Chapter 78: The Shen Family Heir

“Anger you to death!”

Shen Yuan looked at the broad-ear’s retreating back, a satisfied expression on his face—after being mocked by him earlier, he had finally avenged himself.

Lu Fang smiled and shook his head.

“Young master, please wait a moment.”

Manager Yu said this, collected the thirty-seven blood ginseng herbs and Huang Gangshi into his storage pouch, and hurried away.

Lu Fang did not wait long in the side chamber; he hadn’t even finished one cup of tea when Manager Yu returned, smiling sweetly:

“Young master, these are all treasures usable by Confucian Realm cultivators—take a look and see which you like. As for the items you wish to auction, we are currently evaluating their value and will give you a precise price before you leave.”

Saying this, Manager Yu pulled out several storage pouches.

Lu Fang picked up the first storage pouch, and with a thought, nineteen yellow banners, seven inches long and inscribed with Bagua patterns, floated before him, streams of mysterious light flowing across the flags.

Manager Yu took out a jade pendant and explained:

“Small Imprisonment Flag Set—a fourth-rank array treasure. One main flag, eighteen subsidiary flags, offering three hundred and sixty variations for trapping opponents.”

“This array is simple to learn—you can set it up in moments. If your opponent doesn’t understand arrays, he cannot escape.”

“Even against an enemy three ranks higher than you, it can hold them briefly, giving you enough time to flee. The only drawback: it has no offensive power.”

Manager Yu smiled and added, “For a seventh-rank cultivator like you, I guarantee no array treasure is more suitable than this.”

“What’s the price?”

Lu Fang was indeed tempted—if he’d had this in the Lesser Upper Realm, he might have defeated the demon barbarians without relying on Lingxiao Daoist’s array.

He did possess a Grand Confucian treasure, but the gap in cultivation was too vast—he couldn’t unleash its true power.

Manager Yu smiled and said, “Just sixty thousand lower-tier Dao Stones.”

Shen Yuan exclaimed, “Sixty thousand Dao Stones?”

Lu Fang was also slightly surprised—it was indeed a bit expensive. Had he not acquired so many heavenly treasures in the Lesser Upper Realm, he wouldn’t have dared to even consider it.

Manager Yu chuckled:

“Young master, this isn’t expensive at all.”

“You can use the Small Imprisonment Flag Set all the way to the Master Realm. Unless your enemy is a Grand Confucian, no one can forcibly break it.”

“The flags let you bypass learning array arts entirely—you just memorize over three hundred variations.”

“Those who master array arts and possess the talent are exceedingly rare. To learn array arts yourself? Without decades of study, don’t even dream of it.”

Manager Yu hurried to explain.

“The flags are decent,” Lu Fang said, stowing the Small Imprisonment Flag Set. “I’ll look at the others first before deciding.”

Lu Fang spent the entire afternoon examining them, ultimately deciding to purchase the Small Imprisonment Flag Set and an unranked special treasure: the Puppet Substitute.

It consisted of a pair of wooden figurines—one main, one subordinate. When embedded with sufficient Five Element Stones, they activated a teleportation array, instantly transporting the user to either figurine’s location within a hundred-thousand-li range.

Unlike Grand Confucian treasures, this had no restrictions—it was the ultimate escape artifact. Lu Fang fell for it at first glance.

Its only drawback: it consumed enormous amounts of Five Element Stones.

But Lu Fang wasn’t worried—he had amassed plenty of Five Element Stones in the Lesser Upper Realm.

As for the alchemy array…

Lu Fang gave it up.

Just these two treasures cost him two hundred sixty thousand lower-tier Dao Stones.

According to Manager Yu, once his consigned items sold, he’d receive about twenty thousand lower-tier Spirit Stones—equivalent to two hundred mid-tier Dao Stones.

…

Walking out of the auction hall, Shen Yuan’s head spun. She looked up at Lu Fang ahead, puzzled.

What exactly is Lu Brother’s background?

He’d just spent over two hundred thousand Dao Stones on heavenly treasures like it was nothing.

In all her life, Shen Yuan had only heard of Dao Stones—currency more valuable than gold.

To think Lu Fang was an ordinary person? She’d never believe it.

Could it be true that Lu Brother said he’d take her to meet Shen Kangbo tomorrow? It sounded absurd, yet she genuinely felt it might be real.

Lost in thought, Shen Yuan didn’t notice and bumped straight into Lu Fang’s back. She rubbed her head. “Lu Brother, why did you stop?”

Lu Fang didn’t answer.

But Shen Yuan saw why: ahead on the street stood a group of Shen family patrol soldiers, blocking the entire road.

At the front: one tall, one small.

The tall one was a woman in her early twenties—her features refined, yet unusually massive, standing seven feet tall. Her loose robe couldn’t hide her bulging muscles.

The small one was a seven-year-old boy, thin, making him appear even more diminutive beside her.

“You’re the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?”

The boy stepped forward, his unbroken child’s voice asking.

Shen Yuan froze. She’d heard of the Marquis of Literary Crown.

She hadn’t eaten pork, but she’d seen it run—several taverns in town had storytellers recounting his legendary deeds.

Instinctively, she glanced around—only to find the crowd had scattered, leaving only her and Lu Brother in the open space.

No way.

Lu Brother… the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?

“Who are you?” Lu Fang asked.

The boy sniffed, pointed to the muscular woman beside him, and said:

“This is my master, Shen Squad Leader. I’m Shen Dadan. I heard the Marquis of Literary Crown sold some items at the auction house—my master came specifically to challenge you to a fight.”

“If you lose, you can’t agree to marry my master, as Grandmaster Shen has arranged.”

“Are you brave enough?”

Shen Dadan spoke boldly, but his voice and demeanor were timid.

The crowd, upon hearing the figures before them were the Marquis of Literary Crown and Shen Squad Leader, erupted in murmurs.

“That man is the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang? Really?”

“Years ago, rumors said Grandmaster Shen planned for Shen Squad Leader to inherit the family—she truly carries Grandmaster Shen’s spirit!”

“Grandmaster Shen wants to marry Shen Squad Leader to the Marquis of Literary Crown? This is a major event!”

“Sissy!” A familiar voice rang out.

Shen Yuan turned sharply toward the sound.

There stood Broad-Ear, standing among the crowd. When he saw her looking, he grinned. “Is he really the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?”

Shen Yuan rolled her eyes. “Mind your own business.” She turned back to Lu Fang ahead, her anticipation rising.

Shen Yuan rolled her eyes. “Who asked you to care?” Then she turned her gaze back to Lu Fang ahead, her heart brimming with anticipation.

Or isn’t he?

Lu Fang studied the tall and small figures, then shook his head. “There must be some misunderstanding. I came here solely to pay respects to Grandmaster Shen—nothing more.”

Lu Fang sized up the two, shaking his head. “There must be some misunderstanding. I came here solely to visit Elder Master Shen—and nothing more.”

Shen Squad Leader spoke. Her voice was beautiful, like a nightingale’s song. After a pause, she turned and walked away.

“If the Marquis of Literary Crown wishes to visit my grandmaster, then come with me.”

“Master, wait for me!” Shen Dadan sniffed, hurried forward a few steps, and reached out his small hand to grasp Shen Squad Leader’s sleeve.

Had Shen Yuan not known they were master and disciple, she’d have sworn they were mother and son.

If he didn’t know they were master and disciple, Shen Yuan would have thought they were mother and son.