteenth main battle stage, he had sought countless opportunities for revenge. But upon hearing that Xin Lang had also defeated several other rotating challengers on the main battle stage, Ling Feng became cautious, realizing he was no match.

Yet, the desire for revenge never left Ling Feng’s heart. He waited patiently for the right chance.

Today, that chance had finally come.

Ling Feng placed the latest issue of the *Martial Arts Academy Storm Ranking* before his elder brother.

“Brother, look at this! That brat Xin Lang is way too arrogant, claiming Princess Huijing is his personal treasure! People like him should be reported to the court and have their limbs severed!”

“Hmm?” Upon hearing it concerned Princess Huangfu Huijing, Ling Tian snatched the ranking list out of Ling Feng’s hands.

After reading it once, Ling Tian furiously tore the *Martial Arts Academy Storm Ranking* to shreds.

“Brother, should we inform the Third Prince Huangfu Shaoqi? Among the royal family, the Third Prince has the closest relationship with Princess Huijing,” Ling Feng cautiously suggested.

“No! Telling the Third Prince would be too lenient on that brat! He dared insult Princess Huijing—I will personally cripple him!” Ling Tian said sharply. “The Third Prince is currently secluded in closed-door cultivation. I’ll report it to him after I deal with that brat.”

“Yes, Brother!” Ling Feng smiled coldly. “My brother ranks third on the Golden List. Let’s see how he handles Xin Lang!”

*Summer Capital Princess Mansion.*

In a lavishly embroidered chamber sat two beauties of unparalleled allure—women whose beauty could topple nations and ruin empires.

Shangguan Ningyu, holding the *Martial Arts Academy Storm Ranking*, turned to the other, who gazed out the window.

“That Xin Lang has such nerve, calling us his treasures! Doesn’t he know that Princess Huijing is a royal princess? Desecrating a princess is punishable by severing! Even if he didn’t know, he’d be beaten to death by Long Zhanyi and Ling Feng!”

Huangfu Huijing looked up at the half-moon hanging in the sky and said softly, “I think he said it on purpose.”

“Ah! Why? Is he mad?” Shangguan Ningyu asked in shock.

“Masters are lonely, perhaps,” Huangfu Huijing murmured, her eyes still fixed on the sky. She knew he was speaking of Xin Lang, and perhaps of herself as well.

Damn!