Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 192 Jade True Thunder Mansion
"Ming-ge'er, look there!"

The two had been traveling with the main group for a short while when they saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance to the secret realm.

Through the gaps, one could vaguely see one rogue cultivator after another sitting cross-legged on the ground in the crowd. In front of them, there was either a cloth or animal skin spread out, or nothing at all, but a clean stone on which some strange herbs, broken weapons and the like were placed.

Before them, other cultivators waiting to enter the secret realm, or some people who had just come out of the secret realm, were all gathered in front of one stall after another, picking and choosing, and bargaining.

Seeing this, Shen Chongming narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured in a deep voice:

"What are they doing..."

"Hehe...Isn't it obvious?" Shen Chongming had barely finished speaking when the middle-aged man who had spoken earlier suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said with a smile, "Those cultivators gained something from the ruins, either because the items were useless to them, or because they couldn't see the value of the items."

"Instead of leaving with these things in fear, it would be more convenient to take them out and exchange them for spirit crystals while there are many people at the entrance of the secret realm."

Shen Chongming frowned and said, "Aren't they afraid that someone will covet their valuable possessions?"

The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "Under normal circumstances, this is certainly possible, but... look there, fellow Daoist."

The middle-aged man pointed to a huge rock on the left side of the entrance to the secret realm.

Shen Chongming looked closely and then noticed that there was a figure in a gray robe sitting cross-legged on the boulder. His aura was contained, as if he had become one with the boulder. If you didn't look carefully, you really wouldn't notice him.

"That was a senior from the late-stage of the Qi Refining realm from the Qi Sect."

"Some time ago, the One Qi Sect announced that any cultivator who sets up a stall at the entrance of this secret realm and hands over a spirit crystal fragment every ten days will receive the protection of the One Qi Sect."

"If they encounter robbery or theft, the One Qi Sect will help them."

"Look, the entrance to the secret realm has turned into a market, even more bustling than the Jinghe Market."

The middle-aged man chuckled strangely, then turned and left.

Shen Chongming and Chen Youran stood quietly in place, watching the commotion ahead.

“Ming-ge’er, about this matter…”

Chen Youran's expression was grim.

Shen Chongming sneered and said, "When Jinghe Market was first established, the five families made an agreement that if other immortal sects in Yangnao Land opened a market without the permission of the five families, the five families would join forces to resist and target them."

"The One Qi Sect was one of the founders of Jinghe Market, yet this time they have openly broken their agreement."

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and then he slowly turned his head to look in the direction where the middle-aged man had disappeared.

With a serious look, he said:
"Our identities have been exposed."

Upon hearing this, Chen Youran's expression tightened, and he asked, "Is Ming-ge'er talking about that middle-aged man?"

Shen Chongming's lips curled up slightly, and he chuckled, "If I'm not mistaken, this person should be a disciple of Listening Wind Valley."

"Perhaps we've already been targeted before we even left Yunshui City."

The middle-aged man was indeed very good at disguising himself, but his two initiative to answer questions aroused Shen Chongming's suspicion.

Considering what he said on both occasions, which seemed to be hinting at something, Shen Chongming became even more certain of his inner suspicions.

In the present-day Yangnao Land, only two forces are so concerned about the Shen family's movements.

One is the Fire-Temperature Cult, and the other is Listening Valley.

The Fire Sect's focus on Listening Wind Valley was largely for intelligence gathering and profit-making.

Of the two, the first reason he thought of was Listening Wind Valley was because the guys from the Fireball Sect were all very arrogant and none of them were as good at disguising themselves as Listening Wind Valley.

"Now what?"

Chen Youran was somewhat worried.

If something were to happen to the two individuals given their current identities, it would not only be a loss of strength for the Shen family, but also a significant blow to their reputation.

"It doesn't matter."

Shen Chongming smiled slightly and said, "Only cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm are allowed to enter this Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm. Although I have not yet reached the Perfection Realm, I am not afraid of any cultivator below the Nascent Soul Realm."

A strong sense of confidence flashed in his eyes.

This wasn't because he was young and arrogant.

Because he possesses a mutated lightning-attribute spiritual root and his cultivation has reached the mid-stage of the ninth level of Qi Refining, his foundation may be somewhat inferior to that of some top disciples of immortal sects.

However, the cultivation method he practiced was the "Cloud Seal Jade Pivot Lightning Technique," which was most suitable for his own spiritual root.

They were confident that they could challenge some cultivators at the Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

"Come on, let's go in too."

The two continued on their way and soon arrived at the edge of the cliff leading to the entrance to the secret realm.

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Shen Chongming glanced to the side and, sure enough, discovered that the middle-aged man who had spoken earlier had squeezed through beforehand but had not entered the secret realm; instead, he was waiting in the distance.

Upon discovering the other party, he made no move and directly pulled Chen Youran into the secret realm.

The middle-aged man watched the two figures disappear into the entrance of the secret realm from afar. He then hurriedly left the crowd and came to a secluded place. He reached into his robes and took out a piece of pure white jade.

He channeled his spiritual energy through his fingers, quickly wrote a line of words on the jade tablet, and then walked away into the distance.

……

"Is that... Yixianting?" Chen Youran asked curiously, looking at the stone table and benches surrounded by several cultivators beside the winding river in the distance.

The two of them were forced to come to the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm by several rogue cultivators when they first came here.

A decayed stone tablet and a stone chessboard were discovered. The stone tablet was inscribed with the words "Yi Xian Ting".

"It seems that the location this time is not much different from the last time."

Shen Chongming said something and then looked in the direction of Yi Xianting.

There were seven or eight cultivators gathered there, all holding their breath and staring intently at the old man sitting with his eyes closed on the stone bench.

Shen Chongming's heart stirred slightly, and he walked over with Chen Youran.

When the two arrived, they discovered that the old man sitting on the stone bench had his eyes closed and was completely lifeless. A pale golden light enveloped the old man's body and the chessboard.

On the chessboard in front of him, black and white pieces were crisscrossed, and judging from the number of pieces, they had obviously played twenty or thirty moves.

Before the old man, a black stone hangs suspended in the void, trembling slightly, as if it doesn't know where to land for the moment.

Upon seeing this scene, Shen Chongming immediately recalled the strange phenomenon he had encountered at Yixianting last time.

The illusory figure had said that this was not his opportunity, and that he should go find "Brother Zhang".

He didn't know much about chess, so he watched for a while and then left with Chen Youran.

However, the two had not gone far when they heard a group of cultivators exclaiming in surprise behind them.

Shen Chongming turned around and saw a scene that shocked him.

The old man who had been sitting upright on the stone bench was now slowly breaking apart, turning into specks of starlight that were being absorbed by the chessboard stone table in front of him.

After the old man's body completely dissipated, the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard slowly floated up and automatically fell back into the chess boxes on both sides.

Upon seeing this, Chen Youran's beautiful eyes widened.

"That person is dead!?"

Shen Chongming nodded solemnly, guessing that the old man had failed the test and was directly killed.

After the exclamations of the cultivators gathered around the chessboard, a middle-aged man in a scholar's robe struggled for a moment, then a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He took a few steps forward, came to the stone bench, and respectfully cupped his hands: "Junior Qi Yanfei, I dare to challenge senior to a game of chess."

As his voice faded, the golden light barrier slowly dissipated.

After a moment's hesitation, the middle-aged man in the scholar's robe chose to sit down on the stone bench with the black side.

After he was seated, the golden light barrier slowly rose again, enveloping him.

Shen Chongming shook his head slightly, glanced at the mountain peak where he had previously obtained the "Cloud Script Jade Pivot Lightning Technique," said "Let's go," and continued on his way.

……

Blackwater Pool Manor.

In the backyard, Shen Yuan was lying on a recliner, holding an ancient book and studying it carefully. Beside him, Hu Yufen, with graying temples, was sitting quietly in the pavilion, leisurely embroidering something.

Normally, the deck chair is placed away from the pavilion in the courtyard.

But recently, Shen Yuan has moved the recliner into the pavilion.

Beside the recliner, a large black dog lay listlessly on the ground, its dark eyes slightly narrowed, as if it were somewhat sleepy.

What's wrong with you lately?

"You're not going to cultivate at the Blackwater Pavilion anymore?"

Hu Yufen rubbed the embroidery needle between her hair a few times and spoke softly.

Shen Yuan, reclining on the chair, glanced at him briefly, then turned another page of his book and said, "What, are you in my way?"

Seeing that Hu Yufen didn't speak, he leaned on the armrest of the recliner, slowly sat up, and smiled at her.

“Usually, when I go to cultivate, you always complain.”

“He only cares about cultivation every day, and doesn’t care about his children or family matters.”

"Now that you've stopped cultivating, you're saying these things again..."

"You old woman, you're such a troublemaker."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yufen immediately looked up and glared at her, saying, "Hey!? Who are you calling a busybody?"

"Tell me yourself, haven't you spent most of these past few decades holed up in that Blackwater Pavilion cultivating?"

"You've suddenly been hanging around in front of me all this time, and now I can't even talk about it?"

Shen Yuan grinned.

"Speak, speak as much as you want... Say whatever you want, however you like."

Meeting his gaze, Hu Yufen was startled for a moment, then put the embroidery and needles in her hands into the basket, pulled up a stool and sat down in front of him.

"Dad, is something on your mind?"

Looking at his wife's graying hair, he could feel that her vitality and energy had clearly declined.

Shen Yuan felt a pang of sadness, but still smiled and said, "What could possibly be on my mind?"

"My children and grandchildren are all capable of handling things on their own, so I don't need to worry about anything in this family."

"Cultivation naturally requires a balance between work and rest. After cultivating immortality for decades, can't I take a break?"

Hu Yufen looked at him suspiciously, then laughed and said, "Rest, rest however you want."

Having shared most of their lives together, how could she not see what Shen Yuan was thinking?

She is already very content.

She had been married into the Shen family for decades, and although the first half of her life was full of hardships and she had suffered a lot, she still had many difficulties.

But now the good days are over, with a house full of children and grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. If there is any regret, it is that I did not see my third son, Shen Wen'an, and Wei Qiuling have a son or daughter.

With a soft sigh, Hu Yufen gazed at the distant sky and said gently, "You don't need to stay with me all day. You should focus on your cultivation..."

"Ah……"

Shen Yuan's light chuckle interrupted her.

“You old woman, for decades, every time I’ve tried to persuade you to cultivate, you’ve scoffed and outwardly complied but inwardly defied me.”

"Now it's all good; they're the ones advising me instead."

"You used to often say that when you get old, you shouldn't trouble your children and grandchildren, but you didn't realize that your children and grandchildren are worried about you now?"

Hu Yufen turned her head and asked, "What are you worried about me for?"

"I'm in good health, living to be a hundred is not a problem."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan leaned forward, took her hand, and said seriously, "For ordinary people, living to a hundred years old is enough to be content."

"Of course..."

“I am just an ordinary mortal.” Hu Yufen gently held his hand and smiled faintly. “Father, you should know that I have never had any intention of cultivating immortality.”

"The reason you used to eat so many good things was because you and the children pushed you too hard."

Shen Yuan sighed softly, looked into her eyes and said, "Have you ever thought about what I would do if you were gone?"

The lifespan of a Qi Refining Realm cultivator can generally reach two hundred years. If one can break through the Embryonic Breathing Realm and forge an Immortal Embryo, their lifespan can double again.

He is only in his seventies now, and he has a long life ahead of him.

“You still have your boss and Chongming and the others with you, what are you worried about?” Hu Yufen comforted her with a smile.

Shen Yuan was displeased upon hearing this.

"The eldest son has his own children and grandchildren to take care of, and so does Chongming. Who will come to see this old man when the time comes?"

"Just imagine, I'll be all alone then, with only a dog, lying in this yard all day, with no one to talk to... How desolate would that be?"

Hu Yufen smiled upon hearing this.

She moved the stool closer to Shen Yuan and leaned against him quietly.

On the other side of the recliner, the big black dog looked up at the two of them, then shut its mouth and lay quietly on the ground without moving.

The entrance to the courtyard.

Shen Wenxing hurried over, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw the scene in the pavilion.

Gazing at the sight of his parents quietly leaning on each other, Shen Wenxing immediately stopped in his tracks, a smile appearing on his face, and slowly retreated, not daring to make the slightest sound.

……

Jinghefang Market.

The woman in purple from the Tianfu Sect stood quietly in front of the Shen family's shop, a smile appearing on her face as she looked at Shen Wenping, who had a beautiful face and a noble demeanor.

What would our distinguished guest like to order?

"All the talismans in our shop are made by immortal masters from the Heavenly Talisman Sect, and their quality is absolutely guaranteed!"

"Now the shop also offers perks; whether you're buying or selling, you can come in and take a look."

The shop assistant at the entrance greeted us warmly.

The woman in purple smiled and nodded, and led by the shop assistant, she slowly walked into the shop.

She looked around and saw that all the talismans and other goods in the shop were neatly arranged, which made people feel comfortable. The woman in purple nodded in satisfaction and then walked straight towards Shen Wenping.

Shen Wenping was looking down at the accounts when she noticed someone approaching, so she looked up.

He exchanged a glance with the woman in purple and smiled slightly, "You must be a Celestial Master from the Heavenly Talisman Sect?"

The woman in purple asked curiously, "How did Miss Shen recognize me?"

Shen Wenping put down her pen and paper and led him towards the back room.

"The spiritual ink used to make talismans has a special fragrance. I could smell it when the immortal master got close," Shen Wenping said as she walked.

I see……

After a moment of realization, the woman in purple followed Shen Wenping to the side room and sat down.

After a servant brought tea, Shen Wenping said, "Wenping still doesn't know the Immortal Master's name..."

The woman in purple took a sip of tea and said softly, "I am a few years older than Miss Shen, so let's address each other as sisters from now on."

Shen Wenping nodded and softly called out, "Sister."

The woman in purple also introduced herself.

"I'll have to trouble you in the days to come, Sister Youwei," Shen Wenping said with a faint smile. "The cultivators in the shop should be able to identify some ordinary spiritual items and rare treasures."

"However, for some special cases, I will have to trouble you to take care of them personally."

"Also, I have a personal matter that I'd like to ask for your help with, sister."

Hu Youwei nodded upon hearing this: "Please speak, sister."

Shen Wenping said, "To be honest, my mother has no spiritual root and has not been able to break through to the Qi Refining stage yet."

"Now that he is old, his sister and his brothers, nephews and nieces must not be able to bear watching his lifespan decrease day by day."

"I was hoping to find something in this market that could help her."

Hu Youwei frowned slightly.

For a cultivator like her, born into the cultivation world of Danzhou and embarking on the path of immortality, the emotions between ordinary mortals have long been worn away.

The concept of the distinction between immortals and mortals is deeply ingrained in the hearts of every cultivator in Danzhou.

In the cultivation world, rare and precious natural treasures that can prolong life are generally quite valuable.

It would be a waste to buy it for an ordinary person.

Shen Wenping seemed to have guessed her thoughts and sighed slightly, saying, "To be honest, extending my mother's life and helping her break through to the Qi Refining stage has become the most important thing in the hearts of many of the younger generation in my Shen family."

"I hope Sister Youwei can lend a helping hand."

Hu Youwei pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "This matter is not difficult."

"Don't worry, little sister. If I come across anything that could help your aunt, I'll let you know right away."

"Just to make a purchase, the amount of spirit crystals required would probably be quite substantial."

Shen Wenping nodded and thanked her, then said, "I know about the spirit crystal matter."

"Please have a seat, elder sister. I'll have someone prepare a room for you right away."

Shen Wenping stood up, bowed, and then left in a hurry.

Watching her retreating figure, Hu Youwei sighed softly.

"Is it really worth wasting so many resources for a mere mortal...?"

……

Inside the Blackwater Pavilion.

Wearing a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and with two pigtails in her hair, Shen Li pushed open the door and came to the floating bridge.

From the door behind him, a three-foot-long, ferocious centipede crawled out.

Shen Li stretched, squatted down, touched the silver-threaded centipede, and said with a smile, "I'll take you to find something to eat around here later."

Upon hearing this, the silver-threaded centipede wriggled its body obsequiously and nodded frantically.

Shen Li chuckled twice, then got up and ran towards the pontoon bridge.

"Little Silver, keep up!"

As she ran, she kept looking back at the silver-threaded centipede.

After leaving the pontoon bridge, the man and the insect ran forward along the Black Pool.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered some wild small animals. The silver-threaded centipede behind Shen Li would rush forward like lightning and accurately kill them.

This silver-threaded centipede was tempered with poisonous fire by the centipede leader. After its size shrank, its strength not only did not decrease, but it became even stronger.

Its current speed and defensive capabilities alone are beyond the reach of ordinary Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivators.

In addition, the potent poison within its body means it could almost instantly kill a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

The edge of the pool in the distance.

Xu Xiuzheng was fishing on the boulder as always.

Shen Li's giggles echoed through the woods, catching his attention.

When Xu Xiu opened his eyes, he saw a little girl of about four or five years old skipping and hopping towards him from a distance, followed by a centipede demon at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

A strange light flashed in his eyes, and he murmured, "What a strange aura."

"This is……"

"Huh!?"

When Shen Li led the silver-threaded centipede hopping and skipping to a nearby spot, she suddenly spotted Xu Xiu on the smooth boulder and immediately stopped in her tracks.

Previously, when I brought the silver-threaded centipede back from the mountains.

Her third uncle, Shen Wen'an, had instructed her not to let the silver-threaded centipede wander around the neighborhood.

Because the silver-threaded centipede is highly venomous, the people living in this area are mostly members of the Shen family, especially the students in the academy, who are mostly ordinary people.

Even a trace of the silver-threaded centipede's deadly venom can cause serious trouble and could even be fatal.

That's why Shen Li brought the silver-threaded centipede to a sparsely populated area.

But I never expected to meet someone here.

The silver-threaded centipede had caught up. Upon seeing Xu Xiu, it darted in front of Shen Li and slowly raised its upper body.

"Little Silver, don't move around."

Shen Li spoke, then wanted to take the silver-threaded centipede back with her.

"Little one, come here." Xu Xiu stood up slowly and called out.

Shen Li looked at him suspiciously, feeling somewhat puzzled.

But when they thought about how this was Shen family territory, and that outsiders couldn't possibly come in without permission, they knew that this place was Shen family territory.

Without thinking much about it, he slowly walked over.

Is the old man fishing?

Xu Xiu chuckled and stepped down from the boulder, saying, "Are you a child of the Shen family?"

What's your father's name?

Shen Li shook her head slightly.

She only vaguely understood that she shouldn't mention her father in front of her mother, and she never asked for her father's name.

Seeing this, Xu Xiu then asked, "So what do you call Shen Yuan?"

"That's my grandfather..."

Shen Li spoke first, then asked curiously, "Who is this old man? I don't recognize you."

Xu Xiu chuckled and said, "Me? Your grandfather and I are good friends."

It turns out he was Grandpa's friend...

Thinking to himself, Shen Li respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Shen Li greets Senior..."

"Ha ha……"

Upon seeing this, Xu Xiu stroked his snow-white beard and laughed heartily.

"Girl, you should still call me Grandpa."

He slowly walked up to Shen Li, looked her up and down, and a knowing and strange smile appeared in his eyes.

Before him, the silver-threaded centipede's head remained held high, its compound eyes filled with vigilance.

Xu Xiu glanced at the silver-threaded centipede, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Girl, have you read that ancient book made of animal hide?"

Shen Li became somewhat wary upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Xu Xiu laughed and said, "Don't be nervous. That book was given to your grandfather by me back then."

"Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, it has become very useful."

But Shen Li's face still showed suspicion, as if she didn't believe it.

Xu Xiu added, "You still don't have a thorough understanding of the contents of that book."

"The way of witchcraft focuses on cultivating the soul, not on spirit or magic."

"With a strong soul, not to mention communicating with heaven and earth, even traversing the long river of space and time is not a problem."

Upon hearing this, Shen Li stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

"Did the old man read that book too?"

Xu Xiu smiled faintly and nodded, saying, "Do you believe me now?"

"Let me tell you again, the talismans in that book are not talismans drawn by immortal cultivators with spiritual power, but a kind of soul talisman."

“Using the power of their soul, witch doctors can inscribe the soul talisman onto the Gu worm, thus achieving a spiritual connection with it.”

"It can also be used to invoke gods, bestow blessings, change one's luck, and defeat enemies... its wonderful uses are countless."

Shen Li listened intently, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Is the old man a witch doctor?"

Xu Xiu was slightly taken aback, then smiled and shook his head, saying, "I am not a sorcerer. I just read a lot of books, and I learned all these things from books."

"However, if there are any parts of the ancient book that you don't understand, we can discuss them together."

Upon hearing this, Shen Li's face immediately lit up with joy, and she asked, "Really? Is that possible?"

"There are many things on that ancient book made of animal hide that even the fox can't understand."

"Grandpa couldn't explain it either."

"If the old man can understand it, I should be able to cultivate!"

Possessing an innate spiritual body, and already five years old, if he were to cultivate immortal cultivation methods, he might have already successfully completed the Qi Refining stage.

However, studying the ancient book on animal hide alone, apart from taming a silver-threaded centipede at the seventh level of Qi Refining, she has made no progress in her cultivation.

Xu Xiu nodded slightly and said, "Don't rush, don't rush. The most important thing in cultivating the soul is to have a calm mind."

"Since this matter has come up today, let me first give you some pointers on how to calm your mind."

An old man and a young boy sat on the edge of the pool and began to discuss matters of cultivation.

……

The Secret Realm of Qixian Mountain.

After overcoming numerous hardships, Shen Chongming and Chen Youran finally arrived at the foot of the mountain where they had obtained the "Cloud Seal Jade Pivot Lightning Technique".

"Ming-ge, shall we climb up?"

Looking at the towering mountain peaks, Chen Youran spoke.

Shen Chongming looked up at the mountaintop, then looked around and murmured, "Where did that thing go?"

He had assumed that the true form of the thunderous creature was near this mountain peak.

But now that they have reached the foot of the mountain, they still cannot sense the presence of any thunderous creatures.

After some hesitation, Shen Chongming seemed to have made up his mind and immediately looked at Chen Youran and said, "Stay away from me."

Although Chen Youran was puzzled, he didn't ask any questions and quickly hid behind a boulder dozens of feet away.

Upon seeing this, Shen Chongming began to perform a hand seal.

The next moment, a gentle breeze appeared and carried his body into the air!
"Husband!"

Upon seeing this, Chen Youran was greatly alarmed!

The Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm is protected by a restriction; any cultivator who dares to fly through the air will be attacked by this restriction.

Whether Shen Chongming's actions can lure out the thunderous creature is another matter, but the attack from the restriction alone is enough to kill it on the spot!

"It's alright, just stay put and don't move!"

Seeing that Chen Youran was about to rush out, Shen Chongming shouted and his figure suddenly flew into the air!
In an instant, the clear sky of the secret realm suddenly rippled, and then a jet-black bolt of lightning appeared from the void and struck straight at Shen Chongming's figure!
This commotion naturally alerted the other cultivators in the vicinity.

Upon seeing the terrifying black lightning, all the cultivators hurriedly activated their movement techniques and fled into the distance.

"Damn it! This secret realm has existed for so many years, how come there are still idiots who don't understand anything!?"

"It's one thing to court death, but if we attract that thunder monster, everyone will be doomed!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get out of here, the farther away the better!"

……

The surrounding cultivators fled in disarray.

Before the black lightning struck him, Shen Chongming, who was in mid-air, waved his hand and set up a bright blue lightning-attribute light shield in front of him. Then he took out the blue crystal he had obtained from that cave years ago.

Click!

Black lightning swiftly struck the protective spiritual energy shield in front of him, generating a large amount of electric sparks and instantly tearing Shen Chongming's protective spiritual energy shield apart!

Below, Chen Youran saw this scene and her heart jumped into her throat!

However, Shen Chongming remained completely calm at this moment.

As the protective spiritual energy shield was torn apart by the lightning, the blue crystal in his hand emitted a faint halo, directly absorbing the black lightning bolt.

"what?"

After the black lightning disappeared, a soft exclamation suddenly came from the void.

Then, a monster that was tens of feet tall, with wings on its back and its body crackling with electricity slowly appeared.

The monster stared at Shen Chongming for a moment, then suddenly grinned and laughed twice.

Whoosh!
His figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, flashing briefly before shrinking to a miniature form and appearing not far from Shen Chongming.

"Little guy, is that you?"

Shen Chongming cupped his hands slightly and said, "Senior, we meet again."

The thunderous creature flashed and rushed to within a foot of him, stretching its neck to sniff him repeatedly. Then, after a few blinks, it returned to its original position.

He looked over with a strange smile and said, "Not bad, you've reached the ninth level of Qi Refining."

"Boy, have you figured out who I am?"

Shen Chongming smiled faintly and cupped his hands: "If I am not mistaken, you are a wisp of innate spiritual energy with lightning attribute."

The thunderous creature's smile froze, followed by a hint of anger as it said, "You actually think I'm such a lowly thing?"

Shen Chongming was also stunned.

Innate spiritual energy... something inferior?

The lightning-covered creature crackled with electricity, seemingly about to go berserk. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Senior, please forgive me. I was ignorant and only knew that innate spiritual energy was the most precious thing..."

"That's all!"

Thunder Creatures waved its hand somewhat dejectedly and said, "It's not your fault."

"Back then, even that old man Zhang, who was already at the Golden Core stage, couldn't recognize my identity. It's normal that you, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, can't either."

As the violent aura emanating from him gradually subsided, Shen Chongming secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Boy, what brings you back this time?"

The Thunder Creature lay lazily in the void, glanced at him, and spoke.

Shen Chongming cupped his hands and said, "I dare not hide it from you, senior. I have come here to... to find a strand of innate spiritual energy that is compatible with me."

"I also want to improve my own cultivation techniques."

He recounted how he had only comprehended the "Minor Technique of Cloud Seal Jade Pivot Lightning Summoning" in that cave last time.

Upon hearing this, Thunder Creature sat up abruptly, rushed over to him again, sniffed him repeatedly, and then grinned, saying, "It really does smell like that!"

"Hahaha……"

"My judgment remains as brilliant as ever!"

It happily somersaulted a few times in the air, then, as if teleporting, suddenly appeared in front of Shen Chongming's face and said:

"Boy, you are very good."

"That 'Cloud Script Jade Pivot Lightning Technique' is indeed only the first part."

"The full name of this cultivation method is..."

"Call……"

The Thunder Creature seemed to have a memory problem, scratching its head anxiously for a moment. After circling around in the void a few times, it suddenly realized and said, "I remember now!"

"The full name of this supreme and wondrous method is 'The Secret Record of the Five Thunder True Method of the Divine Firmament Jade Palace'!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming secretly memorized the name.

Before he could finish reciting it a few times, the thunderous creature urged, "I will send you up now, so you can quickly comprehend this technique."

"I have high hopes for you. When you achieve the Jade True Thunder Palace, you can take me away from this wretched place!"

Jade True Thunder Palace?

Just as Shen Chongming was about to ask what the Jade True Thunder Palace was, the thunderous creature suddenly waved its hand, sending a bolt of lightning that propelled him to the summit of the mountain.

"Husband!"

Upon seeing this, Chen Youran disregarded everything else and immediately rushed out from behind the boulder.

The thunderous creature looked up at Shen Chongming, who had disappeared into the clouds, and said leisurely, "Don't worry, this kid will definitely be good!"

……

Shen Family Manor.

A figure in a red dress appeared outside the formation.

Upon seeing this, the Shen family cultivators rode the wind to meet them.

"Fellow Daoist, this is the Shen family. If there is nothing else, please leave as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongxiu quickly replied, "I am Xiao Hongxiu from Hundred Refinement Valley. Last time, Young Clan Chief Shen said that I was welcome to visit the Shen family whenever I had free time."

The Shen family cultivator looked at her suspiciously.

"I know Shen Chonghong, the young master of your Shen family!"

As if afraid that the cultivator from the Shen family wouldn't believe her, Xiao Hongxiu quickly mentioned Shen Chonghong's name as well.

The cultivator from the Shen family was slightly taken aback, and after a moment of thought, said, "Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist, while I go to ask for instructions."

The Shen family cultivator descended from the sky and was about to ask the family head, Shen Wenxing, when he saw Shen Chonghong walking from the front yard. He immediately went up to him, cupped his hands, and said, "Young master, a female cultivator has come from outside the formation. She says she knows you."

Shen Chonghong frowned slightly and asked, "Where is this female cultivator from? What's her name?"

The cultivator cupped his hands in greeting: "She's said to be Xiao Hongxiu from Hundred Refinement Valley..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chonghong immediately recalled the humiliation he suffered at Qixian Mountain years ago.

The scene shifts, and the image of Xiao Hongxiu reminiscing about the last time Xiao Yin and his daughter visited, recalling how she disregarded her image and wolfed down three large bowls of rice and ate numerous spiritual fruits.

Seeing his displeasure, the Shen family cultivator, being quite perceptive, immediately cupped his hands and said, "If you do not wish to see him, young master, I will go and send him away."

As the cultivator spoke, he prepared to make a hand seal and ascend into the sky to drive Xiao Hongxiu away.

"Wait a minute."

After a moment's thought, Shen Chonghong interrupted his spellcasting and said in a deep voice, "Please ask her to come down."

The cultivator paused for a moment, then cupped his hands in response. He flew into the air, opened a gap in the formation, and let Xiao Hongxiu come to the doorway.

"Miss Xiao, we meet again."

When Shen Chonghong saw her, he secretly clenched his fist, then smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

There was not a trace of displeasure on his face.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Hongxiu looked on with suspicion, and for a moment she even forgot to return the greeting.

Shen Chonghong spoke again, "Please come in, young lady."

Xiao Hongxiu realized what was happening, hurriedly returned the greeting, and followed him into the courtyard.

Inside the room, Xiao Hongxiu looked at Shen Chonghong, who was sitting upright with a smile on his face. After hesitating for a long time, she finally couldn't help but ask, "You... don't dislike me?"

Shen Chonghong, holding his teacup, asked in confusion, "Why do you say that, young lady?"

Seeing his bewildered expression, Xiao Hongxiu clenched the hem of her clothes and said, "It's about... the matter at Seven Sages Mountain..."

Shen Chonghong feigned a sudden realization and said "Oh".

"If you're not as skilled as others, there's nothing to complain about."

"Besides, didn't Miss Xiao and Senior make a special trip to apologize last time?"

"The matter should be considered closed now."

Shen Chonghong smiled.

"Pah! Saying things against your conscience is truly disgusting!"

He inwardly despised his own hypocrisy, but in order not to expose himself, he could only pick up the teacup and take a small sip.

When Xiao Hongxiu heard this, she stared in astonishment, her mouth agape.

She believes that even now, whenever she sees Shen Chonghong, she can still recall the frivolous things he said to her back then.

I never imagined that this person, who had suffered such humiliation at my hands, would... would let it go so easily?

After a moment of astonishment, Xiao Hongxiu suddenly felt a little ashamed.

"No wonder the outside world says that the sons of the Shen family are dragons among men. Just the magnanimity and demeanor of this guy in front of us are beyond the reach of ordinary people."

"Compared to this, I'm really being petty."

Xiao Hongxiu thought to herself, feeling less reserved and more guilty and apologetic as she looked at Shen Chonghong and said, "I was wrong before, and I must sincerely apologize to Young Master Shen."

Shen Chonghong smiled and waved his hand. The two chatted casually for a while before Shen Wenxing walked in from outside with a serious expression.

Upon seeing his father's figure through the window, Shen Chonghong stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Miss Xiao, please wait a moment. I have something to attend to and need to go out for a while."

Xiao Hongxiu nodded repeatedly.

Shen Chonghong came out of the side room and saw his father giving instructions to two Shen family cultivators.

"father."

He walked slowly forward, and two Shen family cultivators bowed and greeted him as "Young Master."

Shen Chonghong nodded, noticing that his father's expression was a little off, and asked, "What happened?"

Shen Wenxing said in a deep voice, "Your uncle sent an urgent report that a large number of demonic beasts have appeared in the mountains. In the poisonous miasma forest, the centipede leader's child has already made contact with those ferocious beasts, but there are quite a few of them, and they are quite strong."

Monster?

Shen Chonghong pondered for a moment and said, "Should we ask Third Uncle for help?"

Shen Wenxing shook his head slightly.

"Your third uncle is at a critical moment in his breakthrough and should not be disturbed. None of the demonic beasts have reached the Nascent Soul stage."

"Then let my son take them there." Shen Chonghong suddenly spoke, then turned back to look at the side room, and through the window saw Xiao Hongxiu leisurely drinking tea while swinging her smooth legs.

Noticing someone was watching her, Xiao Hongxiu looked up and then immediately sat up straight, pretending to be well-behaved.

Shen Wenxing looked up at the room and asked curiously, "Who is that girl?"

When Xiao Yin and his daughter came last time, he and Wei Qiuling went to Fengxian County and did not see them.

"The daughter of Xiao Yin, the chief disciple of Hundred Refinement Valley."

Shen Chonghong replied, a strange smile on his face, "Father, I plan to go into the mountains to hunt monsters this time, and I will bring her with me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing frowned slightly.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"If anything were to happen to me, my Shen family would have a hard time explaining it to Hundred Refinement Valley."

Shen Chonghong patted his chest and said, "Father, don't worry, I will protect her."

As he spoke, he hurried to the door of the side room.

“Miss Xiao, my father would like to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongxiu hurriedly put down her teacup, got up, and followed him into the courtyard.

"Xiao Hongxiu of Hundred Refinement Valley pays respects to Patriarch Shen."

Shen Wenxing smiled and nodded, but before he could speak, Shen Chonghong interjected, "Some demonic beasts have appeared within the territory of my Shen family."

"Miss Xiao is quite powerful. Would you be willing to lend a helping hand and assist my Shen family in exorcising the demon?"

"Okay!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Hongxiu excitedly agreed.

Seeing this, Shen Chonghong looked at his father and smiled, "See, Father? I told you Miss Xiao is a kind-hearted person."

Shen Wenxing stared at the two of them in a daze.

He had heard about how this kid was humiliated by a girl at Qixian Mountain.

You know your own seed best.

But seeing his son acting so strangely now, he was afraid that he would do something reckless again and cause some big trouble.

But since things had come to this, he could only say sternly, "You just wait and see, if Miss Xiao loses even a single hair, I'll break your legs when we get back!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongxiu was first taken aback, then felt both shy and touched.

"Don't worry, Father!"

"I'll go prepare now."

As Shen Chonghong spoke, he hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.

Seeing this, Xiao Hongxiu hurriedly bowed to Shen Wenxing and followed Shen Chonghong away from the manor.

(End of this chapter)