"Eh?"

Noticing Chen Youran's shaky, seemingly about-to-collapse condition, Shen Chongming looked up at Huang Qi and asked, "Didn't Uncle let her rest?"

Huang Qi replied with a teasing curse, "I'm not a sadist, I let her rest a long time ago."

The two of them approached Chen Youran, looking at the little girl's sweat-covered, pale little face. Shen Chongming spoke up, "Pushing yourself like this won't help."

"It would only wear your body out."

"Body tempering requires a lot of vitality. Your body was too weak before, with a poor foundation. Effort alone can't make up for it."

"I... I took an elixir..."

As Chen Youran softly spoke, the persistent breath in her chest instantly dissipated, and she swayed before plopping down on the ground.

Shen Chongming shook his head, walked over like a small adult, and stretched out his hand.

Chen Youran looked up at him, and struggled to stand up on her own.

Shen Chongming withdrew his hand awkwardly, touched his nose to ease the embarrassment, and said, "No matter how good the elixir is, you need a certain foundation."

"What you need to do now is to build up your stamina first."

As he said that, he patted his own chest, "Look, like me, I can do the stance exercise for four to five hours without feeling anything."

Chen Youran frowned while scrutinizing him for a moment, "How can I build my strength up?"

"Eat meat, eat lots of meat..." Shen Chongming said enthusiastically.

Huang Qi, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile at watching the two little ones.

This little girl named Chen Youran was screened out as a Spirit Root Immortal Seedling, carrying a Wood Spirit Root.

She was screened out together with a little kid named Shi Miao.

Shi Miao is currently being mentored by his uncle, Huang Qingzhou.

The little girl is currently under his training.

But this Chen Youran, whether due to her nature or having been through some ordeal, remained timid and introverted, barely communicating with anyone.

She followed whatever was arranged for her, never being lazy even when not told to stop.

Even like just now, she wouldn't rest when asked.

Diligence was without question, but her body was too weak before, almost to the point where she could be described as skin and bones.

"Still, peers have more to say to one another." Seeing Chen Youran willing to talk to Shen Chongming.

Huang Qi smiled and shook his head and turned into the house.

"I can eat a whole large bowl of rice, just this big."

"And have lots of meat!"

Shen Chongming gestured to demonstrate a bowl bigger than his head as he spoke about his feats of being a "rice bucket."

Chen Youran listened in bewilderment, unconsciously glancing at his belly, seemingly wondering where all that food could fit.

"Body tempering consumes a lot of energy, eating more is normal."

Looking up at the sun hanging high overhead, Shen Chongming suddenly said, "It's noon, I'll take you to my house for lunch!"

"The Martial Arts Hall's meals are good compared to ordinary people, but still not as delicious as my family's."

"This..."

Chen Youran was a bit timid and hesitant.

Shen Chongming simply grabbed her hand and said, "Don't be afraid, it's just adding another set of chopsticks."

Before Chen Youran could say anything, he had already pulled her along out the door.

A moment later, Huang Qi came out of the house carrying a food box, ready to call Chen Youran for dinner, only to find that the Martial Arts Arena was empty except for a Rhino Horn Bow, with both little ones gone.

...

Inside Shen Family Manor.

Hu Yufen came over, feeling a bit tender-hearted, to the timidly standing Chen Youran, carefully pinching her arm.

"Why is this child so skinny?"

Meanwhile, Shen Chongming, while filling a bowl with rice, spoke up, "Grandma, she's hungry."

"Dad said he'll catch a Tuo Dragon from the pond in a few days, I'll bring her to eat then, okay?"

Hu Yufen nodded, and led Chen Youran to the table.

"Dear child, treat it as your own home, eat with peace, eat till you're full."

The Shen family now had no worries about food and drink.

Especially because Shen Chongming and his two brothers are in their crucial stage of body tempering and growth, every meal would be prepared with plenty of meat for the three of them.

Even the rice they ate came from a Spirit Field and contained rare traces of Spiritual Qi.

It's safe to say, the starting point of Shen Chongming and his brothers was no worse than children of ordinary noble families.

Chen Youran cautiously sat down, looking at the bowl of rice piled higher than her head, feeling somewhat bewildered.

Huang Lingxiu walked in, saw the scene, and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "This silly boy is just as dumb as his dad, who fills the bowl so full right away."

"Girl, eat more meat."

She took part of the rice from Chen Youran's bowl and set it aside, "There's more if you finish."

Chen Youran looked up at her, then at Hu Yufen, her nose turned sore, but she said nothing, keeping her head down and quietly ate her rice.

Shen Chongming kept putting pieces of meat into her bowl.

"Eat."

"Eat more meat to build a strong body."

...

In the courtyard, Shen Wenxing had just returned from outside. Huang Lingxiu welcomed him with a smile, "Your son has made a mark."

Shen Wenxing wore a puzzled expression, "What happened?"

Huang Lingxiu motioned towards the kitchen house.

Shen Wenxing peeked inside.

"That seems to be a Spirit Root Immortal Seedling screened a few days ago, named..."

"Chen Youran," Huang Lingxiu chuckled, "Chongming said the girl was weak and brought her over for lunch."

Shen Wenxing seemed surprised, but then shook his head with a smile.

"The little rascal is more promising than his old man."

"However...this little girl is a Spirit Root holder, might be worth considering in the future."

Huang Lingxiu gave him a side-eye, "What are you thinking? Chongming is only seven."

Shen Wenxing smiled awkwardly and said nothing.

In terms of family interests, he truly hopes his son will end up with the Chen family's girl.

Possessing a Spirit Root, she will at least become a Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator in the future.

No matter how much one tries to entice or control, becoming one family is more reliable.

As long as the two kids are willing, he certainly won't stop them.

"Chongming said you're planning to catch a Tuo Dragon to eat in a few days and invited the Chen family's girl. Don't forget about it and let your son embarrass himself in front of her."

Shen Wenxing smiled and nodded: "I'll go catch it right after dinner!"

"By the way, why hasn't Dad come back?"

Looking around the courtyard and not seeing any sign of Shen Yuan, Shen Wenxing asked.

"He must be cultivating."

"He hasn't come back since sending Brother Jinhu and his son off."

Shen Wenxing nodded and then changed the subject: "You're not making any progress. There are so many elixirs at home, yet you haven't even reached Qi Cultivation."

"Do you really want me to become a widower after a hundred years?"

Huang Lingxiu glared and said: "Then you can just remarry then, and find Chongming a stepmother."

"Go, go!" Shen Wenxing waved his hand seriously, "Cultivation matters need to be handled with urgency."

"I've heard that the Liu Family controlled by Qiyun Valley in Fengxian County has conflicted with the Western Wilderness Barbarian Tribe controlled by Hundred Beasts Mountain."

"That Western Wilderness Barbarian Tribe is only separated from us at Yunzhong by the Hidden Dragon Mountain."

"For ordinary mortals, the eight hundred mile Hidden Dragon Mountain might be like a natural barrier, but to cultivators, it's nothing significant."

"In case anything unexpected happens, we should have the ability to protect ourselves, right?"

Huang Lingxiu heard this and put away her playful demeanor, nodding: "Rest assured, husband, I'll go cultivate in a bit."

In the afternoon at Shen Hour.

Shen Yuan came out of the Black Water Pavilion, preparing to perform the Cloud Movement and Rainfall spell in the Spirit Field on those Spirit Rice plants.

The Spirit Rice in the Spirit Field was nearly three years old; barring any unexpected events, it would be ready for harvest by September.

Sitting on the edge of the field after casting the Cloud Movement and Rainfall spell twice, he watched as strands of Spirit Rain fell from the sky, nourishing the tall stalks of Spirit Rice. Shen Yuan slowly sat down.

"Owner."

A villager tasked with guarding the Spirit Rice hurriedly brought over a stool.

Shen Yuan waved it off.

He just wanted to sit on the edge of the field for a while, as he used to, watching the rice plants bowing under the weight of the heavy grains.

A light breeze blew, bringing the unique aroma of Spirit Rice wafting over.

Shen Yuan closed his eyes slightly, inhaling deeply twice.

"Father."

"Immortal Wei has arrived."

Turning around, Shen Yuan saw Wei Qiuling and Yu Jin walking from afar.

Rising from the edge of the field, he brushed the dirt off his clothes and bowed slightly, "Immortal Wei, Fish Fairy."

The two returned the gesture with a slight bow.

Wei Qiuling glanced at the Spirit Field in front of her and said, "I heard from my junior sister that last time, Patriarch Shen treated the Spirit Rice as ordinary rice?"

"Cough, cough...That was a mistake on my part," Shen Wenxing quickly explained.

Wei Qiuling smiled faintly and continued, "Once these Spirit Rice mature, you'll be able to harvest about three to five hundred pounds."

"Patriarch Shen, I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan quickly cupped his hands and said, "Immortal Wei, you're too polite. Whatever the matter, please feel free to speak."

Wei Qiuling nodded, "Spirit Rice is considered an important cultivation resource in the Immortal Sect."

"The ration distributed daily to disciples includes Spirit Rice."

"I've come to request if Patriarch Shen could sell some of the Spirit Rice to us at Luoxia Mountain when it's harvested."

Buying Spirit Rice?

Shen Yuan furrowed his brow but then smiled and said, "What is Immortal Wei saying?"

"I've heard that other Immortal Sects require their affiliated noble families to offer Spirit Rice as tribute."

"The Shen Family has been favored by Luoxia Mountain, granted this area of Yunshui Town, and very often, Immortal Wei has taken good care of us."

"Naturally, we should provide tribute just like other noble families do."

Wei Qiuling waved her hands repeatedly, "Patriarch Shen, you've misunderstood. The Shen Family is not like those other noble families."

"To us at Luoxia Mountain, the Shen Family is a friend."

"The Spirit Rice should naturally be purchased."

"That's not appropriate," Shen Yuan waved his hands with a smile, "Before the arrival of immortals at Yangnao Land, I farmed the fifteen acres bought by Master Lu, still needing to pay rent upon harvest."

"Immortal Wei is adamant about not requiring this tribute; the Shen Family is in a difficult position."

"Well…" Wei Qiuling seemed to be in a dilemma, contemplated for a long while, and finally said, "Since Patriarch Shen insists, then I'll have to accept the tribute."

Shen Yuan nodded with a smile, "As it should be, as it should be."

"Immortal Wei, please name a figure, and once we've harvested the Spirit Rice, I'll have my son deliver it to Yunzhong County City."

Wei Qiuling thought for a moment and said, "Then two hundred pounds. Does that work for Patriarch Shen?"

Shen Yuan nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, two hundred pounds."

"Immortal Wei, the fields are too hot, please come to the manor for some tea."

Shen Yuan gestured with his hand, leading the group towards the manor.

Upon reaching the side room, Wei Qiuling took a sip of tea and said, "Lately, there have been many demon beasts in the mountains. If the Shen Family happens to hunt any, please don't discard the hides and scales."

"Many demon beasts have materials suitable for artifact refining. At Luoxia Mountain, we also have experts in artifact refining. Patriarch Shen could sell some materials to Luoxia Mountain in exchange for essential items."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan exchanged a surprised look with Shen Wenxing, "Luoxia Mountain is skilled in the Artifact Refining Dao as well?"

Wei Qiuling smiled faintly and nodded, "Not that skilled."

"But many disciples are skilled in refining; Jin'Er here has decent talent in the Dao of refining and is good at crafting some magical robes."

"I remember Fairy Pei mentioning that Luoxia Mountain is known as 'weaving cloud brocade as cloth, refining sunset glow as garments'!" Shen Wenxing exclaimed in realization.

Wei Qiuling smiled, "That's just praise from fellow Daoists."

After hearing this, Shen Yuan thought for a moment and said, "To be honest, Immortal Wei, we do have some demon beast hides and scales at home."

"Since Fish Fairy is skilled at crafting magical robes...." He turned to Yu Jin, cupping his hands, "I humbly request Fish Fairy to help the Shen Family craft some magical robes, would that be possible?"

"Rest assured, Fairy; whatever compensation is needed, the Shen Family won't shortchange you."

Yu Jin seemed troubled and looked towards Wei Qiuling.

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