160: Suffering of Birth and Death

It was as if a bad premonition in his heart had truly materialized beside him.

Shen Li's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

For a moment, he stared blankly at the broken Jade Slip, so stunned that he didn't even have the courage to open it.

Yes, for a Cultivator, it was sometimes very painful.

Because he knew clearly what was inside, but he didn't dare to open it.

He knew it was blood.

It was the blood of Second Master Shen, who had left not long ago.

After a full half an hour, he finally opened the broken Jade Slip, and what met his eyes was not some important message, but a recording from a Memory Stone.

The recording didn't show any enemies or foes, but rather a seemingly ordinary Family meeting.

Many of the people in it looked very familiar to Shen Li.

They were the Family Heads of the various branches of the Shen Family.

They sat cross-legged.

At the head of the table was a man with a heroic demeanor, whose face was obscured.

The appearance of an Immortal Master is generally not recorded by Memory Stones to avoid revealing their identity.

Lower-grade Memory Stones were even less capable of recording it, so they would only show a pitch-black image.

Gradually, voices began to sound in his ears.

"I don't agree with increasing investment in Yellow Sand Plains. The Family's cultivation resources seem abundant, but what's the reality? They can only meet the future cultivation needs of many Immortal Seedlings, and we can't even gather two sets of Dao Foundation resources."

"If we put some resources into Yellow Sand Plains, whether it can rise is still an unknown. I've also heard a little about Shen Li; he has some Opportunities, but the matters of Yellow Sand Plains aren't something that can be handled with just a few Opportunities."

"There are many things to consider. First, let's talk about the celestial phenomena, which are extremely unfavorable to our Shen Family. Our strength is inexplicably reduced by 30% here. Isn't this a step backward for our Shen Family?"

"If everyone in our Shen Family were powerful Immortal Masters in combat, then so be it, but that's not the case. Family Head, please forgive my presumption."

The Foundation Establishment True Person at the head of the table merely nodded slightly.

Then, that Family Elder said in a deep voice.

"Among our Shen Family, we have two Immortal Masters. According to the power ranking among the Immortal Families of Qingchi Mountain, we are only a lower-tier Immortal Family. It is entirely due to the prestige of the Family Head and Great Ancestor, and the reputation accumulated in earlier years, that we have reached our current mid-tier status."

"But what about the reality? Family Head... is not skilled in combat... and Great Ancestor is now hundreds of years old."

"Among the Immortal Seedling generation in the Family, almost no one is proficient in combat, and this also dictates that our Family can only strive in peaceful areas, relying on connections to get things done."

"What kind of place is Yellow Sand Plains? It's near the border of the demon country, with frequent demonic disturbances and rampant bandits. Without sufficiently ruthless means, it's impossible to resist external threats."

"So my opinion remains unchanged: we should do our best to cultivate new Immortal Masters, then accumulate power, and cultivate an Immortal Master skilled in combat to establish an independent branch. This is the key to achieving victory through stability!"

"I'm not distrusting Shen Li, nor am I looking down on him. In fact, his ability to establish himself in Yellow Sand Plains has already earned the recognition of us old folks, and his various battle achievements are also proof of that."

"We agree to give him resources, but we don't want Shen Li to train and cultivate outside. We want him to return home and strive for Dao Foundation within twenty years! To avoid any... undesirable incidents."

Many Family Elders nodded in agreement; for the sake of the overall situation, they had no choice but to do so.

If it were a struggle for resources among peers, they would all have their own ideas, but if a truly outstanding individual appeared within the Shen Family, they would never allow that outstanding individual to wither away for the sake of some resources.

The continuation of a Family, the continuation of an Immortal Family, always relied on the revered Immortal Masters, and with the presence of Immortal Masters, they too could flourish under their wings.

This was the way of life for Immortal Family Cultivators.

Shen Li was now uniquely outstanding; he could take all the resources.

As long as he became an Immortal Master, countless resources would return to the Shen Family.

In the long run, he would also be able to protect the Shen Family for many years, occupying more seats and even power in Qingchi Mountain!

Instead of dividing the cake, it's better to make the cake bigger!

However, there were always some discordant voices here.

Then, the Family Elder who had secretly colluded with the Black Horn Gang said in a deep voice.

"Furthermore, there's still something I don't understand. The Opportunity is unclear, but Shen Li's Opportunity might be a bit too much. Also, I heard that he has a martial artist under his command who cultivates the Demon Transformation method... The Yin Nether Sect is Qingchi Mountain's mortal enemy."

"Will this displease Qingchi Mountain?"

"Moreover, if Black Ridge City invests so much, can he, a mere young boy, truly suppress it?"

"My suggestion is that it would be better to send the Family's elders to manage Black Ridge City, as they are more experienced and older!"

This Family Elder believed his suggestion was flawless. In the image, he slowly raised his head, and the smile on his face vanished abruptly before it even fully formed.

Everyone's gaze was on him, as if looking at a dead man.

And at this moment, even the thin mist on the Immortal Master's face rapidly dissipated.

A gentle but extremely cold face appeared in the Memory Stone.

Looking at the extremely corpulent Family Elder, he was too lazy to bother with him and simply ordered.

"You no longer need to come here in the future."

"Ah? Family Head... I... I was just suggesting, just suggesting."

"Suggesting?" Second Master Shen in the image kicked out, sending the dead fat pig sprawling.

He said sternly.

"Your suggestion is truly excellent. I think you, this kind of stupid pig, are tired of living!"

"Get lost! If I see you again, I'll hit you every time!"

The Shen Family Immortal Master was even more decisive, flicking his sleeve and sending him flying a hundred meters away.

At the same time, a loud announcement echoed from the Memory Stone.

【Shen Tai, lacking Family loyalty, attempting to harm the Family's Prodigy, his position as Family Elder is abolished, and his seven branches are forbidden from entering the main hall for thirteen years.】

"Everyone, remember this well. Take it as a warning."

"Yes!"

Amidst numerous cries of "Yes," the Memory Stone became blurred, replaced by a bloodied face.

From an overhead angle, the tear in the chest was visible to the naked eye. Several Hyena Sand Beasts were gnawing on the flesh of the person before them, yet the person's expression remained normal.

The voice was very hoarse, accompanied by the excited roars of the hyenas, as Second Master Shen finally spoke.

"Have you seen it clearly?"

"I know you want to ask me who did it."

"I will naturally tell you, because I don't think you will impulsively go and settle the score with that person."

"That person's figure is at the end, but that's not important."

"Shen Li, I am showing you this Memory Stone to set your mind at ease. Before I left, I felt it was unnecessary."

"As long as I am still in the Shen Family, no one can bully you."

"It's just a pity."

"Just as I told you before I left, there is more than one path to the Great Dao."

"Life is the most important thing."

"Once upon a time, I had an elder brother, uniquely gifted, whom Great Ancestor called the Shen Family's uncut jade in his early years. But it was precisely because he was too aggressive that his life or death became unknown."

"Conversely, Brother Boshu accumulated his strength and achieved the status of an Immortal Master."

"Every cause has its effect; it truly is destiny."

"Shen Li, learn from the past to guide the future."

"By the time you see this letter, my bones will already be stark white."

"Help me return to my roots."

The Memory Stone gradually blurred, replaced by the figure of an Immortal Master with a thin mist over his face.

On the chest of that person's robe, the embroidered gold pattern of the Cloud Sea Sword Sect.

It shone brightly.

In the wind, Second Master Shen's lingering sighs echoed continuously.

"Ruling the Purple Mansion,

Gentle and unbridled,

Combat and pioneering,

A lifelong aspiration."

"It's just a pity."

"I won't see it."