Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 245 The Ambush at Canaan Temple
"Please follow me, young master."

Several Shen family cultivators led Shen Chonghong to a stone chamber at the end of another fork in the road, where they indeed saw a huge black cauldron standing in the center of the chamber.

Shen Chonghong came to the black cauldron and examined it, but for a moment he couldn't tell what the cauldron was made of.

He wrapped his arms around one of the black cauldron's handles, and after applying a little force, he discovered that the thing was really heavy, weighing at least several thousand kilograms!
"This item... I'm afraid it can't be stored in my storage bag."

As he pondered this, he immediately tried to put the black cauldron into a storage bag.

The black cauldron remained completely still.

"Young master, let us carry it back!"

Upon seeing this, Liu Gui and the others volunteered to come forward and carry the black cauldron back to Yunshui City.

For these dozen or so Qi Refining cultivators, carrying several thousand kilograms of goods back was no big deal.

However, after pondering for a moment, Shen Chonghong shook his head.

"The journey to Yunshui City is long."

"We still need to pass through several prefectures, where various forces such as Canaan Temple, Yin Corpse Sect, and Fushan Kingdom exist. It's best not to take the risk."

For the six major Golden Core forces in Southern Xinjiang, the breakthrough of Third Uncle Shen Wen'an into the Golden Core stage was tantamount to the complete disappearance of a sharp sword hanging over their heads.

During this period, the borders of the cities under the Shen family's rule have been quite unsettled.

If the crowd were to carry this black cauldron around the city, they would likely be attacked by several forces.

"Put the cauldron here first."

"You all stay here and guard this place for the next few days. I'll go back to Yunshui City first and send the rest of the things back."

After much deliberation, Shen Chonghong spoke.

In Situ Jing's cave dwelling, besides the black cauldron, there is also a strange little tree, both of which are extraordinary treasures.

He needed to go back and ask his grandfather, Shen Yuan, whether he should have his third uncle come over in person to find a way to take the thing away.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Shen Chonghong once again reminded them to be careful and not to easily touch anything else in the cave.

Then they rode the wind towards Yunshui City.

……

The main hall of the imperial palace in Zhili.

Canaan Temple has occupied this place for decades. The original royal palace of the Yu Kingdom has been gradually transformed into a Zen temple, making it even more magnificent.

"Junior Brother Huikong, why don't you take some people there?"

"My Canaan Temple had a karmic connection with the Shen family in the past. I have a premonition that Canaan Temple will eventually have to confront the Shen family after this great harvest."

"If we can weaken the Shen family and capture their direct descendants during this opportunity, it will be beneficial to our great harvest."

In front of the enormous golden Buddha statue in the main hall, the monk Huiyuan, the head of Canaan Temple, spoke in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, a fat, big-eared, and fierce-looking middle-aged monk in front of him bowed and agreed.

"Junior brother, you should be careful. It would be best to capture the Shen family members alive on this trip and use the 'Seed of Fate and Transformation Sutra' to convert them into our own service."

"The Great Bright World-Honored One sent word some time ago that the Shen family in this Yangnao land must have obtained some kind of fortune and opportunity. If we can seize some of their fortune from their clansmen, it will be of great benefit to our future cultivation."

“Junior brother, if you succeed in cultivating ‘Dragon and Elephant Seeing Emptiness’ this time, you will see the Great Light in no time.”

Upon hearing this, the fat-headed and big-eared monk Huikong showed a hint of surprise on his face, and immediately bowed to the monk Huiyuan to express his gratitude: "Thank you, senior brother. I will certainly live up to your expectations on this trip."

Before he finished speaking, he instantly flew out of the main hall and headed towards Huai Sang County in the southeast.

……

In the Blackwater Pavilion of Yunshui City.

Shen Yuan sat cross-legged, his body radiating a rich spiritual aura.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and filled with a hint of doubt.

"The power of causality?"

"Is someone plotting against the sons of the Shen family?"

The power of cause and effect is a power of an extremely high level. In theory, it would be difficult for him to reach or even perceive it with his cultivation level.

However, having refined half of the white jade tortoise shell, its mastery of the Great Evolution Path had already surpassed its current level.

Just now, I had a feeling and used the white jade tortoise shell to deduce that someone was stirring up the cause and effect of the Shen family.

Shen Yuan's expression turned slightly cold.

"A bunch of old fogies are starting to get restless. Don't they want to follow the rules anymore?"

Cause and effect belong to the power of the Great Dao Laws. Being able to use this power is something that ordinary cultivators in the Fetal Breathing Realm cannot do.

There must be a Golden Core cultivator involved behind this.

The Golden Core Dao can offer a glimpse into destiny. If one studies the Dao of Cause and Effect in depth and uses some special items, it is still possible to utilize some power of cause and effect within a certain range.

Slowly standing up, Shen Yuan shook off his large gray robe and then flashed to the manor not far away.

"Go and fetch the old patriarch and the current patriarch."

At the entrance of the side room, Shen Yuan looked at a cultivator and spoke in a deep voice.

The cultivator was slightly taken aback, then immediately cupped his hands and quickly left.

A moment later, Shen Wenxing and Shen Chongming rushed over.

"Father (Grandpa)!"

After the two men clasped hands in greeting, Shen Chongming asked in a deep voice, "Grandpa, what happened?"

The Shen family cultivators who went to find the two reported that the patriarch had appeared suddenly, with a solemn expression, as if something important had happened.

The two of them naturally dared not neglect their duties.

"The bald monks at Canaan Temple are plotting something sinister. After much deliberation, I've concluded that they only have two targets."

"One is Chonghong, who is far away in Huaisang, and the other is Xiumu and others, who were brought to the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm by the Snow Wolf King."

"Wen'an can't make a move. You and your son should head to Huaisang and Sanshan County immediately."

"Remember, saving lives is the priority. If you encounter monks from Canaan Monastery, avoid them for now."

He sensed a hint of danger in this deduction and wanted to play it safe to avoid any unforeseen complications.

Upon hearing this, both Shen Wenxing and Shen Chongming frowned.

But the two knew that this was not the time to ask questions, so they immediately bowed and agreed.

"Chongming, you're quick. Go to Huaisang to pick up your brother. I'll go to Qixian Mountain to take a look."

Shen Wenxing spoke, assigned them their destinations, and after the two bowed to each other, they went their separate ways.

……

Huaisang County.

After leaving the mountain cave, Shen Chonghong did not dare to be too high-profile. He could only attach a speed talisman and use the Qi Concealment Technique to quickly travel through the mountains and forests.

Huai Sang County has many powerful demons at the Nascent Soul Realm, as well as cultivators from various Southern Frontier forces. Being too conspicuous will easily attract their attention.

We can only feel a little relieved once we reach Sanshan County.

After all, most of the territory of Sanshan County is now in the hands of the Shen family and Luoxia Mountain, so it will be much safer to enter Sanshan County.

As Shen Chonghong was running wildly through the forest, he suddenly saw a golden light streak across the sky from the northwest.

His expression changed slightly, and he quickly hid in a rocky forest, holding his breath and focusing on the golden light above his head.

“The aura of a Buddhist monk; this is a monk from Canaan Temple…”

Seeing the golden figure hurrying by, Shen Chonghong hoped that it was just passing by.

He sensed a faint pressure from the golden light, clearly indicating that the opponent's strength was at least at the late stage of the Fetal Breathing Realm, or even the perfected stage.

The golden light above moved swiftly, passing its hiding place in the blink of an eye and heading east towards Huai Sang County.

Seeing this, Shen Chonghong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After watching the golden light disappear into the horizon, he walked out of the chaotic rock forest and continued to run wildly towards Sanshan County.

However, before he had run more than ten miles, the golden light behind him suddenly turned back and rushed towards his location.

At that moment, Shen Chonghong instantly realized that the other party was clearly coming for him!

With his immediate priority, he had no time to conceal his presence. He immediately made a hand seal to summon a gentle breeze and rode the wind towards the direction of Sanshan County.

The city of Sanshan County is guarded by an elder from Luoxia Mountain who has reached the Perfected Stage of the Fetal Breathing Realm. If he manages to escape to Sanshan County, the elder from Luoxia Mountain will sense the aura of this cultivator and come to investigate.

There might still be a glimmer of hope for me.

"Fellow Daoist, you have truly made this humble monk search for you quite a while."

But Shen Chonghong fled in panic, riding the wind, while the monk Huikong behind him smiled and spoke in a deep voice.

His voice traveled dozens of miles between the two of them and rang clearly in Shen Chonghong's ears.

The voice carried a strange power that caused Shen Chonghong's true essence and spiritual energy to stagnate, almost causing him to lose his ability to control the wind and fall from the void.

"Perfected embryonic breathing!"

"This bald monk has definitely reached the perfect state of embryonic breathing!"

Shen Chonghong calmed his mind, forcibly stabilized the restless spiritual energy within his body, and flew forward with all his might!
"Fellow Daoist, you have a connection with my Canaan Temple. I merely wish to invite you to visit my Canaan Temple. Why are you so alarmed?"

The voice with its strange power rang in his ears once more. Shen Chonghong, who was flying on the wind, swayed and his face gradually flushed.

"You bald monk, what kind of bizarre magic is this?!"

Feeling a surge of restlessness within his body, with signs that it was about to become uncontrollable, Shen Chonghong was terrified and dared not pay any attention. He could only continue his escape in silence.

Huikong, who was closely following behind, was also somewhat surprised.

"This junior from the Shen family has such profound cultivation..."

"Even though he is only at the mid-stage of the embryonic breathing realm, he was still able to maintain his Wind Control Technique after enduring two of my [Brahma Sound Soul-Seizing] attacks."

"If we can successfully convert it, we will likely gain a lot of good fortune and merit."

The monk Huikong murmured softly, but his body suddenly accelerated.

Although Shen Chonghong was not knocked down by the two [Brahma Sound Soul Capture] attacks, his internal energy and spiritual power surged, and his speed was slowed down considerably.

I could feel the presence behind me getting closer and closer.

He already knew that he could not escape this time.

With a slight change in his hand gestures, he instantly stood in mid-air, turning around to glare angrily at the rapidly pursuing monk Huikong.

"Old bald monk, what do you intend to do?"

Seeing that he was no longer fleeing, Monk Huikong stopped not far away, smiled and bowed in greeting.

"As I said, fellow Daoist has a connection with my Canaan Temple, and this time I am inviting you to visit my Canaan Temple."

Seeing his hypocritical and kind face, Shen Chonghong sneered.

"The way Canaan Temple invites people is truly unique. If it weren't for my profound cultivation, I probably would have been shaken off the ground by your strange magic and died or been maimed!"

Upon hearing this, Monk Huikong showed no embarrassment and continued with a smile, saying, "Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. I had no choice. You were only focused on fleeing and didn't give me a chance to speak..."

"Fuck you!"

"Stop pretending in front of me!"

"If you want to take me back today, there's only one possibility!"

With a flash of light in his hand, Shen Chonghong cursed and took out the White Bone Spear.

"Take your grandfather's body back!"

Before he finished speaking, he charged forward!

The white bone spear, its surface ablaze with fiery red flames, hurtled straight toward the face of the monk Huikong!

Upon seeing this, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of the monk Huikong, who then smiled faintly and said, "Why bother, fellow Daoist?"

"This humble monk extended a kind invitation, yet you, fellow Daoist, have turned your weapons against me..."

Before he could finish speaking, the white bone spear in Shen Chonghong's hand shot out streaks of fiery spear light, pressing towards his face.

Even in his youth, he was known for his fiery temper.

During his childhood, the Shen family faced many difficulties. Shen Chonghong was sent to Hidden Dragon Mountain when he was a teenager to defend against the harassment of Hundred Beasts Mountain.

Having spent years mingling with those tribal soldiers, he had long since developed a roguish nature.

Later, Shen Wenxing even sent him to the clan's main courtyard, where Lu Zhiyuan taught him for more than a year.

Now that I'm older, I've become more aware of the responsibilities I bear, and only then have I become a little more composed.

Today, being forced by this monk Huikong, his roguish nature has once again come to the fore.

"A bunch of sons of bitches! My Shen family hasn't settled the score with you for the 200,000 people in the four towns of Xingyang back then!"

"A beast is a beast. Even if you wear human skin and wear disgusting hypocrisy on your faces, Grandpa can't see through your true colors?"

His hands moved incessantly, and his verbal attacks were even more relentless.

Shen Chonghong also realized that he was probably in grave danger today, but he was determined to vent his anger even at the cost of his life.

The monk Huikong, relying on his perfected embryonic breathing cultivation, was able to easily withstand the attack, but he could not stop the foul language from entering his ears.

Before coming here, my senior brother specifically instructed me that it would be best to capture him alive and use the "Scripture of Seeking Fate and Transforming" to convert Shen Chonghong. In this way, we might be able to plunder the Shen family's fortune and luck through secret methods.

"What a sharp-tongued boy!"

"Once I subdue you, I will cut out your tongue!"

Huikong was also enraged by the scolding. Golden light shone from his body as he blocked the rain of spear light and suddenly stretched out his palm!

In an instant, a giant golden hand slammed down on Shen Chonghong!

"What, you're not pretending anymore?"

"They're clearly a bunch of ruthless bastards who eat people alive, so why are they pretending to be compassionate?"

"If there truly is reincarnation, then you bald monks should be reborn as animals in your next life!"

Even animals are a thousand times better than you!

While cursing, Shen Chonghong channeled his spiritual power, causing two sharp blades resembling fiery wings to emerge from behind him!
The fiery blades surged upwards, swiftly slashing towards the golden palm!
Clang!
Clang!
The two fiery blades slashed fiercely at the golden palm, but only produced a large number of sparks, failing to harm it in the slightest.

Upon seeing this, Shen Chonghong's expression changed slightly.

This fiery blade is called the Phoenix Hinge, and it is the strongest spell he can currently use.

Previously in Huaisang County, the tough scales on the thick-skinned Black Rock Serpent were as vulnerable as tofu when facing the Phoenix Hinge.

However, they were powerless against the cultivation techniques that Huikong had casually used.

"Ha ha……"

"This humble monk has already attained the state of perfect enlightenment and emptiness. Fellow Daoist, you should not resist stubbornly."

"This time, you will obediently come back with me..."

"Bald monk, do you have a mother?"

Shen Chonghong used the white bone spear in his hand to block the ever-pressing golden palm, and suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Huikong was momentarily stunned.

But before he could speak, Shen Chonghong laughed and said, "Forget it, you're already so old. Even if you have a mother, she's old and faded. I'm not into that kind of thing..."

Before he finished speaking, a ruthless glint flashed in Shen Chonghong's eyes!
boom!
Suddenly, real flames burst forth from his body, and he seemed to transform into a god in flames!

"You actually burned your own immortal foundation!?"

"That's really crazy!"

Even if you escape this time, your cultivation will be completely destroyed!

But then Huikong saw that Shen Chonghong's aura suddenly became stronger, and he immediately realized that Shen Chonghong had burned his own immortal embryonic foundation.

For cultivators of the immortal path, the foundation of the immortal embryo is the most important basis for their cultivation, just like the roots of a towering ancient tree.

Burning one's immortal embryonic foundation and overdrawing one's own potential can indeed greatly increase a cultivator's strength in a short period of time.

However, this short-sighted approach to exploiting resources causes permanent damage.

With the foundation of his immortal embryo damaged, barring unforeseen circumstances, he will never be able to reach the state of perfect embryonic breathing again in this lifetime.

Not to mention the Golden Core that followed.

"I'd be happy to..."

Burning with scarlet flames, Shen Chonghong grinned and then suddenly exerted force, using his spear to force back the golden hand pressing down on his head.

Feeling the surging power within him, a strong fighting spirit flashed in his eyes. Staring at the monk Huikong in the distant void, he said in a deep voice, "Now let me test what tricks you bald monks have up your sleeves!"

The moment the sound rang out, his figure transformed into a streak of fire and charged straight forward!

As he wielded the white bone spear, fire dragons roared and coiled, all opening their terrifying maws to bite at the body of the monk Huikong!

Upon seeing this, a cold expression appeared on the monk Huikong's face.

"With its foundation damaged, the celestial embryo is probably of little value."

"I won't hold back. I'll kill you as soon as possible, and I can use your corpse to refine a batch of Blood Pills."

As he spoke, a huge golden bell phantom immediately appeared on his body, blocking Shen Chonghong's attack. At the same time, he formed a hand seal, and a huge golden fist smashed towards Shen Chonghong!
Sensing the aura emanating from that golden fist, which was several times stronger than the golden palm from before, Shen Chonghong suddenly withdrew his gun and gave up resisting.

"Want my body?"

"No way..."

This golden fist carried an extremely terrifying power; if a person were to take this punch head-on, they would surely be blown apart on the spot.

It's better to have flesh and blood scattered across this land than to let that bald monk use it to refine elixirs.

Seeing Shen Chonghong's decisiveness, the monk Huikong's expression changed slightly.

A blood pill refined by a highly skilled mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is worth thousands of ordinary people. It would be a pity if it were wasted like this.

But since the incident happened so suddenly, it was clearly impossible for him to stop now.

Just as the monk Huikong was filled with regret, a fiery red arrow suddenly appeared not far from his face!

The tip of the fiery red arrow emitted an eerie blue light, and the flickering light seemed to possess a terrifying power that chilled people to the bone!
Before he could figure out what was going on with the arrow...

The fiery red arrow had already struck the golden bell on his body!

Click!

The blue gem at the tip of the arrow made a crisp sound and then shattered!
A large number of dark blue electric sparks burst forth instantly, tearing the golden bell apart in the blink of an eye!

At the same time, when the monk Huikong was greatly shocked, his monk's robe suddenly emitted rays of golden light!

Some of the golden light blocked the surrounding raging lightning, while the other part condensed into a golden bowl, which was placed in front of his forehead!
Boom!
Lightning bolts tore through the golden bell's protection, while fiery red arrows slammed into the golden alms bowl!
A dull thud rang out, and the golden alms bowl was instantly cracked by the terrifying force carried by the fiery red arrow!
Cracks spread, and it looked like it was about to shatter completely.

The monk Huikong staggered backward!

Click!

puff!
The moment it moved, the golden alms bowl could no longer withstand the attack and shattered instantly.

The fiery red arrow pierced his left eye, penetrating an inch deep!

"what!"

The monk Huikong cried out in pain and instantly pulled the fiery red arrow out with his palm!
The fiery red arrow trembled violently, its surface radiating terrifying flames that burned his palm.

The monk Huikong, in pain, let go of his grip. Without regard for anything else, he immediately waved his monk's robe and transformed into a golden light, fleeing into the distance!

"Big brother?"

In the void, the moment Shen Chonghong saw the fiery red arrow, he knew that the one who made the move was his elder brother, Shen Chongming.

From the forest below, a figure flew swiftly and caught the swaying Shen Chonghong.

"Chonghong!"

"you……"

Supporting his younger brother, Shen Chongming's expression changed drastically upon sensing the chaotic spiritual energy within his body.

"Brother, I'm fine."

Despite the surging blood and qi within him and the waves of weakness, Shen Chonghong forced a smile, then pulled off the storage bag from his waist and stuffed it into his elder brother's hand.

"The things inside...are very important!"

"It is... the Dao of Alchemy..."

Before he could finish speaking, the backlash from the damage to his immortal embryonic foundation caused him to fall into a coma.

"Chonghong!?"

Seeing this, Shen Chongming looked anxious and immediately carried him away, transforming into a bolt of lightning and rushing towards Yunshui City.

……

Yunshui City.

Inside a side room of the manor, Shen Yuan was chatting and drinking tea with Jiang Xiuqi when he suddenly felt a slight vibration coming from the white jade tortoise shell in his sea of ​​consciousness. He immediately separated a wisp of his divine consciousness and sank it into his sea of ​​consciousness.

moment--

"Great-Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Shen Xiubai, who was standing to the side, was the first to notice the slight change in Shen Yuan's expression.

Jiang Xiuqi also put down his teacup: "Fellow Daoist Shen, what happened?"

Shen Yuan said with a solemn expression, "It must be that some of the younger members of the clan have encountered some danger."

"However, he should be out of danger."

The three chatted for a long time before a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky and fell into Cloudwater City.

Sensing the commotion, Shen Yuan and the other two came out of the room and saw Shen Chongming rushing over with the unconscious Shen Chonghong in his arms.

"grandfather!"

"Senior Jiang."

The three stepped forward and saw Shen Chonghong, who was breathing erratically and was unconscious, in his arms. Jiang Xiuqi's expression changed slightly.

"This child... burned away the very foundation of his immortal embryo!?"

"This……"

Burn the foundation of the immortal embryo!

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming's expression changed drastically!
"grandfather……"

What exactly happened to Chonghong?

Shen Yuan spoke with a stern face.

He deduced that someone was plotting against the Shen family, so he immediately sent his son and grandson to meet up with the younger generation of the Shen family who were away.

But it was too late.

"It's those bald monks from Canaan Temple!"

"When my grandson arrived at the edge of Huaisang County, Chonghong was fighting with a cultivator from Canaan Temple who had reached the perfect stage of the Fetal Breathing Realm."

"That bald monk was blinded in one eye by his grandson and escaped."

It really is Canaan Temple!

Shen Yuan clenched his fist slightly, a nameless anger rising in his heart.

"Quickly put this child down, let me try to stabilize his injuries."

After a slight pause, Jiang Xiuqi hurriedly spoke.

If the foundation of the immortal embryo is damaged and the injury cannot be stabilized, at best, all cultivation will be lost, and at worst, the immortal embryo will collapse, and the spiritual power will explode, resulting in death.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming quickly carried Shen Chonghong into the side room.

Jiang Xiuqi quickly activated his own spiritual power to begin healing him.

"Xiu Bai, stay here."

Seeing that the healing process wouldn't be over anytime soon, Shen Yuan gave a solemn instruction and then led Shen Chongming to the outside of the room.

"Why would Chonghong, who is stationed in Huaisang, suddenly appear on the edge of Huaisang County?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming finally realized what was happening and quickly took out the storage bag, saying, "This was given to my grandson by Chonghong. He said it was very important."

Shen Yuan took the storage bag, scanned it with his divine sense, and took out several jade slips from it.

After some investigation, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes!
"Good boy..."

"Grandpa, this is..."

Shen Chongming was curious about what it was that made his younger brother risk his life to rush back to Yunshui City.

"See for yourself."

Shen Yuan handed several jade slips to Shen Chongming and said in a deep voice.

After taking the jade slip, Shen Chongming briefly examined it with his divine sense, and his face instantly showed astonishment!
"This is... a complete lineage of alchemy!?"

He lowered his voice and spoke, his tone trembling slightly.

The Shen family has absolutely no foundation in alchemy.

The things Shen Chonghong brought back this time ranged from the most basic knowledge of spiritual herbs and medicines to their properties and pharmacology, alchemy techniques, and prescriptions—everything imaginable!

With these things, the Shen family will soon have a group of alchemists, and perhaps in a hundred years or so, they will have alchemy masters, becoming an alchemy force comparable to Qiyun Valley.

It's no wonder that Shen Chonghong risked his life to send something back that was so important.

As the grandfather and grandson were talking, a demonic cloud appeared in the sky above Yunshui City.

As the demonic clouds dispersed, Shen Wenxing, Shen Xiumu, the Snow Wolf King, and many other Shen family cultivators hurriedly entered the city.

"Father, I came from Qixian Mountain without encountering any danger."

After bowing respectfully, Shen Wenxing looked at Shen Chongming and asked, "What about your side?"

Shen Chongming said dejectedly, "Chonghong was ambushed by a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage from Canaan Temple."

"When I arrived, Chonghong had already burned his immortal embryonic foundation, and now Senior Jiang is healing him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing's expression changed drastically.

Shen Chonghong was his second son, and he understood what burning the foundation of the immortal embryo meant.

"However, Chonghong brought something very important."

Seeing his father's worried face, Shen Chongming could only change the subject.

"Xiu Mu, take them all away first."

Glancing at the many younger members of the family who were not related to him, Shen Chongming told his son, Shen Xiumu, to take them away first.

"Yes."

Shen Xiumu nodded in agreement.

The grandfather and grandson waited outside the room for a while before Shen Xiubai pushed the door open and came out.

"Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Senior Jiang invites you in."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan and the others turned and went into the side room.

Shen Chonghong was still sitting cross-legged at this moment, but his breathing was noticeably more stable.

"Senior Jiang, how is Chonghong...?"

Shen Wenxing quickly cupped his hands and asked.

After taking a short breath, Jiang Xiuqi stood up and sighed, "The injuries have stabilized, but..."

Looking back at Shen Chonghong, he shook his head and said regretfully, "But his foundation for immortality is severely damaged, and he will probably never reach the late stage of embryonic breathing in this lifetime."

For a cultivator, knowing that there is no possibility of further advancement in their cultivation in this lifetime is far more painful than being killed.

Jiang Xiuqi couldn't be sure whether Shen Chonghong would be able to stabilize his Dao heart once he woke up and learned about his own situation.

Shen Yuan and the others had actually guessed the answer, but when they heard Jiang Xiuqi say it, they still found it hard to accept.

Shen Chonghong's talent is not bad; his spiritual root quality can be considered mid-grade.

He is not yet fifty years old, but he has already reached the middle stage of embryonic breathing. Although the possibility of achieving the Golden Core is not high, it is not a problem for him to reach the perfection of embryonic breathing.

However, due to the damage to the foundation of his immortal embryo, his cultivation has stagnated at the mid-stage of the embryonic breathing realm, which is truly a pity.

"Thank you for your help, Senior Jiang."

Suppressing his grief, Shen Wenxing bowed to Jiang Xiuqi and then looked at Shen Chongming, saying, "Chongming, have someone arrange accommodations for Senior Jiang and take him to rest."

After bowing, Shen Chongming led Jiang Xiuqi away.

Inside the room, the father and son glanced at Shen Chonghong beside them. Shen Wenxing narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Father, this grudge cannot be left like this."

"I must seek justice for Chonghong!"

Shen Yuan nodded.

The fact that Canaan Temple was able to pinpoint Shen Chonghong's location so precisely during the attack clearly indicates that a Golden Core cultivator behind Canaan Temple intervened.

Since that's the case, the Shen family doesn't need to be polite.

"The third major harvest is about to begin."

"Let's settle this score during the third big harvest."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing frowned slightly and said, "But even during the third great harvest, my Shen family might not be able to encounter Canaan Temple..."

Whether we meet or not is entirely up to the Shen family.

Shen Yuan glanced at him and said in a deep voice.

……

Laishui River.

Since the last incident at the bottom of the river city, this great river flowing from the depths of Yunlong Mountain has become a forbidden area for the Shen family cultivators.

No monks are permitted to venture deep into the river to explore.

However, at this moment, at the bottom of the Laishui River, a figure was sitting cross-legged in the water.

The figure was none other than Xu Zhan.

The ancient city at the bottom of the river is inextricably linked to it, and it is considered the key to the ancient city's ruins.

With the third major harvest imminent and Shen Wenxing's approval of his marriage to Shen You, Xu Zhan planned to go into seclusion at the bottom of the Laishui River to break through to the fourth realm of body cultivation as soon as possible. He hoped to make contributions during the third major harvest and conquer some territory for the Shen family as a betrothal gift.

In terms of social status, Xu Zhan's family was just an ordinary farming family in Yunshui City.

Their ancestors lived in Jinliu Village back then. After Yunshui City was built, they were taken care of and moved to live in the city.

Her parents were all ordinary people, and their status was naturally incomparable to that of Shen You, the princess of the Shen family.

After being taken in as a disciple by Shen Wenxing and falling in love with Shen You, Xu Zhan always thought about making a good impression and not letting his senior sister down.

Sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the silent Laishui River, Xu Zhan's body was covered with a large amount of gray aura.

This aura was unlike ordinary spiritual power, but it was also different from the yin energy emanating from those in the underworld.

The gray aura seemed to be a different kind of aura from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the yin energy.

However, Xu Zhan was completely unaware of the gray aura at this moment; his mind was immersed in a strange state where illusion and reality intertwined.

In his mind's eye, the phantom of that ancient city kept appearing. The buildings and shadowy figures in the city gave him a strange feeling that was real yet untouchable.

Subconsciously, Xu Zhan wanted to break free from this strange state.

But the surrounding gray mist seemed to trap him firmly, preventing him from moving.

He had forgotten how long he had been trapped in this state, but he could vaguely feel his own vital energy gradually waning, as if the aging sensation of passing years was constantly creeping over him.

This feeling terrified him.

It is said that cultivators have no time when they are in seclusion, and Xu Zhan is afraid that he will miss the third great harvest during this seclusion.

What I fear even more is that one day I will wake up to find that everything outside has changed beyond recognition, and people and things have changed.

Gazing silently at the city, Xu Zhan was like a creator looking down upon a world that was completely out of place with him.

Time passed, and suddenly the gray mist above the ancient city surged.

Then a strange figure appeared.

The figure radiated a dazzling spiritual aura, and the aura emanating from its purple-gold robe constantly clashed with the churning gray mist.

"You dare to be so bold!"

"You dare covet what belongs to me!?"

A majestic voice rang out, and the surrounding gray mist churned even more violently!
A brat?

Whose are you talking about?
Are you talking about me?
Startled by the sound, Xu Zhan felt a sense of unease.

He was also unsure who the figure in the purple-gold robe was targeting with his fury after appearing.

However, when the other party stirred up the surrounding gray mist, he seemed to sense that the binding force around him had loosened slightly.

He immediately disregarded everything else, broke free from the restraints, and escaped this strange state.

After his consciousness returned to his body, Xu Zhan didn't have time to check his own condition before he hurriedly left the bottom of the Laishui River and appeared on the riverbank.

His gaze drifted toward the distant Cloud Water City.

The aura of the Renshui Concealing Spirit Array was still flickering, and everything around seemed to remain largely unchanged.

Before I went into seclusion by the river, it seemed to be the height of summer, but now the mountains are covered in snow and everything around me is a silver-white world.

"Could it be that my seclusion this time will only last a few months?"

Xu Zhan was somewhat curious.

Confined to that state, one cannot clearly perceive the passage of time.

But he still felt like he had been in seclusion for a long time.

A hundred years... or even several hundred years...

In short, the timeframe will definitely not be just a few months!

"My cultivation..."

With doubts in his heart, he looked inward again and checked his cultivation level.

He was shocked to discover that he had now reached the peak of the Life and Death Realm, one of the four realms of body cultivation!

This!
Xu Zhan was taken aback.

Before going into seclusion, his cultivation level was at the peak of the third realm of body cultivation.

Now, however, he has broken through an entire major realm and reached the peak of the fourth realm!

What happened to the promised "difficulty in physical cultivation" and "life and death in every realm"?

Why is it so easy for me to make breakthroughs every time?
Back then, it was the same when I went from the first realm to the peak of the second realm.

In the middle stage of the four realms of body cultivation, if one's own foundation is strong enough, it is comparable to the realm of perfect embryonic breathing.

As for the peak of the fourth realm, in a real contest, they are enough to hold their own against a half-step Golden Core realm cultivator.

Suppressing his surprise, Xu Zhan took a sudden step, his body flying several miles away like a cannonball!
This kind of flight is not the wind-riding of immortal cultivators, but merely a leap relying on his physical strength.

boom!
The moment his body landed, Xu Zhan leaped up again!
After a few leaps, he appeared at the gate of Yunshui City.

The sudden commotion startled the Shen family cultivators guarding the city gate, who quickly formed hand seals to prepare for battle.

"it's me."

"Xu Zhan".

Xu Zhan spoke.

Upon hearing this, the Shen family cultivators breathed a sigh of relief and cupped their hands, saying, "Lord Xu, you... have emerged from seclusion?"

As Xu Zhan nodded, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He recognized some of the cultivators guarding the city gate, which proved that his seclusion this time was indeed not too long.

How long have I been in seclusion this time?

As he stepped into the city gate, he suddenly looked at a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining beside him.

The cultivator was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Even if a cultivator in the immortal path secluded himself for several years, this situation would not occur upon his awakening.

Lord Xu only went into seclusion for a few months, so how come he can't even remember the time after waking up?

Despite his doubts, since Xu Zhan had asked, he still respectfully replied, "Sir, you left Yunshui City in early May."

"Now that the annual festival has just passed, there are only six months left."

Half a year...

Xu Zhan muttered to himself, his eyes filled with even deeper doubt.

After some contemplation, he said nothing more and prepared to go see his master, Shen Wenxing.

……

Blackwater Pavilion.

Shen Xiubai knelt respectfully opposite Shen Yuan, holding in his hands a stack of runes that Shen Xiuchan had copied from the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm.

This is also why Shen Yuan had him brought back from Yunzhong County.

The runes that Shen Xiuchan copied back from the altar resembled writing, but more so, they were similar to array patterns.

Although Shen Yuan himself had also studied the art of formations, his mastery was certainly no match for Shen Xiubai, who had inherited Fu Yang's centuries-old tradition of formations.

"how?"

"Is it possible to understand what these runes are?"

Seeing Shen Xiubai finish reading the papers with a furrowed brow, Shen Yuan asked a question.

After a moment's thought, Shen Xiubai cupped his hands and said, "Great-grandfather guessed correctly; these are indeed array patterns."

"But... there is no record of this kind of array pattern in my master's legacy."

The master he mentioned was naturally Fu Yang.

When Fu Yang was dying, his wish was that someone in the Shen family would carry on his art of array formations.

Since Shen Xiubai accepted his inheritance, he should naturally be given a title.

It was an array pattern, but it was an array pattern that Fu Yang had never seen before...

After a moment's thought, Shen Yuan understood.

The altar that Shen Xiuchan mentioned must be quite ancient.

It's so ancient that even the array patterns on it aren't used by current array masters.

The array patterns originated from the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and are a manifestation of how human cultivators in ancient times comprehended the myriad things in nature.

This thing is different from writing; even if it has evolved, it hasn't been as fast.

At least the current array patterns are not much different from those from thousands of years ago.

Since the array patterns on the altar were not even recorded in Fu Yang's lineage, it meant that the altar had existed for a very long time, perhaps even forever.

"Xiu Bai, can you comprehend these array patterns?"

Suppressing his thoughts, Shen Yuan asked in a deep voice.

Shen Xiubai glanced at the paper in front of him again, then shook his head and said, "Brother Xiuchan only copied the shapes of these array patterns."

"Putting aside the errors, these array patterns only have the form but lack the meaning."

"Moreover... the arrangement of the formation is also related to the power of the surrounding world. Relying solely on these factors, Xiu Bai cannot comprehend what kind of grand formation these formation patterns are used to set up."

"Unless... unless Xiu Bai can see that so-called altar with his own eyes."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan hesitated.

Shen Xiubai's current cultivation level is only at the third level of Qi Refining, and there are many dangers in the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm.

If we send them to the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm, I'm afraid something unexpected might happen.

"Xiu Bai, there are dangers in the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm. Your current strength is still too low."

"There's no rush regarding the array patterns; let's wait a bit longer."

There's no rush to understand these array patterns; it's best not to take unnecessary risks.

A hint of sadness flashed in Shen Xiubai's eyes.

His cultivation level had become a shackle that bound him.

"Spirit Gathering Array!"

"As long as I can set up a spirit-gathering array in my dantian, my cultivation level will definitely improve quickly!"

"Furthermore, with the existence of a spirit-gathering array in the future, even while studying the Dao of arrays, it won't interfere with the body absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth!"

Thinking of this, he immediately raised his head and bowed to Shen Yuan: "Great-Grandfather, may I ask you for something?"

Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, just tell Great-Grandpa what you want."

Shen Xiubai hesitated slightly before saying, "Xiubai wants the magic artifact on the third floor that can condense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into spiritual liquid."

When they arrived at Blackwater Pavilion earlier, Shen Yuan had asked him to help carry the things that Shen Chonghong had brought from Huaisang to the third floor.

He also saw many of the treasures on the third floor of the Blackwater Pavilion.

The bronze pot that could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and condense it into spiritual liquid aroused his interest.

The reason I mustered up the courage to ask for it was to study it carefully and see if I could use the bronze pot to realize my idea of ​​inscribing a spirit-gathering array in my dantian.

(End of this chapter)