Regarding Dao Shen Palace (道神宫), Chen Yuan thought it should be a very secretive force in the Jianghu (江湖, martial arts world). Even if Deng Xian Lou (登仙楼, Ascension Pavilion) knew about it, the price to find out would probably be high.

Moreover, it would let the people of Deng Xian Lou know that he was related to Dao Shen Palace.

If their enemies were to target him, even if Chen Yuan had ten lives, it probably wouldn't be enough.

Chen Yuan's first impression of Deng Xian Lou was not bad, but he still didn't trust them. In the end, they were just a force that sold information, prioritizing profit above all else.

After strolling around Nanling City for a while, Chen Yuan returned to the small courtyard in the east of the city, experiencing the sudden increase in his cultivation.

Half a pot of spirit tea had greatly improved his cultivation, saving him from many days of arduous cultivation, but after all, it was not obtained through his own practice. It was still somewhat superficial and needed to be further refined by Chen Yuan using the Tai Xuan Scripture (太玄经).

......

......

As dusk approached, Chen Yuan woke up from his cultivation. He looked at the bright stars and moon in the night sky, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

After half a day of cultivation, the sudden increase in his cultivation had been completely stabilized, no different from the true Qi cultivated by himself. And he was about to meet this Shen Yanshu.

If she knew what was good for her, Chen Yuan would not make things difficult for her, but if she didn't, Chen Yuan could only ruthlessly destroy the flower and forcibly take away the Phoenix Marrow Qi (凤髓之气).

After changing into ordinary clothes and wearing the black iron mask he had made before, Chen Yuan set off!

It took about half an hour for Chen Yuan to arrive at the Shen family in the west of the city.

Two family guards were standing guard at the door, staring intently. Chen Yuan, like a gust of wind, jumped onto the wall of the Shen family and disappeared into the vast night.

Shen family backyard.

Shen Yanshu, dressed in a water-blue dress, sat on a chair with a frown, as if she had encountered some difficulty. The maid beside her hesitated, wanting to say something, but not daring to.

In the end, she could only lower her head.

"Miss, why don't... we run away?"

Suddenly, the maid raised her head sharply, her eyes lighting up.

Shen Yanshu glared at her:

"Silly girl, what about your parents if we run away? What will happen to my Shen family?"

"Then we can't let you marry that playboy, Miss. I secretly inquired about it. That guy is not a good person. He goes to brothels all day long. He's just a waste of space.

How can he be worthy of you, Miss?"

The maid said anxiously.

Shen Yanshu sighed, her brow furrowing even more.

The waste of space in Xiaoyu's mouth was the source of her worries.

His name was Bei Le, the only son of Bei Haisheng, the deputy leader of the Changle Gang (长乐帮, Everlasting Joy Gang), who doted on him extremely, always afraid that he would suffer even the slightest grievance. His style of conduct was also very chaotic, bullying men and dominating women was commonplace.

If it weren't for Bei Haisheng's name protecting him, and his activities were basically only in the west and south of the city, he would have been hacked into eighteen pieces long ago.

But he happened to see Shen Yanshu when she went out once and insisted on marrying her.

Even though Shen Yanshu's father, Shen Kaishan, asked someone to mediate, it had no effect. Instead, Bei Haisheng was furious and reprimanded Shen Kaishan for thinking that their Bei family was not worthy of the Shen family?

This sentence left Shen Kaishan speechless, not knowing what to say, for fear of angering Bei Haisheng.

Bei Haisheng, as the deputy leader of the Changle Gang, possessed strength and influence that the Shen family could not match. If Bei Le was not such a waste of space,

Shen Kaishan felt that agreeing to it wouldn't be a problem.

Today, Bei Haisheng had already sent a message, saying that he would present the betrothal gifts in three days, and also asked someone to tell Shen Kaishan that as long as he agreed to the marriage, the Shen family would be protected by the Changle Gang in the future.

All the current difficulties would disappear, and he would also ask the gang leader to take Shen Kaishan's youngest son as a disciple. The conditions were undeniably generous, so after weighing the pros and cons, Shen Kaishan went to Shen Yanshu, hoping that she could agree.

But how could Shen Yanshu agree?

Since she was a child, she had been fond of practicing martial arts and was determined to make a name for herself in the Jianghu. How could she be troubled by romance?

Moreover, she didn't like this Bei Le at all.

Most importantly, she possessed the Phoenix Marrow Spirit Body (凤髓灵体). She couldn't break her body until she reached the Naqi (纳气, Qi Absorption) stage, otherwise, her path of martial arts would be cut off. This matter had always been buried in her heart,

It was her biggest secret.

In the entire Shen family, no one knew about it except for her deceased mother.

Even her father didn't know.

Her mother had warned her that once the matter of the Phoenix Marrow Spirit Body was spread out, she might face the covetousness of many people.

Those people would treat her as a furnace, making her life worse than death!

As for the matter of the Phoenix Marrow Spirit Body, her mother had spent a great price to figure it out.

"Then what can we do? If the betrothal gifts are delivered in three days, then there will be no chance at all..." The maid looked anxious.

In addition to worrying about Shen Yanshu, she was also worried about herself.

According to the usual practice, her personal maid would be married out as a concubine.

But she really didn't like Bei Le.

Not only was his appearance ordinary, but he was also a useless person. His meridians had been broken since he was a child, and he couldn't cultivate at all. If he wasn't Bei Le's only son, he probably wouldn't even be worthy of her.

"I'll think about it..."

Shen Yanshu frowned, but she really didn't have any good options in front of her.

She had a chance to escape from Nanling Prefecture, but if she left, the entire Shen family would be finished. This kind of thing would be a complete slap in Bei Haisheng's face, and he would definitely not let it go.

If the Shen family treated her badly, it would be fine, but both her father and younger brother treated her very well, and she couldn't bear to give up these family ties.

But if she didn't escape and married Bei Le, her whole life would be ruined...

"Miss, if Bei Le died..."

The maid said in a low voice.

"Do you think that Bei Haisheng wouldn't suspect the Shen family if Bei Le suddenly died right before the betrothal gifts were delivered? Even if he doesn't have any evidence, he can still take out his anger on our Shen family..."

She had of course thought about this, but it was quickly rejected.

Such a coincidence could not be concealed from Bei Le.

Even if it was an accidental death, it was impossible.

It might even make Bei Haisheng think that she, Shen Yanshu, had cursed Bei Le, making him even more furious.

"Then..."

"Alright, go down first. I'll think about it carefully..." Shen Yanshu waved her hand.

The maid gave the young lady a worried look, made the bed silently, and left the room.

After thinking for a long time, Shen Yanshu sighed. It seemed that she... could only accept her fate now.

Undressing, Shen Yanshu looked at her graceful body and slowly sat on the bed, preparing to rest.

"Knock knock."

Suddenly, there was a crisp knock on the door. Shen Yanshu, who was about to rest, frowned:

"Xiaoyu, what else is the matter?"

Chen Yuan didn't answer and continued to knock.

He had been wandering around the Shen residence for a while before he found this place.

Getting up, getting out of bed.

Shen Yanshu, hearing the knock outside the door, didn't have much defense. She directly opened the door, and then she was shocked, covering the exposed parts of her body.

With one leg, she took a few steps back in the room, trying to draw her long sword.

But before her hand could touch the hilt, a cold light was placed on her neck. Chen Yuan looked her up and down expressionlessly, with only one thought in his mind.

What bright headlights!!!

But on the surface, he remained calm and said:

"Miss Shen, care to chat?"

......

......

Inside the room.

After putting on all her clothes, Shen Yanshu's face still had a hint of blush that hadn't faded. She looked coldly at the man wearing a black ghost-face mask in front of her.

Chen Yuan was also looking at Shen Yanshu.

Indeed, as Yue Shan had found out, she had a beautiful face and a cold expression. Although she often practiced martial arts, her skin was still fair all over.

Especially a pair of headlights, which were really dazzling.

"Who are you, and what is your purpose in coming to my Shen family in the middle of the night?" Shen Yanshu asked in a solemn voice.

Now she had dispelled the idea of calling for help. Just the ghost-like speed just now had already made her understand that the guy in front of her was a Ninggang (凝罡, Essence Condensation) Realm expert!

Perhaps even her father, Shen Kaishan, was no match for him.

Calling for help was not a wise choice.

"I am Wang Ping, and I came specifically for Miss Shen..."

Chen Yuan used Wang Ping's name without any politeness. He was staying in Ping'an County, and Chen Yuan decided to let his name be well-known, so that their friendship would not be in vain.

"For me?"

Shen Yanshu was a little surprised. Recalling that the ghost-faced man had been looking her up and down just now, she couldn't help but be a little wary.

"To be precise, it is for the Phoenix Marrow Qi on Miss Shen!"

Chen Yuan said straight to the point.

Shen Yanshu's heart was shaken, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

This guy actually knew about the Phoenix Marrow Qi.

Was her Phoenix Marrow Spirit Body exposed?

Impossible. In the entire Shen family, only her deceased mother knew about it besides her. It was absolutely impossible for it to be spread out. Subconsciously, she thought that Chen Yuan was bluffing her, so she pretended to be puzzled and said:

"What is Phoenix Marrow Qi?"

Chen Yuan smiled. When he mentioned the Phoenix Marrow Qi just now, he was focusing on staring at Shen Yanshu and saw the fleeting look of loss in her eyes.

"Since Wang has come, it means that he knows your biggest secret. There is no point in hiding it."

"You..." Shen Yanshu bit her lip and didn't say anything.

She knew that her biggest secret had indeed been exposed.

"Let's make a deal. Give me the Phoenix Marrow Qi, and I will give you a sum of money or cultivation resources."

If he hadn't learned from Ye Chenbai that forcibly taking the Phoenix Marrow Qi would greatly reduce its effectiveness, Chen Yuan wouldn't have wasted so much effort, and would have just taken it by force.

The Phoenix Marrow Qi was nurtured by the Phoenix Marrow Spirit Body and could be taken out without intercourse.

Of course, if Shen Yanshu was really unwilling, or the conditions she offered were impossible for him to fulfill, then Chen Yuan would have no choice but to overturn the table and forcibly take the Phoenix Marrow Qi.

However, that was the last resort.

If possible, he still hoped to obtain the complete Phoenix Marrow Qi because he was not sure if this thing was related to his martial arts. If it didn't work enough, it might be a big trouble.

"Since you know about the Phoenix Marrow Qi, don't you know that its value is not comparable to a little silver?" Shen Yanshu couldn't help but say.

Chen Yuan sneered and said:

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Brothers, come and slash... throw me a monthly ticket!