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Yang Ji guard over Shan Heyuan, sighed, "Senior Shen just said he was going down alone, why didn't you say a word?"

Shan Heyuan: "Didn't you say he had the highest cultivation level, and that we should listen to him?"

Yang Ji: "That's because he's already made up his mind, and even if I disagree, I can't change his mind. If you tried to persuade him, he would definitely listen."

Holding the spirit sword, Shan Heyuan said, "I believe in him. His judgment is definitely better than ours."

Seeing Shan Heyuan's serious expression, Yang Ji couldn't help but say, "Alright, you're completely under Senior Shen."

The two waited there for a while.

Yang Ji, getting a little bored, started talking again. "Speaking of which, I thought he preferred female dao companion, but I never expected he preferred male dao companion. So many sects and Lineage wanted to form marriage alliances with him before, but he didn't agree to any of them. It turns out he chose the wrong person."

Shan Heyuan didn't expect Yang Ji to bring up such a juicy topic right away. "Wait a minute, what about male dao companion?"

"You!" Yang Ji nudged him and said matter-of-factly, "Aren't you his dao companion?"

"Of course not!" Shan Heyuan asked, puzzled. "Where did you get that idea? How come we're dao companion?"

"Your conversations, expressions, and way of interacting... no matter how you look at it, you two are definitely not innocent."

"We are brothers!"

"Come on, who's protecting their brother like he's their own eyeball?" Yang Ji rolled his eyes. "Are you guys trying to be blinded by your own involvement?"

Shan Heyuan: "..."

Yang Ji chuckled, "It's no use denying it. Your behavior couldn't escape my notice. I heard you two were living together in Sword Reverence City. Am I the only one who noticed something between you two?"

Shan Heyuan: "Only the two of us have spent time with you, where did you hear this from?"

"I heard it from the two of you," Yang Ji said, counting on his fingers, "Since we met, you've said you'd plant this and that in the yard, that you'd need this and that at home, and that you'd bring back certain local specialties. If we weren't living together, you wouldn't have said that, would you?"

Shan Heyuan realized he had truly underestimated this person.

To deduce so much from such minute details—that's what it means to have keen insight.

Shan Heyuan didn't want to continue the topic, "Relationships should develop naturally. There's no reason for unrelated people to play matchmaker."

"You two are a perfect match," Yang Ji corrected, then laughed again. "I must say, Senior Shen's personality has really changed a lot since he got together with you. He used to be so cold he was practically inhuman, but now he's become a bit more domestic."

Shan Heyuan glanced at him.

Yang Ji, "Alright, alright, we're not together, but we live together, okay? Aren't you curious about what kind of person Senior Shen was before?"

Shan Heyuan: "Don't bother asking. Why should I listen to what others say about him? I'll know when I spend time with him."

Yang Ji: "That's true. It's good that you think that way."

The two huddled in a corner by the stone wall, chatting quietly about various things.

It was mainly Yang Ji spoke, with Shan Heyuan occasionally echoing him with a couple of lines.

While they were chatting, Shan Heyuan kept checking the time.

Shen Duheng has been down there for over half an hour, and there's still no news. I wonder if things are going well on his end, and if he needs reinforcements?

Another ten minutes or so passed in this anxious waiting and aimless chatting.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from below. Besides the huge sound, Shan Heyuan also clearly felt the entire mine shaft tremble.

Yang Ji and Shan Heyuan exchanged a glance, and then both stood up straight.

Yang Ji: "The fighting down there is pretty intense?"

Shan Heyuan: "It might be the most intense part of the battle yet."

Yang Ji straightened his back. "Should we go down and take a look?"

Shan Heyuan paused for a moment, then said, "No. He told us to wait here, so let's wait here and not disrupt his plans."

"Seriously? You can really hold back like this?" Yang Ji sighed, leaning against the stone wall again. "Let's wait a little longer. If we still hear loud noises down there, we'll go down and check it out."

They waited where they were.

Shan Heyuan said he would follow orders, but he couldn't help but pinch the calluses on his palms.

His Spiritual Power still carried a very strong aura of the Breathing Earth, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to calm down after circulating his Spiritual Power for several Greater Celestial Circuit.

After waiting for quite a while, this time there was no strange noise, but rather the sound of footsteps.

The footsteps of the Gang Heaven Monkey were completely different from those of humans. Shan Heyuan, with his sharp ears, immediately recognized that they were the footsteps of Shen Duheng.

Judging from his footsteps, Shen Duheng should not be injured.

A look of joy appeared in Shan Heyuan's eyes.

Yang Ji was faster than him and went to greet him, calling out towards the mine tunnel, "Senior Shen, you're back?"

Shen Duheng's deep voice echoed through the mine tunnel, "Yes. I brought back the Heaven-Resembling Stone you requested."

Yang Ji: "That's great! Let me see!"

Yang Ji ran into the mine, Shan Heyuan quickly chased after him.

A moment later, the three met up.

Shen Duheng had fought with the Gang Heaven Monkey, and his body was stained with blood, and his clothes were no longer as spotless as before.

However, apart from his clothes, his breathing was very steady and his footsteps were normal, so he didn't look injured.

Shan Heyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Duheng was looking at Yang Ji directly, and when he saw this, a smile appeared in Shen Duheng's eyes.

Shen Duheng brought back three Heaven-Resembling Stones in total. Two of them were the size of his fist, and the other was the size of an egg.

He handed the Heaven-Resembling Stone to Yang Ji: "Is that enough?"

"That's enough, that's enough. There will be other materials, and even with the losses, it'll be enough." Yang Ji overjoyed. "I've coveted the Heaven-Resembling Stone for over twenty years, and I haven't been able to get it through any means. I never expected you to step in and get three large pieces so quickly."

Shen Duheng: "My Cultivation Method has a natural restraining effect on them."

Yang Ji: "It's mainly because you're stronger."

Shen Duheng gave a faint "hmm" and said, "If possible, please help me make the spirit sword as soon as possible."

Yang Ji's expression changed slightly. He glanced at Shan Heyuan behind Shen Duheng, his nonchalant demeanor vanished, and he said seriously, "Senior Shen, you hold a high position, and your every move affects the world. This is truly not a good time."

Shen Duheng looked at Yang Ji with both eyes. "Then when would be a good time?"

Yang Ji: "I don't know about others, Senior Shen, your cultivation level must be high enough to be certain that it surpasses that person's, and you must have enough ability to clean up the mess after taking revenge, right?"

Shen Duheng sneered, "If that's the case, wouldn't I be unable to take revenge for the rest of my life?"

Yang Ji paused for a moment. "Even if Senior Shen disregards everyone else, are you disregarding Young Friend Shan as well? If he fails to take revenge and incurs that person's wrath, he probably won't have much ability to protect himself?"

Yang Ji bowed deeply. "I will never forget the great kindness and virtue that you have shown to my clan. If you need me, I am willing to give my life. However, so many innocent people are dying. Now, city after city is dying. I'm afraid we can't afford any more turmoil."

Shen Duheng: "I know perfectly well."

Yang Ji said, "I will make Senior Shen's spirit sword as soon as possible."

Shen Duheng nodded. "You should go back first."

Yang Ji didn't press the matter. He bowed to them again and then swiftly flew away on his sword.

After Yang Ji's figure disappeared from sight, Shan Heyuan spoke his first words to Yang Ji after they met, "Brother Shen, who is your enemy?"

Shen Duheng: "Do you know who the current sect leader of the Sword Reverence Sect is?"

Shan Heyuan nodded. He worked at the Sword Reverence Academy, Sword Reverence Sect was essentially his boss, so he knew them to some extent. "Shen He, Sect Master Shen."

Shen Duheng: "My name is Shen He, and my courtesy name Duheng."

Shan Heyuan was completely stunned by this answer, "Ah, you have the same name?"