The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the entire Black Water Pool red.
Without a breeze, ripples mysteriously appeared on the tranquil water, the undulating waves reflecting light that painted a tapestry of intersecting shadows upon the Black Water Pavilion.
Shen Yuan stood with his hands behind his back on the floating bridge, quietly watching the rippling water.
"Father/Grandfather."
Shen Wenxing and Shen Chongxuan approached, cupping their hands in salute.
As Shen Yuan returned to his senses, he turned and nodded to the two, saying, "Let’s speak inside the pavilion."
The two followed him to the first floor of the Black Water Pavilion.
In the corner, Shen Li was still diligently cultivating, with the Big Golden Toad lazily lying beside him, seemingly in deep sleep.
The Silver Thread Centipede appeared to have gone out to forage, nowhere to be seen.
After the three of them sat down, Shen Wenxing cupped his hands and spoke, "News has co from the mountains."
"Elder Fu Yang has sensed soone breaking the Void Combination Corridor Array from the other side, indicating so action on the part of the Southern Border."
Shen Yuan said nothing, turning his head to indicate the yellow paper on the desk beside them.
Shen Chongxuan stood up, cupping his hands, then took the slip of paper.
"Both of you, take a look."
Shen Chongxuan handed the yellow slip to Shen Wenxing, and both of their eyes fell upon it.
[Thunder and Fire: Shih He, Ninth and Fourth Trigrams]: Black clouds obscure the sun, bloody light chills; Golden arrows pierce rocks, breaking perilous barriers; The hidden dragon must not linger in the depths, wait for the tide to rise and ascend the Nine Heavens.
The hexagram written in vermillion appeared solemn and grave.
After reading it, Shen Wenxing frowned, pondered for a mont, and said to the Shen Chongxuan beside him, "Uncle, your knowledge surpasses mine, please explain the aning of this prophecy."
Shen Chongxuan held the yellow prophecy slip, studying it for a long while, before hesitantly speaking:
"Chongxuan is not versed in the Path of Great Derivation, but from the prophecy, the first line suggests impending great calamity, the notion of bloody light looming overhead."
As he spoke, his gaze turned toward Shen Yuan across from him.
Seeing his father remain silent, he continued, "’Golden arrows pierce rocks, breaking perilous barriers’ probably implies an opportunity, but to seize it requires patience."
"The last two lines are easier to interpret, suggesting a hidden dragon, waiting for the waters to rise to ascend to the Nine Heavens."
After sharing his interpretation, Shen Chongxuan folded the yellow paper and respectfully handed it to Shen Yuan.
Taking the yellow paper, Shen Yuan sighed slightly and said:
"This hexagram is a prophecy that I obtained after exhausting a great deal of energy in divination."
"Chongxuan’s interpretation is quite accurate."
Slowly standing up and pacing a few steps with his hands behind his back, he turned to Shen Wenxing and said, "Combine it with the intelligence you ntioned that ca from the mountains."
"It seems the heavens over Yangnao Land are about to change."
Shen Wenxing nodded slightly, his voice serious, "Does father an the Void Combination Corridor Array can no longer stop the cultivators from the Southern Border?"
Shen Yuan used silence as an answer.
Having obtained this hexagram, even after expending all his accumulated Spiritual Charm, he had not found a way to prevent the Southern Border’s invasion.
In an attempt to divine a sliver of hope, the White Jade Turtle Shell in his Sea of Consciousness suffered a mysterious backlash, developing a fine crack.
In that crack, he saw a vision of the sky stained with blood and evil Qi surging into the heavens.
"As the prophecy shows, this calamity for our Shen Family is also considered an opportunity."
"However... the opportunity within the calamity is faint and demands caution."
"If we miss this slightest opportunity, what follows will be a catastrophe beyond redemption..."
Seeing his father’s grave expression, Shen Wenxing dared not take it lightly and imdiately cupped his hands, "Please, father, instruct us."
He understood clearly that at this mont, the entire fate of the Shen Family relied on his father’s command, and perhaps, there still remained a chance to survive the peril.
Shen Yuan continued to pace, contemplative for a long ti, then solemnly spoke.
"Though I couldn’t find a solution to the predicant using the Little Rejection Divination Scripture, I did discover a thod for wise self-preservation."
"Rember this."
Walking slowly to the desk, he said intently, "From this day on, the mbers of our Shen Family must ’avoid the bloody light,’ stay away from trouble, protect themselves cautiously, and refrain from reckless actions."
Murmuring his father’s words in his heart, Shen Wenxing responded, "Do you an to recall everyone from the mountains, father?"
After nodding, Shen Yuan continued, "After avoiding the bloody light, you must ’refine your character.’"
"The lower hexagram is Fire, fire refines true gold, this calamity may lead to significant sacrifices for our Shen Family, but crises can also temper one’s character."
"By refining resilience in character, you’ll be ’waiting for the heavenly opportunity.’"
"Rember these nine words, they concern the life and death of our Shen Family."
Avoid the bloody light, refine your character, wait for the heavenly opportunity...
After silently repeating the nine words, Shen Wenxing stood up and cupped his hands, "I will make the arrangents right away!"
He knew very well that these matters must not be taken lightly.
After his departure, Shen Chongxuan hesitated before speaking, "Grandfather, how should we handle the Literary Dao cultivators of our Shen Family under other Immortal Sect Families?"
"If there are sudden moves, will it trigger suspicions from other forces?"
Over the years, as the Shen Family’s academy and schools spread throughout Yangnao Land, several Immortal Sects and Noble Families have gradually taken notice of the Literary Dao cultivators.
However, because Yangnao Land has been relatively peaceful lately, the strength of the Literary Dao cultivators had few opportunities to manifest, and other Immortal Sects have yet to pay much attention to them.
After considering briefly, Shen Yuan said, "We can’t worry about that now, recall everyone first."
During significant changes, every bit of strength must be preserved cautiously.
Shen Chongxuan cupped his hands and stood up, "Then I’ll go arrange it imdiately."
"And write a letter informing Luoxia Mountain and several other forces allied with our Shen Family."
"This action will show our Shen Family’s utmost benevolence and righteousness."
Shen Yuan gave a nod of advice.
Over the years, the Vajra Sect, the Celestial Talisman Sect, and other Immortal Sect Influences in Yangnao Land have maintained a good relationship with the Shen Family.
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