The White Lotus Fairy hid under the quilt, looking pitifully at Shen Xuan.

Last night, she had devoted all her efforts to serving Shen Xuan.

"I will go out to welcome the Patriarch of the Zhou Family first."

"Hiding is not a solution. The White Lotus still needs to come out and meet them."

Shen Xuan put on his clothes and went straight out of the Rain Listening Pavilion.

Outside the door, the Patriarch of the Zhou Family was furious, and his expression did not improve even upon seeing Shen Xuan.

The two of them entered the Rain Listening Pavilion.

Su Xue'Er obediently presented steaming spirit tea.

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family took a symbolic sip of the spirit tea before starting to speak.

"Talisman Master Shen, it's not that I'm making a fuss without reason. This time, the White Lotus really went too far!"

"She dared to steal the Strong Water Ape's corpse, which belonged to the patriarch. The Strong Water Ape had accompanied the patriarch for over a hundred years and made great contributions to his cultivation."

"After it died of old age, the patriarch was reluctant to disassemble it for refining."

"This time, the White Lotus went too far!"

Shen Xuan agreed, "The White Lotus was out of line! At the very least, she should have informed the patriarch!"

"It's merely a water demon's corpse. Why would the patriarch be stingy with it?"

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family remained silent.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply.

"Talisman Master Shen, you are a Sect Disciple and don't have a deep understanding of our cultivation clans."

"With many clan members and scarce resources, everyone wants strong support from the clan."

"Many things cannot be decided solely by the patriarch and myself."

Shen Xuan smiled slightly, "The White Lotus is the only Foundation Establishment Realm female cultivator in the Zhou Family."

"So what! She doesn't follow the clan's arrangements! Not removing her from the family registry is already generous!"

"Have some tea!"

Shen Xuan picked up the teacup and took a slight sip.

"Has Brother Zhou considered that if something unusual happens, there must be a reason?"

"Oh? What do you mean by that, Talisman Master Shen?"

"The Water Ape's corpse was of no use sitting with the patriarch. Sooner or later, it would have been disassembled and sold off."

Shen Xuan waved his hand, stopping the Patriarch of the Zhou Family from arguing.

The Patriarch did indeed have feelings for the Strong Water Ape.

They had been together for a hundred years, sharing life and death.

People are not emotionless plants.

But that did not prevent the patriarch from desiring to disassemble the corpse, extract the demon core, and sell the bones and flesh.

This is normal behavior for a Beast Taming Cultivator.

"If in the hands of the White Lotus, she could possibly resurrect the Strong Water Ape?"

"Impossible!"

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family stated decisively, "To bring back a Tier Two Water Demon from the dead, not even a Nascent Soul True Monarch can accomplish such a divine power!"

"Indeed. Resurrection is impossible. However, if it was refined into a corpse beast, retrieving eighty percent of its former strength..."

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family looked utterly shocked.

"The Taiyin Corpse Refinement Technique?"

"Oh, Brother Zhou has heard of this technique?"

"This is the supreme skill of the Corpse Refining Sect! How could I not have heard of it!"

"No way! This technique is a closely guarded secret within the Corpse Refining Sect, rarely passed on! Talisman Master Shen, don't be deceived!"

Shen Xuan smiled faintly.

"Come with me, Brother Zhou!"

He led the Patriarch of the Zhou Family to the Corpse Beast Pool.

He moved his Divine Thought slightly.

A Golden Eagle Corpse Beast and a Teng Snake Corpse Beast appeared.

"This..."

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family's expression was extremely complex.

At times, it was shockingly unexpected; at others, he hid a hint of pleasure.

These two demon beast corpses had originally been sold to Shen Xuan by the Zhou Family.

Unexpectedly, Shen Xuan truly possessed the Inheritance of the Taiyin Corpse Beast Technique.

The abacus started quickly calculating in his mind.

The White Lotus stealing the Strong Water Ape must have been to use it for refining into a corpse beast.

In that case, it meant Shen Xuan had taught the Taiyin Corpse Beast Technique to White Lotus.

If the White Lotus obtained the inheritance, wouldn't it mean the Zhou Family had as well?

The Zhou Family was already skilled in Beast Taming.

With the Taiyin Corpse Beast Technique, deceased spirit beasts could be reutilized.

It would be like adding wings to a tiger!

The number one cultivation clan in Cyan Yang Prefecture, absolutely assured!

After contemplating for a long while.

The Patriarch of the Zhou Family sighed deeply.

"Bring out Zhou Bailian, I need to have a good talk with her!"

"Rest assured, the issue with the Strong Water Ape's corpse will no longer be pursued. I will bear the responsibility!"

Upon hearing the Patriarch's promise, Shen Xuan communicated to the White Lotus Fairy.

Telling her not to hide.

To come out and meet her father.

The two closed the door for the meeting.

They engaged in a long private conversation.

An hour later, the door reopened.

The Patriarch's expression returned to normal.

Shen Xuan understood clearly.

The father and daughter must have reached an agreement.

It's highly likely related to the inheritance of the Taiyin Corpse Beast Technique.

Shen Xuan did not mind this.

He had no intention of founding a sect, much less creating a family.

He did not place such importance on the inheritance of cultivation techniques.

No matter what cultivation technique, it requires the cultivation realm as a foundation.

Without strength, no matter how good the technique, it is all in vain.

Politics is the art of compromise.

Immortal Zhou Bailian took advantage and cheerfully entertained her father.

She appeared to be the mistress of the Rain Listening Pavilion.

At noon, the Zhou family patriarch was sipping wine at the Rain Listening Pavilion.

The table was set with none other than the Spring Breeze Intoxication produced by the Zhou family.

Shen Xuan chatted with him for a while.

He inquired about the conflict between Dao and Demon sects.

"Master Gu Feng didn't tell Talisman Master Shen?"

The Zhou family patriarch pondered for a moment and explained the matter to Shen Xuan.

The conflict between Dao and Demon sects is not only something the Daoist and Demon sects are willing to advance.

Even powerful cultivation clans like theirs are willing to sit and watch it unfold.

"Ah! How could it be so?"

"Otherwise, how could it be?"

The Zhou family patriarch revealed the reason.

"There have long been no traces of demon beasts in Cyan Yang Prefecture. As cultivators increase, the gap in cultivation resources supply is widening."

Shen Xuan immediately understood.

This was the same as the Flame Secret Realm.

To maintain their status, they must eliminate some unstable factors.

An excess of loose cultivators, especially those in the Foundation Establishment Realm, is detrimental to the sects and cultivation clans' rule.

"Without the conflict between Dao and Demon sects, how could our Zhou family's spirit beasts, the Zhao family's spirit pills, and the Wu family's magical artifacts be sold?"

"Understood!"

The Zhou, Zhao, and Wu families are akin to small arms dealers.

They follow behind the sects, picking up small scraps.

The real gainers are always the various Daoist and Demon sects.

In the eyes of Daoist sect core disciples, this is a good opportunity to earn sect contribution points.

In the eyes of the Demon sect Saintess and Saint Child, all cultivators are cultivation resources.

So, the conflict between Dao and Demon sects is actually a conflict of interests.

Fortunately, Shen Xuan, with his past life's perspective, was well-informed and quickly grasped the situation.

Ordinary loose cultivators, lacking systematic education, cannot see through the essence of the Dao and Demon sect conflict.

Those passionate cultivators, who aim to eliminate demons, are the first to become cannon fodder.

Even their corpses and divine souls would be refined into demon artifacts by Demon Cultivators.

After sending off the Zhou family patriarch, Shen Xuan fell into deep thought.

Thankfully, he was naturally cautious and didn't rashly begin a conflict.

Even if Wu Yulan and Murong Jun were killed, it wouldn't change the situation in Cyan Yang Prefecture.

The Blood Spirit Sect would send other Saintesses and Saint Children to take over.

And not just Cyan Yang Prefecture.

All the border areas in Song Country connected to Liang Country are like this.

The conflict between Dao and Demon sects will involve all seven Daoist sects of Song Country and all six Demon sects of Liang Country.

Those truly suffering are the small and medium-sized cultivation clans and the great number of loose cultivators.

And the mortals who are seen as ants by cultivators.

The Heavenly Dao is neither good nor evil.

All things in the world are within the Heavenly Dao.

No matter how strong a cultivator is, they are as insignificant as sand before the Heavenly Dao.

The Zhou family patriarch's words strengthened Shen Xuan's determination to seek immortality and enlightenment.

He must become strong!

Only by becoming strong can one transcend the cycle of the Heavenly Dao.

"What are you thinking about, Shen Lang?"

Immortal Zhou Bailian gently hugged Shen Xuan from behind.

Shen Xuan's performance today benefited her greatly.

Her father had changed from resentment to admiration for her.

He even inquired if there was a way, even if it meant asking the ancestor to intervene, for Shen Xuan to formalize their marriage.

Regarding this, Immortal Zhou Bailian just gave a wry smile.

She asked her father not to interfere, lest it backfire and affect her relationship with Shen Xuan.

"Shen Lang will stay in Cyan Yang Prefecture for more than twenty years!"

"At least for this period, Shen Lang belongs to me."

As for Su Xue'Er.

A mere concubine.

Immortal Zhou Bailian did not care about her.

Who can accurately predict what will happen twenty years from now?

"No problem! I'll teach you how to refine corpse beasts!"

Shen Xuan smiled slightly.

Towards Immortal Zhou Bailian's gentleness, he revealed a hint of appreciation.

The two would be together for more than twenty years.

Immortal Zhou Bailian's enhancement in strength would also benefit him.

The Taiyin Corpse Beast Technique is a secret technique inheritance of the Corpse Refining Sect.

After Immortal Zhou Bailian learned it, the Zhou family would benefit greatly, gaining another core family inheritance.

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