Chapter 309: Chen Yuan Persuades Shang Yingnian

"Chen Yuan, what's going on with your strength? Why is it improving so quickly?"

After the Longshe Cheng incident ended, Shang Yingnian and Chen Yuan, the two in‑laws, met again, glaring at each other.

The aura around Chen Yuan could not be concealed at all—forceful and terrifying; even without displaying his cultivation, one could feel that pressure, especially Shang Yingnian, whose sensed aura was dreadful. Previously Chen Yuan was like a small stream; now he is a river. The change is enormous.

Comparing himself, Shang Yingnian realized the gap was huge, and he couldn't help exclaiming.

It's truly terrifying; in such a short time his cultivation has multiplied many times, while his own cultivation remains stagnant.

"Hahaha, Brother Shang, my strength is just that—improving slowly; I'm unworthy, I am only at the third heaven of the Empty Core."

Empty Core, Inner Core, Golden Core, three levels of realms, each level a heaven and an earth.

Chen Yuan has already consecutively advanced two heavens; this speed, faster than before he condensed the Core, could not fail to make Shang Yingnian envious.

He quickly grabbed Chen Yuan's arm, pulling him aside; seeing no one else around, Shang Yingnian whispered, "Brother Chen, is it my son‑in‑law who helped you advance?"

Chen Yuan immediately shook his head: "No, no, no, you're wrong. My current cultivation comes from my day‑and‑night diligent training, and has nothing to do with my useless son. Brother Shang, elder brother Shang, as for you, stop envying."

"My talent has always been above yours, surpassing you, which is a trivial matter; you, too, need not be discouraged—truly, compared with me, it's your sorrow."

"But rest assured, I won't mock you; your weaker strength is not your fault, and your slow progress is not your problem—perhaps your talent is inferior to mine. You must recognize that talent is innate, unrelated to post‑natal effort."

Chen Yuan patted Shang Yingnian's shoulder; the words didn't look like mockery, yet they sounded even more like it.

It's all mockery; every word combined is mockery.

Shang Yingnian's face turned dark.

Staring at Chen Yuan, he clenched his fist, ready to strike at any moment.

He held back, forcing himself not to get angry, not to act.

But he truly couldn't stand Chen Yuan's smug face—it was too… disgusting.

"Brother Chen, this is wrong; you have good things to share with me, and my son‑in‑law has been stuck on Longshe Shan without coming down. I can't also go settle on Longshe Shan, can I?"

Threat.

A blunt threat.

That is your son, and also my son‑in‑law.

My daughter resides on Longshe Shan; as a father, I can go to look after her, no problem, right?

Chen Yuan, upon hearing that, was indifferent: "Do as you wish; you can go whenever you like, I'm not forbidding you."

Anyway we're all in‑laws; we're all family.

The son didn't say he couldn't go.

Chen Yuan accepted the fact that Shang Yingnian is family; his son and that girl Shang Hongxue's matter is already set in stone, unchangeable.

Shang Hongxue is devoted to her son and could not like anyone else.

With his son's methods, manipulating a small Shang Hongxue is more than easy.

"Brother Chen, Chen Yuan, you can't be like this; share some of your good stuff with me."

Shang Yingnian doesn't want to live on Longshe Shan, mainly because it's too shameful.

As an elder, he can't always go to the younger's place to idle.

He also can't let his daughter be embarrassed; frequent visits would lower her standing.

Shang Yingnian isn't unwilling to go; for his daughter and the Shang Clan's reputation, he endures.

His son can go, his daughter can go, only he cannot.

But seeing Chen Yuan's cultivation rise so fast—already at the third heaven of the Empty Core—if he continues to hold back, won't he be stuck while Chen Yuan reaches the Inner Core?

The Chen Clan has produced two condensed Cores, whereas the Shang Clan shows no movement; the gap widens.

Shang Yingnian also wants to take that step, but it's too difficult.

"There's no good stuff, but, elder brother Shang, I tell you, you must not tell anyone else: my son—your son‑in‑law—has quite a few good things, so you must work harder and not avoid it for a bit of face."

"Take that step soon, and you'll be at ease soon."

"You know best my son's capability; since he took control of Longshe Shan, my Chen Clan has flourished."

"Your Shang Clan and our Chen Clan are of one breath; I don't want to see your Shang Clan make no progress, so…"

Chen Yuan's words were heartfelt; Longshe Cheng is changing too fast, and relying on the Chen Clan cannot serve as Protector.

The Chen Clan needs help; rather than letting others rise, it's better to assist the Shang Clan to rise.

When they become fully powerful, they will control other towns, then relocate the Shang Clan there, forming a cornered stance that fully shields the rear, and at the same time obtain more resources, using this as a base to gain a chance for rapid rise.

Every family's rise must follow the path of plunder.

Longshe Cheng's resources have been cleanly divided between the Chen Clan and the Shang Clan; they can no longer generate resources internally, only plunder. As they grow strong, they naturally plunder weaker families—this timeless principle is also the inevitable road for clan rise.

Shang Yingnian heard this, his expression solemn, gazing at Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan said gravely, "Elder brother Shang, you see clearly that the Great Qi Dynasty is about to fall into turmoil; those sects are stirring, other families are restless. To rise, one must strengthen one's own power."

"The Yin Gui Sect is also making moves; although they dare not attack our Longshe Cheng, they have long begun arranging wars in other towns—they never left, only shifted."

"We must prepare in advance; the Shang Clan's rise brings only benefit, no harm, to my Chen Clan."

With Chen Chuyang here, the Chen Clan's position is unshakable.

Moreover, the Chen Clan's strength is great; the younger generation has matured, no need to worry about the Shang Clan.

A single Shang Hongchen is not worth worrying about.

Shang Yingnian was moved.

He understood Chen Yuan's thinking and knew the Chen Clan needed allies; rather than seeking others, it was better to make use of the Shang Clan cheaply.

The Shang Clan and the Chen Clan have cooperated for many years, accumulating enough trust.

Other families, Shang Yingnian does not trust.

Chen Yuan feels the same; the two families' fates are intertwined. The marriage between Chen Chuyang and Shang Hongxue was only finalized after repeated study and deliberation, a joint decision of both families.

Chen Yuan patted Shang Yingnian's shoulder, seriously saying, "Elder brother Shang, make a trip to Longshe Shan; there you'll find what you need."

"Alright, that's all I have to say; whether you go or not is up to you."

After saying that, Chen Yuan waved his hand and left.

He knew that Shang Yingnian would definitely go to Longshe Shan—for the Shang Clan, for himself, and for Shang Hongxue—he would certainly go.

By then, their two families will be completely connected.

In Longshe Cheng, the status of their two families is unshakable.