Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 257 - 174 three-year_2

Chapter 257: 174 three-year_2

Ye Qing said enthusiastically,

"Alright, I will definitely come to the banquet."

Shen Long agreed.

After a bit of small talk, Shen Long bid farewell and began to stroll down the street.

When he passed by a small shop, he stopped.

The shop was small, with various magic artifacts displayed on the shelves. The shopkeeper was a plump woman in a red dress, with cultivation at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

Shen Long looked up and saw the signboard which read "Sun’s Artifact Refining Shop" in big characters.

He mentally noted the name of the shop and left the street.

He rented a small courtyard and settled down.

The Qingjun Pavilion was where Shen Long lived; Golden Bamboo Courtyard was Long Zhu’s place—they should not be confused.

Shen Long entered a secret chamber, entered the Spirt Control Tower, arrived at the second floor, and released the Fire Qilin Beast and the Gold-Winged Fire Ants, feeding each a third-grade Demon Core.

The Fire Qilin Beast issued a low roar and transformed into an Escape Light, flying off into the distance.

Shen Long took out a cyan Storage Bag, gave it a shake with the opening facing downward, and a streak of cyan light passed by, leaving a large pile of ores on the ground.

Over a hundred thousand Gold-Winged Fire Ants swarmed over and began to chew on the ores.

Before long, they had finished eating all the ores on the ground.

Shen Long formed a spell with his hands, and the hundred thousand Gold-Winged Fire Ants congregated into a golden arrow, its surface wrapped in golden flames.

With a change in his spell, the golden arrow disintegrated and formed a golden giant blade wrapped in golden flames, which struck the ground, instantly creating a large pit.

He whistled, and the golden giant blade disintegrated, transforming into golden Flying Swords floating in mid-air.

After several years of actual combat, Shen Long became even more skilled at controlling the Gold-Winged Fire Ants against enemies.

Shen Long let them move freely. After he had trained the Fire Qilin Beast and the Gold-Winged Fire Ant Queen, they wouldn’t fight each other; each had their own territory, and they didn’t interfere with one another.

He moved to the third floor and released the Gold-Winged Windroc and the Iron Tail Scorpion, feeding them each two third-grade Demon Cores.

Shen Long trained them to fight together, to familiarize themselves with each other’s Divine Skills, to facilitate communication and collaboration.

Beast training wasn’t just about raising a Spirit Beast; it also involved regular training for combat, taking care of their living habits, and communicating with them.

These were all things Shen Long could handle.

An hour later, Shen Long exited the Spirt Control Tower.

He reverted to his true appearance and walked out.

He opened the courtyard gate; this was a residential area with few pedestrians, and the Qingjun Pavilion was quite far from there, so there was no fear of running into acquaintances.

Shen Long walked out boldly, strolling around the streets.

When he was near Sun’s Artifact Refining Shop, he heard a somewhat surprised female voice: "Senior Shen!"

Shen Long looked in the direction of the voice and saw a plump woman in a red dress walking out.

"You are?"

Shen Long feigned confusion, though he had already recognized the woman’s identity.

"The younger generation, Sun Yiyue! My father is Sun Huowang. Are you Senior Shen, Shen Long?"

The woman in the red dress spoke carefully and respectfully.

Shen Long looked Sun Yiyue up and down, with a reminiscent expression on his face, and said, "Oh, it’s you. How’s your dad?"

"My father has already passed away, and I didn’t expect to encounter Senior Shen here."

Sun Yiyue said.

"Madam, who is this senior?"

A gentle male voice sounded.

A handsome man in a blue shirt approached, his aura indicating the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Husband, this is the Senior Shen I mentioned to you. Senior Shen, this is my husband, Song Sen."

Sun Yiyue introduced them.

"Meeting is fate. Friend Sun, I would like to offer incense to your father, if that’s alright!"

Shen Long said.

A drop of water given in need should be returned with a spring. Shen Long had always been grateful for Sun Huowang’s kindness and had sent people to look for him without success.

"No problem! Please follow me, senior. Husband, you keep an eye on the shop."

Sun Yiyue agreed and personally led the way.

Shen Long followed Sun Yiyue to a small courtyard with red tiles, above the door hung a golden signboard with "Red Plum Courtyard" written in large characters.

Sun Yiyue knocked on the door, and it opened. A youthful girl in a golden dress emerged, with the cultivation of the eighth layer of Qi Refinement.

The girl in the golden dress had a round face and big eyes, with two adorable dimples on her cheeks.

"Senior Shen, this is my daughter, Song Yan. Yan’er, come and pay your respects to Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue introduced.

"Junior Song Yan, greets Senior Shen."

Song Yan stepped forward with a bow.

Shen Long took out a cyan jade box and handed it to Song Yan, saying, "Your maternal grandfather was kind to me, this Foundation Establishment Pill is for you."

Song Yan was stunned, while Sun Yiyue quickly reacted, saying, "Yan’er, aren’t you going to thank Senior Shen?"

"Many thanks to Senior Shen."

Song Yan thanked him, taking the jade box with both hands.

Shen Long then followed Sun Yiyue inside, where there was a three-story high red tower and a red stone pavilion in the courtyard.

Sun Yiyue led Shen Long to the tower, to a guest room, where Shen Long saw Sun Huowang’s spirit tablet and offered incense in tribute to Sun Huowang.

He sat down in the stone pavilion and started to chat with Sun Yiyue.

Years ago, Sun Yiyue had left Qingzhu Valley with Sun Huowang; after much wandering, they came to the Outer Sea. Being strangers to this place, they inadvertently offended a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; fortunately, Song Sen stepped forward in their defense.

Song Sen was a Loose Cultivator who made a living hunting Monster Beasts.

As Song Sen and Sun Yiyue spent a long time together, their fondness for one another grew. Sun Yiyue married Song Sen; he had purchased a Foundation Establishment Pill at a high price to help Sun Yiyue establish her foundation. Song Yan was their daughter.

Hunting Monster Beasts was dangerous, but Sun Yiyue could refine Magic Artifacts to sell. With his savings, Song Sen rented a storefront and the couple went into business.

Sun Huowang lived to be one hundred and ten, passing away peacefully in his sleep.

Shen Long did not reveal his true identity to Sun Yiyue, merely saying he was taken as a disciple by a Core Formation Cultivator, and that he came to the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm to collect cultivation resources.

"May I ask what kind of resources Senior Shen is collecting? Junior would be glad to keep an eye out, perhaps there will be discoveries."

Sun Yiyue said courteously.

Shen Long gifted Song Yan with a Foundation Establishment Pill, out of respect for Sun Huowang. In plain terms, after this Shen Long had no further ties to them.

Of course, Sun Yiyue did not wish for this connection to be severed; having a Core Formation Cultivator as support would make their lives easier.

After some thought, Shen Long took out a cyan jade slip and a blue Messaging Plate, and handed them to Sun Yiyue, saying, "Should you come across any news of these items, you may inform me using the Messaging Plate."

Sun Yiyue was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could not offer much help, but having one more person on the lookout would be beneficial.

"Yes, Senior Shen."

Sun Yiyue readily agreed.

"Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay any longer."

Shen Long stood up to take his leave, with Sun Yiyue and Song Yan personally seeing him off.

After sending Shen Long off, Sun Yiyue closed the courtyard gate.

"Mom, why have you never mentioned Senior Shen to me before?"

Song Yan asked with curiosity.

"Back then he was only at the Qi Refinement Realm; after many years, I didn’t expect him to have reached the Core Formation Stage. Your maternal grandfather had an eye for people,"

Sun Yiyue said, sighing softly at the end.

Back in the day, Sun Huowang had wanted to match Shen Long with Sun Yiyue, but she hadn’t taken a liking to him. Now, Shen Long was a Core Formation Cultivator while Sun Yiyue remained just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, their stations worlds apart.

Shen Long wandered around the marketplace, detecting no followers, before returning to the Golden Bamboo Courtyard.

He entered a secret chamber, sat down cross-legged, and began meditating.

A day passed quickly, Shen Long put on the Hundred Illusion Mask to change his appearance, and left the Golden Bamboo Courtyard.

He arrived at a small courtyard, the plaque read "Purple Kite Courtyard" in big characters.

Shen Long sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman and soon after, the courtyard door opened and Ye Qing came out with a smile, "Taoist Friend Long, you’ve arrived, please come in."

Ye Qing invited Shen Long inside, and two men and one woman sat in the stone pavilion sipping tea and chatting.

Shen Long’s gaze fell on a pale-faced monk in blue robes, he exclaimed in surprise, "A Buddhist Cultivator!"

It was his first encounter with a cultivator from the Buddhist Sect, which left him somewhat astonished.

"I am Xinkong. Greetings, Taoist Friend."

The monk in blue robes greeted with hands pressed together, introducing himself.

"I am Long Zhu, greetings to all Taoist Friends."

Shen Long greeted with a fist and palm salute.

"So you are the Taoist Friend Long mentioned by Taoist Friend Ye, I am Zhang Biao,"

a broad-shouldered, burly man in golden robes said, his voice booming.

"This humble one is Zhao Ying, I greet Taoist Friend Long."

A graceful woman in a white dress bowed slightly as she introduced herself.