Chapter 278 The Way of Array Weapons

When Shen Wen returned to Pill City, it was already three days later.

He didn't return to his residence immediately but first went to the Pill Tower to handle some accumulated affairs from the past few days.

After visiting Xuan Danzi and chatting with the old man for a while, he finally returned to the Shen Residence unhurriedly.

The residence was as quiet as ever.

Cai Lin was still leaning on the soft couch with a scroll in hand; seeing him return, she only looked up briefly before continuing her reading.

Xiao Yi Xian sat by the window, carefully sorting through several freshly picked medicinal herbs laid out before her.

Qing Lin appeared out of nowhere and trotted to his side, her emerald eyes sparkling. "Brother Shen Wen, you're back."

Shen Wen smiled and rubbed her head, his gaze sweeping the hall, but he didn't see that familiar small figure.

"Where's Zi Yan?"

Qing Lin said, "Sister Zi Yan is practicing in the backyard. She said she feels like she's about to Breakthrough recently, so she's been practicing very diligently these past few days."

Shen Wen nodded. He didn't rush to find her, instead sitting down for a cup of tea and asking about the situation in the residence over the last few days.

Cao Ying was away, reportedly in Cao City to handle the aftermath of the Cao Xiu incident.

Dan Chen had visited twice to talk with Xiao Yi Xian, even staying for a meal.

Tang Huo'er had also come by once, staying for about half an hour before leaving.

After listening, Shen Wen put down his tea and headed toward the backyard.

The backyard had a specially cleared open space paved with bluestone and surrounded by several Spiritual Trees, which served as Zi Yan's usual practice ground.

As soon as Shen Wen stepped into the backyard, he heard the whistling sound of wind.

He saw the small purple figure shifting and moving in the center of the clearing, her small fists creating fierce gusts. With every punch, the air let out a low boom.

She was clearly very focused, her small face flushed red and beads of sweat on her forehead, completely oblivious to Shen Wen's arrival.

Shen Wen didn't disturb her, standing quietly under the corridor to watch.

After about fifteen minutes, Zi Yan finally finished her routine and let out a long breath of turbid Qi.

She wiped her brow and was about to grab her water bottle when she turned and met Shen Wen's smiling gaze.

"Brother Shen Wen?"

Zi Yan's eyes lit up, and she ran to him. "When did you get back?"

Shen Wen wiped the sweat from her face and smiled. "Just a moment ago. I heard you were practicing, so I came to take a look."

Zi Yan tilted her chin proudly. "I've been working very hard! I feel like I'll be able to Breakthrough to a three-star Dou Huang soon!"

Shen Wen nodded approvingly. "Not bad."

He paused and then said, "Zi Yan, I brought something back for you."

Zi Yan blinked curiously. "What is it?"

Shen Wen took out the dragon phoenix origin fruit from his storage ring.

The gold and purple fruit lay quietly in his palm, the golden half twisted into the shape of a Void Ancient Dragon, and the purple half spreading its wings like an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix.

Two distinct yet equally ancient and majestic auras intertwined, emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations.

Zi Yan's gaze fell on the fruit, and she froze instantly.

Her pupils contracted, and her mouth hung open, but she couldn't utter a word.

Seeing her like this, Shen Wen understood.

As expected.

The royal Bloodline of the Void Ancient Dragon naturally sensed the dragon phoenix origin fruit.

After a long while, Zi Yan finally looked away with difficulty and looked at Shen Wen, her voice trembling. "Brother Shen Wen, is... is this a dragon phoenix origin fruit?"

Shen Wen nodded. "You recognize it?"

Zi Yan nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with disbelief. "It's in my Legacy memories."

"This is a rare treasure that can only be born when a Void Ancient Dragon and an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix perish at the same time and their Bloodlines fuse!"

"If a Demonic Beast consumes it, they could potentially inherit both ancient Bloodlines and evolve into a Dragon Phoenix!"

She became more excited as she spoke, her face turning red. "This thing has been extinct for ages! Where did you get it?!"

Shen Wen briefly recounted the discovery in the underground space of the Tianmu Mountain Range.

Zi Yan was stunned after hearing the story.

She stared blankly at Shen Wen and then at the dragon phoenix origin fruit, murmuring after a while, "You mean... there are two Saint-Grade corpses underground?"

"One Void Ancient Dragon and one Ancient Heavenly Phoenix?"

"And their essence blood gathered to create this?"

Shen Wen nodded.

Zi Yan fell silent.

She stared at the fruit for a long time, her eyes flickering with desire, struggle, and a complex emotion.

Finally, she looked away with difficulty and shook her head.

"Brother Shen Wen, I... I can't refine this right now."

Shen Wen raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Zi Yan pursed her lips and said seriously, "The power within the dragon phoenix origin fruit is too strong."

"With my current strength, if I try to refine it, I'll most likely be blown apart by those two Bloodline Powers."

She paused and added, "I'd need to at least Breakthrough to Dou Zong before I'd dare to try."

Shen Wen nodded and didn't insist.

Zi Yan was right.

The girl was currently only a two-star Dou Huang. Although her Bloodline was powerful and her foundation deep, she was still far from being able to handle the dragon phoenix origin fruit.

Refining it prematurely would indeed be dangerous.

He put away the dragon phoenix origin fruit and rubbed Zi Yan's head. "Then we'll wait until you Breakthrough to Dou Zong."

Zi Yan nodded firmly, her eyes bright. "Mhm! I will definitely Cultivate hard!"

She paused, then suddenly leaned closer to Shen Wen, her face full of seriousness. "Brother Shen Wen, keep this for me for now. Give it to me once I Breakthrough to Dou Zong."

Shen Wen smiled. "Alright."

...

In the following days, a rare tranquility returned.

Cao Ying remained busy with the affairs of the Cao family.

After the Cao Xiu incident, the Cao family had indeed undergone an internal purge.

Those Elders who had supported Cao Xiu and were unhappy with Shen Wen's resource usage were disciplined, won over, or marginalized one by one.

Cao Ying's methods were swift as always, and within half a month, the situation was completely stabilized.

Now, no one in the Cao family dared to gossip about Shen Wen.

Meanwhile, Shen Wen himself completely immersed himself in studying the two Legacies.

Detailed Explanation of Shangqing Formations and the Yuqing Artifact Refining Method.

If either of these were made public, it would be enough to shake the entire continent.

Shen Wen didn't rush, instead studying them bit by bit.

The Dao of Formations was vast and profound.

From basic Spirit Gathering Formations and Concealment Formations to the incredibly complex Heavenly Stars Great Formation and simplified versions of the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, every Formation required a lot of time to understand and calculate.

With the Future Non-Existence Sutra and the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, Shen Wen digested these things countless times faster than ordinary people.

Even so, it took him a full half-month just to go through the Detailed Explanation of Shangqing Formations once.

As for the Yuqing Artifact Refining Method, it was even more difficult.