Volume 1, Chapter 237 – Visitors

That hurdle in Shi Feng’s fate was incomparably perilous. The slightest carelessness would be enough to send his soul to the Nine Netherworld.

Thinking of this, Luo Xiuhan looked toward Xianwu City, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

He only knew the broad outline of Shi Feng’s life’s fate. Even that Daoist master of divine calculation, after exhausting the secrets of heaven, had glimpsed only a corner of it.

The last time the peak experts of the two races in Chengtian Domain had set off a great war, the reason he had broken precedent and voluntarily requested to rush to the rescue with the Shattering Void Jade was precisely because he had wanted to seize that chance to erase the greatest hurdle in Shi Feng’s life.

In the end, however, he had returned without success.

Beneath the Shattering Void Jade, even Heaven-Man experts faced the risk of death. Yet a mere Earth Fiend Realm cultivator had managed to escape alive while under its coverage. It was simply inconceivable.

And after returning from that battlefield, Luo Xiuhan had received a warning from that divine calculator.

‘Shi Feng’s fate is entangled with a great terror. If you forcibly interfere again, even you will face the danger of falling.’

A great terror…

Luo Xiuhan suddenly let out a low chuckle, then turned away without so much as looking back and stepped into the silver giant gate.

…

Within the quiet courtyard, a figure sat cross-legged on the bluestone ground.

The formation in the sky was still operating without pause. Its soft light fell across Shi Lan, as if draping her in a layer of divine radiance, making her already smooth, jade-like skin seem even more translucent.

Though her skin looked as if it might break at the slightest touch, in truth it had already become unimaginably resilient, difficult even for divine weapons to wound.

Hoo…

Shi Lan slowly opened her eyes. Divine light glimmered within her pupils, and the powerful aura that had just begun to spill outward was immediately drawn back into her body.

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Of the seventy-two acupoints of the Earth Fiend Realm, she had unknowingly opened sixty-nine, leaving only three dragon gates along her spine.

Once those remaining three acupoints were opened, she would step straight into the great perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm and set her sights on the Heavenly Astral Realm.

After quietly regulating her breathing for a moment, Shi Lan was just about to rise when she sensed a familiar aura outside the house.

Creak—

The courtyard gate opened in response, and Shi Tianlu, dressed in a loose green robe, slowly stepped inside.

A martial artist’s senses were extremely keen, and Shi Lan had not concealed her aura, so Shi Tianlu naturally noticed that she had already finished her cultivation.

“Father.”

Shi Lan rose and greeted him with a nod.

“Lan’er, there are some things I want to discuss with you.”

Shi Tianlu’s expression was rather serious.

“Please go ahead, Father.”

“The Lu family has just sent over a calling card. They will be paying a visit before long. Do you know about this?”

“I have already met Lu Yueqing.” Shi Lan nodded.

“It is good that you know. I may not appear that day,” Shi Tianlu said, nodding.

“Father has something to do?”

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Seeing the expression on Shi Tianlu’s face grow somewhat complicated, Shi Lan frowned slightly.

If the Lu family were coming to visit, Shi Tianlu would not fail to show himself unless there were something important.

Shi Tianlu was silent for a long while before slowly nodding.

“I am going into seclusion to break through to the Heavenly Astral Realm.”

Hearing Shi Tianlu’s words, Shi Lan’s eyes widened slightly.

To enter the Heavenly Astral Realm, one had to break through the gate of life and death and open the body’s thirty-six death acupoints. Every step of that process was extremely dangerous and could not be underestimated.

Shi Tianlu choosing to break through to the Heavenly Astral Realm at such a time was somewhat beyond Shi Lan’s expectations, yet also perfectly understandable.

With Shi Lan’s current eyesight, she had long since seen that Shi Tianlu had already remained at the great perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm for quite some time. If he had not deliberately been suppressing himself all along, he would likely have reached the threshold of breakthrough much earlier.

“I have remained at the great perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm for more than ten years. If not for various reasons, I would have tried to take that step long ago. Now, perhaps the time has come…”

Shi Tianlu let out a light sigh, and the complicated look in his eyes as he gazed at Shi Lan deepened further.

Tenglong City was only a tiny place, and Shi Tianlu had once possessed ambitions that were unwilling to accept the status quo. Back then, it was not that he lacked drive, nor did he lack the courage to walk along the edge of life and death.

But faced with that step, one that could decide life or death, he had ultimately failed to take it.

Simply because behind him stood the entire Shi Residence, along with his wife and children. Though he had not made many enemies, there were still two or three. If anything happened to him, no one in the Shi Residence would be able to stabilize the situation and hold everything up.

But the situation had now changed completely as Shi Lan’s cultivation rose.

Shi Lan had already surpassed the master with the student’s later achievements. Although her cultivation had not yet reached the great perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm, she already possessed the power to kill a Heavenly Astral Realm expert. She had completely surpassed him, and her temperament had also grown considerably.

Even if something were truly to happen to him, Shi Lan would still be able to protect the Shi family.

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And besides, the strength of the Earth Fiend Realm was already no longer enough under the current circumstances. Shi Tianlu needed even greater power to deal with what was to come.

“During the time I am in seclusion, I will have to rely on you to look after things at home.”

“Father, break through in peace. Leave everything to me.”

At this point, Shi Lan also understood a few more reasons why Shi Tianlu had chosen this moment to break through, and she immediately nodded in agreement.

“As for this marriage arrangement between you and Lu Yueqing, I was the one at fault first. Lu Yueqing’s father, Lu Changfeng, is an upright man, but he is very protective of his own. If he says anything excessive, bear with it a little.”

Shi Tianlu paused to catch his breath, then continued,

“But if his words or actions go too far, there is no need for you to wrong yourself. That is unnecessary.”

Compared to the feelings of others, Shi Tianlu cared more about his own daughter.

Lu Changfeng might be protective, but Shi Tianlu was even more so.

Warmth stirred in Shi Lan’s heart. Smiling, she nodded and escorted Shi Tianlu out through the courtyard gate.

…

After Shi Tianlu left, Shi Lan spent a long time selecting from within the Qiankun Bracelet, finally choosing a Yuanyang Fruit from the remaining treasure medicines and placing it in Shi Tianlu’s hand.

Even among fourth-grade treasure medicines, the Yuanyang Fruit was top-tier. Its yang energy was fierce and abundant, and it greatly benefited a martial artist’s blood and qi.

Although Shi Tianlu had already remained at the great perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm for many years and had long built up a deep foundation, outside assistance would naturally give him a better chance of breaking through.

…

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Early the next morning, Shi Lan stood in the courtyard and slowly drew back the stance of the Vajra Divine Fist, her brows knitting slightly.

Perhaps because too many people had recently poured into Xianwu City, the pure spiritual qi that arose each morning was becoming increasingly turbid, and it was quickly devoured clean.

Those martial experts whose Dao touches the divine drank it down like whales swallowing the sea. Those whose strength was insufficient could not compete and could not get even a sip.

More and more people was not a good thing. It could only mean that the situation in Chengtian Domain was growing worse by the day…

Knock, knock…

The sound of knocking interrupted Shi Lan’s thoughts. Before she could ask who it was, another voice came from outside the courtyard.

“Eldest Miss, someone has come to pay a visit.”

Shi Lan was still slightly unaccustomed to being called Eldest Miss. After blanking for a moment, she replied,

“Who is it?”

“This servant does not know. They only said they are Miss’s friends. There are four of them in the group: one old and one young, one middle-aged man, and a young lady leading them.”

The Lu family? But it is not the day yet…

“Show them in and serve tea.”

After pondering for a moment, Shi Lan rose and left the courtyard, heading toward the reception hall.

No matter what, guests were guests.