163: Chapter 163 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (111)

Upon hearing this, the hand Deacon Chu Feng was using to hold his teacup paused abruptly, and the tea almost spilled out.

He stared blankly at Chu Shi, his face showing initial confusion, but then, as if he had realized something, his pupils suddenly constricted.

"Four Seasons Holy Land..." His voice was a bit dry, carrying an air of incredulous shock.

"Is it the Temporal Secret Realm?"

Now it was Chu Shi's turn to be stunned.

His hand holding the teacup paused in mid-air, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Uncle, you know about the Temporal Secret Realm?"

He had assumed that information about such a top-tier secret realm was only known to the Core Disciples of the inner sect and the elders.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Deacon Chu Feng immediately understood.

He let out a long sigh, leaned back against his chair, and gazed out the window, his eyes filled with reminiscence and regret.

"How could I not know?" Deacon Chu Feng's voice had deepened, carrying a trace of the vicissitudes of time.

"The Temporal Secret Realm of the Four Seasons Holy Land is a place that the younger generation of the entire Tianwu Dynasty dreams of."

"Back in my day, your uncle was considered quite the prodigy in Canglan State."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"At that time, I had just met your aunt, and I was in high spirits, feeling as though no one in the world could stand against me."

"It just so happened that the Temporal Secret Realm for that generation opened, and I signed up to compete for a spot."

"As it turned out... sigh, I was knocked out after just three rounds."

Deacon Chu Feng shook his head and downed the spirit tea in his cup in one gulp.

"But I suppose I was lucky; with my father-in-law's support, I managed to make it to where I am today."

"I've even managed to gather most of the materials for breaking through to the Silver Marrow Realm."

Chu Shi listened with a bewildered expression.

Competing for a spot? Didn't that old man just give the spot directly to him?

He had thought these things were directly assigned by the Peak Master. So, in normal circumstances, you actually have to fight tooth and nail to grab a spot?

That old man must have pulled some massive strings for him.

Seeing his expression, Deacon Chu Feng couldn't help but guess the truth.

He looked at Chu Shi, his eyes filled with shock and envy, but mostly with heartfelt gratification.

"Calculating the days, there are still over three months until the secret realm opens."

"The Great Sun Holy Land's competition for spots usually starts a month in advance."

Deacon Chu Feng smiled and shook his head, reaching out to pat Chu Shi on the shoulder. "Good lad, you really have a way about you."

"To be able to have Peak Master Lieyang go to such lengths for you, your future achievements will be limitless."

"Uncle..." Chu Shi opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.

But Deacon Chu Feng waved his hand, interrupting him.

"I appreciate your intentions, nephew." Deacon Chu Feng's tone was incredibly serious, his eyes firm.

"But for now, you don't need to do anything for me."

"Since you have such a great opportunity, you should focus all your energy on preparing for the Temporal Secret Realm."

"This is one of the most important opportunities of your life; you cannot afford any distractions."

"My affairs are not urgent." Deacon Chu Feng smiled, his tone relaxed.

"I am still missing the final bit of materials, so I can take these two years to further polish my foundation."

"When you return from the Four Seasons Holy Land, your status and position will have risen to a new level, and you should be preparing to break through to the Silver Marrow Realm yourself."

"At that time, I will shamelessly ask you to help me request some guidance from the honorable Peak Master Lieyang."

He looked at Chu Shi, his gaze gentle yet solemn.

"When I am fully prepared and ready to break through, you can come and observe the ceremony."

"At that time, whether I succeed or fail, it will be of great benefit to your own future breakthrough."

Chu Shi stared blankly at Deacon Chu Feng, his heart surging with turbulent waves of emotion.

He truly had not expected that this uncle, whom he had only known for two and a half years, could do this much for him.

Clearly, he had taken the initiative to offer help, clearly he had been stuck at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm for so many years, and clearly, he had almost gathered all the materials for his breakthrough... yet, in order not to affect him, he had firmly pushed this opportunity away.

In his previous four lives, he had also felt the warmth of family affection, but most of it was support between immediate family members.

Moreover, in many instances, he was the pillar that grew rapidly to shield his family from the wind and rain.

It had been a very, very long time since he had, as a junior, purely received such unreserved care and sacrifice from an elder.

Chu Shi took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed deeply to Deacon Chu Feng.

"Uncle..."

"Hey, what are you doing?" Deacon Chu Feng quickly stood up, pulled him up, and pressed him back into his seat.

"We are family; saying things like that is being too much of a stranger."

Deacon Chu Feng's gaze became distant and profound.

"Our Chu family has a shallow foundation, having risen in the Tianwu Dynasty for only a few hundred years."

"Within this Great Sun Holy Land, the highest level we have reached is just me at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm; we don't really rank among the top."

His voice was calm yet filled with firmness.

"But our Chu family has been able to become one of the three great families of Canglan State in just a few hundred years."

"It is not because of some earth-shattering cultivation technique, nor some peerless divine weapon; what we rely on is the unity among blood relatives."

"You are the qilin son of our Chu family in this generation, the hope of the entire Chu family." Deacon Chu Feng looked at Chu Shi, his eyes full of expectation.

"You don't need to feel any guilt."

"When you grow up in the future, become a Martial Lord of the Silver Marrow Realm, and become a true disciple of the Holy Land."

"Just don't forget that you are a member of the Chu family, and that will be enough."

Chu Shi looked into Deacon Chu Feng's sincere eyes, his throat tightening slightly.

He nodded vigorously, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible hoarseness.

"Rest assured, Uncle. When I return safely from the Four Seasons Holy Land, I will definitely do everything in my power to help you safely break through to the Silver Marrow Realm."

Deacon Chu Feng smiled with gratification.

The two chatted about many interesting things in the sect, as well as the recent situation of the Chu family in Canglan State. Before they knew it, it was noon.

"Come on, let's not stay in this hall; let's go to my place for a meal."

Deacon Chu Feng stood up and tidied the files on the table. "Your aunt happens to be home today; I'll have her make you a few of her signature dishes."

Deacon Chu Feng's small courtyard was just behind the External Affairs Hall. It was not large, but it was kept clean and tidy.

There were a few ordinary flowers and plants planted in the courtyard, and a grape trellis was set up in the corner, full of the atmosphere of daily life.

Aunt Cang Yuehua was a gentle and virtuous woman. She was very happy to see Chu Shi and was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron.

Lunch was very simple: four dishes and one soup. They were all home-cooked flavors, yet they warmed Chu Shi's heart as he ate.

At the dining table, Deacon Chu Feng casually brought up the children of the family.

"Your cousin Chu Ming is still serving in the Internal Affairs Hall of Lieyang Peak. He is steady in his work, just a bit too dull in personality."

"Your cousin Qingyuan successfully promoted to the inner sect last year and went to Luoxia Peak; she is also quite diligent in her cultivation."

Mentioning his youngest daughter, a doting smile appeared on Deacon Chu Feng's face. "Your cousin Nuonuo is almost ten this year and is studying at the school in Trial Peak."

"She looks forward to the entrance trial in half a year every day, saying she wants to be like you and enter Lieyang Peak to cultivate."

Chu Shi listened and nodded with a smile, silently noting these things down in his heart.

After lunch, Deacon Chu Feng did not go to work at the External Affairs Hall. Instead, he moved a chessboard under the grape trellis in the courtyard and chatted with Chu Shi while playing chess.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the grape leaves, casting dappled light and shadows.

The wind blew by, bringing with it the faint fragrance of flowers and plants. Such leisurely and tranquil time was exceptionally precious to Chu Shi, who was accustomed to slaughter and cultivation.