158: Please give me the sword!

On the city walls of Black Ridge City, Shen Li and Second Master Shen looked up.

Just moments before, he had felt continuous flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder.

It seemed as though two extremely fierce creatures were clashing repeatedly within the sea of clouds.

The formidable might they unleashed made it impossible to look directly at them.

The clouds in the sky were suddenly shattered by an endless surge of violent Spiritual Qi, scattering in all directions.

Some were even sliced into strands of cloud Qi, which then dissipated into the sky.

That feeling of extreme sharpness sent shivers down one's spine and struck fear into their heart.

However, after a long time, nothing happened, only the clouds that had accumulated for a long time in the sky, even those conjured out of thin air, were shattered by a vast power of the scorching sun.

Afterward, there was not a trace of Life Qi left.

Shen Li, however, sighed and said,

"Immortal Masters are not supposed to show themselves, yet this time they are frequently engaging in Dao battles in the sky. Why is this?"

"Is it also for the sake of rules?"

Second Master Shen was a Qi Refining Cultivator and knew even less than Shen Li. He merely said uncertainly,

"Perhaps they got excited?"

Shen Li shook his head, only to see Wang Teng speak with a strange expression.

"I always feel that this aura is somewhat familiar."

Shen Li was not surprised; it was normal for Wang Teng to find it familiar. If he didn't, he would probably be expelled from the Wang Family!

During the Dao battle earlier, the Innocent Sword trembled continuously, not out of fear, but with a sense of excitement.

A familiar feeling.

A feeling of having known it since its creation.

Although Shen Li had refined Innocent, he could not sever this feeling.

So, the moment the power appeared, he understood.

One of the two parties in this Dao battle must be that 'Heavenly Innocence Perfected Person!'

He just didn't know why Heavenly Innocence Perfected Person had come to Yellow Sand Plains and personally engaged in a Dao battle with someone.

According to Wang Teng, Heavenly Innocence Perfected Person should currently be dealing with the Land Demon Nation at the border. His appearance here... perhaps it's also because of the celebration?

This so-called celebration was truly becoming more and more mysterious.

Shen Li sighed, then turned to Second Master Shen and said,

"The words Uncle told me, I will keep firmly in mind."

"If any Immortal Seedlings from the Family come here to cultivate, I will also look after them."

"However, being in Yellow Sand Plains, there are many inconveniences. If I scold them too much in daily life, Uncle and the various main branch Family heads, please do not mind."

"I must say in advance that here in Black Ridge City... to say something taboo, I will be the sole decision-maker."

These rebellious words made Wang Teng's mouth twitch uncontrollably.

He had not heard Shen Li speak such arrogant and rampant words for a long time.

Normally, Shen Li was quite smooth, always having a faint sense of calm in whatever he did, but he had never been so domineering.

He didn't expect him to become so unyielding at this moment.

However, when Second Master Shen heard this, he not only wasn't angry but his face grew even more gratified.

"Our Shen Family has many Water Wood Spiritual Roots, which has influenced the personalities of many Family Disciples. They are all gentle and amiable but lack initiative. Therefore, when our Shen Family does business, the main focus is on harmonious wealth.

There are few times when we fall out with others."

"It's not that this is bad; it's just that when we encounter some unreasonable Immortal Families, there's no logic to discuss, just like a scholar meeting a soldier, where reason cannot be explained."

"Therefore, cultivating some stubborn, willful, and domineering traits in you here is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it is a great good thing."

"No matter what others think, I will stand behind you. The two Immortal Masters are also the same."

"Since that's the case, I'm relieved." Shen Li's expression softened.

Being a bodyguard was still within his tolerance.

But being a nanny was not an option.

It was too troublesome.

Of course, it wasn't his turn. According to his current status in the Shen Family, a single command would send them home.

As for making him angry, don't even think about it.

Seeing this, Second Master Shen turned back and said with a sigh,

"This trip has been very fruitful. The next time we meet, it will probably be after the celebration, when we gather at home."

Shen Li nodded. Originally, outer Disciples could return home to visit after five years. If they made some contributions, they could bring their Family members or frequently return home.

However, few chose the former.

What kind of place was Moon-Gazing Lake? Spiritual Qi was abundant. Even if not at Moon-Gazing Lake, being in the Shen Family's main base, there were Spiritual Qi Spiritual Veins.

With Spiritual Qi Spiritual Veins, although they might not have a good Spiritual Root Aptitude in this life, if a person with a Spiritual Root appeared in the next generation, they would receive ample Spiritual Qi nourishment.

This was something the outside world could not provide.

Therefore, no one chose to leave the Shen Family unless there was a better option.

Shen Li could return home at this stage, but Shen Li was afraid of missing something.

The current situation was becoming increasingly strange. If he didn't personally observe it, he was truly afraid of overlooking certain things, leading to something being missed... that would be fatal enough.

So he gave up returning home, only writing a letter explaining some basic reasons.

As for this life-and-death adventure, there was no need to say more to the Family.

Second Master Shen looked at the Dharma Boat in the sky and said calmly,

"Since all matters have been settled, I don't need to stay any longer."

Second Master Shen seemed to have a premonition of something. Before leaving, he hesitated repeatedly, then slowly turned back, walked to Shen Li's side, and whispered,

"Cultivation is not just one path, but life itself is only one."

"I don't know what kind of path you are taking, and I don't know what the Family heads are thinking, but I feel that this path is very dangerous for you."

"You seem to have become a chess piece for some great figures. I cannot speak directly, nor can I change this fact."

"The power of an Immortal Master is immense; it is perfectly normal for them to control our lives."

"But even ants want to cling to life, let alone us living people?"

"Here, I want to say... why not give yourself more opportunities."

"The Opportunity to live."

"Cultivation will not only have narrow paths, nor will it only have single-plank bridges and cliffside plank roads. If you feel too tired, why not stop and rest for a moment."

"Then continue on."

"With your intelligence, you will always complete this path."

"My Cultivation Aptitude is average, so I cannot offer you much help in this regard."

"But after all, I am an elder who has eaten a few more bowls of rice, so I will offer some of my own experiences. Please don't mind my nagging."

Shen Li's expression was gentle. He truly understood the painstaking efforts of the Second Master before him.

What this Second Master Shen hoped for most was the prosperity of the Family and the emergence of Geniuses.

This kind of affection could not be faked.

It was precisely because such figures were in the Family that the Family's traditions could be passed down for a hundred generations, benefiting generations!

"Shen Li... will remember."

Second Master Shen swayed as he boarded the Dharma Boat.

He flew far away, leaving behind the ordinary-faced Shen Li.

"Let's go, back to the mansion... there's still a lot to do!"

And in the sky, on the Dharma Boat a thousand li away, Second Master Shen's thoughts were all on the beautiful fantasy of the Shen Family establishing its Purple Mansion, with two Dao Foundations in one Family, and a Taiyin Dao Battle Immortal Master.

He tapped his hand on the railing, humming the Shen Family's tune.

His voice was gentle.

As it drifted into the sea of clouds, a one-armed Cultivator stood in the clouds.

The Cultivator controlling the Dharma Boat was killed by a single sword strike before he could even speak.

Suddenly, Second Master Shen cupped his hands and said,

"May I ask what I have done to offend the Immortal Master?"

The one-armed Immortal Master looked Second Master Shen up and down and asked calmly,

"On the Wang Family's boat, whose Family are you from Qingchi Mountain?"

"I am... a Shen Family Cultivator."

"Shen Family? Do you know Shen Li?"

"Do you know where Shen Li's Taiyin Sword Pill came from?"

Second Master Shen suddenly looked up, but he was speechless.

Killing intent enveloped him, yet he was completely fearless.

He cupped his hands and said,

"The world is vast, and everyone has their own Opportunity. There is nothing to say."

"If the Immortal Master wishes to bully the weak, then make your move."

"You're not afraid?"

The endless rage caused this Cloud Sea Dao Foundation to lose his reason. The shattered Sword Pill on his fingertip continuously flickered with sharpness.

However, Second Master Shen's expression was calm.

As if he had comprehended life and death.

And as if he had seen some beautiful scenery, witnessing the arrival of the prosperous Shen Family, he revealed a smile.

"Please bestow your sword, Immortal Master!"