The Shen Family of Black Water Pool.

In the Black Water Pavilion, just past midnight, Shen Yuan gently awoke from his cultivation and habitually glanced at the White Jade Turtle Shell in his Sea of Consciousness.

[Hexagram Refreshed!]

[Today's Hexagram · Auspicious]: Fortune abounds, a rare treasure is obtained, greatly beneficial to family development.

Hmm?

Rare treasure?

Gazing at the hexagram on the White Jade Turtle Shell, Shen Yuan pondered for a moment, wondering what this so-called rare treasure might be?

We haven't discovered anything good at home recently.

After thinking for a long time and coming up with nothing, he decided not to dwell on it and planned to ask the eldest tomorrow if there were any findings.

During the early hours of the morning.

The carriage slowly arrived at Black Water Pool.

Shen Wenxing and Huang Qingzhou dismounted from their horses, while Huang Chengchi, who was on the carriage, was already yawning repeatedly from drowsiness.

Inside the carriage, Huang Ruoyan had already fallen asleep, resting on the Stone Box containing the Blood-Feeding Toad.

"Sister, we're here!"

Huang Chengchi hurriedly woke her up.

The young girl rubbed her eyes and, seeing the dark surroundings, timidly stepped out of the carriage.

"Shi Tou, there are many empty rooms in the Martial Arts Hall. I'll take these two youngsters there first."

"And please call a couple of people over to move the Blood-Feeding Toad down."

Shen Wenxing nodded but just as he was about to speak, Huang Ruoyan shook her head and said, "We want to stay with the Blood-Feeding Toad."

"The Blood-Feeding Toad is timid, without familiar scents, they become agitated and fight."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing furrowed his brow.

"Is there anything else to be aware of?"

Huang Ruoyan nodded and said, "Besides when they're molting, the Blood-Feeding Toad shouldn't be exposed to sunlight."

"It's best not to have unfamiliar scents nearby, their noses are very sensitive."

"Also, the Blood-Feeding Toad prefers spring water and quiet places..."

Huang Ruoyan listed a series of requirements.

Hearing this, Shen Wenxing felt a bit overwhelmed.

"This little creature sure is delicate."

"Father-in-law, does the place you and Ah Die chose earlier meet these requirements?"

Huang Qingzhou thought for a moment and said, "Most of it can, but adjustments are needed. I'll head back to town tomorrow, bring some craftsmen over, and make the adjustments."

"We'll also have them build a dwelling for these two kids over there."

Shen Wenxing nodded, looking towards Huang Ruoyan said, "Let's settle the Blood-Feeding Toad for now and discuss everything else tomorrow, shall we?"

Huang Ruoyan nodded.

Morning.

When Shen Yuan returned to the manor, he saw Shen Wenxing already practicing in the Martial Arts Arena in the courtyard.

With some progress in Azure Dragon Force, every punch he threw was accompanied by a dull sonic boom.

"Ah Die."

Seeing Shen Yuan approaching with his hands behind his back, Shen Wenxing stopped his punches.

"When did you return last night?"

"Around the early hours."

Shen Yuan frowned, "The matter isn't that urgent; there's no need to travel overnight."

Shen Wenxing sighed and said, "Ah Die, something has happened."

He proceeded to recount the massacre of the Xu Family from Chunshui Town and the attack on the Huang Family in Huangyan Town.

"Can it be confirmed that it was the Immortal Sect?"

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment and asked.

Shen Wenxing nodded, "One at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, another at Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, definitely disciples of the Immortal Sect."

"The world really is becoming more chaotic."

"I also brought back two younger members of the Huang Family who excel in raising Blood-Feeding Toads."

Shen Yuan nodded, "With such events in Anyang, I wonder if the He Family and Luoxia Mountain have received the news."

"The Xu Family had descendants in Qiyun Valley, so Qiyun Valley should also respond."

"You should head back to Ascension Pavilion these days to prevent Qiyun Valley from holding a grudge."

Shen Wenxing thought for a moment and understood his father's intention.

"By the way, inform Lingxiu to send Chongming and the other two rascals to the Martial Arts Hall to train like the other disciples."

"Each sleeps until midday; being so lazy, how can they achieve anything significant?"

Shen Wenxing felt somewhat ashamed at these words.

In the third generation of the Shen Family, Shen Chongming is the eldest, now five years old. Shen Chonghong is second, over three years old, and Shen Chongxuan is third, also over three.

In the past, three-year-olds were at an age without worries.

But things are different now.

The children of some Great Noble Families at the County Government started consuming medicinal diets to build a foundation and training in martial traditions at three.

Though these three little ones sometimes indulge in training on a whim, they often don't persist for long.

Father mentioned it today, seemingly intending for them to treat cultivation as their primary task, just like the Martial Arts Hall's disciples.

"I'll go tell Lingxiu now."

Shen Yuan nodded and left the Martial Arts Arena, returning to his room.

His wife, Hu Yufen, had just gotten up from bed. Seeing him enter, she looked somewhat resentful and didn't speak.

Shen Yuan approached, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and took a sip.

"I've been sensing signs of a breakthrough lately, so I'll be cultivating in the Black Water Pavilion for a while."

Hu Yufen dressed and snorted, "Cultivation, cultivation, cultivation is all you have in your head now."

"At this rate, in a few more years, you'll forget all about family."

Shen Yuan laughed bitterly and shook his head, moving forward to embrace his wife, who was tidying up the bed.

Hu Yufen struggled for a bit but couldn't break free, and spoke urgently, "You're not young anymore, aren't you afraid the children will laugh?"

Only when Hu Yufen stopped struggling did Shen Yuan gently say, "Shi Tou said that the Xu Family in Chunshui Town, with over a hundred people, was wiped out in one night."

"The Huang Family in Huangyan Town was also attacked, with dozens of clan members dead."

"The world doesn't want people to survive; if I don't cultivate, how can I protect you and the children in the future?"

Hu Yufen's body trembled and she slowly sat down on the bed.

Shen Yuan sat beside her, gently taking her hand, "I still miss the old days."

"Though they were a bit tough, having a few dozen acres and you and the kids by my side, life was at least comfortable."

"Unlike now, living every day in constant fear."

Hu Yufen nodded.

She also noticed that life was better now.

Living in a grand estate, without worrying about food and drink, and having maids and servants to attend to her.

But her husband's smile was becoming less frequent, always busy, looking troubled.

"Husband, is there anything I can help with?"

Hu Yufen asked softly.

The two have been supporting each other for over twenty years. She genuinely wanted to share some of her husband's burdens.

Shen Yuan smiled at her and said, "Actually, there is."

"You'll need to take more care of family matters, so I have no worries."

"And you must also keep your own cultivation in mind, not like a lazy donkey dragging a millstone, only moving when whipped."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yufen glared at him fiercely, "Who are you calling a donkey!?"

Shen Yuan chuckled, then said seriously, "There's another important matter."

"Find some time to talk to the elder and second families, have them consider having another child."

Nowadays, the Shen Family doesn't worry about food and drink, and can afford various medicines for health maintenance.

To rapidly grow the family, the people must come first.

Especially since he has a system.

Hu Yufen thought for a moment and agreed with his viewpoint.

As the current matriarch of the Shen Family, she also wanted to see descendants flourish, the family grow with new members.

"Alright, I'll talk to Lingxiu and Xiao Xuan about it later."

After a moment of tenderness between the couple, Shen Yuan went to the courtyard and immediately encountered Huang Lingxiu and Zhao Xuan hurriedly heading out with their children.

Seeing Shen Yuan, the two halted and respectfully greeted him, "Father."

The three little ones broke free from their mothers' hands and swarmed over to Shen Yuan.

"Grandpa!"

"Grandpa hold me!"

Shen Yuan cheerfully embraced Shen Chonghong and Shen Chongxuan.

Shen Chongming, being considerate, didn't cling to him for another hug.

"Chongxuan, get down, go with your mother to the Martial Arts Hall."

Zhao Xuan, with a straight face, spoke up to scold him.

Shen Chongxuan seemed very afraid of his mother getting angry, hurriedly struggling to get down from Shen Yuan's arms.

"Father, I'll take Chongxuan over first."

Shen Yuan nodded, turned to Huang Lingxiu, and said, "I'm just heading to the Martial Arts Hall, these two little rascals can come with me."

Huang Lingxiu smiled and nodded, not saying much more.

On the way, Zhao Xuan, leading Shen Chongxuan ahead, occasionally had the little fellow turning back enviously to look at Shen Chonghong being carried by Shen Yuan.

While Shen Chonghong kept making faces at him, flaunting having someone holding him.

"Give Chongxuan to me, Second Family's child."

Seeing this, Shen Yuan spoke up.

Zhao Xuan paused, smiling cautiously, "Father..."

Shen Yuan smiled slightly, crouched down, and said, "Chongxuan, come."

Shen Chongxuan looked up at his mother, seeing she wasn't angry, happily ran over.

With two grandsons in each arm, Shen Yuan, smilingly, turned to Shen Chongming beside him, "Do you want to race to see who gets to the Martial Arts Hall first?"

Hearing this, Shen Chongming's eyes lit up.

"Let's race!"

As soon as the words fell, he dashed off.

"Cheater!"

"Big brother cheated, Grandpa didn't say start yet!"

"Grandpa, hurry and chase!"

The laughter of the four echoed, truly enviable.

Zhao Xuan watched the four disappear, a bit worried on her face.

When she turned back into the courtyard, she noticed Huang Lingxiu seemed to be waiting for her.

"Sister-in-law."

Zhao Xuan approached and saluted.

Huang Lingxiu, seeing her, smiled and took her hand, saying, "Sister, there's something I need to talk with you about."

The two sisters sat down in a pavilion.

Huang Lingxiu spoke, "You've been married into the Shen Family for four years now, right?"

"Why are you still so openly restrained with Father and Mother?"

"You should know, the elders aren't that formal, we're all one family."

With her head down, Zhao Xuan pinched her clothes corner with her fingers and said nothing.

Seeing her like this, Huang Lingxiu sighed softly and said: "Sister, don't think too much. Speak out if something's bothering you, don't keep it to yourself."

"This isn't good."

Huang Lingxiu's words seemed to touch Zhao Xuan's heart. She slowly lifted her head, hesitated for a long time, and then spoke, "Sister-in-law doesn't know that my husband and I are not like you and Big Brother."

"Big Brother is calm and composed, able to help Father with many things and take care of everything in the family."

"But my husband... he just reads and writes all day. Although he's gone to the academy now, he's still not concerned with family matters."

With the conversation disclosing her worries, Huang Lingxiu finally understood Zhao Xuan's inner conflict.

"Sister, you don't understand Ah Nu."

"Father said, Ah Nu's reading is his cultivation."

"It's like Wen'an, Wen'an only cultivates and doesn't deal with other things, right?"

"Besides, Big Brother is the eldest son in the family, it is his duty to help with these things."

Zhao Xuan thought for a long time, finally smilingly lifted her head: "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Huang Lingxiu stood up, pulled her hand again and said: "We're all family here, let's listen to Mother's words and be good wives and mothers."

The two sisters exchanged smiles.

Anyang County, Ascension Pavilion.

Shen Wenxing had heeded Shen Yuan's advice, hurried back.

However, just as he arrived on the second floor to cultivate, a knock interrupted him.

"Steward, Immortal Li and Fairy Pei have arrived, along with many other immortals."

Hearing this, Shen Wenxing quickly stood up and went downstairs.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Li Heshan and Pei Yuwan standing on the first floor, accompanied by nearly twenty disciples from Qiyun Valley.

When these two saw Shen Wenxing, a noticeable trace of surprise appeared on their faces.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.