In the Purple Cloud Empire, within Cyan Mountain City, a group of youths surrounded Shen Wenbo on the Shen Family's vast training grounds. They listened intently as he explained the various profound mysteries of Martial Arts, their young faces filled with hope.

"As you all know, on our Starfall Continent, the Human Race, the Demon Race, and another Demon Race form a tripartite balance. The first Demon Race is born with natural Spirit Bodies and has a great affinity for nature, so their cultivation speed is also extremely fast—that is their strength. The other Demon Race has powerful bodies and extremely long lifespans—that is their strength. As for our Human Race, we have neither natural Spirit Bodies nor long lives, so how do we stand on equal footing with these two Demon Races? We rely on our unique wisdom!"

"Back in ancient times, people discovered they could use the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to assault their own acupoints and strengthen their bodies. It was from that moment that the Human Race began to grow powerful, and millennia of inheritance gave rise to the path of Martial Arts! To set foot on this path, you must take the first step: the Spirit Tempering Stage. Only after completing the ten tiers of Spirit Tempering can you condense a Spirit Pill in your Dantian and become a Spiritualist—a true Martial Artist! You must all cultivate diligently now, one step at a time. Only with a solid foundation can you go further in the future! Understand?"

"We understand!" the youths answered in unison.

Looking at the vibrant youths before him, Shen Wenbo was filled with gratification. These were the future successors of the Shen Family, the family's hope!

However, Shen Wenbo spotted an outlier in the crowd.

"Shen Haoran! Get up! You sleep through every one of my lessons! Don't you know the family assessment is in half a month? You know full well what the consequences will be if you fail!" Shen Wenbo roared, glaring at a sleeping youth in the crowd.

Hearing Shen Wenbo, the crowd snickered. "Uncle Bo, why are you even bothering with him? He was Spirit Tempering Tier Three five years ago, and he's still Spirit Tempering Tier Three now. What's the point of talking to such a waste!"

"Exactly. It's like the family assessment has nothing to do with him. I refuse to believe he can reach Spirit Tempering Tier Five in just half a month. If he succeeds, I'll run three laps around the city butt-naked!" said a handsome youth. This youth was Shen Cheng, a direct descendant of the Shen Family and the only son of Second Master Shen.

"Haha, Brother Cheng, what's the fun in that bet? That waste can't cultivate at all, and you expect him to break through to Spirit Tempering Tier Five? If he really manages to break through, forget three laps—I'd run ten naked!" The crowd stared at Shen Haoran, their mocking tones completely undisguised.

Shen Haoran was long accustomed to their cold taunts and sneers. Five years ago, he would have charged in and fought them to the death. But five years had made him much more mature than his peers. Shen Haoran simply stood up and left in silence. 'I'll make these people who look down on me pay the price! Never underestimate a poor youth!'

Watching Shen Haoran's retreating figure, Shen Wenbo sighed under his breath. "Sigh... the First Master was a genius of the clan. How could he have such a useless son?"

Shen Haoran left the training grounds and went straight to the Sacrificial Hall. The family assessment was in half a month. If he couldn't reach Spirit Tempering Tier Six, his Cultivation Materials would be completely cut off, and he would be exiled to one of the city's market districts. After all, failing to reach Spirit Tempering Tier Six by the age of fourteen meant one's cultivation Talent was exceptionally mediocre, and the family saw no need to waste any more resources on them. And Shen Haoran was currently only at Spirit Tempering Tier Three; his chances were incredibly slim.

But even with only a sliver of hope, Shen Haoran wouldn't give up. That was why he had come to collect his Cultivation Materials one last time.

The moment Shen Haoran entered the Sacrificial Hall, all eyes immediately focused on him, and everyone began to whisper.

"Hey, look, isn't that Shen Haoran? What's he doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? He must be here to collect his Cultivation Materials. Just a waste. He hasn't improved one bit in five years, yet he's squandered so many resources. If those materials had been given to me, I might have already broken through to become a Spiritualist by now!"

Shen Haoran heard the gossip but remained expressionless. He walked straight to the counter and said, "I'm here to collect my Cultivation Materials."

The attendant handing out the materials looked at Shen Haoran with an expression of pure disgust. He carelessly tossed a Jade Bottle from the table toward Shen Haoran and said, "Here, these are your Cultivation Materials. Take them and get lost. Don't be an eyesore."

Shen Haoran caught the Jade Bottle and frowned slightly. Opening it, he saw two Elixirs filled with Spiritual Qi lying inside.

"Why am I one Spirit Gathering Pill short?" Shen Haoran asked in a low voice.

"You're lucky to get any. Take them or leave them. If you don't want them, give them back," the attendant retorted.

"You…" Shen Haoran's fists clenched as he stared at the arrogant attendant. 'Is this the consequence of having no strength? Even a servant can humiliate me! I need power. Only by gaining power, by having strength, will I earn the respect of others!' Shen Haoran swore to himself.

Back in his room, Shen Haoran sat cross-legged on his bed, took out the Spirit Gathering Pills, and began his Cultivation. The moment a Spirit Gathering Pill entered his mouth, it transformed into a stream of pure Energy that rushed into his body. At once, the surrounding Spiritual Qi began to gather toward him, and his body absorbed the abundant Spiritual Qi as if it were starving. After a long while, the Medicinal Power of the Spirit Gathering Pill was exhausted. Shen Haoran opened his eyes, his brow deeply furrowed.

He had clearly felt the potent Medicinal Power of the Spirit Gathering Pill, yet the Spiritual Qi within his body hadn't increased in the slightest.

'This is happening again!' Shen Haoran's young face was etched with worry. Five years ago, he had discovered that no matter how he cultivated, his Cultivation level wouldn't advance at all. And yet, he could clearly feel his body's desperate craving for Spiritual Qi. 'What in the world is happening?'

"Father, Mother, what am I supposed to do?" Shen Haoran murmured. It was also five years ago that his parents had suddenly vanished overnight, without a single trace. Some people even began to doubt if they had ever existed. And it was after that point that Shen Haoran's Cultivation had come to a complete standstill.

Shen Haoran walked out into the courtyard. The sky was already dark. Gazing up at the star-dusted night sky, he roared in defiance, "Heavens, why are you doing this to me! Since you dare to block my path, then I will shatter these heavens! I will trample this earth! I will let everyone know that my destiny is mine and mine alone to control!"

"Haha, good lad. You've got spirit, just like I did in my younger days!" Suddenly, an ancient voice rang out.

"Who—who's there?" Shen Haoran asked warily. The sudden voice had given him a huge shock.

But his surroundings were deathly silent and remained pitch-black. There wasn't even a shadow in sight.

'Was it a hallucination?' Shen Haoran wondered. Just as he let his guard down, a blurry shadow suddenly appeared before him. When Shen Haoran got a clear look at its face, a scream like a pig being slaughtered tore through the air.

"A gho—a ghost!"

(Author's Note: The cultivation levels in this story progress as follows: Ten Tiers of Spirit Tempering, Spiritualist, Spirit Pupil, Spirit General, Spirit Marquis, Spirit Aspect, Spirit King, Spirit Emperor, Spirit Emperor, Spirit Venerable, Spirit Saint, and Spirit God!)

...

Hearing the scream from the courtyard, Aunt Xue, who lived in the side wing, immediately ran out. Seeing Shen Haoran standing alone in the courtyard in a daze, she asked anxiously, "Young Master, what is it? What happened?" Aunt Xue had watched Shen Haoran grow up. Ever since his parents disappeared, she had taken on the role of a mother to him, and she was one of the few people in the Shen Family that he truly respected.

Seeing Aunt Xue's anxious expression, Shen Haoran felt a warmth in his heart and quickly said, "It's nothing, Aunt Xue. I just dropped a rock on my foot."

Hearing Shen Haoran's explanation, Aunt Xue shook her head helplessly. "Honestly, child, must you always be such a worry? Since you're alright, hurry back to your room and get some sleep. It's getting late."

Shen Haoran scratched his head in embarrassment. "I will, Aunt Xue. You get some rest, too."

Watching Aunt Xue return to her room, Shen Haoran let out a long sigh of relief. He then scrambled back into his room and shut the door tight.

"You can come out now!" Shen Haoran said to the empty room.

"Haha, you're a timid one, kid. But I'll give you this, your composure is decent. You managed to calm down so quickly." A moment later, a blurry, aged figure materialized in front of Shen Haoran.

Staring at the aged figure floating before him, Shen Haoran wasn't exactly afraid, but his eye couldn't help but twitch. He had never seen anything so strange in his entire life.

"What are you? A man or a ghost?" Shen Haoran couldn't help but ask.

Seeing Shen Haoran's wariness, the aged figure let out a loud laugh. "I am neither man nor ghost, merely a wisp of Spiritual Thought."

"Spiritual Thought?" Shen Haoran's heart pounded. 'Although Spiritual Thought is innate, one has to be at least a Spirit Aspect to project it outside the body. This old man has existed for at least a hundred years... just what level of power does he possess!'

"Then why are you attached to me?" Shen Haoran asked, confused. 'With such immense power, why would he be here with me?'

"Not exactly," the old man replied. "My residual Spiritual Thought is merely residing within the Sealing Spirit Pearl around your neck."

"This is called a Sealing Spirit Pearl?" Shen Haoran took off the necklace and stared at the small, round, black pearl in his hand with curiosity. It was a birth gift from his mother. He had worn it his entire life, but this was the first time he had ever heard it had a name!

"It seems you are unaware of its function," the old man said, observing Shen Haoran's astonished expression. He immediately began to explain, "The Sealing Spirit Pearl, as its name suggests, is for sealing Spiritual Thought and Spiritual Power! This Seal doesn't prevent you from using them; rather, it conceals the aura of your Spiritual Power and Spiritual Thought, making it an excellent tool for escaping and hiding!"

"No wonder those people didn't take you away back then," the old man murmured under his breath.

"Back then? Those people? What do you mean?" Shen Haoran sensed he had just heard some vital information.

"Five years ago, a few fairly powerful people came to your home and took your parents away. Because you were wearing the Sealing Spirit Pearl, they didn't find you," the old man recalled.

"Who were they? Why did they take my parents? Where did they take them?" Hearing the old man's words, Shen Haoran demanded urgently.

"That I don't know. I had only just awakened at that time, and all I heard was something about the Murong Clan. They thought their work was seamless... Heh, a few brats with a bit of strength thought they could snatch people away from right under my nose without a sound. How naive!" the old man chuckled smugly.

But Shen Haoran couldn't bring himself to laugh. He finally had news of his parents after they had been missing for five years; how could he not be anxious? Staring at the smug old man, Shen Haoran said in a heavy voice, "Since you knew, why didn't you stop them?"

At Shen Haoran's question, the old man's face flushed. "I had only just awakened then and had no power! I was helpless."

Shen Haoran slowly calmed down. 'He's right. This old man and I have only just met; he had no obligation to save my parents. Now that I know why they disappeared, I will do whatever it takes to rescue them!' However, to be able to abduct two Spirit General Martial Artists from the Shen Family without alerting anyone... their assailants' cultivation had to be incredibly high. And here he was, still stressing over a minor family assessment. A bitter taste filled Shen Haoran's mouth. 'When will I ever be strong enough to save my parents?'

"Are you trying to figure out how to save your parents?" the old man said, seeing the bitter expression on Shen Haoran's face. "Let me give you a heads-up. The group that came five years ago consisted of one Spirit King and two Spirit Aspects! For a kid like you, still stuck at Spirit Tempering Tier Three, that's going to be... difficult."

"However, I can help you," the old man continued. "You just have to take me as your master!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran grew wary. "What's the catch?"

"Kid, don't assume the worst of people. I need to reside in your Sealing Spirit Pearl for the time being, so think of this as my way of repaying your hospitality. The other reason... is you," the old man said.

"Me?" Shen Haoran asked, confused.

"Do you know why your cultivation hasn't increased at all in five years?"

"Why?"

"Because of your constitution. It's unlike any other. You possess the legendary Chaos Divine Body! It's said that whenever this body type appears, the world is thrown into great turmoil. I truly don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing," the old man said.

"What does that have to do with my cultivation?" Shen Haoran asked.

"Awakening a Chaos Divine Body requires a massive amount of Spiritual Power! Historically, those with a Chaos Divine Body have always appeared in Ancient Clans or Major Sects, making it a simple matter for them to awaken it. For this generation's Chaos Divine Body to show up in a minor family, however, is quite a surprise! The Spiritual Power your body has absorbed over the past five years isn't even one-fifth of what's required for awakening. Without my help, trying to save your parents... well, you'll be waiting until the end of time," the old man explained.

Shen Haoran fell into deep thought at the old man's words. 'I need immense power to save my parents. If what he's saying is true, then there's no harm in trusting him... but how does he know all of this in such detail?'

As if hearing Shen Haoran's inner thoughts, the old man declared, "Because I was the last one to possess the Chaos Divine Body!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran was stunned. He sized up the old man before him again and realized he did feel a strange sense of kinship with him.

After a long moment of contemplation, Shen Haoran made up his mind. 'If he can truly grant me power, then becoming his disciple is more than worth it.'

"Alright, I accept your offer!" Shen Haoran said.

"Good. My name is Yan Yang. You can call me Elder Yan or Teacher, either is fine. Tomorrow, find a secluded spot, and I will help you awaken your Chaos Divine Body! And one more thing—do not let anyone know of my existence, not even those closest to you!" With that, Yan Yang returned to the Sealing Spirit Pearl.

Gazing into the deepening night, Shen Haoran silently vowed, 'Dad, Mom, wait for me. I will get you out!'

...

The next day, as the first rays of morning sun fell upon Shen Haoran's face, his tightly closed eyes slowly fluttered open. He got out of bed, stretched his limbs, quickly washed up, and headed outside.

Shen Haoran was thrilled. Today was the day Elder Yan would help him awaken his Chaos Divine Body. From this day forward, he, Shen Haoran, would no longer be a byword for "useless." He wouldn't have to walk on eggshells around others anymore!

After leaving his room, Shen Haoran saw that Aunt Xue was still sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he left a note and hurried toward the back mountain. Elder Yan had told him they needed to find a secluded spot, and the back mountain was full of them.

The Shen Family estate was quiet in the early morning. Aside from a few people practicing their morning routines, the paths were empty. Shen Haoran went unnoticed, allowing him to move quickly. Just as he was about to enter the back mountain, Elder Yan's voice echoed in his mind, "Shen the kid, you're being followed. Watch your back!"

Shen Haoran's heart skipped a beat. He focused his senses and confirmed that an aura was indeed tailing him. He was immediately puzzled. 'For the past five years, I've kept an extremely low profile in the Shen Family and haven't caused any trouble. Who would be following me this early in the morning?'

'Could it be Shen Cheng and Shen Yue?' Shen Haoran could only think of the two of them, as they were the only ones in the Shen Family with whom he'd ever had a conflict.

'Hmph. Following me, are you? Let's just see who you are!' With that thought, Shen Haoran quickened his pace and vanished around a corner.

Moments after Shen Haoran disappeared, a figure quickened their pace in pursuit. As they rounded the corner, a pair of large hands shot out and seized her. She was caught before she even had time to react!

The large hands belonged to Shen Haoran. But before he could question his captive, he was startled by a sharp shriek.

"AHH!"

After the shriek subsided, Shen Haoran finally got his bearings and took a clear look at the person before him. It was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a cyan robe. A cascade of black hair was draped casually down her back, and her delicate features were so perfect they looked as though they had been sculpted.

"Ling... Ling'Er? Is that you?" Shen Haoran asked in disbelief. He had assumed his pursuer was Shen Cheng or his cronies; he never imagined it would be Shen Ling'Er!

This was the same Shen Ling'Er who had grown up with Shen Haoran. As a child, she had always been his little shadow, constantly trailing after him with a runny nose. After Shen Haoran's Cultivation stagnated and he was branded a "useless," the family Elders forbade her from having any contact with him. But she could never forget her Brother Xuan and would always sneak out to play and cultivate with him.

Later still, Shen Ling'Er was discovered to be a Cultivation genius of the family. She reached Spirit Tempering Tier Six at the age of twelve, and now, at fourteen, had reached the Peak of Spirit Tempering Tier Seven! Because of this, she was practically locked away and intensively trained by those "old geezers" on the council. Shen Haoran sometimes went months without seeing her. To think that she would be tailing him this morning!

"B-Brother Xuan... your hand... c-could you move it?" Shen Ling'Er stammered, her face blushing crimson as she looked up at Shen Haoran.

"My hand?" Shen Haoran asked, confused. He looked down and only then realized his palm was resting on top of Shen Ling'Er's head.

"Ah... sorry about that, I didn't mean to!" Shen Haoran hastily pulled his hand back, but not before shamelessly giving her hair a playful ruffle.

Of course, Shen Haoran's little stunt didn't escape Shen Ling'Er's notice. Her face instantly turned an even deeper shade of red.

Looking at the bashful Shen Ling'Er before him, Shen Haoran felt a moment of dazed wonder. 'To think that the snot-nosed little shadow who used to follow me around has grown into such a beautiful young woman! How times have changed.'

"Ling'Er, what are you doing sneaking around after me this early? Shouldn't you be at your morning practice?" Shen Haoran asked, pulling himself out of his reverie and breaking the awkward silence, acting as if his shameless little stunt moments ago had been done by someone else entirely.

"I... I wanted to give something to Brother Xuan," Shen Ling'Er answered, still blushing and flustered from the earlier intimacy. As she spoke, she pulled a small bottle from her robes and handed it to Shen Haoran.

Shen Haoran took the bottle. A medicinal fragrance wafted out before he even opened it. "This is..." He uncorked the bottle and saw five smooth, round Spirit Gathering Pills resting quietly inside.

"Th-this is... Ling'Er, I can't take these. They're far too valuable!" Shen Haoran refused. It was no simple matter for the Shen Family to refine Spirit Gathering Pills. Ordinary disciples received only two a month, while those of the direct bloodline received four. Even a genius like Shen Ling'Er was only allotted six per month! This bottle contained five pills—nearly her entire month's supply of Cultivation Materials. How could he possibly accept something like that?

"But the family assessment is only half a month away! If Brother Xuan doesn't reach Spirit Tempering Tier Five by then, you'll be expelled from the Shen Family!" Shen Ling'Er said, her voice filled with worry.

"Silly girl, I'm not going to be expelled from the family. Don't you trust your big brother?" Shen Haoran said.

"I do, but..."

"That's enough. Take them back. I can't accept them. I..." Before Shen Haoran could finish, he saw Shen Ling'Er's eyes well up and turn red. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as if from a broken dam.

"Does Brother Xuan not care about Ling'Er anymore? WAHHH..." Shen Ling'Er wailed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ling'Er, don't cry, don't cry..." Shen Haoran said, trying to console her.

"Fine, Shen the kid, just take them," Elder Yan's voice interjected. "You might have use for them in a bit, you never know."

"Okay, okay! Ling'Er, stop crying. Your brother will take them!" Shen Haoran relented. Since even Elder Yan had said to, he had no choice but to accept. Besides, he knew this girl wouldn't let the matter rest if he refused.

When she heard Shen Haoran agree to accept her gift, Shen Ling'Er's tears immediately turned into a joyful smile. Watching her grin foolishly, Shen Haoran was left speechless. "Alright, hurry back to your morning practice," he said. "You'll be punished again if the Elders find out you snuck out. I need to go cultivate now, too."

"Okay! You can do it, Brother Xuan!" Shen Ling'Er made a playful face at Shen Haoran, then vanished down the path.

Watching her departing figure, Shen Haoran felt an even greater sense of urgency to awaken his Chaos Divine Body. 'It's not just for me anymore. It's for the people I care about. I have to succeed today!'

After Shen Ling'Er had gone, Shen Haoran turned and strode into the back mountain. The awakening of the Chaos Divine Body was at hand!

...

Shen Haoran made his way to the back mountain, winding along a path until he reached a waterfall, where he summoned Elder Yan.

After flying out of the Sealing Spirit Pearl, Elder Yan looked at the surroundings and said with satisfaction, "Mm-hmm, not bad. You've certainly found a good place!"

"Of course. This was the secret base Ling'Er and I had when we were kids!" Shen Haoran said proudly.

"Well, since we've found the place, hurry up and help me with the awakening, Elder Yan!" Shen Haoran said, unable to wait.

Hearing about the awakening, Elder Yan immediately became serious. He looked at Shen Haoran and said in a grave voice, "Shen the kid, I don't want to hide this from you. The Chaos Divine Body is one of the most powerful constitutions in the world. To awaken it, you must pay a price. The pain involved is not something just anyone can endure! If the awakening fails, what awaits you... is death!"

"Death..." Shen Haoran exclaimed in shock.

"Yes. And with your current Spirit Tempering Tier Three constitution, your chance of success is less than thirty percent! In other words, you have an eighty percent chance of dying! Do you... still want to awaken it?" Elder Yan asked bluntly, holding nothing back.

Hearing Elder Yan's words, Shen Haoran fell silent, his body seemingly trembling with fear.

Seeing Shen Haoran's unusual state, Elder Yan suddenly felt a bit cruel. 'He's still just a fifteen-year-old kid. He hasn't even lived a fifth of his life, yet I'm forcing him to face death. It's inhumane! But reality is this harsh. To gain power, one must pay the price. The choice is his and his alone.'

Time passed, second by second. Shen Haoran remained silent, and Elder Yan didn't disturb him. But Elder Yan could clearly feel Shen Haoran's aura gradually changing. It was a transformation from fear, to confusion, and finally, to resolution!

At a certain moment, Shen Haoran suddenly lifted his head and said to Elder Yan, "Elder Yan, I've decided. I want... to awaken it!"

Elder Yan found Shen Haoran's decision both unexpected and reasonable. Looking at Shen Haoran's resolute gaze, he couldn't help but ask again, "Are you sure?"

"Yes! The path of Cultivation is a matter of seeking life from death. If I don't even have that much resolve, how can I save my parents? How can I protect the one I love? How can I reach the Peak of Martial Arts! My life is mine to control. A little difficulty like this won't scare me!"

"Haha, good! Worthy of being the inheritor of the Chaos Divine Body. I admire your spirit! Don't worry, even if it costs me my life, I will help you awaken the Chaos Divine Body!" Elder Yan declared with a loud laugh.

"Let's do it!" Shen Haoran responded, sitting down on the ground.

Seeing that Shen Haoran was ready, Elder Yan spat a black, round bead from his mouth and handed it to him. "This is a Spirit Pill I condensed with a lifetime of Spiritual Power right before my death. Though much of that Spiritual Power has dissipated over the years, it's still enough for what you need to awaken!"

Taking the Spirit Pill from Elder Yan, Shen Haoran tossed it into his mouth without a second thought and swallowed. He then said, "Elder Yan, it's all up to you now."

Wasting no time, Elder Yan guided the Spirit Pill to the core of Shen Haoran's heart, where it stopped before an iridescent, multi-colored barrier.

"This is the barrier you must break to awaken the Chaos Divine Body. The process might be a little painful. Brace yourself!" Elder Yan warned.

"Bring it on!" Shen Haoran took a deep breath, signaling for Elder Yan to begin the assault.

Seeing Shen Haoran was ready, Elder Yan wasted no more words and directly controlled the black Spirit Pill to ram into the barrier.

"BOOM!" "SPURT!"

The black Spirit Pill struck the barrier with a muffled thud, but the immense impact made Shen Haoran unable to stop himself from spitting out a mouthful of blood!

Elder Yan paid Shen Haoran no mind. 'This is only the first impact; he can withstand it.' He then continued to have the black Spirit Pill strike the barrier, again and again! However, each time, it only managed to create ripples on the barrier's surface with no real effect. But Elder Yan wasn't anxious; he just kept repeating the impacts.

But this was agony for Shen Haoran. The shock from each impact was excruciating. He spat blood several times, and his face had now turned pale.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Haoran's consciousness began to blur. Just then, a sharp shout from Elder Yan snapped him awake, "Shen the kid, get ready! The barrier is about to break!"

Shen Haoran came to his senses and looked at the barrier. The once-thick barrier was now just a thin layer, covered in cracks. Likewise, Elder Yan's black Spirit Pill had turned transparent. 'It must have used up all its Spiritual Power,' he thought.

And at that moment, the nearly transparent Spirit Pill launched its final assault on the barrier!

"BOOM..." With a tremendous crash, the already shattered barrier finally broke apart!

The instant the barrier shattered, a heart-stopping surge of Energy erupted, causing the usually calm Elder Yan to shout in a panic, "Shen the kid, quick! Take the Spirit Gathering Pill! Gather Spiritual Power to protect your meridians! If this Energy destroys your meridians, you'll die for sure!"

How could Shen Haoran dare to delay? He pulled out the Spirit Gathering Pill from Shen Ling'Er, shoved it into his mouth, and immediately began its Refinement. Aided by the pill's effects, he started to absorb the surrounding Spiritual Power to protect his meridians. Simultaneously, Elder Yan squeezed every last drop of Spiritual Power from his own spent pill to shield Shen Haoran's heart meridian.

However, they had still underestimated the power of this Energy. Before it, the protection they had erected was as fragile as paper, torn apart in an instant! The Energy then seeped into Shen Haoran's meridians and bones and began to wreak havoc!

"AHH!" The heart-piercing pain made Shen Haoran cry out involuntarily. His body was a complete mess internally. His meridians began to swell and rupture under the flood of Energy, and his bones were crushed outright. The situation was grim!

Outside, Elder Yan watched as Shen Haoran's skin split, his body twisted, and he wailed incessantly. The elder was frantic with anxiety and filled with regret. 'A Spirit Tempering Tier Three constitution can't possibly withstand the ravages of this Energy! I was too hasty!' But in this situation, he couldn't just interfere. Shen Haoran's body was in chaos; if he were to probe with his Spiritual Thought now, Shen Haoran would probably just explode and die!

'Is this really how it ends?' Elder Yan could only watch helplessly as Shen Haoran suffered, unable to do a thing.

Just as Elder Yan was at a complete loss, a drop of golden liquid seeped out from the blood-soaked Sealing Spirit Pearl hanging around Shen Haoran's neck and drilled into his body. Unfortunately, Elder Yan did not notice this happen.

The moment the golden liquid entered his body, it transformed into a golden dragon and began to chase after the powerful Energy. Upon encountering the golden liquid, the rampaging Energy acted as if it had met its natural predator, fleeing in all directions and no longer bothering to destroy Shen Haoran's body.

Chased by the golden liquid, the Energy slowly gathered in Shen Haoran's lower abdomen. When all the Energy was converged there, the golden liquid began to compress it, shrinking it from the size of a fist to the size of a mung bean, before finally causing it to burst apart!

After the golden liquid and the rogue Energy burst, a gray mist filled Shen Haoran's lower abdomen. Once the mist cleared, a gray Spirit Pill spun smoothly within his Dantian, constantly emitting a gray energy that began to repair his body.

Outside, Elder Yan, completely unaware of the situation inside Shen Haoran's body, was staring wide-eyed and unblinking. Just a moment ago, Shen Haoran had been screaming his lungs out, but in the next instant, he fell silent. 'Did he not make it? Is he dead...?' Elder Yan had thought. But then, an expression of pure bliss spread across Shen Haoran's face, finally allowing the elder to relax. At least he was still alive.

Elder Yan then tried to send his Spiritual Thought to investigate Shen Haoran's body, only to find himself blocked by a strange energy. 'Did he actually succeed in awakening it?' Elder Yan wondered. 'Looks like I'll have to wait for him to wake up before I can ask.'

...

Time slowly passed. It was nearly dusk when Shen Haoran gradually came to. He slowly sat up, shaking his groggy head. He looked at this new body of his and found it all a bit incredible.

"How is it? How is it? Did you succeed?" Seeing Shen Haoran awake, Elder Yan hurriedly asked. He had been standing guard for the entire day.

"Uh... It seems... I think I succeeded!" Shen Haoran said, a little uncertain.

"What do you mean, 'it seems' and 'you think'? Hurry up and check what's changed about you!" Elder Yan urged.

At his words, Shen Haoran calmed his mind and directed his Spiritual Thought into his body. He hadn't expected to be so shocked by what he saw! His body was completely shrouded in a gray mist. Through the mist, he could clearly see his meridians and bones glimmering with a gray light, as if they had a life and breath of their own! And as this light flickered, Shen Haoran could clearly sense the flow of Spiritual Power in the outside world. It seemed this body could easily absorb this Spiritual Power for Refinement.

What shocked Shen Haoran even more was that there was actually a gray Spirit Pill in his Dantian! When his Spiritual Thought reached his Dantian, the gray Spirit Pill immediately swarmed around it. Shen Haoran could even feel the joyful emotions it radiated! It was actually a living Spirit Pill!

But what puzzled Shen Haoran was that a Spirit Pill could only be condensed after advancing to the Spiritualist realm. His cultivation had risen to the Peak of Spirit Tempering Tier Five by awakening the Chaos Divine Body, which was still a long way from becoming a Spiritualist. He never expected to already have a Spirit Pill in his Dantian!

Shen Haoran couldn't make heads or tails of it. He could only withdraw his consciousness, still full of questions, and describe the changes in his body to Elder Yan. When he mentioned the gray Spirit Pill inside him, Elder Yan also wore a look of utter disbelief! But after pondering for a long time, he couldn't figure out the reason either. In the end, he could only attribute it to the miraculous nature of the Chaos Divine Body.

Shen Haoran could only drop the matter helplessly. 'If even an "old monster" like Elder Yan doesn't know, how could a young kid like me possibly figure it out?' he thought. 'Besides, this Spirit Pill isn't causing me any harm, so I'll just let it stay inside me for now.'

"By the way, don't let anyone know about the Spirit Pill in your body for now. You're probably the first person in history to have a Spirit Pill during the Spirit Tempering Stage. If someone with malicious intent finds out, you'll probably end up as a lab rat," Elder Yan warned.

"Mm-hm, I know," Shen Haoran said.

Then, Shen Haoran seemed to think of something else. He looked at Elder Yan with a hopeful expression and said, "Elder Yan, does having a Spirit Pill mean I can practice a Cultivation Technique? Do you think I can do it now?"

"Well..." Elder Yan was also taken aback. He hadn't expected Shen Haoran to ask this question.

"Logically speaking, you can only condense a Spirit Pill after advancing to the Spiritualist realm, and a Spirit Pill is one of the necessary conditions for practicing a Cultivation Technique. But I've never encountered someone like you who has condensed a Spirit Pill during the Spirit Tempering Stage. Therefore, I don't know if you can practice a Cultivation Technique or not. Why don't you give it a try?" After speaking, Elder Yan summoned a black stone disk from the Sealing Spirit Pearl.

As soon as the black stone disk appeared, an ancient, primitive aura washed over him. Shen Haoran stared at the disk, his face full of curiosity.

"This is the Chaos Stone Carving, left behind by Pangu at the Creation of Heaven and Earth. It records the origin of the Chaos Divine Body and its Cultivation Technique," Elder Yan explained directly, not waiting for Shen Haoran to ask.

"But there's nothing on it," Shen Haoran said, leaning over the stone disk and examining it from all sides, but he found nothing.

"Idiot! If it were that easy to see, it wouldn't be something left behind by the Pangu Giant God!" Elder Yan cursed.

"Uh... Right, right," Shen Haoran said sheepishly, scratching his head.

"Press your palm on it and channel the Spiritual Power from your Spirit Pill into the Chaos Stone Carving to receive the Cultivation Technique," Elder Yan said.

Hearing Elder Yan's words, Shen Haoran did as he was told. He placed his right hand on the Chaos Stone Carving and drew out the Spiritual Power from his Spirit Pill. Streams of gray Spiritual Power were thus channeled into the Chaos Stone Carving.

As the Spiritual Power was poured in, the black stone carving slowly turned gray, emitting rings of light that made it look incredibly mysterious.

Time ticked by, second by second. Shen Haoran gradually began to feel his strength failing. He had nearly exhausted all the Spiritual Power in his body, but aside from the Chaos Stone Carving glowing a bit brighter, no Cultivation Technique had appeared at all.

Elder Yan seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He said, "Shen the kid, I don't think this is going to work. The amount of Spiritual Power needed to activate the Chaos Stone Carving is immense. Even though you're at the Peak of Spirit Tempering Tier Five, you're still far from enough!"

Hearing Elder Yan's words, Shen Haoran's face filled with unwillingness. But he didn't want to give up just like that. Steeling his resolve and gritting his teeth, he roared, "Damn it, I refuse to believe it! I'm not one to give up easily!" He then began to frantically wring out the Spiritual Power from his body, pouring it into the Chaos Stone Carving.

"Are you crazy? You'll die if you keep this up!" Seeing how frenzied Shen Haoran had become, Elder Yan was genuinely startled and hurriedly tried to stop him.

But Shen Haoran was in no state to listen. He continued to frantically drain himself. The Spirit Pill in his body was now dim and lusterless, looking as if it might vanish at any moment. In this state, Shen Haoran's consciousness gradually began to fade.

'Is it really not going to work?' Shen Haoran thought with a bitter smile. 'Looks like I was too naive.'

In the instant Shen Haoran lost consciousness, the Chaos Stone Carving erupted with a dazzling gray light that shot directly into his mind and vanished. Then, under Elder Yan's shocked gaze, the Chaos Stone Carving shattered with a BOOM. The powerful shockwave sent Shen Haoran flying, and he collapsed on the ground, his condition unknown.

As Elder Yan stared at the fragments of the Chaos Stone Carving, a stampede of a thousand alpacas charged through his mind. 'Holy crap, what did I just see? The Chaos Stone Carving shattered... That's something left behind by the Pangu Giant God from the Primordial Era of the Creation of Heaven and Earth! Even a full-power strike from me at my peak wouldn't have left a single mark on it, and now it's been broken by a little kid at the Spirit Tempering Stage? I must be dreaming...'

Elder Yan looked over at Shen Haoran and saw him lying motionless on the ground. He quickly flew over and checked his breathing, only relaxing when he found that the boy had merely fainted. Still, he found the situation incredible.

Shen Haoran had given him one shock after another today. A kid at the Spirit Tempering Stage had actually withstood the impact of Chaos Energy and successfully awakened the Chaos Divine Body. What was even more astonishing was that Shen Haoran had condensed a Spirit Pill during the Spirit Tempering Stage. And from the looks of it now, he had also successfully received the Cultivation Technique! If word of any one of these three things got out, the entire continent would probably erupt in chaos!

"He really is a guy who creates miracles!" Elder Yan exclaimed with a sigh.

After Shen Haoran fell unconscious, his consciousness arrived in a gray, hazy world. Just as he was curiously examining this world, a booming voice resounded in his ears: "In the beginning of heaven and earth, when Chaos was undivided, the movement of the Five Elements began from Chaos. Only by gathering the Power of the Five Elements and condensing the Qi of Chaos can one achieve the true Chaos Body..."

The booming voice echoed in Shen Haoran's ears like a Brahma Sound, finally coalescing into four large words before him.

"Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique!" Shen Haoran murmured. 'Is this the special Cultivation Technique for the Chaos Divine Body?'

Gazing at the ancient characters, Shen Haoran quickly became engrossed. Following the instructions in the Cultivation Technique, he began to clear his own acupoints.

Within the gray space, a young man sat cross-legged. Gray Spiritual Power flowed through his body like a Spirit Snake, clearing his acupoints for him. The moment he awakens will be the moment he masters the technique!

...

Shen Haoran remained seated in meditation for five whole days. If Elder Yan hadn't been able to sense his aura slowly strengthening, he would have thought something had gone wrong.

"Sigh, it looks like he isn't waking up today either." The sky had already grown dark. Elder Yan looked at Shen Haoran, whose breathing was long and steady, and muttered resentfully. Making an old man like him stand guard for five days was quite an ordeal...

Just as Elder Yan was about to return to the Sealing Spirit Pearl to rest, a tyrannical and intense aura erupted from within Shen Haoran's body, startling even him! Following the powerful burst of aura, Shen Haoran's Cultivation skyrocketed. From the Peak of Spirit Tempering Tier Five to Spirit Tempering Tier Six, it soared all the way to the Peak of Spirit Tempering Tier Six before finally stopping, just one step away from Tier Seven!

Once Shen Haoran's aura stabilized, his tightly shut eyes flew open. He stood up, stretched his stiff body, and threw a punch into the air, creating a series of whooshing sounds.

Shen Haoran clenched his fists. Feeling the immense power coursing through his body, he burst into wild laughter. Five years! He could finally feel the wonder of advancing again, finally feel the strength that came with having power! From this day forward, he would no longer be the useless Shen Haoran that anyone could bully. His destiny would be in his own hands!

Watching the seemingly crazed Shen Haoran, Elder Yan couldn't help but feel emotional. He had watched Shen Haoran grow up and knew all too well how much humiliation he had endured over the past five years. Yet, because he lacked strength, Shen Haoran could only bear it, powerless to fight back when people called him useless. Now that Shen Haoran had awakened the Chaos Divine Body, he would make a complete comeback and seize control of his own destiny. Besides, how could someone who possessed the Chaos Divine Body ever be content with mediocrity!

After a moment of excitement, Shen Haoran immediately calmed down. The suffering he had endured over the past five years had not been without its benefits. Through five years of forbearance, his mind had become exceptionally firm and steady. This, too, was a form of growth.

"Elder Yan, thank you!" Shen Haoran knew that Elder Yan had been protecting him for the past five days. Moreover, it was only because of Elder Yan that he was able to gain this power. This word of thanks came from the bottom of his heart.

"No need. Everything you have now is something you earned yourself. It doesn't have much to do with me," Elder Yan replied with a smile, his opinion of Shen Haoran rising even higher. 'To achieve great things, one must not only have innate Talent and an unshakeable will, but also a grateful heart. Otherwise, what's the difference between them and an ungrateful cur!'

"By the way, you successfully practiced the Cultivation Technique, right? But how come I never knew that mastering the basics of the Supreme Profound Technique would directly increase one's Cultivation?" Elder Yan asked suddenly.

"The Supreme Profound Technique?" Hearing this name, Shen Haoran was a bit dumbfounded.

Seeing Shen Haoran's expression, Elder Yan was also taken aback for a moment before saying, "The Cultivation Technique you're practicing... isn't it the Supreme Profound Technique?"

"No, it's not. What I obtained is the Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique!" Shen Haoran then gave a rough description of the Cultivation Technique he had received.

Hearing Shen Haoran's description, Elder Yan's brow furrowed deeply, lost in thought.

"Gather the Power of the Five Elements, condense the Qi of Chaos..." Elder Yan muttered to himself.

"Haha, I get it! I get it! So, all the previous successors of the Chaos Divine Body took the wrong path! This is the true Chaos Divine Technique!" Elder Yan seemed to have realized something and laughed heartily.

"The Chaos Divine Technique?" Shen Haoran was puzzled.

"That's right. Before heaven and earth were separated, there was only Chaos, with no distinction between the Five Elements. The Chaos Divine Body was born under such conditions. Therefore, to awaken the true Chaos Divine Body, one must gather the Power of the Five Elements! The Supreme Profound Technique I obtained before only focused on enhancing a single attribute. No wonder I failed when I reached that place!" Elder Yan explained.

"'That place?'" Shen Haoran was even more confused by Elder Yan's words.

"You don't need to know about that yet. However, obtaining the Power of the Five Elements is no easy task!" Elder Yan said with a frown.

"I don't even know what the Power of the Five Elements is, let alone how to obtain it," Shen Haoran said with a bitter smile.

"Fool. The Power of the Five Elements refers to the five attributes: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. To gather the Power of the Five Elements, you'll likely need to find the Primordial Spirits of those five attributes! However, each type of Primordial Spirit takes tens of millions of years to form. Every single one is a world-destroying existence. Their Refinement will be no easy task!" said Elder Yan.

"It's fine. Trouble is the one thing I'm not afraid of!" Shen Haoran clenched his fist and said, his face full of confidence.

Looking at this naive young man who understood nothing, Elder Yan gave a helpless smile. 'It seems he'll only understand after he has personally witnessed a Five Elements Primordial Spirit.'

"Oh, right. Speaking of trouble, you have one right now!" Elder Yan suddenly recalled something and said to Shen Haoran.

"What?"

"The Shen Family had a visitor today. It's the Ge Family, the one in the city that's always been at odds with you. It seems they've come for your Little Ling'Er. I'm not sure about the specifics; you'll have to go and find out for yourself," Elder Yan told him everything he knew.

"The Ge Family? What are they doing here looking for Ling'Er? Oh no..." Shen Haoran suddenly realized something and ran toward the main residence without a second glance.

"Hey, Shen the kid, wait for me!" Seeing Shen Haoran's panicked state, Elder Yan hurriedly gave chase. The two of them quickly disappeared into the night.

「Meanwhile, in the Shen Family's reception hall...」

The Shen Family's acting Clan Leader, Second Master Shen, was seated in the place of honor, with several other Elders seated below him. Beside Second Master Shen sat a burly, middle-aged man—the Ge Family Patriarch, Ge Xiong!

Watching Ge Xiong, who simply sat there sipping his tea, Second Master Shen frowned and said, "Patriarch Ge, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit to our Shen Family so late at night?"

Hearing Second Master Shen's question, Ge Xiong set down his teacup and said with a beaming smile, "To be frank, Patriarch Shen, I have indeed come to your esteemed residence to ask for a favor."

"Oh? The ever-arrogant Patriarch Ge also has times when he needs to ask for favors?" Second Master Shen said sarcastically.

Ge Xiong paid no mind to Second Master Shen's sarcasm and continued to smile. "Alas, it is all for this disappointing son of mine!" After speaking, he pointed to a dashing young man in white robes behind him, holding a folded fan. This young man was none other than Ge Xiong's only son—Ge Yan!

"For Nephew Ge?" Second Master Shen asked, puzzled.

"Indeed. This disappointing boy has taken a fancy to a young lady of your residence and insisted that I come to propose a marriage. It's truly... sigh. It's all my fault for failing to raise him properly. But he's my only son, so I had no choice but to come and propose on his behalf," Ge Xiong said.

Upon hearing Ge Xiong's words, the expressions of every Shen Family member present darkened. Everyone in Cyan Mountain City knew what kind of person Ge Yan was. It would be no exaggeration to call him a debaucherous womanizer. Not a single girl he set his sights on had ever escaped his clutches! And now, he had actually set his sights on someone from the Shen Family!

"Then may I ask which young lady of my Shen Family has had the fortune of catching Nephew Ge's eye?" Second Master Shen asked, his expression unreadable.

"Hehe, Patriarch Shen, the one I've taken a fancy to is Fourth Master's very own sister Ling'Er!" This time, before Ge Xiong could speak, Ge Yan immediately stepped forward, his wicked gaze fixed on Shen Ling'Er as he spoke.

The moment Ge Yan's voice fell, the entire hall erupted in an uproar! Shen Ling'Er was an elite disciple of the Shen Family. It was no exaggeration to call her the clan's number one genius. She was a goddess in the hearts of the other disciples. How could they tolerate an outsider blaspheming her like this!

Fourth Master Shen, who had a fiery temper, shot to his feet, pointed directly at Ge Xiong's nose, and said, "In your dreams!"

Watching the uproar among the Shen Family, Ge Xiong remained silent, simply observing them with that same beaming smile. No one knew what he was thinking...

...

Seeing Ge Xiong's calm expression, Second Master Shen felt something was off. "Patriarch Ge," he said, "I'm afraid this won't do. Ling'Er is still young and has no plans to marry yet!"

"Now, now, Patriarch Shen, don't be so quick to refuse," Ge Xiong said. "It's not too late to decide after you've heard my terms!"

"Terms?" Second Master Shen asked, puzzled.

"That's right. Since I'm here to propose a marriage, it's only natural that I would offer a betrothal gift the Shen Family will find agreeable!" Ge Xiong said with a smile.

"And what might Patriarch Ge's betrothal gift be?" Hearing this, Second Master Shen was tempted.

"I've heard that the Shen Family is having trouble holding onto its management rights for the eastern marketplace. I imagine the Liu Family is causing trouble from behind the scenes! I believe Patriarch Shen is more aware of the Shen Family's current strength than I am. It must be quite difficult to snatch back control of the marketplace from the Liu Family. However, if Patriarch Shen agrees to this marriage, our Shen and Ge families will be joined. Then, the Shen Family's business will be my Ge Family's business. I will certainly help you reclaim the marketplace!" Ge Xiong said with complete confidence.

"And what if I don't agree?" Second Master Shen asked.

Hearing this, Ge Xiong set down his teacup and said coolly, "Then I'm afraid the Shen Family's western marketplace will soon belong to the Ge Family!"

SLAM! Upon hearing this, Second Master Shen shot to his feet, slamming his hand on the table. "Are you threatening me?" he demanded.

"I wouldn't dare. I am merely stating a fact to Patriarch Shen," Ge Xiong replied, his tone still nonchalant.

No one present could refute Ge Xiong's words. The Shen Family was indeed one of the three great families of Cyan Mountain City. However, ever since Shen Haoran's father—the Shen Family Patriarch—mysteriously disappeared five years ago, the family's strength had plummeted. If not for the foundation their ancestors had built, the Shen Family would have long been pushed out of the three great families. If they were to lose control of both the eastern and western marketplaces, the Shen Family would truly fall into an abyss from which they could never recover.

But the truth was one thing; saying such things so openly in front of the Shen Family was bound to provoke their collective fury. Ge Xiong, however, looked completely unfazed. He turned and had Ge Yan, who was beside him, hand a letter to Second Master Shen.

"Patriarch Shen, this is the second gift I've prepared for you. If you agree, everything on this paper will belong to the Shen Family," Ge Xiong said.

Second Master Shen took the paper and opened it. His pupils contracted instantly as if he had seen something unbelievable. The paper was filled with a massive list of Cultivation Materials, including many especially precious Spirit Medicines! There was even a Spirit-Breaking Pill—a Fourth Grade Elixir that could help a Tier Nine Spirit Pupil break through directly to the Spirit General realm! And Second Master Shen just so happened to be a Tier Nine Spirit Pupil. If he could get this Spirit-Breaking Pill, then... Second Master Shen's mind raced.

After he finished reading, Second Master Shen passed the letter to the other Elders. Aside from Fourth Master Shen, the expressions on the other Elders' faces were identical to his own.

Ge Xiong watched the reactions of the Shen Family members with great satisfaction, as if this was all within his expectations.

"Well, Patriarch Shen? Are you satisfied with this gift?" Ge Xiong asked.

"This... allow us to discuss it," Second Master Shen said, then began conferring with the other three Elders. During their discussion, one could only see Fourth Master Shen's expression growing darker and darker. It seemed the outcome was already set in stone.

"Patriarch Ge, after our discussion, we feel that the Ge Family is full of sincerity. We agree to this marriage!" Second Master Shen announced with a smile.

"Haha, excellent! From now on, we are family!" Ge Xiong boomed with laughter.

"Patriarch, you can't! Ling'Er's importance to our Shen Family is no small matter. I will never agree to this marriage!" Fourth Master Shen declared, refusing to give up.

"Fourth Brother, this Spirit-Breaking Pill is also incredibly significant for our Shen Family. If the family can produce another Spirit General Level expert, we might be able to return to the Peak of our power five years ago. Then, no one will dare to bully us again!" Second Master Shen argued.

"Patriarch, you're exploiting the family for your own personal gain! I will never allow Ling'Er to be married off!" Fourth Master Shen snapped coldly.

"Fourth, this is the family's decision. It's not up to you! Guards! Take Shen Ling'Er away. She is not to take a single step out of her room before the wedding!" Second Master Shen commanded, his face cold.

Before Shen Ling'Er could react, several Shen Family guards seized her and began to drag her away.

"Stop!" Just then, a powerful voice rang out, stunning everyone present.

Everyone turned toward the sound. When they saw who it was, they were all taken aback. 'What's he doing here?' they thought.

That's right—the newcomer was none other than Shen Haoran, who had just rushed back from the rear mountain!

Shen Haoran strode into the middle of the hall, looked at the two patriarchs in the seats of honor, and declared in a clear voice, "You want to marry Ling'Er off? I don't agree!"

The moment Shen Haoran's words fell, the hall erupted in laughter. Shen Cheng walked up to Shen Haoran, clutching his stomach as he laughed. "Hahaha! I say, Shen Haoran, since when does a piece of trash like you have any right to butt in on important family discussions?"

Shen Haoran merely gave Shen Cheng an indifferent glance and ignored him.

Seeing that Shen Haoran didn't even deign to look at him, Shen Cheng fumed. He stepped forward, about to teach him a lesson, but Second Master Shen stopped him. "Cheng, stand down!"

Then, he looked at Shen Haoran and said, "Oh? And why don't you agree?"

"Because Ge Yan is not worthy of Ling'Er!" Shen Haoran said, staring directly at Ge Yan without a shred of concealment.

Ge Yan, who had been calm and smiling all this time, heard these words and his face instantly darkened. He walked up to Shen Haoran and said, "You're nothing but the most well-known piece of trash in Cyan Mountain City. What right do you have to talk about me?"

"Heh, trash? I wonder if you, the great Young Master of the Ge Family, can even beat a piece of trash like me," Shen Haoran said with a wicked grin.

"Are you challenging me? Fine. Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents and show you what 'having the right' really means!" With that, Ge Yan drew the Fine Steel Soft Whip from his waist and lashed it toward Shen Haoran!

Ge Yan didn't hold back in the slightest. The Fine Steel Soft Whip became a blur, reaching Shen Haoran in an instant! But in the face of Ge Yan's ferocious attack, Shen Haoran's expression remained unchanged. He stood perfectly still.

Seeing Shen Haoran standing there, seemingly frozen in fear, everyone present—except for Fourth Master Shen and Shen Ling'Er—looked at him with pity. It was as if they could already see him being whipped half to death.

CRACK!

A crisp sound rang out, but the scene of Shen Haoran being sent flying by the whip, which everyone had imagined, did not happen. Instead, the Fine Steel Soft Whip had been caught by Shen Haoran with a single hand!

Seeing this, the crowd was too shocked to speak. A single thought echoed in their minds: 'This is impossible!'

Ge Yan's shock was far greater than anyone else's. He knew his own strength best. Although he hadn't infused the whip with Spiritual Power, he had used his full strength in order to teach Shen Haoran a lesson. Even a Spirit Tempering Tier Five expert would have had to pay a price to catch that whip barehanded, yet Shen Haoran had caught it so easily—and with just one hand! 'Is this really the same piece of trash who was only at Spirit Tempering Tier Three?'