209: Talk to me Qingxuan!

Qingyang County, Shen Family, Wangyue Lake.

Wangyue Lake boasts beautiful scenery, countless birds in the mountains, and waterfalls forming layers of mist and rain that linger in the air.

The mist obscured the scenery of Wangyue Lake, making it seem like a fairyland if an Immortal Master were to descend into the mountains.

At the foot of the mountain, however, it was filled with common mortals, overflowing with people.

Despite the large crowd, it wasn't noisy or chaotic; instead, it was orderly!

They stood ready for battle.

These were all young Disciples of the Shen Family.

Like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge, only five of these hundreds of young Disciples would ultimately become Immortal Seedlings of the Shen Family.

Yes, you heard correctly, there were only five people selected as Immortal Seedlings this time.

The reason was self-evident... but these details were unknown to the Family's Disciples.

Among the ninepulse, there was a spirited and delicate young girl with a ponytail, standing in the queue.

Many Disciples from the ninepulse looked at her and felt a pang of awe.

At such a young age, she was already at the Late Stage of Qi Induction, just one step away from breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm.

This person was a dark horse favorite in this Immortal Seedling selection.

It was also rumored that this Shen Nian had an older brother who was highly valued by the Family Head and was doing very well outside, so much so that the Family had allocated a significant amount of resources to him.

For a time, many outer Disciples cast envious glances her way.

However, the young girl was oblivious to these gazes.

Her brow was furrowed, showing a hint of worry.

Observing her appearance... her features were quite similar to Shen Li's.

This person was none other than Shen Li's biological younger sister.

Her name was Shen Nian.

For Shen Nian, the top five spots were within easy reach.

It was well known that the Family had given her special treatment over the years, even starting her practice of spell structures during her Qi Induction.

This allowed her to rank among the best in her generation, both in theoretical and practical performance.

However, she was far from happy.

She knew best where her numerous resources came from.

A few years ago, the Family Head even personally visited the ninepulse, and an Immortal Master personally praised Shen Li for his efficient management of miscellaneous affairs.

The ninepulse received various rewards because of this... and she also received many rewards...

But she wasn't happy.

Because her older brother hadn't sent a letter back in a long time.

She was no longer the child she once was; after Shen Li left, she secretly began investigating Yellow Sand Plains.

She didn't know until she investigated, and what she found shocked her: Yellow Sand Plains was simply not a place for people to stay.

It was extremely unfriendly to the Shen Family; Senior Brother Shen Yan, who returned from a training expedition, said that in that area... a water snake technique performed by a Shen Family Cultivator would only produce water insects.

With such intense heat, and her older brother being a lazy person, could he endure it?

Alas... but fortunately, her Cultivation Aptitude was good, much stronger than her lazy older brother's.

When she goes out for training someday, she'll go help him.

To stop her parents from constantly nagging her.

Thinking of this, Shen Nian chuckled and then looked at the misty high mountain before her.

“The Immortal Seedling quota for the Family has shrunk again. The Immortal Seedlings from the past few years were all given to Qingchi Mountain... none were kept by the main Family, which is not good news.”

“When the main Family's Cultivators are given to Qingchi Mountain, they become their Disciples... they receive resources from Qingchi Mountain on a daily basis, and naturally, they will gradually become strangers to the Shen Family...”

“Although Bloodline cannot be faked, if there are some resources in the future, they will not be given to the main Family.”

“Alas.”

“I wonder what happened.”

Shen Nian and Shen Li's personalities were somewhat similar... both liked to observe more and think broadly.

Shen Li was due to past Karma... while Shen Nian... simply liked to overthink things, like getting stuck in a rut.

Speaking of which.

In fact, with Qingchi Mountain becoming prominent, and the Shen Family gaining a famous mountain and blessed land with Spiritual Qi, the number of Spiritual Root Disciples born began to surge.

It's just a pity that too many people also siphoned off too much Spiritual Qi, leading to a situation where, although there are many Spiritual Root Disciples now, their progress in Cultivation... is rather unsatisfactory.

Just like Shen Li back then, although he had a Spiritual Root, its affinity was quite ordinary.

If he hadn't relied on an Immortal opportunity to snatch a wild Vermilion Fruit, he would probably have been lost among the masses.

He might not even have become a garrison Cultivator of Black Ridge City.

And how many people could have the same luck as Shen Li?

So, most of the Shen Family's outer Disciples could only dream a pipe dream, and then live a mediocre life.

As the thoughts of many young people drifted, the figure of Shen Bo Shu quietly appeared in the clouds and mist.

“Greetings, Family Head.”

Today was the Shen Family's celebration. Within the Shen Family, whether it was an outer Disciple or a servant with a different surname, they only addressed him as Family Head.

Shen Bo Shu looked calmly at the Immortal Seedlings below, not wasting words, and slowly tore his hands apart.

The vast clouds and mist were directly ripped open like cloth.

“Ascend the mountain.”

The light of Spiritual Root affinity continuously flickered in the pavilion.

A Cultivator at the Qi Induction Realm could awaken the Spiritual Root within their Physical Body and reveal its affinity.

However, the affinities of most Shen Family Disciples on the scene were as faint as candlelight, not worth mentioning.

Shen Bo Shu sat on the platform, his eyes lowered, but his mind was elsewhere.

The matter of the Yang Domain... was a major concern for him.

If Old Ancestor returned, it would be a double blessing... but if...

He couldn't, and didn't want to, imagine the disastrous outcome that followed.

As his thoughts drifted, he saw a vast pillar of lightning, thick as a mountain peak, soaring into the sky.

Then, the boiling water of Wangyue Lake exploded in layers.

Countless people stared at this scene, dumbfounded.

Shen Bo Shu's attention was drawn by this sudden commotion, and he looked over, frowning.

“Lightning affinity? Wood and fire derivation... Whose Disciple is this junior?”

“Such a high Innate affinity... how is that possible?”

“No... it's not affinity... is it a certain Physique?”

Shen Bo Shu's brow relaxed slightly, and he slowly smiled.

“First there was the Cypress Body of Shen Li's generation, then the Pine Crane Body, and now, just a few years later, another 'Yuan Lei Body' has appeared?”

“It seems my Shen Family's luck has turned?”

“When these Physiques mature, they will surely become capable assistants to Shen Li, and then Shen Li will also have an easier time.”

Before his words faded, a furious voice came from outside the Restriction.

“Yuan Lei Zhen Ren is visiting.”

Shen Bo Shu's brow furrowed slightly,

Then, from afar, wind and thunder arrived.

The so-called Yuan Lei Zhen Ren seemed to have a target in mind, and in an instant, he arrived above Wangyue Lake, looking down, a hint of joy flickering on his Bristly Beard face.

“It truly is a Yuan Lei Body... excellent, excellent.”

Behind him stood a middle-aged figure dressed in a Shen Family robe, his eyes darting around.

Then, he turned to Shen Bo Shu and spoke in a condescending tone.

“Fellow Daoist Shuxiang... how have you been?”

“Fellow Daoist, why have you come here?” Shen Bo Shu suppressed his anger, stood up, and spoke coldly.

Arriving unannounced... stepping onto his Family's land, this was a blatant provocation.

Moreover... the one standing behind him was a member of the Shen Family.

It was... someone from the sevenpulse.

Yuan Lei Zhen Ren stroked his beard... and smiled slightly.

“Nothing else, it's just that a few days ago, someone came to my mountain, wishing to become my Disciple, and I was confused for a moment.”

“He is clearly a member of the Shen Family; wouldn't joining my sect cause Fellow Daoist to lose face?”

“Unable to resist his desperate pleas, I made this trip.”

“I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise.”

“Fellow Daoist... the Shen Family has many people, and they don't lack Immortal Seedlings, nor do they cultivate lightning techniques, so it would inevitably waste this Yuan Lei Body.”

“Since there's already disloyalty... why not... part with it?”

A sudden thunderclap in broad daylight.

Shen Bo Shu's face turned pale.

The onlookers exchanged glances... their faces grim.

As for the sevenpulse Cultivator... he had already drawn a clear line, distinct from the Yuan Lei Body.

Yuan Lei Zhen Ren continued to feign concern and said,

“Fellow Daoist... I'm not criticizing you, but your combat skills are average, and yet your Family is still having internal strife? Truly... how can I even describe you?”

At this moment... a clear, cold voice suddenly boomed in the air.

“How do you want to describe it?”

The bright daytime suddenly turned gloomy.

Then, an incredibly vast, illusory silver toad quietly appeared suspended in the air.

Its huge mouth suddenly opened... then it abruptly swallowed Yuan Lei Zhen Ren whole.

The voice then spoke, word by word,

“Come and tell my Qing Xuan!”