The once broad circular plaza had been crushed by the encroaching thorns.

The square was fragmented, unevenly split into pieces.

And in the center, the main trunk of this thorny plant had emerged.

It looked like the cylindrical hand of an immortal, with a pale yellow flower blooming at its top.

"Our prediction was spot on; these thorns are indeed the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, the Heart-Breaking Vine.

In a few days, when the flower withers away, it will bear fruit.

That fruit will be a great boon to cultivators as a precious treasure."

Falling into this Immortal Extinction Array doesn't seem to be all drawbacks.

Nowadays, outsiders dare not enter the array, and within the formation, there seem to be no competitors.

This Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, If all goes well, should be within reach.

Now, we just need to be patient and wait for the fruit to ripen.

Having been in this mountain forest for more than ten days, with the ability to extract entries, food is no longer an issue.

In their small hut, they even stored many fruits, dried fish, and dried meat, without any worry about food.

Although they didn't lack meals, the temperature in the mountain forest was dropping.

It's late autumn and soon it will be winter.

With each autumn rain comes the cold; seeing the plants wet these days, Shen Han feared it was going to rain.

After the rain, it would only get colder.

Both of them wore only autumn clothes, and keeping warm wouldn't be easy.

In the next two days, Shen Han used animal skins he gathered and tied them with vines on the outside of their clothes.

Thus making two fur coats, which warmed them considerably.

They also gathered some charcoal and piled it at the hut's entrance for a bit of warmth.

As evening descended, the sky gradually darkened.

The forest at night was rife with danger, and the tasks needing daylight were completed.

Shi Yuezhu would take this time to start explaining the cultivation method to Shen Han.

The basic understanding had been covered, and Shi tried to teach more difficult aspects.

Key points for progress in cultivation, crucial matters, and areas prone to issues.

She ran through all these with Shen Han.

Such matters were normally unknown to ordinary tutors.

Shi Yuezhu seemed able to anticipate the difficulties Shen Han faced, solving them before he even asked.

Currently, Shen Han's biggest problem was the lack of a plan for his cultivation path.

He was merely taking things as they came.

Shi Yuezhu then explained what to do at each Grade, how to handle situations, and the dangers they entailed.

This kind of experience was indeed an invaluable treasure.

"Beyond Third Grade, I do not know how to proceed.

But with the current pace of cultivation, you can completely follow the method I outlined."

"Thank you, senior, for your guidance."

In the dark, Shen Han responded with respect.

The title 'senior' made Shi Yuezhu feel a bit uneasy.

The earlier hand-holding had made their relationship somewhat odd.

Between them, what kind of relationship was this...

After saying 'senior,' Shen Han too felt uncomfortable, not knowing what other title to use.

Or rather, what reason to have for changing it...

"How old are you this year?"

"Almost... twenty years old..."

Shen Han wasn't sure why, but upon hearing Shi Yuezhu's question, he instinctively wanted to exaggerate his age.

"How short by how much?"

"More than two years..."

"So you aren't even eighteen, about the same age as my apprentice..."

Although trying to restrain herself, there was a tone of inexplicable loss in Shi Yuezhu's voice.

"When I was your age, you hadn't been born yet..."

The age difference between them was indeed quite significant.

Due to cultivation, people's lifespans had increased significantly.

But in Great Wei, an age gap between partners that was too large often invited gossip.

Besides, Shi Yuezhu held a special position in the sect, drawing even more attention to herself.

Having a scandal with a young junior could lead to who knows what kind of rumors...

Shen Han also sensed the disappointment in Shi Yuezhu's tone.

He hesitated for a moment but couldn't help countering, "Age is just a number, what's the matter with difference in size..."

Hearing Shen Han's retort, Shi Yuezhu, in the dark, couldn't help but smile a little.

At the very least, his attitude could be discerned from these words.

The sky had completely darkened, and even the charcoal at the entrance started to die out.

Perhaps feeling that the earlier question had caused some unease between them, Shi Yuezhu cautiously shifted her position.

Gently, her arm brushed against Shen Han's arm.

Even through the fur clothing, they both could feel it...

Shi Yuezhu didn't really know what her state was.

Luckily, it was in complete darkness...

And in that instant of contact, this young nobleman, Shen Han, couldn't help but shiver a little.

That night, the two rested just like that, side by side.

...

Yun'an City.

After more than ten days away, those in the Shen family finally realized Shen Han was not at Shen Mansion.

Originally, on the Old Dowager's orders, a hidden sentry was always watching Shen Han to prevent him from leaving Yun'an City.

But when this spy found Shen Han missing, fearing punishment, he simply fled.

Shen Han had been living in the rundown courtyard on the east side of the Shen Mansion.

Usually, besides Madam Yun and Cailing, no one else would go there.

After seeing the letter Shen Han left behind, Madam Yun cleverly continued to bring food to the east courtyard frequently.

To others, it appeared Shen Han was simply staying in the courtyard, not coming out.

The discovery only happened because of that brat, Shen Ao, who hired thugs to deal with Shen Han.

But after several attempts, not finding him, he reported this to Madam He.

And upon knowing this, Madam He hurriedly informed the Old Dowager.

Shen Han escaping from Yun'an City was a huge problem!

The reason for breaking the engagement could be that Shen Han was injured, crippled, or had a ruined reputation.

But it absolutely couldn't be because Shen Han disappeared.

Upon hearing this reason, the Imperial Family would only say the Shen Family wasn't abiding by His Holiness's marriage decree, an allegation easily held over them.

Apart from this, there was also the bad influence.

Shen Han's mother had fled the Shen Mansion years ago, and now with her son also running away, who knows what rumors would spread outside!

"Shen Han's disappearance must not be spread, or face family punishment!"

The Old Dowager tapped her cane, and with the maid Cai Xue's support, went to Madam Yun's courtyard.

In the entire Shen Family, she was the only one who cared about Shen Han.

Shen Han's escape from Yun'an City was definitely linked to Madam Yun.

Madam Shen, Madam He, and their maid headed towards Madam Yun's courtyard.

Compared to Madam He's yard, Madam Yun's was much more dilapidated.

"Old Dowager, what brings you here?"

Seeing Madam Shen arrive, Madam Yun and Cailing quickly greeted her.

"You really don't know why I've come?

That unfilial son escaped Yun'an City, how long did you intend to hide it?"

Anger showed on Madam Shen's face: "If the annulment isn't handled well, it will impact the major events of the Shen family!"

As she spoke, her cane incessantly tapped the ground.

The sound echoed, 'dong dong dong'.

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