Chapter 511
Chapter 511
Shen Lang conducted numerous experiments, but all of them failed, leading him to a single conclusion. Except for those with exceptionally high innate bloodlines, no one could withstand the energy of the golden bloodline parasites. One needed to possess a bloodline grade as high as Jiang Li's remnants. Ning Yan's bloodline grade was insufficient, and even his dearest Mulan's innate bloodline was not enough.
Then one day, one of Shen Lang's experiments suddenly succeeded. The test subject did not explode and die; instead, they underwent a major transformation. Their strength, mental power, agility, and other attributes all saw a massive increase. While they didn't reach the level of a martial arts master, they far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Overjoyed, Shen Lang continued his experiments and finally discovered a very special type of bloodline: the blank bloodline. It was a bloodline with no power whatsoever, one that could be called completely useless, utter dross.
The cruel twist was that such a bloodline was also exceedingly rare, appearing in perhaps one out of a hundred people. Nevertheless, Shen Lang secretly conducted several experiments on individuals with the blank bloodline, and all of them succeeded. This proved that the golden bloodline parasites could only modify this one specific type of bloodline. Some might ask if the bloodlines of the ten beggars from the Nan clan weren't also changed by the parasites. That was not quite the case. Their original bloodlines remained unchanged; the parasites had merely activated the extremely potent bloodline energy they already possessed. Only those with a blank bloodline could truly have their innate bloodline altered by the parasites.
In fact, this was quite logical. Individuals with other bloodlines, whether their innate bloodlines were high, low, or average, ultimately possessed some degree of power. Thus, when the golden bloodline parasites entered their bodies, they immediately triggered a fierce conflict. Since their own power could not control the golden bloodline parasites, their bodies would instantly explode, leading to death. However, those with a blank bloodline had no power within it; it was completely empty. So, when the golden bloodline parasites were injected into their bodies, they encountered no rejection at all and immediately settled in as if it were their own home.
Therefore, Shen Lang's large-scale bloodline modification this time was an opportunity for many to soar like a phoenix. It was a chance for two thousand useless individuals from the lowest rungs of society to experience incredible joy. Moreover, those two thousand were just the beginning; in time, he would have even more new soldiers.
For the Fifth Prince's estate to gain an absolutely powerful army was tantamount to laying the foundation for Ning Zheng to participate in the struggle for the throne. The battlefields of the Southern Ou Kingdom would become the perfect stage for these new soldiers to display their strength. That battlefield would allow Ning Zheng to rise in an instant, placing him on equal footing with the Third Prince and the Crown Prince.
***
"Aaaargh!"
Miserable screams echoed through Marquis Ning Zheng's estate. They had all passed the martial examination and even made it onto the list of successful candidates, something that should have been a source of pride. But merely passing was far from meeting Gao Duhuan's standards. They were currently hung from trees, being flogged by Gao Duhuan. They had been hanging there for two days already; the one who had been whipped the least had received thirty lashes, while the one who had been whipped the most had endured one hundred and ninety. Nan San and Nan Wu's predictions had been correct. The moment they returned, they were severely berated by Gao Duhuan and then beaten half to death.
"Idiots, idiots. You're all useless idiots! What kind of bloodlines do you possess to achieve such pathetic results? Do you know how many of you will pass the metropolitan examination with these scores? Three! Just three! This is a monumental disgrace. How can you face your ancestors? How can you face His Highness Jiang Li? They passed down such powerful bloodlines to you, yet you're worse than dogs and pigs."
After speaking, Gao Duhuan began whipping them madly again. Moreover, they had been stripped naked and hung from the trees to be flogged. Xiao Bing and the Fifth Prince's wife naturally did not set foot in that courtyard, but the female warriors under Wulie and Hannu came to watch in secret. For some reason, seeing those men being flogged naked made them feel incredibly excited and thrilled.
***
Bing'er was already over seven months pregnant and would need to prepare for labor in about a month. She was very excited, constantly murmuring that it would be a son, but Shen Lang had long known the baby in her womb was a daughter. Shen Lang didn't tell her, only saying that he disliked boys and preferred girls. The Fifth Prince's wife, Lady Zhuo, had also noticed that Bing'er's belly wasn't protruding sharply and had guessed the baby was a girl. As Shen Lang was playing with the unborn child, Bing'er suddenly spoke.
"My lord, Qiu Yao'er should be due soon, or perhaps she's already given birth."
"Ugh!"
Shen Lang was momentarily startled by her words. Qiu Yao'er was so strong that she didn't need a man; perhaps even her child wouldn't need a father. He wondered what kind of child such a remarkable woman would bear. In this world, perhaps only Princess Ying Han could compare to Qiu Yao'er. Just then, Huang Feng's voice came from outside.
"Young Master, a lady has come to see you!"
Bing'er said nothing, but her ears perked up. Shen Lang asked her.
"Who is it? I don't have time. I haven't been involved with any woman recently. A man as faithful as I am is truly rare."
"She said her name is Ying Han!"
Shen Lang was stunned.
*'Ying Han came to see me of her own accord? Is my charm really that astonishing? But... why don't I feel confident about it?'*
***
In the main hall of the marquis's estate, Shen Lang once again met the peerless beauty whose looks could topple nations. Upon seeing Shen Lang, Princess Ying Han got straight to the point.
"Shen Lang, I returned to the capital solely to see you."
Shen Lang was a little taken aback by her words.
*'Princess Ying Han returned to the capital just to see me? For what reason?'*
Did Shen Lang feel honored at that moment? Or uneasy? He didn't think he possessed that much charm. He asked her.
"What is this about?"
"Our master wishes to take you in as a disciple, to accept you as our youngest junior brother."
Shen Lang was astonished by her words. The Left Envoy Pavilion Master wanted to take him as a disciple? By now, Shen Lang had a deep understanding of this world, and his view of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion had changed significantly from before. It was an organization of people who controlled the rules of the world. Thus, for the Left Envoy to accept him as a disciple was to pull Shen Lang straight to the top of the pyramid.
"Why?"
"Naturally, it is because of your overflowing talent."
"An upright person does not mince words."
Princess Ying Han smiled and said.
"Shen Lang, you are indeed clever. In that case, I too will be direct."
"Please speak!"
"Ning Yi and I were born to the same parents, so I support him."
Ning Yi was the Crown Prince's name. Shen Lang nodded.
"Therefore, I hope you will not participate in our family's struggle for the throne."
"The Third Prince, His Highness Ning Qi, is also contending for the throne with His Highness Ning Yi, and the forces behind him are far greater than mine. Why have you come to persuade me instead of him?"
"Do you want an honest answer?"
"Of course."
"First, Ning Qi is backed by the Xue and Zhong clans. Their power is immense, and they have already invested a great deal in supporting him. To persuade them to withdraw, I would have to offer a massive price in return. In contrast, you and Ning Zheng are just beginning, your backing is weak, and your investment is small. Persuading you to withdraw would cost me comparatively little."
Shen Lang glanced at Princess Ying Han with a bewildered expression. This woman was refreshingly direct, not hiding the reality of the situation in the slightest.
"Second, the Xue and Zhong clans are ancient aristocrats. For the sake of their families' interests, they will adhere to the rules. But you are different. You abide by no rules and are unpredictable. The reason you are helping Ning Zheng in the succession struggle is that you're worried that once Ning Yi ascends the throne, he will settle scores with you and the Jin clan, isn't it? If you become my master's disciple, no one will dare to settle scores with you or the Jin clan."
"So, the Left Envoy Pavilion Master is willing to accept me as a disciple because of you, Your Highness?"
"That's right. I made the request. Although you have no martial arts, you are intelligent and talented enough to be worthy of becoming my master's disciple."
In an instant, Shen Lang felt profoundly slighted. It was a slight he couldn't even refute, because she hadn't said anything malicious, nor had she adopted a condescending attitude. So how could this situation be described? Once, Princess Ying Han had merely glanced at Zhuo Yizhen's twisted face and remarked that he possessed Jiang Li's special bloodline and that his inability to properly channel its power had caused the distortion. That single sentence of hers ultimately led to the annihilation of the Zhuo clan. What was more tragic was that even as they were being exterminated, the Zhuo clan never knew the specific reason for their downfall, assuming it was part of some grand conspiracy.
Later, when Ying Han learned of the matter, she felt a pang of conscience and offered a single word of apology to Zhuo Xiao'an. After that, Zhuo Xiao'an was liberated from hell, becoming a representative of the Hidden Yuan Society and the Crown Prince Ning Yi's mistress. In one fell swoop, she had returned to the core of the State of Yue's power structure. All of this was because Ying Han was not only the disciple of the Left Envoy Pavilion Master of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, but also his likely successor.
The Left Envoy had yearned for Na Zhao his entire life and had never taken a wife or had children, so the next Pavilion Master would have to be chosen from one of his two disciples: Ying Han or Zhu Hongxue. However, Zhu Hongxue had to return to her clan to take over the family enterprise, which meant Ying Han was bound to inherit the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. Now, the Left Envoy's willingness to accept Shen Lang as a disciple was solely due to a word from her. So, what kind of disciple would Shen Lang become? He wouldn't be a direct disciple. If a disciple were that important, the Left Envoy would have come in person long ago. He would probably be an in-name disciple, like Gao Duhuan (Zhuo Yizhen).
Gao Duhuan had studied at the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion for many years and was formally accepted as a disciple of the Left Envoy Pavilion Master. Yet, in his memory, the Left Envoy was extremely vague, as if he had never met him in his life. The difference between a direct disciple and an in-name disciple was perhaps like the difference between a doctorate from a prestigious university and a degree from an online correspondence course. Perhaps this was the first time since entering this world that Shen Lang had been truly slighted.