Chapter Two: Returning Home

A day later, Shen Junhuai awoke.

He lay at the heart of the python’s corpse, which was now shriveled and dry. Its enormous head, with two vacant, hollow eyes, stared blankly into the distance, as if questioning this human youth it had once regarded as an insignificant ant. Unwilling fear filled its green bulging eyes.

At that moment, Shen Junhuai himself was engulfed in agony. Although the python’s blood pooled everywhere in the pit, the amount he had absorbed was astonishing. The immense energy within the blood surged violently through his slender meridians, its fiery nature burning relentlessly.

He frantically cycled his cultivation technique, but the narrow river channel could not accommodate the rapid torrent. "Is this how I die?" he cried inwardly, unwilling, as the intense pain tore at his muscles and soul alike. Blood seeped from his seven orifices.

In his desperation, he spotted a green plant deep within the pit, bearing three maroon oval fruits. Some inexplicable intuition told him this was what he needed. He struggled over, plucked a fruit, and shoved it into his mouth.

With a thunderous rush, the cool liquid within the fruit seemed to cheer joyfully, chasing after the rampaging python blood in his body. As a wave of comfort swept over him, Shen Junhuai realized opportunity had arrived and hurried to intensify his cultivation technique.

After spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, he felt the pain inside him begin to ease. The true energy in his meridians gradually flowed calmly toward his dantian, enveloping him in a gentle warmth.

"Is this the Clumsy Amber?" Shen Junhuai recalled the maroon fruits, having narrowly escaped death once more. The medicinal compendium recorded that Clumsy Amber, also known as Restful Amber, could be refined into Divine Aperture Pills, and only bore fruit once every three thousand years. It was a celestial-grade treasure, ranked among seven levels: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Celestial, Divine, and Dao. If refined, it could strengthen one’s meridians; consuming the fruit directly should also have some effect.

Stronger meridians could accommodate more true energy and accelerate its transformation from quantity to quality, enabling swifter breakthroughs.

Thinking about how, in only one day since his rebirth, he had faced two brushes with death, cold sweat drenched his body. His strength was still far too lacking; deep down, his resolve to improve himself grew ever firmer.

With the bitter lesson still fresh in his mind, he knew that, despite the many opportunities in these deep mountains, he must not rely on luck. Only by striving to strengthen himself could he survive.

Fully recovered, he decided to return home first—after all, his mother had yet to see him with her own eyes.

Seated cross-legged, he calmed his mind and focused his intent on his dantian, accelerating his cultivation.

Unaware, a day passed. Shen Junhuai clearly felt the changes within. His meridians had tripled in width, his true energy had become even purer, and his dantian’s capacity had doubled. Having absorbed so much python blood, his reserves of true energy were now saturated.

His strength had risen from first to third rank as a martial practitioner, and thanks to the fire attribute of the python blood, he could even contend with those of the fourth rank.

Having completed everything, he breathed a sigh of relief. His spiritual power had advanced, and he was overjoyed. His heart was filled with emotion; reborn, he did not wish to live a mediocre life.

The world’s marvels were truly astonishing. Since fate had granted him another chance, he was determined to seize it.

Clad in tattered clothes, Shen Junhuai finally arrived at the Shen family’s secluded estate in Pingdu City.

The direct descendants of the Shen family resided a few miles around the City Lord’s Mansion, which was a symbol of their status. The secluded estate was home to the collateral branches and those marginalized.

"If I am suffering retribution for past sins, so be it, but why must heaven treat us so?" Fourth Madam Liu sat at the edge of the kang, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her son had been missing for three days, and Uncle Huan was still searching the deep mountains with the servants.

Hearing the gate open, she stood up and saw his silhouette, bursting into tears once more. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the floor.

"Mother!" Seeing her weary face, both unfamiliar and familiar, Shen Junhuai felt his heart twist in pain, along with the gentle affection that had seeped into his bones.

Liu embraced her battered son, feeling the sky was bluer than ever.

Shen Junhuai slept for an entire day, awakened by the bustle in the main hall.

"It’s all my fault," Uncle Huan exclaimed, hugging Shen Junhuai, who had not yet finished dressing. "I shouldn’t have taken you into the mountains. If anything happened to Fourth Madam or Seventh Young Master, I could only atone with my life!"

"Don’t say that, Uncle Huan. Without you, I would never have gone—or gained so much. Besides, I begged you myself, and you taught me so much, allowing me to encounter such opportunity."

"What happened?" Uncle Huan turned to Liu.

Smiling, Liu recounted her son’s ordeal in the mountains.

"Good deeds are always rewarded," Uncle Huan said excitedly. "Perhaps this is the omen of fortune after adversity for Fourth Madam’s family. If Fourth Master were alive, he’d be overjoyed." The old man wiped his tears.

"Yes, it’s been five years since Fourth Master passed…" Liu sobbed.

"Enough, enough. Your son’s returned, Uncle Huan can rest easy, and I must drink with him to apologize." Shen Junhuai quickly changed the subject, looking at his mother. "I’ll fetch some wine. Uncle Huan, stay and dine with us!"

"No need, child! I have things to tell you; come to my place, I have something good for you."

Uncle Huan—Shen Yihuan—was the son of the late Shen family housekeeper, childhood friend of Shen Junhuai’s father, and a loyal servant granted the family name. Lacking martial talent, he had apprenticed with the family physician and achieved some skill.

After the meal, Shen Yihuan led Shen Junhuai to a side room, his expression solemn, his gaze clear despite the faint scent of wine.

"Seventh Young Master, you are soon to come of age and have already endured such hardship. I have little to offer you, but take this book and study it." Shen Yihuan handed him a golden ancient tome.

On the Star Sky Continent, thirteen-year-old boys were considered adults. Traditionally, they could inherit the family law at adulthood, but with Shen Junhuai’s father long deceased, Shen Yihuan’s solemn gesture had reason.

Shen Junhuai knelt on one knee, took the book, and bowed to Uncle Huan. It was two inches thick, bound in golden foil, with five black characters: "Compendium of Wonders," its ancient script imbued with a subtle, dignified air.

"This was given to me when I once gathered herbs in the Yunze Mountains. I happened upon a primitive tribe holding a ceremony; a demon tide swept through, and all perished except the chief, whom I rescued. In gratitude, he gave me this. I have studied it for years, yet its mysteries elude me. I only know it is no ordinary thing. With no male heirs after me, your father and I agreed to pass it on to you. Your fate is deep; perhaps you will fully unravel its secrets."