Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 185 Ling Shan, the Sword Immortal, Appears Again
"Wen'an, are you sure that the jade tablet contains genuine seal script?"

Jiang Xiuqi was stunned for a long time before speaking with some excitement.

Shen Wen'an once again sensed the information he received in his sea of ​​consciousness and nodded slightly, saying, "It is indeed the true seal script."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuqi's body trembled with excitement, and his expression became unsteady.

"Master?"

Upon seeing this, Wei Qiuling called out softly.

After regaining his senses, Jiang Xiuqi said, "True Seal script is also known as 'Dao Seal script,' meaning something engraved with the Great Dao."

“We cultivators claim to be pursuing the Great Dao, but few know that before the Golden Core Realm, we can’t even get a glimpse of the Great Dao.”

The saying "Once a golden pill is swallowed, my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens" means that only by cultivating a golden pill and obtaining that wisp of golden essence can a cultivator have the ability to come into contact with the Great Dao and glimpse their own destiny.

"As for those below the Golden Core stage..." Jiang Xiuqi smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "Cultivators below the Golden Core stage, no matter how much they struggle and suffer, are nothing more than ants under the sway of fate."

But Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling looked somewhat stunned when they heard what he said.

Jiang Xiuqi also understood that it was not advisable to talk to them about these things at this time, lest it affect their Daoist resolve.

"If this jade tablet is full of true seal script, it is something that even high-grade immortal sects would covet."

"Now that this jade tablet has fallen into the hands of my Luoxia Mountain, it is both a blessing and a curse."

After the initial joy of obtaining the "True Seal Script," Jiang Xiuqi suddenly realized his mistake, and his expression became somewhat solemn.

Such an incredible opportunity had fallen into Luoxia Mountain's lap, yet it made him somewhat anxious and uncertain.

The Hundred Beasts Mountain has been planning to acquire this jade tablet for over a hundred years, so they must have known that the jade tablet contains "true seal script".

Now that their forces in Yangnao Land have been completely wiped out, Jiang Xiuqi is worried that Hundred Beasts Mountain will go mad as a result, so he chooses to leak this secret.

Once the secret of "True Seal Script" is leaked, the entire Danzhou will be thrown into complete chaos.

This thing is much more attractive than the original "Female Yuanhui Pearl".

Wei Qiuling also realized this, her brows furrowed, and she didn't know what to do for a moment.

"There's no way to deal with this jade tablet in the short term, let's go out first."

After the three of them pondered for a moment in front of the jade tablet, Jiang Xiuqi spoke.

Right now, he needs to think about how to solve the hidden dangers of Hundred Beasts Mountain, but he can't even calm down when he's in front of this "Taoist Jade Carving".

The three left the cave and appeared under the starry sky.

A gentle breeze blew by, and Shen Wen'an suddenly spoke up: "Why don't we go back to Blackwater Pool first and discuss it with Father and Elder Brother?"

He never felt troubled when fighting the enemy.

But when it comes to matters of strategy and planning, Shen Wen'an feels he is far inferior to his father and elder brother.

Jiang Xiuqi thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "You two go back first. I will set up some illusion arrays around this Kui Shui Lei Sha Formation to cover up the cave, and then I will come to find you."

At this point, Jiang Xiuqi suddenly shook his head with a wry smile.

Why was I so stupid before, forcibly breaking the illusion array set up by Hundred Beast Mountain with a wave of my hand?

Now we have to waste time and materials to rearrange it.

After nodding to Wei Qiuling, Shen Wen'an left the place and flew towards the Blackwater Pool.

……

Upon hearing the two's brief account at Blackwater Pavilion, Shen Yuan was also quite surprised.

A few days ago, he just had a sudden feeling and made a simple deduction.

Who would have thought that such auspicious divination would contain such a terrifying opportunity!

"What are your thoughts, Father?"

Wei Qiuling asked.

I still remember when I first came to Yangnao, Shen Yuan was the head of the Shen family.

Over the years, the Shen family has experienced many changes, some of which were beyond the capabilities of a small Qi Refining family.

But the Shen family has weathered each and every crisis.

She greatly admired Shen Yuan's wisdom and wanted to see what clever schemes he had up his sleeve.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan smiled slightly and said, "This matter is actually very simple."

"When my father was in charge of the Shen family, he always relied on others to his advantage."

"Later, when your eldest brother took over the Shen family, he made some slight changes and chose to form alliances with people everywhere."

"These two methods have one thing in common: they both involve winning over a powerful ally."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qiuling seemed to be deep in thought.

Shen Yuan didn't keep them in suspense and continued to explain, "Luoxia Mountain is now just like the Shen family obtained the spirit stone mine back then."

"I know it's a good thing, but I also know I can't keep it or eat it."

“At this point, it is natural to seek out stronger allies.”

After his reminder, Wei Qiuling suddenly realized and laughed, "This method is indeed simple. I've seen Father and my elder brother use it so many times, but I've completely forgotten about it."

"but……"

She turned to look at Shen Wen'an, who had been silent, and said, "Junior Brother, you have been to Qingluo Sword Pavilion. Do you think it would be feasible to share the matter of Dao Inscription Jade Carving with Qingluo Sword Pavilion?"

Of the three major sects in Danzhou, only the Qingluo Sword Pavilion can be approached; the other two major immortal sects dare not even consider conspiring with them.

If things go wrong, it wouldn't be surprising if someone casually sends out a Golden Core expert to slaughter everyone in the know, including the Shen family at Luoxia Mountain, and then monopolizes that jade inscription.

"Sword cultivators are magnanimous; it's worthwhile to first make contact with Sword Immortal Ling Shan regarding this matter."

"but……"

Shen Wen'an hesitated.

This matter involves the life and death of Luoxia Mountain and the Shen family, and he was uncertain about the outcome for the time being.

But if we do nothing now, who can guarantee that Hundred Beasts Mountain will suddenly go crazy and reveal the matter of the Dao Seal Jade Carving?

"I'll go to the Green Vine Sword Pavilion one more time."

After hesitating for a long time, Shen Wen'an slowly stood up and spoke.

The current situation is that taking a gamble might prevent any problems, while not taking a gamble is simply waiting to die.

"Don't rush, we can wait a while longer."

Shen Yuan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

He planned to wait a while, allowing the white jade tortoise shell to accumulate some spiritual energy, and then try to deduce its properties.

Since it involves high-level things like Daoist seal script and jade carvings as well as the Azure Vine Sword Pavilion, the white jade tortoise shell may not be able to provide much guidance, but as long as some prophecies can be obtained and the fortune or misfortune can be deduced, there will be some reference points.

Shen Wen'an nodded and sat down.

The group continued their discussion about Taoist seal script jade carvings.

Wei Qiuling seemed to suddenly realize something, and immediately frowned and said, "I remember that my junior brother said in that cave that the jade tablet recorded the 'Cold Dew', and Father's previous divination also showed 'Great fortune in Cold Dew'."

"The current solar term is Cold Dew, so... what will happen after Cold Dew?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Shen Wen'an pondered for a moment and said, "We entered that cave before the Cold Dew season, but we didn't find any trace of the Daoist inscriptions or jade carvings."

"I think that the jade tablet might disappear immediately after the Cold Dew season..."

Shen Wenxing frowned slightly after hearing this: "There are twenty-four solar terms in a year, and the Cold Dew solar term only lasts for half a month."

"So, in that case, you'll only have a maximum of half a month to comprehend what's on it?"

"The owner of that cave certainly knows how to create trouble..."

Shen Yuan shook his head slightly after hearing this: "Such a strange object, which can be connected with the seasons, may not necessarily be the work of the cave's owner."

"I even suspect that the owner of that cave accidentally discovered this wonder born of heaven and earth, and that's why he chose that cave as his dwelling place and set up a great formation inside to comprehend it."

Wei Qiuling nodded: "Father is probably right."

"The jade tablet seemed to have grown out of the underground rocks, and there was really no trace of human intervention."

The four chatted for a long time until dawn broke in the east, when Jiang Xiuqi finally arrived from afar, riding the wind.

After Wei Qiuling told Jiang Xiuqi about Shen Yuan's method, Jiang Xiuqi pondered for a moment and also felt that this seemed to be the only way at the moment.

"During the Cold Dew period, I will stay in that cave to guard it."

"On the one hand, we want to see if we can glean anything from the jade tablet, and on the other hand, we want to verify your guesses."

Jiang Xiuqi spoke up.

His cultivation level is already very close to the Golden Core realm. If he can glean some insights from the Daoist inscriptions and jade carvings, he might be able to increase his chances of successfully forming a Golden Core.

Wei Qiuling nodded and said, "Then Master, please be careful."

The Daoist script and jade carving are at a very high level; even if one only comprehends them, unexpected events are very likely to occur.

Jiang Xiuqi chuckled and waved his hand, "At my age, I'm not a reckless person."

"gone."

After saying goodbye to everyone, Jiang Xiuqi left the Shen family.

As Shen Yuan and his companions returned to the courtyard from the gate, a maidservant hurried over, bowed, and said:

"Master, head of the family, something has happened."

Shen Wenxing frowned: "What is it?"

The maidservant said, "Young Master Chongxu and Madam Hu are arguing."

Upon hearing this, the group hurried to the backyard.

In front of Zhao Xuan's small courtyard, ten-year-old Shen Chongxu was seen pushing Hu Meier toward the gate.

He kept shouting:

"roll!"

"My mother doesn't want to see you!"

"If you don't leave now, I won't be polite!"

As he spoke, a faint spiritual energy fluctuation emanated from his body, as if he was about to use a spell!
Upon seeing this, Shen Wenxing immediately rushed forward and kicked Shen Chongxu to the ground!
"You little bastard, what do you think you're doing?!"

Shen Chongxu, who had been kicked, did not cry. He stood up and glared at Shen Wenxing, seemingly very unconvinced.

Hu Meier, holding Shen Li's hand who was hiding behind her in fright, looked at him with concern in her eyes, then turned around and cupped her hands to Shen Wenxing: "Big brother."

Shen Yuan and the other two also arrived at this moment.

"grandfather……"

Upon seeing Shen Yuan, Shen Li hurriedly ran over, a hint of fear still lingering on her small face.

Shen Yuan bent down and picked her up, then turned to Shen Chongxu and asked, "What happened?"

Although Shen Chongxu dared to act recklessly with his uncle Shen Wenxing, he instantly became obedient in front of Shen Yuan.

"grandfather……"

He bowed respectfully, then glared at Hu Meier and said, "Mother's health has just improved, but this vixen said something to her last time she came, and she vomited a lot of blood and can't get out of bed now."

"They actually dared to come again this time!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Meier quickly explained, "I came to deliver medicine to Sister Xuan."

"No need!" Shen Chongxu shouted!

"Insolence!" Shen Yuan glared at him and said, "Get out of my way!"

Shen Chongxu clenched his fist, then stopped blocking the gate and moved aside.

Wei Qiuling, who was standing nearby, came to Hu Meier's side and helped her up, saying, "Sister Meier, don't worry about it, Chongxu..."

Hu Meier shook her head slightly.

When she last visited Zhao Xuan, she only briefly revealed her and Shen Li's identities, without mentioning Shen Wenyan's death. Zhao Xuan immediately vomited a mouthful of blood and fainted.

Fortunately, she listened to Shen Yuan's advice and brought a Nan Hua Twin Grass from the Blackwater Pavilion.

He quickly refined a leaf of the Nan Hua Twin Grass and injected it into Zhao Xuan's body, stabilizing her condition.

After returning, he refined the remaining Nan Hua Twin Grasses into medicinal liquid, preparing to treat Zhao Xuan properly once again.

Unexpectedly, before they even entered the courtyard, they were stopped by Shen Chongxu.

"Sister Qiuling, you all go in, I won't go in."

"This is the medicinal liquid of the Nan Hua Twin Grass. I have already extracted it. Please take it to Sister Xuan later. It should be effective in treating her injuries."

As Hu Meier spoke, she handed the jade bottle in her hand to Wei Qiuling.

"Master, head of the household."

"Madam invites you in."

Just then, a maid rushed over from the courtyard, bowed and spoke, then looked at Hu Meier and said, "Madam Hu, the lady also wishes to see you."

Clearly, Zhao Xuan had heard the commotion at the door.

Upon hearing this, Wei Qiuling handed the jade bottle back to her and said, "Let's go together."

Led by the maid, the group arrived in the courtyard.

At this moment, Zhao Xuan, whose face was pale, was already sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard, waiting.

Upon seeing Shen Yuan and the others arrive, she gestured to the maid beside her to help her up, and bowed to Shen Yuan, saying:
"Father, your daughter-in-law has been rude."

After putting Shen Li down from his arms, Shen Yuan said, "You're not feeling well, so don't bother with these formalities. Please sit down."

After Zhao Xuan sat down, she nodded, smiled, and bowed to Shen Wenxing and the others.

When he looked at Hu Meier, his expression was somewhat complicated, but he finally smiled and said, "Please forgive Chongxu for his rudeness, sister. After today, I will make sure he comes to apologize in person."

Hu Meier shook her head repeatedly, walked up to her, and handed her the jade bottle, saying, "Sister, there's no need for that."

"Sister, you're too weak. You should take this medicine quickly."

Zhao Xuan took the jade bottle, hesitated for a moment, and then drank the medicine inside.

The gentle medicinal effects slowly dissolved in his body, which helped restore some of his complexion.

Upon seeing this, Hu Meier smiled slightly.

Zhao Xuan sighed and looked at Hu Meier, saying, "Today, in front of Father and Elder Brother, I have something to say to you."

Hu Meier nodded: "Please speak, sister."

Zhao Xuan continued, "Now that my sister has married her husband, we are sisters."

"Sister, you weren't angry that day because of what happened between you and your husband."

"Just because..."

Zhao Xuan looked somewhat somber and coughed lightly twice, saying, "It's just because I guessed something from my sister's expression."

Having said that, she looked at Shen Yuan with a touch of sadness.

"Father, is my husband... gone?"

Shen Yuan sighed inwardly and remained silent.

Zhao Xuan saw this and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Seeing this, Wei Qiuling quietly came to her side, ready to step in and calm her down at any time.

Zhao Xuan looked at her and shook her head slightly to indicate that she was fine.

"Ten years have passed since we last met, and I've almost forgotten what he looks like."

"Over the years, it's less about waiting for him and more about waiting for his letter of divorce."

"I know he didn't truly want to marry me..."

Listening to Zhao Xuan's words and seeing her sorrowful expression, Shen Yuan felt a pang of sadness.

"Child, my Shen family has failed you..."

Zhao Xuan shook her head slightly and said, "Father, the Shen family has not mistreated their daughter-in-law."

“You and Mother have always treated me like a daughter, and your daughter-in-law understands that.”

After saying this, she looked at Hu Meier and asked, "Can you tell me about the last things that happened between you and your husband?"

Hu Meier hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "If you want to hear it, Sister, Meier will tell you everything."

Seeing this, Shen Yuan slowly stood up and said, "You sisters should have a good chat."

"Xuan, take good care of yourself, don't be too sad."

“You also have Chongxuan and Chongxu.”

Zhao Xuan nodded gently and watched Shen Yuan and the others leave.

In the courtyard, Hu Meier recounted every detail of her time with Shen Wenyan, including his eventual death in the Battle of Hundred Beasts Mountain.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuan suddenly smiled sadly: "I never imagined my husband would have such courage. We sisters should be grateful..."

Hu Meier was somewhat stunned after hearing this.

"Sister, you..."

"I'm fine." Zhao Xuan smiled and shook her head, then looked at the obedient Shen Li beside her and said softly, "Li'er, come here, let your grandma give you a hug."

Shen Li looked up at Hu Meier, then timidly approached Zhao Xuan and gently leaned against her leg.

Zhao Xuan gently raised her hand and stroked her cheek.

"Back then, I also wanted to give my husband a daughter, but I ended up having two rascals instead."

“Chongxuan followed his father’s example and has now also cultivated the Way of Literature.”

"Chongxu's eccentricities are actually somewhat like mine..."

Zhao Xuan put her arm around Shen Li and softly recounted the stories of the two brothers, Shen Chongxuan and Shen Chongxu.

Hu Meier listened intently, her gaze occasionally drifting to Shen Chongxu, who was watching her warily in the distance. She imagined what it would be like if her husband, Shen Wenyan, could return alive with her.

Zhao Xuan's voice grew softer and softer.

His hand, which was holding Shen Li, slowly slipped down.

"aunt?"

Shen Li, who was in her arms, called out suspiciously, startling Hu Meier from her deep thoughts.

Suddenly coming to her senses, she only felt Zhao Xuan's aura slowly dissipating, and her life force becoming barely perceptible!
"Sister Xuan!"

Hu Meier exclaimed in surprise!
"aunt!"

Young Shen Li gently shook Zhao Xuan's arm and called out.

Seeing this from a distance, Shen Chongxu rushed over.

But I saw that my mother had a smile on her face and her eyes were closed.

He stood frozen in place, tears welling in his eyes, and let out a soft gasp of disbelief.

"mother?"

Zhao Xuan left without giving him any response.

"mother!!!"

Tears welled up in Shen Chongxu's eyes, and he knelt down in front of her with a thud, hugging Zhao Xuan's arm and crying bitterly!
Hu Meier's body went limp, and she knelt on the ground.

Looking at Zhao Xuan leaning back in her chair, smiling as she walked away, tears welled up in her eyes.

"elder sister……"

The Shen family never held a funeral for Shen Wenyan after his death.

The main concern was that arranging the funeral would disturb Zhao Xuan and be too much for her to bear.

Ultimately, however, this tragedy could not be avoided.

Inside the Blackwater Pavilion.

Shen Yuan looked at Shen Wenxing in front of him and said, "Arrange the second son's funeral. Bury Zhao Xuan and his cenotaph together."

"If you don't have anything to do these next few days, please don't bother your father."

"Let me be alone."

Shen Wenxing nodded sadly and quietly left Blackwater Pavilion.

……

In winter, a heavy snow fell.

After months of preparation, Luoxia Mountain handed over the four cities of Anyang to the Shen family, just as Wei Qiuling had previously instructed.

Inside the ancestral hall, Shen Wenxing sat in the head seat, while the other stewards of the affiliated clans sat quietly on either side.

The six affiliated clans of the Shen family are no longer the original six.

After more than a decade of open and covert struggles, coupled with the audits by the clan council, only the Lü and Chen families remain of the three major clans.

Another powerful clan, the royal family, has been demoted to a minor clan.

The Liu family, among the smaller clans, rose rapidly and became a major clan last year.

The remaining two small clans have declined and have been replaced by the newly emerging Shi and Liu families.

Although the six appeared calm on the surface, they were inwardly both nervous and excited. The news that Luoxia Mountain had been allocated four cities to the Shen family had already spread within the clan.

The people chosen to govern the four cities must have come from their affiliated clans.

Over the years, as affiliated clans of the Shen family, they have helped the Shen family manage the villages in Yunshui Town. At the same time, the clans have also received the care of the Shen family and have developed very rapidly.

Just like Liu Fang from the Liu family.

He began taking concubines on a whim a few years after becoming the head of the family.

Over the years, he has taken more than ten concubines, and he probably can't even remember the names of some of his children.

The same applies to other families such as the Chen and Lü families.

In just twenty years, the number of members in these families has increased two or three times, which really surprised Shen Wenxing.

Secretly, he had already decided that the Shen family business would follow suit in the future.

Otherwise, only he and his brother Shen Wen'an would remain as the second generation of the Shen family.

Among the three generations, Shen Chongming and his brothers only had four members. If you include Shen You and Shen Li, and even He Chongyi, there are only seven people.

Thinking of this, he recalled what his wife, Huang Lingxiu, had said a few days ago.

After this anniversary, Shen Chongming will be nineteen years old, and it will be time to settle his marriage with Chen Youran.

Besides Chen Youran, we need to find this kid a concubine!
As Shen Wenxing thought about it, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

After the six people below arrived, Shen Wenxing remained silent, which made the atmosphere quite tense and oppressive.

Seeing him suddenly smile, the group exchanged glances and felt a slight sense of relief.

"Master of the house."

On the left, seated at the head of the table, the middle-aged Liu Fang cautiously cupped his hands and spoke.

Shen Wenxing suppressed his thoughts, glanced at him, then at the other five people, and immediately sat up straight.

"Let's get down to business."

Upon hearing this, the others held their breath and looked at him.

"Now that my Shen family has acquired four cities of Anyang, you should all have heard about it."

The group nodded repeatedly, smiles on their faces.

"With a population of nearly two million, governing this area of ​​four cities is by no means an easy task."

Gently tapping the documents on the table in front of him, Shen Wenxing glanced at everyone and said, "I have seen what you all and your families have done over the years."

"The reason I'm asking you is whether anyone here is willing to volunteer and believes they have the ability to manage a city?"

Upon hearing this, the six people below were stunned.

Originally, they were thinking about how to perform well in order to win the right to govern a city.

But now, Shen Wenxing is actually letting them sign up voluntarily?

That's a city! Which of the people present wouldn't want to secure governance for their family?

Seeing that all six of them were eager to try, Shen Wenxing suddenly smiled and said, "Don't rush to speak."

"To govern a city is more prestigious, more powerful, and more beneficial than to govern a village."

"but……"

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he changed the subject, saying, "With great power comes great responsibility and many more problems."

"You all need to think this through carefully. Once the city is handed over to you, do you really have the ability to govern it well?"

"If anything goes wrong, the clan head will not show any mercy."

Upon hearing this, the group felt a sudden chill and suppressed their impulses.

They had indeed been focused solely on power and benefits, completely ignoring the difficulty of governing a city.

They have witnessed firsthand the strictness of the clan's main courtyard over the years.

Seeing that the others had been intimidated by his words, Shen Wenxing sighed inwardly.

These subordinate clans are still not respectable enough.

Those who are short-sighted, only focused on immediate gains, lack ambition, and are incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.

"Since none of you are speaking, I will make the first choice."

As the group remained silent, Liu Fang's expression shifted several times, then suddenly flashed with determination, and he spoke with a smile.

Shen Wenxing looked at him upon hearing this.

Liu Fang and Zhao Jinhu were both his age, and the three of them had a camaraderie back then.

Over the years, under his leadership, the Liu family has grown from a small clan to a major clan among subordinate clans, and Liu Fang's contributions are indeed indispensable.

"Master, I am willing to share your burdens!"

Meeting Shen Wenxing's gaze, Liu Fang solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

Shen Wenxing nodded and said, "Alright, which of the four cities would you like to choose?"

Liu Fang hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I will choose Chun Gui City."

"Oh?"

Shen Wenxing was somewhat surprised to hear Liu Fang's choice.

Chun Gui City is the furthest from Jin Liu Village, and also the most populous city.

With a large population comes a lot of work, and Chun Gui City is clearly the most difficult of the four cities to manage.

Liu Fang is a clever and shrewd man.

Shen Wenxing was quite surprised that he had chosen Chun Gui City on his own initiative.

"Have you thought it through?"

Shen Wenxing looked at him and asked a question.

Liu Fang stood up and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "I've thought it through!"

Shen Wenxing nodded, and with a flash of light in his hand, he took out a golden seal engraved with the words "Chun Gui" and threw it to him, saying, "From today onwards, Chun Gui City will be under the rule of your Liu family."

"Later, you will take the seal to the clan's main courtyard and lead the people from the clan's main courtyard to Chun Gui City to make the handover with the He family."

"Everything, big or small, was tallied up, registered, and copies were kept while the originals were handed over to the clan head to take back."

Liu Fang respectfully picked up the golden seal and bowed, saying, "Yes!"

With him taking the lead, the remaining Chen and Lü families naturally did not hesitate and volunteered one after another.

As a prominent clan, the Liu family has stepped forward. If they back down, wouldn't they lose face in their own clan in the future?

Moreover, the three families have been fighting openly and covertly for a long time. Now that the Liu family has suddenly gained control of a city, how can the other two families compare?

After the heads of the Chen and Lü families stood up, they made a decision in their hearts.

After taking over the governance of this city, you must properly discipline and train the disciples in the clan, lest mistakes occur and ruin the future of the clan.

"Patriarch, my Chen family chooses Xingyang City!"

The head of the Chen family is the eldest son of the former patriarch Chen Sanxing, named Chen Changhai. He is now over sixty years old and has a cultivation level of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Shen Wenxing nodded and took out a seal engraved with the words "Xingyang" and tossed it to Chen Changhai.

"Just like the Liu family."

Chen Changhai picked up the seal and sat down.

"Choose one: Hejian or Anyang."

Looking at Lu Cong, the head of the Lu family, who had stood up, Shen Wenxing spoke.

Lu Cong is now in his eighties. Although he is no longer a cultivator, his energy and spirit are still quite good.

Lu Cong slowly cupped his hands in greeting, his voice hoarse as he said, "Reporting to the patriarch, I have chosen Hejian."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing suddenly laughed.

He realized that these three guys were all cunning.

With the Shen family in Anyang, none of them chose Anyang, either because they were afraid of not being able to act freely or because they were afraid of doing something unsavory.

However, if they really think that because the emperor is far away, they can do whatever they want by choosing one of the other three cities, then they are really underestimating the clan leader.

After handing the emblem representing Hejian City to Lü Cong, Shen Wenxing said, "It's the same as the other two families," and then looked at the remaining three small clans.

But all three seemed timid and dared not step forward.

Shen Wenxing stood up abruptly and said, "That's enough for today. Let's call it a day."

Watching his figure leave the ancestral hall, Liu Fang looked at the heads of the three minor clans—the Shi, Liu, and Wang families—and said with exasperation:

Why didn't you all choose?

"What a great opportunity!"

The three exchanged glances, and Shi Chong, the head of the Shi family, smiled wryly and cupped his hands, saying, "Brother Liu, please don't make sarcastic remarks."

“The three of us are well aware of our own capabilities. We can manage a village, but to manage a city… things would just fall apart.”

“That’s right…” Liu Shunxi, the head of the Liu family, chimed in, “There’s a master family in Anyang City. If trouble gets out, there won’t even be a chance to fix it. The master family will see everything clearly.”

"Losing face is a small matter, but if we can't even keep the position of this small clan, then we'll suffer a huge loss."

Liu Fang and the other two seemed to understand the concerns of the three small clans and did not continue to persuade them.

After leaving the ancestral hall, Shen Wenxing went directly to Zhao Jinhu.

Originally, he planned for the major affiliated clans to accept the governance of the four cities, which meant handing over Yunshui Town to the Zhao family.

Zhao Xuan's matter has always been a thorn in his and his parents' side, and they feel indebted to the Zhao family.

After all, Zhao Xuan was only in her forties when she passed away, and she had been living as a widow in the Shen family for nearly ten years.

"Brother Jin Hu".

In the Zhao family's new residence, Shen Wenxing saw Zhao Jinhu teaching several children martial arts stance training in the courtyard, and went up to greet him.

The six children in the courtyard were all younger members of the Zhao family.

"Master of the house."

Zhao Jinhu cupped his hands slightly, and the younger generation behind him hurriedly followed suit.

Shen Wenxing nodded with a smile and said, "Brother Jin Hu, there's something I want to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhu ordered someone to summon Zhao Tuan, who was in seclusion inside the house, to come out.

Although Zhao Tuan has no spiritual root, his cultivation level has reached the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining, making him the most powerful member of the Zhao family.

"Master of the house."

Zhao Tuan came out of the house and bowed to Shen Wenxing.

Zhao Jinhu looked at him and said, "You take the children to cultivate, while your father and the head of the family discuss some matters."

After making the arrangements, he gestured for Shen Wenxing to enter the guest room.

After the two brothers sat down, Shen Wenxing spoke directly: "Luoxia Mountain gave all four cities of Anyang to the Shen family. Now, the Liu family, the Chen family and the Lü family have successively chosen the three cities of Chungui, Xingyang and Hejian."

"I would like to ask Brother Jin Hu to take charge of the remaining Anyang City."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhu was slightly taken aback, then waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Master, you mustn't do that."

"The Zhao family is small in number, and most of them are mediocre. How can they be capable of governing a city?"

"Brother Jin Hu." Seeing his refusal, Shen Wenxing said seriously, "You don't need to worry about manpower."

"I will assign a few disciples from other races to assist the Zhao family. Brother Jin Hu, just be bold and do it. If anything happens, I'll take care of you."

Zhao Jinhu initially wanted to decline, but meeting Shen Wenxing's gaze, he ultimately agreed.

"The matter is settled. There is a city lord's mansion in Anyang City built by the He family, which will belong to the Zhao family in the future. Brother Jin Hu, take a look and see if there are any places that need repair. The money will come from the mansion treasury."

After Shen Wenxing finished speaking, he got up to say goodbye.

Zhao Jinhu got up and saw him to the door. Only after watching him walk away did he return to the courtyard, his mind heavy with worry.

"Father, what brings the patriarch here?"

Zhao Tuan stepped forward and asked.

"The patriarch has entrusted Anyang City to our family."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tuan frowned slightly and said, "It must be because of my aunt's matter. The head of the family and the old head of the family have always felt indebted to our Zhao family."

Zhao Jinhu nodded.

"That's precisely why I'm even more worried."

“Our two families are related by marriage. In the end, your aunt’s situation is only because of your uncle.”

"But now that they are both gone, if the Shen family continues to feel guilty, it will only change the nature of this family bond."

Zhao Tuan nodded upon hearing this.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Father, don't worry. I'll find some time to visit the young clan leader. He's different from the patriarch and the old patriarch."

"I'll find a way to talk this out."

"Governing Anyang is an opportunity for the Zhao family. With our son guarding it, the Zhao family will prosper for two hundred years to come."

"If the Zhao family is fortunate enough to produce another outstanding talent, it can be called the number one clan under the Shen family's rule."

Zhao Tuan's voice was steady, and his words were filled with confidence.

Zhao Jinhu looked at him, his expression somewhat dazed, and then sighed and said, "You must always remember what the old patriarch said when you met him on the day you began your cultivation."

"The descendants of the Zhao family must also be taught from time to time, and never forget this."

Zhao Tuan nodded and turned to look at the Zhao family nephews and nieces who were diligently cultivating in the courtyard.

……

Blackwater Pond.

Another year of ancestral rites has passed.

Dressed in a sky-blue scholar's robe, Shen Chongxuan sat upright on the pier outside the Blackwater Pavilion, quietly gazing at the distant pool.

On the desk in front of him was a book, with a lifelike illustration of a figure drawn on the blank page on the left.

The man was dressed in a white scholar's robe, wearing a turban, and holding a book in his hand, standing in the courtyard, dressed as a scholar.

However, the face in the portrait was blank, without eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, making it impossible to discern the person's identity.

On one side of the portrait, a line of small characters was written neatly.

Shen Wenyan, the second son of the fifth generation of the Shen family.

With the reminder from his grandfather Shen Yuan, the Shen family's history began with the ancestor who received a title, in order to correspond with the memorial tablets in the ancestral hall.

The ancestor who received the title was Shen Yuan's great-grandfather, and Shen Wenyan was the fifth generation.

At this time, Shen Chongxuan was compiling a biography of his deceased father.

Master Lu taught that one should be impartial when writing history, but now he doesn't know how to evaluate his father's life.

squeak-

The door to the attic behind him was pushed open, and Shen Yuan walked out of the room.

But seeing him gazing intently into the distance, I slowly walked up behind him and glanced at the portrait in the book.

Hearing the noise, Shen Chongxuan came to his senses, stood up, and bowed.

"grandfather."

Shen Yuan nodded slightly and said, "I don't know how to begin?"

Shen Chongxuan remained silent.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yuan sighed slightly and said, "Just write down the facts. Future generations will judge right and wrong."

"Right or wrong, that's all there is to his life."

Shen Chongxuan lowered his head and pondered for a moment before nodding: "Grandson understands."

"I came here to ask my grandfather some questions about my father's childhood."

Shen Yuan nodded slightly and said, "This matter is not urgent. You should send this letter to your uncle first, and when you return, Grandpa will tell you about it slowly."

……

Yinlong Mountain in Hejun County.

Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling returned to this place once again.

Sensing their arrival, Jiang Xiuqi emerged from the cave, his expression strange, and said:

“Qiu Ling, that jade inscription did indeed slowly disappear after the Cold Dew season ended.”

"But guess what?"

Jiang Xiuqi spoke with a strange expression.

Wei Qiuling smiled faintly and said, "What, has another one appeared?"

Jiang Xiuqi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "You guessed right!"

"After the 'Cold Dew' jade tablet disappeared, a Taoist seal jade carving appeared next to it."

"I deduce that the second Daoist jade inscription is most likely 'Frost's Descent', because in the twenty-four solar terms, Frost's Descent comes after Cold Dew."

Wei Qiuling and Shen Wen'an were stunned when they heard this!
She was just joking, she never expected there would actually be a second jade tablet!
"Master, what happened next?"

"Several solar terms have passed now, have any other Taoist inscriptions or jade carvings appeared?"

Jiang Xiuqi shook his head and said, "There should only be two pieces here, 'Cold Dew' and 'Frost'. I don't know about the rest."

"By the way, what brings you here today..."

Wei Qiuling said, "Father gave a divination prophecy, which said that there would be no problem for Luoxia Mountain to share the matter of this jade carving with Qingluo Sword Pavilion."

"Wen'an and I came here to tell our master something."

Jiang Xiuqi nodded and said, "If that's the case, let's go over there."

"So much time has passed now, I wonder if those old guys at Hundred Beasts Mountain have made a decision yet."

In the past few months, he had also thought a lot in that cave.

This cave dwelling, with its Daoist inscriptions on jade, clearly belonged to a senior cultivator. If Hundred Beasts Mountain was the first to discover the cave dwelling, then everything else inside must have already been looted.

If that's the case, Hundred Beasts Mountain might not dare to easily reveal the secret of the Daoist Jade Inscription.

After all, those powerful high-grade immortal sects won't reason with you.

After hearing the news, they will definitely suspect that besides the Daoist jade carvings, there are other good things in this cave.

But these are just speculations, and he can't guarantee that Hundred Beasts Mountain won't take other measures to retaliate.

It would be better to bring Qingluo Sword Pavilion in sooner rather than later.

Shen Wen'an nodded slightly and said, "Then I will head to Qingluo Sword Pavilion now to pay my respects to Sword Immortal Lingshan."

"I'll leave the matter of Yangnao Land to you, Senior Sister."

After bowing slightly, Shen Wen'an immediately flew towards the barrier of Yangnao Land on his sword.

……

Green Vine Sword Lodge.

"Brother Shen, we meet again."

At the foot of the mountain, Chu Yuanfeng saw Shen Wen'an arrive and smiled, cupping his hands in greeting.

Shen Wen'an returned the greeting with his sword in hand: "Brother Chu, I have come here to see the Sword Immortal Ling Shan."

"Please enlighten me."

The last time he came to Qingluo Sword Pavilion, he didn't completely pass the three trials of the entrance ceremony, so he thought he would have to come all over again.

Unexpectedly, Chu Yuanfeng shook his head and smiled, "Senior Sister has already said that Brother Shen can go directly to Yin Jian Peak next time he comes, without having to go through the trials again."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wen'an was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask any further questions.

"In that case, I would like to trouble you, Brother Chu, to point me in the right direction."

The two towering peaks of Qingluo Sword Lodge are Yangjian Peak on the left and Yinjian Peak on the right.

Chu Yuanfeng pointed to Yin Jian Peak on the right and said, "Senior Sister Ling Shan is on the Thousand-Foot Cliff of Yin Jian Peak. Brother Shen, you can see her after you go up there."

Thousand-foot cliff...

Shen Wen'an memorized the name, cupped his hands in greeting to Chu Yuanfeng, summoned the Dragon-Slaying Sword, and flew directly towards Yin Sword Peak.

Clouds and mist hang high, and lush bamboo grows in abundance.

In the bamboo grove, a woman wearing a pale yellow dress and with her long black hair casually tied back stands quietly, gazing at the surging sea of ​​clouds in the distance.

A sword light pierced through the sea of ​​clouds below and landed on the cliff.

Upon catching sight of the woman in the pale yellow dress, Shen Wen'an bowed slightly and said, "Shen Wen'an greets Sword Immortal Ling Shan."

Sword Immortal Ling Shan nodded, then smiled faintly and said, "It's been more than ten years since we last met, and you've already reached the realm of embryonic breathing."

"Come and sit."

Ling Shan invited Shen Wen'an to the stone table in the bamboo grove and slowly picked up the teapot on the table to pour him a cup of tea.

(End of this chapter)