Changes

As soon as Xiao Feng Xian left, Han Zhong's expression relaxed considerably.

After straightening his clothes a little, Han Zhong sat down across from Shi Yan's table, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip before asking, "Young Master Yan, where are the guards who came with you?"

"They're all dead." Shi Yan's expression didn't change as he casually explained, "The demon beasts in that part of the Gloomy Forest suddenly went berserk and started hunting Martial Artists everywhere. To protect me, they... all sacrificed themselves."

Han Zhong looked at him in surprise, his gaze strange. "I know a little about the situation over there. Young Master Yan, just making it out alive was a stroke of luck."

He had received word long ago that the Thunder Wing Silver Wolf was enraged. At first, he had thought he would never see Shi Yan on this trip and had planned to head back and report after waiting another half month. He hadn't expected Shi Yan to stroll out of the Gloomy Forest alive.

The Gloomy Forest was in such chaos that even some Martial Artists with insufficient cultivation had died there. Yet Shi Yan, a bookish fellow, had escaped unscathed. It was truly hard to believe, and Han Zhong couldn't help being astonished.

Han Zhong had never cared much for the original owner of Shi Yan's body.

That fellow didn't cultivate martial arts and was far too pedantic, preferring to study subjects that didn't interest the Shi Family. He had always been an outcast within the family, and wasn't at all to the liking of men like Han Zhong.

If Han Zhong hadn't happened to be handling business nearby and received Shi Jian's order, he wouldn't have come to wait for Shi Yan at all.

"Mm, I was indeed lucky." Shi Yan nodded with a smile, his expression calm. "Uncle Han, when are we leaving to return to the family?"

"That depends on you, Young Master Yan. I'd like to leave right away. There's something I need to report to the family head in person. If I weren't waiting for you, I'd have been back already." Han Zhong paused before answering.

As he spoke, Han Zhong began to study Shi Yan carefully. He hadn't paid attention before, but now that he took a closer look, he gradually noticed something...

Shi Yan was a little thinner than before. His once round face had grown angular, giving him the air of a resilient man.

Sitting there naturally, Shi Yan kept his back straight, his body like a sharp sword. He even gave off the impression of a blade drawn from its sheath.

—And that was only the change in his appearance.

Before, Shi Yan had only seemed spirited when investigating ancient texts and ruins. The rest of the time, his eyes had been unfocused and he had always looked listless,

But now, Shi Yan's gaze was deep. Strange glimmers occasionally flashed through his pupils, as though he were always thinking about something. He gave people the uncanny feeling that nothing could be kept from him.

"Uncle Han, let me ask you something." Under Han Zhong's gaze, Shi Yan remained composed and spoke calmly. "It seems a lot quieter in the Stone Forest. Do you know what happened?"

"Oh, that's because people from the Bei Ming Family went there. I heard they're going to meet someone in the Stone Forest. The scoundrels who make their living there heard the Bei Ming Family was coming and ran with their tails between their legs."

"The Bei Ming Family? Who's leading them?" Shi Yan had a vague idea.

"Bei Ming Ce."

Han Zhong answered, then suddenly began cursing. "I heard that brat broke through to the Hundred Tribulations Realm half a year ago. Damn it, he's only twenty-five! And he has Twin Martial Souls. That's crazy as hell! I'm already forty-five, and I've only reached the Hundred Tribulations Second Heaven Realm. How's a man supposed to compete with that?"

Twenty-five, Hundred Tribulations First Heaven Realm, Twin Martial Souls...

Shi Yan's expression darkened as he suddenly realized Bei Ming Ce was probably the "benefactor" Mu Yu Die wanted to introduce to him.

At such a young age, Bei Ming Ce had such talent and cultivation, and he came from the Bei Ming Family, the Merchant Alliance's foremost clan. No wonder Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan had made that decision.

A cold glint flickered in Shi Yan's eyes. He fell silent, sneering inwardly. Twenty-five, the Hundred Tribulations Realm, Twin Martial Souls. Is that really so impressive?

Not necessarily!

I'm a madman who broke through from the Houtian First Heaven Realm to the Innate Third Heaven Realm in just two short months!

I have two Martial Souls, Petrifying and Undying, as well as another mysterious Martial Soul that's even more sinister and bizarre. Compared with Bei Ming Ce, I suddenly realize I'm far more terrifying.

Time. I only need a little time, and I can completely surpass Bei Ming Ce! Shi Yan thought to himself.

"Young Master Yan, you... you have essence in your body?"

Han Zhong's eyes suddenly lit up. He stared intently at Shi Yan and said solemnly, "I could sense essence flowing through your body just now... and it was quite abundant! Young Master Yan, what's going on?"

Shi Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the trace of resentment in his heart. "Mm, I do have essence in my body. I can be considered a Martial Artist now."

"What realm?" Han Zhong asked urgently.

"Innate."

"Ah!"

Merchant Alliance, Skyfall City, Shi Family, training grounds.

The Shi Family's training grounds covered dozens of acres. They had many ancient trees and all kinds of strange rocks...

There were also specially prepared stretches of mud and sand, pools of water, and rows of wooden huts...

Cover was everywhere, and the grounds were a maze of different settings. They offered the Shi Family's young men various terrains in which to practice real combat.

Here, the Shi Family's young men could learn to adapt to different environments and become familiar with fighting on every kind of terrain.

At that moment, a huge diamond-shaped Trial Jade Crystal stood in the center of the training grounds. One by one, the Shi Family's third-generation descendants lined up and walked over, pressing their hands against it and releasing their essence to determine their exact cultivation realm.

"Shi Tianluo, twenty-one years old, Houtian Second Heaven!"

"Shi Tianxiao, twenty-five years old, Xiantian First Heaven!"

"Shi Tianling, twenty-seven years old, Houtian Third Heaven!"

"Tian Ke, twenty years old, Xiantian Second Heaven!"

"Tian Yun, nineteen years old, Xiantian Third Heaven!"

"..."

Han Feng stood beside the Trial Jade Crystal, his eyes narrowed. Whenever one of the Shi Family's young men released his essence and stepped away, he would call out the result in a deep voice.

At Han Feng's calls, the Shi Family's second- and third-generation elders around him wore all kinds of expressions. Some looked pleased, while others were dispirited.

"Second Brother, your grandson Tian Yun is really something. He's broken through another level!" Shi Kuo looked a little unconvinced and grumbled, "Tian Ke's been slacking off lately. Looks like I'll have to knock some sense into that little brat!"

"Third Brother, Tian Ke's been working hard enough. I've seen him training in the gravity chamber in the middle of the night. Don't put too much pressure on him, or it'll backfire," Shi Gang advised.

"Tian Yun, keep pushing. Try to reach the Human Position Realm as soon as possible." Shi Tie's voice boomed, and there was no small amount of pride in his eyes.

Shi Tie and Shi Jian were brothers. Shi Gang and Shi Kuo were his sons, and Shi Tianyun was Shi Gang's son—his own grandson. Naturally, he was delighted to see Shi Tianyun doing so well.

The position of Shi Family head was determined by cultivation. Back then, he had lost to his elder brother, Shi Jian, and had never been fully convinced. He was counting on his grandson, Shi Tianyun, to keep Shi Jian's side—especially Shi Tianxiao—firmly in the dust.

The Shi Family's Petrifying Martial Soul was rather unusual. Of the children born to the same parents, it was usually inherited by the first two.

The third child could almost never inherit it.

That was why each Shi Family household generally had only two children.

Even the family head, Shi Jian, had only had two children—Shi Dang and Shi Qing.

Shi Dang had a daughter and a son: Shi Tianling and Shi Tianxiao.

Shi Qing and Yang Hai had one son: Shi Yan.

So Shi Tianling, Shi Tianxiao, and Shi Yan were Shi Jian's biological grandchildren, while Shi Tianyun, Shi Tianluo, and Tian Ke were Shi Tie's biological grandchildren.

The Shi siblings actually got along very well, and all worked together for the family's strength.

But even the closest relatives could be competitive. Shi Tie, for instance, had lost to his elder brother back then, and had always wanted to win back some face through the next generation.

As for the generation of their sons, Shi Dang had been so formidable that he had firmly outclassed Shi Gang and Shi Kuo. Shi Tie had long since given up hope there.

Fortunately, his grandsons had done well. Shi Tianyun and Tian Ke were both a little stronger than Shi Tianxiao, so he often enjoyed showing off during the grandchildren's evaluations. He meant no harm by it, though.

Yang Hai stood with Shi Dang, quietly discussing the latest news from the mines with him. Hearing Shi Tie call out, Shi Dang laughed. "Second Uncle's found another chance to show off." He paused, glanced at Shi Tianxiao beside him, and scolded, "You little bastard, you only know how to embarrass your father."

"Uh, I'm not the most embarrassing one..." Shi Tianxiao ducked his head and put on a pitiful look.

At that, the smile on Yang Hai's face turned rueful. He sighed to Shi Dang. "Compared with that brat of mine, you should be grateful. Tianxiao is at least a Martial Artist, while Shi Yan's brat spends all day causing trouble outside. He still hasn't come back, and I don't know how much trouble he'll bring me this time."

"Ha, that's true." Shi Dang felt much better.

The training grounds were full of the Shi Family's direct descendants, all chattering away noisily.

Just then, a falcon swooped down from the sky and landed on the family head Shi Jian's shoulder.

Shi Jian removed a gray brocade pouch tied to the falcon's leg, took out the letter inside, and casually unfolded it. Frowning, he read its contents.

Everyone present was family, so he made no effort to hide it.

"Huh!"

He had barely glanced at the letter when Shi Jian let out an astonished cry, his face full of disbelief.

After a moment of confusion, everyone in the grounds fell silent and turned to look at Shi Jian. They all wondered what could have made him lose his composure like that.

"Elder Brother, what's going on?" Shi Tie frowned and called out. "Has the Mo Family started causing trouble again? Damn it, looks like we'll have to hit them hard, or they'll never learn!"

"No." Shi Jian set down the letter. His eyes sparkled, and his face was full of amazement. "Han Zhong found that brat Shi Yan."

"How's the little bastard?" Yang Hai finally relaxed when he heard that. He asked with a fierce expression, as if he was ready to settle the score with Shi Yan.

"That brat became a Martial Artist..." Shi Jian's expression was strange. The corner of his mouth twitched as if he were trying to hold back his joy.

"Huh?" Shi Tie couldn't help exclaiming. "He's already seventeen. What made him suddenly think of cultivating?"

He paused and sighed, genuinely sorry for Shi Yan. "Ah, it's too late. Starting at seventeen means he probably won't amount to much in this lifetime. What was that brat doing before? If he'd started cultivating as a child, even without the Shi Family's Martial Soul, he'd have at least reached the Xiantian Second or Third Heaven by now."

"That brat is now at the Xiantian Third Heaven Realm!" Shi Jian's eyes flashed, and he spoke with ringing conviction.