It has been week ago since the expedition of Chen LinJian to the ruins return. LinJian had a right to gloat in his father's face that now he has the same wealth as him and earned his in dependency until he can take over as heir. LinJian keep pushing the heir ship to Chen Yue but Zhenlong won't budge. Chen Yue also told him that he didn't want the extra headache.
He took all the share of his treasure to the Huyan action hall with the help of Lanrou Huyan, one of his best friends. Which Chen Yue remembers as a perverted girl with or without her demon spirit. Some of the treasures were priceless to collectors, so he got a very high price for it.
With his new found wealth, he quit the genius school and focus on his main hobby, which is treasure hunting and to become an adventurer. He doesn't need to worry anymore if something happens to him, since Chen Yue can take over when his gone. He bought up a mansion and some business to keep the money flowing, he also hired some trustworthy manager to take care of all the business. So he can be worry free and see the money comes in. In his free time, he explores some ruins near Glory city that are safe. He thinks he can find clues, for his next treasure hunt.
Ziyun has a different problem. Due to her not informing her dad, she got grounded until today. So she didn't see her the whole time. Meaning, she is very frustrated and needed to vent soon.
Chen Yue on the other hand, heard of Nie Li damaging the sacred family's reputation with the whole inscription scandal. The rumor taken awhile to spread, and he only heard about it now. He guessed that the sacred family, tried to suppress it as much as possible to find a way to reason out of it. Also, Shen Hong was forcibly stress out that he had a blowback in his cultivation due to stress. Shen Hong finally was back to 5 star Black-gold rank after going back to 3 star due to the mishap in cultivation. He used almost all the alchemy pills he got in his treasury to bring him back to his former cultivation. He has to put it on hold until he sort out his problem. And that is Nie Li and the thief that has been stealing the branch family wealth.
Shen Hong: "So son, tell me. How can you lose to a nobody who have a lower cultivation than you. You have been slacking haven't you." He said to Shen Yue while releasing some of his aura making Shen Yue cower.
Shen Yue: "No father, that Nie Li cheated. He used some sort of trick to reflect my aura back to me with double the force. He also tried again and again to steal my Ziyun from me by spreading false rumors. He also accused us from being with the dark guild."
Shen Hong: "This Nie Li has some balls. To think a poor commoner wants to go to war with us. Tell me ming, how did you handle things when I temporarily put you in charge."
Shen Ming: "Patriarch, that Nie Li is very slippery. We sent assassin's to take care of him, but those people didn't come back. He also found some of our forged inscription in which some of our ancestors copied from the ancient book. So now we have to pay back all the money we made from the patent of the inscription plus the fine for the forgery. We payed over 100 million demon coins and now, we are checking to see any more forgeries since the investigation on all our patents have started. I already paid those investigator to close the case with over 50 million demon coins, since we have found almost all our patents have been forged. I have people look for old books with some of our forged inscription and destroy it. We can't burn down the library, since we will become highly suspected."
Shen Hong put his hand on his temple like he is having a migraine. His family is having so much problem from a little kid. And that wasn't the main reason they disturbed him during his closed door cultivation. It was for the robbery of the branch family of his clan.
Shen Hong: "And what of the robberies? Have they located the bastard yet?"
Shen Ming: "Nooo lord Patriarch, that one is more slippery. The robber, doesn't leave any clues. We even investigated the market and questioned all the vendors to tell us who they sold some specific herbs that were used to knock out our people. The only people they sold it to where the alchemy association and some doctors and healers. We investigated the doctors and healers. They were clean. But the alchemy association, is too powerful and has the backing of the City lord. The most we can investigate are the apprentices, But we found out, they just buy the ingredients and their masters are the one who concuct it. We also talked with the supplier for the vendor. They were clean as well."
Shen Hong: "So, the culprit may be a alchemy master or help from one. (Sigh) We can't do anything about it for now. Double the guards and try to consolidate all the demon coins in our main family vault. It looks like the culprit is only targeting our branch families. Might have a vendetta against them. Tell me, has any of our family spies say anything about this matter."
Shen Ming: "Some of our spies said some aristocrats was happy that it was happening to us, since Shen Fie raped and violated some women of their family. We tried to hush some situations up. But the rumors spread already, and he openly admitted while killing the relative seeking revenge. We have to pay compensation to the family, since it is highly known around. After a month, we had the dark guild make them dissappear."
Shen Hong: "That's Damn son of mine is another problem! Arrhhh.... (Breathes in...Breathes out) Okay..., I'm calm now..." Then he pointed at Shen Yue. "You my son will be grounded and undergo retraining. I will let your aunt Xui to let you be absent due to training. You will eat, sleep and talk cultivation until the annual assesment. Is that clear!"
Shen Yue: "But dad! Nie Li might steal my fiance away from me. I have to make him stay away from her. And others too. Without me, they will hit on my Ziyun."
Shen Hong: "That's is not a request but an order! How can you beat him or others like him if you are weak. And also, soon we will control this city. You can have her in the future and any other girls. So practice hard, I will see you progress everyday, if I'm not satisfied. Your training will double. And don't worry, I will use pills to keep you up and help you through. Also, you will not be alone. Your bastard brother will also be grounded with you and train hard until the genius competition."
Shen Ming: "Should I fetch Fei over?"
Shen Hong: "No! I'm so frustrated in him that I might accidentally hit him and damage his cultivation. Send out the orders that he cannot leave the compound and train hard. I also want daily reports.... Now I have to mend our damaged reputation. Send some silver ranked dark guild members for the Nie Li kid. I want the Nie Li name gone by tomorrow. If not, send gold rank members. Each day higher, so that he goes away. And if someone is higher that gold rank protecting him, be discreet and only target him when he is alone otherwise, stay clear. Also make problems with that kids family. sabotage their income and starve them. That will teach them to mess with our family. "
Nie Li that day, had a very hard time. First was the empty spirit lamp. And then the constant attacks of the assassin's. He got a good haul from the assassin's though. He now have corpse dissolving potions, to get rid of corpses (it's basically a strong acid). A lot of demon coins and some scrolls. He also found the parchment that have a hit on him that a stronger person will attack him tomorrow.
He was so frustrated. He only took a few gold since he thought that he will not need it since he is going to take the alchemy master test in a few days to earn money, but now he has to take it right away for protection. He now needed money to find himself a good enough core to integrate for protection. Now every moment he is very attentive with his surroundings.
Nie Li: "I should have not provoked them too early. (sigh) My impatience got the best of me. I'm only 2 star bronze rank for now. I need to hasten everything up. The worst part, during the expedition, Ziyun only stayed close to LinJian. They are cousins anyway so it doesn't count. I didn't get to give her this necklace. Well at least it will help me cultivate faster since the dark guild is trying to get my ass. Also very thankfully for that page that increased my soul force into 2 star bronze rank. I just need to consolidate my strength to balance my physical enhancement."
Later that day, due to the constant assasination attempts. Nie Li got a decent amount of demon coins. With his wealth from the expedition, he bought one of the most expensive black-gold rank core from the market. Which was black netherworld tiger. It has darkness attribute. The skills he got was shadow stealth, which makes him almost invisible at night since he can blend into the shadows. The weakness is during the day or if there is a light source. The next is tiger claws and fangs. The claws are strong as steel and can push through a rank armor the same as the user. It grow in strength as the user grows but is limited to black-gold rank in strength limit. The third one is plain speed. If he integrates with the core, his speed doubles up.
He also went to the alchemy association and later became an alchemy grandmaster. He didn't left the building and just rented out the room in the association. He wanted a place to sleep where it is nice and safe. He only go out to get some food and go to school. He hired a gold rank fighter from the alchemy association to escorted him at all times since he's not strong enough. Nie Li's friends gather in his room instead of the library from then on. He was afraid that his friends will be targeted. His headache continues when he got mail from one of the elders from his family to apologize to the sacred family. Their business took a downfall since the incident. So he made deals with the director Yang of the alchemy association to make the heavenly marks family as the main supplier of herbs in exchange for pill recipes. He also ask for guard to protect his family from the dark guild. Of course for more pill recipes.
Due to this situation, he cannot meet with Ziyun. But Xiao Ning'er visits him a lot. In which in the sacred family hall, you can see a very frustrated Shen Fei who was grounded. Hearing the rumors of his fiance cheating with the same commoner as his younger brothers made him take out his frustration and doubled his training.
Both Shen Fei and Shen Yue are now stronger than in the original stories. All due to Shen Hong leaving his closed door cultivation earlier than the story and made them focus in cultivation since he can't cultivate until the matters within his family are settled.
Ziyun on the other hand felt frustrated. First, her inbox for mail and messages were full of love letters that almost made her throw up. Without the 2 suitors blocking the rest of the Casanova, it was free reign. Second, she was grounded for leaving glory city to explore the ruins with her cousin without telling her dad so he can assign guards to guard her and her group. And lastly third, she missed being with Chen Yue so bad that she squished and destroyed her Chen Yue pillow which made her sad and frustrated. She needed release. All this time she was holding her act as a proper daughter of a major household that it almost brainwashed her. She can't relax a second until the grounded time is up and that's the next day.
Meanwhile, Chen Yue became 5 star gold rank. He also had a little difficulty stealing materials from the sacred family since it's heavily guarded now. Plus the dark guild was all around the area.
Chen Yue: "Dammit, what's a guy to do to steal nowadays. I guess since they won't let me steal from the branch family. Then I'll target the main one. I only need a few more materials to complete my supplies of building materials.... And I know 2 courtyards that are far enough from the patriarch house so he could not sense me. (Weird laughter) Huhahahaha~ I'm freaking Robin hood who steals from the rich and give it to poor me myself and i!"
He could have just bought all the supplies he needed given all the wealth he stole, but it will garner attention. And he doesn't want to be like Nie Li which was a magnet to troubles. So that night, he sneaked in the sacred family area. Then went to Shen Yue's courtyard and released the gas. He did the same with Shen Fei's courtyard. He did reversal taekwondo with the guards and dark guild member and killed them. He used corpse dissolved to get rid of the bodies and used potions to hide the scents.
After a few minutes, he checked the area for stragglers and people that are not knocked out. He killed all of them. Since sacred family is full of murderers and bad guys anyways. He held the courtyards and the houses dissappear. All that's left are the inside furniture and beds in which you can see everyone sleeping. He hurriedly touched everything he wanted to go into his inventory. When he saw Shen Fei knocked out, he decided to give him a little surgery. It's gross and all, but it has to be done. He took out some IV and some blood bags. He injected Shen Fei with anesthetics and performed the removal of precious family jewels. After removal, he dissolved it by using some corpse dissolving solution. He put his a Catherine so Shen Fei can pee and still live a normal life except reproduction. It was the punishment for violating girls and killing families. Now he has to live with the shame until he dies.
For Shen Yue is different. He didn't take his family jewels out but took his dominant arm and hands out. He cut from the shoulder of his right arm. Because even if he was young, he ordered a massacre of a whole commoner family through the dark guild with the help of his father. He will need to be a lefty now. He also dissolved the arm with the corpse dissolving solution. Now both sons of Shen Hong is disabled. How will the story unfold. He doesn't know.
He quickly escapes killing more guards silently and dissolving their corpse. The next day, there was an uproar in the sacred family area. Shen Hong ordered a lock down and an investigation was underway. Hong was so furious at the condition of his son. Shen Fei can no longer be his heir, so the heir ship went to Shen Yue, but Shen Yue was missing an arm.
The other day, he was proud that both sons were focusing hard in cultivation. Shen Fei was now a 3 star gold rank and Shen Yue was able to get pass 3 star bronze rank. A remarkable feat in his mind. Then this happened. He was so frustrated, he can't just get a new wife just to have kids. Even if he is a bad guy. He has his own conviction and principles. That is that he is very faithful to his dear wife even after her death, he did not cheat on her. The only thing he can do now is work around it.
Shen Fei woke up shouting like a madman. Loosing his precious equipment did him in. Afterwards he went into seclusion. He didn't speak or talk to anyone. He also stop cultivating and focus on healing. Same with Shen Yue. But Shen Yue was glad it was his arm not his precious that was lost. He have to train his left hand to do all the things his right arm or both arms used to do. He also halt cultivating and focus on healing using pills and simple exercises.
Since the attack was on Shen Hong's children, Shen Hong took matters higher. He ordered the dark guild to start a full out massacre of all his enemies. If he is gonna loose some, he wants everyone to feel the same way too. Every family got targeted by the dark guild. Some lost their heir and sons. The Snow wind branch families lost some of their boys. Which were the elders of the families kids. Chen Yue was also attacked but they only sent silver rank people after him, so they were killed by him easily. LinJian being wealthy, had guards which was gold rank plus he had safety due to inscriptions as powerful as a black gold rank.
It was an all out invasion of the dark guild. But all the dark guild sent was thousands of gold rank and a thousand silver rank. Some murders are committed by the spies on each family. Ye Zong and other family patriarch went out and killed the dark guild. Shen Hong also went out to pretend fighting against the dark guild by secretly letting them leave the area. After the incident, there was a massive funeral. Some of the heir of the family is permanently disabled. Missing legs, arms and yes they also miss their pipi.
Shen Hong pretended that the dark guild took his son's arm off and his heir to loose his heir ship due to the missing pipi. This garnered sympathy to the sacred family.
Nie Lie was not doing pretty good, he heard some kids and family members of the heavenly marks family died. The patriarch was still recovering but lost one of his sons during the attack. He was just glad that his main family was at the outermost area of the heavenly marks family. So they were safe. The attack happened bear the center. A lot of people died.
Nie Li gripped his fist vowing revenge. He also thinks that it was a butterfly effect from him returning and messing with the sacred family. So a lot of self blaming. He also lost some of his friends. Wei Nan was one of them. Du Ze was thankfully spared but lost his mom. So Du Ze has to go to her funeral soon. Lu Piao lost his dad the patriarch of his family. Lu Piao changed that day into a more serious person. The elder temporary got guardianship of him as he wasn't ready to take over the patriarch position. So his mom was temporary patriarch. Nie Li just gave them all the cultivation they need to do for the next couple of years since they have to go to their respective clans to take care of family things. He was sad for Wei Nan since his whole family got murdered. So it's up to him for revenge. Zheng Meng, his other friend got one of his legs sliced cleanly off. So he has to give up being a fighter. He now focus in being a merchant like his father.
The diving family also lost some family members, but all from the branch ones. Same with the Snow wind family. The dark guild lost over 5000 experts both silver and gold. But there was plenty of new recruits. There's always orphans and slum children that can be easily brainwash and trained to fill in their ranks.
Chen Yue: "I wonder why I'm not feeling anything at guilty about this. I guess, in my heart this is just another story of some author. Oh well,you earn some you loose some."
He now has enough material to start the building. But at that instant, a purple blurr snatched him away. Ziyun the purple flash caught him off guard and squeezed Chen Yue into unconsciousness. She finally was off from being grounded and rushed quickly with a gold rank speed towards him. She forgot to control her strength due to excitement.
Ziyun: "Ooops..hehehe"