Fenghua Immortal City

Chen Sheng smiled as he offered his congratulations:

"Old Mr. Bai, you are truly blessed."

Old Man Bai waved his hands vigorously at once:

"All this fortune was given by you, Young Master!"

"If you hadn't taught Bai Li those skills back then, that kid would have been no more than a fisherman like this old man. How could he have gained such wealth and status?"

"Now that life is good, Young Master, don't go hide away in the mountains anymore. Stay here at the estate. Stay as long as you wish, and share in our prosperity."

Hearing Old Man Bai's simple, honest words,

Chen Sheng felt greatly pleased.

However,

he was determined to pursue the Immortal Path.

He could only decline Old Man Bai's kindness.

Old Man Bai reluctantly pulled at him:

"Just a few days! Surely you can stay for a few days?"

"Bai Li is currently stationed at the Jiangnan Grand Camp. Riding at full speed, he can be home in two or three days!"

"He has been searching for you all these years. If he learns you returned but he failed to see you, he'll blame this old man to death."

"At least meet him. No matter what, stay a few days and let this old man properly entertain you."

Chen Sheng heard this.

In the end, he agreed.

It would be good to meet Bai Li.

He could also inquire into the fate of those Bandits from back then.

If they had been incorporated into the army,

Chen Sheng could hunt them down one by one and give them a taste of a "family extermination tragedy."

Over the following days,

Old Man Bai indeed treated him with the utmost hospitality.

Fine clothing and exquisite food went without saying. Jiangnan's seasonal delicacies were served in an endless stream.

The estate's finest dancers performed day and night in rotation, while strings and wind instruments played without pause, filling the air with decadent music.

Exquisite courtyards, antique jade artifacts, Ancient Books, calligraphy, and paintings.

He even offered several breathtakingly beautiful, cultured, and well-mannered concubines.

It was truly the wealth and splendor of the mortal world, a paradise of tender affection.

For a moment,

Chen Sheng felt as though he had returned to Prince of Yan's Mansion in his first life.

He did not refuse and calmly accepted it all.

Three days later,

Bai Li returned with over a hundred Personal Guard cavalrymen.

Horse Hooves thundered closer from afar.

They came to an abrupt halt outside the estate gates.

They had finally arrived.

"Old Master!"

"The Duke has returned!"

The servants outside cried out their delighted announcement.

In the front courtyard,

a deep, bell-like voice rang out, unable to conceal its excitement:

"Sheng Big Brother!"

His voice arrived before he did.

Chen Sheng smiled softly and strolled into the front courtyard, carefully studying the figure before him. There was no trace of the scrawny child from back then.

Bai Li was now dark-skinned, dressed in a magnificent purple robe embroidered with pythons, with a jade belt at his waist. His tiger-like eyes gleamed with an intimidating sharpness.

He stood nearly six feet tall, a burly and imposing man.

Though only thirty years old, his face was weathered and his temples had turned gray. His years in the army had evidently not been smooth sailing.

At this moment,

Bai Li was also observing the Sheng Big Brother of old.

A man in azure robes stood before the steps, exceptionally tall and powerfully built.

His bearing was otherworldly, like a verdant pine standing upright.

His face was like Warm Jade, handsome beyond compare.

He looked like an elegant Young Man.

Chen Sheng smiled faintly:

"Don't recognize me?"

Bai Li sighed loudly:

"How would I dare? So many years have passed, yet Sheng Big Brother still looks this young."

As he spoke,

he strode forward, secretly rose onto his toes, and gave Chen Sheng a bear hug:

"Sheng Big Brother, I missed you so much!"

After exchanging a few words about old times, the two entered the inner hall.

The inner hall was filled with curling incense smoke.

Bai Li dismissed all the Servants.

Only the two of them remained.

He personally brewed Chen Sheng a cup of Longjing Tea.

After chatting for a while,

Chen Sheng asked about the Brocade Banner Bandits who had once occupied the White Dragon River.

Bai Li casually waved a hand:

"After hearing Eldest Brother mention how he fell into the water back then, I kept it in mind."

"Later, when I led troops in Jiangnan, I dispatched the navy and used a small scheme to lure those bandits out and kill them."

"Even their hideout was burned to ashes."

Chen Sheng immediately smiled.

"No wonder I couldn't find any trace of them."

"Looks like I owe you a favor."

Bai Li laughed heartily:

"Why would Eldest Brother say that?"

"If Eldest Brother had not taught me your peerless skills and allowed me to reach the Innate Realm, how could I have what I have today?"

Chen Sheng shook his head. He did not see it that way.

Old Man Bai had saved his life back then.

That was why he had passed on his martial arts.

Now,

Bai Li valued the bond between them.

He had specifically avenged Chen Sheng's family's destruction and his fall into the water.

During these days,

Old Man Bai had also treated him exceptionally well.

Chen Sheng naturally intended to repay them.

With that in mind,

he took a jade bottle from his Storage Bag.

He handed it to Bai Li.

Chen Sheng said softly:

"You have followed the New Emperor in conquering the realm for many years."

"Now you stand at the pinnacle of power."

"You must already know about cultivation."

"There are ten Xiantian Pills in this jade bottle."

"One pill can help someone achieve the martial Innate Realm."

Bai Li's hands trembled slightly upon hearing this:

"Eldest Brother, this is far too precious."

He himself was already an Innate Martial Artist.

Seizing the right opportunity,

he had built a great career for himself.

Ten pills

meant ten Innate Martial Artists.

Passed down through generations,

they would essentially guarantee the Bai Family's worldly wealth and status.

Chen Sheng smiled gently and offered further advice:

"If you are willing, marry more women from the Royal Family's collateral branches."

The Chen Clan had endured for several centuries.

Its collateral branches numbered in the thousands, so it was nothing unusual.

Just like the Yan Land Chen Clan established by Chen Sheng.

How could there be fewer than several hundred thousand women among the Chen Clan's various branches?

The ancestors of these Chen Clan women had, after all, been cultivators.

Their chances of giving birth to Immortal Seedlings were much greater than ordinary people's.

Bai Li's expression darkened somewhat:

"Your Majesty mentioned this to me as well."

"I even married a Former Dynasty Princess."

"I now have seven sons and six daughters. A few years ago, they underwent Spirit Root testing together with the Royal Family, but none possessed the potential to become Immortal Seedlings."

"I suppose I simply do not have such fortune!"

Chen Sheng lightly patted his shoulder:

"This New Emperor is rather considerate and loyal."

"There is no need to worry. Not every cultivator's child is an Immortal Seedling. The Chen Clan, for instance, has countless descendants, yet those with Spirit Roots are still exceedingly rare."

Bai Li nodded gently.

Chen Sheng continued his analysis:

"Besides, your ancestors had no cultivators at all, making it even more difficult. You can only have more children and make up for quality with quantity. That is the way forward."

"The realm has only recently been established, and the Royal Family's new branch is just beginning. They wish to expand their lineage and select Immortal Seedlings."

"Take advantage of this period. Give birth to Immortal Seedlings early and bind yourself completely to the Chen Clan. That is the true foundation of wealth and status."

Bai Li suddenly understood and nodded solemnly:

"Eldest Brother, I understand."

Chen Sheng stayed for several more days.

He politely declined Bai Li's warm offer to personally lead an escort for him.

On this day,

rosy light spilled across the land as the river breeze gently stirred.

By the secluded riverbank,

Chen Sheng left behind a token, cupped his fists, and bid Bai Li farewell:

"This is where we part!"

With that,

he rode the Flying Shuttle, transforming into an Azure Rainbow as he fled toward Fenghua Immortal City.

Bai Li stood where he was, his eyes filled with longing.

Then he turned around and made up his mind.

—I must have more children!

Linglong Immortal City was a hundred thousand miles away.

Far too far!

There were many dangers along the way.

In his previous life, Chen Sheng had already been a hundred years old, so he naturally dared to make the journey!

But in this life,

Chen Sheng was still in the prime of his youth.

His luck was average, and he cherished his life all the more.

After some consideration, he chose the nearest Immortal City—Fenghua Immortal City.

This city had been established by the Qinghua Sect and was guarded year-round by a False Core Great Power, making it roughly equal to Linglong Immortal City.

Most importantly, it was only eight thousand li away. The route was largely endless yellow sands and various mortal kingdoms, with very little danger.

At the same time.

Sun Embracing Mountain was not far from Fenghua Immortal City.

Chen Sheng still harbored a thought: perhaps in this life, he could rely on his blood ties to reconnect with Madam Chen's main branch.