"Haoran, can you truly cultivate now?" Old Sir Shen asked solemnly.
Seeing his grandfather's solemn expression, Shen Haoran suppressed his excitement and replied, "Yes, Grandpa. I really can cultivate now!"
Although he already knew the answer, Old Sir Shen was still startled by Shen Haoran's firm confirmation. Shen Haoran had been stuck at Spirit Tempering Tier Three for a full five years. Old Sir Shen had planned to simply let Haoran live out his life in peace and quiet. But who could have expected that after five years of stagnation, he would suddenly erupt, breaking through three tiers in just seven days? How could one not be astonished!
Old Sir Shen looked at Shen Haoran, sighed softly, and said, "Haoran, since you can cultivate again, there are some things I must tell you. You have the right to know! This is about your parents."
"About my parents?" The word sent ripples through Shen Haoran's heart.
'Parents.' The word was so familiar, yet so foreign to Shen Haoran. For five years, he had been all alone, bearing his joy, sorrow, and hardships by himself. He had never known a father's or a mother's love. But he had never given up the thought of finding them. How could he not be thrilled to finally hear news of them!
Seeing Shen Haoran's excited expression, Old Sir Shen slowly began to tell the story of his parents. "Your father is Shen Lingfeng, the greatest genius our Shen Family has ever produced! Your mother is Murong Wan'Er, the number one beauty of Cyan Mountain City!
But your mother wasn't from Cyan Mountain City. Your father brought her back when he was out adventuring. When Ling Feng brought your mother home, she was covered in wounds, clearly having suffered grave injuries! Yet, she still held you tightly in her arms, terrified you would suffer even the slightest harm.
Your appearance shocked the entire Shen Family, but Ling Feng insisted you were his son, and everyone believed him. Only I knew you weren't! Ling Feng had never left the family before, and that trip had only been for six months. It was impossible for him to have a six or seven-month-old son!
But I could see that Ling Feng truly loved your mother, so I kept this a secret. To avert suspicion, Ling Feng and your mother held a wedding. In the years that followed, your mother, perhaps moved by Ling Feng's devotion, gradually came to accept him. They finally became a true husband and wife, and your mother even became pregnant with a child of the Shen Family bloodline!
However, no one knew the nightmare would come so quickly. Just a few days after your mother became pregnant, a group of outsiders attacked our Shen Family in the dead of night. The Shen Family's elites were utterly defenseless against them; a single one of them was enough to plunge our family into ruin. They had come for your mother, and it was on that day that I learned her true identity!
Your mother was actually the young mistress of the Imperial Capital Murong Clan. She had been married to Long Xiaotian, the only son of the Yin Yang Palace's Palace Master. However, Long Xiaotian was only toying with her affections. Your mother suffered all kinds of humiliation in the Yin Yang Palace and finally escaped with you in her arms, fighting for her life! She was later saved by Ling Feng.
When Long Xiaotian discovered your mother had fled, he joined forces with the Murong Clan to hunt her down across the entire continent. Eventually, they found her. In the end, to protect you, Ling Feng, and the Shen Family, your mother was taken away by the people from the Murong Clan! After she was taken, Ling Feng chased after them like a madman and never returned!"
Old Sir Shen's words left Shen Haoran reeling for a long time. 'So I'm not really a member of the Shen Family… My mother has such a background… and my biological father is such a monster!' Thinking of the suffering his mother must be enduring after being taken away, a violent rage began to fester in Shen Haoran's heart.
Sensing Shen Haoran's fury, Old Sir Shen sighed. "Alas, Haoran, don't blame your grandfather for not telling you the truth sooner. This was all at your mother's request. Your mother hoped you could live an ordinary life in this small family. She was afraid that if you knew the truth, you would definitely try to save her! The power of the Murong Clan and the Yin Yang Palace is beyond our imagination. For them, wiping out a small family like ours is as easy as blowing out a candle! She was only trying to protect you.
If you were still unable to cultivate as before, I would have kept this a secret forever. But now that you've shown outstanding Talent, I can no longer hide it from you. I believe that you will definitely be able to save your mother!"
Hearing Old Sir Shen's words, Shen Haoran clenched his fists and said in a low, determined voice, "Grandpa, don't worry. I will save my mother and find my father! I don't care how powerful the Murong Clan or the Yin Yang Palace are. One day, I will crush them under my heel and make them repent for what they did to my mother and father!"
When Old Sir Shen saw that Shen Haoran still called Shen Lingfeng 'father' even after learning the truth, tears streamed down his aged face. He knew Ling Feng hadn't misjudged him!
"Haoran, you should get some rest for now. Saving your mother is something that must be planned carefully!" Old Sir Shen added a few more words of advice before leaving the room.
After Old Sir Shen left, Shen Haoran sat dazedly on his bed, slowly processing what the old man had just told him.
"I didn't expect your mother to have such a prestigious background. Tsk tsk, that Yin Yang Palace is no simple matter!" Elder Yan said, flying out from within the Sealing Spirit Pearl.
Hearing Elder Yan's words, Shen Haoran hurriedly asked, "Elder Yan, do you know about the Yin Yang Palace?"
"Alright, kid. Don't think you're going to get any information out of me. You're still too weak right now. There are some things I'll naturally tell you when you're stronger. For now, your goal is to break through to the Spiritualist realm and become a true Martial Artist!" Elder Yan said directly, knowing what Shen Haoran was thinking.
Hearing this, Shen Haoran pouted. 'It's always the same old speech. But I do need to become stronger. I need power!' At that moment, Shen Haoran felt an unprecedented craving for strength.
But no matter how much he craved power, Shen Haoran understood the principle of building a solid foundation one step at a time. He immediately adjusted his mindset and threw himself into his Cultivation. The room fell silent once more.
......
「Meanwhile, in the Celestial Harmony Courtyard, at the residence of Second Master Shen.」
CRACK! Inside the study, Second Master Shen slammed a palm onto his desk. The immense force instantly shattered the desk into splinters.
Seeing Second Master Shen so enraged, Shen Cheng immediately stepped forward and asked, "Father, what has made you so angry?"
"Damn it, it's that old bastard! The family has been reorganizing for the past two days, and he's completely dismantled the power base I worked so hard to build!" Second Master Shen said, fuming with rage.
"Hmph! In that old bastard's eyes, there's only Shen Lingfeng's branch of the family! He's never taken me seriously! He's always looked down on me!" Second Master Shen roared.
Seeing his father's state, Shen Cheng's eyes darted, and he cupped his fist. "Father, Grandpa must have come out of seclusion because of Shen Haoran. He's Uncle's only son and Grandpa's only hope. If we kill him, then…"
Hearing Shen Cheng's words, a sharp glint flashed in Second Master Shen's eyes. "That's right! If we destroy that old bastard's only spiritual pillar, won't he just become a walking corpse? And then, won't the Shen Family fall right into my hands? Haha, good! An excellent idea!"
"But how do we kill Shen Haoran? The old man treasures him now and barely lets him out of his sight. It's impossible to kill someone right under a Spirit General's nose!" Second Master Shen was troubled again.
"Father, it's simple. Shen Haoran can cultivate now, so he'll definitely participate in the family assessment in a few days. When the time comes, I'll go on stage and challenge him. He's sure to accept. Then, I'll create the illusion of a 'mishap' and use it to kill him!" Shen Cheng said with a ferocious expression.
"You? Cheng, are you confident you can kill him? He even defeated Ge Yan!" Second Master Shen said worriedly.
"Don't worry, Father. Ge Yan underestimated him, but I won't. Besides, he's just a piece of trash who just reached Spirit Tempering Tier Six. I'll definitely take him down!" As he spoke, his aura suddenly erupted.
Second Master Shen felt this aura and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Cheng, you've already reached Spirit Tempering Tier Seven? Good! You truly are my son!"
'Old bastard, just you wait. The Shen Family will be mine sooner or later!'
Night deepened. A conspiracy was quietly brewing…