Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 177 The Secret Realm of Seven Sages Mountain

Although Wei Qiuling said that it is not as complicated for cultivators to become partners as it is for ordinary people to get married.

But after the two formed a life-and-death bond as Daoist partners, Wei Qiuling suddenly proposed to hold a real wedding with Shen Wen'an.

Shen Wen'an was very puzzled by this.

Wei Qiuling smiled and explained, "I have no more attachments in this mortal world, but my junior brother is still in the mortal world."

"After we became Daoist partners, our parents didn't say much, but they still hoped that we could be like ordinary couples."

Shen Wen'an thought for a moment and nodded slightly: "Then I will do as Senior Sister wishes."

A smile appeared on Wei Qiuling's face.

As a fellow cultivator, their souls intertwined and they cultivated together. She could sense Shen Wen'an's pure heart, and combined with Shen Yuan and Hu Yufen's unintentional behavior, this idea came to her.

The next day, she found Shen Yuan and Hu Yufen and told them her thoughts.

Shen Yuan and Hu Yufen were both quite surprised after hearing this.

But they all realized that Wei Qiuling was accommodating them, and immediately smiled and agreed.

forecourt.

Shen Yuan found Shen Wenxing with a smile and told him about it.

"Qiu Ling is the chief disciple of Luoxia Mountain and the future sect leader, so her wedding should be a grand affair."

"Don't let her feel wronged."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Father, don't worry, I'll go and prepare right away."

……

In May, a grand wedding was held at Blackwater Pool.

The news of Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling becoming Daoist partners had already spread to a small circle in the cultivation world. This sudden announcement of a wedding had truly shocked those unsuspecting aristocratic families and forces.

After all, the Shen family are native inhabitants of Yangnao Land, while Wei Qiuling is a true prodigy of the Immortal Sect, the chief disciple of Luoxia Mountain, and a future candidate for sect leader.

For the powerful families of Yangnao, their union was like a country bumpkin marrying a royal princess.

However, the people of the Immortal Sect would not think that way.

Shen Wen'an's potential had already spread among the major immortal sects of Qishan when he stormed into the Western Wilderness, fought a fierce battle with the four Nascent Soul cultivators of Hundred Beast Mountain, and managed to escape unscathed.

This young man possesses the talent for swordsmanship and, as long as he doesn't perish, he has a very high chance of becoming a sword immortal in the future.

Immortal sects such as the Vajra Sect and the Xuan Shui Sect, which are on good terms with the Shen family, are extremely envious of Luo Xia Mountain for being able to bring such a promising prodigy into their ranks.

However, this wedding made some of the immortal sects and aristocratic families feel uncomfortable.

For example, Hundred Beasts Mountain, and another example, Qiyun Valley.

The reason why Hundred Beasts Mountain is uncomfortable is that the two sides have long been enemies. Now that the two sides have joined forces, it is equivalent to giving the Shen family a solid ally. If they want to deal with the Shen family in the future, they will have to take Luoxia Mountain into consideration.

The reason why Qiyun Valley felt uncomfortable was naturally because Luoxia Mountain originally had a good relationship with them.

Later, however, he frequently befriended a "rebellious disciple" who had been expelled from the Qiyun Valley sect.

For this reason, Qiyun Valley had secretly complained to Luoxia Mountain, thinking that Luoxia Mountain would change its ways. Unexpectedly, the sect's chief disciple and the "rebellious disciple" in their eyes became Daoist partners.

This made Qiyun Valley feel betrayed.

Fengxian County, inside a courtyard.

Li Heshan quietly looked at the gold-embossed invitation in his hand.

Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling formed a life-and-death pact and became Daoist partners without informing him to witness it.

He did receive an invitation to the wedding.

Looking at the invitation in his hand, Li Heshan felt very conflicted.

Shen Wen'an was personally brought into Qiyun Valley by him back then.

He also witnessed Shen Wen'an becoming a disciple of Yinyun Academy.

I watched him display his talent, and I also watched him be gradually ostracized by his sect and eventually expelled from it.

To this day, a swordsmanship prodigy who should have belonged to Qiyun Valley has been given to Luoxia Mountain.

With a slight sigh, Li Heshan took out a communication stone. He originally intended to report the matter to his master, Yun Zhongzi, but after hesitating for a moment, he decided to contact Pei Yuwan, who was far away in Qiyun Valley, directly.

Upon receiving the news, Pei Yuwan remained stunned for a long time, a sudden pang of sorrow rising in her heart.

"Junior Sister Pei, this is good news. You should go and tell Uncle Pei."

Li Heshan's voice came from the sound transmission stone.

Pei Yuwan came to her senses, but she didn't realize that a tear had rolled down her cheek.

She smiled sadly and wiped away the tears on her face.

"Father would be very happy to know."

“Senior Brother Heshan, I have already reached the Qi Refining stage. The Sect Master said that in a while, I will be asked to select a wisp of innate spiritual energy in the sect to break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing this, Li Heshan, on the other side of the communication stone, remained silent for a long time.

He had already used up the only wisp of mid-grade innate spiritual energy in Qiyun Valley, and now all that remained was low-grade innate spiritual energy.

Pei Yuwan is still young, so she can wait a few more years. If she really can't find better innate spiritual energy by then, it won't be too late for her to break through with lower-grade innate spiritual energy.

He didn't understand what his master was thinking now.

"Congratulations, Junior Sister Pei."

Li Heshan offered his congratulations and then ended the telepathic communication.

Pei Yuwan sighed softly, then got up and went to the back mountain of Qiyun Valley.

A winding bamboo path leads directly to a small courtyard.

In the courtyard, Pei Zhao sat cross-legged on a blue stone in the bamboo grove, holding a book in his hands and studying it carefully.

Pei Yuwan walked over slowly, suppressing her thoughts, and chuckled softly:

"father."

Upon seeing his daughter arrive, Pei Zhao slowly put down the book in his hand, smiled, and stood up.

"Brother Heshan just sent me a message."

"Junior Brother Wen'an and...and Senior Sister Wei from Luoxia Mountain have become Daoist partners..."

On the way here, she had silently repeated this sentence to herself countless times, and kept reminding herself not to show anything in front of her father.

But when she actually spoke, her voice still trembled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhao glanced at his daughter and sighed softly.

Pei Yuwan immediately composed herself and forced a smile, saying, "Father, your precious disciple has a Daoist partner, and she's even the chief disciple of a celestial sect. Aren't you happy?"

Pei Zhao tenderly touched his daughter's cheek and reached out to wipe away the undried tears on her face.

"Happy……"

A slight smile appeared on Pei Zhao's face as he gazed quietly in the direction of Yangnao Lake and said calmly, "You brat, you've really made something of yourself..."

"Wei Qiuling of Luoxia Mountain is a true prodigy."

"I was only three or four years old when I was taken in by Sister Yue during the demonic calamity."

"The little girl endured hardship and accumulated strength, eventually defeating many geniuses of Luoxia Mountain and becoming the chief disciple."

"His wisdom, temperament, and talent for cultivation are all superior to Heshan's."

"It is truly rare for Wen'an to become his Daoist partner."

At this point, Pei Zhao slowly turned around, looked at the desolation in his daughter's eyes, and sighed, "It's just that you've suffered."

Pei Yuwan felt a little flustered and asked repeatedly, "What...what does this have to do with my daughter?"

Seeing her stubbornness, Pei Zhao chuckled and said, "Silly girl, do you know why your father favors Wen An so much among all your senior and junior brothers?"

Pei Yuwan shook her head.

She always felt that her father treated Shen Wen'an better than his own daughter.

Pei Zhao pursed his lips and said with a faint smile, "The main reason why Father likes him is that he looks a lot like Father when he was young."

"He possesses that purest kind of heart for seeking the truth, which my father also had back then."

"Furthermore, Qiyun Valley is ill. Before your master passed away, he said that Qiyun Valley was terminally ill and that a sharp knife was needed to save it."

"Back then, your father strongly supported your senior brother Heshan to serve as the chief because he believed that he was a qualified swordsman. Wen'an is that sword."

Pei Yuwan was somewhat taken aback after hearing this.

She hadn't expected her father to have worked so hard for Qiyun Valley.

"Of course, when Father saw his talent, he also had other selfish motives."

"Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, things have come to this."

The father and daughter remained silent.

After a long time——

"Send a message to Heshan and ask him to deliver a congratulatory gift on my behalf. Don't let that brat think that I, as his master, have forgotten about him."

……

"My wife, I'm sorry to have wronged you."

Deep in Qishan, inside a secluded cave, the firelight of a campfire illuminated the faces of the two men.

Shen Wenyan looked apologetically at Hu Meier, who was wearing a flower wreath and had a beautiful face, standing beside him.

"Once the Female Essence Wisdom Pearl is fully refined and we return to Yangnao Land, I will definitely hold a solemn wedding for you."

Upon hearing this, Hu Meier's face lit up with anticipation.

"Mei'er heard that when human brides get married, they wear a beautiful bright red wedding dress and a red veil on their heads."

"We'll be inviting tons and tons of people, it'll be a really lively event!"

Shen Wenyan nodded, and the scene of his wedding with Zhao Xuan couldn't help but come to mind.

Was it like that when Brother Wenyan and Sister Xuan got married?

Hu Meier tilted her head and asked.

Shen Wenyan smiled and nodded.

Since Bai Ze passed away, the female Yuan Huizhu has led the two of them to escape to the depths of Qishan. The two have been hiding in this mountain range with its chaotic energy for several years.

After years of being together, Shen Wenyan told Hu Meier everything about himself.

Hu Meier also told him about her experiences over the past few hundred years, including being rescued by Bai Ze, following Bai Ze in cultivation, and being enlightened into human form.

After being so honest with each other, feelings gradually developed between them.

This time, a simple ceremony was held in this cave, and they became husband and wife.

"There has been much less activity in the mountains these past few days."

"Once I can completely conceal the aura of the Female Yuan Huizhu, we may be able to leave this place."

"I'll take you to see the prosperity of the human cities first, and then we'll go back to Yangnao Land to see Father and Mother."

Upon hearing this, Hu Meier showed a hint of nervousness on her face.

"Will Father and Mother accept Mei'er?"

"Mei'er is a demon..."

Shen Wenyan smiled slightly and stroked her cheek, saying, "Humans have good and evil, and so do demons."

"Your father and mother are reasonable people, they certainly won't look down on you."

Hu Meier nodded repeatedly and said, "Then I'll go to the mountains to find some treasures and bring them back to them."

"I used to cultivate in the mountains with Grandpa Bai Ze, and we encountered many rare and precious materials."

"But those rare and precious herbs weren't ripe at the time, and Grandpa Bai Ze said that picking and destroying them rashly would harm our fortune, so we've kept them all this time."

"But I've been secretly memorizing them all."

Hu Meier spoke with a smug look on her face.

Looking at her pure and innocent smile, Shen Wenyan's face was full of doting affection.

……

The Shen family of Heishuitan.

It was late at night, almost midnight.

Shen Yuan woke up from his cultivation and habitually looked at the white jade tortoise shell in his sea of ​​consciousness.

There weren't many important divination results during this period.

Occasionally, some hexagrams related to Shen Wenyan appear, but they are all "divine secrets are hard to fathom," seemingly because the white jade tortoise shell is now completely unable to discern anything related to Shen Wenyan.

As his consciousness sank into his sea of ​​consciousness, the red and white vortexes on the white jade tortoise shell were still slowly rotating.

Several lines of tortoise shell patterns around the vortex have lit up.

Everything was exactly as he had guessed; the red and white vortex was illuminating another life talisman.

The patterns that have lit up before my eyes are already in the shape of a destiny symbol. After waiting for a while, they should be able to condense into a new destiny symbol.

As his divine sense focused on the destiny talisman, midnight slowly arrived.

A faint fluorescent glow slowly appeared on the white jade tortoise shell.

Then the fluorescence suddenly turned into a dazzling gold!

Under its astonished gaze, characters radiating golden light slowly appeared on the tortoise shell!
[The divination result has been updated!]

【Dingxing Furui·Zisun Yao】: Abundant blessings, the bloodline manifests its power, and a unicorn son is about to be born into the family.

As the hexagram appeared, a mystical aura slowly emerged from the entire white jade tortoise shell.

These spiritual energies grew increasingly intense, and eventually, faint phantom images of strange plants resembling lotus flowers began to appear.

Before Shen Yuan could even feel happy, he suddenly felt a surge of energy erupt from within his body!
The next moment, he instantly lost consciousness.

In a hazy vision, Shen Yuan seemed to see a small child walking naked from the darkness in the distance.

The children's giggles echoed...

When he woke up again, he found that there were many people standing in front of his bed.

On the left are his wife Hu Yufen and daughter Shen Wenping, in the middle are Shen Wenxing and his wife and several children, and on the right are Shen Wen'an, Wei Qiuling and Zhao Xuan.

Upon seeing Shen Yuan open his eyes, the young He Chongyi immediately pounced on the bed and shouted:
Grandpa is alive again!

Shen Wenping, who was basking in the joy of her father waking up, immediately frowned and reached out to lift the little guy down when she heard this.

"Dad, how are you feeling?"

Shen Wenxing asked with concern.

"I'm fine, what's wrong with you all..."

Shen Yuan shook his head and looked at everyone suspiciously.

Wei Qiuling asked, "Father...doesn't know what happened to him?"

Shen Yuan looked completely bewildered.

He only remembers seeing a hexagram called "Descendant Yao" before being knocked unconscious by a surge of energy.

They had no idea what happened afterward.

Wei Qiuling glanced at Shen Wen'an beside her, then said in a deep voice, "Father fell into a coma three days ago, and... and he has no breath left."

"If it weren't for the faint fluctuations in your soul, we would all have thought..."

"But now that he's awake, he should be out of danger."

As a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, she could sense that Shen Yuan's aura was steady and that his cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Although I don't understand what exactly happened to him, it probably isn't a bad thing.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan frowned inwardly.

He had been unconscious for three days and was completely lifeless.
Such a strange thing has happened?

Thinking to himself, he then focused his consciousness into his sea of ​​consciousness and looked at the white jade tortoise shell.

On the white jade tortoise shell, the hexagram of "offspring line" was still there, and the hexagram text was slowly merging with the previous complete destiny symbol.

Seeing this, Shen Yuan was very puzzled.

Ever since the red and white vortex that the auspicious white beast transformed into appeared, strange phenomena have been occurring on the white jade tortoise shell from time to time.

He didn't understand what was wrong with this thing either.

"Now that Father is alright, let's call it a day and let him get some rest."

Seeing that his father was alright, Shen Wenxing asked Huang Lingxiu to take all the children out first.

"Qiu Ling."

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment and called out to Wei Qiuling.

Wei Qiuling stopped in her tracks.

"Are there any practices in the cultivation world involving divination or fortune-telling?"

Looking at the three characters "子孙爻" on the white jade tortoise shell in his sea of ​​consciousness, Shen Yuan couldn't help but think of the night when the white jade tortoise shell took his consciousness to Danzhou.

Among the three powerful humans, a woman named Hongling Zhenren suspected that he came from the Dayan Dao Sect.

It is likely that there are cultivation methods of divination and some immortal sects in the cultivation world that are good at divination.

Having possessed the white jade tortoise shell for so many years, he has never been able to fully control it, and he doesn't know if cultivating the art of divination and prophecy will have any effect.

"Father is interested in the Great Evolution Dao?" Wei Qiuling asked with a strange expression.

Shen Yuan quickly came up with an excuse, saying, "It was a sudden inspiration; the thought just popped into my head."

Wei Qiuling didn't think much of it and said directly, "In the cultivation world, the methods of divination and prophecy are collectively known as the Great Evolution Path. Cultivating this path requires extremely high talent and is time-consuming and laborious."

"Furthermore, practicing this method often involves peeking into the secrets of heaven and stealing yin and yang, which can easily lead to backlash and damage one's fortune. Therefore, most cultivators are unwilling to practice it."

"There are quite a few cultivation methods of the Great Evolution Path circulating in the cultivation world. If Father is interested, Qiu Ling can have someone collect some."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan was secretly delighted.

"Alright, if you need spirit crystals to buy them, just ask your older brother."

Wei Qiuling smiled and shook her head: "It's nothing valuable, a few spirit crystal fragments should be enough to buy it."

Shen Yuan nodded.

Shen Wenxing, who was standing to the side, cupped his hands slightly and said, "Father, if there's nothing else, we'll head out now."

After the others left, Shen Yuan got up from the bed. Thinking of the hexagram of "Offspring Yao", a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Seeing this, Hu Yufen couldn't help but scold, "You still have the mood to laugh!"

"He's been lying there like a dead man for the past few days, it scared me and the kids half to death!"

Shen Yuan looked at him with a smile and apologized repeatedly.

Hu Yufen snorted and sat on the bed, then asked suspiciously, "What were you thinking about just now that made you laugh so happily?"

Shen Yuan smiled mysteriously and said, "You might not believe it, but I predicted that you'd soon be holding your grandson again."

Hu Yufen was taken aback when she heard this, and then rolled her eyes.

"You shameless old man, how old are you, still like to make these kinds of jokes."

"Wen'an and Qiuling are both immortals. I've heard that immortals rarely have children, so don't be too happy yet."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan sat down beside her, took her hand and patted it gently, saying, "The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the more difficult it is to have offspring."

"But I've calculated it, it's definitely accurate!" "Just wait and see."

……

Several months passed in the blink of an eye, and the cultivation method of the Great Evolution Path that Wei Qiuling had collected had been handed over to Shen Yuan.

In the pavilion in the backyard, Shen Yuan was engrossed in reading the book in his hands.

Hu Yufen and Shen Wenping, who were standing nearby, were sewing some children's clothes.

Although she said she didn't believe Shen Yuan's words, she also hoped that Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling could have a child as soon as possible.

"Mother, if you ask me, all these things we prepared were for nothing."

Shen Wenping suddenly spoke.

Hu Yufen paused slightly in her needlework, looked up at her and said, "How could this have been prepared for nothing?"

Shen Wenping pursed her lips.

"It's been several months now, Mother, have you seen any signs of morning sickness in your sister-in-law?"

Hu Yufen was stunned when she heard what she said.

"It seems... there really isn't."

"But your sister-in-law is an immortal, and immortals' pregnancies might be... different from normal people's."

There was a hint of insecurity in her words.

Shen Wenping added, "Even if a fairy doesn't experience morning sickness during pregnancy, after several months, her belly should still show some signs of pregnancy, right?"

"My sister-in-law's belly hasn't changed at all."

"You silly girl..." Hu Yufen scolded, but she was also a little suspicious.

"Dad, were you right or wrong?"

Shen Yuan stared at the book in his hand and said confidently, "Don't worry, it's definitely not wrong."

He had absolute confidence in the white jade tortoise shell.

……

With the help of that spirit crystal mine, the Shen family formed an alliance with four immortal sects, including the Vajra Sect. In addition, the Hundred Beasts Mountain has recently become more cautious than before for some unknown reason, and the Shen family's life has gradually improved.

On the front lines in the mountains, as Hundred Beasts Mountain backed down, Shen Chongming's courage grew.

The Shen family has now pushed its defenses a hundred miles further west, bringing more territory under its control.

As the annual festival approaches, a heavy snowfall occurs.

Shen Wenxing convened a meeting of all the affiliated clans in the ancestral hall to discuss matters, while Shen Chongxuan, who was beside him, wrote down all the contents of the meeting.

"On the 20th day of the winter month of the 19th year of the Immortal Calendar, the second patriarch, Shen Wenxing, convened a meeting of all clans at the ancestral hall."

In the nineteenth year of the Immortal Calendar, the government governed one town and ten villages, with a population of 17,643.

There are two cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, twenty-five cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, and four thousand one hundred and twenty-three cultivators at the Body Tempering stage.

Three new spiritual fields have been added in Dayan Village, which can produce 310 catties of spiritual rice per season. One new spiritual field has been added in Xiaoyan Village, which can produce 100 catties of spiritual rice per season.

Young clan leader Shen Chongming was both brave and resourceful. He expanded the Shen family's territory by a hundred miles and recruited 3,112 members of the Western Wilderness tribe.

When a clan is well-governed, it is considered prosperous!

Shen Wenxing stood behind him and, seeing him write the last six characters, immediately laughed and said, "You brat, you're exaggerating."

"This is hardly a great improvement; it's just that life has become a little easier."

Shen Chongxuan stood up, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Uncle, you are too modest. My Shen family has made great progress in all aspects this year and deserves to be called 'greatly well-governed'."

"My master said that the history of the clan should be based on facts. If you make a mistake in the future, don't blame me for leaving a mark on your clan history."

"Hey!" Shen Wenxing was both amused and annoyed upon hearing this.

"Alright, you keep a close eye on things. If your uncle makes a mistake, feel free to write it down and let future generations curse me."

Shen Chongxuan smiled slightly.

"Alright, go back now. The annual festival is coming soon. Spend more time with Chonghong and the others these days, instead of just studying all day."

Shen Wenxing patted him on the shoulder and spoke.

Shen Chongxuan cupped his hands in greeting, put away the books, writing brush and inkstone, and then left the ancestral hall.

Looking at his retreating figure, Shen Wenxing seemed somewhat dazed, as if he could vaguely see Shen Wenyan when he was a child.

"Anu, where are you right now?"

As the annual festival approaches, six years will have passed since Shen Wenyan left home.

Shen Chongxuan is now ten years old, and Shen Chongxu is seven years old.

Zhao Xuan, an ordinary mortal with no cultivation, has been waiting for six long years...

With a heavy sigh, Shen Wenxing secretly made up his mind that after the annual festival, he would go and find the major immortal sects again and ask them to think of a way to inquire about his younger brother's whereabouts in Danzhou.

……

Inside the manor.

When Shen Wenxing returned from the ancestral hall, he happened to run into Wei Qiuling walking out of the courtyard, followed by Shen Yuan, Shen Wen'an, and others.

"Big brother."

Upon seeing Shen Wenxing, Wei Qiuling bowed respectfully.

"This is……"

Shen Wenxing was somewhat suspicious.

Wei Qiuling said, "The situation in Yunzhong County has been almost resolved. My two senior uncles have sent word that it's time to settle the score between Luoxia Mountain and the Suihuo Sect."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing's expression changed slightly, and then he said, "Since you're going to cause trouble for the Fire Sect, you should take Wen'an with you, so you can look out for each other."

Wei Qiuling turned to look at Shen Wen'an, then smiled and shook her head: "Don't worry, big brother, we don't need Wen'an's help for now."

"I, Luoxia Mountain, have already prepared a backup plan."

After a year of preparation, Luoxia Mountain has decided to take action, and naturally, it has made ample preparations.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing did not continue to persuade him.

He knew very well that Wei Qiuling was a very opinionated person, so if she said that, she must be confident.

Wei Qiuling turned around, bowed to everyone again, then waved her hand to summon a breeze and rode away on the wind.

The Shen family returned to the courtyard. Shen Wen'an hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shen Yuan and Shen Wenxing and said, "Father, I'm going out for a bit."

Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead. Qiu Ling said you don't need to do anything, so just stay by her side and protect her. If anything unexpected happens, you'll be able to come to her rescue in time."

Shen Wen'an nodded, and then flew away from the manor on his sword.

Watching his departing figure, Shen Wenxing smiled slightly, then turned to look at his father, only to see a look of confusion on his face.

"What is Father thinking about?"

Shen Yuan shook his head slightly.

On the day of Shen Wen'an and Wei Qiuling's wedding, the white jade tortoise shell in his sea of ​​consciousness gave him a divination image of "Dingxing Furui Zisun Yao", which meant that a unicorn child would be born in the Shen family.

The old couple were both cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, and both had great talent, so it was only natural that they could give birth to a "Qilin child".

However, more than half a year has passed, and Wei Qiuling seems to have made no move.

How is this going?

Could the divination result from this white jade tortoise shell be wrong?
Shen Yuan walked towards the backyard with his hands behind his back, and just as he arrived at the door of the room, he encountered his wife, Hu Yufen.

"Qiu Ling is gone?"

Shen Yuan nodded: "There are many things to do in the sect, so we can't let her stay at home all the time."

The couple entered the room together, and Shen Yuan habitually picked up a copy of "Xiao Bo Suan Gua Yao Jing" from the desk and began to read it.

Seeing this, Hu Yufen chuckled and said sarcastically, "I think you should stop studying these things all day; they're useless."

As Shen Yuan carefully flipped through the book, he said, "Nonsense."

"There is a great deal of knowledge in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) and its hexagrams. If you learn it, you can know the future and predict good and bad fortune."

After hearing this, Hu Yufen couldn't help but laugh and ask, "So, what did you divine?"

"You were so confident that you were going to have a grandchild. What's going on? Is it the eldest son's family or the third son's family that's having one?"

Upon hearing his wife's words, Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, and then a flash of inspiration struck him!
"You've become attached to appearances, you've become attached to appearances..."

He murmured to himself, then slowly closed the book in his hands.

After the offspring element appeared, he naturally associated it with Shen Wen'an and his wife, forgetting that he had three sons!
Since neither the eldest nor the third son's family has made any moves, and the white jade tortoise shell has never made a mistake, there is only one possibility!
Second brother Shen Wenyan!
That rebellious son has been in Danzhou for several years now, and although there has been no news of him, the white jade tortoise shell has been frequently displaying divination results about him lately.

Could this "descendant" hexagram be manifesting in his own life?
Could it be that that rebellious son has taken another concubine in Danzhou and had a child with her?

The more Shen Yuan thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

He immediately put down the book in his hand and hurriedly walked towards the front yard.

"What are you going for?"

"It's so nagging..."

Hu Yufen called out from behind, but Shen Yuan ignored her.

Arriving at the front yard, he found Shen Wenxing, who was about to leave.

"Boss."

Shen Wenxing stopped and turned around: "Father."

"Boss, you need to go find those immortal sects that are on good terms with our Shen family. Even if it comes at a price, we need to get them to find that little bastard and bring him back."

Seeing his father's solemn expression, Shen Wenxing paused for a moment and said, "I also plan to ask the Vajra Sect and the Heavenly Talisman Sect for help after the New Year's Eve to find Anu's whereabouts."

"Don't worry, Father."

Shen Yuan nodded.

In the past, he could determine that Shen Wenyan was still alive by looking at the white jade tortoise shell, so he wasn't in a hurry about this matter.

But now that he had guessed that Shen Wenyan might have taken a concubine in Danzhou and might even have a "prodigy," Shen Yuan naturally felt more worried.

Danzhou is a dangerous place, and if anything happens there, the Shen family will be powerless to help.

If my suspicions are true, the only way to ensure their safety is to bring the couple back to Yangnao.

After all, the Shen family still has a certain degree of control over Yangnao Land.

"It's so late, do you still have things to do going out?"

Suppressing his thoughts, Shen Yuan spoke.

Shen Wenxing nodded: "The annual sacrifice is coming soon, and I'm going to send someone to inform Chongming and the others to come back."

"Now that Hundred Beast Mountain and the Western Wilderness Barbarians have shown weakness, there is no need for him to continue guarding the mountain defense line. With Brother Qi here, that's enough."

“The brat is already thirteen years old. He’s been staying in the mountains all these years. We need to bring him back to learn something from you.”

Shen Yuan thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

In previous years, due to a shortage of manpower in the Shen family, after Huang Qingzhou died in battle, Shen Chongming, as the young clan leader, had no choice but to go to the front line in the mountains to take over Huang Qingzhou's duties.

Now it seems that Hundred Beasts Mountain has given up resisting and has no intention of touching Hidden Dragon Mountain. Moreover, there is still a group of poisonous centipedes in the mountain, which is enough to deal with any unexpected situation.

but……

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "When Chongming went to the mountains, he was about the same age as Chonghong, right?"

Shen Wenxing paused for a moment, seemingly understanding what he meant.

"Does Father mean that Chonghong should also go to the mountains to stay for a few years?"

"This is excellent."

"That brat has been cultivating at home all this time. It's time for him to see some blood and get some experience."

With his uncle Huang Qi and many clan soldiers at the front line in the mountains, his safety was not a major concern.

"Alright, go ahead and make the arrangements."

"Remember to keep Anu's matter in mind."

……

Inside the Blackwater Pavilion.

Shen Yuan slowly closed the book "Xiao Bo Suan Gua Yao Jing" in his hand, his eyes slowly closing as he began to deduce the contents of "Xiao Bo Suan Gua Yao Jing" in his mind.

Wei Qiuling is right, the Great Evolution Path is indeed quite difficult to cultivate.

During this period, apart from the most basic cultivation, he has spent most of his time studying these Yi Jing hexagrams, but he only understands some superficial aspects and cannot grasp the real key points.

Now, after rereading "Xiaobo Suangua Yaojing" (小驳算卦爻经) again, I seem to have gained some more insights than last time.

Sitting cross-legged on the futon, Shen Yuan began to try to use what he had learned from the "Xiaobo Divination Classic" to control and refine the white jade tortoise shell.

hum!
Time passed indefinitely, and the white jade tortoise shell in the sea of ​​consciousness suddenly trembled slightly.

Sensing this situation, Shen Yuan was suddenly overjoyed!
It works!

In that instant, he could clearly feel that the connection between himself and the white jade tortoise shell had deepened!
From this perspective, as long as I continue to refine it using the Great Evolution Path, this white jade tortoise shell will eventually be completely refined by me and ultimately come under my complete control.

Having realized the truth, Shen Yuan stopped thinking about it and immediately began to continue the refining process.

Annual sacrifice.

After dinner.

Shen You was playing in the courtyard with her younger brothers and a group of seedlings selected in recent years.

In order to make these children selected from various affiliated clans feel a sense of belonging to the Shen family, in recent years, any immortal seedlings who have been tested and found to have spiritual roots have been arranged to live in the manor.

Let them eat, live, and play with the descendants of the Shen family.

Among the dozen or so children, Shen You was not the oldest, but because of her outgoing personality and ability to liven up the atmosphere, she had become the king of the group.

Two-year-old He Chongyi also rode on a large, sturdy black dog, running wildly in the yard with his older brothers and sisters.

Inside the pavilion next door.

Shen Chongming was dressed in a black close-fitting outfit with a black fox fur coat. Although he was only thirteen years old, he was already not much shorter than his father, Shen Wenxing.

“Chonghong, the mountains are not like this Black Pool; danger lurks everywhere.”

"Besides having to guard against the Western Wilderness barbarian cultivators, those poisonous insects and wild beasts are no pushovers either."

"When you get there, listen to your uncle and never act recklessly or arrogantly."

Ten-year-old Shen Chonghong nodded repeatedly, then excitedly spoke:
"Brother, when I get to the mountains, can I go see the giant centipede that Uncle Three subdued?"

"I've heard it's very powerful!"

Shen Chonghong was extremely excited when he learned that his father wanted him to go to the mountains for training.

"Of course," Shen Chongming said with a faint smile. "But every time you go, you should bring it some spirit rice and spirit spring water."

"Be polite to it, treat it like an elder."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chonghong's face immediately fell, and he said with some incomprehension, "It's just a demon beast, and it was even subdued by Third Uncle. That's our family's henchman..."

Shen Chongming squinted at him and said, "When did you develop such an arrogant mindset?"

"What happened to the demon beast?"

"That was a being who had reached the peak of Qi Refining."

"In the cultivation world, the strong are respected. It submits to the Shen family because of Third Uncle's strength, not because of you or me."

"Don't even mention that you can't beat its children now. Even if you become stronger than it one day, you must never have such thoughts."

As Shen Chongming spoke, he glanced at the children of the Immortal Seedlings who were playing with Shen You in the distance and spoke in a deep voice.

"The most important thing in employing people is their heart."

"Enticement or coercion are both inferior methods."

"If you want them to work for the Shen family and be loyal to them wholeheartedly, you have to give them enough respect, be concerned about what they are concerned about, and understand them better than they understand themselves."

"Don't wait for them to ask; try your best to fulfill their wishes and give them what they want."

“If you treat them with such arrogance, not only will it be difficult to use them effectively in critical moments, but they may even betray you when faced with substantial benefits, leading to disaster.”

"To govern with authority, to understand with respect, a skilled ruler must master the art of striking a balance between these two aspects..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Shen Chonghong waved his little hands repeatedly, looking distressed, and said, "These things are too difficult."

He suddenly grinned and said, "Brother, these are things you should consider. I don't want to think about them too much. Anyway, you'll be in charge of everything in the Shen family from now on."

“Brother, I will be the sword in your hand. Wherever you point, I will strike.”

"I don't care about managing people or anything like that."

"As for that giant centipede, I'll treat him with the same respect I would show an elder brother, okay?"

Seeing his serious expression, Shen Chongming gave an awkward smile.

Then he gave some instructions and then let him play with the children in the yard.

Under the eaves not far away, Shen Chongxuan sat quietly on the steps, with a book on his lap, writing furiously.

He memorized every word of Shen Chongming's advice on how to manage people, and then added a sentence at the end.

"Shen Chongming, the eldest grandson of three generations, has unique insights, is intelligent from a young age, and is skilled in managing people. He is truly a blessing to the Shen family..."

February is the month when all things come back to life.

Shen Chonghong replaced his elder brother Shen Chongming and went to the front line in the mountains.

In Jinghe County, Luoxia Mountain and the He family under its jurisdiction clashed with the Suihuo Sect and the Zhang family under its jurisdiction.

In the end, the three Nascent Soul cultivators from Luoxia Mountain made a powerful move and killed a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Suihuo Sect above the Jinghe Swamp, thus avenging the Suihuo Sect's surprise attack on Yunzhong County.

Luoxia Mountain reclaimed its original territory in Jinghe County, and the conflict between the two sides temporarily came to an end. Shen Wen'an also returned to Blackwater Pavilion.

In early March, the peace that Yangnao had just regained was once again shattered by a piece of news.

News spread from Sanshan County, north of Jinghe County, that two independent cultivators from prominent families discovered a "Mysterious Light Grass" at the same time in a place called "Seven Sages Mountain." After a conflict broke out, they accidentally triggered a hidden formation in the mountain and entered an unknown secret realm.

According to one of the surviving rogue monks.

The mountain's hidden realm was like a fairyland, with pavilions, terraces, sacred springs, and spiritual herbs and medicines everywhere, but it also held many dangers.

After the two entered, the other person was killed on the spot by a beam of mysterious light after only going forward a dozen or so feet!

Upon seeing the man dead, he suppressed his greed and fled in panic.

As soon as the news arrived, the One Qi Sect, which controlled the Three Mountains Prefecture, forcefully dispatched three Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and many disciples to enter the Seven Sages Mountain and seal off the entrance to the secret realm.

We're getting ready to enter the secret realm and loot it thoroughly.

However, after the two cultivators from the Qi Sect entered the secret realm through the formation, they immediately felt a strange power within the secret realm that firmly sealed the immortal embryos within their bodies.

In an instant, the two experts at the Nascent Soul Realm completely lost their connection with the immortal embryos within their bodies, as if they had become ordinary people, their appearances instantly transforming into those of weathered old men.

The two were so frightened that they scrambled out of the secret realm.

Although the connection between her body and the celestial embryo was restored, her appearance could never be restored.

As many immortal sects arrived after receiving the news, the One Qi Sect naturally dared not continue to block the entrance to the secret realm, and at the same time offend so many immortal sect forces, so it had no choice but to agree to open the Seven Sages Mountain Secret Realm to all forces.

Any disciple of a celestial sect or a rogue cultivator from a noble family who wishes to enter the secret realm only needs to pay a spirit crystal fragment or a pound of spirit rice.

The news spread, and the entire Yangnao region was in an uproar.

Many immortal sects and aristocratic families temporarily put aside their grudges and sent their disciples to the Seven Sages Mountain in the Three Mountains Prefecture to enter the secret realm and seek opportunities.

(End of this chapter)