144 Yan Zhen is the Yu Family’s Lucky Star
The four beautiful elders focused their attention on Instructor Yu Xuan, who shook her head and said, “Yan Zhen and I were only teacher and student in my past life. We weren’t together. It’s precisely to make up for this regret that I was reborn and pursued him~”
She linked arms with Yan Zhen affectionately, a happy smile on her face.
Yan Zhen blushed slightly, embarrassed by her public display of affection.
The four elders exchanged glances.
Younger Aunt Dean frowned and asked, “So Yan Zhen wasn’t our Yu family’s son-in-law in your past life?”
Instructor Yu Xuan shook her head again. “No, after graduating from the Sacred Ground Academy, Yan Zhen joined the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground, then became the Holy Son and accepted an arranged marriage. He didn’t marry into the Yu family.”
“The Holy Son? Him?”
“That’s certainly unexpected, but with Yan Zhen’s talent, it’s not impossible.”
Yan Zhen shot Younger Aunt Dean a look, thinking, What do you mean, “him”? Can’t you be more like Aunt? Her assessment was much more reasonable.
Grand Elder Yu Yan said, “Little Yan Zhen is Alchemist Saint Chen Xi’s disciple. After entering the Sacred Ground, he would naturally connect with the Supreme Elder. Alchemist Saint Chen Xi has a close relationship with the Supreme Elder. Knowing Little Yan Zhen is her disciple, she would definitely take him under her wing.”
“Yes, after Yan Zhen entered the Sacred Ground, the Supreme Elder quickly recognized his identity and welcomed him into Rain God Peak. So, he does have a connection to our Yu family.”
“…”
Clan Head Yu Lu frowned, deep in thought.
That Yan Zhen would become the Holy Son in the future was completely unexpected.
She had planned to arrange for him to join Rain God Peak after graduation, working under Supreme Elder Yu and inheriting her mantle, becoming a strong supporter of the Yu family.
But as the Holy Son, he would belong to the Sacred Ground. Even if he married into the Yu family and became Xuan’er’s husband, it wouldn’t matter.
The Sacred Ground would likely make Xuan’er his concubine and arrange a marriage alliance with a woman of equal status as his official wife.
Although, given Yan Zhen’s nature, he would probably still protect the Yu family, it wasn’t what she had intended, and it went against the Yu family’s traditions.
If the Yu family wanted such protection, they would have married off all their daughters long ago.
The Clan Head Mother-in-law felt like her prospective son-in-law was about to slip away, her expression darkening. She asked calmly, “Did… Son-in-law Yan Zhen become the next Sacred Lord?”
If so, then they couldn’t keep him. Raising him would only benefit someone else.
Instructor Yu Xuan thought carefully. “He did, but then he returned the position of Sacred Lord to Fairy Jiā Lán. I think that’s what happened. I don’t remember clearly.”
Her expression became slightly confused.
“He became the Sacred Lord and then gave it up?”
The four beautiful elders were stunned. Not just them, but even Yan Zhen was confused.
—When did that happen? It wasn’t in the script!
After ascending to the Emperor Realm, he did establish a new celestial palace, the “Radiant Heaven Imperial Palace,” living there with his two wives, two daughters, Beautiful Master, and others. However, he didn’t leave the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground, remaining the Sacred Lord and the leader of the Seven Sacred Grounds Alliance, even the ruler of the “Divine Kingdom” shared by the ten great God Clans.
Until the end of the script, he hadn’t created a new power, so he wouldn’t have returned the position of Sacred Lord to Fairy Jiā Lán, who was already a retired Grand Elder.
—Could Instructor Yu Xuan be misremembering?
“Why did Yan Zhen give up the position of Sacred Lord?” Shui Bailan asked. “Did something happen?”
Instructor Yu Xuan shook her head. “Not exactly something happened… it’s like he had to leave and couldn’t stay at the Sacred Ground anymore, so… but where did he go? I can’t remember.”
Younger Aunt Dean, crossing her arms, said skeptically, “I don’t believe it. That boy wouldn’t just give up the position of Sacred Lord! Xuan’er, are you lying to us, trying to make him look good?”
“No, Younger Aunt, I’m not,” Instructor Yu Xuan said petulantly. “If you don’t believe me, then just wait and see. By mid-year, Yan Zhen will defeat Wen Canglan and become second on the Rising Star List. As for Gu Tiange, the current number one, they’ll only duel after Yan Zhen returns from Cloud Heaven Palace.”
Reaching second place on the Rising Star List by mid-year?
It was currently the first month. That meant within six months, Yan Zhen, currently a six-star Mystic Master, would have to reach at least two or three-star Mystic General!
Wen Canglan was already a nine-star Mystic General. In six months, he would likely be a Mystic King, able to utilize the power of heaven and earth, easily crushing even nine-star Mystic Generals. How could Yan Zhen possibly defeat him with such a vast difference in cultivation?
The four beautiful elders looked at Yan Zhen with curiosity, confusion, and skepticism.
Yan Zhen, not knowing what to say, silently sipped his tea.
“Forget it, I don’t care about him.” Younger Aunt Dean said dismissively. “Xuan’er, tell us, what will happen to us in the future? What realm did I reach? Am I the first person in the Yu family to become a Mystic Venerable in over a hundred years?”
“No, Great Aunt is the first to reach Mystic Venerable, then Younger Aunt, then Mother. As for Aunt, she, like me, becomes a Mystic Ancestor.”
“Second place isn’t bad either.” Dean Yu Qing consoled herself, then asked, “Did I surpass Elder Sister?”
“No, in fifteen years, Great Aunt will be a seven-star Mystic Venerable, while Younger Aunt is only a three-star.”
“Ugh… why? With my talent, I should be able to catch up to Elder Sister. Why is the gap getting bigger?”
“Because Yan Zhen is grateful to Great Aunt for her guidance and protection in the Inner Academy, he often gives her the highest quality pills he refines, which accelerates her cultivation.”
Younger Aunt Dean immediately glared at Yan Zhen.
Grand Elder Great Aunt, however, beamed with delight.
“So Little Yan Zhen will be so filial to me in the future. I knew I had good judgment. Such a good boy~ But now that you’re our Yu family’s son-in-law, Little Yan Zhen, you can’t just be filial to me. You also have to be filial to Xiao Lu, Xiao Qing, and Xiao Bailan.”
“I-I will.”
Yan Zhen’s lips twitched, forcing an awkward yet polite smile.
It was mentioned in the script, and he did plan to do so, but having it said so directly felt strange.
“By the way, Xuan’er, in your past life, after my sisters and I all reached the Mystic Venerable realm, did we also have Yan Zhen treat our… conditions?”
“Sort of. He refined a Supreme Yang Pill with his Great Crimson Skyfire, and after we consumed it, we were cured. Other clan members also used the Supreme Yang Pill to break through their cultivation bottlenecks. However, that pill is Tier 7, and Yan Zhen can’t refine it yet. He can only help through co-cultivation.”
Instructor Yu Xuan’s tone changed. “So, Mother, Great Aunt, and Younger Aunt, I hope you won’t resist the treatment, because Yan Zhen is the one who suffers the most. After your conditions are cured, start cultivating the improved Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture from the beginning. That way, even if you reach higher realms in the future, these problems won’t reappear.”
Clan Head Yu Lu frowned again. “Don’t be absurd. The Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture is our Yu family’s core technique, a Saint-level art. Although the final chapters are incomplete, it’s still sufficient for us to reach the Supreme Elder realm. How can we simply modify it?”
Instructor Yu Xuan smiled. “Don’t worry, Mother. It wasn’t modified randomly. It was done by the Supreme Elder, Master Chen Xi, and Yan Zhen. After the Supreme Elder reached the ninth transformation of the Demigod realm, she tried to complete the final chapters of the Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture in preparation for advancing to Mystic Saint. So, she asked Master Chen Xi and Yan Zhen for help. The three of them discussed it for forty-nine days. Then, the Supreme Elder began working on the final chapters, spending two years in seclusion, successfully reaching the Saint realm and completing the Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture.”
“There was such a thing…”
“That boy could actually participate in improving the Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture?”
“So the Supreme Elder reached the Saint realm in the future. Truly a blessing for the Yu family.”
“How is the improved Timely Rain Heavenly Scripture different from the current version?”
Instructor Yu Xuan explained in detail, “Besides completing the ninth level, a special technique for absorbing Solar Essence and refining pure Yang energy was added to the seventh level, allowing cultivators to autonomously dispel the Yin energy within their bodies, fundamentally solving the problem of the… conditions. And this was Yan Zhen’s contribution. The Supreme Elder and Master Chen Xi only completed the ninth level.”
Yan Zhen again.
This child, even without marrying into the Yu family, had helped them so much.
The four beautiful elders looked at Yan Zhen with softer gazes, even Younger Aunt Dean.
“Whether in the past or the present, Yan Zhen is our Yu family’s lucky star.” Instructor Yu Xuan secretly took Yan Zhen’s hand under the table, intertwining their fingers. “From now on, our Yu family will only prosper.”
Yan Zhen blushed deeply, his ears turning red.
“Instructor, don’t say that. It’s embarrassing.”
“I’m just telling the truth. It’s wonderful to have you.”
“I should be the one saying that.”
“Then say it. I’m listening.”
“Mm, it’s wonderful to have you, Instructor.”
“Yan Zhen…”
They gazed into each other’s eyes, their affection overflowing, their lips unconsciously drawing closer.
“Ahem!” x4
The four elders coughed simultaneously, breaking the intimate atmosphere.
Instructor Yu Xuan, startled, quickly pulled away from Yan Zhen and sat up straight.
“It’s good that you’re affectionate, but you should also be mindful of the occasion and not… disregard etiquette.”
Clan Head Mother-in-law’s gentle reprimand made the young couple lower their heads in embarrassment.
Instructor Yu Xuan quickly changed the subject. “It’s getting late. We should prepare for Mother’s treatment. Shall we go to the White Jade Spring now?”
Clan Head Yu Lu looked at her older sister, and after receiving an encouraging nod, she said, “I don’t want to go to the White Jade Spring. Let’s do it in the bathroom behind the courtyard.”
“Eh? But Mother, Yan Zhen needs the energy from the White Jade Spring. Otherwise, co-cultivating with a Mystic Ancestor will be too much of a burden for him.”
Grand Elder Great Aunt interjected, “Don’t worry, Xuan’er. We brought back plenty of White Jade Spring water. More than enough for Little Yan Zhen’s needs.”
“Why go through all this trouble?”
The White Jade Spring was the ideal location for co-cultivation. First, it could replenish Yan Zhen’s Mystic Power, preventing him from being overexerted. Second, and more importantly, the milky-white spring water could conceal any… accidental discharges during the process, avoiding embarrassment.
Could it be that she overestimated her mother’s… shamelessness? Was the cold and aloof Clan Head unexpectedly prudish in this aspect? Come to think of it, her mother did seem rather clueless about such things, living on Yu Tian Island with little contact with the opposite sex.
She seemed to have discovered a new side to her mother, in this life and her past life.
“Alright, we’ll do as Mother says, as long as the treatment goes smoothly… Let’s go prepare the formation.”
They went to the semi-outdoor bathroom behind the courtyard.
The Yu family members loved bathing, especially the direct descendants. Clan Head Mother-in-law usually bathed in her own room, but occasionally, for a change of pace, she would come here.
This semi-outdoor bathroom wasn’t very large, but spacious enough, with bamboo walls on three sides and only a bamboo curtain on the front. Besides the basic bathing facilities, there was also a half-meter-tall, two-meter-long oval bathtub.
The bathtub was currently filled with bubbling, milky-white spring water from the White Jade Spring.
And within the oval bathtub, a solid wooden partition divided it into two halves.
The partition, half a meter tall, was the same height as the tub’s sides, with a gap at the top just large enough for two hands to pass through.
With their hands inside, the person on one side couldn’t see the person on the other.
Instructor Yu Xuan immediately understood and thought, This must be Great Aunt’s idea. Mother wouldn’t be so tactful.
Yan Zhen also nodded inwardly. This way, he wouldn’t have to see anything he shouldn’t.
“What do you think, Xuan’er?”
“So this is how you made Mother listen. Great Aunt, you’re resourceful.”
“Hehe, this was our final decision after much discussion. Not just Xiao Lu, I’ll also be receiving treatment here later. Xiao Qing, what about you?”
“I don’t mind. Besides, I’m almost recovered. I don’t need further treatment.”
“Of course, you do. Xuan’er said you need at least three sessions with Little Yan Zhen.”
“Hmph…”
Instructor Yu Xuan squatted down, took out the necessary materials from her storage ring, and began setting up the auxiliary formation around the oval bathtub.
After about fifteen minutes, she finished drawing the complex, interlocking circles of the formation, leaving three empty spots: one on the left for the Clan Head Mother-in-law, one in the middle for Yan Zhen, and one outside the tub for Aunt Head Instructor.
Because the three Yu sisters’ Mystic Power was too similar, both the Grand Elder and the Dean couldn’t participate, lest they disrupt the energy flow.
“The formation is ready, and it’s almost time. Let’s begin.”
“Little Yan Zhen, you wait outside first. We’ll call you when we’re ready, okay?”
“Okay, Great Aunt.”
Yan Zhen obediently left the bathroom, took a few deep breaths, and then heard the Grand Elder call him back in.
He reentered and immediately saw Clan Head Mother-in-law’s luxurious dress hanging on a nearby rack. Clearly, she was already in the bathtub, hidden by the wooden partition.
Through the gap in the partition, he could see her delicate collarbone and the slight swell of her cleavage above. The rest of her body, above the waterline, was hidden, while her lower half was submerged in the milky-white spring water.
1000% safe!