The Ye Family, main residence area.

This Foundation Establishment assassin had clearly planned this in advance. He knew the origins of the array on the dragon-shaped jade pendant Shen Xian carried and acted with ruthless decisiveness.

Facing Shen Xian, whose strength was several times weaker than his own, the only thing the target could do now was stall for time.

Watching that figure close the distance in the blink of an eye, the spiritual power within Shen Xian’s body began to boil, ready to erupt at any moment…

Boom!

In the next second, a vast surge of spiritual power suddenly erupted, sweeping out in all directions.

From behind Shen Xian, a petite figure shot out like a gale, her small fist tearing through the air to smash toward the assassin.

Seeing someone intervene, the Foundation Establishment assassin was startled at first. But when he saw it was just a little girl, his heart relaxed immensely.

How strong could a mere child be?

Instead of retreating, he advanced. Dazzling spiritual light erupted from his palm, and his attack became even more fierce and terrifying.

However…

The moment their attacks collided, the confident expression on the assassin’s face abruptly changed.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the little girl before him, his mind roiling with shock and terror.

Boom!

In the next instant, an immense force erupted. The terrifying power not only completely neutralized his attack but also shattered his defenses and pulverized his meridians…

The Foundation Establishment assassin was sent flying on the spot, crashing heavily to the ground. Every meridian in his body was severed, and his dantian was utterly destroyed!

Ye Xian’er landed steadily, a half-eaten candied hawthorn stick still in her left hand.

“You actually dared to block this Young Miss’s fist? You really are seeking death,” she said, taking a bite of a hawthorn berry. Her cheeks puffed out with satisfaction.

Behind her, Shen Xian secretly let out a sigh of relief, and the spiritual power within him quietly dissipated.

Shortly after, Ye Mingyuan and his trusted aides hurried over.

Seeing the crater in the ground and the fallen assassin, the face of the fourth young master of the Ye family darkened.

“Did you try to kill Shen Xian?” Ye Xian’er looked up at him and asked coldly.

Earlier, Xiang’er had specifically come to report that Shen Xian had been summoned by him. Now that an assassination attempt had occurred right here, he couldn’t escape involvement.

Ye Mingyuan’s expression shifted slightly. “How could that be? I have no conflict with Third Young Master Shen!” he hurriedly denied.

Ye Xian’er was the Matriarch’s person and possessed extraordinary talent. Even as a direct descendant, he had to show her respect.

Moreover, he truly knew nothing about this assassination attempt.

“I’m going to report this to the Matriarch,” Ye Xian’er said, not wanting to waste any more time with him. She turned and pulled Shen Xian away, leaving behind a bewildered Ye Mingyuan.

Coming back to his senses, he cursed under his breath. “Damn it! Who did this?!”

…

The near-fatal assassination attempt on a direct descendant of the Shen family within Ye family territory was a matter that, if mishandled, could severely damage relations between the two families.

Therefore, upon learning of it, even the current head of the Ye family—who had been preoccupied with preparations for the Matriarch’s birthday celebration—had no choice but to set aside his tasks and launch a full investigation to give the Shen family an explanation.

For this matter, the entire Ye family operated with utmost diligence, leaving no stone unturned.

Thus, after just one day, Shen Xian received the Ye family’s answer.

The assassin was not from the Ye family. He came from the Shadow Tower!

The Shadow Tower was the Azure Province’s most infamous assassination organization. They brazenly claimed that for the right price, they could even kill a Deity Transformation Venerable!

Due to their unique organizational structure and superb methods of concealment, despite repeated attempts by major immortal sects and noble families to eradicate them, all efforts had ended in failure.

Being targeted by such an organization left Shen Xian feeling rather helpless.

Fortunately, the Shadow Tower only made one attempt per contract. If a mission failed, they would require payment several times over before making another attempt.

Furthermore, to demonstrate their non-involvement in this affair, the Ye family dispatched a large force specifically to hunt down Shadow Tower assassins and successfully destroyed several of their strongholds.

This also showed that this so-called assassin organization wasn’t truly impossible to eradicate; it was just that the web of interests behind it was too complex.

But at least for now, the Shadow Tower wouldn’t be targeting Shen Xian again anytime soon.

Even if they wanted to act again, with the Ye family on high alert—even deploying Nascent Soul True Lords—they would have no opportunity.

Although the truth of the matter was clarified, Shen Xian had still been attacked on Ye family grounds.

Therefore, to provide an explanation to the Shen family, Ye Mingyuan was forced to become the “scapegoat” and received punishment from his family.

After all, who told him to suddenly summon Shen Xian to his residence for no reason, giving the assassin an opening?

Ye Mingyuan’s heart was bitter, but he couldn’t voice it. He could only store up this resentment, planning to let it erupt fully during the Matriarch’s birthday celebration…

…

Clear Frost Pavilion.

Having narrowly escaped disaster, Shen Xian lay on a lounge chair with his eyes closed, telling a story.

Before him, Xiang’er and Ye Xian’er sat obediently on rattan chairs. Their expressions were serious and attentive as they listened with rapt focus.

Ever since that assassination attempt, Ye Xian’er had taken up residence here—a fact tacitly permitted by the Ye family.

While this was good in one sense, what left Shen Xian feeling somewhat helpless was just how much this little girl loved listening to stories.

He had to come up with new ways every day to tell her various love stories—from ancient times to the modern day; from domestic tales to foreign ones…

Thankfully for his rich past-life experiences, otherwise, he truly wouldn’t have been able to keep up.

“This Zeus is simply too lecherous! How can he be the king of all gods?” The maidservant Xiang’er said with a dark expression. For an innocent young girl who knew little of worldly affairs, such foreign myths were rather unsightly.

“Aren’t all powerful people like that?” Ye Xian’er listened with great relish.

She had seen far too many people and events; though young in years, her mind was already mature enough to understand better than most just how cruel this world could be.

“There are exceptions, you know,” Xiang’er retorted.

“Let me tell you… they’re all alike!” Ye Xian’er shook her head.

Immediately, both girls began arguing…

Shen Xian smiled without speaking.

He was merely a storyteller, rarely offering opinions himself; most times, these two youngsters argued amongst themselves.

Just then…

Suddenly, he felt an immense warm current appear out of nowhere, flowing through every limb and bone, bringing with it a vast, surging power.

Immediately afterward, his spiritual energy began liquefying; his dantian transformed into a “spiritual sea,” and his reserves of spiritual power skyrocketed…

【Host’s Dao Companion, Ye Qingxian, has broken through from the eighth layer to the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm. Blessing returns tenfold cultivation gained from Dao Companion’s breakthrough.】

As the spiritual energy metamorphosed, Shen Xian’s realm underwent an earth-shaking transformation, silently and imperceptibly.

Within his dantian, only a “vast ocean” could be seen floating quietly, emanating a formidable aura.

Foundation Establishment Realm!

Shen Xian froze momentarily, never expecting to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm so easily and effortlessly.

He couldn’t help turning back, glancing toward the quiet, motionless room.

His Dao Companion’s cultivation speed is truly fast!

Well, the faster she progressed, the faster his own realm would rise too.

Excellent!

Shen Xian felt a wave of contentment. A smile appeared on his face as he turned his gaze back to the two youngsters before him and declared spiritedly, “Come. Today, I will tell you another story: Farewell My Concubine!”

“Great, great!” Ye Xian’er was the first to agree, her hand flashing with spiritual light as she produced another string of candied hawthorn berries.