Chapter 254: Are you beating the kid? Join in?

Half a day later.

Countless golden lights poured down from the sky, dispersing the dark clouds, as if auspicious omens had descended upon the world.

The people below all raised their heads, gazing up at the sky.

"What's going on?"

At this moment, eight dragon roars echoed throughout the entire capital.

A sharp-eyed person pointed toward the distant sky.

"Look, there are seven-colored auspicious clouds!"

In the distance, seven-colored auspicious clouds could be seen approaching the capital, with several figures faintly visible within them.

The people cheered, their eyes filled with reverence: "The Eight Dragon Roar Horn! Seven-colored auspicious clouds! It's the sages! The sages have returned!"

"That's wonderful!"

"It's the sages! The sages have returned!"

As these sages arrived above the capital, they each went their separate ways.

One wore a fiery red robe; wherever he passed, warmth spread, even the dignified snow melting away—he was the master of the Heavenly Craft Workshop.

Another wore a blue-green short jacket; wherever he went, even old trees sprouted new buds—he was the head of the Divine Agriculture Institute.

Such scenes occurred everywhere, with all kinds of wondrous phenomena unfolding.

Among them, two streaks of light flew toward the Shen family, soon landing before the Shen clan ancestral hall.

The Shen family had long been waiting here, and they all shouted in unison.

"We pay our respects to the two distant ancestors."

One was Shen Lin; the other was Shen Yun, the eldest son of Shen Wendao, and thus the origin of Shen Qing's lineage.

The two smiled, waving their hands, gazing warmly at the Shen family.

But at this moment, Shen Lin noticed something amiss: why had he not seen a single person from the second lineage?

Shen Lin instinctively sensed something wrong and called out to stop the crowd's cheers.

"Where are the people of the second lineage? Where did they go?"

As soon as he spoke, the crowd fell silent, everyone glancing at each other, too afraid to speak.

Shen Lin grabbed an elder by the collar: "You say! Where are the people of the second lineage?"

At this moment, Shen Qing's voice came: "No need to ask—I've slaughtered them all."

In an instant, a brutal aura surged forth—it was Shen Lin, glaring at Shen Qing: "What did you say?"

Shen Qing stepped out of the ancestral hall: "Was I not clear enough?"

"Then I'll say it again."

"They were killed by me for stealing the Heaven-Stealing Pill—do you understand now?"

Upon hearing the three words "Heaven-Stealing Pill," Shen Lin's face changed, and he lunged to grab Shen Qing.

But before he could even extend his hand, Shen Yun seized him, Shen Yun's expression also grim.

"Don't rush, younger brother."

"This child just mentioned the Heaven-Stealing Pill—we need to get the facts straight."

Turning to Shen Qing, he said: "Child, which lineage are you from, and what is your name? Speak clearly—what is the Heaven-Stealing Pill?"

It was obvious that Shen Yun had also heard of the Heaven-Stealing Pill, and its reputation was certainly not good.

Shen Qing pointed at Shen Lin: "I'm too lazy to explain too much to this dead man."

He then turned his gaze to Shen Yun: "I am Shen Qing, from the first lineage—I should call you distant ancestor; I'll explain in detail later."

Shen Lin laughed angrily: "Good, good, good—what an arrogant junior! Today I will surely teach you a lesson!"

Shen Yun flashed forward to block Shen Qing, circulating his technique to shield Shen Qing.

"Younger brother, though the child spoke hastily, we still need to clarify things—we must get to the bottom of the Heaven-Stealing Pill."

Killing intent flared in Shen Lin's eyes—he could not allow Shen Qing to continue speaking.

"Just relying on you, elder brother, you can't stop me!"

Shen Yun was on high alert.

But at this moment, a cold voice sounded from behind Shen Lin: "Shen Yun can't stop you—can I?"

Shen Lin's brutal aura halted abruptly, instantly dissipating; his body trembled, and he dared not turn his head.

"Father..."

Upon seeing Shen Wendao's face clearly, all the Shen family members froze, but quickly they reacted, all dropping to their knees and shouting loudly.

"Shen family juniors pay respects to the old ancestor!"

Shen Lin's voice trembled: "Father... how did you return... you weren't..."

Shen Wendao let out a cold snort: "Shen Lin, judging by your words, you don't seem to want me back—do you wish I had died in that realm?"

Shen Qing couldn't help but laugh.

Still the old generation's way—even in a certain victory, one must first pin a hat on the opponent.

The next moment, Shen Wendao shot out a palm, directly seizing Shen Lin's throat and lifting him high.

"Shen Lin, I have something to ask you—was this Heaven-Stealing Pill passed down by you to the Shen family juniors? If so, you've done quite well."

Shen Wendao's voice carried a chill, making everyone's spines turn cold.

Shen Lin's eyes filled with pleading: "Father, hear me out..."

But Shen Wendao had no intention of listening, and the pressure in his hand only increased.

At this moment, a voice came from the sky.

"Yo! Old Shen, beating the kid? Join in?"

Only then did they see Martial Emperor Zhu Wu holding an old man in his hand like a dead dog, and the Shen family members all turned their kneeling direction again.

"Junior members of the Shen family pay respects to the Martial Emperor!"

Shen Lin also strained to turn his gaze and shouted: "Uncle Wu."

Martial Emperor Zhu Wu coldly snorted: "You, to beg for mercy, even called out 'uncle'?"

"I look down on you!"

In the next instant, Shen Wenda and Zhu Wu, holding the person, rushed up into the clouds, and what happened afterward needs no further asking.

And Shen Qing also looked toward Shen Yun: "Ancestor, let me tell you the matter."

Shen Qing then recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

Shen Yun's face grew increasingly grim: "I haven't returned to the Shen family in three hundred years—did so many things really happen?"

"How dare Shen Lin...?"

Shen Qing spread his hands, then walked toward the depths of the Shen family: "Who knows? Alright, I'm going into seclusion to break through."

"If there's anything else to ask, just ask others—they all know too."

At this moment, Shen Qing's heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat; the method to condense the Wanfa Yuan Dan was tucked in his bosom, and those dozen or so precious herbs were placed in the room.

Not using them immediately, Shen Qing felt an unbearable itch in his heart.