The First Summoner - Chapter 63

“What was the mission?” Shen Yan frowned.

Shen Tianhao clenched his fists, struggling to remain calm. “Western Region Academy refuses to reveal anything. They call it a top-secret mission. Other than the academy’s head and several elders, no one knows the details.”

“A top-secret mission?”

“The academy issues missions to its students. Because your brother is exceptionally gifted, he was assigned one of the Three Top-Secret Missions. They are said to be both mysterious and dangerous. Very few students return after completing one, but every successful candidate eventually becomes one of the Guiyuan Continent’s foremost experts.”

“Yet the academy has never revealed a single detail about those missions.”

Shen Tianhao looked at her solemnly.

“Therefore, Father must leave Nanxiao Kingdom to search for your brother. If you no longer wish to remain here, go to the Central Region with your Uncle Tan and wait for me.”

Shen Yan froze. “Where will you search for Ah Huai?”

His gaze deepened, and he pressed his lips together.

“I’ll confront the head of Western Region Academy and make him reveal the information. Then I’ll search for Huai’er.”

“Are you certain you can?”

The question silenced him.

In the past, he could have stormed Western Region Academy alone and held a sword to the academy head’s throat.

But now—

He was little different from a cripple.

Still, he possessed one final trump card.

Shen Yan supported his arm. “Father, Western Region Academy has concealed the Three Top-Secret Missions for years. They won’t answer simply because you ask. If you gain nothing and instead anger the academy, the trouble will only grow.”

Shen Tianhao’s heart clenched.

He wanted Shen Huai to experience the world and become strong, but not at the cost of his life.

He suddenly realized something.

More than he wanted Yan’er and Huai’er to become powerful, he wanted them to grow up safe and healthy.

His nose stung, and his eyes reddened.

Shen Yan had reached a decision.

“Father, do you trust me? I’ll do everything possible to enter Western Region Academy and earn the chance to undertake a top-secret mission. Then I can secretly investigate Ah Huai. It may take a long time, but I want to do my part.”

He stared at her in shock, lips trembling as he shook his head.

“No, Yan’er. Father cannot lose you as well.”

“I obtained the Blood-Devouring Pearl some time ago and began cultivating with an expert’s help. I’m no longer as weak as you imagine. Father, we’ll search together. You can use your sources while I investigate inside the academy.”

Shen Tianhao was speechless.

After a long moment, he asked, “How did you obtain the Blood-Devouring Pearl?”

“In Lingyan Forest…”

Shen Yan told him about the competition held there by the Qiutian Sect, though she mixed in a lie.

“That elderly expert killed Elder Yu, then removed the Blood-Devouring Pearl from the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine.”

Shen Tianhao gripped her arm, his expression grave. “Who was that old man? Did he use you for anything?”

He knew the wickedness of the world and feared his daughter had been deceived.

“No.”

“Then why help you?”

“I saved him, so he promised to grant one request. I told him I wanted to cultivate. He led me to the Blood-Devouring Pearl and removed the poison sealing my Core Spirit Bone, allowing me to cultivate spiritual power.”

Suspicion remained in Shen Tianhao’s eyes. “Did he tell you his identity?”

“No.”

“There are many wicked people in this world, Yan’er. Never trust anyone too easily.”

She hummed in acknowledgment.

…

They spoke for some time, most of it filled with Shen Tianhao’s warnings.

At last, he looked at her with complicated eyes.

“If you want to study at Western Region Academy and investigate Huai’er, Father cannot refuse you.”

“Now that you can cultivate, I’ll give you the cultivation gift I owe you from ten years ago.”

He stood and summoned a sword from his storage space. A soaring phoenix was carved into its exquisite scabbard, and a domineering aura radiated from it.

Its sword energy nearly forced Shen Yan backward. At the critical moment, she steadied herself and resisted with spiritual power.

Shen Tianhao held it horizontally before her.

“Yan’er, take it.”

She raised both hands. The instant the sword settled into her palms, a force weighing nearly two hundred pounds crashed down.

So heavy!

Her expression changed. She almost dropped it.

Who would imagine such a slender-looking sword could weigh so much?

“This is the Spirit Phoenix Divine Sword,” Shen Tianhao said. “If you can draw it, you are suited to become a sword cultivator.”

Shen Yan struggled to free one hand and slowly wrapped her fingers around the dark-red hilt.

She did not draw immediately.

First, she took a deep breath. Then she gathered spiritual power in her right hand and tightened her grip.

She pulled!

Clang—

The blade left its sheath with a ringing sound like a sword tip scraping across ice.

Its weight did not lessen. Cold light flashed along the edge. When she turned it, a phantom phoenix seemed to streak past in a trail of fire as a gust of sword wind shuddered through the air.

A smile entered Shen Tianhao’s eyes.

“The Spirit Phoenix Divine Sword truly belongs to you. You are suited for the sword.”

“A sword cultivator?”

Shen Yan had considered learning swordsmanship before but possessed no sword. Now her father had given her one…

He spoke solemnly. “Yan’er, I don’t know whether you’ve already become a Summoner, but the summoning path alone is far from enough. In many unknown places, you may be unable to summon an otherworldly beast to fight. You must possess martial skill of your own.”

Shen Yan looked down at the Spirit Phoenix Divine Sword. Despite its weight, it appeared as slender as any ordinary blade, and its edge was exceptionally keen. It was no common weapon.

She raised her eyes and promised, “Father, I will work hard to become a sword cultivator.”