Chapter 144: Chapter 140: Zhao Tuan

Looking at the white jade turtle shell with only a purple sword mark and a strange “Life Talisman” left, Shen Yuan felt a bit lost for a moment.

After thinking for a long time, he suddenly smiled.

[The great luck is shining, the earth vein is rising, and following the flow will lead to great fortune.]

This was the hexagram shown by the white jade turtle shell when Shen Chongxu was born.

Following the flow…

If that’s the case, not interfering should be the right choice.

The next day, in the early morning.

At the entrance of the Shen Family Manor.

Shen Wenyan, carrying a simple bag, bid farewell to the family members one by one, and then came before Zhao Xuan and her two children.

At this moment, Zhao Xuan was holding Shen Chongxu in her arms, with Shen Chongxuan by her hand, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at him.

“Ah Die…”

Shen Chongxuan looked up, his voice filled with reluctance.

Shen Wenyan patted his head, then used the back of his hand to brush against Shen Chongxu’s cheek, speechless for a while.

After a long time, he quietly looked at Zhao Xuan, opening and closing his mouth for a long time before finally speaking.

“Wait for me, I will come back.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuan couldn’t hold back any longer, and tears flowed from her eyes like a breached dam.

In her arms, Shen Chongxu was too young to understand parting.

The little guy was still giggling and rubbing the tears on his mother’s face with his little hands.

Shen Wenyan slowly raised his hand, hesitated for a long time, and finally wiped away the tears on the other cheek of Zhao Xuan.

At that moment, Zhao Xuan smiled.

They had been married for five or six years, and this was the first time she felt her man’s tender love.

Slightly turning her head, she rubbed her cheek against Shen Wenyan’s palm and said, “I, Chongxuan, and Chongxu will always wait for you.”

Shen Wenyan nodded, slowly withdrew his hand, stepped back a few paces, bowed deeply to his family and wife, and then resolutely walked towards the horse he had prepared.

“Ah Die!”

Shen Chongxuan broke free from his mother’s hand and ran a few steps forward.

Shen Wenyan did not look back.

Watching the man and horse gradually disappear, Shen Chongxuan returned to Zhao Xuan, shaking her hand up and down, asked, “Mother, when will Ah Die come back?”

Zhao Xuan’s gaze remained fixed in the direction where her husband had disappeared, as if answering her son, or perhaps telling herself.

“Very soon… he will come back.”

Beside them, Hu Yufen and Huang Lingxiu approached.

“Child, it must be hard for you,” Hu Yufen said, taking Shen Chongxu from her.

Huang Lingxiu also supported her.

“Mother, sister-in-law, I’m fine,” Zhao Xuan said, wiping away the tears on her face with a smile.

Huang Lingxiu deeply sighed and smiled as she changed the subject, “Wenping brought back some fine silk the other day, saying it’s for us sisters to make clothes.”

“Sister-in-law, let me show you.”

“Okay…”

Watching a few people walk into the courtyard, Shen Yuan sighed and said, “Eldest, go and find Da Hu and his son.”

Shen Wenxing responded with a bow.

Moments later, Zhao Jinhua led a young boy to the entrance of the manor.

“Uncle Yuan.”

“Grandmaster Shen.”

Zhao Tuan was Zhao Jinhua’s youngest son, now only eleven years old, but he had been very intelligent and diligent since a young age.

Besides learning martial arts in the Martial Arts Hall, he often went to the academy to listen to the teachers’ lectures.

Thanks to the “Immortal Fate” his father won for him the previous year, the little guy had already reached the realm of a Postnatal Martial Artist, considered successful in Body Tempering.

Now, he just needed to polish and widen his meridians to reach the Peak of Postnatal Realm, perceive the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and then he could step into the Path of Cultivation.

“Hmm.”

Shen Yuan cheerfully patted Zhao Tuan’s head.

“Let’s go inside and talk.”

Leading the father and son into the side room, Shen Yuan picked up the teacup in front of him, speaking in a deep voice, “I have been brothers with your father for more than half of our lives, and now we are in-laws.”

“Your father is getting old, and the only thing I can do is try my best to take care of you.”

“Tuan’er is more promising than his brother. I’ve invited you here today because I want to hear your opinions on something.”

Zhao Jinhua, hearing this, looked at his son, then bowed to Shen Yuan and said, “Uncle Yuan, we’re at your disposal!”

Shen Yuan waved his hand with a smile, “Listen to me first.”

“Zhao Tuan doesn’t have a Spirit Root, and cultivating the Immortal Dao requires several times the effort of others, with no guarantee of great success.”

“If he could follow in his Uncle Shi Tou’s footsteps and take the path of a Body Cultivator, he wouldn’t be limited by a Spirit Root.”

“But the path of body cultivation requires great perseverance. The further along the path, the more hardships one must endure, seeking breakthroughs between life and death.”

“Each person has their own destiny, and the path needs to be chosen by oneself.”

“Today, you two should discuss and decide. If you have made a decision, I will impart to Tuan’er the true cultivation technique.”

Hearing this, Zhao Jinhua was slightly taken aback, then overjoyed.

“Thank you, Uncle Yuan!”

“Zhao Tuan, quickly thank your Grandmaster Shen!”

Beside him, Zhao Tuan hurriedly bowed, “Thank you, Grandmaster Shen!”

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, stood up, and said, “You two discuss among yourselves.”

After Shen Yuan left the room, only the father and son were left.

“What do you think, Ah Die?” Zhao Tuan asked.

Zhao Jinhua felt conflicted, unsure of what choice to make.

If they chose the Immortal Dao, without a Spirit Root, the journey would be incredibly difficult, and even if he persisted till the end of his lifespan, he might not achieve much.

If they chose body cultivation, he would have to endure immense pain, and every subsequent breakthrough would involve great risks. The possibility of dying prematurely was high, perhaps never living to old age.

Zhao Jinhua hesitated for a long time before finally setting his heart, “I think you should take the path of body cultivation.”

“As your Grandmaster Shen said, without a Spirit Root, progress in Immortal Dao cultivation would be too slow.”

“Your aunt married into the Shen Family, who have treated our family well. Currently, your grandfather and father are ordinary people and cannot contribute much to the Shen Family.”

“Only by pursuing the path of body cultivation can you quickly help the Shen Family and bring honor to your aunt.”

Zhao Tuan fell into deep thought after hearing this.

After a long time, he slowly looked up and said, “Father, your son wants to choose the path of Immortal Cultivation.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhua furrowed his brows.

“Why?”

Zhao Tuan said calmly, “If I choose the path of Body Cultivation, and if luck is not on my side, I might die while breaking through in the early stages, wasting this opportunity.”

“For the Shen Family, our family would also lose most of its value instantly.”

“If I choose Immortal Cultivation, my progress might be slower, but I am willing to work harder than others.”

“Father, as long as I live, our family will still be of use to the Shen Family, and we won’t be neglected.”

“In the future, if our family is fortunate enough to nurture an Immortal Seedling with a Spirit Root, I can also provide them with some resources for cultivation, helping them grow faster.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhua’s expression turned somber.

He had always thought of his youngest son as intelligent.

But today, hearing these words, he suddenly realized that his son harbors considerable ambition.

“Put away those little schemes of yours!”

“If you were to…”

“Father.”

Seeing his father’s face grim like a fierce beast selecting prey, Zhao Tuan quickly said: “You misunderstood.”

“I absolutely have no other intentions, just want our family to keep up with the Shen Family.”

“A thousand years from now, may Zhao family descendants also be part of the Immortal Race’s eternal lineage, rather than merely a few words in history books.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhua’s expression softened slightly.

“That’s more like it.”

“Our Old Zhao family must not become ungrateful wretches.”

Zhao Tuan bowed repeatedly, saying: “Rest assured, father, I have no such intention.”

“Then… shall I follow my own wishes?”

Zhao Jinhua pondered for a moment and then nodded, saying: “You have made your choice, and I won’t say much more.”

“Just wait, and I’ll find Grandmaster Shen for you.”

On the reclining chair in the courtyard, Shen Yuan slowly retracted his Divine Sense, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

“This young fellow will definitely achieve more than your father and grandfather in the future…”

“Uncle Yuan!”

Zhao Jinhua came out of a side room and, seeing the distant Shen Yuan, greeted him cheerily.

Shen Yuan rose from the recliner, walked with his hands behind his back to the door of the side room, and said, “Have you chosen?”

Zhao Jinhua nodded: “You said everyone should choose their own path; the brat is preparing to cultivate immortality.”

“He says he’s willing to work harder than others and won’t let you down.”

“Hmm.” Shen Yuan smiled and glanced at Zhao Tuan, saying, “Come with me.”

He took Zhao Tuan to the edge of the Black Water Pool, stopped, and said: “Wait here; I’ll go get the cultivation technique for you.”

Watching Shen Yuan’s figure disappear into the mist of the floating bridge, Zhao Tuan thought to himself.

If someday he could achieve great deeds for the Shen Family, would he have the chance to enter the Black Water Pavilion…

Shen Yuan reappeared out of the mist on the floating bridge.

“This is the ’Mist Flood Dragon Nourishing Vein Technique’ and five Qi Nourishing Pills.”

“The technique is not to be passed lightly. This ’Mist Flood Dragon Nourishing Vein Technique’ is the greatest secret of our Shen Family. To cultivate it, you must take a vow, are you willing?”

Zhao Tuan immediately bowed: “I am willing!”

Shen Yuan nodded, watched him take the “True Spirit Oath,” and then transmitted the ’Mist Flood Dragon Nourishing Vein Technique’ to him.

“After you go back, you can cultivate using the ’Mist Flood Dragon Nourishing Vein Technique.’ The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi will also help to broaden your meridians, allowing you to enter the Late Stage of Body Tempering faster.”

“The Qi Nourishing Pills are precious, you should save some for when you breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Stage.”

Holding the porcelain bottle, Zhao Tuan bowed: “I will remember well.”

“Go now, and cultivate well.”

Shen Yuan nodded and spoke.

Watching Zhao Tuan’s excited figure departing, Shen Yuan sighed softly.

Zhao Xuan has two sons and a daughter, and four grandchildren beneath them. The other three are very mediocre, and typically can only help manage the fields and common people.

This Zhao Tuan has become the hope for the Zhao Family’s rise.

He heard the father and son’s conversation in the side room.

Zhao Tuan’s words were very true, as connections between people indeed are.

This generation of the Zhao Family is in-laws with his family, and he can take some care, but what about a hundred years later?

By then, let alone in-law relations, in ordinary noble families, a hundred years handing down through four or five generations often results in estrangement among the same family.

Thus, relationships are temporary, only interests are eternal.

If the Zhao Family truly rises and keeps up with the Shen Family, a hundred years later, both families would still be like this.

“Grandfather.”

As Shen Yuan stood at the bridgehead in deep thought, he suddenly heard Shen Chongming’s voice behind him.

“Why is grandfather standing here?”

Shen Chongming, carrying a Rhino Horn Bow in his hand and a quiver on his back, curiously asked.

Shen Yuan slightly shook his head: “Where are you going?”

Shen Chongming raised the bow in his hand and said: “Didn’t you say that cultivation should combine effort and rest?”

“I’m heading to the Martial Arts Hall Arena to practice archery with my uncle.”

“Go.” Shen Yuan smiled and patted his head, then turned and walked towards the Black Water Pavilion.

Shen Chongming arrived at the Martial Arts Hall Arena, and the disciples who had just finished their posture training greeted him with smiles.

Embarrassed, he hurried into the inner courtyard of the Martial Arts Hall.

There were significantly fewer people in the inner courtyard compared to the front, and without Huang Qingzhou’s lectures, the disciples would usually practice the Breathing Technique in their rooms; those who occasionally came out only did so to move around a bit at the arena.

Here, Shen Chongming happened upon Huang Qi teaching a girl about the same age as him, standing still.

Full of curiosity, he approached and saw the girl’s face filled with pain yet determined as she persisted, and he couldn’t help but comment: “She’s too frail, needs more food.”

Huang Qi turned his head and upon seeing him, chuckled and said: “Little rascal, what brings you here today?”

Shen Chongming raised his bow and arrows and said: “Grandfather said that cultivation should balance work and rest. After practicing hard, I’m here to learn archery from my uncle.”

Huang Qi grinned widely, turned to Chen Youran, and said: “Alright, rest for a while first.”

With that, he came over to Shen Chongming and taught him various archery skills.

Under the blazing sun, after studying archery at the arena for an hour, they were about to go rest when they saw, at the other end of the arena, that frail figure persisting under the scorching sun.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep