’Perhaps it’s not just Zheng Hun, but a...’

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought, because the implication was simply too incredible.

If there was anything that could make Mao Yong this wary, it could only be described by one word: "Saint!"

At his level, his perspective was no longer confined to the small Linji City. He now had a faint, overarching sense of the state of the entire Great Yu.

The Great Yu was in a state of chaos. Where could one find a safe haven anymore?

Even a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert like himself had to remain constantly vigilant, wary of the coming tide. If he didn’t make preparations soon, even the Mao Family could be annihilated at any moment.

Never mind the Mao Family; even the Jiang Family, which controlled the City Lord’s Mansion, was like rootless duckweed before this tide, liable to be crushed at any moment.

To end this chaos, another Martial Saint would have to appear—one like the Great Yu Founding Saint Emperor.

Mao Yong didn’t immediately return to report to City Lord Jiang Botao. Instead, he went home to sort through his chaotic thoughts...

...

After Mao Yong departed, Qin Ruiyang didn’t linger in the True Disciple’s courtyard either, leaving shortly after with Sixth Madam Luo Yunzhi.

Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, however, showed no intention of leaving.

They were getting along splendidly with Mu Xiaowan, who led them on a tour of the residence. They saw the main courtyard, the large garden, and the other three courtyards.

Chen Cheng had intended to accompany them, but the three women treated him as if he were invisible. He decided to just head into his room and focus on cultivating his Martial Dao.

Chen Cheng didn’t emerge from his room until noon, only to find the Shen sisters, Qingyao and Qingshuang, still hanging around the Chens’ home.

They were even in the kitchen, laughing and chatting as they helped Mu Xiaowan prepare a meal.

Chen Cheng had no choice but to have them stay for lunch.

During the meal, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang once again stared at Chen Cheng as if he were a monster, watching him ravenously gnaw on a hundred-year-old Lingzhi.

Both were Great Qi and Blood Replenishing Herbs. Mountain ginseng was considered ’yang,’ with fiercer, more potent medicinal properties. Its effect on replenishing Qi and Blood was stronger and more direct.

Lingzhi, on the other hand, was ’yin.’ Its properties were gentler, its Qi and Blood replenishing effect was weaker, and its potency was absorbed more slowly. However, it had the benefit of nourishing one’s mind and spirit.

In terms of replenishing Qi and Blood, the medicinal potency of a hundred-year-old Lingzhi was comparable to that of a fifty-year-old mountain ginseng.

Ordinarily, Chen Cheng ate one fifty-year-old mountain ginseng a day, which was just enough to replenish the Qi and Blood he consumed during his cultivation.

He would eat the old mountain ginseng in two sittings, but to save time, he ate the hundred-year-old Lingzhi all at once. This made it easier to have some Demon Beast Meat in the evening for a change of pace.

Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered with them, leaving Mu Xiaowan to play the busy host.

When Mu Xiaowan told them that Chen Cheng replenished his Qi and Blood like this every day, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang were even more astonished.

Cultivating the Martial Dao certainly required a great deal of Qi and Blood replenishment, but neither of them, both Small Success Martial Artists in the Bone Forging Realm, supplemented anywhere near that much.

In terms of medicinal potency, they only consumed the equivalent of a twenty-year-old mountain ginseng every few days.

Consuming any more would cause their Qi and Blood to become excessive, leading to blockages, poor circulation, and a feeling of profound discomfort throughout their bodies.

How could Chen Cheng possibly be alright after replenishing so much?

Shen Qingyao had seen Chen Cheng eat Demon Beast Meat before, so she knew he had a powerful constitution, but she never imagined it was powerful to this extent.

She couldn’t help but ask, "Junior Brother Chen, are you really just a Small Success Martial Artist in the Muscle Strengthening Realm?"

"More or less," Chen Cheng mumbled with a slight nod.

When a Martial Artist reached a certain level of cultivation, their Qi Blood Power would become externally perceptible. One could roughly gauge their strength by sensing the richness of this aura.

However, Chen Cheng’s cultivation of the Iron Armor Skill involved a unique Breathing Method that kept his externalized Qi Blood Power to a minimum.

As a result, even though he had already reached Small Success in the Bone Forging Realm, the richness of his externalized Qi and Blood was only comparable to that of a Martial Artist in the Muscle Strengthening Realm.

"You clearly are, so what do you mean ’more or less’!"

Shen Qingyao pouted. Then, adopting a serious, lecturing tone, she advised him,

"It’s good that you’re eager to improve your Martial Arts Power and are replenishing your Qi and Blood, but if you overdo it like this, your body will break down sooner or later.

Do you have any idea? Even someone like Wang Xiongba, with his Innate Copper Skin and Iron Bone constitution, who has reached Great Success in the Bone Forging Realm, only dares to consume the equivalent of half a twenty-year-old mountain ginseng a day for replenishment."

Chen Cheng was always one to take advice. He nodded slightly and said, "Alright. If I start to feel unwell, I’ll cut back."

"Sigh... I’m just trying to help," Shen Qingyao said, shaking her head.

Shen Qingshuang, however, watched Chen Cheng, lost in thought. She clearly remembered that the first time they met, he had displayed Innate Divine Power.

’Perhaps those with Innate Divine Power simply consume more Qi and Blood than others,’ she mused.

Chen Cheng had assumed the two young ladies would politely take their leave after lunch.

But then Shen Qingyao suddenly announced, "Junior Brother Chen, I discussed it with Sixth Madam earlier. I’m planning to stay at the Zheng Martial Arts Hall for a while.

No other place is convenient, so it looks like I’ll have to stay in the True Disciple’s residence and be neighbors with you two."

Chen Cheng was taken aback for a moment. He glanced at Mu Xiaowan, only to see her beaming, as if she already knew all about it.

Sure enough, Shen Qingyao continued, "I’ve already spoken with Xiaowan, and she’d be delighted to have me. I’m just asking for your opinion now."

What objection could Chen Cheng possibly have? With Sixth Madam and Xiaowan having both agreed, he couldn’t very well stop her, could he?

"If Senior Sister Qingyao wants to stay, I’d be happy to have you, of course," Chen Cheng said with a smile, lying through his teeth for what felt like the first time.

After all, he had always preferred peace and quiet, and having Shen Qingyao around would be a genuine inconvenience.

"Hehe, I knew you’d agree. I’ll have someone bring my luggage over in a little while."

Shen Qingyao chuckled, then added, "Don’t worry, I won’t be freeloading.