Chapter 2: Returning Home

What is going on? Uncle Huan looked towards the Liu family.

Unknowingly, a day has passed, and Shen Junhuai clearly feels the changes within his body. The meridians have widened by at least three times, and the refinement of his true essence has become even more pure. The capacity of his dantian has also expanded by twofold, and after absorbing so much python blood, the reserve of his true essence has reached a saturated state

This is a recount of my early years when I went to the Yunze Mountains to gather herbs, where I unexpectedly encountered a primitive tribe holding a memorial ceremony. A wave of demons surged, leading to the demise of the entire tribe, and I was gifted by the only surviving chieftain. Over the years, I have consulted it countless times, yet the mysteries within remain unsolved. I only know it is not an ordinary object. With no male heirs behind me, I discussed with your father about passing it on to you, believing that your deep connection may allow you to fully comprehend it, which remains to be seen

In the Starry Sky Continent, a boy becomes an adult at the age of thirteen. Traditionally, upon reaching adulthood, one can inherit the family laws. Shen Junhuai's father passed away early, and Shen Yihuan's solemn demeanor is indeed due to specific reasons.

"Is this how I die?" he screamed inwardly in despair, as the excruciating pain within him simultaneously tore at his muscles and soul, blood seeping from his seven orifices

He lay in the center of the python's corpse, which had already shriveled, with only the large head and its two vacant, hollow eyes staring blankly at a certain point, as if questioning this human boy, usually regarded as insignificant, with a sense of unwilling fear filling its green, bulging eyes

Liu held her battered son in her arms, feeling that the sky was so blue

Is this the resin of the Benzoin tree? Once again, Shen Junhuai, who narrowly escaped death, began to recall those few jujube-red fruits. The pharmacopoeia records that Benzoin, also known as Benzoic resin, can be refined into the Divine Aperture Pill, a celestial-grade treasure that takes three thousand years to bear fruit. Celestial treasures are classified into seven levels: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Celestial, Divine, and Dao. If Benzoin is refined into a pill, it can strengthen the meridians within oneself, and consuming the fruit alone should also have some effect.

"Seventh Young Master, you are about to come of age, and having gone through such hardships, you can be considered an adult. I have nothing much to offer you, but take this book and read it for yourself." Shen Yihuan handed over a golden-yellow ancient book.

In a moment of urgency, he saw a green plant deep in the tunnel, hanging three oval-shaped, reddish-brown fruits. An instinctive sense told him that this was what he needed. Struggling, he crawled over, grabbed it, and stuffed it into his mouth

After finishing the meal, Shen Yihuan pulled Shen Junhuai to a side room, his expression solemn, and although there was a hint of intoxication in his eyes, they remained clear.

A day later, Shen Junhuai awoke.

Indeed, it has been five years since the fourth master passed away, wuwuwu... Liu also wept sorrowfully

It has fully recovered, so let's go home first. Moreover, I have yet to see my own dear mother in person.

He is also frantically practicing his techniques, but the narrow river channel cannot accommodate the rushing torrent.

After spitting out a few mouthfuls of fresh blood, he felt the pain within his body begin to subside, as the true essence within his meridians gradually surged towards his dantian in a more harmonious manner, and a warm sensation spread throughout his entire body

Huan Shu, whose full name is Shen Yihuan, is the son of the late steward of the Shen family. He was a childhood companion of Shen Junhuai, the father of Shen family, and a loyal servant granted the family name by the Shen family. Lacking martial arts aptitude, he became an apprentice to the Shen family's physician to study medicine, achieving some success in his endeavors

As a wave of comfort washed over him, Shen Junhuai realized the arrival of an opportunity and hurriedly intensified his cultivation practice with even greater fervor

No need, child! Uncle has something to tell you, so come to my place, I have good things for you

"Alright, alright, my son is back, and Uncle Huan can relax now. I still need to accompany Uncle Huan with drinks and confess my mistakes." Shen Junhuai quickly changed the subject and looked at his mother. "I'll go get the drinks, and later you should keep Uncle Huan here for dinner"

Sit cross-legged, calm the mind and eliminate distractions, focus on the lower dantian, and accelerate the practice of the technique

Uncle Huan, don't say goodbye. Without you, I won't go anywhere in the future. Moreover, it was I who sought you out in the first place, and you entrusted me with so much, allowing me to encounter such a great opportunity

The Shen Manor's annex serves as the residence for the collateral branches of the Shen family and the marginalized clan members

"It's all my fault, Uncle!" Huan Shu exclaimed, embracing Shen Junhuai, who had not yet finished dressing. "I shouldn't have taken you to the mountains. If anything were to happen to Fourth Madam or Seventh Young Master, I would have to die to atone for my sins!"

Having learned a profound lesson from the past, before possessing sufficient strength for self-preservation, although there are many opportunities in this deep mountain, while secretly rejoicing in my good fortune, I also understand the importance of striving for improvement

Shen Junhuai, dressed in tattered and worn clothes, finally arrived at the Shen family's villa in Pingdu City

"If I committed sins in my past life, then punish me, oh Heavenly Lord, why do you treat us this way..." Fourth Madam Liu sat on the edge of the kang, tears streaming down her face. Her son had been missing for three days, and Uncle Huan, along with the family servants, was still searching in the deep mountains.

The strength has progressed from the first rank of a martial artist to the third rank. Due to the influence of the fire attribute python's blood, it can even contend with a fourth rank martial artist.

With a loud "bang," the slightly cool liquid inside the fruit seemed to emit a joyful shout, merrily chasing after the raging and violent blood of the python within.

After completing everything, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his spiritual power had improved significantly, which brought him great joy. He couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions in his heart; having been given a second chance at life, he did not wish to live a mundane existence.

Mother! Seeing my mother's face, both strange and familiar, yet filled with weariness, I felt my heart convulsing, aching, along with the tenderness that had already seeped into my very bones

Liu smiled as she recounted everything her son encountered in the mountains

Although the pit was filled with blood, the amount he had absorbed into his stomach had reached an astonishing level. The powerful energy within the blood was violently impacting Shen Junhuai's delicate meridians, with the fire attribute's scorching heat burning intensely.

The meridians are powerful, allowing for the accommodation of greater amounts of true essence energy, and also facilitating the acceleration of the transformation of true essence energy from quantitative to qualitative, enabling one to break through more swiftly

Upon hearing the sound of the courtyard gate opening, she stood up and the figure she saw brought her to tears once again. It was then that she felt an overwhelming fatigue and collapsed onto the ground.

At this moment, he is also in a situation of intense hardship

Shen Junhuai knelt on one knee, accepted the book, and bowed his head to Uncle Huan. He saw that it was an ancient book two inches thick, covered in gold leaf, with five black characters inscribed: "Records of Extraordinary Objects." The ancient style was rich and profound, yet it also carried a sense of solemnity.

Shen Junhuai had been asleep the entire day, awakened by the noise coming from the main room

The direct descendants of the Shen family reside within a few miles of the city lord's mansion, which also serves as a symbol of the Shen family's status

Reflecting on the mere span of one day since my rebirth, I have encountered two life-threatening crises, leaving me drenched in cold sweat. My strength is still too inadequate, and deep within, I have become more aware of my determination to enhance my own abilities

"Good people are rewarded after all," Uncle Huan exclaimed excitedly, "Perhaps this is a sign of the turning tide for the Fourth Grandmother's family. If the Fourth Master were still alive, he would surely be overjoyed." The elderly man wiped away his tears with the back of his hand

The affairs of the world are indeed wondrous; since heaven has granted me another opportunity to showcase myself, I must strive to seize it with all my effort