The Shi Family

In the Merchant Alliance, Skyfall City, Shi Family, Boulder Hall.

Yang Hai, whose physique was slightly plump, sat upright on a stone slab, his eyes narrowed as he flipped through account books, reporting the mining situation of the past few months to the Shi Family Patriarch, Shi Jian.

Shi Jian, in his seventies, was still vigorous with a full head of black hair. As the head of the Shi Family, he wore only a coarse linen garment for cultivation, sitting imposingly on a grey-brown rock above, his expression calm, his eyes sharp and contained, as he listened intently to Yang Hai.

After Yang Hai explained everything, Shi Jian frowned and said, "Hai'er, the ore mined in the past few months has decreased by a full twenty percent compared to the previous months. What is going on?"

"Because of the Mo Family and the Ling Family," Yang Hai sighed. "They've poached many skilled miners with high prices, leaving us short-handed. We've suffered a lot in the recent covert conflicts with these two families. Those miners are afraid we can't defeat them, and with the higher offers from the other families, they've moved elsewhere."

"Hmph!" Shi Jian let out a cold snort. "These two families are clearly targeting us. Ever since the engagement between Mo Yan Yu and Ling Shaofeng was finalized, their interactions have become increasingly close. Recently, in our covert conflicts with the Mo Family, the Ling Family has also sent people to intervene. They must have reached a tacit understanding in secret, otherwise, the Mo Family wouldn't be able to contend with us."

"Patriarch, should we retaliate?" Yang Hai asked.

"No need to worry, I have a plan." Shi Jian said calmly. After a pause, he suddenly frowned and asked, "Has that brat Shi Yan returned yet?"

"No, I was just about to tell you about that," Yang Hai said with a wry smile. "When he left, he said he was going to the Gloomy Forest. It's been almost a year, and he still hasn't returned. A few days ago, I heard that Mo Chao Ge and Mo Yan Yu are both in the Gloomy Forest. Do you think something might have happened to him? He didn't bring any powerful family guards with him when he left. Qing'er left early, and he's my only child. I'm worried..."

Shi Jian's brow furrowed. After a long silence, he sighed, "This kid, he was born without my Shi Family's Petrifying Martial Soul. He disliked martial arts since childhood, always tinkering with strange things, and he likes to run off. He's truly a handful."

"Patriarch, it's my bloodline's fault. If I had a Martial Soul, the child born from my union with Qing'er wouldn't be like this," Yang Hai said shamefully.

"It's all fate," Shi Jian shook his head. "Hai'er, I found you in the Endless Sea. Although you're not my biological son, I've always treated you as my own. Otherwise, I wouldn't have betrothed Qing'er to you. It's true, you don't have a Martial Soul, nor have you diligently cultivated martial arts, but the Shi Family's strategic planning, and the management of those mines, which of those could do without you? Without you, Shi Jian could never have accumulated so much wealth. Although you're not skilled in martial arts, your contribution to the Shi Family is no less than anyone else's!"

"But now, a peak Martial Artist is far more precious than any amount of wealth," Yang Hai chuckled self-deprecatingly. "If I had a Martial Soul back then, I probably would have diligently cultivated martial arts. If Yan'er had inherited his mother's Petrifying Martial Soul, perhaps he would have continued to cultivate as well. But why is this Martial Soul predetermined from birth? Alas..."

Shi Jian nodded and sighed, "Indeed, a peak Martial Artist is much more precious than wealth now. That's the truth."

"Patriarch, do you think something might have happened to that kid?" Yang Hai was still worried.

"He should be fine," Shi Jian thought for a moment. "Because he dislikes martial arts, the Mo Family has never paid any attention to him. Neither Mo Chao Ge nor that Mo Yan Yu has likely ever seen him. If they don't know him, they won't target him."

"But I still feel something is not right. By rights, he should have returned by now."

"Hmm, I'll have the people stationed in Silent Town keep an eye out. Silent Town is adjacent to the Gloomy Forest. As soon as that kid appears, word will be sent. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Patriarch."

"What are you thanking me for? That kid is your son, doesn't that make him my grandson?" Shi Jian glared and shouted, "How many times have I told you, don't call me Patriarch. I am your adoptive father, and also your father-in-law. You can call me anything, just don't call me Patriarch."

"Adoptive Father, Hai'er remembers."

"Good."

Gloomy Forest, quiet night.

On a secluded grassy area, Luo Hao stood tall like a mountain, releasing a five-times gravity field centered on him. The heavy pressure made breathing difficult.

Shi Yan, drenched in sweat, hopped and jumped around Luo Hao, performing evasive and striking movements. Veins bulged on his face, trembling like small snakes on his neck.

In the grass, Mu Yu Die bit a blade of grass, watching secretly.

"Guess how long this kid can last today?" Di Ya Lan quietly approached, squatting with her rounded hips, side-by-side with Mu Yu Die, and asked in a low voice.

"Did you finish your task today?" Mu Yu Die chuckled, not answering.

"Zhao Xin has taken over. It was really dangerous just now. A one-horned silver snake was coiled on a branch, and I didn't notice it. It almost bit me to death. Fortunately, I reacted in time, otherwise, I wouldn't be here to see you."

Di Ya Lan's face showed lingering fear as she cursed, "We've been encountering more and more Yao Beasts lately. We need to be careful. In the past three days, we've encountered five waves of Yao Beasts, especially at night when many Yao Beasts are active. Next time you sneak a peek, you'd better bring me along, or there might be danger."

"You mainly want to say the last sentence, right?" Mu Yu Die gently laughed.

"Ha, you saw through me." Di Ya Lan didn't hide it, frankly saying, "That kid is really amazing. Every day for the past three days, he's been able to break through his limits, his endurance getting stronger each time. I, at the Innate Third Heaven Realm, wouldn't dare to mess around in Uncle Luo's five-times gravity field. This guy is simply a madman. He won't stop until he faints. A madman, a madman!"

"His most terrifying aspect isn't his endurance," Mu Yu Die shook her head, her beautiful eyes flashing with a strange light.

"Yeah, his recovery is even more monstrous. I can't believe he only has the cultivation of the Innate First Heaven Realm, yet possesses such terrifying recovery abilities," Di Ya Lan said, also full of confusion.

"This guy has many secrets..." Mu Yu Die mused for a moment, muttering softly, "I've never seen anyone eat as much as him. In these three days, he's almost eaten all our food. I'm starting to worry about our food supply. He's truly a bottomless pit."

"Ha," Di Ya Lan laughed. "This little rascal is so funny when he talks. Just a casual remark can make people burst into laughter. He has so many novel ideas that I've never heard of before. He says it's reasonable for emperors to be elected by commoners, and that merchants can influence a country. He can also write sentimental poetry. I can't understand how, at only seventeen years old, his mind is filled with so many strange things."

"Hmm, it's this seventeen-year-old guy who looks at you and me as if he wants to devour us alive. I've never seen such naked possessive eyes. This scoundrel is utterly wicked!" Mu Yu Die gritted her teeth and made a chopping motion. "I'll let him know my power sooner or later!"

"Wait until your Martial Soul recovers, then talk. Ha, what's wrong with him looking? It's not like he's going to take a piece of flesh. Like Zhao Xin and Hu Long, they only dare to sneak glances at my backside when I'm not looking. I despise those types even more. Compared to them, that kid is much bolder. I like it," Di Ya Lan said with a hearty laugh.

"Are you feeling love-struck?" Mu Yu Die scoffed. "He's still a child? Don't go seducing him?"

"Have you ever seen a child with that kind of gaze?" Di Ya Lan lowered her voice and asked, "I suspect this guy's actual age is more than this. Perhaps he's using some secret technique to make himself look so young. He's deliberately pretending to be young! Maybe this is also some kind of hidden special Martial Soul..."

"That makes sense. It seems we need to pay more attention," Mu Yu Die mused for a moment and slowly nodded.

"Bang!"

Shi Yan sprawled on his back, arms and legs spread, falling onto the ground, utterly exhausted. He asked hoarsely, "How many laps?"

"Fifteen laps." Luo Hao's expression was complex. "For these fifteen laps, you've continuously performed actions like jumping, striking, and rolling. You've endured multiples of the pressure compared to ordinary people. Kid, can you really... endure it?"

"Cough, cough, I'll know tomorrow if I can endure it." Shi Yan found it difficult to even speak.

For the past three days, during the day, whenever he had free time, he would secretly practice Berserk.

Under his strenuous practice, the acupoints on his chest and waist could release negative energy at his will, making his entire body appear much thinner.

He had refined almost every part of his body, except for the most difficult part to cultivate: his brain...

By night, he would pester Luo Hao, urging him to activate the fivefold gravity field. Under this immense pressure, he would train himself relentlessly.

Three days. In just three short days, he broke through his limit of eleven laps to reach the fifteen-lap limit. While running, he actively increased the difficulty, incorporating jumps, dodges, and strikes—actions that consumed even more stamina.

Through this high-intensity training, he clearly felt his overall strength increase dramatically. His limbs, bones, muscles, and even his internal organs became stronger. Every morning when he awoke from his training under normal gravity, he felt so light that he could leap several meters into the air, his body brimming with surging explosive power. Even the agility of his limbs had greatly improved.

Because of these tangible benefits, which he witnessed daily, he continuously increased the difficulty, pushing himself to the brink like a madman. He honed his body with the most brutal and insane methods, causing significant improvements in all aspects of his physical capabilities. Even the speed at which he cultivated and condensed his Essence had increased considerably.

"Roar! Roar!" Strange sounds suddenly came from the perimeter.

Luo Hao's expression changed, and he exclaimed, "That's a Level 4 Yao Beast, the Fire Cloud Yao Python!" The Fire Cloud Yao Python is very troublesome, but it usually doesn't move at night. Someone must have disturbed it!"

"Uncle Luo!" Zhao Xin and Hu Long arrived hastily, their faces etched with urgency.

"What's happening?" Luo Hao demanded.

"A team of Martial Artists was hunting a Fire Cloud Yao Python. The Fire Cloud Yao Python is heading this way, and those Martial Artists are still in hot pursuit. The Fire Cloud Yao Python has been thoroughly enraged," Zhao Xin said urgently.

"This is bad!" Luo Hao abruptly took the broadsword off his shoulder and said, "Protect Xiao Die!" With that, he suddenly charged out.

Shi Yan, his body aching, abruptly sat up. He circulated his Essence, his eyes gleaming with sharp light as he calmly fixed his gaze on the direction Luo Hao had charged.