Ancient people

After Dan Chen obtained the scroll for the Skill of Sky Control, she began attempting to Cultivate in her Quiet Room.

Sitting cross-legged, she followed the method's instructions, first looking inward to perceive the unique and vast fluctuations of her Soul Origin.

This step was not difficult for her; her Soul was naturally exceptionally keen.

Subsequently, she cautiously extended her perception outward to touch the invisible and intangible, yet truly existing, spatial ley lines.

Initially, she could only feel a vague "emptiness," but as time passed, under Shen Wen's occasional guidance...

She gradually captured extremely subtle "movements" rippling like water patterns. That was the rhythm of space.

She tried to mobilize her Soul Power to mimic and approach that rhythm.

This process was extremely taxing on the mind; a single meditation session often lasted several hours, leaving her pale upon waking, yet her spirit held a strange excitement.

Shen Wen constantly monitored her progress, fine-tuning details of the Skill of Sky Control based on her feedback to better suit Dan Chen's unique Physique and Soul characteristics.

While Dan Chen was engrossed in cultivating the Skill of Sky Control, Shen Wen also completely refined and perfected the Pill Formula for the spirit nurturing pill.

Choosing a day, he opened the furnace for Alchemy. With his current Realm, refining a seventh-grade spirit nurturing pill went without much trouble; the Pill Lightning triggered upon the pill's completion was only two-colored, which he easily neutralized.

The Medicinal Pill emerged from the furnace, pure white all over, emitting a fragrance that nourished the Soul. Shen Wen gave the first spirit nurturing pill to Cao Ying.

After Cao Ying swallowed the Medicinal Pill, she immediately went into seclusion. The majestic yet gentle medicinal power dissolved, nourishing her already powerful Soul like spring water.

Three days later, when she emerged, her beautiful eyes were clearer and deeper, with a faint spiritual light flowing within.

She was already at the Spiritual Realm Late Stage, and with the help of the spirit nurturing pill, her Soul cultivation progressed naturally, achieving a Breakthrough to the Spiritual Realm Great Perfection in one go.

The surge in Soul Power elevated her control over flames and her perception of medicinal properties to a whole new level.

She joyfully found Shen Wen, affection swirling in her eyes as she proactively leaned into his embrace.

"Husband, thank you."

Almost the moment she finished speaking, the System's notification sounded in Shen Wen's mind.

[Ding! Detected that the Mistress Cao Ying has deep affection for the Master, Soul resonance achieved; current favorability has broken through 60%!]

[Reward issued: Ice Ancestral Talisman!]

A bone-chilling yet vitality-filled ancient power quietly flowed into Shen Wen's body, standing alongside the several Ancestral Symbol powers he already possessed.

Shen Wen's heart stirred slightly, but he made no sound, simply holding Cao Ying gently and feeling this tranquil joy.

Time flowed peacefully.

Dan Chen's cultivation of the Skill of Sky Control was steadily improving.

She was already able to construct a very thin but real Soul Power barrier on her body's surface, and the Soul suction problem that had plagued her for years was initially contained.

Cao Ying was stabilizing her Spiritual Realm Great Perfection Soul Realm, and her Alchemy skills showed signs of further improvement.

The aura of the fetus in Cai Lin's womb grew stronger; Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan each had their own cultivation gains; and Xiong Tao was familiarizing himself with the power of a seven-star Dou Zong.

However, this peace was shattered one afternoon.

Shen Wen was playing chess with Cai Lin in the courtyard when his brow suddenly twitched, and he looked up at the sky outside the courtyard gate.

Not just him, but Cai Lin, Cao Ying, and even Dan Chen in the Quiet Room all felt something at the same time.

Several powerful yet obscure auras appeared without warning above Jia Nan Academy, rapidly approaching the direction of the Inner Academy.

These auras were at least at the Dou Huang level, with several reaching Dou Zong, and one... obscure and profound, steadily standing at the Dou Zong Peak!

"People from the Gu Clan?"

Shen Wen placed a chess piece, his tone flat, devoid of any discernible emotion.

In the original work, the Gu Clan indeed sends people to take Xiao Xun Er away, but he hadn't expected it to be at this time.

He had originally thought the target of these auras would be the courtyard where Xiao Xun Er resided.

But in the next moment, he raised his eyebrows again.

Those powerful auras circled briefly in the air before descending straight toward the courtyard where he was!

"Knock, knock, knock."

There was a knock on the courtyard gate; the sound was neither loud nor soft, but exceptionally urgent.

Shen Wen put down the chess piece and nodded slightly to Cai Lin, signaling her to remain calm.

He stood up and walked slowly toward the gate.

Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others also gathered around, their faces filled with vigilance.

Shen Wen pulled open the courtyard gate.

Outside the gate stood about ten people, all dressed in simple, ancient-style dark martial outfits, their auras condensed and their gazes sharp.

The leader was a young man with a somewhat feminine complexion; he could be considered handsome, but his brow carried an undisguised arrogance and coldness.

His aura was indeed that of the Dou Zong Peak.

Among the others, there were two more Dou Zongs, and the rest were all Dou Huangs.

Such a lineup would be enough to sweep away most forces in the Black-Corner Region.

The feminine young man's gaze moved past Shen Wen, scanning Cai Lin, Cao Ying, and the others behind him.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Cai Lin's and Cao Ying's faces, a flicker of hard-to-detect admiration and gloom passing through his eyes before refocusing on Shen Wen's face.

Shen Wen's expression was calm as he looked at the other party and said indifferently, "Who might Your Excellency be?"

The feminine young man raised his chin slightly, his voice somewhat cold and hard: "Black Annihilation Army, Yang Hao."

The Black Annihilation Army, the elite of the Gu Clan.

Shen Wen understood clearly, a perfectly timed faint smile appearing on his face. "So it is people from the Gu Clan. A pleasure to meet you.

I wonder what business brings the members of the Black Annihilation Army to my humble courtyard?"

He was indeed somewhat surprised.

According to the original work, the first time the Gu Clan sent people, the leader Ling Quan was strong, but he didn't seem to have reached the Dou Zong level.

And it was mainly directed at Xiao Yan.

It seemed his appearance had caused some unexpected chain reactions.

But thinking back carefully, aside from those two mutually beneficial transactions with Xiao Xun Er, he had no involvement with the Gu Clan, let alone "approaching" Xiao Xun Er.

Looking at Shen Wen's calm, even somewhat politely distant smile, the nameless fire in Yang Hao's heart grew even stronger.

The Young Miss leaving the clan early was no secret in the Gu Clan; in fact, even they didn't know where she had gone.

He had only recently received a clan mission to come to Jia Nan Academy to bring the Young Miss back and simultaneously test an Alchemist named Shen Wen.

He had heard some rumors within the clan that they seemingly intended to arrange a marriage between him and the Young Miss.

Yang Hao had reviewed Shen Wen's profile while in the clan.

Shen Wen, nineteen years old, Dou Zong cultivation, Grade 8 Alchemist, refined an Eighth Grade Pill and triggered Eight-Colored Pill Thunder.

Recalling the Young Miss's cold nature and the fact that she would actually pay attention to this person, a strong sense of displeasure surged in Yang Hao's heart.

He held himself in high regard and was an outstanding figure even within the Gu Clan's Black Annihilation Army.

He had always harbored feelings for Xiao Xun Er; how could he endure this kid possibly "laying a finger" on the goddess in his heart?

Now seeing Shen Wen in person and witnessing his truly extraordinary appearance and bearing...

Facing a Dou Zong Peak like himself bringing the Black Annihilation Army elite to his door, yet still remaining so calm, Yang Hao's emotions, a mix of being slighted and jealous, suddenly exploded.