Divine Family Mansion, patriarch's office.
As morning rises, every person in Glory city is busy preparing themselves to start their day.
One such person can be seen sitting on a luxurious looking chair, as he works through the mountain of documents stacked neatly on his table, while he waited.
This person is the Divine Family's house master and the second strongest Demon Spiritualist in Glory City.
Chen Zhenlong.
It has been seven years since the events regarding his daughter's recovery occurred.
Since then, many things have changed.
Currently, besides being one of the three major families, the Divine Family has become the leading alchemy family in Glory City.
Their position in Alchemy business is only Second to the Alchemy Association itself.
This achievement is thanks to the efforts of his wife, Chen Wenrou. Due to hardwork, Chen Wenrou's expertise in Alchemy knowledge has reached the Senior Master level, the current peak level an alchemy master can achieve in Glory city.
Furthermore, Chen Wenrou's insight into alchemy theory and refining had even surpassed those of the Senior Masters in the Alchemy Association.
Under her leadership, the family's alchemy business, the Divine Medicine Pavilion, had flourished over the past years.
From a small family business,
The Divine medicine pavilion had grown into a powerful establishment, large enough that the city lord mansion itself began to do business with them on a larger scale.
The Divine medicine pavilion also began nurturing many commoner students who wished to learn the ways of alchemy, attracting many young individuals.which greatly enhanced their workforce and elixir production.
As a result, the Divine Medicine Pavilion's influence had reached a height that was comparable to the Alchemy association.
Another huge change that occurred in Glory City, albeit kept in secret, was Chen Zhenlong's status as a Legend rank demon spiritualist.
After they returned from their journey, Chen Zhenlong had achieved another major breakthrough, thanks to Xue Hui providing him a suitable cultivation technique, he had now reached the strength of five-Star Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist, which made him the second strongest Demon Spiritualist in Glory City.
And he did it in such short years.
Naturally, such a cultivation speed is almost unheard of, but for Chen Zhenlong, who had taken the Realm Breaker Soul Ascendant Pill, a new cultivation technique and an enormous amount of cultivation resources.
failing to achieve this much progress in his cultivation would be strange.
Another great development over the years was Chen Linlin's condition. After five years of painstakingly waiting for her physique to be stable, she was finally allowed to cultivate.
With Xue Hui giving her a supreme cultivation technique, which greatly excited Chen Linlin. As she immediately began cultivating.
To say that Chen Zhenlong and his wives had greatly underestimated the heaven-defying potential of Chen Linlin's
Moon Glaze Eternal Lotus Physique would be an understatement.
In only two years since she started cultivating, Chen Linlin's cultivation strength had already achieved a major height.
Which greatly astonished Chen Zhenlong and his wives as they couldn't believe that Chen Linlin's talent even surpasses the Glory city's legendary goddess of the past, Lady Yueliang Nushen.
To avoid inviting unnecessary trouble for Chen Linlin, Chen Zhenlong asked Xue Hui to give the extra Mask Realm Bracelet to her, so she can conceal her cultivation strength from everyone.
But unlike Chen Zhenlong and Chen Linlin, Xue Hui, the person who's the root cause of all these major changes, had never made any significant progress to his cultivation, over the past years.
Scratch that. Xue Hui did make a breakthrough, stepping into silver rank a couple of times.
With the key words, a couple of times.
Things that greatly confused Chen Zhenlong and his family regarding Xue Hui cultivation is that for unknown reasons only Xue Hui was aware of, every time that Xue Hui would break through to Silver Rank Demon Spiritualist, his cultivation would immediately regress back to the base level of a Bronze Rank.
Something that greatly worried everyone in Chen Zhenlong's residence.
As the thought of Xue Hui's cultivation path had entered his mind once more.
Chen Zhenlong placed the documents back to his table, pinching the bridge of his nose, he leaned back to his chair, as he pondered about the Xue Hui.
Xue Hui's cultivation technique had always been a huge mystery to everyone, especially to Chen Zhenlong.
Ever since Xue Hui returned from his solo training, the boy had spent almost all his available time cultivating, to the point that he often secluded himself to cultivate.
Because of this, Xue Hui cultivation had progressed very fast, breaking through to Silver rank demon Spiritualist in just a short time, only for it to revert back in the following days.
What worried everyone the most was that every time Xue Hui's cultivation would regress.
He would always end up severely injured, mostly due to the internal bleeding and damage to his soul realm.
And every time they would ask him about it, Xue Hui would simply brush it off as a minor cultivation backlash as he would tell them to not worry about it.
As a result, Xue Hui's cultivation had remained at three-star Bronze Rank, even after he used up almost all the cultivation resources he collected during their journey.
Chen Zhenlong could only hope that whatever was going on to Xue Hui had finally stopped, since it had been a while since Xue Hui suffered any backlash to his cultivation.
Sighing, Chen Zhenlong looked at the clock and saw that it's already seven in the morning.
As it seems to be as the activities outside his office became more bustling. Chen Zhenlong gazed at the window as the sun fully revealed itself to him.
In a couple of hours, Holy Orchid Institute would officially begin its new semester.
Welcoming the new batch of the younger generation who hoped to become the next protectors of Glory City.
Holy Orchid Institute is divided into several classes that the students could attend, Fighters, Inscriptionists, Alchemists, and Demon Spiritualists.
As the new semester kicks off, all the new students are required to enter the Apprentice Classes first before they can join those specialized classes.
One class is widely available to everyone is the Fighter Apprentice Class.
All students who have not yet reached One-Star Bronze Rank are placed in this class, while they are training to increase their soul force.
Funny enough, for some unknown reason, Chen Linlin chose to attend this exact class, dragging Xue Hui along with her.
Truth be told, with Chen Linlin's current strength, attending Holy Orchid Institute was a complete waste of her time.
Chen Zhenlong could attest that with her current strength, no lesson nor classes in the holy orchid institute could benefit her.
The same could be said for Xue Hui, whose knowledge even surpassed that of Chen Zhenlong and Ye Mo.
But despite that, Chen Zhenlong didn't have the heart to stop his daughter from attending the class. He knew very well how much Chen Linlin had longed for this day to arrive, and after everything she had been through, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her to have a little fun.
While deep in thought, the door to Chen Zhenlong's office creaked open as the two individuals walked in.
Leading the two was a fourteen-year-old girl with vibrant teal colored hair, she poses a porcelain like skin, marred by a natural blushed on her cheeks. average in height, she moved with undeniable grace and charms, a truly exquisite beauty that fitted the title as one of three goddesses of the younger generation.
This person is none other than Chen Linlin, the princess of the Divine family.
With the spring in her steps, Chen Linlin unceremoniously entered her father's office, as the glee etched to her face is an indication of the excitement she was feeling at the moment.
Behind her stood a tall, well-mannered, handsome young man, his silky lilac colored hair tied in a topknot while half of it cascaded neatly down to his back.
His soft, delicate features could easily mistake him for a maiden, at first glance, unlike many young men in his age that has an aura of a warrior, He instead carried the air of a scholar, poised, elegant and sharp.
If Chen Zhenlong had not seen him go toe-to-toe with the hordes of Demon Beasts, he might have judged him as a person who doesn't fight.
This young man was the enigma of the Divine Family, the hidden Alchemy Grandmaster of the Divine Medicine Pavilion, and had just recently become Chen Zhenlong's future son-in-law, Xue Hui.
The two approached his table with completely different demeanors. Chen Linlin had an expression that could hardly contain her excitement, while Xue Hui wore a look of complete listlessness.
Chen Zhenlong's lips curved upward as he eyed the two. He couldn't believe how fast the time passed. The two children he used to carry both in his arms back then are now grown into excellent youths.
"Father, you called us!?" Chen Linlin asked in a curious voice.
Earlier, while the two of them were having their breakfast, Xue Hui paused mid bite as he gazed at nothing.
Chen Linlin had seen that kind of look before. That's the indication that Xue Hui was currently using a communication soul technique with her father.
Once the call was over, Xue Hui informed Chen Linlin that her father wishes to speak with both of them before they headed out to Holy Orchid Institute.
Before answering, Chen Zhenlong looked at Xue Hui, seemingly asking him if this is okay, in return Xue Hui nodded at him with eyes saying it was time. Which prompted Chen Zhenlong to return his gaze to Chen Linlin.
They both knew how important it was for Chen Linlin to learn about this matter before she spread her wings outside the walls of the Divine Family.
"Yes, I wanted to speak to you about one important matter."
Hearing the seriousness in Chen Zhenlong's voice, Chen Linlin's heart paused. She looked to her side and saw Xue Hui giving her a reassuring look.
At first, she was confused.
The talk was about her past condition and how it came to be. The more Chen Zhenlong continued, the more Chen Linlin's expression shifted from confused to dread.
Perturbed, she shifted her gaze to Xue Hui. Tears threatened to roll down her delicate cheeks.
"You knew this?" she asked in a shaky voice.
In reply, Xue Hui gave her a firm nod.
Chen Linlin almost instinctively slapped her own forehead. Of course Xue Hui knew all about her poisoning, he was the only person capable of getting rid of her curse in the first place.
But the thoughts of someone who had tried to assassinate her when she was still a little had unnerved her.
No wonder her father and Xue Hui had waited for this long, waiting for her to mature before revealing the truth behind her withered soul realm.
With her current strength, she was fully capable of defending herself.
But she would have preferred for this kind of revelation to happen a little earlier, not right before she was about to head out to attend Holy Orchid Institute.
"It kind of got lost in my mind, sorry."
Irritated, Chen Linlin lightly hit Xue Hui's shoulder, making the latter wince in pain.
Chen Linlin's face was a mess between crying and tittering.
She was hurt that it had happened, but at the same time, she was glad that she had people like her father and Xue Hui who would do anything for her.
Time passed, and once Chen Linlin had composed herself, the trio headed outside to meet with Chen Yinying and Chen Wenrou who insisted on sending them off.
The moment both mothers saw Chen Linlin and Xue Hui, they immediately fawned over them.
They were a bit emotional seeing that the two children they had watched grow up had turned into a pair of outstanding geniuses.
Fixing the loose strand on her daughter's hair, Chen Yinying smiled at daughter and gave her a piece of advice. "Remember, if someone tries to steal your man, give her a mean right hook." which made Chen Linlin chortled as she hugged her mother.
Chen Zhenlong and Chen Wenrou laughed as they fondly watched the two.
Over the years, it had become widely known that Chen Zhenlong had already accepted a son-in-law for his daughter.
Although Xue Hui remained hidden from the public, everyone in Glory City knew that he was the disciple of that mysterious expert residing in the Divine family.
The same expert who had helped Chen Zhenlong find a cure for his daughter.
Because of this, despite Xue Hui's unknown background, many people in Glory City had easily accepted the engagement, seeing it as a proper arrangement between Chen Zhenlong and that mysterious expert.
After all, who would dare oppose that mysterious expert?
Not when everyone in Glory City had already witnessed a glimpse of that mysterious expert's might.
Three years ago, a horde of a thousand Demon Beasts had entered the St. Ancestral Mountain, marching toward the city walls.
Before anyone could charge at the beasts, a mysterious cloaked figure appeared in the sky.
What followed was a one-sided carnage as the cloaked figure summoned a storm of lightning, sending it crashing down upon the Demon Beasts, annihilating them.
After seeing the charred remains of the beasts, the cloaked figure quickly vanished, leaving the people in a state of absolute shock and awe.
While most people in the Glory city identified that cloaked figure as the mysterious expert.
Only a few people knew the person behind the cloak.
It was none other than Chen Zhenlong himself.
But the little shows of power that day, were enough for the people of Glory City to cement the image of that mysterious expert in their hearts.
Back in the present.
The sound of clacking hooves caught everyone's attention as they watched a carriage make a beeline toward their direction, stopping right in front of them.
Seeing this, the two teenagers bid their goodbyes and hopped inside before the coachman signaled his horses to move.
Watching them leave, Chen Zhenlong, Chen Yinying, and Chen Wenrou stood quietly as they watched the carriage disappear from their sight.
Snow Wind Family.
A purple-haired girl stood patiently as she waited for her own carriage to pick her up. Beside her was a little boy who had the same color hair as hers. A curious look rested on his small face as his gaze wandered everywhere.
Seeing this, Ye Ziyun smiled and gently patted her little brother's head.
Once again, she remembered that incident back then, especially the boy who had healed her mother. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if Xue Hui hadn't been there.
Glancing at the sky, Ye Ziyun wondered if she would be able to see Xue Hui again. Over the years, Xue Hui had proven to be quite elusive.
All of her attempts to meet him had ended in failure. Either he was in the middle of training or nowhere to be found.
In the end, Ye Ziyun simply gave up and focused on her own training.
"Maybe someday," she murmured, wondering what he looked like now.
Her thought was cut off when her brother excitedly cried echoed in her ears.
As the boy happily pointed to the incoming carriage, Ye Ziyun almost felt bad, as she knew she wasn't going to bring him along.
Wind Dragon Family.
Xiao Ning'er stood in front of the mirror as she frowned at her reflection.
She was looking at her side, where a purple bruise could be seen just below her left chest.
She had been unable to sleep for days ever since the bruises appeared, causing her searing pain that hard to ignore.
Deep in her thoughts, Xiao Ning'er didn't notice when the servant entered her room "Young Miss, your father wishes to speak with you."
Startled, she quickly put on her clothes. As she gave herself a once-over in the mirror before leaving.
Holy Orchid Institute.
A group of new students flooded the entrance of Holy Orchid Institute. Children from various families, nobles and commoners alike, were excitedly conversing as they marched into the gate.
One of these children was Nei Li, a member of the Heavenly Marks Family, ranked the lowest among the aristocratic families.
Although Nei Li was one of the nobles' children, his demeanor was no different from that of the commoners.
His eyes beamed with anticipation as he walked along with a new acquaintance he had just met.
Completely unaware of the fate-changing event that was about to unfold before him.
End of Chapter 36.