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"What’s the matter, Yuan’er?"

Madam Zheng, seeing Shen Yuan standing at the doorway in a daze, asked cautiously, "Are you nervous?"

"A little..." Shen Yuan smiled and said, "I’ve lived in the Shen Family for twenty years, and this is the first time I have the qualification to enter this inner hall."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng also froze for a moment and then could not help but feel a bit emotional. The inner hall was where the Elders discussed secret affairs or passed down techniques to the younger generation.

Mortals... had no right to witness it, let alone Shen Yuan; even her, as the head mother of the household, had no right to enter.

Yet, she had heard that daughters of magician families who married into a clan could be present because they had to learn and pass on the familial techniques to their children.

At the very least, they needed to understand in which direction the family’s techniques required training from a young age to have a better chance of inheritance.

The daughters from prestigious families had richer knowledge of techniques, which allowed them to find ways to educate their children by observing—the advantage of being the true mother.

Thinking back, she realized that from the beginning to the end, she never really integrated into the Shen Family. With the title of the main mother, she was actually... an outsider all along...

"Actually, it’s nothing special," Madam Zheng all of a sudden said with a smile. "Just a very ordinary side room with a few old men who are quite foul-smelling."

Shen Yuan was startled, then burst into laughter: "Mother is right!"

And so, mother and son stepped into the inner hall, while the group of Elders who had been anxiously waiting quickly adjusted their demeanor before the guests entered, leisurely sipping tea in their respective places and trying to conceal their anxiety.

Little did they know that everything about the people in the inner hall had already been thoroughly observed by Seventh Master Shen’s Thousand Eyes Technique, which had been relayed to him well in advance.

Thinking of the restless manner of these Elders in the Thousand Eyes imagery earlier, and now seeing their feigned composure, Shen Yuan’s heart was filled with complex emotions.

Because in the past, the inner hall was mysterious and noble to him, and the Elders within had the power to decide their fates.

But now, it seemed that these Elders were no different from ordinary people.

The only difference was that once, they could control the younger generation, but now, he could control them...

As the two of them stepped closer, Shen Qingfeng, the leader, was about to close the inner hall’s formation barrier.

Shen Yuan glanced at it and suddenly said, "Where’s my younger brother?"

The crowd was taken aback, and Shen Qingfeng asked, "Do you want him to be present?"

"Let him come," said Shen Yuan indifferently. "After this is over, I plan to take Mother to Jiangnan. Some things I should explain to him sooner rather than later."

"To Jiangnan? When are you leaving?" An Elder nearby asked hastily.

"Tomorrow!"

All eyes widened in shock, and Shen Qingfeng frowned, "You’re stirring up such a fuss and you want to leave tomorrow?"

"By tomorrow, things will have come to a conclusion," responded Shen Yuan nonchalantly.

The task... had actually been half completed already!

Returning to the Shen Family with much fanfare had drawn the attention of the Sorcerer Families more smoothly than expected.

He originally thought he would need to create his own momentum, but he hadn’t anticipated that various families would gather at the Shen Family in advance, using his brother’s celebration banquet as an excuse, saving him a lot of time.

The purpose was simple, to work in conjunction with Seventh Master Shen in setting up the Thousand Eyes Magic Array in the Capital City!!!

His role was to attract the attention of all powers, allowing Seventh Master Shen to operate in secret...

The battle at midday was fought very smoothly on his part, deterring the prestigious families while also buying time.

While he rested, the Elders of those families must have already notified their main households.

Even if the older magicians hadn’t arrived, they should already be focusing their attention here.

All the old folks’ attention being diverted was the best opportunity for Seventh Master Shen to set up his formation!

Just now, Seventh Master had sent a message back; the formation was almost ready to be set up. Next... was the latter half of the mission: to reach an agreement with the major Families!

This point would be more troublesome than before; cooperation from the family was needed...

"A conclusion?" one of the Elders asked impatiently, "You’ve caused such a big trouble, and you say it’s coming to a conclusion? You, a junior without any qualifications, have only spent two years in Jiangnan and yet you’ve gained such capabilities.

Do you think those great Families won’t dig to the root of the matter?

And you still say things will conclude? From the moment you returned home so recklessly, this matter has been impossible to settle down! !"

"Oh..." Shen Yuan said lazily, "The Elder means to say that if I had returned to the Capital City quietly, the Shen Family would be able to protect me, right?"

Everyone: "....."

How could that be possible... Even if Shen Yuan hadn’t made a move from the very beginning, the moment he dared to return, he would be captured and interrogated for the secrets of Nanming Prefecture’s great formation!

"Alright!" Shen Qingfeng looked at the group of Elders who were a bit choked up and smiled slightly. This kid’s talent for provocation was quite similar to his own in his younger days.

"Go call Shen Yu in."

"Yes..."

Half a quarter of an hour later, Shen Yu walked briskly toward the inner hall. On entering and noticing the heavy atmosphere, he quickly addressed Shen Yuan by saying, "I pay my respects to elder brother..."

Shen Yuan silently watched him; ever since the other had learned etiquette, this was the first time he was saluting him...

Madam Zheng, sitting nearby, was utterly indifferent. From the moment he walked in, his gaze was fixed on his big brother, without giving her a single glance.

All these years... when did it start to become like this?

"Alright, everyone is here, now can we talk?" Shen Qingfeng asked with a beaming smile.

Shen Yu bowed his head, annoyance flickering in his eyes. To enter the inner hall, he actually needed his consent?

"I don’t know where to start at the moment, why don’t you ask, Grandpa?" Shen Yuan replied with a beaming smile as well.

"Alright then..." Shen Qingfeng nodded; "I recall that when you left for the Capital City, you were only a Ninth Rank magician. How is it that in just two years, you’ve become Fifth Rank?"

"It was just my inherited technique qualifications that were lacking.

.." Shen Yuan said indifferently, "My talent for meditation wasn’t bad, at the age of three, the Elders of the Shen Family even praised me for it, saying I was a natural magician seedling.

But after it was confirmed that I did not have the talent for inheriting techniques, they stopped supplying me with resources.

With the same resources, I would have been a high-level magician among my peers. "

"Yes, that did happen," Shen Qingfeng nodded.

"Unable to inherit techniques but only good at meditation, even if you accumulated enough to become a First Rank magician it would be useless; family resources are limited, so at that time, we stopped supplying you. But, even with a decent meditation talent, isn’t it a bit unreasonable to go from Ninth Rank to Fifth Rank in two years? "

In a great Family, those children who grew up meditating in high spiritual power environments from a young age would be considered outstanding to be Fifth Rank magicians in their early twenties. Advancing four ranks in two years certainly exceeded common sense.

"The land of Jiangnan is enveloped by an ancient formation, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth far surpasses that of the Central Plains, hence my rapid advancement."

"I see..." Shen Qingfeng nodded, "Then the second question, how could you, a mere Fifth Rank Magician, mobilize such immense power and even seal Du Kangnian?"

As soon as these words were spoken, all Elders, including Shen Yu and Shen Yan, pricked up their ears.

This was the issue they were most concerned about.

A Fifth Rank Magician, even if Du Kangnian had been sealed due to his carelessness, still displayed abilities that were too exaggerated at the time.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a group of First Rank Magicians quietly enjoying their meals outside.

"I studied the specialization of magic arrays at Jiangnan Academy, and Array Masters learn precisely how to control the great with the small, don’t they?"

"Nonsense!" An impatient Elder directly refuted, "An Array Master controlling the great with the small is based on establishing a stable array, correct materials, correct energy input, and many other factors.

When have you ever seen someone draw an array in the void and trap someone like you did?

If every Array Master had this ability, who would bother learning Inheritance Techniques? "

"Enough!" Shen Qingfeng immediately silenced the other, "Let Yuan speak."

The Elder receded sulkily.

Instead of speaking, Shen Yuan took out a piece of jade. As he activated the technique in his hand, the stone slowly cracked open, and the energy within poured out in an instant.

All the Elders watched warily but without excessive tension, recognizing the jade stone as the recently popular Ice Jade in Capital City, which was used to cool off.

It had just appeared in Capital City and was snatched up by major families for research.

The Shen Family had also grabbed several pieces, but so far, they hadn’t made any significant findings from it.

Shen Yuan then crushed the Ice Jade directly, the stored freezing energy swirling around. With a casual motion, the icy blue Art Energy spread out like ink painting, rapidly forming a magic array in midair, and the entire hall immediately felt refreshingly cold.

Drawing arrays in the void...

All the Elders’ eyes widened, not wanting to miss a thing. Though they had heard about it many times, witnessing it with their own eyes was still incredibly shocking. He actually knew how to draw arrays in the void!

Shen Qingfeng also watched with narrowed eyes, finding it magical no matter how many times he saw it.

"The fact is, every Array Master at our Jiangnan Academy can do it!"

"Is this technique publicly available?" Shen Qingfeng asked incredulously.

"Only within the academy!"

"Then, since you’ve returned having completed your studies, are you willing to pass on the technique to the Shen Family?" Shen Qingfeng asked bluntly.

At these words, all the Elders were taken aback. They hadn’t expected the Seventh Master to ask so directly. But the next instant, they were all staring intently at Shen Yuan—for them, this matter was even more important than why Shen Yuan had such abilities!

"I can!"

The crowd: "!!!"

"Big brother is so generous!!" Shen Yu’s eyes reddened with excitement.

Such a secret technique—this good-for-nothing Shen Yuan had such skills simply by learning it, so if I were to grasp it, couldn’t I sweep through my peers?

"I have conditions..." Shen Yuan said lightly.

"Tell us, tell us..." Shen Yan said excitedly, "As long as you are willing to pass on the technique, we will meet any condition you propose."

Shen Qingfeng frowned slightly, finding the Family Head had lost his composure a bit, but he could understand. With such a matter, it would be difficult for anyone to remain calm.

"Mother’s position as the main wife of the Shen Family must not be shaken."

"Agreed!" Shen Yan hastily said, "From now on, no person or event can shake your mother’s status as the main wife."

"After today, Mother will come with me to Jiangnan."

"This..." Shen Yan frowned at once. With Madam Zheng here, they could keep a hold on Shen Yuan, this brat. But if Madam Zheng was taken away, they would likely have no further ties with him in the future.

Just as Shen Yan was about to try and persuade, the old grandfather directly said, "Agreed!"

"Seventh Master??" Shen Yan and the other Elders quickly turned to look.

"Since she retains the position of the main wife of the Shen Family, even if she goes to Jiangnan, she remains connected to our Shen Family. What are you afraid of?" Shen Qingfeng smiled and said, "Isn’t that right?"

Shen Yuan smiled, "Only Seventh Master understands the way things are."

"I’m curious, how much of what you’ve learned at your Academy have you mastered?" Shen Qingfeng asked with a smile.

"Merely a drop in the ocean!"

"Oh?" Shen Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, "That Academy of yours is that incredible? You’ve only grasped the basics and yet you’re this capable?"

Shen Yu behind him immediately grew anxious.

If that was the case, what good was the legacy Shen Yuan left behind?

Just a bit of basic knowledge while he himself could return to that Academy and continue his studies?

The Seventh Master really was muddled-headed, should have kept Madam Zheng here to keep a check on him, forcing him to continuously transfer the secret techniques from Jiangnan Academy!

"How formidable Jiangnan Yin Yang Academy is, Seventh Master and the others can see for themselves if you ever have the opportunity to visit."

"Can outsiders like Seventh Master go?" the Seventh Master said with narrowed eyes.

"Of course not..."

All the Elders immediately rolled their eyes. Then what’s the point of what you’re saying?

"But the Academy welcomes any Array Master with the qualifications," Shen Yuan smiled and said, "If any descendant of the Shen Family fully masters what I leave behind, they’re welcome at Jiangnan Academy at any time!"

"Is that really true, big brother?" Shen Yu’s eyes instantly reddened!

That Chen Qing... was actually this generous? If I could personally attend that Academy, would I need your legacy?

"It’s the truth..." Shen Yuan looked at Shen Yu, whose eyes were reddening, and said with a cold smirk, "However, little brother, make sure you understand clearly—the Academy welcomes any Array Master with the qualifications.

If you lack qualifications, regardless of who you are, you will not be able to enter. .."

"Heh..." Shen Yu couldn’t help but laugh. This useless fool... actually discussing qualifications with me?