Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams-Chapter 272 - 186: Southern Border (Part 6)

"Brother Jinhu." Shen Wenxing sighed and called out, "This matter has nothing to do with the Zhao Family. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s my poor judgment in sending those few people to Anyang City."

The disciples of the Clan Court hurriedly brought in the healing medicine, and Shen Chongming personally helped him treat the wounds on his body.

Zhao Jinhua was moved, yet felt even more ashamed.

"If I had been able to persuade the few Immortal Masters earlier to restrain themselves, things wouldn’t have turned out this way."

"Now not only have the common people under governance lost their lives, but the main family has also lost four cultivators..."

Zhao Jinhua had long received news of the four’s actions in Anyang City.

But he considered the four to be lofty immortals, and the women they violated were voluntarily submitting, so to speak.

At present, the Zhao Family only has Zhao Tuan as a cultivator, and can hardly compare with several other affiliate families.

Thus he thought of building some connections for his family as much as possible.

Who would have thought that precisely due to his indulgence, such a disaster was caused by the four!

Looking at the gray-haired Zhao Jinhua in front, Shen Wenxing sighed.

The two had known each other since childhood, now it’s been decades, and he surely understood Zhao Jinhua’s character.

Therefore, when he heard about this, he guessed why Zhao Jinhua had not reported the four’s situation all along.

Although the disaster caused by the four cultivators was a personal matter, truly speaking, the Zhao Family was indeed guilty of dereliction.

He also understood, if a punishment was not issued today, it would make the disciples of the Clan Court feel it was unjust.

Moreover, Zhao Jinhua didn’t go to the manor to plead guilty, but instead came to the Clan Court with the intention to atone, which must have other implications.

Thinking of this, he clapped and spoke:

"These four’s vulgar acts with mundane women and reckless wind manipulations in the city have led to the death of three common people, Zhao Family indeed deserves the blame."

"But considering the Zhao Family’s modest achievements in governing Anyang City these past two years, let’s punish them by cutting their salary for one year."

"What do you think, sir?"

Shen Wenxing turned to Lu Zhiyuan beside him and asked.

Lu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, then nodded and immediately instructed the disciples of the Clan Court to record the matter.

...

On the way back to the manor, Shen Chongming looked at his father strolling ahead with hands behind his back, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Dad, by punishing the Zhao Family this time, will it chill Uncle Zhao’s heart?"

Shen Wenxing halted his steps and slightly shook his head, saying, "Your Uncle Zhao went to the Clan Court, intending for me and the sir to act impartially, fearing I would dissolve the matter out of personal feelings, leaving other affiliate families with criticism."

Saying this, a slight wry smile appeared on his face.

"Your Uncle Zhao... Sometimes he just overthinks."

"Unbeknownst to him, our Shen Family is the main family, even if biased, what harm is there?"

Shen Chongming pondered upon hearing this.

...

In the backyard of Anyang City’s City Lord’s Mansion.

Shen Chongming sat at the head seat, looking at Zhao Tuan in front and said, "Brother Tuan’s cultivation has advanced more rapidly these two years, it seems you’ll soon break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer."

Zhao Tuan slightly bowed with a smile, "Young Clan Leader overpraises, as one without a spiritual root, the more I cultivate, the more I feel the gap."

He heavily sighed and reminisced, "I remember when the Elder Patriarch let me choose, naively believing that even without a spiritual root, as long as more hard work than those with spiritual roots is put in, the gap wouldn’t be great."

"But now..."

Aware that effort is almost worthless before talent, Zhao Tuan felt deeply bitter.

Shen Chongming looked at him teasingly, "This isn’t the Brother Tuan I know."

"We cultivators should forge ahead boldly; grandpa once said Brother Tuan’s spirit of not accepting fate and refusing to lose is most precious among cultivators."

While speaking, a light flashed in his hands, he directly took out two complete spirit crystals, a bag of spirit rice, and a pot of spiritual spring water and handed them over.

Zhao Tuan saw this and quickly got up to bow, "Young Clan Leader, this can’t be accepted!"

"The Zhao Family just committed a grave mistake..."

"A mistake is a mistake, family is family." Shen Chongming said with a smile, "Brother Tuan should understand, the punishment for Zhao Family is done to show outsiders, privately things remain as usual."

"Make sure to keep these well, don’t let others see."

Shen Chongming said this, got up, patted Zhao Tuan’s shoulder, and directly left the room.

Watching his departing figure, Zhao Tuan had a complicated expression, then chuckled and shook his head, putting away the items on the desk.

...

The wide Laishui River meanders, with Jinliu Village located on the north bank, while the south bank is marshland from Yellow River Flood Area. Beyond the flood area are barren hills and valleys, hardly any other vegetation beyond low bushes.

Before the revival of spiritual qi, very few ventured into the endless swamp of Yellow River Flood Area and even fewer knew what lay beyond the distant undulating hills.

After gaining cultivation, some Shen Family cultivators grew curious about the regions south of Laishui River, using wind manipulation to bypass the swamp looking for treasures within the hills.

But despite expending all spiritual power and flying over a thousand miles, the surroundings remained no different—a constant barren scene, with spiritual qi barely perceptible.

Later, some ventured south along Hidden Dragon Mountain’s north-south path for several hundred miles, yet still surrounded by rolling peaks, similarly feeling spiritual qi thinning the further south.

Over time, everyone lost interest in that area.

Late autumn, a letter from the mountain frontier arrives, addressed to Shen Chongming.

In the manor, Shen Chongming opened the letter, glanced at it, and immediately frowned tightly.

Beside him, Shen Wenxing asked, "What’s the matter?"

Shen Chongming passed the letter over, "Uncle says the large centipede in the Poisonous Miasma Forest has been restless lately, frequently sending demon beast children to the camp."

"He went personally, but the large centipede insists on seeing me."

Shen Wenxing nodded, "Since that’s the case, you should go visit, return quickly if there’s no major issue."

"Lingxun is about to give birth; you as the father mustn’t be absent."

Shen Chongming nodded and immediately flew toward the Poisonous Miasma Forest in the mountains.

The woodland below swiftly receded, soon revealing a colorful miasma in the distance.

Shen Chongming gradually withdrew the spell, landing at the edge of the miasma.

"Giant Centipede, I’m here to see you!"

He shouted, waited long but only saw a practice qi fifth-layer Poisonous Miasma Centipede Demon Beast poke its head out.

The centipede twisted its body, making strange squeals upon seeing him.

Shen Chongming pondered briefly then understood, it wanted him to enter.

Glancing at the dense miasma, Shen Chongming immediately took out an antitoxic pill, then summoned a spiritual power shield, following the centipede into the miasma.

"You’ve finally come!"

As Shen Chongming stepped into the depths of Poisonous Miasma Forest, a voice rang from ahead.

Soon, the miasma surged, a huge figure quickly rushed over!

Shen Chongming was surprised, "You can speak now?"

The large centipede’s head approached urgently, "We’ll chat later, there’s big trouble!"

"My treasure is maturing soon, but I’ve been feeling unsettled recently, you must help me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming’s gaze shifted to the nearby mound, discovering the strange poisonous grass atop it emitting colorful radiance, quite wondrous.

"There’s no stronger demon beast around here, besides, who among ordinary demons and cultivators would covet your poisonous grass?"

Shen Chongming curiously teased.

The giant centipede shook its head, sighed, "I’ve lost three practice qi realm children."

"Definitely, some powerful demon is approaching!"

"Recently, some juniors fleeing from the Southern Border, I sense fear in them."

The giant centipede lifted its head, looking toward the south of the miasma.

"If you’re scared, bring that fellow with the sword too."

The giant centipede’s voice was very solemn, as if something truly terrifying was in that direction!