Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 252 - 212: The Little Ledger Is Almost Full

After Shen Ziyu revealed their blood relation with the phrase "not fighting, not knowing each other," the atmosphere in the pavilion remained somewhat awkward.

Shen Ziyu, of course, knew that the source of the awkwardness was himself; the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy suddenly becoming Shen Qingming's uncle posed many questions that needed explanation.

Fortunately, he had prepared for this conversation for a very long time.

"Thirteen years ago, I was fortunate enough to join the Holy Sect and was taught by the Sect Leader. However, once I entered the sect, I realized that joining the Holy Sect meant I couldn't leave until I passed the First Heaven Tribulation. It took me a full thirteen years to barely make it through. During that time, no matter what happened outside, I could only practice in seclusion within the Holy Sect, ignoring everything. Therefore, I didn't even get to see my sister one last time, and this became one of the greatest regrets of my life. So, for this Cyan Cloud competition, I went through great lengths to come to Cyan Cloud City as an Immortal Envoy, just to see the place where my sister had lived and then see the child she left behind."

"While I was in Heaven-Reaching City, I once asked someone to inquire about you, and I knew... you had not been doing well for a time. So I thought that if I had the chance, I would definitely take you away from this dragon's lair. But it seems there's no need now."

Shen Qingming nodded vigorously: "Yes, the previous matters were actually all a misunderstanding."

Shen Ziyu said, "I know, I've already met that woman, Lu Xin. Although she is far from being like Sister Yue'e, she is indeed a good and competent woman. And with Mr. Celestial Divine Sword by your side, you should be able to neutralize your father's 'poison' and live here peacefully."

Shen Qingming was taken aback for a moment and shook his head: "Father is not poisonous..."

"Not poisonous!? What a joke! He is the greatest poison in the entire Xiangzhou, a veritable natural disaster, heaven's tribulation, Chaos Demon Essence!"

Mentioning Li Fengyun made Shen Ziyu's emotions intensely agitated.

"If it weren't for him, how could Sister Yue'e have died so early!? Her talent and potential were the best among the siblings! Even I, who was chosen by the Saint Sect Leader as a so-called prodigy, was far inferior to her! If it weren't for that scoundrel Li Fengyun taking her away from Shen City and even leaving the family... Sister Yue'e would have inherited the position of City Lord by now, leading the family to new heights!"

Shen Qingming listened dumbly, for a moment not knowing what to say, as she knew very little about her mother Shen Yue'e.

Shen Ziyu said, "Your mother was the smartest, most beautiful, most gentle, and most wonderful woman under the heavens."

Wang Jiu, listening from the side, found it intriguing: "The way you say it, it's hard to imagine she is Shen Qingming's biological mother, completely different from Shen Qingming, she could be called Anti-Shen Qingming."

"Hey!"

Shen Ziyu also shook his head and said, "It's because her bloodline has been polluted by Li Fengyun."

"Hey!!" Shen Qingming flared up in anger, "Are you not afraid of having your bones broken just because my mother isn't around!?"

Shen Ziyu then backed down: "Sorry, I just... even after so many years, when I think of those things back then, I can't quell the anger in my heart."

Shen Qingming asked in a daze: "What happened back then?"

"The events of that time... are very complicated." Shen Ziyu said, "Even though I want to tell you everything, those negative emotions gnawing at my heart prevent me from rationally viewing what happened back then. So, what happened then ought not to be told by me but should be explored and uncovered by you personally."

"By me..." Shen Qingming exclaimed, "Are you saying I should go to Shen City?"

"Of course you should go, it's your true home." Shen Ziyu said, "Look at yourself now, exquisite and beautiful, sincere in temperament, possessing remarkable cultivation strength, and having the fortune to awaken the Celestial Divine Sword. All these indicate that you are indeed a member of the Shen Family!"

Shen Qingming listened with an amused exasperation, this uncle praised people in such a way that it made one's head ache.

"Additionally, your grandfather... who is also your grandfather, has always longed for you."

Upon hearing the word 'grandfather,' Shen Qingming was taken aback, a subtle emotion flashed through her heart.

Grandfather... huh? It was such an unfamiliar word.

Yet, not so unfamiliar.

The City Lord of Shen City, renowned across the world, cultivated to the Sea Overturning Realm, firmly ranking among the top ten masters in the world, even above Li Fengyun of the Li Family.

Then, to separate her parents, he expelled her mother from the Shen Family, not speaking a word or exchanging a letter for over a decade.

Shen Ziyu said, "The events of that time are indeed hard to summarize, but your grandfather has never associated with the Li Family over the years, yet he has never forgotten you."

Shen Qingming tilted her head, looking at Shen Ziyu. Never forgotten her? Then why, in fourteen years, had she never met her grandfather, not even received a letter from him?

Shen Ziyu sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment, then forced an explanation: "You see, the Li Family and Shen Family are among the Seven Great Noble Families, originally supposed to stand together, but your grandfather not associating with the Li Family all these years shows he has always remembered the grievances you have suffered."

Shen Qingming was utterly astonished, even if they thought she was stupid, they couldn't just treat her as a fool, could they?

"Uncle, according to what you're saying, I must have become a femme fatale affecting the millennial relationship between the Li Family and Shen Family?"

Wang Jiu interrupted: "A femme fatale requires high standards of beauty and figure, I suggest you..."

Shen Qingming stopped Wang Jiu's undermining with a kick, then continued to look at Shen Ziyu with a playful gaze.

Shen Ziyu was silent for a moment, then said, "The two bones I owe, I'll snap myself on the anniversary of my sister's death. But please believe me, your grandfather has truly always yearned for you." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Mm, I believe you." Shen Qingming nodded, smiling, "The Holy Sect Immortal Envoy surely wouldn't deceive a little girl like me."

Shen Ziyu smiled wryly: "Meeting you was purely in a personal capacity. The Holy Sect delineates public and private matters clearly, they must not be muddled... However, since you won the championship this time, I shall give you the customary reward first."

As he spoke, without waiting for Shen Qingming to respond, he promptly presented her with three gold and jade-colored brocade boxes.

"According to the usual standards, the champion can choose one treasure from the list, but this year is different, so I've chosen three treasures for you."

Shen Qingming thanked him and directly opened the brocade boxes—gifts among cultivators lack cumbersome formalities and are often opened face-to-face.

In the first box was a crystal-clear orb. Shen Qingming paused for a moment, then softly exclaimed, "Original Sword Essence?!"

Shen Ziyu said, "I heard that the Li Family went through a lot of trouble for this item... hmph, after all, it's a disgrace to the Seven Great Noble Families, they couldn't even gather something so small."

Shen Qingming couldn't be bothered with such derogatory remarks about the so-called disgrace of the Seven Great Noble Families. She already knew full well about the conflict between the Li Family and the Shen Family.

Opening the second brocade box, inside was an empty hourglass, with no apparent function.

Shen Ziyu explained, "This is a divine artifact for cultivating the Sand Gathering Technique. By infusing True Essence into it, you can cultivate the ultimate skill your maternal grandfather relied on to roam the world."

Shen Qingming slightly parted her cherry lips, incredulous, "The Sand Gathering Technique?! How is this possible?!"

Shen Ziyu laughed, "Although it's a secret not passed down by the Shen Family, you're part of the Shen Family. What's wrong with cultivating the Shen Family's techniques? Besides, if this item wasn't permitted by your maternal grandfather, how could I possibly have brought it out from the well-guarded Shen City's treasure vault?"

Just as he finished speaking, Wang Jiu pointed to a corner of the hourglass and asked, "Is that a bloodstain?"

Shen Ziyu casually took the hourglass, wiped it with his sleeve, and said, "Where? I don't see anything."

Wang Jiu pointed at a bit of red on Shen Ziyu's white sleeve, "Here."

Shen Ziyu was silent for a moment, then said, "It's a misunderstanding, it's ketchup from fried chicken wings I ate before I came. Alright, let's quickly look at the third brocade box."

Shen Qingming sighed and opened the third brocade box.

This time, the item inside was plain and simple—a gray, understated token.

Shen Ziyu said, "With this in your possession, you can enter the Saint Sect."

Shen Qingming looked at Shen Ziyu in surprise.

"Of course, not now," Shen Ziyu said, "but when you've achieved a certain level of cultivation and have traveled through Xiangzhou, then go to the Saint Sect. It's the holy temple of cultivation in the world, and it's a place you shouldn't miss under any circumstances."

"Alright, I understand."

After Shen Ziyu finished speaking, he smiled at Shen Qingming. The young girl, perhaps due to a spiritual connection of blood, suddenly understood the meaning within his smile. She stood up, returned the smile, and pointed to a stream not far from the pavilion, "I'm going over there to enjoy the scenery."

Once Shen Qingming left, Shen Ziyu turned to Wang Jiu and said, "Next, ask your questions."

Wang Jiu, not holding back, knew that the right to ask questions was reserved for him after Shen Qingming's victory, and he indeed had some questions to ask the people of the Saint Sect.

These questions had been pondered in his mind for a long time, each one of significant importance. At this point, only someone from the Saint Sect might be able to answer them.

"First question, is there an Earth Spirit Vein Map of Xiangzhou Continent, from the earliest recorded to the present day?"

Shen Ziyu frowned slightly, "Why do you need this?"

"I want to know what Xiangzhou truly is now."

Shen Ziyu shook his head, indicating he didn't understand, but he still fulfilled Wang Jiu's request, "Wait a moment while I check."

Then, he took out a piece of xuan paper and infused it with his Primordial Spirit and True Essence. In moments, ink marks naturally appeared on the xuan paper, forming numerous winding, uneven lines, quickly filling the paper.

"Time is limited, so let's look at a rough version first," Shen Ziyu explained, "This is the earliest recorded dantian of Xiangzhou in the records of the Saint Sect."

Wang Jiu glanced at it, then fixed his gaze, motionless.

Moments later, he touched the xuan paper with the main body of the White Sword, and then the patterns on the xuan paper began to change on their own.

Shen Ziyu maintained a calm expression but was internally surprised.

This xuan paper is a tool specially used by the Holy Sect Envoy on their travels, only operable with exclusive secret techniques. How did he just... nevermind, with the Celestial Divine Sword, nothing is surprising. Just keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't mess up the information.

Wang Jiu, however, had no interest in the so-called secrets of the Saint Sect.

The creation and usage mantra of this xuan paper, he had seen it before, and it seemed that even after ten thousand years, it hadn't changed much.

And yet, the patterns on the xuan paper had changed to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

Wang Jiu adjusted the patterns several times before finally confirming one thing.

"So, in the past battle with the Demon Emperor, the other eight states were completely scattered..."