Shen looked in the direction of the kitchen.

The three females were currently bustling about inside. Sun Su and Haung Lin had urged that they would like to personally make dinner. Xue’er had asked to help out.

Sun De and Shen were sitting at the table sipping on Green Bamboo Wine.

“What a nice wine!” Sun De exclaimed. Spirit wines were indeed too expensive for normal cultivators. Sun De had never had Green Bamboo Wine before.

“Haha, it is a good wine indeed. I wish I still had some wine that Brother Long made. That wine was truly fine!”

Shen also put out some fruit snacks on the table.

Shen had learned some information on the city and the black mountain range from Sun De.

The Sun siblings were born in Blue Cloud city and were very familiar with its surroundings.

“Brother Sun, although this city’s cultivators are a tier higher than Jade Leaf city, there really aren’t many cultivators of Soul Formation and above. Why is that?”

“Oh? Brother Shen doesn’t know the agreement between magical beasts and human cultivators?”

“Agreement? Brother Long nor Xue’er had mentioned it to me.” Shen was rather puzzled since this seemed to be an important piece of information.

Sun De didn’t know who this Brother Long was but he decided not to mind it.

“Haha, well I might as well explain it to Brother Shen. To prevent excessive loss on both sides, an agreement was made that determined cultivators and magical beasts of Soul Formation and above cannot wantonly murder each other. Unless you have a deep grudge or a very compelling reason. Otherwise you’d be branded an evil cultivator and be chased down by both sides.”

“Hmm, this is rather complicated…”

“Well yes. Of course, there are also evil magical beasts that didn’t follow the agreement. I hear that evil cultivators and rebel magical beasts have a joint city in the deep mountains somewhere. It is just a rumour though.”

“Oh? That sounds like an interesting place to visit.” Shen mused.

“Haha, Brother Shen must be joking! If a correct path cultivator was to go there, unless one was of at least Sky Immortal stage, it would be hard to escape with one’s life intact! I’d advise Brother Shen to stop that thought.”

As they chatted, a nice aroma drifted out from the kitchen. Soon after, the three ladies came out carrying various dishes and set them on the table.

“Well, I’m sorry we couldn’t offer anything on the likes of those top tier restaurants, but these still should be satisfactory. Please!” After sitting down, Haung Lin urged the group to start their meal.

“Not bad! Not bad at all!” Shen praised honestly. He took out more wine and shared around the table.

The group of five had a merry meal with a pleasant mood.

“Thank you for the meal. We’ll be sure to come visit again.” Xue’er smiled towards the three.

“We’ll be waiting! We might even see each other at the guild.” Sun De replied back to the leaving couple.

The couple bid goodbye to the Sun siblings and Haung Lin.

Shen led the way towards the centre of the city while holding Xue’er hand.

Shen and Xue’er were going to the market area of the city.

Shen had wanted a magic art he could use in battles.

“Big Brother Shen, what kind of magic do you want to buy? Sword arts? There are also elemental magic arts that allow you to control your innate element.”

“Hmm, a sword art seems ok. Let’s see what’s available!”

They walked on for a while to find another branch of the Soaring Phoenix Auction House.

““Welcome to Soaring Phoenix Auction House!””

Shen and Xue’er were led to a counter.

“How may I help you?”

“I wanted to see what kind of sword arts you have for sale.” Shen asked straight away.

“Of course. This way please.”

They were guided into a room. Soon after the couple sat down, another worker entered carrying a tray.

There were five small books on the tray.

The original worker started to explain the contents of the tray.

“These are the sword arts that we have for sale currently. They are all low grade martial skills priced at 100,000 low-grade spirit stones.

Anything above low grade martial skill is sold during the annual auction so these are the only ones you can buy right now. I apologise for the inconvenience. You can attend the auction that is to be in eight months’ time if you wish for a higher tier magic art.”

Shen looked at the title and explanations of the sword arts on the tray.

‘Gale Sword, Mountain Splitting Sword, Sword of the Fleeing Cloud, Swaying Grass Sword Art. Oh! Foundation Sword Manual! This one seems good. I do not have any experience after all.’

“Hmm, I’ll take this Foundation Sword Manual and the Gale Sword.”

‘Gale Sword seems to be a speed type sword art.’ Shen wanted to cultivate a proper sword art after training his foundation.

The worker was puzzled at the first choice; however, he did not question it.

“Xue’er, is there anything you want to buy?”

“No, I don’t need any magic arts, Big Brother Shen.” Xue’er indeed does not have to cultivate magic arts meant for humans. Her bloodline bestowed her with cultivation techniques and magic arts meant for magical beasts.

Shen paid the 2,000 mid-grade spirit stones and left the auction house. The next upcoming auction was too far away and the couple did not want to wait such a long time.

“I might have to go find something else to sell at this point haha.”

Xue’er laughed while walking next to Shen. “Father gave us a lot of spirit stones so we’ll be ok for a long time, Big Brother Shen.”

“Well! I want to go practice the sword arts for a bit. Xue’er, let’s go!”

Shen and Xue’er walked outside of the city and flew towards the mountains.

After confirming that no one was in sight or the vicinity, Shen embraced Xue’er and took a step in the west direction.

The next moment, Xue’er’s vision blurred and the couple was once again back on the small island they had come when Shen wanted to try cultivating.

“Xue’er, we totally forgot about the second stage of that competition. Do you still want to go see it?”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem all that interesting if only Foundation Building stage cultivators are fighting. Let’s not go, Big Brother Shen.”

“Alright, if Xue’er thinks so. Now, let me try this Foundation Sword Manual. Oh yeah, can magical beasts practice magic arts meant for humans?”

“Father said you can if there’s one suited for your physique. But I’ve yet to try. There are a lot of magic arts in my bloodline memories so I don’t need one though.”

Xue’er proceeded to set up that little hut that she stored previously. Little White and Xiao Yan also came out from the pet bag.

“Sister Xue’er! I was so bored inside. Play with me!”

“Hmph, I’m going to cultivate here. I must surpass that stupid fox!” Xiao Yan headed to the beach to find a comfortable spot while Little White pestered Xue’er.

“Ok, I’ll be on the beach if you need me. Xue’er, be careful ok.”

“Yes, Big Brother Shen, I will come back when it’s time to eat.” Xue’er smiled at Shen just like a good wife seeing her husband off to work.

One maiden and one spirit beast headed into the forest while the other spirit beast remained on the beach.

Shen took out some tables and chairs and placed them in front of the hut.

He also took out the Sword Manual and proceeded to read after sitting down in a comfortable posture.