Chapter Seventy-Four: Realm

As the voice rang out, the five-colored radiance surrounding the youth dimmed and finally vanished without a trace.

An elderly man in a purple robe, with a lean face and white hair and beard, stood outside the door, his smile gentle and amiable.

"Patriarch?"

The Luo father and son exclaimed in unison.

The old man entered, and both bowed deeply with clasped fists. "We apologize for any offense, young friend. Whatever you require, the Jiang family will do its utmost."

Shen Yu glanced over and said, "The quota."

The old man in the purple robe turned to Jiang Chuping.

Jiang Chuping hesitated, his voice low and uncertain. "Patriarch... but..."

A sharp sound split the air.

The elder struck the Jiang family’s eldest son squarely across the face. Jiang Chuping was sent flying, crashing against the wall and falling unconscious.

The old man's expression remained unchanged as he spoke to the terrified child beside him, "Lan’er, as I instructed, fetch the token of the Returning Cloud Immortal Sect."

Jiang Lan nodded repeatedly and hurried off.

Still smiling, the old man bent slightly. "What do you think, young friend?"

"You understand the art of discretion," Shen Yu replied.

The elder gave a wry smile, shaking his head. "I only hope you harbor no grudge against the Jiang family."

With age comes a loss of youthful impulsiveness; years of experience make one’s mind clearer. Bai Lixi’s demeanor, the inscrutable black-robed boy, the treasured Falling Jewel Bracelet of the Immortal Sect, and the young man before him with his terrifying grasp of spiritual treasure—these factors together made it clear that this was not someone he could afford to provoke.

The Jiang family was a powerful clan in Cloud Cliff City, able to act domineering within its walls. But beyond the city, a mere Spiritual Wanderer was not much, certainly not enough to make waves.

He understood this well and feared most when certain members of the Jiang family grew too arrogant, used to being unchallenged, eventually bringing disaster upon the whole clan.

He cautiously observed the enigmatic young man in the distance. On the path of cultivation, appearances meant little; a seemingly youthful figure could well be an old monster who had trained for centuries.

Shen Yu gazed into the distance and asked indifferently, "The words from that boy’s mouth—were they yours?"

The old man smiled. "I often share stories of my youth with them, sometimes to their amusement."

Shen Yu shook his head. "I had planned to reason with you, but your words suit me just fine; so let it be."

The lean old man’s heart settled.

Soon, hurried footsteps echoed from afar, then disappeared outside the door. In the end, only the young boy entered, holding a jade talisman.

Shen Yu passed by the boy, taking the talisman in passing. "You did well," he said.

The youth looked puzzled.

The divine physician glanced at the unconscious Jiang Chuping lying on the ground. "Let him get up, no need to feign death."

The Jiang patriarch forced an awkward smile.

The earlier slap, though impressive, had carried little force.

Only three remained in the courtyard.

Jiang Chuping staggered up, his expression unexpectedly calm.

The patriarch said bluntly, "You nearly ruined the entire clan."

Jiang Chuping remained silent, or perhaps dared not speak, for a moment fearing he might lose his status as heir.

"But you have a good son."

The old man looked at the still bewildered youth and said with satisfaction, "Would you like to follow me in cultivation?"

Jiang Lan scratched his head, oblivious to his father’s covert joy, and answered honestly, "I’m rather dull, and my talent is poor. I’m afraid I won’t learn well."

The old man laughed heartily. "Better to be dull! What does poor talent matter? People say fools have their own fortune. Your father thought himself clever and talented in his youth, but after decades of training, he’s still mediocre. What use is that!"

Jiang Chuping could only stand aside and nod in forced agreement, his smile strained.

He still felt some doubt and couldn’t help but ask, "Patriarch, is that young man truly so powerful?"

The elder replied calmly, "Innate Dao body."

Jiang Chuping’s pupils contracted, and he fell silent once more.

The old man and the youth walked off together, ignoring the supposedly dignified heir.

The elder smiled. "Lan’er, repeat what you said in the courtyard for me."

Jiang Lan replied earnestly, "As cultivators, our realm may be low, our skills weak, but in battle we must have fighting spirit—advance and never retreat, never concede defeat."

The old man’s smile grew wider. "Who said that?"

The boy replied honestly, "You did, Patriarch."

The ancestor laughed aloud. "Yes, that’s right, I did. Good, from now on, that will be our Jiang family’s ancestral teaching."

...

Shen Yu returned to the city lord’s manor. Before he reached the entrance, a group of maids hurried over, faces pale, saying there was trouble in the black-robed boy’s chambers.

He proceeded to the secluded courtyard, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth grew increasingly turbulent.

Lu Caiwei stood outside, her delicate brows furrowed.

Seeing Shen Yu, she gave him a heavy snort.

He paused outside the courtyard, his expression calm, having anticipated this.

Li Fugui had consumed the demon pill, and his stagnant cultivation had finally progressed. Yet Shen Yu was unsure whether he could break through the bloodline restraints in one surge.

The only certainty was that this breakthrough would be silent and unexpectedly prolonged.

Lu Caiwei waited a moment, seeing Shen Yu make no move, and asked anxiously, "Hey, what should we do now?"

"He is doing what he must," Shen Yu answered. "And now, so should we."

Lu Caiwei stared at his profile, as if seeking a hidden meaning.

Shen Yu spoke coolly, "If your mind is cluttered with nonsense, how can you cultivate?"

Lu Caiwei’s face flushed red as an apple. "Shameless scoundrel! You’re impossible and unreasonable!"

Shen Yu shook his head helplessly. Women and petty men are hard to nurture.

The next day, Shen Yu explained a few matters to Bai Lixi, then casually inscribed some lines around the area. The previously overflowing spiritual energy was now confined within the courtyard.

Dawn broke.

A carriage departed the city.

Lu Caiwei asked excitedly, "Where are we going?"

Once again acting as the coachman, Shen Yu waved his whip casually. "Cangmang Town, the site of the Returning Cloud Immortal Sect’s assessment."

Lu Caiwei fell silent for a while. "Are you coming with me?"

"The sect’s mountain gate is still ten thousand miles from here," Shen Yu replied. "Still a long way to go."

"And after we reach the mountain gate?"

Shen Yu replied calmly, "Perhaps. The place I need to go is not far from there."

Lu Caiwei pondered and quietly murmured her assent.

The carriage sped down the official road outside Cloud Cliff City. Autumn winds swept by, the chill deepening.

Lu Caiwei seemed unwilling to sit quietly inside, poking her round head through the curtain. "Are you really from the Dao Sect, one of the Sacred Lands?"

Shen Yu kept his eyes closed and nodded slightly.

Lu Caiwei scoffed. "I bet you’re the weakest among them. Otherwise, why would you be wandering the mountains? I heard the three-story pavilion of the Central Continent Academy will open in the Tang capital in a year and a half, and all the elite disciples from the Sacred Lands are secluded in training. None would be out traveling like you."

Shen Yu replied, "My realm is indeed the lowest among them."

After a pause, he added, "But at my level, I am invincible."