Chapter 263

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Ren Yangjue held a jade box in his hand, inside which were the spirit grasses he wanted.

The spirit grasses were harvested from the center of the secret realm, and because Ren Yangjue acted early, his current quantity of spirit grasses was sufficient for cultivation use.

"Not just me, but Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master as well," Ren Yangjue pinched his fingers, laying out some of his thoughts completely.

With himself as this little white mouse who had tried them in advance, Ren Yangjue knew the effects of these spirit grasses were significant after consumption, especially for fire spirit roots, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

Shen Yao hummed twice in acknowledgment and nodded, then switched topics, smiling as she showed off the few demon beast birds she had hatched to her fine grown son.

Not to mention, these bird babies were not the same species as the avian demon beasts killed.

"They somewhat resemble Xuan Yin Birds, only their feather colors are more vibrant," and their cries were clear and pleasant, extremely capable of soothing cultivators' emotions.

Shen Yao spread her fingers, letting an orange-red little bird land in her palm.

The little bird, raised by her to be unafraid of strangers, chirped and chattered for a good while, but was ultimately attracted away by the spirit grasses nearby.

Ren Yangjue hadn't expected his birth mother to have such talent in beast taming.

He stroked his chin, also uncertain of these birds' species, but since they posed no threat, keeping them as boredom-relief tools wasn't bad either.

The mother and son stayed in the cave for several more days, waiting until it was calm outside before packing up and setting off.

They didn't leave immediately; Ren Yangjue planned to simply stroll around the surroundings, conveniently accompanying his birth mother to harvest various spirit grasses.

With her fine grown son for company, Shen Yao didn't need to worry about her own safety, but by the same token, she couldn't smuggle things into her space, only able to temporarily use an external storage bag until it was full, and even though she felt it was a pity, they could only leave.

"Sigh, preparation wasn't thorough enough; had I known, I would have left more storage bags outside."

Shen Yao complained to the system about thinking too little, such a good stocking opportunity, there wouldn't be many chances like this next time.

The system was puzzled, "Host, wouldn't preparing too many storage bags seem strange to others?"

Even if the Host can plant and refine pills, harvesting too many ordinary and useless spirit grasses would still arouse others' suspicion, right?

"That's why I'm just saying, after seeing Yangjue off and leaving here, I'll explore a few open secret realms myself."

A person isn't always unlucky; Shen Yao firmly believed her bad luck had passed, and the trump cards she should prepare for the next world absolutely couldn't be few.

System:...

From entering the secret realm to exiting it, it took about three months.

Because this secret realm of Wuyou Mountain belonged to a semi-open secret realm but was hard to find the entrance.

By the time the two left, wanting to enter again through the exit entrance was no longer possible.

"This is a moving entrance?" Shen Yao propped her chin, the appearance of some inconceivable things was very common in the cultivation world.

"The secret realm entrance is at Wuyou Mountain; as long as one puts in the effort to search, one can always enter," the reason it hadn't spread also had to do with the precious spiritual herbs growing inside the secret realm being suitable only for fire spirit roots.

Single spirit root cultivators in the cultivation world were too few, and not everyone was like Ren Yangjue having the energy, strength, and patience; more felt it wasn't worth it, simply abandoning this place was also a choice.

"Mother, Master sent word that in a few days I must return to the sect for closed-door cultivation, you..." Ren Yangjue wanted Shen Yao to go along together.

Guiyun Sect's territory was truly vast, and there were quite a few secret realms around it.

Relying on his connections, his birth mother's standing in Guiyun Sect, while not comparable to some true disciples, could still compare with inner sect disciples.

Shen Yao quickly organized her thoughts and agreed to Ren Yangjue with a beaming smile, she would go to Guiyun Sect.

Ren Yangjue, who still wanted to persuade more:... Huh?

"Host, weren't you going to enter a secret realm?" This was said to it only a few days ago, how come the mind changed again.

The system stammered, simultaneously truly unable to understand its own host.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. Besides, there are more secret realms on Guiyun Sect's territory."

She didn't like going to Lingxiao Hall and Lingyun Sect, essentially because these two sects both leaned toward combat, and the disciples inside were all involution kings.

Guiyun Sect counted as a clear stream among them, suitable for Shen Yao's lazy and scattered personality.

Ren Yangjue reacted very decisively too; since his birth mother was willing to go with him, what more was there to say, hurriedly pack up and leave.

Letting his birth mother wait at the inn first, Ren Yangjue made a trip to the several forces of Liyou City.

When they explored the secret realm together before, they had made relevant agreements; now Ren Yangjue was doing this to avoid future worries, handling the agreed matters in advance.

After all, Guiyun Sect was not a sect that the several forces of Liyou City could afford to offend.

Ren Yangjue's negotiation trip went smoothly, only presenting the previously agreed rewards with both hands, the rest no longer needed Ren Yangjue to interfere.

Despite holding these rewards, the several forces all appeared extremely guilty.

Heavens above, they clearly did nothing? Would accepting this lead to trouble later?

Anxious and cautious in their hearts, until they repeatedly confirmed that Ren Yangjue and Shen Yao had already left Liyou City, only then did they dare breathe a sigh of relief.

However, at the moment their hearts settled, deeper ambitions slowly seeped out.

There really are many treasures in the Wuyou Mountain secret realm; now that Guiyun Sect isn't pressing down on their heads, wouldn't exploring it themselves be more profitable?

Those treasures taken from the secret realm were like an endless stream of tempting chips luring them into the abyss; the several forces of Liyou City were unsurprisingly tempted and secretly laid plans in the dark.

"Not afraid that once these spirit grasses are used up, you won't be able to pick them next time?"

Shen Yao sat on the magic artifact, opposite her was a carefree-looking Ren Yangjue.

"Mother, there are many secret realms inside Guiyun Sect; they can be replanted there."

The Wuyou Mountain secret realm at most only counts as a relatively special one; finding a complete replacement in Guiyun Sect is somewhat difficult, but finding a similar one isn't too hard.

At the initial departure from the sect, Ren Yangjue's master had once instructed Ren Yangjue to try to preserve the spirit grasses' roots and soil, taking a sustainable development route.

Shen Yao:...

Didn't expect her fine grown son to have thought of these long ago; no wonder he would hire Liyou City's forces, probably also meaning to make Liyou City's forces take the blame.

Ren Yangjue shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head to deny his birth mother's slander, "Your son only engaged in normal transactions; whatever they choose to do next is their own choice," and what does that have to do with him.

If they truly were insatiably greedy and organized manpower to continue wandering around the Wuyou Mountain Secret Realm, then the losses that appear wouldn't need him to make up for them.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao rolled her eyes in annoyance, thinking to herself that he sure knew how to talk, but having witnessed the massive benefits of the Wuyou Mountain Secret Realm, who could remain unmoved like a mountain and calm like still water? Everyone hated that they couldn't take everything inside out to supplement household expenses and add a few more layers of trump cards for themselves.

Alas, greed, this kind of thing, is most unacceptable.

Skipping this topic, the mother and son traveled at full speed; if they encountered anything on the road they would also stop for a bit. According to Ren Yangjue's words, he was returning to secluded cultivation intending to break through and advance further; who knew how long it would be before he emerged again, he definitely had to take the opportunity to accompany his birth mother more.

The three children had a good mother-son relationship with Shen Yao, including the relatively busy Ren Yangzuo and Ren Yangyao, who would all try to squeeze out time to visit her.

Even in the Cultivation World, blood ties aren't something that can be severed just because you say so.

Because Ren Yangjue brought Shen Yao along on the journey, three months later, they arrived at the Guiyun Sect.

Shen Yao and Ren Yangjue entered the sect directly, paid a visit to Ren Yangjue's master, and met a few senior brothers and sisters who usually took good care of their family's kid; then Shen Yao settled down on Ren Yangjue's turf.

Ren Yangjue had already had a brief talk with his master the very moment he returned to the sect, then took the spirit grasses he had gathered and entered closed-door cultivation.

Ren Yangjue had also given instructions regarding Shen Yao's side; he even left his own jade tablet behind so that Shen Yao could live smoothly in the Guiyun Sect.

Shen Yao's life was indeed not bad; when free she would tend the few spirit fields at Ren Yangjue's residence, occasionally spending Ren Yangjue's jade tablet points to exchange for quotas to enter ordinary secret realms.

Living in the Guiyun Sect, Shen Yao's own cultivation realm didn't change much, but the storage bag she brought out was packed full to the brim.

The Guiyun Sect is truly generous; the spirit grasses in those ordinary secret realms are rich and varied, and after a certain time people would come in to sow and supplement them; Shen Yao gathered them without the slightest hesitation.

She could even take missions at the Task Hall, refine a few bottles of low-grade pills to exchange for points, ensuring she didn't just eat the mountain empty.

In a flash, several years passed; Ren Yangjue's closed-door cultivation still had no movement.

Shen Yao glanced behind her, thought of the transmission talisman she had received, and decided to put away the spirit grasses in the spirit fields first, then leave the Guiyun Sect.

As for Ren Yangjue, when he entered seclusion before, the mother and son had discussed this matter; Shen Yao couldn't possibly stay in the Guiyun Sect forever without leaving.

After sorting out her things, and handling what should be sold or bought, Shen Yao left a letter at the residence, picked up her package, and rode the sect's transport spirit crane, slowly flying out the mountain gate.

There were flying boats at the marketplace at the foot of the Guiyun Sect mountain; Shen Yao spent spirit stones to buy a boat ticket, then headed toward Yunxia Valley with a calm face.

That's right; the news she received concerned Huang Ying's body.

Huang Ying was older than her, and had been unable to break through for many years; her lifespan was nearing its end.

As one of Shen Yao's few friends in Yunxia Valley, receiving a letter from her, Shen Yao naturally wanted to see her off one last time, even if rushing back now might already be too late.

All along the way, Shen Yao didn't rely on herself to travel; she took a flying boat the whole way, spending a considerable sum of spirit stones.

Until her footsteps landed inside Yunxia Valley, looking at the bright morning sun rising in the distance, Shen Yao only then relaxed and exhaled a breath; she was back.

Having been gone for several decades, she ultimately still rushed back; just didn't know what Huang Ying's situation was like right now.

"Shen Junior Sister, I originally wanted to take this chance to return to my roots, but later felt being buried in Yunxia Valley wasn't bad either; having entered the sect since childhood, this place has long been the existence of home," even returning to her birthplace couldn't bring her soul solace.

It was still different after all; Huang Ying lay on the chair, her complexion pale as paper.

Shen Yao sat opposite, smiling as she spoke of her travels and experiences over the many years she had been away.

Not to mention anything else, witnessing so many different things truly broadens one's heart and mind, preventing one from being confined to the present.

Shen Yao accompanied Huang Ying for half a year, until she saw Huang Ying off from this world.

The coffin was buried, a stone stele placed beside it, with only a single short line of text summarizing Huang Ying's life.

Ordinary people like Huang Ying, there are still many in this world; they aren't geniuses, and even exhausting all their strength they couldn't leave a single trace.

Her hand unconsciously touched the stone stele before her; Shen Yao bent her waist and spoke again, until the sun slanted west and the moon showed its face, then Shen Yao returned to her residence.

Not rushing out to travel, Shen Yao simply stayed in Yunxia Valley for a few years.

During this period she received a transmission talisman sent by Ren Yangzuo, who had already emerged from seclusion.

He successfully broke through to Golden Core, reached Nascent Soul, and is a young genius who broke through in less than a hundred years at the Lingxiao Hall.

Ren Yangyao's cultivation is also not bad; he entered seclusion as early as when Ren Yangjue did, but currently he, like Ren Yangjue, has no movement.

However, looking at the time Ren Yangzuo spent in seclusion, it should be soon.

Tsk tsk tsk

"Host, you've been targeted."

The system abruptly popped out, saying a sentence that came out of nowhere.

Shen Yao remained impassive; at this moment she was holding a transmission talisman in her hand, its content clearly the good news of Ren Yangyao successfully advancing to Nascent Soul.

"They wouldn't dare; moreover, my body only has a few decades left anyway."

Shen Yao spoke lightly, but the furrowed lines between her brows still made her displeased.

She understood what the system meant by targeting her.

First Ren Yangzuo, then Ren Yangyao; Ren Yangjue's side most probably also has good news.

Three cultivators who advanced to Nascent Soul at a young age are treasures to any cultivation family.

These three people were all born by Shen Yao; isn't that saying Shen Yao's ability is sufficiently powerful?

Although it's an interrogative sentence, the implication is a declarative sentence; these people's purpose is to want Shen Yao to give birth to the same bloodline and contribute to their own families.

Cultivation families and mortal world families don't have too much difference.

"I have three sons with Nascent Soul cultivation; forcing me isn't worth it," at most inducement.

Shen Yao had just finished speaking with the system on this side, when on the other side people came running to Yunxia Valley to visit.

The visitors' identities were not low; Yunxia Valley's Sect Master simply couldn't withstand them.

Shen Yao saw wave after wave of visitors; the only benefit was that Shen Yao held the initiative; without her nodding, no one dared to clash head-on with her.

But this is only temporary; if Ren Yangjue truly successfully advances to Nascent Soul, then there will be people daring to take risks and come knocking, or rather, the Shen Family of the Northern Border!

Hu

Shen Yao simply sent a transmission talisman back to Ren Yangyao and Ren Yangzuo respectively, and didn't go out herself, just stayed in Yunxia Valley and waited.

Ren Yangzuo arrived first, Ren Yangyao came later; two Nascent Soul cultivators already count as upper combat power in the cultivation world; with the top combat power not yet showing their faces, the two of them can go to any place.

Shen Yao wasted no words, voicing her worries, and did not forget to remind them to make a trip to the Northern Border, hoping they could wait until Ren Yangjue left seclusion so the whole family of four could go together.

Problems had to be solved; Shen Yao's memories of the Shen Family in the Northern Border were blurry, but the genuine blood ties could not fool others.

Ren Yangyao and Ren Yangzuo exchanged a glance, and Ren Yangyao spoke up, "Mother, do you have any grudges with the Shen Family?"

They rarely heard topics about the Northern Border, showing that their own mother and her maiden family were on bad terms.

"Not exactly grudges, but not good either," so it was best that each stayed well on their own.