Longevity with My Offspring

Quite a number of people arrived, more than thirty, all men, mostly from the younger generation.

The Shen Family has hundreds of direct lineage members, and these individuals are just a part of the family.

Ancestral rituals are an event that naturally occurs every year—once large every ten years, once small annual.

This year is a minor ritual, not needing many attendees, mainly convenient elders and some of the younger generation come to worship the ancestors, to let some youngsters know that the Shen Family originated here.

Indeed, the main value of an ancestral ritual is to let the younger generation acknowledge their heritage.

Otherwise, after several generations, Shen Family youngsters wouldn't know that there is such a place as the ancestral land.

In practice, after hundreds of years, the Shen Family has increasingly neglected the ancestral land. There's nothing much of value here, apart from a dilapidated ancestral home and Grave Mountain, there's nothing meaningful to find.

Shen Wang contemplated these matters but did not see his father in the crowd. Leading the group was the family's Second Elder, a scrawny, medium-height old man.

"Shen Wang, don't you know today is the day of the ancestral ritual? Why shut the ancestral home?"

The Second Elder spoke loudly from a distance, with evident dissatisfaction.

"You use the side entrance."

Shen Wang didn't open the front entrance because it would go through his living area, and the shrine holding the ancestral tablets is at the far back. He could use a side entrance directly to pass through.

"Shen Wang, what is your attitude? Not showing up is one thing, now not opening the door and letting us use the side entrance?"

A young man beside the Second Elder scolded coolly.

"If you want to come, then come; if not, you can't get in anyway."

Shen Wang responded casually, controlling the array to open an entrance on the side.

For safety, he temporarily separated this entrance and the shrine to prevent Profound Thunder Zhenren from taking the opportunity to enter his living area.

Ancestral rituals are simply about burning incense and paying respects within the shrine. Not opening the front yard is merely inconvenient, and won't have a significant impact.

"Shen Wang, what are you doing? Elders are here, and you're deliberately being difficult!"

That young man persisted in his complaints.

"Shen Long, no need to shout, I'm the one in charge here. You'll walk the way I tell you to."

Shen Wang spoke indifferently, completely unconcerned.

He's already offended Golden Core cultivators, so he doesn't care about offending people within the family.

Given their skill level, they couldn't break through a single array, and his strength is already Eleventh-Layer Qi Cultivation, so he doesn't need to be afraid.

His response angered quite a few, turning their faces ashen.

"Shen Wang, you broken Dantian waste, putting on airs, if you don't open the door, I'll open it myself!"

A peer with a poor relationship with Shen Wang typically rolled up his sleeves and walked over.

Shen Wang cast a glance at him; this guy was Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation, only fit to look up to Shen Wang before, and had somewhat rejoiced in his damaged Dantian.

Unfortunately, this man's spiritual sense hadn't even been born and hadn't noticed the array, so Shen Wang had no interest in interfering further.

"Shen Li, don't be impulsive."

The Second Elder admonished, and anyone present who had reached Late-stage Qi Cultivation with spiritual sense could sense the array's fluctuations. And he, being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, could discern that the array was powerful, not something Shen Li, who had just reached mid-stage, could mess with.

"Isn't it just a broken door, if it gets kicked down I'll repair it."

Shen Li remained unaware of the gravity of the situation, thinking the Elder didn't want him to ruin the ancestral home, only sped up, charging towards the main entrance.

Yet when he reached within three yards, he met with an uncanny event and was instantly rebounded, landing squarely on the ground with a painful yelp.

"This... What's happening?"

He yelled: "Where did this array come from!"

Apart from the shrine, the ancestral home held nothing of value; even the shrine was of no value to outsiders. Thus, the Shen Family never established any new array here, nor did it have any array in his memory—only an old servant guarded it.

"You fool, didn't I tell you not to be reckless!"

The Second Elder cursed, stared at the ancestral home: "Shen Wang, I don't know what you've done to the ancestral home, but for a significant event like the ancestral ritual, it is not the place for petty tricks."

"Don't try to impress me; I've already said and done what needs to be. You finish your tasks and return early, just don't think about taking advantage or doing someone else's bidding."

Shen Wang spoke with deep meaning.

He speculated the Yun Family might secretly be in league with some Shen Family members, attempting to use the guise of an ancestral ritual to draw him out and create an opportunity for the Yun Family.

Unfortunately, he wouldn't even leave his door, so how could he give any chance in such matters?

Ancestral ritual? He stays at this place daily, isn't that already respecting the ancestors?

Several people's expressions changed, with more becoming very angry, as Shen Wang's attitude indeed provoked people.

"Shen Wang, your conduct greatly disappoints me. Initially, the Clan Leader was advocating for spiritual medicine to heal your Dantian, but with your attitude, who will support you?"

Another elder spoke with a deep gaze.

"Go back and tell my father, thanks for his efforts, his son doesn't need spiritual medicine anymore, my Dantian is already recovered."

Shen Li, holding onto his rear, his face changed, "Your Dantian recovered? Impossible, that's an injury on the path, requiring precious medicine to heal."

"Enough of your nonsense. Go attend the ancestral ritual, and return early; it's not safe here."

Shen Wang was uninterested in explaining further. He said this to put his father's worries at ease, no longer needing to worry about him.

The Second Elder and several elders exchanged glances, quite amazed.

"Has this child really recovered? No wonder he's so assured."

"There's a new array here, a decent grade. It should be that he's recovered, otherwise he couldn't have set up an array."

"But where did he get the money to arrange an array?"

A group of people questioned with great curiosity.

The Second Elder's attitude softened somewhat: "Since you've recovered, that's good, you don't need to always stay in such a remote place. Come back with us and reorganize to have someone guard the ancestral land."

"No need, things are fine here. I'll return when I'm ready."

Shen Wang refused; he absolutely cannot go out now.

Some facial expressions changed, watchfully eyeing the ancestral home.

This boy clearly has great opportunities; otherwise, how could he recover his Dantian and set up such an array?

Shen Wang couldn't recover within the family, yet after a year here, such significant progress—perhaps the opportunity lies within this ancestral home?

This was precisely why the boy wasn't letting them use the main entrance, clearly hiding something!

The safe, reasonable suspicion caused some to exchange glances, all growing greedy.

"Shen Wang, did you find something good in the ancestral home?"

Shen Long sneered: "Not letting us in now, afraid we'll find out, right?"

The Second Elder said: "Shen Wang, you found treasure to heal your Dantian, and set up a protective array here, that's justified. But having good things without sharing with the family—doesn't it seem a bit selfish?"

"Shen Wang, the treasures in the ancestral home belong to the Shen Family. You cannot keep them all to yourself."

Sixth Elder coldly remarked.

Shen Wang was both amused and annoyed; he knew it would turn out like this. His circumstances and the array outside made it too easy to be misunderstood.