Chapter 893 290: The Ruse of Self-Sacrifice

"Elder, Patriarch."

"The Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Danzhou Barrier has arrived."

Upon hearing this, grandfather and grandson exchanged glances. Shen Chongming stood and cupped his hands, saying, "Grandson will go to greet him."

Shen Chongming left shortly after, bringing Luo Tianxing together to the old mansion's guest room.

"Greetings, Elder."

At the door of the guest room, Shen Yuan cupped his hands in greeting.

Luo Tianxing nodded, then entered the room with him and Shen Chongming.

After a servant served spirit tea, Shen Chongming noticed his travel-worn appearance and immediately asked, "Elder, where have you come from?"

Luo Tianxing took a big gulp of tea and waved his hand with a bitter smile.

"Don't mention it."

"Faced some trouble, got dragged by the old fellow to be a laborer."

Xu Xiu's existence was no longer a secret in the Shen Family, so Luo Tianxing candidly explained.

Unexpected trouble?

Shen Chongming and Shen Yuan exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands, "May I ask, Elder, will this trouble have any impact?"

He vaguely understood that if the trouble didn't concern the Shen Family, Luo Tianxing wouldn't have gone out of his way to Yunshui City.

Luo Tianxing nodded with a serious expression, "Naturally there's an impact, and it's significant."

After a slight pause, he continued, "An old disciple of the old man rebelled and hid a treasure he regarded as his life."

"That item is the key to crafting the Dao Source Secret Realm for the old fellow."

"What!" Shen Chongming exclaimed in surprise, "By saying this, does this mean Elder Great Prosperity True Monarch cannot use the Dao Source from Yangnao Land to create the Dao Source Secret Realm?"

Luo Tianxing shook his head slightly, "That's not the case."

"But creating the Dao Source Secret Realm without that item might result in it becoming as ordinary as those controlled by the Underworld and Tribulation Fire Sect."

"The old fellow is very angry now, and I don't know if he will change his plan."

"Previously, I mentioned that there's only one cycle left before the Dao Collapse."

"Ten years have passed now, and if the old fellow changes his mind, this timeline might be shortened further."

Luo Tianxing has always been cautious, avoiding suspicion by Xu Xiu, he maintained an attitude of simply listening and doing in the entire Dao Source plan, never asking unnecessary questions.

Thus, he knew nothing about Xu Xiu's true scheme.

But now, guessing from the disappearance of the Immortal Mansion, he would definitely make corresponding changes.

"Since Elder Shen is here today, I won't hide anything anymore."

"It's still about the last matter."

"If the old fellow's plan changes, it won't be long before I won't need to guard the Danzhou Barrier."

"If the Shen Family is not fully prepared, you might consider following me to Beichen Immortal Mountain."

Facing his gaze, Shen Yuan first cupped his hands.

"We are honored by Elder's favor, the Shen Family is humble."

"Yet, with the current unpredictable situation, the Shen Family doesn't know if it can preserve itself during the upcoming turbulence."

"If we promise Elder now and face troubles later, failing to fulfill our promise, wouldn't we disappoint Elder's expectation?"

After a slight pause, he continued, "However, I can assure Elder that, regardless of future circumstances, as long as Elder is willing, the Shen Family will be Elder's most loyal friend."

Luo Tianxing listened, nodded with a smile.

"Ahh..."

"Elder Shen has spoken so eloquently, without a flaw."

"I am impressed."

"I am not a fan of beating around the bush, since Elder Shen said it this way, I will take it to heart."

Hearing this, Shen Yuan repeatedly cupped his hands and smiled, "Of course, of course."

"We will still rely on Elder's support in the future."

Luo Tianxing waved his hand, "Just a small matter."

"Mutual support is what it's about."

He never underestimated this small Golden Core Family despite the Shen Family's current weakness.

Back when Xu Xiu returned to the Southern Border, Luo Tianxing was the first he sought out.

During their conversations, Xu Xiu revealed some about his dealings with the Shen Family.

Luo Tianxing still remembers how Xu Xiu highly praised the Shen Family, claiming it was the biggest variable in the entire landscape of Yangnao Land.

Later, he was assigned to guard the barrier between Danzhou and Yangnao Land, and when he first met Shen Wen'an, a curiosity arose in him.

With continued interaction with the Shen Family, Luo Tianxing increasingly felt an inexplicable draw from this small cultivation family.

As an unfettered Loose Cultivator, Luo Tianxing originally wished to avoid those karmic entanglements.

But in recent years, he has developed the thought of gaining the Shen Family's favor.

Partly because, in the unseen realm, he had a sense that forming a bond with the Shen Family wasn't a bad thing.

Also, he believed that when he eventually dies, if he doesn't leave behind a legacy, what is the point of a millennium of cultivation?

"Enough, let's leave this matter here for today."

"Be careful. If you face overwhelming trouble, promptly send someone to Danzhou to find me."

"I shall return."

Luo Tianxing stood, walking out of the guest room with large strides.

Shen Yuan and Shen Chongming also stood and accompanied him to the entrance of the old mansion.

Luo Tianxing was about to fly away when suddenly he seemed to sense something, his gaze flicked toward the back mountain of Yunshui City.

Seeing this, Shen Chongming and Shen Yuan's hearts sank instantly.

"Elder, is something wrong?"

Shen Chongming hurriedly approached and asked anxiously.

Luo Tianxing suddenly laughed, "No problem, I'm off."

With that, his silhouette turned into a gentle breeze, instantly vanishing before their eyes.

Once certain he had gone far, the expressions of both grandfather and grandson turned grave.

"Grandfather, did he sense something?"

"Could the Five Elements Secret Realm Shen Xiubai is crafting be exposed?"

Shen Yuan said nothing.

From his current perception, there was nothing amiss about the Five Elements Secret Realm.

Since Shen Xiubai began crafting the Five Elements Secret Realm, Luo Tianxing was not visiting the Shen Family for the first time.

Nothing unusual was discovered in the previous two visits, and now that the Five Elements Secret Realm is hidden even deeper, it shouldn't be discovered.

But if it wasn't the aura of the Five Elements Secret Realm, then what did Luo Tianxing's gaze mean?

Could there be something extraordinary in the direction of the back mountain in Yunshui City?

"This is the second time Elder has invited us today, will grandfather's words cause him displeasure?"

Shen Chongming changed the topic, asking again.

Shen Yuan listened, suppressed his thoughts, and smiled slightly, "Don't worry."

"Elder Luo is not one to care about trivial matters."

"Did you not understand his words earlier?"

Shen Chongming looked confusedly.

Shen Yuan sighed lightly, "He said he doesn't like beating around the bush, he takes my words seriously."

"That means he doesn't want to doubt the Shen Family's intentions and concerns; since the Shen Family is willing to see him as a friend, that is enough."

Shen Chongming nodded in understanding.

"This is quite similar to what grandfather previously said: 'The friendship of gentlemen is as light as water.'"

"Compared to Elder Great Prosperity True Monarch and others, Elder Luo is more like a true cultivator."

Shen Yuan nodded and looked toward the direction of the back mountain.

"Alright, you go ahead; I will head to the back mountain."

Although he felt Luo Tianxing might not have sensed the existence of the Five Elements Secret Realm, he still planned to check it out.

Just received some secrets about crafting an independent small world from the Nine Elements Exiled Immortal Temple; he also wanted to see if Shen Xiubai had time and discuss them with him.