Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 586 - 239: Simplified Spirit Gathering Array 5

Upon seeing Shen Chongming’s somewhat pained expression, Chen Youran contemplated briefly and said: "Husband, I have a suggestion."

Shen Chongming turned to look at her, remaining silent.

Chen Youran continued: "The matter of Pill Qi is not urgent for now."

"Let’s wait two more years and see. For now, husband should arrange Zhongyi’s marriage, resolving an emotional knot for Aunt."

"Isn’t Xiubai currently in Yunzhong County City, practicing under Elder Jiang?"

"Elder Jiang might have some solutions for his cultivation issues."

After a slight pause, Chen Youran’s words noticeably lacked confidence as she continued: "Maybe... maybe another couple of years, Xiubai’s cultivation could improve."

"By then, giving the Pill Qi to Aunt wouldn’t have much impact."

After hearing this, Shen Chongming took a deep sigh.

He knew that his wife’s words were mostly to comfort him, but for now, this was all they could do.

Fortunately, Aunt Shen Wenping’s lifespan was at least another twenty years, and Shen Xiubai’s Spirit Root, though of poor quality, was still a Spirit Root.

As the couple was speaking, a cultivator from the Shen Family arrived in a hurry.

"Patriarch, the Patriarch of the Zhao Family, Zhao Tuan, has arrived and is waiting for you in the side room."

Zhao Tuan?

Shen Chongming suddenly realized that Zhao Tuan was probably here to visit Grandfather Shen Yuan.

He had mentioned this during the last Golden Core Assembly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Youran urged: "Don’t dwell on this matter, husband. Go see Brother Tuan first."

Shen Chongming nodded and quickly made his way towards the manor’s side room.

The two brothers met, and Zhao Tuan remained as courteous as ever.

After they sat down, Shen Chongming smiled faintly and said: "When Third Uncle’s Golden Core Assembly ended, I intended to take Brother Tuan directly to pay respects to Grandfather."

"But Brother Tuan and Celestial Fur left in a hurry..."

Zhao Tuan smiled and bowed: "I left without notice, please forgive me, Patriarch."

"I wanted to visit the elder; of course, I can’t go empty-handed."

"After returning quickly last time, I asked someone to prepare some things."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming’s expression turned a bit strange, but he understood Zhao Tuan’s intentions.

"In that case, let’s head to the Black Water Pavilion now."

The two stood up and walked slowly to the second floor of the Black Water Pavilion.

"Grandfather, Brother Tuan has come to see you."

Shen Chongming knelt beside the chessboard, while Shen Yuan, holding a black piece, bowed.

Beside him, Zhao Tuan quickly bowed as well.

"Zhao Tuan pays respects... to Grandfather Shen."

Having already agreed to visit as a junior, Zhao Tuan did not use "ancestor," but kindly said "Grandfather Shen."

Upon hearing this title, Shen Yuan’s body slightly stiffened, then he placed the black piece back into the chess box, rose, adjusted his sleeves, and chuckled: "Please sit."

The three sat on the cushions around the desk.

Shen Chongming personally brought tea, making Zhao Tuan feel quite honored.

"Decades passed in a blink; I still remember when young Jin Hu brought you to see me when you were just over ten years old, right?"

Zhao Tuan bowed hurriedly: "In response to Grandfather Shen, Zhao Tuan was eleven then, and it’s been sixty years now."

"Sixty years... An era flies by so swiftly..."

After sighing, Shen Yuan looked at him.

Regarding his visit, Shen Chongming had already informed him.

Without Spiritual Root, breaking through the Fetal Breathing Realm is by no means easy.

He once used the White Jade Turtle Shell to forcefully enhance his own Five Elements Origin, luckily breaking through the Fetal Breathing Realm.

After Shen Chongming mentioned it, he thought it over carefully, but still had no certainty.

He planned to first check Zhao Tuan’s physical condition.

"Extend your hand and let me take a look."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tuan respectfully rolled up his sleeve and extended his palm.

Shen Yuan grasped his wrist and, with his Divine Sense, gently infused a thread of Spiritual Power into his body.

Zhao Tuan practiced the righteous technique known as the Mist Flood Dragon Nourishing Vein Technique.

Though without a Spirit Root, his arduous cultivation over the years had made his True Essence Spiritual Power more profound and solid than most individuals with Spirit Roots.

Such a solid foundation, should he break through the Fetal Breathing Realm, would surely make him stronger than ordinary cultivators at its early stage.

Seeing Shen Yuan withdraw his hand, with a furrowed brow, Shen Chongming immediately asked: "Grandfather, how is it?"

Shen Yuan did not immediately respond but sighed lightly, pondering for a long time before speaking.

"The human physique also contains the Five Elements, circulating endlessly."

"For us cultivators without Spirit Roots, breaking through the Fetal Breathing entails simultaneously advancing the Inner Five Elements."

"Thus comes the saying that cultivators without Spirit Roots need to use five paths of the same quality of Five Elements Innate Spiritual Qi to break through the Fetal Breathing Realm."

"The True Essence Spiritual Power within young Zhao Tuan’s body is overly solid; if I’m not mistaken, you should have been at the Qi Cultivation Perfection Realm long ago."

Zhao Tuan nodded upon hearing and said: "Grandfather Shen, you see through everything. Grandson reached the verge of the Qi Cultivation Perfection a decade ago."

"But considering the high cost of Five Elements Innate Spiritual Qi, I forcibly suppressed my realm, refraining from further breakthroughs."

"On one hand, to accumulate more foundation; on the other, planning to gather some information related to Five Elements Innate Spiritual Qi."

"Who would have thought such suppression would make the Spiritual Power in my meridians thick and dense, making even a single circulation very difficult, causing me to find no way to break into Qi Cultivation Perfection now."

Shen Yuan nodded slightly.

The situation was as he had predicted.

After a bit of thought, he added: "It’s not that I’m keeping secrets; my path to breakthrough doesn’t suit you."

"However... After Chongming spoke about you, I have pondered it carefully and thought of a compromise."