Shen Qiu's Darkening

A Thunderbolt from a Clear Sky struck, leaving everyone feeling as though they had fallen into a dream. They could not help glancing at the pillar several times, yet reality would not change.

Shen Yun stepped out of the formation. During this period, he had broken through once more and had now reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Half my cultivation would be enough.

He had no intention of playing the pig to eat the tiger. Hiding and concealing himself would only make a pack of clowns push their luck; showing a little edge would spare him a heap of trouble.

"I clearly have greater talent, cultivate day and night, and have shed countless drops of sweat. Why can't I still catch up to him?"

Shen Qiu's face turned livid. He felt like a complete joke, especially after seeing Shen Yun's indifferent gaze. Jealousy gnawed relentlessly at his heart.

Shen Kuangtao immediately lowered his banner and beat his drum. His mouth hung wide open, like a fish stranded on shore and struggling to breathe. He hid behind the crowd, terrified that Shen Yun would notice him.

Shen Qingshu's expression stiffened. He dearly wanted to recruit Shen Yun, but he had only just made such grand boasts. Taking action now would undoubtedly be slapping his own face, leaving him riding a tiger with no way down.

As for everyone else, it took them a long while to recover. Their faces were full of reverence, as though they had witnessed a myth.

"One month, three Qi Refining layers. How in the world did Shen Yun do it?"

"I heard Shen Feng was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer during his first test. Could the spirit-testing array be broken?"

"There are always geniuses in this world beyond imagination. Shen Yun had always been different from ordinary people, so such a performance is not entirely unexpected."

"..."

It was as if they had returned to the past. Shen Yun once again established his prestige, while no one mentioned Shen Qiu anymore.

It was like comparing a country bumpkin with a wealthy local landlord to Sons and Grandsons of Princes and Lords whose titles passed down forever. Putting them together would only make people laugh their heads off.

Shen Feiyan had already prepared to return empty-handed, but just when the willows darkened, another village appeared amid bright blossoms. She hurried forward and invited him, "Would you be willing to join the Wind Vein? We will do our utmost to meet your demands."

Shen Yun glanced at her and said calmly, "I have no conditions. If I had to name one, help me look after Shen Qingruo."

He had no interest in these factional struggles. Having a sheltering umbrella was enough.

When one took from others, one's hand grew short; when one ate from others, one's mouth grew soft. With his skill in talismans, why would he worry about lacking Spirit Stones? There was no need to owe such a great karmic debt.

Shen Feiyan froze for a moment, not expecting him to be so easy to talk to. Then she promised, "Miss Qingruo is a key person the Wind Vein is cultivating. Please rest assured."

This condition took everyone by surprise. By the time they came back to their senses, Shen Yun had already drifted away.

"When the matter is done, he brushes off his sleeves and leaves. That truly is Shen Yun's style. Perhaps he is the one with the greatest talent."

"If it were me, I would definitely seize the chance to make demands. With his performance, the investment he received would certainly not be small."

"I think he did not take it seriously at all. I heard he and Miss Qingruo grew up together as childhood sweethearts. He probably joined the Wind Vein for that reason alone."

"..."

Shen Qiu stared fixedly at Shen Yun's retreating back, roaring inwardly, The thing I fought desperately to obtain, you dismiss it so completely?

He had even been smug about joining the Lightning Vein, while Shen Yun had not regarded it as anything at all. Jealousy twisted his heart more and more.

No one noticed a wisp of black cloud-smoke silently fly into his body.

"Let's head back as well."

Shen Qingshu's face was as dark as water. He had achieved his goal of recruiting Shen Qiu, yet he could not feel happy in the slightest.

When Shen Yun returned home, he was immediately met by Shen Pingsheng's peculiar gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Shen Yun was somewhat speechless. He noticed Shen An drinking tea nearby and greeted him, "Uncle An is here."

Seeing how unruffled he was, Shen Pingsheng sighed with feeling. "I knew you were no ordinary kid. Without a sound, you caused such a huge stir."

After taking a seat at the dining table, Shen An raised his cup and said, "I must thank you, worthy nephew, for speaking up for Qingruo. Uncle An offers you a toast."

Shen Yun raised his teacup. "Uncle An, you are too polite. Qingruo is like my own younger sister. Why say such things?"

Shen An drained the Spirit Wine in his cup in one gulp and looked at Shen Yun with deep admiration. Then he said, "With your aptitude, cultivating in the Main Branch would not be difficult. Uncle An can put in a good word for you."

Shen Yun shook his head and said calmly, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Uncle An, but I still prefer my days at Falling Cloud Peak. There is no need to trouble yourself."

Going to the Main Branch meant nothing more than abundant spiritual energy and better teachers to offer guidance. Yet none of that was of any use to him.

Shen An nodded. "You have had your own mind since you were little, so I will not try to persuade you."

Shen Pingsheng waved his hand and said casually, "Forget about this kid. Brother An, today we will not return until we are drunk."

Seeing the two begin drinking and chatting, Shen Yun shook his head and returned to his room to cultivate.

Misty Peak, where the Shen Family's Main Branch resided.

The towering mountain pierced the clouds. Mist at the edge of the sky coiled around its halfway point, and its summit could not be seen at a glance.

A silver waterfall plunged straight down. Immortal Cranes circled overhead, spirit egrets roamed freely, and dense spiritual energy shrouded the forests. Looking out, it resembled a gigantic dragon soaring upward on the wind.

This was Misty Peak's Spirit Vein, more than ten times larger than Sunset Peak's. And in a place where the clouds ran deep and no one knew the way, there stood a magnificent bronze palace hall.

Inside the Palace Hall, all the Shen Family's influential figures had gathered together for a family assembly.

Second Elder Shen Heng was a middle-aged man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a ramrod-straight back and an aura capable of ranging across the Eight Desolations.

"Without rules, there can be no circle or square. I understand your desire to devote every effort to cultivating Shen Qingruo, but the family must act according to its rules."

The Second Elder's expression was faint, yet his words carried the weight of a single utterance settling nine tripods.

The Third Elder's brows were Slightly Furrowed. "For a true genius, exceptions are worth making. Is Shen Qingruo's talent still not enough for us to cultivate her with all our strength?"

The Fourth Elder was a woman with hair half black and half white. Her weathered face still bore traces of her youthful beauty. She tapped the armrest with her fingers and said unhurriedly, "She must first prove that she has such potential. Countless geniuses have fallen along the way; in the end, strength must do the talking."

The Fifth Elder said nothing. Shen Qingruo was his maternal granddaughter, so he chose to avoid suspicion at this time.

The First Elder raised his brows and said calmly, "What is the Clan Leader's opinion?"

At these words, everyone looked toward the tall man in the seat of honor. He did not answer immediately. No emotion could be seen on his resolute face, like an ancient Daoist statue in a temple.

After a long while, Shen Leiyuan finally spoke. "Let the Family Grand Competition decide. As long as Shen Qingruo can place in the top five, she will henceforth be the Shen Family's First Sequence."

The Third Elder's expression changed slightly, and he could not help saying, "By the Next Time the competition is held, Shen Qingruo will have cultivated for only one year. How can she contend against the others?"

Anyone under thirty could participate in the competition, and there was no lack of experts at the Qi Refining Fifth and Sixth Layers. For Shen Qingruo to enter the top five would be easier said than done.

The Second Elder clenched his large hand and said in a deep voice, "Only one who surpasses ordinary understanding and turns the impossible into possible can be called a true Heavenly Pride. If she cannot even accomplish this, how can she deserve the Shen Family's full efforts in cultivating her?"

The Fourth Elder continued, "Shen Feng broke through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer at seventeen. Even so, he was not among the top five sequences. How can the First Sequence be obtained so easily?"

Over the Shen Family's hundreds of years of history, it had produced an unknown number of remarkable figures. To rise into the top five among them, the difficulty was imaginable.

Only those with great talent, great perseverance, great fortune, and great wisdom could achieve it.

"Then it is decided."

The First Elder made the final pronouncement, and the others gradually quieted down.