Chapter Twenty-Two: The Shi Family

The Commercial Alliance, Tianyun City, the Shi Family, within the Rock Hall.

Yang Hai, who was slightly overweight, sat upright on the stone slab, his small eyes narrowed as he flipped through sheets of account books, reporting the recent mining operations to Shi Jian, the head of the Shi Family.

Shi Jian, though nearly seventy, was vigorous and robust, his hair jet-black. As the patriarch of the Shi Family, he wore only the rough hempen clothing used for training, sitting with commanding presence atop a grayish-brown boulder above, his expression steady, the brilliance in his eyes contained, listening attentively to Yang Hai’s words.

When Yang Hai finished his report, Shi Jian furrowed his brow and said, “Hai’er, the mined ore from the mountains recently is a full twenty percent less than in previous months. What’s going on?”

“It’s because of the Mo Family and the Ling Family,” Yang Hai sighed. “Many skilled miners have been lured away by their high wages, leaving us shorthanded. In the recent covert struggles with those two families, we’ve suffered many losses. The miners fear we can’t compete, and since those families offer better pay, they’ve moved over.”

“Hmph!” Shi Jian gave a cold snort. “Those two families are plainly targeting us. Ever since the marriage between Mo Yanyu and Ling Shaofeng was settled, their ties have grown ever stronger. Recently, in our secret conflict with the Mo Family, the Ling Family sent people to intervene. Clearly, they’ve reached some tacit understanding in the shadows. Otherwise, the Mo Family wouldn’t be able to hold their own against us.”

“Patriarch, should we retaliate?” Yang Hai asked.

“No need to worry. I have a plan.” Shi Jian spoke calmly, then paused and suddenly frowned. “That rascal Shi Yan still hasn’t returned?”

“No, I meant to mention that,” Yang Hai replied with a wry smile. “When he left, he said he’d go to the Dark Forest. It’s been almost a year, and he hasn’t come back. I recently heard that Mo Chaoge and Mo Yanyu are both in the Dark Forest. Do you think something might have happened to him? He didn’t take any strong family guards with him when he left. Qing’er departed early, and he’s my only child. I’m worried…”

Shi Jian’s brow tightened. He was silent for a moment before sighing, “That boy never had the Shi Family’s ‘Petrification Martial Spirit’ from birth, and he never liked martial arts. Always tinkering with strange things and running wild—he’s truly a handful.”

“Patriarch, it’s my bloodline’s fault. If I had the ‘Martial Spirit’, the child born from Qing’er and me wouldn’t be like this,” Yang Hai said, ashamed.

“This is fate,” Shi Jian shook his head. “Hai’er, I found you in the Endless Sea. You may not be my blood, but I’ve always treated you as my own son. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have married Qing’er to you. True, you lack the Martial Spirit and haven’t trained in martial arts, but the Shi Family’s strategies and the management of the mines—how could we do without you? Without you, I could never have amassed so much wealth. Though you’re not skilled in martial arts, your contributions to the Shi Family are no less than anyone’s!”

“But now, a pinnacle martial artist is worth more than all the riches in the world,” Yang Hai laughed at himself. “If I’d had the ‘Martial Spirit’, I’d have devoted myself to martial training. If Yan had inherited his mother’s ‘Petrification Martial Spirit’, perhaps he’d have done the same. But why is the ‘Martial Spirit’ destined by birth? Ah…”

Shi Jian nodded and sighed. “Indeed, nowadays a peak martial artist is far more precious than wealth. That’s the truth.”

“Patriarch, do you think anything happened to him?” Yang Hai still couldn’t let go.

“There shouldn’t be any trouble.” Shi Jian considered for a moment. “Since the boy doesn’t care for martial arts, the Mo Family never paid him any mind. Neither Mo Chaoge nor Mo Yanyu should have met him. They don’t know him, so they wouldn’t target him.”

“But it still feels off. He should have returned long ago.”

“Hmm, I’ll have the people stationed at Silent Town keep an eye out. Silent Town borders the Dark Forest. If the boy appears, word will reach us. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Patriarch.”

“What are you thanking me for? He’s your son, but isn’t he my grandson?” Shi Jian glared and barked, “How many times have I told you—not to call me Patriarch. I’m your foster father and father-in-law; call me anything you like, just not Patriarch.”

“Foster father, Hai’er remembers.”

“Good.”

…

Dark Forest, quiet night.

On a secluded lawn, Luo Hao stood upright like a mountain, his fivefold gravity field radiating from him, the immense pressure making breathing difficult.

Shi Yan was drenched in sweat, bouncing and darting around Luo Hao, his body performing intricate combat maneuvers, the veins on his face taut, the muscles on his neck twitching like small snakes.

In the grass, Mu Yudie bit a blade of grass, secretly watching.

“How long do you think he’ll last today?” Di Yalan crept up, squatting beside Mu Yudie, her rounded hips resting, and whispered.

“Have you finished your task for today?” Mu Yudie laughed softly, not answering.

“Zhao Xin has taken over. It was a close call—an argent-horned serpent coiled on a branch nearly bit me, but I reacted fast. Otherwise, you’d never see me again.”

Di Yalan’s face was still pale with fear as she cursed, “There’s more and more monsters lately. We need to be careful. We've encountered five waves of monsters in three days. Especially at night, they’re more active. Next time you sneak a look, bring me along. Otherwise, it could be dangerous.”

“You mainly wanted to say that last part, right?” Mu Yudie smiled.

“Hah, you saw right through me.” Di Yalan admitted openly. “That kid is incredible. Every time in these three days, he pushes past his limits, his endurance grows stronger. I’m at the third stage of Innate Realm, and I wouldn’t dare mess around in Uncle Luo’s fivefold gravity field. He’s a lunatic—he never stops until he’s about to collapse. Madman!”

“His endurance isn’t the scariest thing about him,” Mu Yudie shook her head, a strange light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

“Yeah, his recovery is even freakier. I can't believe he’s only at the first stage of Innate Realm, yet he’s got terrifying regenerative power,” Di Yalan said, baffled.

“This guy has so many secrets…” Mu Yudie pondered, muttering softly, “I’ve never seen someone eat like him. In three days, he’s almost emptied our food stores. I’m starting to worry about provisions—he’s a real glutton.”

Yalan laughed, “He’s funny, too. Any offhand remark can make people laugh out loud. He’s got tons of novel ideas I’ve never heard before. Says emperors should be elected by the people, that merchants can sway a country, and he even writes sour poems. I can't figure out how, at just seventeen, he’s packed so many strange things in his head.”

“Yeah, but this seventeen-year-old, when he looks at us, it’s like he wants to devour us alive. I’ve never seen such possessive eyes—this rascal, rotten to the core!” Mu Yudie gritted her teeth, miming a chopping motion. “One day, I’ll make sure he knows what I can do!”

“Wait until your martial spirit recovers. Hah, let him look, what’s the harm? Zhao Xin and Hu Long only dare sneak glances at my behind when I turn away. I despise their cowardice, but that kid’s got guts—I like it,” Di Yalan laughed boldly.

“You’re getting lovesick?” Mu Yudie teased. “He’s still just a kid. Don’t go seducing him.”

“Have you ever seen a kid with eyes like that?” Di Yalan whispered, “I suspect he’s older than he claims, maybe using some secret technique to look young. Maybe it’s a hidden martial spirit…”

“Could be. Looks like we need to keep a close watch,” Mu Yudie mused, nodding slowly.

…

“Bang!”

Shi Yan spread his limbs and fell flat, exhausted, his voice hoarse. “How many laps?”

“Fifteen,” Luo Hao answered, his expression complex. “You did fifteen laps, constantly jumping, rolling, dodging, enduring far more pressure than most. Kid, can you really… take it?”

“Cough, cough… Whether I can or not, I’ll know tomorrow,” Shi Yan struggled to speak.

For three days, during every spare moment in daylight, he secretly trained in “Rampage”.

With relentless effort, the nodes in his chest and waist could also release negative energy at will, making his whole body seem much leaner.

He’d nearly tempered every part of his body—except the hardest to train, the mind…

At night, he pestered Luo Hao to unleash the fivefold gravity field, using the immense pressure to push himself to extremes.

In just three days, his limit rose from eleven laps to fifteen, increasing difficulty by adding jumps, dodges, strikes—actions that drained even more stamina.

Through this intense training, he could clearly feel his strength surge, his limbs, muscles, bones, and organs growing more robust. Every morning, after waking from cultivation, in normal gravity he could leap several meters with ease, his body brimming with explosive power, even his agility greatly improved.

Because he could see real progress every day, he kept escalating the difficulty, pushing himself to the limit, torturing his body mercilessly, honing every aspect of his physical abilities. Even the condensation of his essence energy sped up.

“Ooah! Ooah!” Strange cries suddenly echoed from the outskirts.

Luo Hao’s face changed, exclaiming, “That’s the call of a level-four monster—the Flamecloud Demon Python! It’s very dangerous, but seldom active at night. Someone must have provoked it!”

“Uncle Luo!” Zhao Xin and Hu Long rushed over, faces anxious.

“What’s happening?” Luo Hao barked.

“There’s a team of warriors hunting the Flamecloud Demon Python. It’s heading toward us, and the warriors are pursuing relentlessly. The demon python is completely enraged,” Zhao Xin reported urgently.

“Damn!” Luo Hao seized the broad sword from his shoulder. “Protect Yudie!” With that, he dashed out.

Shi Yan, aching all over, suddenly sat up, focusing his essence, his eyes shining with cold light as he stared toward the direction Luo Hao had run.

…