Chapter 268: Overestimating Oneself

Time moved forward.

While Shen Xuan and the White Lotus Immortal were in a passionate battle.

Outside the Rain Listening Pavilion.

Su Xue’Er sat astride the Silver Celestial Horse, looking down coldly at the Su Family’s female cultivator in front of her.

This person was Su Jiayuan, who had just returned to Feiyun Mountain.

Twenty years had passed.

Su Jiayuan advanced to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

"Without my husband’s permission, no one is allowed to enter the Rain Listening Pavilion!"

"Oh, Su Xue’Er, such bold words!"

Su Jiayuan showed indifference.

She never held Su Xue’Er in high regard.

If it weren’t for her youth and naivety back then.

Being infatuated with that Murong Jun.

The mistress of this Rain Listening Pavilion would have been her, Su Jiayuan.

Why be like Su Xue’Er, merely a concubine.

Unable to stand in the spotlight.

"The Patriarch orders that Jiayuan and Shen the Talisman Master discuss important matters."

"You are just a small concubine, how dare you block me!"

Su Jiayuan’s expression suddenly turned cold.

"Su Xue’Er, don’t you know what’s good for you!"

"What? You dare to force your way in?"

"Su Jiayuan, listen well, this is my home!"

Su Xue’Er said coldly: "Inside and outside the Rain Listening Pavilion, my husband has set up a Nine-Layered Array with Illusion Arrays and even Killing Arrays!" "Don’t blame Xue’Er for not warning Sister Jiayuan, if you trespass the array, you will be annihilated!"

Hearing what Su Xue’Er said, Su Jiayuan was also apprehensive.

At first, she thought Su Xue’Er was deliberately blocking her from seeing Shen Xuan.

Now it seems, Shen Xuan indeed went out and isn’t inside the Rain Listening Pavilion.

For some reason, seeing Su Xue’Er’s smug face.

Su Jiayuan felt a stomach full of frustration.

Back then, when Murong Jun’s identity as the Saint Child of the Blood Spirit Sect was exposed, he was directly killed by Shen Xuan.

As a result, she was blamed by the Su Clan’s elders and was forced to marry far away.

Twenty years have passed.

With her grandfather’s persistent efforts.

She finally returned.

Upon her return, she received a secret order from the Patriarch Su Huaijing.

To renegotiate the Thunder Talisman cooperation with Shen Xuan.

"The inheritance is my Su family’s, the materials are also my Su family’s."

"Shen Xuan received the inheritance of our Su Family’s [Breaking Evil Divine Thunder Talisman], and over the years, only gave us a 25% share!"

"He has taken advantage of our Su family for a full twenty years!"

"Su Jiayuan, you are the legitimate granddaughter of Su Huaijing, the best among the clan’s young cultivators, with good aptitude."

"For your return to the clan, your grandfather and I have put in a lot of effort."

"You go negotiate with Shen Xuan, to redraw the terms of the Thunder Talisman cooperation share."

"With the clan contributions, your grandfather and I can also plan for you, to list you as a Foundation Establishment Seed within the clan."

This was Su Huaijing’s instruction to her.

Su Jiayuan knew Su Huaijing was using her.

But, at this point.

If she wants to stand out and regain the clan’s support, she must achieve something.

Su Jiayuan was no longer the naïve young girl of a decade ago.

Having endured silently in a remote place for twenty years.

She no longer wanted to live a life of humility.

Su Jiayuan asked: "When will Master Shen return?"

"Not telling you!"

"If you have something to say, speak directly to me!"

Su Xue’Er said with a sneer.

She would not indulge Su Jiayuan.

Those were different times.

The Patriarch once intended to match Su Jiayuan with her husband.

She did not cherish it.

This gave her an opportunity.

Time has passed.

Twenty years have gone by!

She comes back to trouble her husband!

And talks about following the Patriarch’s orders to discuss important matters with her husband.

Enough is enough!

Not to mention Su Xue’Er doesn’t believe it.

Even if it were true, Su Xue’Er wouldn’t let her be alone with her husband!

Her husband had made it very clear to her.

Su family’s matters could be handled entirely by her.

Su Jiayuan bypassing her is ill-intentioned!

"You?"

Su Jiayuan’s eyes showed a trace of disdain.

"A mere concubine, can you make decisions for Master Shen?"

"Such arrogance! Ignorant of the world!"

Su Xue’Er said angrily: "My husband said, Su family’s matters, I can handle entirely!"

"That’s for buying groceries and cooking, which you can handle entirely!"

"Regarding the cooperation between Su family and Master Shen, can you speak on that?"

Su Jiayuan’s expression was full of disdain.

Su Xue’Er was at a loss for words.

When it comes to significant matters, indeed, she has no right to speak.

However, she couldn’t stand Su Jiayuan’s arrogant demeanor.

She was thinking of mocking her.

Su Jiayuan suddenly turned and left.

"I’ll be back tomorrow!"

...

Su family’s discussion hall.

Five Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered together.

"This matter is of no small consequence. If not handled well, I’m afraid Master Shen will become disheartened with our Su family!"

The former patriarch Su Huaijing spoke worriedly.

He did not agree with Su Huaijing’s proposal to renegotiate the Thunder Talisman share.

This clearly demands Shen Xuan to yield benefits to the Su family.

How could a character like Shen Xuan easily comply?

However.

He was in the minority.

Among the five people, only he opposed.

The other three all supported Su Huaijing’s proposal.

"I have reliable information that Shen Xuan’s success rate in making Thunder Talismans is at least 40%!"

"Su family provides the inheritance, the Thunder Crystal Bamboo, and prepares the cinnabar talisman paper for him."

"Shen Xuan only needs to sit there, wave the talisman brush, and take away 15%!"

"We Su family only get 25%! This includes the cost of Thunder Crystal Bamboo and the labor of our Su family members!"

Su Huaijing questioned everyone.

"Fellow clan elders, do you think this is fair?"

The bright pearl in the discussion hall shone brilliantly.

The three Su clan elders sitting at the round table all showed dissatisfaction.

"Brother Huaijing, it’s been twenty years! Master Shen has taken advantage of our Su family for twenty years!"

"Out of respect for Master Gu Feng, our Su family hasn’t disputed with him."

"Merely increasing the Thunder Talisman cooperation share to 30% is fair enough to him!"

"He can still keep 10% for himself!"

Su Huaijing sighed.

One against four, he couldn’t refute it.

"Why does Su Jiayuan have to go?"

"I’m doing this for her own good!"

Su Huaijing looked around at everyone present.

"For the Su Family to develop, we must cultivate fresh blood! Su Jiayuan has good aptitude; she was originally a Foundation Establishment Seed of the Su Family!"

"Who hasn’t made a few mistakes when they were young! Now that Su Jiayuan has come to her senses, we must give her a chance! We only have a few Foundation Establishment Seeds left in the Su Family; we cannot give up on even one!"

The clan elders present all nodded in agreement.

Even Su Huaijing had to admit that these words were reasonable.

Some things can only be fully understood after they are experienced.

Let’s hope Su Jiayuan can seize this opportunity.

Today, he was no longer the head of the Su Family.

Merely an ordinary Foundation Establishment clan elder.

Both emotionally and practically, matters of the Su Family were left to Su Huaijing to handle.

"Su Jiayuan didn’t meet Shen Xuan; she will go again tomorrow."

"Let’s hope for a good result!"

Su Huaijing was full of confidence: "Not hope, there will definitely be a good result!"

"Without our Su Family’s Thunder Crystal Bamboo, Shen Xuan can’t make a single Thunder Talisman!"

"He will agree!"

...

Early the next morning.

Shen Xuan returned to the Rain Listening Pavilion.

He was slightly shocked by Su Xue’Er’s account.

Su Jiayuan returning to Feiyun Mountain was not surprising.

Her aptitude was indeed good.

The Su Family should naturally accept her back.

The strange thing was, she claimed to come under the Patriarch’s orders to discuss important matters with him.

What important matters could he have to discuss with the Su Family?

As for using beauty as a tactic...

If he remembered correctly, Su Jiayuan was older than Su Xue’Er by a year or two.

Was she thirty-seven or thirty-eight?

She had even been married before.

It was said that her husband died of a sudden illness.

A fading beauty, a widow in her forties, where was the allure!

"So, Su Huaijing is using her to pressure me?"

Su Jiayuan had another identity.

Her legitimate grandfather was the former Su Family Patriarch, Su Huaijing.

Su Jiayuan’s return to the clan.

Signified that Su Huaijing had consolidated the clan’s forces and gained the full support of Su Huaijing’s faction.

"So, this Su Huaijing, feeling confident, thinks he’s qualified to make demands of me?"

Shen Xuan shook his head, amused.

The cultivators here were decent in other aspects.

But their overall strategic vision seemed quite ordinary.

Far below someone like him, accustomed to an information explosion era.

Shen Xuan advised Su Xue’Er not to confront Su Jiayuan directly.

After all, Su Xue’Er had siblings who needed to live under the Su Family’s protection.

There was no need to alienate Su Jiayuan’s faction completely.

After giving his instructions,

Shen Xuan entered the Practice Room.

Last night’s intense battle.

Had delayed his evening cultivation.

No matter what today, he had to make up for it in the morning.

About an hour later.

Shen Xuan slowly finished his practice.

He opened the door.

Su Xue’Er was waiting aside.

"Su Jiayuan came again."

"She’s waiting at the door."

Shen Xuan sneered: "Let her wait!"

"I’m hungry, is the meal ready?"

"Husband, it’s ready!"

Su Xue’Er smiled warmly.

The two went to the dining room.

Su Xue’Er ate only a little, then with a smiling face, watched her husband devour the meal.

Her husband’s appetite was growing larger.

Three pounds of Tier Two Demon Beast Meat, like a whirlwind, quickly disappeared into his stomach.

In the past two years, the White Lotus Immortal had not come.

Su Xue’Er’s life became increasingly comfortable.

For her, watching her husband enjoy the dishes she personally made was a kind of happiness.

"I’m going to rest for a while."

"If Su Jiayuan is still here in an hour, bring her to the reception hall."

"Okay, husband!"

Su Xue’Er cleaned the bowls and chopsticks on the table, showing a sweet smile as she spoke.

She was sure that her husband had no interest in Su Jiayuan.

In fact, he was rather repulsed.

An hour later.

Shen Xuan used the Devouring All Things technique to digest the Demon Beast Meat in his stomach.

When he walked into the reception hall,

Su Jiayuan had already arrived.

Without Spirit Tea, she sat there in silence.

Upon seeing Shen Xuan, she got up voluntarily and bowed.

Bending deeply at the waist.

"Su Jiayuan, greets Master Shen."

Shen Xuan walked over leisurely and sat down.

Su Xue’Er hurriedly handed over freshly brewed Spirit Tea.

Shen Xuan took a sip and spoke slowly: "Long time no see, please sit!"

Su Jiayuan carefully sat down.

She lifted her eyes to look at Shen Xuan.

Only then did she clearly see his appearance.

Her heart skipped a beat.

In these twenty years, not only had Shen Xuan not aged, but instead...

Instead, he appeared more refined and poised, exuding a distinct aura of mature confidence.

"How old is he now?"

"Back then, Grandfather said he was over eighty!"

"Now, he should be over a hundred!"

"How is he still so, so young!"

Su Jiayuan’s heart shook violently.

Unexplainably, a pang of heartache arose, making it hard for her to breathe.

"What is it that Su Huaijing won’t handle personally, but instead sends you to discuss?"

The calm and composed voice brought Su Jiayuan back to reality.

"The Patriarch said, after deliberation with the Su Clan Elders, they wish to reopen negotiations with Master Shen regarding the Thunder Talisman."

Su Jiayuan gathered her emotions, glancing at Su Xue’Er beside her.

"It’s alright. Continue!"

Su Jiayuan tightly pursed her lips, focusing intently on Shen Xuan.

"The Su Family proposes to increase the share of the Thunder Talisman profits by half a percent. From twenty-five percent to thirty percent!"