Chapter 303 - 300: Mishap
"It certainly has been a while."
Shen Chong glanced back at Shen Changchuan, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
"I once thought the most your potential would allow for was forming a Spirit Body. I never imagined you would actually make it this far."
"I’m sorry. I underestimated you!"
Shen Chong couldn’t help but sigh.
Through certain channels, he had also learned that Shen Changchuan had formed both a Spirit Body and a Divine Seed during his breakthrough to the Soul Emergence Realm.
When he first heard the news, he had found it rather incredible.
After all, during their meeting in Wu Family Town, Shen Changchuan’s strength, while slightly superior to other Cultivators in the Qi Introduction Realm, hadn’t shown any hint of the aura of a true prodigy.
At most, he was just an ordinary genius.
Therefore, after some consideration, he had shared the inside information with Shen Changchuan about the external suppression that prevents one from forming a Spirit Body during the Soul Emergence breakthrough, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about the Divine Seed.
He didn’t want Shen Changchuan to get fixated on what seemed like an unrealistic goal and stubbornly pursue the formation of a Divine Seed.
But no one could have predicted what happened next.
First, the Ancient Grotto Heaven Ruins emerged. Then, Master Wandering Dragon—one of the Seven Immortal Sect Sons of the Yuqing Immortal Sect—descended, seized the Grotto Heaven Ruins, and founded the Dragon Cloud Sect.
Then, Shen Changchuan managed to join the Dragon Cloud Sect, where he learned the secrets about the Spirit Body and the Divine Seed for the Soul Emergence breakthrough.
Ultimately, he achieved a perfect breakthrough to the Soul Emergence Realm!
"If I had known you were so talented, perhaps I shouldn’t have hidden the truth about the Divine Seed."
"That was my mistake."
"I almost prevented you from achieving a perfect breakthrough to the Soul Emergence Realm."
Looking at Shen Changchuan, a trace of relief flashed deep in Shen Chong’s eyes, while his expression carried a hint of apology.
He had never imagined that Shen Changchuan, who had only seemed slightly stronger than an ordinary Cultivator of the same Realm, could accomplish something so incredible!
To form both a Spirit Body and a Divine Seed at the same time... you could count the number of people who had done that in the entire Thirty-Six Domains on two hands!
Even he himself had only managed to succeed at the last moment by taking a shortcut with his master’s help.
Even now, Shen Chong found it hard to imagine just how Shen Changchuan had managed to succeed.
That said, it was a good thing Shen Changchuan had joined the Dragon Cloud Sect and learned the relevant secrets.
Otherwise, he would have hindered his brother’s immense talent.
"Brother, you don’t have to say that... If it weren’t for your warning, I’m afraid I would have already stepped into the Soul Emergence Realm."
"At that point, all would have been lost..."
Shen Changchuan said with feeling.
These words weren’t mere flattery.
It was the truth.
If he hadn’t learned about the Spirit Body from Shen Chong, Shen Changchuan might have charged straight into the Soul Emergence Realm right after reaching the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak!
That would have been a true disaster.
"Even without me, you would have learned this secret after joining the Dragon Cloud Sect."
Shen Chong shook his head slightly. He didn’t seem to want to dwell on the topic.
He turned his head, his gaze fixed on the magnificent, sprawling Tian Nan City ahead.
"Do you have important business for this return trip?"
"The Old Ancestor summoned me. What’s wrong?"
Shen Changchuan could sense an unspoken meaning in his words, and couldn’t help but ask.
Thinking about how his brother was just standing here, staring off toward Tian Nan City, it was hard not to read something into it.
"There might be some trouble brewing in Tian Nan City soon... But since the Old Ancestor was the one who summoned you, it probably isn’t a major issue..."
Shen Chong’s words were vague, his gaze remaining fixed on Tian Nan City.
"Ahem, could you be more direct, Brother?"
Although Shen Changchuan and his brother had only met once or twice and didn’t know each other well, they were still half-brothers by the same father. And since Shen Chong had shown him goodwill, Shen Changchuan didn’t mind calling him Brother.
However, he hated it when people spoke in riddles.
"Someone from the Zhou Family, First Madam’s family, has arrived."
...
「Meanwhile」
Inside the Shen Family Mansion.
The rear residence.
The usually proud and aloof First Madam, Zhou Yi, was now on the verge of tears, looking for all the world like a pitiful woman who had been bullied by her husband’s family.
At a table below her, sat a tall, well-built, and handsome young man. His expression carried an air of both arrogance and heroic spirit.
This man was Zhou Lingyun, Zhou Yi’s nephew from the Zhou Family.
With tears welling in her eyes, Zhou Yi spoke to Zhou Lingyun:
"Oh, Xiaoyun, your aunt has suffered so much! Not only was I married off to this remote, godforsaken place, but your uncle-in-law and his entire family are terrible people. Back then, he only managed to break through to the Soul Emergence Realm after taking my dowry, and now, in the end..."
"WAHHH... They’re all bullying a helpless woman like me! Look at what they’re saying about me out there! Your aunt’s reputation is ruined; I’ve become a complete joke..."
"To think that I, Zhou Yi, didn’t look down on their lowly status and married down into their family, only for them to treat me like this! WAHHH... Xiaoyun, you must stand up for your aunt!"
The First Madam no longer possessed any of her usual sharp, ruthless demeanor. The fierce glint in her eyes was gone, replaced by the resentful grievances of a bitter wife complaining to her own family.
The surrounding servants had all been dismissed long ago.
Zhou Lingyun’s brow furrowed slightly.
He naturally had no patience for listening to such trivial, sentimental squabbles.
But she was his aunt, after all, and he had come all this way to visit her on his father’s orders, so he couldn’t very well lose his temper.
He could only sit patiently and listen to his aunt complain.
"Don’t worry, Aunt. Tomorrow, I will get you justice from the Shen Family!"
After First Madam Zhou Yi’s rambling complaints had gone on for an hour, she finally paused for a brief rest. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Lingyun finally spoke.
"The insignificant Shen Family dares to humiliate and bully a member of my Zhou Family?! They’re simply courting death!"
As he spoke, a ruthless look flashed across his face.
This was partly due to the resentment he felt toward the Shen Family after having his aunt dump her trash on him for an hour, and partly due to his own heartfelt disdain and anger toward the insignificant Shen Family.
’That insignificant Shen Family, they’re nothing but remote, backwater Landlords.’
’The highest Cultivation Realm in their entire family is only the Divine Travel Realm.’
’How dare they treat a Legitimate Daughter of the Zhou Family this way?!’
’They should know, our Zhou Family is an upper-tier Immortal Cultivation Family from the Central State World!’
’Even if my own aunt was exiled to this remote corner because she was implicated by my grandmother, she is not someone these low-level, ant-like families can afford to disrespect!’
’I have to teach them a harsh lesson!’
Zhou Lingyun’s expression darkened, a vicious glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.
"Really?"
Just then, the First Madam, who was in the seat of honor, stopped crying and looked at Zhou Lingyun with a hint of delight on her face.