Chapter Four: Standing Up for Him

On the way back to the small courtyard, they encountered many passersby. Some people's gazes landed on them, revealing curious and friendly smiles, while others looked on with jealousy and disdain.

A mocking smile played at the corner of Su Li's lips; she guessed the news of Shen Luo moving to the Spirit Garden had already spread throughout the Shen family.

At that moment, a cold shout rang out behind them.

"Shen Luo, stop right there!"

Catching the familiar scent, Su Li abruptly looked up. Oh! The one seeking trouble had finally arrived.

She followed the voice and immediately spotted Shen Fan standing in the middle of the crowd, holding his eighth-rank Ice Ape. His brows were furrowed in anger, and with half his face wrapped in bandages, his entire demeanor was fierce and menacing.

"Boss," the Ice Ape blurted out instinctively when those feline eyes glared at it. It had followed its master to demand justice, so why did it feel so guilty now?

At that moment, Shen Fan’s voice rang out: "Ice Ape, are those two spirit beasts the ones?"

Su Li casually rested her paw on the boy’s arm, the tip of a sharp claw peeking from her soft pad.

The Ice Ape was instantly terrified. Shaking its head, it tried to hide in Shen Fan’s arms.

Damn it, the boss was too ruthless—absolutely not someone to provoke!

Sensing the Ice Ape’s fear, Shen Fan exploded with rage on the spot. "So it really was you. Shen Luo, you shameless thief, I will never let you go!"

He stored the Ice Ape away in his beast pouch, then swung a black whip bristling with barbed hooks. The sharp sound of it slicing through the air was mixed with a surge of powerful mystical energy, striking toward them.

Shen Luo’s expression shifted in shock as he hurriedly retreated several steps, narrowly avoiding the blow, though the mystical energy still tore the hem of his robe.

The whip left a deep, narrow groove in the ground where it struck.

"Bastard!" Shen Fan hadn’t expected this inconspicuous weakling to dodge him. He raised his hand to swing the whip again, but before he could, a force struck his wrist from the air, knocking the weapon to the ground.

"Grandfather!" Shen Fan stared at the newcomer in disbelief. "Weren’t you going to support me? Why did you end up letting that useless wretch move into the Spirit Garden?"

His eyes burned with fury. "I’m at the first stage of Foundation Establishment—how am I inferior to that third-stage Qi Training good-for-nothing?"

Su Li couldn’t help but recall the settings in the book "Contract Spirit Beasts": to reach the pinnacle of immortality, one must pass through twelve major realms—Qi Training, Foundation Establishment, Heart Movement, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Out-of-Body, Divided Spirit, Great Ascension, Tribulation Crossing, and finally, Ascension to become a Yang God.

Each major realm contained ten minor levels, and with each ascension, one’s power grew exponentially. The further one cultivated, the stronger they became—the higher realms could easily crush those beneath them. Conversely, the higher one climbed, the greater the risk of failure. The path of cultivation was fraught with peril; thus, in this entire continent, only one person had ever ascended to the divine realm, and that was ten thousand years ago.

The path of immortality depended greatly on one’s fate. Some were born with a strong sensitivity to mystical energy, allowing them to cultivate with half the effort. Such people were deemed prodigies, most likely to defy destiny and become gods. Others, however, were born with weak sensitivity, struggling even more than ordinary folk to draw energy into their bodies; their progress was slow—Shen Luo was one such example.

In this world, the cultivation of mystical energy had evolved into six great branches: Swordmasters, Beast Tamers, Alchemists, Illusionists, Artificers, and Summoners. Every continent boasted powerful sects or clans; the Shen family of Youzhou was renowned for their affinity with beasts, excelling in the path of Beast Tamers.

Beast Tamers’ affinity with spirit beasts and their sensitivity to mystical energy allowed them to contract with beasts of various ranks. The higher their cultivation, the faster their beasts grew, further strengthening the bond and intuition between master and beast, and making them all the more formidable in battle.

Yet, for someone like Shen Luo, with poor sensitivity but able to contract with a twelfth-rank descendant of the Vermilion Bird, it was as rare as a phoenix feather. Frankly, it was like a weakling being dealt a hand of unbeatable cards—one reason the Shen family had long neglected Shen Luo.

Lost in thought, Su Li suddenly heard the boy’s mocking voice.

“Clan leader, I, too, would like to know what precious thing I supposedly stole from him?” A cold glint flashed in the tea-colored eyes. “He picks fights first and slanders after. I would also like an explanation from the clan leader—how will you resolve this?”

It was clear to him now that the clan leader had summoned him today for this very reason. If not for the furball... As he thought of this, his gaze softened and he couldn’t help but stroke the beast in his arms, only for it to push his hand away in disdain.

On that slightly childish yet resolute face, Shen Yu sighed. “Very well, then. Let’s search your residence. What do you say? I have always rewarded and punished impartially, showing no favoritism.”

Hearing this, Su Li gave him a long look.

Feeling awkward, Shen Yu stroked his beard, as if he’d seen disdain in those catlike eyes.

Their group proceeded toward Shen Luo’s residence. The deeper they went, the more remote and barren it became, with spiritual energy growing weaker.

“A direct descendant living in a place like this—how eye-opening. It’s worse than my own situation as a collateral branch.”

“Hmph, an orphan with no parents, he should be grateful the Shen family even shelters him.”

“That’s all in the past. Who knows what kind of luck he stumbled upon to move into the Spirit Garden?”

…

A buzz of gossip rose around them, the sharp and biting words piercing the boy’s heart like needles.

Su Li’s gaze darkened. “Stupid bird, these people are too noisy. Burn them a little so they can quiet down.”

With the boss’s command, the Azure Bird immediately spat a ball of fire at the crowd.

Though the flame was but a thin strand, it was far more scorching and domineering than ordinary fire.

People scattered in a panic, yet some still had their hair and clothes singed. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burnt fabric.

“Who set me on fire?” someone shouted in rage.

“Hush, keep your voice down—that’s the twelfth-rank divine beast, the Vermilion Bird.”

The Azure Bird raised its head in pride and flew to Su Li, seeking praise.

“You’ve improved,” Su Li said, scratching its head with her paw and instructing with earnest gravity, “Next time, aim for their faces. Imagine how funny they’d look with charcoal-black heads.”

The Azure Bird’s eyes shone, itching to try.

The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines, as if they’d been targeted by a beast.

Witnessing the interaction between the two spirit beasts, a faint smile touched Shen Luo’s lips. So this is what it feels like to have someone stand up for you—it was truly wonderful.

Soon, they reached the end of the path.

“This is it.” The boy’s voice was cold and distant.

Shen Yu casually picked a few people and instructed, “Go search.”

The courtyard was small, the house even smaller. In less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the guards had finished searching every corner. As they emerged, the crowd buzzed in disbelief, hearing their report to the clan leader: “Nothing was found.”

“Impossible!” Shen Fan jumped up in agitation. “It must be because you searched too quickly and missed something!”

One of the Golden Core level guards glanced at him. “If you don’t believe us, Young Master, you can search yourself. The room is so small, you could turn it upside down in no time.”

“Then—then he must have hidden it on his person!” Shen Fan screeched, shooting a pleading look at Shen Yu: Order them to search him!

With so many eyes on him, Shen Yu grew both irritable and angry. “Enough.”

Shen Fan couldn’t believe it, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Grandfather, that useless wretch stole from me—are you just going to let it go?” All his life, he’d always gotten everything he wanted, never suffering such a loss or swallowing such humiliation.

“Hurry and apologize to A’Luo,” Shen Yu commanded sternly, his oppressive aura making it hard to breathe.

Shen Fan’s face turned ashen. He lowered his head, grudgingly muttering, “Sorry.”

At last, Shen Yu produced a spirit ring, placing it in Shen Luo’s hand—a clear gesture to resolve the matter peacefully. “Pack your things. Someone will take you to the Spirit Garden shortly.”