Coming out of the underground ancestral hall, Shen Changsheng saw a goose-yellow figure respectfully waiting under the moonlight.
She lowered her eyes submissively, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, in the humble posture of a maid.
Shen Changsheng scrutinized her.
This woman's appearance was not as striking as the two Xiao Family sisters, but her dignified demeanor made her seem gentle and obedient.
However, among the pampered daughters of various prominent families, she inevitably appeared somewhat bland and uninteresting.
Nevertheless, Shen Changsheng knew that this woman was not as simple as she appeared.
Although she was born to Shen Xiao's unfavored concubine,
she understood how to assess the situation, was meticulous in her thoughts, and humble towards those above her.
It was also through her own abilities that she gained the support of the servants in the manor and the regard of Shen Xiao.
Previously, when everyone feared Shen Changsheng, she dared to volunteer to take care of a young dragon.
This showed that her courage and ambition were not small.
Afterward, she was able to serve Xiao Chang Geng comfortably, and after gaining some goodwill, she quickly learned some of Shen Changsheng's preferences from the little fellow's mouth.
For example, the robe he wore today was specially prepared by her.
If Xiao Chang Geng hadn't told her that his elder brother liked to wear black clothes and was narcissistic and vain, who would have thought to prepare such an understated black luxurious robe?
Moreover, after leaving the ancestral hall, she did not go far, but waited in the most conspicuous place.
This saved the master the trouble of looking for her.
Her various actions were bold yet meticulous, and her inquiries about preferences did not involve privacy; her sense of proportion was perfectly balanced.
Of course, she had only one purpose in doing all this: to please Shen Changsheng.
She wanted to make herself as pleasing as possible in Shen Changsheng's eyes.
This kind of behavior, to put it nicely, is called ambition; to put it bluntly, it's called scheming.
But this bit of scheming is not shameful.
It is merely to elevate one's status within a group and obtain a better living environment.
Shen Qingrong was born to an unfavored concubine, and her status in the clan was awkward, so careful performance in front of those in power had already become her survival instinct.
Of course, the main reason he viewed this woman differently was because of his past life's experiences.
In his previous life, when the Shen Family was annihilated, he and Shen Qingrong became the only two survivors of the Shen Family and left the Qingxuan World together.
In another world, she also had a good fortune.
Shen Changsheng walked towards her and handed her the white-furred cub he was carrying.
She received it with both hands, allowing Xiao Chang Geng to lie steadily in her arms.
The little cub seemed to have suffered some grievance inside and was whimpering.
After settling comfortably in the woman's embrace, it produced a baby bottle and began to drink heartily.
“Old Ancestor, everything has been handled according to your instructions. The Shen Family is sealed, and no one is allowed to enter or exit without your permission,” Shen Qingrong reported to him.
Shen Changsheng nodded slightly.
Since the Xiao Family patriarch had fallen here today, it was impossible for their clan not to make a major move. They would likely slaughter the Shen Family members outside to vent their anger.
However, the clan members closely related by blood to Shen Xiao had already been recalled by him, so the Xiao Family could only give up on that front and instead concentrate their forces here.
He believed that by now, the area around the Shen Family was already filled with Xiao Family spies, closely monitoring all comings and goings.
As for what the main force of the Xiao Family was doing now...
They were simply splitting into two routes.
One route was to seek aid from other family forces, and the other, led by Xiao Ling'er, was heading to Luo Tian Sect.
Their movements were so grand that those unaware might think the Xiao Family was trying to annex a sixth-tier family.
It was clear that the Supreme Cauldron had indeed given them quite a shock.
In their view, a centipede dies but never falls. The Shen Family, even if it had declined from a super-large family to a fourth-tier family, still retained some of the foundation left by a super-large clan.
As for when the war would begin, it depended on when the Luo Tian Sect people arrived.
Shen Changsheng estimated it would be roughly tomorrow morning.
His original plan was to wait in the Shen Family, eliminate one wave after another, until the Destined One was drawn out.
After killing the Destined One, he would then go to Luo Tian Sect.
…
That night.
The people of the Xiao Family stayed awake all night, and in the clan's council hall, emotions ran high, with constant roars.
“Damn Shen Changsheng! I’ll flay him alive!”
“If we can’t annihilate the Shen Family this time, what face does our Xiao Family have to call itself a fifth-tier family!”
“What kind of magical treasure is his cauldron? Has it been found out yet?”
“Not yet, there are no clues even after searching the clan's ancient texts.”
“That little beast’s cultivation realm is ultimately insufficient; he cannot fully control that cauldron. It’s just a temporary display of power. As long as we gather all available forces and suppress him in one fell swoop, let’s see how he can still resist!”
“Hmm!”
“Which family forces have now explicitly allied with us to deal with the Shen Family?”
“Among the fifth-tier families, there are the Cheng Family, the Han Family, and the Jiang Family. These three families are all willing to send several Core Formation Realm elders to assist us.”
“Among the fourth-tier families, there is the Wei Family. The Wei Family’s eldest daughter also died because of Shen Changsheng, and they have expressed willingness to go all out.”
“Also, the Wei Family’s eldest son has entered the Fire Yang Sect, and his master will also make an appearance then.”
Upon hearing this, the several key figures of the Xiao Family did not relax their brows.
That Fire Yang Sect elder was at the Core Shattering Realm, the same realm as their deceased patriarch!
“Should we seek aid from a sixth-tier family?” someone asked.
As soon as these words were uttered, the highest-ranking elder in the hall immediately raised his hand to veto it.
“No, to invite a sixth-tier family to act, we would have to offer sufficient benefits to tempt them, but our Xiao Family cannot suffer such a great loss for this, unless we ultimately give that cauldron to them.”
Cooperation between families is always based on mutual interests.
The Cheng, Han, and Jiang, three fifth-tier families, readily agreed to provide aid because the Xiao Family signed an alliance with them, agreeing to jointly divide the Shen Family’s wealth after the matter was settled.
But for sixth-tier families, they don't value fourth-tier families; what catches their eye is only that mysterious golden Xiao Ding.
However, exchanging a cauldron for the aid of a sixth-tier family would not be worth it.
“Our Xiao Family also has some connection with Luo Tian Sect. If Luo Tian Sect is willing to act, the Shen Family will undoubtedly be annihilated, and then we will give that cauldron to Luo Tian Sect.”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded.
Luo Tian Sect is one of the super forces in Qing Zhou Continent, surpassing seventh-tier families and on par with imperial dynasties.
Showing favor to Luo Tian Sect was undoubtedly more profitable than showing favor to a sixth-tier family.
“Now it depends on Ling’er’s side.”
“She is on her way to Luo Tian Sect. Given Ning Yi’s feelings for Wan’er, he will certainly seek revenge on Shen Changsheng.”
“He is the Luo Tian Sect Master’s direct disciple, his status is extremely noble, and Luo Tian Sect will not ignore his safety. At that time, powerful experts will surely descend the mountain with him!”
“Hmm! With this setup, the Shen Family is bound to suffer eternal damnation!”
Having sorted out the situation, the leadership of the Xiao Family finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When they first learned that their patriarch and several elders, as well as external elders, had perished at Shen Changsheng’s hands, they were indeed gnashing their teeth in hatred.
But they always remembered to prioritize the family’s interests.
Even if they sought revenge, they could not let the Xiao Family be destroyed along with it; they still had to minimize the family’s losses as much as possible.
Late at night.
Shen Changsheng began to immerse himself in tempering his physical body.
His divine soul level was very high, while his physical body realm was too low.
Thus, he could not fully exert himself.
However, if he temporarily merged his physical body with the Supreme Cauldron, it could alleviate the awkward situation of his physical body being too weak to contain his divine soul.
Previously, when he personally killed Shen Congyun and others in an instant, it was because the Supreme Cauldron had empowered his physical body at that time.
However, since the Supreme Cauldron could handle the situation, why should he personally act?
But in the future, there would inevitably be situations that Xiao Ding alone could not handle, and he would ultimately have to act personally.
Therefore, the most urgent task was not to repair his damaged divine soul, but to improve his physical body realm and the Supreme Cauldron.
Inside the manor, Xiao Chang Geng was idle.
When it woke up, it was either drinking milk or on its way to drink milk.
As for the Shen Family members...
They had obtained numerous high-level cultivation methods and were currently familiarizing themselves with them, gradually searching for the most suitable ones for their cultivation.
As for the hatred between the family and the Xiao Family and Wei Family, they had already cast it aside.
Because the Old Ancestor had returned.
That was an Immortal, even if suppressed by the heavenly dao laws in this world, he still possessed the strength of the Questioning Divinity Realm!
What is Questioning Divinity?
The number one in the world is Questioning Divinity!
Let those who aren't afraid of death come!
Just like that, a peaceful night passed.
Time came to the early morning of the second day of his rebirth.
The rising sun illuminated the sky, but gradually dark clouds gathered, and muffled thunder rumbled.
Cicadas fell silent, and birds flew away in alarm.
A chilling sensation permeated the air, hinting at a murderous atmosphere.
It was like the calm before a storm.
But Shen Changsheng smiled lightly, walking out of the room leisurely.
“As expected of the Destined One, sacrificing his wife grants boundless magic power.”
“His appearance is accompanied by anomalous celestial phenomena; one might think he has reached the Questioning Divinity Realm.”
Shen Changsheng lightly tapped his foot, and his body ascended to mid-air above the Shen Family.
At the same time, a “crack” suddenly echoed from the rolling black clouds in the distance, and a red lightning bolt struck down.
The Destined One, Ning Yi, finally appeared amidst the thunder!
In the fierce winds, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hair flew wildly.
His originally handsome face had already twisted into a hideous mask due to hatred.
“Shen Changsheng!”
“You killed my beloved; I will make sure you die without a burial place!”
Ning Yi let out a beast-like roar.
He charged from the high sky in the distance, bathed in blood light, wielding an extraordinary flying knife!
That flying knife was covered in rust, but it was the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife!
Its sharpness was not to be looked at directly!
“Ning Yi has made his move, let’s go together!”
Around the Shen Family, over five hundred figures shot into the sky, attacking in unison!
In an instant, a flood of light surged towards the Shen Family.
The Shen Family members stared intently at the sky, their peace of mind from yesterday completely gone.
Seeing the sky-obscuring offensive, their hearts couldn't help but pound.
Old Ancestor, can you withstand this?
Shen Changsheng stood in the sky, still composed.
His gaze slightly sharpened, and a green light flew out from between his brows, transforming into a jade-green bamboo strip.
The jade-green bamboo strip unleashed a green light, sweeping 360° across the sky, covering all invading enemies!
In the blink of an eye.
The green light vanished, leaving only a sky full of blood mist and countless shattered limbs.
Whether they were Xiao Family members, or from the Cheng Family, Han Family, Jiang Family, or Wei Family.
On their broken faces, there was only solidified despair.
Bang!
“Pfft—!”
The Immortal Slaying Flying Knife was forcefully repelled.
In front of Ning Yi, a phantom formed by sword intent was also immediately shattered, and he himself bled from all seven orifices, his bones and tendons severed, uncontrollably flying backward.
Severely injured and near death!
“How could this be!”
“I have a technique left by Sword Immortal Sister; every time I encounter a life-threatening situation, she can block a fatal blow for me, but this time, even she couldn’t block it!”
Ning Yi coughed up large mouthfuls of blood.
In his bloodshot eyes, terror completely spread!