Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 190 Ambition
Shen Wenxing stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Jin Sheng..."

"Brother Shen, something's happened!"

Before Shen Wenxing could even exchange pleasantries, Jin Sheng hurriedly came forward and pulled him toward the side room.

The two sat down in the side room. Jin Sheng's hand flashed with light, and he took out a gray animal hide.

Shen Wenxing was a little curious, but he didn't ask any questions and took it.

The gray animal hide was large and soft. Shen Wenxing stroked it for a moment and then slowly opened it.

What came into view was a densely packed, unfamiliar map.

He studied it carefully for a long time, but found that there was no familiar place on the map.

"Brother Jin, what kind of map is this...?"

Jin Sheng said with a solemn expression, "The other day, my disciples from the Vajra Sect received a report that villages and towns in the southern part of Yue County were being harassed by a pack of mountain wolves."

"Jin thought they were just some ordinary wolf-like monsters, so he sent a few ordinary disciples to deal with them."

"Who would have thought that a wolf-headed, human-bodied demon was hidden among the pack of mountain wolves!"

"The disciples sent there suffered heavy losses, with only one managing to escape back at the cost of his life."

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed across Shen Wenxing's face.

The news Jin Sheng brought reminded him of what Wei Qiuling had said before.

Some powerful tribes in the Western Wilderness seem to have been attacked by monsters some time ago, suffering heavy losses and having to migrate north to the border of Crane County.

"and after?"

Shen Wenxing spoke.

Jin Sheng accepted the tea offered by a Shen family cultivator, took a sip, and said, "Later, I and a fourth-realm elder from the sect went there and discovered that the transformed wolf demon was at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm."

"After killing him, I obtained this map and some other miscellaneous items from him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing instantly formed a guess about the map in his mind.

Southern Xinjiang...

He glanced at the map in his hand again and saw rolling mountains, and even some cities and villages, which looked like a land comparable to the former Yu Kingdom.

"Brother Jin, to be honest, my Shen family has also encountered some strange things. My sister-in-law just said that she wanted me to go to your clan to inquire about it."

He recounted all the information he had received recently related to southern Xinjiang.

Upon hearing this, Jin Sheng's expression turned solemn, and he remained silent for a long time.

"In that case, this animal hide map is very likely a map of the southern border?"

A sharp glint flashed in Jin Sheng's eyes.

Noticing the look in his eyes, Shen Wenxing pondered for a moment before speaking, "Brother Jin, do you perhaps regard this Southern Frontier as a place where you can take whatever you want?"

Jin Sheng was taken aback at first, then grinned and said, "Brother Shen, right now, it's estimated that only our two families know about the forces in the Southern Frontier."

"I know the connection between the Shen family and Luoxia Mountain. How about this?"

"Including Luoxia Mountain and Tianfu Sect, the four of us..."

Shen Wenxing shook his head with a wry smile.

Jin Sheng frowned upon seeing this and said, "Is the Shen family unwilling to take the risk?"

After a moment of silence, Shen Wenxing finally recounted Shen Wen'an's encounter with the four suspected cultivators from the Southern Frontier.

"Brother Jin, don't be too optimistic. The appearance of this southern border region may be a disaster for us."

Shen Wenxing was originally a steady and conservative person.

Whether it was the cultivator from the Southern Frontier that the younger brother encountered, or the wolf demon at the Fetal Breathing Realm that the Vajra Sect met, both seemed to foreshadow that the Southern Frontier was no ordinary place.

The cultivators and demons that appear out of nowhere all possess the strength of the Nascent Soul Realm, making it difficult to say that there are no Golden Core Realm or Purple Mansion Realm experts above the Nascent Soul Realm in the Southern Borderlands.

In this situation, it's really hard to say who's the butcher and who's the fish.

Upon hearing this, Jin Sheng pondered for a long time and did not mention the matter of dividing up the southern border again.

After some thought, he spoke:

"What are the Shen family's plans?"

Shen Wenxing replied, "We will fortify the city and hold it firmly, just in case."

This answer surprised Jin Sheng.

He hadn't expected the Shen family to be so cautious.

However, considering Shen Wenxing's personality, the Shen family's reaction seems normal.

“If that’s the case, then when I return, I will also have the Vajra Sect strengthen its defenses in the southern part of Yue County.” Jin Sheng stood up and said with a smile, “Brother Shen, our two families have a relationship, so if anything unexpected happens, we should look out for each other.”

Shen Wenxing nodded: "Of course, the Shen family is willing to stand with the Vajra Sect through thick and thin."

Now that Hundred Beast Mountain has been destroyed, among the immortal sects in Qishan, Danzhou, the most powerful immortal sect is the Vajra Sect.

Although Ling Shan Sword Immortal has already shown that she values ​​the Shen family, she certainly wouldn't mind having more powerful allies.

"Haha... With Brother Shen's words, I am relieved."

"Brother Shen, farewell."

Jin Sheng laughed heartily, clasped his hands in a salute, and then left the Shen family.

……

The construction of Yunshui City has been put on the agenda.

During this period, a large number of ordinary people and artisans were transferred to the banks of the Laishui River to begin surveying and drawing up sketches of the city.

Since Yunshui City was built to defend against potential cultivators and demonic beasts from the Southern Frontier, its construction materials and design cannot be as simple as those of ordinary cities.

Fortunately, since Shen Wen'an drove away the four cultivators from the Southern Frontier, no more demons or cultivators suspected of being from the Southern Frontier have appeared within the Shen family's sphere of influence.

The first floor of Blackwater Pavilion.

Young Shen Li was still diligently flipping through the ancient book made of animal hide.

Perhaps due to her innate spiritual body, the ancient book in animal hide that even Shen Yuan couldn't study became a treasure in the little girl's eyes, and she studied it day and night without eating or sleeping.

In his spare time, Shen Yuan would sometimes ask her out of curiosity what she had learned from ancient books.

However, the little girl avoided answering, only saying that the content of the book was very interesting.

At first, Shen Yuan was a little worried.

After all, the contents of that ancient book made of animal hide were somewhat strange, and he was afraid that Shen Li might go astray if she studied it on her own.

However, after a long period of observation, the little girl's condition remained fine.

He was somewhat relieved.

The early autumn wind blows from the mountains, the leaves of the ancient trees turn from green to yellow, and the weather gradually turns cooler.

After six months of surveying and mapping, construction of Yunshui City has officially begun.

Many common people transported all the associated stones mined from the water smoke stone vein and the green spirit stone vein from the mountains to build the outer city wall of Yunshui City.

These stones, as byproducts of spirit ore, are inherently much harder than ordinary stones, capable of withstanding attacks from low-level spells or demonic beasts.

Shen Wenxing was busy overseeing the construction of Yunshui City, so Shen Chongming gradually took over other matters at home.

On this day, a figure dressed in white linen clothes, with hair and beard as white as snow, rode the wind from afar to the sky above the Blackwater Pool.

A cultivator from the Shen family rode the wind to greet them.

Seeing the old man's dignified and otherworldly appearance, the Shen family cultivator bowed respectfully and said, "This is the Shen family. May I ask what brings you here, senior?"

Xu Xiu glanced down and saw that the once sparsely populated Blackwater Pool was now filled with rows of manors and courtyards. He looked somewhat dazed and then cupped his hands and said, "Please inform him that an old friend, Xu Xiu, has come to visit."

Xu Xiu?

The cultivator from the Shen family found the story unfamiliar.

But since the other party claimed to be an old friend, he dared not delay and immediately cupped his hands and said, "Please wait a moment, senior."

He flew into the manor and hurriedly found Shen Chongming, saying, "Young clan leader, an old cultivator has come from outside the formation. He says he is an old friend of the Shen family, named Xu Xiu."

Shen Chongming frowned upon hearing this.

The name did sound familiar, but he couldn't quite place who it was.

"Take me to see it."

The two rode the wind to the outside of the formation, where Shen Chongming saw an old man in a white linen robe standing in the void not far away.

The old man's spiritual energy circulated freely, indicating that he had already reached the perfect stage of Qi Refining.

Shen Chongming rode the wind to greet him, cupped his hands and said, "Shen Chongming of the Shen family pays respects to senior."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiu carefully examined him, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He then chuckled and asked, "Young friend, which generation of the Shen family are you from?"

Shen Chongming cupped his hands in greeting: "My father is Shen Wenxing."

A look of realization flashed across Xu Xiu's eyes.

"So you're Brother Shen's grandson. How's your grandfather?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming realized that the person in front of him must be his grandfather's old friend. He immediately became more respectful and cupped his hands, saying, "Grandpa is doing well. Senior, this is not the place to talk. Please come with me to my residence for tea."

He personally activated the grand formation, brought Xu Xiu into the manor, and sent someone to the Blackwater Pavilion to inform Shen Yuan.

"Xu Xiu!?"

On the first floor of the Blackwater Pavilion, Shen Yuan paused for a moment upon hearing the name, then smiled faintly and muttered to himself:

"The old man is still alive?"

I still remember when Xu Xiu left Yangnao Land, he didn't have much lifespan left.

He returned once in between, and although his cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, his body was already filled with deathly aura.

He thought he would never have the chance to see them again in this lifetime.

I never imagined that this old man could live to this day. Could it be that he broke through the fetal breathing technique and successfully extended his lifespan?

A strange look flashed across Shen Yuan's face as he got up and left the Blackwater Pavilion, heading to a side room in the manor.

Inside the side room, Shen Chongming was having tea with Xu Xiu when he saw Shen Yuan approaching. He hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying, "Grandpa, this senior gentleman said..."

Before Shen Chongming could finish speaking, he noticed a smile on his grandfather Shen Yuan's face.

"Senior, we meet again."

Xu Xiu smiled and nodded, then stood up to greet him, saying with emotion, "It's been many years since we last met. Brother Shen has already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining."

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "It's not as good as your Qi Refining Perfection, Senior."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two took their seats.

Shen Yuan took a sip of tea and looked at Xu Xiu, saying, "Senior, you must have been doing well in Danzhou all these years, right?"

Having no spiritual roots, Shen Yuan guessed that he must have had some extraordinary encounters to have advanced from the eighth level of Qi Refining to the perfect Qi Refining realm in just over ten years.

"Ugh!"

Xu Xiu sighed heavily, his face bitter, and said, "To be honest, Brother Shen, not long after I returned, I was dismissed from my position as an outer sect steward by Qiyun Valley and demoted to a menial job in the library for five years."

"Now that my lifespan is almost over, I asked Master Li for help to beg for my remaining body to return here."

"Oh?" Shen Yuan's expression changed slightly. "Why were you punished, Senior?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xu Xiu's face as he gave a wry smile. "It was my fault for being so greedy. The sect's stipend was too meager, and I felt that my cultivation resources were insufficient for any further breakthroughs before my lifespan ran out. So... so I took advantage of my position as a steward to accept some bribes..."

After hearing this, Shen Yuan sighed inwardly and asked:

"What are your plans next, senior?"

Xu Xiu gently skimmed the tea foam from his cup, gazed at the scenery outside the window, and sighed, "I fear I only have three to five years left to live, and there is no hope of breaking through to the embryonic breathing stage."

"Young Brother Shen, is the thatched cottage where I lived back then still there?"

"For the rest of my days, I have no other desires, and I intend to spend the rest of my life in this Blackwater Pool."

"If my lifespan is exhausted and I die, there will still be people to collect my remains, so that they will not be left to rot in the wilderness and be eaten by wild beasts."

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Shen Yuan sighed inwardly.

"Although that thatched hut is no longer there, it shouldn't be a problem if you want to stay at this Blackwater Pool."

"Chongming, immediately have someone select a scenic spot by the pool and build a residence for the elder."

Shen Chongming bowed in agreement and then withdrew.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiu gratefully cupped his hands towards Shen Yuan and said, "I once thought that I would have no more attachments in this mortal world, but I never expected that when my lifespan was about to end, I would suddenly have the thought of returning to this Blackwater Pool."

"Brother Shen, it's been a worthwhile life for me to get to know you two."

As he spoke, he slowly took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it over.

"Before I was taken away by the disciples of the Enforcement Hall, I was careful and hid all the things I had received over the years."

"During my years working as a handyman in the library, I have almost read through all the books in Qiyun Valley except for the core cultivation techniques."

"I secretly copied down all the contents of the book. Since it's useless to keep it now, I'll give it all to Brother Shen."

Shen Yuan looked at the storage bag in his hand, somewhat surprised!

He hadn't expected that Xu Xiu would bring these things to the Shen family in the final moments of his life.

This old man, from the very first time they met, gifted the Shen family a Five Elements Breathing Technique, which can be considered as introducing the Shen family into the world of cultivation.

Later, upon returning to Yangnao, he gifted the Shen family an ancient book made of animal hide, which Shen Li now regards as a treasure.

Now, he has even given away his treasured collection, along with the things he has copied over the past five years in the Qiyun Valley Library, to the Shen family.

The repeated acts of kindness truly moved him, and with a slight thought, he cupped his hands and said:

"Senior has now reached the peak of Qi Refining."

"Although my lifespan is running out, it's not entirely without a chance."

"Please keep all the cultivation resources in this storage bag. In addition, although my Shen family is not wealthy now, we can still provide some spirit crystals and pills so that you can try again."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Xu Xiu's eyes, which then slowly dimmed. He smiled and waved his hand.

"That's all."

"Without spiritual roots, one needs five kinds of innate spiritual energy of the same level to break through to the embryonic breathing stage."

"Let alone the fact that innate spiritual energy is hard to find, even if it were available, I wouldn't want to bother with it anymore."

"For the rest of the years, I'll just fish in this black pool, watch the clouds drift by, and observe the flowers bloom and fade. That would be nice."

Seeing his reaction, Shen Yuan didn't try to persuade him any further. He took the storage bag from him, and the two chatted for a long time until it got dark.

Shen Yuan then arranged a temporary place for him to stay at the academy. Seeing that he was settled in, he took the storage bag and returned to the Blackwater Pavilion.

"father."

On the second floor of the Blackwater Pavilion, Shen Wen'an saw Shen Yuan heading towards the third floor and called out to him.

Shen Yuan stopped and sat down in front of him, saying, "Do you still remember Xu Xiu?"

Shen Wen'an frowned, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Was it him who visited today?"

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Not long after he returned last time, he was dismissed from his position as an outer sect steward by Qiyun Valley for accepting bribes. Although he has now reached the peak of Qi Refining, he only has three to five years left to live..."

"He was also a pitiful person who sought immortality for half his life, only to end up at this point."

Shen Wen'an narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a long time, and said, "Father, do you still remember my evaluation of him back then?"

Shen Yuan was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then chuckled softly.

"You mean something about 'impure intentions'?"

When Xu Xiu returned to Blackwater Pool after years of travel, Shen Wen'an gave him the assessment that he had "impure intentions."

Xu Xiu did lie at that time. His purpose in returning to Blackwater Pool was indeed to use Shen Wen'an to go to Danzhou and find a chance to advance further.

“He has done my family a favor, so it is only right to help him,” Shen Yuan said with a smile.

However, Shen Wen'an's brows remained furrowed.

Shen Yuan looked at him and handed over the storage bag in his hand, saying, "When he returned this time, he donated his treasured collection from these years, as well as many books that he had copied in the Qiyun Valley Library, to the Shen family."

As Shen Yuan spoke, he subtly moved his divine sense and took out all the items from the storage bag.

There was a huge pile of all sorts of things.

It includes some spirit ores, herbs, the skeletons and scales of demonic beasts, fragments of broken magical artifacts, and many other strange and unusual items.

Besides these, there are hundreds of books of varying ages, some even written on bamboo slips.

As for cultivation resources such as pills and spirit crystals, there are not many.

Shen Yuan guessed that Xu Xiu must have used up all those cultivation resources.

Shen Wen'an saw these things and remained silent for a long time.

Shen Yuan waved his hand and put all these things back into his storage bag, intending to take them to the third floor to sort and categorize them before putting them away.

"Alright, don't overthink it."

After offering Shen Wen'an a word of comfort, he headed up to the third floor.

……

On the bank of Blackwater Pool, Xu Xiu, wearing a straw hat, sat cross-legged on a huge rock, fishing.

Shen Wen'an gripped his sword and stood behind him, coldly saying as he looked at his back, "No matter what your plans are, if you want to harm anyone from the Shen family, I will kill you!"

Xu Xiu turned around, looked at him with a slight surprise, and then smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "So it's my young friend Wen'an."

"Young friend Wen'an, you jest. I have known Brother Shen for decades. How could I possibly have harmed anyone from the Shen family?"

Shen Wen looked at him quietly, said nothing, and then turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Xu Xiu sighed slightly, shook his head, and then returned to the boulder.

……

The construction of Yunshui City is in full swing.

After returning from her inspection tour of He County and Yunzhong County, Wei Qiuling went to see Hu Meier again as the heavy snow fell in winter.

Seeing that his cultivation had fallen to the mid-stage of the Fetal Breathing realm, he hurriedly came to the Blackwater Pavilion.

"Father, I'm afraid Sister Mei'er's injuries won't hold up."

On the first floor of the Blackwater Pavilion, Wei Qiuling spoke with a solemn expression.

Shen Yuan put down the book in his hand and nodded slightly: "Xu Xiu brought many ancient books from Danzhou, and I have been looking for ways to help her during this time."

"However, demon cultivators are very different from us human cultivators, so we don't have any clue for the time being."

After a moment's thought, Wei Qiuling said, "Qiuling has an idea, but it needs Father's permission."

Shen Yuan smiled faintly and said, "You can make your own decisions about family matters. As long as it can save Mei'er, you can decide for yourself."

Wei Qiuling nodded slightly: "I want Sister Mei'er to try the 'Twenty-Four Solar Terms Cycle of True Seal Script'."

"Some of the cultivation methods of us human cultivators may not be of much help to Sister Mei'er. However, the 'Twenty-Four Solar Terms Cycle of True Seal Script' is a Dao seal script engraved on jade. Wen An said that the three sects regard it as the supreme method of engraving the Great Dao."

"Although the cultivation methods of demons are not very similar to those of us humans, the path to enlightenment is the same."

"The True Seal of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Cycle" might be helpful to Sister Mei'er.

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment and felt that there was some truth to what he said.

"It was my oversight in this matter."

"Here's what we'll do: you tell Mei'er about the formation of the Blackwater Pavilion, and tell her to go to the third floor to study those three jade slips whenever she has free time."

"In addition, she can take anything on the third floor if she finds it helpful."

Wei Qiuling nodded.

"By the way, there's something I'd like to hear your opinion on."

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Yuan said, "Chonghong and the other younger generation have all grown up. I would like them to learn some skills related to cultivation in their spare time. What do you think?"

During this period, he studied the books that Xu Xiu brought from Qiyun Valley, and he gained a deeper understanding of the various arts of cultivation.

They knew that for a family of cultivators, the importance of cultivating various arts was no less than that of cultivation methods and various spells.

After considering for a long time, Wei Qiuling nodded slightly and said, "The Shen family is indeed lacking in many aspects of cultivation and arts." "Qiyun Valley has a chronic problem that is difficult to cure. The reason why it can still stand firm is because their expertise in alchemy and array formation makes many immortal sects in Qishan reluctant to kill them."

"The rise of my Luoxia Mountain back then was not only due to the successive efforts of generations of sect elders, but also greatly influenced by the techniques of refining magic robes."

"only……"

Wei Qiuling sighed slightly and said, "It's just that the various cultivation techniques passed down by the major immortal sects are not easily passed on to outsiders."

"Without a complete lineage, it is too difficult to achieve anything in the various arts of cultivation."

Shen Yuan sighed heavily after hearing this.

He also knew that other immortal sects and forces had accumulated their skills little by little through countless generations of inheritance, whether it was alchemy, talisman making, formations, or weapon crafting.

These traditions are treasured by all the major immortal sects and families, and are the core foundation of their sects.

Even with the current relationship between the Shen family and Luoxia Mountain, the other party would never share these things.

"It's difficult, but there has to be a beginning."

"If there is no legacy to follow, then let this generation be the founders of the Shen family's legacy."

Wei Qiuling was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and nodded.

"Although Qiu Ling cannot reveal the lineage of crafting magical artifacts at Luoxia Mountain, she can guide Chong Hong and the others on some of the more publicly known basic techniques."

Shen Yuan shook his head slightly after hearing this.

With Wei Qiuling's guidance, the art of weapon crafting would definitely be twice as effective.

However, he did not want to be criticized for scheming against his own daughter-in-law, nor did he want Wei Qiuling to be gossiped about in Luoxia Mountain.

"You can leave this to me. Go and get back to work."

Wei Qiuling nodded and left Blackwater Pavilion.

……

Large snowflakes fell through the array's light barrier into the mountains and forests where the Blackwater Pool was located, bending the treetops and turning the vast earth white.

Dressed in brocade robes with a black fur coat draped over his shoulders, Shen Chongming walked over from a distance, rubbing his forehead.

Having just finished a meeting with the stewards of the affiliated clans in the ancestral hall, he finally understood the difficulties his father had faced.

Dealing with these messy worldly affairs is far more difficult than fighting a cultivator of the same realm.

"Once I take over the Shen family, I will definitely separate the affairs between cultivators and these mortals."

"A cultivator should focus solely on cultivation..."

As Shen Chongming pondered this, he arrived at the entrance of the manor.

"Young patriarch."

A cultivator from the Shen family hurriedly came forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Two cultivators from the Immortal Sect have arrived and have been waiting for you in the side room for half a day."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming immediately put aside his thoughts and frowned as he asked, "Which immortal sect's cultivator is it?"

Why wasn't someone notified me?

The Shen family cultivator bowed somewhat awkwardly and said, "I told them that the patriarch and the young clan leader are busy. Should we inform them?"

"The man repeatedly tried to dissuade him, saying there was no rush and he should wait there."

"Look, we've already drunk two pots of tea..."

Shen Chongming glared at him and said, "The guest said there's no rush, and you actually believed him?"

After being reprimanded, the cultivator muttered under his breath, "I saw that they weren't any important figures, so I figured they probably wanted something from the Shen family, and..."

"Alright." Shen Chongming waved his hand, shook off the snowflakes from his clothes, and strode towards the side room.

Inside the Shen family's side room, Xiao Yin, with his gray hair, and Xiao Hongxiu, dressed in a red dress, sat upright.

"Father, the Shen family is so rude!"

"We've been left here waiting for ages, and there's not even anyone to greet us!"

Xiao Hongxiu reached out and picked up the teacup in front of her, intending to take a sip, but then realized that she was too full of water to drink any more.

Just as Xiao Yin was about to speak, he suddenly heard footsteps and quickly turned to look at the door of the side room.

Shen Chongming, dressed in brocade robes, appeared at the door, and Xiao Hongxiu slowly stood up.

"Please forgive us, fellow Daoists. Our servants are ignorant and have neglected you."

As soon as Shen Chongming entered, he immediately cupped his hands and spoke.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

Xiao Yin smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Please have a seat, fellow Daoists."

"Guards, attack..."

Shen Chongming had originally intended to have tea served, but remembering what the clan cultivators had said about the two of them already drinking two pots of tea, and guessing they couldn't drink any more, he changed his mind and said:
"Bring some spiritual fruits."

After gesturing for the two to sit down, Shen Chongming began to look them over.

On the left, Xiao Yin had a cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining, while Xiao Hongxiu, dressed in a red dress and looking slightly playful, only had a cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Their cultivation levels were quite good for those from independent cultivator families, but they were rather low for disciples of immortal sects.

"May I ask who you two fellow Daoists are...?"

There are still eleven immortal sects in Yangnao Land. These sects have many disciples. The two people in front of him are unfamiliar, and he does not know which immortal sect they come from.

Xiao Yin cupped his hands slightly and said, "I am Xiao Yin, the chief disciple of Hundred Refinements Valley."

"This is my daughter, Hongxiu."

Chief of Hundred Refinement Valley?
Shen Chongming glanced at Xiao Yin, somewhat surprised.

He had met many sect leaders, and although some of them were at the Qi Refining Perfection stage but had not broken through to the Fetal Breath stage, the reason they had not broken through was that they were waiting for a good source of innate spiritual energy.

Their cultivation level has remained at the peak of Qi Refining for at least three to five years, and sometimes as long as ten years.

This was the first time he had ever seen a sect leader like Xiao Yin, who was nearly sixty years old but had not even reached the Perfect Realm.

He had heard his third aunt, Wei Qiuling, mention the Hundred Refinement Valley Immortal Sect before; it seemed to be the weakest of the many immortal sects that had descended upon Yangnao Land.

If it weren't for some kinship ties with the Vajra Sect, they would probably have been squeezed out of Yangnao long ago.

"So you are Senior Xiao from Hundred Refinement Valley. My apologies for not recognizing you."

Shen Chongming cupped his hands and said, "I am Shen Chongming from the Shen family. Shen Wenxing is my father."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yin immediately cupped his hands and said, "So it is Young Clan Chief Shen."

"I am unworthy of being called 'senior' by Young Clan Chief Shen. Please address me as fellow Daoist instead."

Shen Chongming smiled faintly and nodded.

Xiao Yin's level of cultivation is comparable to his, so calling him a senior is indeed somewhat inappropriate.

"May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Xiao here?"

Xiao Yin sighed slightly and then said, "To be honest, I should have brought my daughter to apologize to you as soon as possible, but some things happened in Xiang County, so it has been delayed."

"Now that I finally have some free time, I immediately brought my daughter here."

As Xiao Yin spoke, he suddenly changed the subject and asked, "May I ask, Young Clan Chief Shen, more than a year ago, did your noble family send a young member of your direct lineage, around thirteen or fourteen years old, to Seven Sages Mountain for training?"

At thirteen or fourteen years old... I went to Qixian Mountain for training...

After a moment's recollection, Shen Chongming confirmed that the person Xiao Yin was referring to was his younger brother, Shen Chonghong.

He immediately nodded and said, "The one you are referring to, fellow Daoist, must be my younger brother, Chonghong."

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Yin and Xiao Hongxiu's expressions instantly froze.

The father and daughter originally thought that what they had encountered back then was just a direct descendant of a branch of the Shen family, or perhaps a son born out of wedlock.

Who would have thought that he would be the biological son of the head of the Shen family?

This……

The thought of his daughter tying the son of the Shen family patriarch to a tree and beating him, stealing his magic weapon and horse, and carving the word "hooligan" on his chest made Xiao Yin's heart sink.

Hundred Refinement Valley has a familial relationship with Vajra Sect, but if the Shen family really wants to investigate, this matter will be difficult to handle.

Seeing the unpleasant expressions on their faces, Shen Chongming became puzzled.

When my younger brother Shen Chonghong came back, everything was fine, and he didn't seem to have encountered any trouble.

What do these two mean by apologizing?

After a struggle within himself, Xiao Yin braced himself and bowed, saying, "Now that things have come to this, I dare not hide anything from Young Clan Chief Shen."

He immediately recounted the events that had occurred between his daughter Xiao Hongxiu and Shen Chonghong.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming looked at Xiao Hongxiu with a stunned expression.

Xiao Hongxiu nervously gripped the hem of her clothes, feeling very uneasy.

"Ah……"

"Ha ha……"

Shen Chongming suddenly laughed.

This reaction left Xiao Yin and his daughter somewhat bewildered.

I felt even more uneasy and at a loss.

The Shen family is a prestigious family, a force that many immortal sects dare not underestimate.

The fact that the patriarch's own son had been humiliated was a serious matter, and Xiao Yin suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He regretted not bringing in someone from the Vajra Sect to act as an intermediary; if someone from the Vajra Sect had been there, at least there would have been room for maneuver.

Shen Chongming chuckled a few times and then suddenly said, "Miss Xiao, you did a great job."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongxiu's mouth gaped open in surprise, and she looked at her father with some helplessness.

Shen Chongming explained, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, please don't misunderstand. I really want to thank Miss Xiao."

Xiao Yin was slightly taken aback before cautiously asking, "Young Clan Chief Shen, what... what do you mean by that?"

Shen Chongming smiled and sighed, "To be honest, my younger brother was unruly back then, and my father punished him by making him follow my Shen family to temper his character."

"However, after a year in the clan's main courtyard, nothing had changed. He even managed to sneak out during the annual sacrifice."

"After he returned, he had changed drastically. My father and I thought he had just changed his personality, but we never expected..."

The thought of that kid being beaten and humiliated by a little girl outside made Shen Chongming want to laugh.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yin was taken aback.

Xiao Hongxiu was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head shyly.

"If you have come here only for this matter, please rest assured."

"My Shen family will certainly not hold any grudge against us."

A member of the family, while traveling, made disrespectful remarks and was beaten because he was less skilled. However, the other party did not kill him, and now he has personally come to apologize.

If the Shen family continues to press the matter, it would be a bit like bullying others by abusing their power.

After the jokes, Shen Chongming spoke seriously.

Xiao Yin nodded blankly, seemingly still somewhat bewildered.

His original intention in coming to the Shen family to apologize was to give them two magical artifacts, say some nice things, and try to win their forgiveness.

Who would have thought it would end like this?

"Young Master Shen is magnanimous; I admire him greatly."

Xiao Yin hesitated for a moment, then sincerely cupped his hands and spoke.

Hundred Refinement Valley is weak and has become accustomed to being cautious and cowardly in Danzhou and Qishan.

Although my daughter was in the right regarding her relationship with Shen Chonghong of the Shen family, and what she did was not excessive.

But if it were the powerful forces in Qishan, they wouldn't tell you any of this.

If you're not strong enough, even if you're right, you're wrong.

If you are powerful enough, you can justify whatever you do.

Shen Chongming waved his hand, then stood up and said, "I apologize for neglecting you two before, and it just so happens that it's lunchtime now."

"In that case, I will have some wine and food prepared so that you two fellow Daoists can have a simple meal."

Under normal circumstances, cultivators like them, who come from immortal sects and are at the Qi Refining stage, only absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to maintain their bodies.

Occasionally, they would consume some pills, spirit rice and spirit fruit, and drink some spirit wine and spirit spring water.

For them, worldly food is at most something to satisfy their palates, and they almost never touch it.

But the Shen family members were different.

If he wasn't in seclusion cultivating, Shen Chongming would still be accustomed to eating some worldly food for his three daily meals.

On the one hand, it allows me to spend time with my family, and on the other hand, I feel like I'm eating three meals a day, which is more like being alone.

Xiao Yin initially wanted to refuse, but thinking that this move might be an opportunity to befriend the Shen family, he nodded in agreement.

Shen Chongming was well aware of the habits of the immortal sect members. This meal was specially prepared with the flesh and blood of some demonic beasts, cooked with spirit rice, as well as some spirit fruits and spirit wine.

That's considered rather extravagant.

During the meal, he even personally carried Shen Chonghong over from the backyard.

Upon seeing Xiao Yin and Xiao Hongxiu, Shen Chonghong's expression changed slightly, and he immediately made an excuse to turn around and leave.

"What, you're so scared of being beaten up that you don't even dare to show your face?"

Shen Chongming said with a teasing smile.

"Brother...I..."

Shen Chonghong looked embarrassed and stammered, unsure of what to say.

Shen Chongming didn't bother arguing with him, so he simply pressed him down on the bench and ate the meal with Xiao Yin and his daughter.

At the entrance of the Shen Family Manor, Xiao Yin bowed slightly to Shen Chongming and said, "Thank you for your hospitality today, Young Clan Chief Shen."

Shen Chongming smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship. Miss Xiao is so young, yet her cultivation is so advanced. If you have nothing to do in the future, please come to the Shen family more often, so that my younger brother can know what it means to be out of the ordinary and to be more capable than others."

Upon being praised like that, Xiao Hongxiu immediately blushed and lowered her head without saying a word.

Seeing this, Xiao Yin quickly smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Young Clan Chief Shen, it's getting late, my daughter and I will head back now."

After saying that, he grabbed Xiao Hongxiu and flew away into the distance.

In the night sky, after leaving the Shen family, Xiao Hongxiu regained her playful and lively demeanor.

"Father, the Shen family isn't as scary as you say!"

"And what's more, they actually ate spiritual rice and spiritual wine, which are cultivation resources, as their main meals. My daughter was so full from all the food they ate!"

Xiao Hongxiu touched her lower abdomen with satisfaction and said.

Xiao Yin held the hand seal for controlling the wind, his expression somber, and did not reply.

"I really should come visit the Shen family next time I have some free time. The purple star fruit tastes really good..."

Xiao Hongxiu tilted her head and muttered something.

"Shut up!" Xiao Yin scolded with a dark face, "All you do is eat, you won't even know you've been sold off!"

……

At the entrance of the Shen family manor, the two brothers stood at the gate, gazing in the direction where Xiao Yin and his daughter had disappeared.

"What do you think of that little girl from Hundred Refinement Valley?"

Shen Chongming suddenly spoke.

Shen Chonghong, standing beside him, paused for a moment, then said with disdain, "You're crazy. You've never seen the world, and you have no manners."

Shen Chongming turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Why do you make such a comment?"

Shen Chonghong pursed his lips and said, "At the dinner table just now, she ate three bowls of rice, four purple star fruits, two rehmannia pears, and drank a pot of spirit wine."

"He must have been a starving ghost in his past life..."

"It's such a waste for my brother to serve them these things."

Shen Chongming smiled faintly: "What do you know?"

"Let me ask you, what if I asked you to marry her?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chonghong's eyes widened immediately, and he said, "Brother, you're my own brother, you can't do this to me, can you?"

With his hands behind his back, a glint of light flashed in Shen Chongming's eyes as he slowly spoke: "His father, Xiao Yin, is the chief of the Hundred Refinement Valley, and will be the future sect master of the Hundred Refinement Valley."

Shen Chonghong scoffed: "So what?"

"Just a small immortal sect that has to rely on others to survive, living a pathetic existence."

"Living a cowardly life?" Shen Chongming gave him a deep look and said, "My Shen family also went through the same thing back then."

"Living a pathetic and cowardly life is also a way of living..."

"The fact that Hundred Refinement Valley was able to survive and pass on its legacy proves that they have their own set of survival skills."

"However, what I value is not their ability to survive."

Shen Chonghong frowned slightly, looking at his elder brother with a somewhat stunned expression.

"What does Big Brother want?"

Shen Chongming walked slowly towards the manor.

Shen Chonghong followed closely behind.

"If Xiao Yin becomes the sect leader of Hundred Refinement Valley, then Xiao Hongxiu will be the sect leader's daughter."

"Her talent is exceptional. Her current cultivation level is likely limited by the resources of the Hundred Refinement Valley, otherwise it would be impossible for her to only have the cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining."

"The Immortal Sect is not a noble family; they only value disciples with potential and strength."

"If you marry her, with the resources of my Shen family and Hundred Refinement Valley, she might very well have a place in the high-level ranks of Hundred Refinement Valley in the future."

"In fact, if things are managed well enough, it's not impossible for them to control the entire Hundred Refinement Valley with the help of him and his daughter."

Shen Chongming's eyes were deep, as if he were muttering to himself: "Grandpa asked our generation to supplement our training in various arts and crafts, so as to accumulate a foundation for the Shen family."

"But saving up is never as convenient as taking something ready-made."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chonghong was so shocked that he could hardly speak.

He gazed silently at his elder brother, who was dressed in brocade robes and had a fur coat draped over his shoulders, and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

"Big brother..."

After a long while, Shen Chonghong called out softly.

"Ok?"

Shen Chongming slowly turned around and looked at him.

Meeting his elder brother's questioning gaze, Shen Chonghong swallowed back the words he was about to say and instead casually changed the subject, saying, "Brother, you've already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. Shouldn't you be considering the matter of innate spiritual energy?"

Shen Chongming nodded slightly.

The cultivation technique he is currently practicing is the "Cloud Seal Jade Pivot Lightning Technique" obtained from the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm. The compatible technique, combined with his Yi Wood Divine Lightning Spirit Root, has allowed his cultivation level to improve rapidly.

Judging from the current situation, it will take less than two years to reach the peak of Qi Refining.

If he has the right innate spiritual energy, he has a chance to achieve embryonic breathing before the age of thirty.

Such a terrifying speed of cultivation is comparable to that of his third uncle, Shen Wen'an.

"Didn't the Sword Immortal Ling Shan give Third Uncle a Void-Cultivating Fruit back then?" Shen Chonghong whispered, "Big Brother, when the time comes..."

"No need," Shen Chongming said with a faint smile. "The three types of innate spiritual energy from the Chongxu Profound Fruit are not a perfect match for me. I'll save them for you or You'er."

"As for the innate spiritual energy I need..."

A strange creature, entirely blue with wings on its back, slowly appeared in his mind.

(End of this chapter)