Chapter 65: Chapter 63: Unexpected Visitor

Shen Changchuan left the courtyard.

After changing his clothes, he went straight to the Workshop and found Guo Cheng, Patriarch Li, and the others.

He informed them that he was preparing to leave the next day.

He told them to get ready.

Such a hasty decision took everyone by surprise.

According to their usual practice, the Wu Family Collection’s market day was still several days from ending.

In these final few days, some of the smaller vendors might, for one reason or another, choose not to continue with the main group, creating a chance they would liquidate their remaining goods at reduced prices.

Even some of the larger merchants, having acquired a large quantity of high-value items, might be forced to clear out some of their lower-value stock.

Because of this,

during this period,

there was a chance to acquire relatively valuable items at a lower price.

In previous years, they had always stayed until the market was completely over before leaving.

After all, for low-level Cultivators like them, Spirit Stones were hard to come by.

They had to be as frugal as possible in their daily lives,

buying what they needed at the lowest possible price and saving every single Spirit Stone.

Even a measly fluctuation in price,

was enough to make them spend half a day haggling.

Naturally, they were reluctant to leave so suddenly.

But despite their reluctance,

no one raised any questions or objections.

They had no choice. The road back was fraught with danger. Without Eldest Young Master Shen leading them, they’d probably be robbed blind not long after leaving the market.

Besides,

’On our way here, we were attacked by assassins in black. We fled without a fight, which must have left a bad impression on Young Master Shen.’

’Even though we used our connections to help Young Master Shen solve the problem of the low purchase price for his Spirit Grain, it’s hard to say if that small favor was enough to erase his negative feelings about us fleeing the battle.’

’Until Eldest Young Master Shen has completely forgotten about that incident, we’d better not step on his toes.’

After Shen Changchuan turned and left,

a sigh was heard.

The group looked at one another. Though no words were spoken, their shared understanding was obvious.

They had no choice.

They were just humble, minor families. It was a stroke of luck that their clans had even survived to their generation.

This was all they could do.

Shen Changchuan, who had already left, had no idea what the group behind him was thinking.

But even if he had known, it wouldn’t have mattered.

He had already made the decision to leave,

so whether they objected or not was meaningless.

But at this moment,

he clearly had no mind to dwell on such things.

...

「Inside the inn.」

Shen Changchuan, who had just returned from outside,

now stood frozen in place,

not daring to move a muscle.

Beads of sweat had even started to form on his forehead.

"Senior, may I ask who you are...?"

Gazing at the figure who had appeared in his room at some unknown time, Shen Changchuan bowed, clasped his fists, and lowered his head in a respectful salute.

Although the man’s aura was completely unremarkable, like that of a mortal, preventing him from sensing any details about the other party,

the trembling terror that originated from his Divine Soul, the horrifying premonition of death that stemmed from a higher level of existence, was clearly telling him,

this person was definitely an existence that surpassed a Qi Introduction Realm Cultivator!

Soul Emergence.

This was definitely an expert of the Soul Emergence Realm!

Torrential waves of shock crashed through Shen Changchuan’s mind.

’Who is this person?’

’What would a figure like this want with me?!’

For a moment,

Shen Changchuan’s mind went completely blank.

"Oh? It seems your perception is quite sharp."

"Your perception is keen, and your Divine Soul isn’t bad either. It seems the bottleneck to the Qi Introduction Late Stage will no longer be a major problem for you."

The visitor glanced at Shen Changchuan in surprise, speaking as if they were just making small talk.

But under that gaze,

Shen Changchuan felt as if every single secret he had, every detail of his Cultivation, was being laid bare!

Nothing was held back!

His Divine Soul even began to tremble instinctively at that moment!

"Don’t worry. This one is not a villain."

"This one is Shen Tingchu. And speaking of which, I suppose I would be considered your clan uncle."

Shen Tingchu said casually.

However,

upon hearing that the man was a clansman of the Tian Nan Shen Clan, Shen Changchuan didn’t relax in the slightest. On the contrary, his pupils contracted slightly.

"Oh? From the look on your face, have you heard this one’s name before?"

Shen Tingchu seemed to have seen through Shen Changchuan’s thoughts, speaking with some surprise.

"Well, Senior, this junior is currently the Dawan Village Guardian."

"Years ago, it was you who came from the west with a single sword strike, suppressing the traitors of the Hu Family with a flip of your palm and bringing Dawan Village into the Shen Family’s territory."

"As this junior now manages Dawan Village, I have naturally heard of your great name."

Having his inner turmoil seen through by Shen Tingchu, Shen Changchuan had no choice but to speak the truth.

That’s right.

Twenty years ago,

the Soul Emergence Realm expert from the Shen Family who came and annihilated the Hu Family—which had been entrenched in Dawan Village for over a century—after the death of a side-branch disciple was reported,

was named Shen Tingchu!

And not long ago,

while investigating the Hu Family’s situation from back then, Shen Changchuan had of course heard this extremely important name.

But,

’Why would he appear here,’

’and why has he sought me out?’

Shen Changchuan’s thoughts raced.

But he didn’t dare let it show on his face again.

"I see. It seems you’re a diligent one."

Shen Tingchu gave Shen Changchuan a deep, meaningful look,

but he said nothing more.

"Senior, may I ask if you have come here for an important matter? If this junior is capable of assisting, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"That won’t be necessary. No matter what, you are of the Clan Leader’s bloodline. This one has no desire to get tangled up in that mess."

"And you need not worry. The only reason I’m here is because that boy Zhongshan discovered something interesting and sent me a Communication Talisman, which prompted this trip."

As he spoke,

Shen Tingchu’s gaze fell on Shen Changchuan with great interest.

"I never would have thought that the Clan Leader’s inconspicuous, illegitimate son—who was merely at the Qi Introduction Third Layer and completely unknown just over half a year ago—would, after leaving the Shen Family Mansion, rapidly increase his strength by a Third Layer Realm in such a short time. And you’ve even mastered two Perfection Level magic skills!"

"The ancients had a saying: the sky is high for birds to fly, the sea is wide for fish to leap. The ancients truly did not deceive us!"

He stared intently at Shen Changchuan, speaking with deep emotion.

To be honest,

even though Shen Tingchu was a True Cultivator at the Soul Emergence Realm and could be considered worldly and experienced from his many years,

seeing Shen Changchuan at this moment, he couldn’t help but be genuinely stunned!

To have left the great vortex of Tian Nan City and then, in this barren land, to have advanced by a Third Layer Realm in just over half a year...

This couldn’t be explained away by mere fortuitous encounters.

The only possibility was,

that the young man before him had possessed outstanding talent since childhood—so outstanding it was enough to make others burn with envy.

But at the same time,

he was also exceptionally clever.

He knew from a young age that his humble birth made his position within the Shen Family Mansion precarious, so he deliberately suppressed his Cultivation and hid his talent as much as possible.

And that was what led to this situation:

more than a decade of Cultivation in the Shen Family Mansion, yet only reaching a mere Qi Introduction Third Layer.

But the moment he was sent away,

the moment he broke free of his shackles,

he soared into the heavens!