Ninth In the World

Yu Ning.

Ever since the demon beast rampage on Earth, Yu Ning’s development had been increasingly rapid and it had become one of the top 10 cities on Earth.

Many formidable families were in Yu Ning, so the Shan Family was naturally there too.

There were 20 to 30 people sitting in the Shan Family’s conference hall at the moment. Dozens of people were sitting in the host seats and another dozen in the guest seats.

The lowest cultivation level of the people who were able to sit there was the Earth Tier.

A slightly fat middle-aged man was sitting on the highest of the host seats. He was called Shan Dongji and he was the family head of the Shan Family.

Theoretically, Shan Dongji was the family head, so he should be talking and sipping tea with the guests at this moment. However, he looked somewhat anxious and glanced at the entrance from time to time as if waiting for someone.

Silence filled the spacious, empty conference hall as the remaining people kept calm without saying a word.

After more than half an hour, footsteps were heard from the entrance.

Shan Dongji immediately stood up and gazed at the entrance impatiently.

A lean old man with jet-black hair walked in. He seemed to have stepped into the middle of the spacious hall with just one step.

Everyone present stood up and bowed to show their respect.

“Greetings, Patriarch Mu Xin!”

“Senior Mu Xin…”

Everyone in the hall gave their sincere respects, as they knew who he was.

“Patriarch Mu Xin…” Shan Dongji got out of his seat in excitement, his voice trembling somewhat. Even though his cultivation level was accumulated to the Heaven Tier by force, he still had foresight.

He could clearly sense how powerful he was. His aura was deeper than before he had entered seclusion and he had most likely broken through. He finally had the best results after entering seclusion for so many years.

“You have done well. Please take a seat.” The lean man nodded at Shan Dongji.

Shan Dongji promptly said, “I’ll sit aside.”

The lean man gestured with his hands. “Nothing can be accomplished without standards. My family is able to be where we are now because we do things with standards and do not mess around. You are the family head, so you’ll take charge of this matter.”

“Yes.” Shan Dongji hurriedly bowed.

The lean man approached the first seat to the side and told everyone with cupped fists, “I want to thank everyone who came here to help the Shan Family. We will definitely repay you.”

Everyone hurriedly replied, “This is what we should do. The Shan Family has contributed a lot by driving off the ferocious beasts.”

Shan Muxin once again cupped his fists. “Everyone, please take a seat.”

Shan Muxin also sat down when everyone else did and slowly said, “The Shan Family has always been benevolent and has never bullied the weak. However, today, someone took things too far. 27 of my family’s descendants were killed in Honor Parade City, including our Earth Tier cultivation expert Shan Qianren and seven Earth Tier descendants. This person is probably arrogant since he became a Connate expert.

I, Shan Muxin, have broken through to the Semi-Core Realm after entering seclusion for so many years…”

Upon hearing that, all the Shan Family’s descendants stood up in excitement. They had heard that the difference between an immortal and a mortal lay in the Connate and Semi-Core Realm when it came to cultivating martial arts.

Breaking through to the Semi-Core Realm was akin to being half an immortal.

“Congratulations, Senior Mu Xin…” All the guests stood up and congratulated him.

They had come to help the Shan Family mainly because of Shan Muxin. Before he had entered seclusion, he had been a perfected Connate expert who had even surpassed the Connate Realm. Everyone was naturally respectful now that they had heard him saying that he had broken through to the Semi-Core Realm.

Shan Muxin nodded. “After hearing about my family, Daoist Shen Ziyu came especially to help. Besides her, the Ninth Corporation’s Qi Siyue is also here…”

Everyone gasped in surprise upon hearing that. Shen Ziyu was the top expert in China. She was the one who led everyone and attacked most of the top-notch demon beasts that appeared.

Senior Shen Ziyu had broken through to the Semi-Core Realm years ago, so her current cultivation level was unfathomable.

No matter who had made a move on the Shan Family, he could only wait for death when Senior Shen Ziyu came.

As for Qi Siyue, he was a mysterious person. The Ninth Corporation, which was a top-notch corporation in the world, belonged to him.

The Ninth Corporation had been established by Qi Xiang and turned from a risky small group back then to the current first-in-rank corporation in the world. However, the entire Qi Family was mysterious. They did not seem to cultivate ancient martial arts but were rumored to be true immortal cultivators.

Nobody knew whether it was true. Anyone who had any plans about the Qi Family’s Ninth Corporation basically vanished without a trace.

“Brother Shan, I hope I’m not late.” A sharp, clear voice was heard before a woman in hemp clothes appeared in the conference hall.

She seemed to be a middle-aged woman but she stood up taller and straighter than the young maids standing aside.

“Ha ha… You are not late.” Shan Muxin laughed and took the initiative to stand up to welcome her.

“It seems I’m not late either.” Another young voice was heard before a thin, weak young man walked in.

“Thank you for coming here. I’m very grateful.” Shan Muxin hurriedly cupped his fists and greeted him.

The thin, weak young man’s gaze landed on Shan Muxin. Then, he immediately said with cupped fists, “Senior Shan, congratulations for breaking through to the Semi-Core Realm and attaining a higher level.”

“Brother Shan, you’ve broken through to the Semi-Core Realm? Congratulations, congratulations,” the woman in the hemp garment called out in pleasant surprise as she looked at the young man in astonishment. Her cultivation level was already at the Semi-Core Realm, but she had not made out that Shan Muxin had attained the Semi-Core Realm at first sight. However, this young man had been able to do so.

The Qi Family’s Ninth Corporation was indeed mysterious.

Shan Muxin greeted two other people and invited them to take a seat. He then cupped his fists and introduced them to everyone. “I believe everyone knows the two of them. One of them is China’s pride, Daoist Shen Ziyu. The other is an outstanding genius of a global corporation, the Ninth Corporation’s chairman, Qi Siyue. I hereby represent the Shan Family as I thank both of them for coming. I believe we can go to Wang Chuan Temple with the two of them.”

“Wang Chuan Temple?” Shen Ziyu repeated in surprise.

Shan Muxin nodded. “I believe he will rely on his strength to kill the entire Shan Family in Wang Chuan Temple. Otherwise, he would not have revealed his whereabouts.”

…

In the detached villa of Wang Chuan Temple, Di Jiu listened to Shan Xiuqi, who was telling him all about her and the Shan Family.

Her mother was called Nong Ruoyun, and her father was called Shan Houyi. When her father had brought her mother back to the Shan Family, he had already been seriously injured and had thus passed away in just three months.

After he had passed away, her mother, who had been pregnant with her, had led a difficult life with the Shan Family. Her mother had wanted to leave with her many times, but at the thought of the increasing amount of ferocious beasts on Earth, they had decided to stay with the Shan Family, where they still had a chance of becoming warriors. Otherwise, both of them would probably lead a difficult life.

When she was 14 years old, her mother had suddenly passed away while they were with the Shan Family. The doctor had said it was because her body had been too weak and she had missed her husband excessively.

After she’d passed away, the Shan Family had suddenly circulated that she was an illegitimate child. She still listened to her mother and stayed to train hard on ancient martial arts. By the time she was 16 years old, she’d broken through to the early-stage Yellow Tier without any help. By the time she was 17 years old, she’d broken through to the mid-stage Yellow Tier and, a year later, the late-stage Yellow Tier.

Afterward, she’d occasionally heard someone say that Gong Yangbao had taken a liking to her and had already sent someone to her family to discuss marriage.

Afraid, she’d immediately wanted to run away from the Shan Family. She had hidden outside for two years until she’d met Di Jiu in Honor Parade City.

Di Jiu remained silent for a good while after hearing her. He then suddenly asked, “A few months after your father passed away, your mother raised you alone?”

“It must have been six months later…” Shan Xiuqi thought for a while before answering.

Di Jiu once again asked, “Then do you know how your father got injured?”

Shan Xiuqi nodded. “I know, but my mother did not want me to tell anyone. My father was injured on his dantian by a ferocious beast. He met my mother after he was injured and returned to the Shan Family under my mother’s escort.”

Di Jiu responded, “I don’t think you are from the Shan Family. It would be better for you to take on the surname Nong. You are not related to the Shan Family.”

“Ah…” Shan Xiuqi exclaimed in alarm and looked at Di Jiu in astonishment.

Di Jiu explained, “Think about it. Your father’s dantian was injured and you only met your mother after that happened. He must have been fully injured at the time…”

Shan Xiuqi might have still been confused if this had happened in the past. However, she now understood in an instant. She had led a married life with Di Jiu not long ago. If Di Jiu’s dantian suffered damage, would he still lead that kind of life with her?

It was evident that before her father had met her mother, she had already been pregnant with her.

Shan Xiuqi thought of her unfortunate mother and wiped her tears away. She felt resentful for her biological father.

Di Jiu did not say anything. He was sure that Shan Xiuqi’s mother had led a hard life with the Shan Family. She had been able to live on because of her mother.

Shan Xiuqi was really beautiful, so her mother had certainly not been ugly. A beautiful woman had lived with the Shan Family and brought her daughter up alone. It would have been weird if she had not been targeted. The hardships her mother had endured to bring her up were unimaginable.

Di Jiu sighed and said, “When I’m done with my issues, let’s pay a visit to your mother.”

“Yes.” Shan Xiuqi had also thought of her mother.

Di Jiu’s gaze landed outside the villa instead. There were dozens of people outside, the weakest cultivator among them being a late-stage Earth Tier expert. He even saw a True Cultivator.