Chapter 493 - 16: Coincidence

Chapter 493: Chapter 16: Coincidence

In just a short while,

the extraterritorial geniuses within the pavilion had all swiftly departed.

Left behind,

the restaurant waiter’s eyes darted about before he turned and headed for the stairwell below.

"Greetings, Third Elder!"

Inside a dimly lit room on a lower floor,

the waiter bowed respectfully to the figure before him.

That person

was none other than the Shen Clan’s Third Elder, Shen Yingxia!

"Enough. No need for formalities. What did you hear?"

The Shen Clan’s Third Elder waved a hand, gesturing for him to report directly.

The waiter didn’t dare to delay and quickly recounted everything that had just happened, down to the last detail.

After listening,

the Shen Clan’s Third Elder’s expression was grim and uncertain,

as if he were pondering something.

"Alright, you’re dismissed. Continue monitoring those people’s movements. Inform me immediately if there’s any news."

After leaving this command,

the Shen Clan’s Third Elder’s figure flickered and vanished.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Inside the Shen Family Mansion,

the Shen Clan’s Third Elder clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, reporting everything he had just heard to the lavishly dressed woman before him.

"Excellent!"

"Let’s see if that bitch’s son dies this time!"

The First Madam cheered aloud,

her sharp, cruel face twisting into a savage, gleeful expression.

In her eyes, she could already picture the scenes of Shen Changchuan being challenged one after another by those extraterritorial geniuses, ending in a miserable defeat.

Even better,

if those extraterritorial geniuses "accidentally" killed that bitch’s son outright!

Seeing this, the Third Elder

dared not say more,

but he felt a subtle sense of unease in his heart.

’Come to think of it,’

’Shen Changchuan’s existence doesn’t really pose a conflict of interest for the First Madam, does it?’

’In fact, to avoid her suppression, Shen Changchuan left Tian Nan City long ago to develop himself in some remote corner of the world thousands of miles away. He hardly used any of the clan’s resources while he was growing up.’

’In terms of benefits, his existence poses virtually no conflict with her at all!’

’He never even had a direct conflict with her before she started targeting him.’

’There was originally no great enmity between them.’

’If I were in her position,’

’after Shen Changchuan displayed such talent, I would have probably tried to swallow my pride and win him over long ago, to eliminate any lingering animosity.’

’But this woman... she acts purely based on her own likes and dislikes.’

’The more outstanding Shen Changchuan becomes, the more she detests and targets him.’

’It’s gotten to the point where,’

’within the entire Shen Clan, Shen Changchuan has become the second person on her kill list, second only to Shen Chong!’

’And the relationship between them has probably long since become that of mortal enemies, a feud to the death!’

’All I can say is,’

’the minds of these women’

’are sometimes just baffling!’

The Shen Clan’s Third Elder couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.

’This woman,’

’she’s like a spoiled, tyrannical shrew, committing one foolish act after another.’

’If it weren’t for her powerful background, with the Central Zhou Family—which has a Profound Pill Realm expert at its helm—as her backer,’

’she would have probably been played to death by the Clan Leader’s other wives long ago.’

’It’s precisely for this reason’

’that the Shen Clan’s Third Elder is not optimistic about the First Madam’s ultimate fate and has already secretly mended his relationship with Shen Changchuan.’

’He even paid a considerable price to do so.’

Just as these thoughts were running through his mind,

the First Madam spoke viciously:

"Go and watch that little bastard for me! I want to know his every move!"

The Shen Clan’s Third Elder was slightly taken aback.

’Wait,’

’why not send someone from the Zhou Family for this kind of mission?’

’Haven’t quite a few Zhou Family members arrived in Tian Nan City recently?’

’Could it be that they have other, more important matters and can’t be spared?’

Thinking back on those Zhou Clan Members who had traveled from afar,

a thought flashed through the Shen Clan’s Third Elder’s mind.

"Yes!"

Despite his internal doubts,

the Shen Clan’s Third Elder acknowledged the order and departed.

’Hmph! If the clan’s forces weren’t busy plotting that other matter, how could I let that little bastard continue to live so freely?!’

’But you won’t be smug for long!’

’Even if I can’t take your life this time, once the clan’s plan is complete, I’ll make sure you die without a burial place!’

Watching the Shen Clan’s Third Elder leave,

a vicious glint flashed in the First Madam’s eyes.

However,

what she didn’t know was that

after the Third Elder left the courtyard, he didn’t act immediately. Instead, he found a secluded spot and sent out a Communication Talisman.

「That night,」

unbeknownst to anyone, he secretly met with the Shen Clan Leader.

Not until one hour later

did he quietly depart.

What the two of them discussed, no outsider could know.

But after the Third Elder left,

the Shen Clan Leader’s expression was utterly grim.

’To think that an insignificant concubine’s son from back then has actually come this far!’

’If I had known, I would have gotten closer to him and won him over earlier. He would have been a useful blade to wield.’

’Sigh, what a true pity.’

’But no matter. Once Xiaoyang is grown, none of this will matter...’

As his thoughts shifted,

Shen Fuxing thought of his secret illegitimate son with the Innate Spiritual Body,

and his originally grim expression softened considerably.

’Let him be outstanding then.’

’It’s actually perfect.’

’He can draw that woman’s attention away.’

’It will give Xiaoyang a safer space to grow.’

...

Meanwhile,

「Dawan Village.」

Shen Changchuan released the Void Escape Gu from the acupoint in his palm.

He gazed at the white, Jade Silkworm-like Void Escape Gu floating in the air before him, his brow deeply furrowed.

’How can this be...’

Shen Changchuan muttered to himself,

his expression unpleasant.

It wasn’t that he wanted to react this way,

but it was because

for the past month,

he had spent a vast amount of time trying to comprehend the Void Escape Gu’s Power of Space, contemplating how to apply its power in his own combat.

But after a month of effort,

he had gained nothing!

He had made almost no progress at all.

His current use of the Void Escape Gu’s power was still limited to relying on its pure Power of Space to create a powerful spatial shockwave.

As for controlling and adapting it,

he had no feel for it whatsoever!

"It seems I overestimated myself!"

After a long moment, Shen Changchuan heaved a long sigh.

He had to admit,

as a power that only existences at the Profound Pill Realm level could master,

its difficulty was truly far beyond what he could currently grasp.

Forget about understanding or comprehending the Power of Space—

right now, he couldn’t even manage the simplest modification or application!

And the difficulty of it all

wasn’t something that could be overcome with just a few more practice sessions.

It was like a middle schooler trying to solve an advanced calculus problem from college.

If you don’t get it, you just don’t get it!

’With the progress bar panel, maybe if I just put in the effort, I can eventually grind it out.’

’But the problem is, the time required could be several decades! Where am I supposed to find that much time?!’

’The Immortal Sect’s centennial grand competition is in about eight years.’

’In that amount of time, I can’t even say for sure that I’ll succeed in cultivating to the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer...’

Shen Changchuan couldn’t help but sigh again.

The initial plan had been great,

but it wasn’t until he actually started to execute it

that Shen Changchuan finally realized just how difficult it truly was!