Chapter 731 - 263: Spirit Transformation
Xu Jingzhe looked up at her, then at Xu Zhan.
"Is he really my father?"
Shen You nodded, "Didn’t you always say you wanted to be a strong body cultivator like your father?"
"Go ahead, your father is now the strongest body cultivator in our Shen Family."
"Stronger than Grandpa?" Xu Jingzhe’s eyes sparkled as he asked again.
"Haha..."
Shen Wenxing laughed heartily and said, "Your dad is far stronger than Grandpa."
He has only reached the middle stage of the Fourth Realm, equivalent to just entering the Fetal Breathing Perfection Realm.
With Xu Zhan’s strength, if the two were to spar, he definitely wouldn’t be able to take even one move.
Although the gap between the Fourth and Fifth Realms of Body Cultivation isn’t as great as between the Golden Core and Fetal Breathing Perfection, the chasm between the Fourth and Fifth Realms is also one that cannot be crossed by any talent.
Everyone’s encouragement finally gave Xu Jingzhe the courage to slowly approach Xu Zhan.
Xu Zhan looked at him with a smile and picked him up.
"You little rascal, what are you afraid of?"
"Let Dad take a look."
He gently pinched Xu Jingzhe’s hands, feet, and arms, and smiled contentedly, "Not bad, a good body cultivating seedling."
Holding Xu Jingzhe, he looked towards Shen Wenxing and said, "Master, how about my senior brother?"
"Hasn’t he broken through yet?"
Shen Wenxing nodded.
The two of them had almost begun their seclusion at the same time.
But it’s clear that Immortal Dao Cultivators breaking through to the Golden Core isn’t that quick.
Especially since Xu Zhan himself seemed to be cheating, differing from ordinary people.
"If your senior brother breaks through and successfully reaches the Golden Core Realm, our Shen Family would have three Golden Core combatants, providing enough power to protect us in this chaotic world."
Shen Wenxing sincerely expressed.
Beside him, Shen Yuan smiled lightly and said, "Don’t worry, Chongming’s talent is excellent; achieving the Golden Core Dao is only a matter of time."
Changing his tone, he looked at Xu Zhan and asked, "During your three years of seclusion at the riverbed, did you encounter any anomalies?"
Anomalies?
Xu Zhan frowned, pondering for a while before speaking, "In the haze, I seemed to have some strange dreams."
"But those dreams were quite fragmented, and if Grandpa hadn’t mentioned it, Xu Zhan would have forgotten them."
Next to him, Shen Wen’an thought for a while and then mentioned the giant tortoise incident.
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhan was a bit surprised and said, "That thing appeared again!?"
Back then, when he was just a child, he saw the giant tortoise by the river. He and his friends went into the river to find it, only to accidentally discover the ancient underwater city.
Unexpectedly, during this breakthrough, the thing appeared again.
"That thing isn’t a living creature; it’s a strange energy condensed into a phantom."
Shen Wen’an spoke solemnly.
"It should be related to the ancient city beneath the river."
As he spoke, images of lightning and thunder behind the giant tortoise sketching out a city phantom flashed in his mind again.
Shen Yuan thought about it and shared the anomalies he had witnessed.
Clearly, what he saw was even more shocking than what Shen Wen’an observed.
"In that case, it seems we really need to find time to explore that ancient city beneath the river."
Xu Zhan pondered for a moment, speaking in a firm tone.
Since the first discovery of the ancient underwater city, to avoid trouble, Shen Yuan had always strictly prohibited anyone from exploring it.
Now, Xu Zhan’s strength has reached the Fifth Realm of Body Cultivation, and all other forces in Yangnao Land are focused on the spirit of Celestial Aromatic Mountain.
Indeed, the Shen Family can first explore the ancient city beneath the river.
"Let’s not rush this matter; let me meditate on it thoroughly over the next few days."
Shen Yuan thought for a moment, softly saying this before standing up, "Alright, you all chat, I’ll head back first."
Earlier at the Laishui Riverbank, although it was just a fleeting glimpse, various anomalies sparked some divine insights within him, which he needed to properly absorb and reflect upon.
Everyone raised their hands and watched him leave. As they were discussing the current situation in Yangnao Land, a Shen Family cultivator hurriedly arrived at the courtyard entrance.
"Elder Patriarch, Third Master."
"Has Lord Xu come out of seclusion?!"
Upon seeing Xu Zhan, the cultivator was pleasantly surprised and bowed.
Xu Zhan nodded, and Shen Wenxing spoke, "What happened?"
The cultivator maintained a solemn expression and bowed, "Reporting to the Elder Patriarch, news from Zhili has arrived. Yesterday, Celestial Sandalwood Mountain dispatched numerous demon cultivators to attack several cities around Zhili, capturing many noble family and loose cultivator’s cultivators."
"Our Shen Family’s spiritual ore mines in Zhili County have received reports of many demon cultivators lingering in the vicinity."
Celestial Sandalwood Mountain?
Xu Zhan was a bit curious and said, "Aren’t they allies with the Shen Family?"
Shen Wenxing shook his head and briefly explained the situation between Celestial Sandalwood Mountain and the Shen Family.
"So, now they want to use our Shen Family’s cultivators as sacrifices?"
After putting Xu Jingzhe down, Xu Zhan’s chest surged with a wave of evil qi, "Master, let this disciple confront those beasts."
Having just broken through the Fifth Realm, although he sparred once with Shen Wen’an at Laishui Riverbank, he felt unsatisfied.
Body cultivators are all battle maniacs.
He urgently needed an exhilarating battle to evaluate his true strength.
"This matter isn’t urgent."
Shen Wenxing spoke solemnly, "Now that you’ve broken through to the Fifth Realm, outsiders aren’t aware."
"Keeping it hidden as a trump card is best."
Shen Wenxing gazed at Shen Wen’an and said, "Wen’an, the Zhili County matters are for you to handle."
"If Celestial Sandalwood Mountain truly dares to openly attack our Shen Family’s spiritual ore mines, I’ll send Xu Zhan over."
"Then you and your nephew can catch them off guard, teaching those beasts a profound lesson."
Throughout the years, the Shen Family has managed to survive every test using nearly the same tactic.
A thunderous assault that simultaneously hurts one enemy, while deterring other observers.
Back then, after his father-in-law Huang Qingzhou was slain by Hundred Beasts Mountain, his father endured the pain in his heart, letting the Fetal Breathing Realm Shen Wen’an take action.
In that fight, Shen Wen’an faced four opponents, eventually escaping unharmed.
Though the danger was significant, the desired effect was achieved.
Shen Wen’an’s strength instilled fear among many observing Immortal Sects.
If not for that, the Shen Family would not have survived until now.
Afterward, whether dealing with Great Witch Mountain, Fushan Country, or Jianan Temple.
Each time the Shen Family acted, it was decisively ruthless.
Currently, the enemies of the Shen Family are like wolves!
If the Shen Family enters a bitter struggle with one force, other forces will inevitably take advantage, swarming to annihilate the Shen Family and divide its assets.
"While there’s still time, let this disciple immediately explore the ancient underwater city."
"If I gain anything, my strength can further improve, allowing me to collaborate with Third Uncle and teach those beasts from Celestial Sandalwood Mountain a lesson."
"Hopefully, I can slay one of their Great Demons of the Golden Core Realm!"
Xu Zhan’s eyes shone with determination as he spoke.
Slaying a Great Demon of the Golden Core Realm?
Shen Wen’an looked at him with surprise and said, "Youngster, your heart is even fiercer than Third Uncle’s."
"But Golden Core Cultivators aren’t easy to kill."
"Pushed too far, they might self-destruct their inner golden core, risking enemy mutual destruction."
"In the future, facing Golden Core Realm enemies, you must be cautious."
Beside him, Shen You also glared at him and said, "Remember Third Uncle’s words and don’t assume you’re invincible just because your realm has improved."
Xu Zhan smiled lightly and nodded, "Don’t worry, Senior Sister, I’ll definitely remember Third Uncle’s teachings."
Shen Wen’an lowered his head briefly, then bowed to Shen Wenxing, "I’ll head to Zhili and report any situation immediately."
Xu Zhan’s breakthrough suddenly relieved a lot of pressure for him.
Previously, whenever he went out, he was always concerned about Yunshui City, fearing that mad Golden Core Cultivators might suddenly launch an attack on Yunshui City, and he couldn’t make it back in time to rescue.
Now, with Xu Zhan here, he felt much more at ease when going out.
He’s even planning that once Shen Chongming breaks through and achieves the Golden Core Dao, he’ll set sail again.
On the one hand, to seek some opportunities and foundation for himself and the Shen Family; on the other hand, to meet Li Qing and the Golden-haired Monkey of the Purple Mansion Realm.
At that time, he’ll bring along some fine wine to chat and establish ties with them. At crucial moments, these two demons might even become significant allies for the Shen Family.