Wu Zhongchao smiled. "Shu Feng, come, have a seat. Let me introduce you! These are my three wives. My first wife, Huang Yingying; my second wife, Nie Honghong; and my third wife, Jin Lingzhu."

Shu Feng sat down at the table and smiled. "Greetings, sisters!"

"So you’re Shu Feng of the Mobile Corps? You’re so young, and such a sweet-talker. I like that! If you ever need anything, just let me know. If there’s anything I can do to help, I won’t hesitate."

The speaker was Huang Yingying, a tall woman in a stylish business suit. She had an oval face, a delicate chin, and large, expressive eyes that brimmed with charm as she spoke with a captivating smile.

Nie Honghong, who was petite but buxom, and Jin Lingzhu, a round-faced beauty who looked to be only sixteen, also smiled warmly at Shu Feng.

Shu Feng said, "Then I must thank you, sister!"

Wu Zhongchao said, "You three can go amuse yourselves."

"Hmph, as if we wanted to hang around with you. Let’s go, sisters!"

Huang Yingying shot Wu Zhongchao a look, then led the other two young women away.

Wu Zhongchao said apologetically, "I’m sorry, Shu Feng, but the Star Sacred Land has already finished recruiting disciples."

Shu Feng smiled. "Things in this world rarely go as planned. Please don’t trouble yourself over it, Lord Spirit Saint. However, if you’d still like to repay the favor, I’d be happy to accept the remains of a Semi-Divine Artifact, or you could let me choose one item from your Treasure Vault."

"You rascal, you’re actually after my Treasure Vault. No way!"

Wu Zhongchao smiled meaningfully. "However, I will tell you a secret—a way for you to become even stronger."

Shu Feng’s eyes lit up. "What secret?"

"You’re ready to advance to the Spirit Venerable realm! You should go do that first. After you’ve become a Spirit Venerable, I’ll tell you the secret."

"I’ll wait for you here for one month. Go on!"

Wu Zhongchao gave a casual smile, waved his hand, and walked over to the three beautiful women, each with her own unique charm.

Shu Feng also turned and left.

The Beiling Realm was the territory of the Zhu Clan, and Zhongling City was its capital.

Inside Zhongling City’s main teleportation hall, a brilliant light flared for a moment, and Shu Feng and Zhu Chenyu appeared within the Teleportation Array.

’So this is the Beiling Realm. The Heaven and Earth Laws have been altered to be just like Blue Star’s!’

The moment Shu Feng arrived in the Beiling Realm, he relied on the formidable power of his Holy Soul to keenly sense that the Heaven and Earth Laws of this realm were identical to those of Blue Star.

Of course, the Beiling Realm’s laws had not originally been the same as Blue Star’s. Rather, after the Beiling Zhu Clan took control of the realm, they had used numerous Secret Techniques, spending decades to transform it into a world where Spiritual Power could be cultivated, just like on Blue Star.

If Spiritual Power couldn’t be cultivated in the Beiling Realm, then even with control over the realm, the Beiling Zhu Family wouldn’t be able to strengthen their family’s foundation. After all, without strengthening their foundation, the Zhu Clan would be unable to maintain its dominant position in the Qianyuan Republic.

Zhu Guangsheng walked over with a smile. "Shu Feng, welcome to our Beiling Realm!"

Shu Feng chuckled. "Father-in-law, for you to come and greet me personally, I’m truly honored."

Zhu Guangsheng laughed heartily. "You are the son-in-law I’m most proud of, and Chen Yu is my most outstanding daughter. Of course I would come to welcome you both home. Come, let’s go home!"

Zhu Chenyu gave a dazzling smile and a long, meaningful look at Zhu Guangsheng, but said nothing.

Before Zhu Chenyu’s engagement to Shu Feng, Zhu Guangsheng had never been this warm toward her. While he had shown her some fatherly affection, he had always been more partial to Zhu Binglan and Zhu Xiaoxiao, his other two daughters from the main family line, who possessed outstanding cultivation Talent.

The three of them boarded a luxurious Spiritual Energy Sedan, which sped along the road and soon arrived before the Zhu Mansion.

As Shu Feng stepped out of the Spiritual Energy Sedan, he saw two rows of people lined up in front of the Zhu Mansion’s gates. They were all important figures of the Zhu Clan and children from the direct family line. Even Zhu Binglan, once so high and mighty and incomparably arrogant, was standing among them with her head bowed.

This was a formal reception at the gates, a ceremony reserved only for visiting Spirit Saints. In the entire Qianyuan Republic, only the handful of great Spirit Saints, the Empire Emperor, or the Imperial Prime Minister would be greeted with such a grand display upon a formal visit.

Shu Feng smiled faintly, his gaze shifting away from Zhu Binglan as he took Zhu Chenyu’s hand and walked into the Zhu Mansion.

Only after Shu Feng had entered the Zhu Mansion did the important figures of the Zhu Clan raise their heads.

"So that’s Shu Feng of the Mobile Corps. To think even a Void Demon Duke died at his hands... He’s truly incredible."

"He’s so handsome! Shu Feng is drop-dead gorgeous! If he were my fiancé, I could die happy."

"To think that person actually rejected Shu Feng. She must be kicking herself right now."

"Hee hee! To give up a powerhouse on the level of a Spirit Saint for some useless playboy. She’s such an idiot!"

"Zhu Chenyu really hit the jackpot!"

"..."

These murmurs spread among the women of the Zhu Clan, and many gazes of pity and ridicule fell upon Zhu Binglan.

’A bunch of snobs! So what if Shu Feng is strong? He’ll never compare to my Brother Hai!’

A flicker of regret crossed Zhu Binglan’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. The moment she thought of her sweetheart, her heart filled with tenderness.

’It’s a shame I’m not her! To think she just threw away an opportunity like that!’

Zhu Xiaoxiao glanced at Zhu Binglan and sighed softly. She had seen Shu Feng’s great potential from the beginning, but he had only had eyes for Zhu Chenyu back then.

In such a short time, Shu Feng had skyrocketed in power, growing to the unfathomable point where he could slay a Void Demon Duke. It was proof that Zhu Xiaoxiao’s judgment had been correct.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhu Binglan went alone to a pavilion outside the Zhu Mansion.

"Binglan, I’ve missed you so much!"

A handsome, fair-skinned young man—tall, wearing light makeup, and with a somewhat effeminate air—eagerly went to greet her, his eyes lighting up.

Zhu Binglan gazed lovingly at the handsome young man. "Brother Hai, I’ve missed you too."

The handsome young man was named Dugu Hai. He was a scion of a distant branch of the Dugu Clan and could barely be considered the son of a Noble Family. His cultivation was low, only at the Spirit Warrior level, but his methods were clever enough to capture the heart of Zhu Binglan, a cherished daughter of a great Noble Family.

After they exchanged some sweet nothings, Dugu Hai asked curiously, "Binglan, your Zhu Mansion just held a formal reception at the gates. Which major figure came to visit?"

Zhu Binglan’s delicate brows furrowed, and she answered impatiently, "Shu Feng!"

’Shu Feng.’ Zhu Binglan never wanted to hear that name again.

Dugu Hai wheedled, "Binglan, take me into the Zhu Mansion for a look! I want to see what our future home looks like! I can disguise myself as your follower! Please, take me inside!"

On Dugu Hai’s thumb, a blue ring emitted a faint blue glow that settled over Zhu Binglan.