Page 292

"My lord, can Shen Yuan make it?"

Chen Ying, who was far away in Nan Ming, was clearly concerned. Having spent over a decade at the Capital City Yin Yang Academy, she still felt some reverence for those old monsters.

"Child?" Chen Qing looked at her with an odd expression on his face. Have you grown so accustomed to being the headmaster that you see everyone as juniors, or what? If I remember correctly, isn’t Shen Yuan actually older than you?

Chen Ying’s face turned red at Chen Qing’s peculiar look: "My lord, can you please be serious?"

"I haven’t said anything, how am I not being serious?

" Chen Qing rolled her eyes, but didn’t continue to tease her, and spoke softly, "If the execution sequence is correct, there shouldn’t be much of a problem, of course, it also greatly depends on the timing of action, as well as whether the opponent is careless or not. "

Array Masters are the main force of the second version of Magicians, and with a generation’s advantage over the old version of Magicians, they have a great advantage over these outdated versions before all the old Magicians have mastered the Instantaneous Spells of the Rune Stones.

However, whether Shen Yuan can take advantage of this all depends on the young man’s mentality.

He scored full marks in the tests, but testing and actual examination are often two different things, like a driving test: some people pass every practice but make mistakes in the real exam. It’s all about mindset.....

"But you don’t need to worry, with Shen Qi around," Chen Qing said with a smile. "Now that Shen Qi has mastered the formations, even if the State Preceptor himself were here, he might not necessarily be a match for him."

"Really?" Chen Ying felt slightly relieved upon hearing this. Shen Qi’s Thousand Eyes Technique and his mastery of formations were a perfect match. Chen Ying believed that even if facing Zhang, the Heavenly Master from Yundu, without any prior information, Seventh Master Shen still stood a chance.

"Will those old folks be willing to exchange techniques?"

"Of course, they will..." Chen Qing said with a smile. "Array Masters represent the future trend. If they don’t adapt to the times, no matter if they are a thousand-year or ten-thousand-year family, they are destined to be eliminated. Don’t think all those old-timers are set in their ways.

Any Sorcerer Family that has lasted a thousand years has an astute Family Head at the helm.

How could they possibly lack such foresight? "

"But whether they will snatch it directly or trade with their own techniques, that will depend on how well Shen Yuan and Seventh Master Shen perform..."

--------------------------------

The feast at the Shen Family was still going on, but the atmosphere had become much more eerie than before.

Du Kangnian, sealed within the green crystal, hovered in the air, making no one dare to probe casually, but allowing them to leave without consequence was not an option either.

Thus, the peculiar situation unfolded: even though things had nearly turned sour just a while ago, a group of people were now at the dining tables appearing as jovial as ever.

"It really is the case of the new waves pushing the old ones forward; we old folks have to admit we’re getting on in years."

"Exactly. After this bout, I’m afraid Du will be too embarrassed to step outside."

"Hahaha....."

The crowd acted as though the recent incident was merely an entertaining spectacle, leaving Shen Yan, who was in charge of hosting the guests, at a loss for words, only able to awkwardly offer various apologies: "The child is undisciplined, please forgive us for the laugh."

"Hey, young people are naturally spirited when they are capable. If my youngster had the abilities of your son, his backside would already be in the clouds from pride, hahaha....."

The numerous praises turned Shen Yu’s mind, who was also serving drinks nearby, into mush!

From the battle that had unfolded to the present where the feast was laid out, almost two hours had passed, yet he still couldn’t grasp what had happened.....

All he could think of was the scene that had just unfolded...

If it weren’t inappropriate in the current setting, he would want to find a corner and bang his head to see if he was dreaming.

How could this be possible?

The very same bookworm, who had been disdained by many of his legitimate half-brothers and sisters since childhood, the invisible person in his mother’s eyes, the burden in his own eyes—how could he possess such ability?

He still remembered the guy taking an unconventional path, after becoming Second Place Scholar, approached their mother with a nervous heart like a little dog seeking praise, only to be coldly dismissed, leaving him looking desolate...

What had happened in just two years?

"Shen Yu, Shen Yu!"

While he was still confused, his father’s voice pulled him out of his daze: "What are you daydreaming about?"

"Father, I..." Shen Yu, full of doubt and grievance, wished he could pour everything out at once.

"Alright..." Shen Yan hurriedly interrupted the other person, speaking in a low voice, "Let’s go inside."

After the dishes were served and the guests seated, Shen Yan, who was too busy to listen to his already frightened son complain, quickly pulled him along to the inner hall of the Shen Family home.

Inside the inner hall, a group of elders and Old Master Shen had been waiting early on.

As soon as Shen Yan entered the room, Old Master Shen quickly used a barrier to seal the door.

"What’s the situation outside like now?"

The one asking with impatience was Shen Dongsheng.

Shen Yan ignored him and looked directly at Old Master Shen, saying, "Great-grandfather, it’s temporarily stable outside.

Those people are not willing to leave just like that, yet after Shen Yuan made a move earlier, which was too shocking, no one dares to test us lightly anymore.

At least on the surface, we have not openly broken with them. "

Shen Yuan?

Shen Yu slightly pursed his lips. He had never heard his father refer to his eldest brother in such a manner before. Now he said it with such affection; he wondered if the feeling was mutual. He clearly saw before that Shen Yuan had shown no intention of putting his father in his sight.

"Good, good, good..." Old Master Shen nodded continuously, "It’s good that we’re stable for now. Given the situation, we must figure out exactly what has happened to Shen Yuan, how he’s gained such abilities, what his intentions are now that he’s back in the Capital City, and did he really say nothing about it in the letter home he gave you? "

Shen Yan paused, slightly embarrassed, "Great-grandfather, Shen Yuan and I aren’t very close. As you know, I used to be preoccupied with many affairs and neglected him. Compared to me, he seems more reliant on Madam Zheng, and the letters he writes are mostly addressed to her."

"Is that so?" Shen Qingfeng stroked his beard and said, "Just now... indeed, it was Madam Zheng’s scolding that played some role in making him take action. It’s obvious the child is closer to his mother than to you."

"Yes, yes..."

"But... how does Madam Zheng... treat him?" Old Master Shen asked, squinting his eyes.

Although he usually didn’t interfere with the younger generation’s affairs, he still knew some things. Madam Zheng... didn’t seem to care much for this eldest son with no talent.

When he heard that a Second Place Scholar had emerged from the family, he was a little interested and wanted the family to organize a few banquet tables to celebrate. But to his surprise, the child went straight to work in Jiangnan, and there was no ripple at home.

This was something of an achievement; as the lead wife, Madam Zheng didn’t even throw a banquet, which was telling of how she treated the eldest son on a daily basis.

"Old Master Shen sees clearly..." Shen Yan sighed, "In the earlier years, Madam Zheng was very good to Shen Yuan. It’s just that after his lack of talent for magic was tested, she started to neglect him..."

He still remembered when the child was younger; Madam Zheng almost always clung to Shen Yuan, treating him like a treasure.

Even though there were wet nurses, she insisted on breastfeeding him herself, not wanting the child to become estranged from her.

That was when Madam Zheng used to smile the most. But he didn’t know when their relationship became so distant.

"Neglect?" Old Master Shen huffed, "I’m afraid it’s not as simple as mere neglect, right?"

Shen Yan fell silent. As a child, he had been abused by the lead wife to the point of near death, simply because she feared his potential would overshadow her own son, which was why she targeted him!

After becoming the family head, he couldn’t stand how Madam Zheng doted on the child, fearing she would be like the lead wife from his past, disregarding family interests for a worthless son and mistreating the concubines’ children.

That’s why he showed extreme favor for those talented children of the concubines, even having the concubines raise their own children, to prevent the same thing from happening.

But it seemed this made Madam Zheng feel insecure. As the concubines’ children became more outstanding, and the concubines themselves showed less respect for her, she went through a crazy phase during which she nearly drove herself to madness, almost leading to him divorcing her.

Only after Shen Yu was born and proved his talents did the situation improve.

But since then, Madam Zheng grew increasingly distant and cold toward the once dearly cherished eldest son.

"Sorcerer Families value talent above all, unlike traditional families that prioritize the legitimate line.

This is due to the nature of our families.

But humans are not plants; who can truly accept seeing their own flesh and blood supplanted by that of concubines?

" Old Master Shen sighed, "Thus, maintaining the balance of a family is a true test of the Family Head’s skills.

You lack nothing in other abilities, but in managing the household, there is still something lacking. "

Caught off guard, Shen Yan remained silent for a moment before offering a wry smile and a bow, "You’re right, Great-grandfather."

"Send for Madam Zheng..."

"That child..." Shen Yan hesitated, but still spoke, "I’m afraid he harbors resentment towards Madam Zheng in his heart!"

"That’s all the more reason we must rely on Madam Zheng!" Old Master Shen glared at him, "At least the child has resentment towards her. As for you... he has nothing. If not Madam Zheng, should you go?"

Shen Yan thought of the cold look Shen Yuan had given him earlier and shook his head with a smile, "I will go and call Madam Zheng right away..."