"Lord Shen Jin and Shen An are in critical condition!"
The words rang in the great hall and echoed in everyone's mind. For a moment, many people had the same thought:
'What's going on?'
It was natural to have some doubt. After all, these were Shen Jin and Shen An they are talking about here.
Who was Shen Jin? He was the leader of the new faction, one of the clan's very top higher-ups. Does this mean he is weak in combat and only good with politics?
Quite the opposite.
Aside from Shen Huai Xu and Shen Gui Heng who had inherited their families' fortune and enjoyed vast resources since birth, Shen Jin was the only one aside from Shen Jiang to make it to rank five in their generation.
When Shen Jiang was still alive, people might not think he was one of the top three in terms of combat. He was always in shadow, living a peaceful life with a low profile.
But with Shen Jiang's death eleven years ago, Shen Jin had to step up to protect the faction they've built together, taking on the responsibility of a leader.
When the war with Chu clan erupted a few years later, he swept the battlefield with speed and overwhelming strength. Clearing all doubt and truly placing him at the table of the higher-ups.
The clan's top brass had no choice but to welcome him.
This was the world of the strong.
If you were strong, it meant your chance of survival was higher than others. Push it to a certain extent, when you are now so strong normal low level Meng cultivators and beasts didn't pose a threat to you anymore. Many people would come to you for shelter and protection, actively begging to be your subordinate.
They all came begging, the only difference was their methods. Some requested and begged directly, promising loyalty. Some used money and bribes, sell their sons and daughters just to get a chance, while some used subtleties, tying each other with benefits.
That was politics.
As long as you were strong and had value, people would naturally want to rely on you. The politics then would come naturally like breathing, bringing in massive benefits.
Pushing it further to the limit, it meant you are invincible in the mortal world. You could take a region for yourself and call yourself king, establishing your own force.
The Shen clan was founded exactly this way.
In the history of the Shen clan, no one else came close to the founding ancestor in terms of prestige or strength.
Regardless, Shen Jin being a rank five middle stage Meng cultivator put him at the very top of the clan. If not for the current clan leader being rank six, Shen Jin would be qualified to challenge the clan leader in a duel to take his place.
Times were different. In the history of the Shen clan, there were ups and downs, declining and prosperity. At the lowest point, the Shen clan only had one fourth of its land compared to the founding ancestor's era.
The Shen clan now was in an era of prosperity.
With the annihilation of the Chu clan, a former super clan, the Shen clan raked in massive benefits and resources. The Chu clan's foundations and accumulations became sweet nourishment for the Shen clan, ushering it in an era of peace and prosperity. The Shen clan was now thrice its size before the current clan leader, Shen Minjie took over.
'And you are telling me, one of the top three combat powers of such a clan, is in critical condition!?' Was the thought that flashed through everyone's minds.
The many clan elders were only stunned for a brief moment, then all of them rushed out with lightning speed.
All of a sudden, only the youths were left in the ancestral hall.
The youths talked amongst themselves secretly, their gazes ultimately landed on Tian Yi and Shen Ai.
Tian Yi maintained his neutral expression while using his eyes to look to his right without turning his head.
It was a girl, a young girl of sixteen years old. A young girl who had just freshly awakened her potential as a Meng cultivator, first grade aptitude holder, a first class talent amongst the only three in this generation. A girl whose future was bright, destined to be one of the people who stood at the very top of the clan.
Yet at this moment, this girl was deathly pale, her face devoid of colors. If one looked carefully, one would notice that both her hands were shaking, her face an expression of great shock and utter bewilderment.
As if noticing his gaze, the girl turned her head with incredible speed to her left. Locking eyes with Tian Yi.
This girl was Shen Ai.
In just over a few minutes, her demeanor had completely changed.
If she exuded an aura of calm, cheerful confidence before, then the aura she exudes now was that of panic, bewilderment, and fear.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Tian Yi upon seeing this, shook his head to express his helplessness as if understanding the words that didn't come out of her mouth.
'So it happened after all, just like in my previous life.' Tian Yi thought to himself with calmness.
The reason for his calmness was partly due to his long years of experience coupled with the mindset that was built on a thousand years of experience. Another part was due to this event having happened before in his previous life, he was already anticipating it.
Tian Yi did not speak any words. He only extended his right hand for Shen A.
Shen Ai dazedly took his hand while Tian Yi began walking and softly pulling her in his direction.
The remaining youths looked on in confusion while some of them began whispering words of mocking amongst themselves.
"Looks like Shen Tian Yi and Shen Ai can't be arrogant much longer."
"I wonder if Shen Ai will be fine? This must be pretty shocking to her."
"Pretty shocking? That's her parents! Both of them are high ranking elders at that! How can she be fine!?"
"Heh, whatever the case, Shen Tian Yi won't be able to be so carefree anymore."
The youths' whispers slowly grew into a heated argument as Tian Yi and Shen Ai walked further away from their group. Some youths looked on with satisfaction, some tried to argue and protect Shen Tian Yi and Shen Ai while some were sighing in relief, glad that the ones critically wounded were not their parents or relatives.
Shen Zhong sighed with a look of sadness and helplessness before walking away towards the exit.
Shen Huai Bo, Shen Gui Cheng and Shen Caiji looked at each other with confusion.
Each of them, aside from Shen Caiji, were the heir of their own family, destined to lead their factions. They were not sure if they should follow behind the two youths to show support or just go home like Shen Zhong.
Without their elders' guidance, these two youth who never played a single game of politics were not sure their actions would be inappropriate or not.
While the three youths were stuck between choices, two youths who looked identical to one another stepped forward and followed the pair without hesitation.
They were the twins of Shen clan, Shen Luo and Shen Liu.