Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 535 - 231: Soul’s Return (Part 2)

"Oh?" Shen Wen’an showed a slight smile: "And now?"

Shen Chongzhen gazed at him intently.

"Now..."

He drew the longsword from the scabbard halfway, revealing seven inches of the flickering cold blade, and said: "Now it’s like this, even if the sword is drawn by seven inches, it still feels hesitant, losing its sharpness."

Upon hearing his son’s words, Shen Wen’an was slightly surprised, then sighed gently: "Your perception is very keen."

"But... Ah Die has nothing to worry about, just needs a good rest."

"When your mother is back, inform her."

After gently patting his son’s shoulder, Shen Wen’an said in a deep voice: "Techniques and the Dao need cultivation, but one’s own realm shouldn’t lag behind."

"Sword cultivators need to convert their spiritual power into sword essence, and advancing in realm itself takes more time than it does for Immortal Dao cultivators."

"You have to weigh the pros and cons, don’t neglect one for the other."

Shen Chongzhen respectfully cupped his hands and said: "Your son remembers your teachings, Father."

...

Before the second major harvest, Shen Chongming had calculated that the next decade would certainly be a period of rapid development for the Shen Family.

However, he still found some related decisions a bit hard to grasp.

His previous style of conduct had always been aggressive, even somewhat relentless. Now, with the growth of age, his mindset has become much more stable, and he’s naturally able to realize these things.

In midsummer, when a storm came fiercely, as if the Milky Way pouring down, it left without any lingering, and after the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, the sky revealed the slanting sunset.

In the back courtyard of the manor, Shen Wenxing lay leisurely on a bamboo recliner in the pavilion, his eyes closed.

This rain in a daze reminded him of that afternoon a century ago.

At that time, he was only seven or eight years old, and his younger brother Shen Wenyan should have been only three or four years old...

The two brothers had just finished lunch at noon and were pulled by their father to go to the threshing floor at the village entrance to collect rice.

He has yet to understand how their father, who was only a mortal at the time, could precisely predict "rain at the hour of Shen" under a clear sky.

"Big brother, wait for the rain to stop, you take Ah Nu to the pond to catch frogs..."

Shen Wenyan’s childish voice echoed in his mind, and the distant feeling struck, making Shen Wenxing’s heart feel inexplicably blocked.

"What’s happening to this old man?"

Slowly opening his eyes, Shen Wenxing watched the "plop", "plop" of water droplets falling under the eaves.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure approaching slowly.

Shen Chongming came to the pavilion, slightly cupped his hands and said: "Father."

"Hmm, sit down."

Retrieving his thoughts, Shen Wenxing straightened his posture and said: "Are the matters in the four cities of Yingchuan arranged?"

Shen Chongming did not answer back but poured himself a cup of spirit tea, filling his father’s tea cup as well.

"Recently, I ran into Yujing sister-in-law, she spoke to me about some matters."

Shen Wenxing paused slightly while lifting his tea cup and said: "Zhantai Yujing from Chongxuan’s family?"

"What did she say?"

Shen Chongming chuckled and shook his head, picking up the tea cup in front of him and taking a sip: "Naturally, she wants to seek some benefits for the Zhantai family."

"She’s smart and was probably advised by Chongxuan not to interfere in family affairs."

"Her words were very tactful, and she also pleaded with me not to tell Chongxuan."

Shen Wenxing nodded slightly, rubbing the tea cup in his hands, his eyes deep: "That girl has a straightforward nature, although she has personal motives, she can distinguish right from wrong."

"Zhantai family is an external clan, manage this on your own."

After hearing his father’s words, Shen Chongming contemplated slightly before speaking: "Then I plan to let the Zhantai family manage Gao City."

"However, I intend to inform Chongxuan and Yujing sister-in-law ahead of time. If the Zhantai family doesn’t have the capability, or if their actions later violate clan rules, there won’t be any leniency."

The strict clan rules are the foundation of the Shen family’s standing.

For over a hundred years, the Shen family’s clan rules have never been compromised due to familial ties or contributions.

Shen Wenxing said nothing.

After a moment of silence between the father and son, Shen Chongming spoke again: "Father, when are you planning to enter seclusion and make a breakthrough?"

"The day after tomorrow, tomorrow is your grandmother’s birthday, your mother mentioned it to me a few days ago."

"After her birthday, I can go into seclusion with peace of mind."

"The family burden shouldn’t always rest on your third uncle alone."

If this retreat goes smoothly, by the next major harvest, I can also ease some pressure off your third uncle."

Before the second major harvest, Shen Wen’an had forcibly kept his realm at the Half-Step Golden Core Realm.

Now that the harvest is over, he still has not broken through to the Golden Core. Shen Wenxing understands that he is worried that after breaking through to the Golden Core, the Shen family’s top-tier combat power in the Fetal Breathing Realm will appear disconnected.

The next major harvest will suffer great losses.

"Third uncle has worked very hard these years."

Mentioning Shen Wen’an, Shen Chongming also clenched his fist slightly.

He and his father’s current strength are both comparable to the Late Stage of Fetal Breathing, but when compared to the Fetal Breathing Perfection Realm of the major Golden Core influences in the Southern Border, there is still some gap.

The major harvest relies on the strength of cultivators from the Fetal Breathing Perfection Realm of various factions.

Lower-level cultivators are merely the foundation.

"Ah Die, I came here wanting to ask you about two matters."

After some contemplation, Shen Chongming still spoke.

Shen Wenxing took a sip of tea while looking at him, also guessing that there must be some thorny issues he couldn’t resolve.

"Speak out."

Seeing his father rarely did not refuse his inquiry, Shen Chongming was somewhat surprised, but he said nothing more and directly spoke.

"The realm of Xiuzhuo and his brothers has also improved now."