After lunch, everyone parted ways at the Celestial Water Pier.

Shen Junmo rubbed her slightly warm forehead. She watched from a distance as Chen Cheng and his wife left hand in hand, a complex, indescribable emotion stirring in her heart.

Among the direct descendants of the Shen Family, she possessed the greatest talent for the Martial Dao. The family elders placed great hopes in her, grooming her as the successor who would carry on the family’s legacy.

She had not let them down. At only twenty-two, she had already reached Small Success in the Bone Forging Realm. Her Cultivation progress was even slightly faster than that of the Shen Family’s Ancestor in his youth.

She had always been proud of her talent for the Martial Dao, believing that no one in all of Linji City could cultivate faster than her.

Even Jiang Lang, known as the number one martial artist of the younger generation in Linji City, was nothing special in her eyes.

Jiang Lang reached Bone Forging Realm Perfection around the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She was certain she would be faster and was confident she could reach Bone Forging Realm Perfection before she turned twenty-five. Then, she would join the Great Dao Sect and compete against the top Celestial Prides from other Prefecture Cities, perhaps even from Su State City itself.

’Why would I care about this tiny Linji Prefecture City? Who here could possibly be stronger than me? My only goal is to enter the Great Dao Sect and become a True Disciple.’

However, the appearance of Mu Xiaowan made her put away her disdain. While training in the Phantom Sword Technique under Gongsun Rou alongside Mu Xiaowan, she witnessed Mu Xiaowan’s monstrous cultivation speed firsthand. She was utterly shocked, concluding that Mu Xiaowan’s talent for the Martial Dao was no less than her own. She had to be considered one of Linji City’s top Celestial Prides.

But after witnessing what Chen Cheng could do, she was shaken once more.

He had consumed over ten pounds of Demon Beast Meat at only Skin Grinding Realm Perfection, yet showed no adverse effects. The strength of his physique was something even she, a Small Success Martial Artist in the Bone Forging Realm, couldn’t hope to match.

Mu Xiaowan’s talent for the Martial Dao was brilliant to the point of being monstrous. But Chen Cheng... he was likely her equal, if not her superior. In the future, this couple’s Martial Arts Achievements might not be inferior to her own.

For decades, the only person in Linji City whose talent for the Martial Dao could be called brilliantly talented was Mr. Zheng of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall.

In his youth, Mr. Zheng’s Cultivation Progress was on par with the True Disciples from the Major Sects. But he lacked a deep family backing and had insufficient cultivation resources. On top of that, he was suppressed by the combined efforts of the other great families. As a result, he languished for half his life at the Bone Forging Realm, unable to take another step forward.

Even so, with his supreme comprehension, Mr. Zheng still managed to grasp a Realm, dominating the Martial Arts Realm of Linji City.

It could be said that as long as the Ancestors at the Internal Refining Realm from the various families didn’t make a move, Mr. Zheng was invincible.

’Could Chen Cheng be the next Mr. Zheng?’

’Should I report Chen Cheng’s talent to the Clan Elders and have the Shen Family take him under their wing for focused training?

’No, never mind. Chen Cheng is a young talent recruited by Qingshuang. She must already have a plan.

’Shen Qingshuang, oh, Shen Qingshuang... Everyone says you care for nothing but Cultivating the Martial Dao, that you have no schemes in you. But who would have thought you’d be holding an ace up your sleeve? Hiding a supreme martial arts genius like Chen Cheng... You almost managed to fool me!’

As she thought this, Shen Junmo’s beautiful eyes sparkled, and a self-satisfied smile crept onto her face.

Discovering her younger sister’s little secret was a truly delightful feeling!

"That Young Master Chen is truly fierce! I’ve never seen anyone as formidable as him. That appetite... he’s like a fierce tiger!"

Shen Qingpeng clicked his tongue in amazement, his face full of admiration.

His words broke her out of her thoughts. Shen Junmo’s face immediately hardened, her expression one of profound disappointment in him.

"Shen Qingpeng, from now on, you must cultivate for a full four hours every day! And increase your Skin Grinding Technique cultivation to three times a month!"

"Ah..." Shen Qingpeng’s face turned pale with shock!

Shen Junmo’s almond eyes turned frosty as she snapped, "What are you ’ah’-ing about? If you can’t reach Skin Grinding Realm Perfection and Sword Technique Perfection within six months, I’ll beat you three times a day!"

They say a word to the wise is enough, but this good-for-nothing brother of hers needed to be hammered into shape!

"Eldest Sister, Second Sister is usually cold and aloof, but even she isn’t as strict as you!" Shen Qingpeng muttered. Seeing his sister’s expression grow even more severe, he quickly shrank back in fear. "I’ll do it! I’ll do it, alright?!"

"Let’s go. Back to the Inner City to cultivate!" Shen Junmo waved her hand, then lifted the carriage curtain and boarded.

... 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Bailu Avenue.

Chen Family.

Xi’Er, Dong’Er, and the old servant Shi Fangdong all bowed to Mu Xiaowan in unison.

"Greetings, Madam!"

"No need for such formalities!" Mu Xiaowan smiled and waved her hand. Although it was her first time at their new home in Lishui District, she felt a great sense of warmth and familiarity.

The more she looked at the two sweet and well-behaved maids, Xi’Er and Dong’Er, the more fond of them she grew.

"Xi’Er, I haven’t seen you in a few months. You seem to have grown quite a bit taller."

"Madam, you’ve gotten taller too! Xi’Er missed you every single day," Xi’Er replied gleefully, her eyes curving into crescents. In this world, her Master and Madam were the only family she had. Seeing her Madam again brought her the greatest joy.

"Hehe, our Xi’Er is becoming quite the flatterer," Mu Xiaowan chuckled. She reached out to pat Xi’Er’s head, then gently pinched Dong’Er’s cheek.

"Dong’Er is very cute too."

"Madam, let me show you around."

"Okay."

A smile touched Chen Cheng’s lips as he watched Mu Xiaowan, full of excitement, being led around the Chen Family estate by the two young maids.

...

On the spacious terrace of the main residence in the backyard, Chen Cheng stood by the railing, wearing the Dragon Eagle Iron Claw.

The sky was a cloudless, vast expanse of blue. The lake was clear and serene. Below the terrace, green willows swayed, and from a patch of reeds, the occasional croak of a frog could be heard. The atmosphere was tranquil and pleasant.

He began to circulate the Iron Armor Skill. The immense Qi Blood Power, a result of consuming over ten pounds of Demon Beast Meat, surged through his body.