99: Shen Family

Cultivating has no concept of time, but for ordinary people, time does have a span.

Shen Li entered cultivation, and all affairs were handed over to Qiu Ya.

Then, in the middle stage, about a month later, all the shopkeepers from Crescent Lake Market came to Black Ridge City by airboat.

Upon seeing Black Ridge City, they couldn't help but frown and look at each other.

Someone couldn't help but sigh and say,

“This place is remote; I'm afraid it won't be profitable for ten or eight years.”

“Alas, is the Immortal Master not making things difficult for us?”

“Speak carefully. Since the Immortal Master has given this order, we must do it to Perfection... Otherwise, be careful not to implicate the Family.”

“I naturally know that... I just like to complain.”

“It's just... how will the rent be calculated? This land... these houses... will probably all need renovation?”

“How should these be calculated?”

“Where is the person in charge? And where is the Shen Family Immortal Seed?”

Qiu Ya stepped forward, explained briefly, and quickly got to the point, saying,

“My City Lord said that you can choose any plot of land, as long as it doesn't exceed a certain size.”

“It's best to build around the central road, as there is also a ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure there, which should be of some help to you all.”

“A ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure?”

The Bristly Beard was curious, so he walked into the Living Spring Water Vein, scooped up a handful of water, and took a sip, his eyes lighting up.

“This water is sweet; it should be connected to an underground river. The water Qi is rich, and it doesn't lack Spiritual Qi... There's also a glimmer of vitality... I suppose it's the dwelling place of a ninth-rank Spirit Beast?”

Before he finished speaking, the figure of an Different Water Carp appeared on the water surface, opening its mouth to spray a stream of water.

It sprayed the Bristly Beard butcher's face.

Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

The Bristly Beard was not angry; he laughed heartily. Then he pointed to a pavilion facing the Living Spring Water Vein and said,

“This is a good thing; a ninth-rank Spirit Beast is spiritual. If the water from this Living Spring Water Vein is introduced into a pond, it will also benefit the raising of water-attribute creatures. Water sources are extremely scarce in Huangfeng Plains, and most of them are used for drinking and irrigation, but no one raises water-attribute fish.”

“Crescent Lake Market does have Crescent Lake, but the rent is too expensive. Although the roaming fish raised in Crescent Lake have even more Spiritual Qi, they lack this vitality. The price also skyrockets accordingly.

It's far from being as good as this place.”

“I, Food as Heaven, will take this pavilion.”

Whether it was Qi Refining, Food as Heaven, Talisman, or Pill Hall, they all needed basic things like spiritual water or living water.

Although Black Ridge City has not yet developed, it still has some advantages.

The pavilions on both sides were quickly chosen.

Of course, subsequent storefront modifications were indeed necessary, but that was no longer Black Ridge City's concern... it was theirs.

Their own buildings also needed to match their own attributes... otherwise, there would be many adverse effects.

And the ordinary people who originally lived in these pavilions were moved elsewhere.

Everything was peaceful.

A few days later, several more airboats landed.

A middle-aged Cultivator with narrow eyes, a sharp gaze, and a long, flowing beard descended from the airboat.

His aura was roughly at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

He surveyed the surrounding mountains, constantly calculating something with his hands.

He quickly said,

“It's a good thing.”

Naturally, Shen Li had not come out of seclusion, and Qiu Ya was still receiving guests.

However, this arrogant Formation Master, who looked down on others, did not even give her a proper look.

It was only after seeing Wang Teng that his attitude softened slightly, becoming much more amiable.

This was... the difference in background and origin.

Then, this Formation Master proceeded to lay the foundation, modifying the Yunmai Heshui Formation and the Four Seasons Cycle Formation.

Outside the outer city, the lead horse and the Sand Fox galloped wildly through the sand sea, the roars of Yao Beasts echoing under their hooves.

The Mortal commoners watched curiously as the Immortal Masters calculated the foundations, their faces red with excitement over a few acres of farmland.

The Cang Hai Flower's petals drifted with the wind, and water Qi floated in the air.

Three young girls sat cross-legged among the flowers, drawing Qi into their bodies.

Sun Dashan was still as diligent as ever.

Everything was so orderly....

It was just that the Peach Blossom Maiden, for some unknown reason, had not arrived for a long time.

Unbeknownst to them, unforeseen circumstances can arise.

Qingyang County, Shen Family, Wanglin Lake.

Lush and green, embracing a vast lake.

Restrictions hovered in the air, and drops of clear rain fell from the sky.

In the lake was a spacious courtyard called 'Leaning on the Rail to Listen to the Rain'.

A thin, exceptionally refined middle-aged Cultivator sat cross-legged, circulating the Qinglan Food Qi Method, muttering to himself.

He seemed to be saying something to the Disciple below him.

Below were young people with tender faces, some heroic and extraordinary, some exceptionally handsome, and some plain.

Some were dignified in demeanor.

The falling clear rain carried abundant water Qi and a large amount of Spiritual Qi.

The spiritual guide for casting the spell looked like the Small Cloud Rain Technique.

However, it was not. This method was the 'Small Fortune Rain Technique,' developed by the Shen Family after many years of research, taking a different approach from the Small Cloud Rain Technique.

This technique could gather Spiritual Qi, channel it into cumulus clouds, and when the clouds descended, the rain Qi would naturally carry water Qi and Spiritual Qi.

If Mortals bathed in it, their chronic illnesses would be cured, and their bodies would become strong.

If Cultivators consumed it, they could increase their Spiritual Qi and improve their cultivation.

It was especially beneficial for Cultivators of the Shen Family who practiced both water and wood attributes.

However, this method was not something ordinary people could cast.

Nor was it something ordinary people could bear.

The Shen Family, a single lineage, had an orderly Legacy, although it was not as flamboyant as the Wang Family.

But the Family also had two Foundation Establishment True Persons.

Two Foundation Establishment True Persons were considered upper-middle within the large system of Qingchi Mountain.

If that were all, the Wang Family would not look at the Shen Family differently... The reason why the Wang Family interacted with the Shen Family as equals was because...

The Great Ancestor of the Shen Family, Shen Qianqiu... was a Dao Foundation Perfection, who had obtained Purple Mansion resources from Qingchi Mountain, intending to step into the Purple Mansion Realm of a Perfection Immortal Master.

This step marked a world of difference.

The one in the pavilion was naturally not the Great Ancestor Shen Qianqiu, but the Second Ancestor, and the current Family Head of the Shen Family, Shen Bo Shu.

He was also a Foundation Establishment True Person, and he was the one casting the spell.

And who else could be enjoying the nourishment of the spell? Naturally, these Immortal Seedling Disciples.

Rain fell from the eaves of the pavilion, creating ripples in the water, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

The sound was clear and pleasant.

He opened his eyes, looking at this group of Immortal Seedlings of the Shen Family with satisfaction.

Among this generation of Immortal Seedlings of the Shen Family, the Aptitude was much stronger than in previous generations.

One of the Immortal Seedlings, said to be from the third lineage, actually Awakened a Physique like the 'Cypress Wood Physique'.

Water Law spells cast by him were naturally much more resilient than those cast by others, and his defense increased significantly, which was also a considerable improvement.

The others were all individuals with high Spiritual Root affinity; there were no mediocre ones.

Even if there were, the lineage was willing to Cultivate them with all their might, not letting them fall behind.

And among them, his own direct descendant... called Young Master Shen Yan by the clansmen, had the highest Water Law affinity.

His Cultivation speed was the fastest, and he was already at the Qi Refining Third Layer, about to enter the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

This filled him with immense satisfaction.

In just twenty or thirty years, this generation could become the backbone of his Shen Family.

At that time, if the Great Ancestor Breakthrough to Great True Person and another Dao Foundation appeared, the Shen Family would surely achieve the ranks of the upper-tier immortal families on Qingchi Mountain.

Just thinking about it... made him feel a surge of excitement.

Then, through the rain curtain, a lone goose landed on the pavilion, braving the raindrops.

Shen Bo Shu slowly took the letter from the lone goose, his expression subtly changing.

The rain curtain gradually stopped... The handsome young man leading the group was the first to open his eyes, asking with some doubt,

“Family Head...”

Shen Bo Shu's figure suddenly dissipated in the air, and a faint voice echoed,

“Gather in the council hall. This year's inspection of outer Disciples... must begin earlier.”

That handsome young man was naturally Shen Yan. Seeing this, Shen Yan's eyes flickered, and he thought of someone.

He said with some emotion,

“Alas, the old friend is still there, but the difference is immense.”

“Two years wasted, I wonder if you, Shen Li, have Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm.”

“Your Aptitude is average... and you're busy with miscellaneous affairs outside, without Spiritual Qi to Cultivate... Perhaps you're having a very hard time?”

“To give up entering the Immortal Seedling ranks for a bit of resources... I overestimated you.”

“Thirty years from now, you can only look up to us from afar; sixty years from now, you will be old and decrepit, while we are in our prime; a hundred years from now, we will be chatting and laughing... but you will be a dry bone in a tomb.”

“Pitiable.”

“Tragic.”

“Alas.”

“If we meet this time, let's clear the slate of past events.”

“We were young then, and neither of us understood much...”