Chapter 1442: Chapter 1439: Shen Wanjing the Man

From observing Wan Daorong’s expression, Yang Fei knew that this Jade Scroll Shen Wanjing had given him was definitely no ordinary thing.

He decisively put it away, then immediately thanked Shen Wanjing, "Many thanks, Senior."

Shen Wanjing laughed, "I already said, you and I should address each other as equals. Just call me Senior Brother."

Yang Fei very much wanted to pull their relationship closer, but he also knew his own place.

The other party was a Half Step Dao Unity expert even more formidable than the Peak of Divinity Transformation Realm, a top figure of the Southern Domain whom even his own master Wan Daorong didn’t dare underestimate—how could he possibly put himself on equal footing and call him brother?

He hurriedly declined, saying, "This junior does not dare, Senior is..."

Before he could finish, he heard Wan Daorong interrupt, "Fei’er, Master Shen is a man of true temperament. Since he said so, it means he genuinely thinks highly of you in his heart. This is your good fortune, don’t refuse."

Yang Fei gave Wan Daorong a surprised look, saw Wan Daorong wearing a solemn expression and nodding at him, then turned his head to look at Shen Wanjing; Shen Wanjing was smiling broadly as he nodded back at him.

Yang Fei was overjoyed inside. Dropping all pretenses, he clasped his fists toward Shen Wanjing and called out, "Senior Brother."

Shen Wanjing burst into hearty laughter, "Good. From today on, you and I will address each other as senior and junior brothers. If you run into any trouble, just take out the Jade Scroll I gave you. Whoever refuses to give you face, crush the Jade Scroll to send me a message, and I’ll help you tidy him up."

Yang Fei only felt this person was wildly arrogant.

Having just arrived, he had never even heard of the big figures of the Southern Domain Cultivation World. Although Shen Wanjing’s strength was beyond doubt, and from Wan Daorong’s description of him it wasn’t hard to see that Shen Wanjing was one of the top big shots in the Southern Domain, now that he himself had managed to gain the favor of such a person, it was naturally a very good thing.

It was just that he still kept his guard up in his heart, feeling that he didn’t know Shen Wanjing well enough yet. What the other party was saying now might simply be polite words in front of others; he couldn’t take it too seriously.

Wan Daorong mentioned that he still had urgent matters to go back and handle, and declined Shen Wanjing’s further attempt to keep him.

Shen Wanjing personally escorted the two of them out of the Shen Family estate.

Wan Daorong and Yang Fei didn’t go back the way they came. Wan Ping and Wan Fang piloted the Spirit Ship to the Transmission Array. After both sides regrouped, the ship entered this large Transmission Array and was transported to the Zhongzhou World of the Southern Domain.

"Fei’er, you must keep that Jade Scroll safe, but at the same time, you must use it with caution. Don’t go thinking all the time that this Jade Scroll can protect you." On the ship, Wan Daorong reminded Yang Fei.

Yang Fei hurriedly nodded, "Master, rest assured, your disciple understands. In the Cultivation World, if you want to last long, you can only rely on yourself."

Wan Daorong nodded in approval, "As long as you understand." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Master, what is Shen Wanjing’s reputation and character like?" Yang Fei couldn’t help asking.

Wan Daorong gave him a glance and said, "The Shen Family is the largest Merchant Family in the Southern Domain Cultivation World. For a Merchant Family of Immortals to have been passed down for so many years and develop to such a prosperous and powerful state, what they rely on is their reputation. Shen Wanjing’s character is just as reliable as your master’s—mine."

The corner of Yang Fei’s mouth twitched.

This was the first time he’d seen Wan Daorong brag about himself so unreservedly.

However, based on the things he’d heard from Li Yue and the others in the Southern Domain Cultivation World, Wan Daorong’s reputation in the Southern Domain Cultivation World really was excellent.

Regardless of whether he was a hypocrite or not, at the very least he’d lived for over two thousand years and managed to maintain this persona. For someone like that, who valued his reputation above all else, now that he was approaching the end of his life, it was unlikely he’d ruin the fame he’d spent a lifetime building just to deceive him.

Thus Yang Fei still trusted Wan Daorong quite a bit. If not, he wouldn’t have dared come to the Southern Domain Cultivation World at this time at all.

"Oh right, Master, you said before that if not for an accident, Shen Wanjing would have had a great chance to become the first monstrous genius in tens of thousands of years in the Southern Domain Cultivation World to step into the Immortal Realm. What kind of accident was it, exactly?" Yang Fei asked. Since Shen Wanjing’s character was that good and he’d treated him so well, Yang Fei felt it necessary to properly understand this man’s past.

Upon hearing this, Wan Daorong’s expression dimmed, and he said with some regret, "Over a thousand years ago, in order to save his daughter, he went against the heavens and damaged his foundation."

Yang Fei’s expression turned solemn with respect.

People always said Cultivators were heartless, but in truth, those who were capable of feeling—whether mere mortals or long-lived Immortals—were all emotional beings.

A heaven-gifted genius like Shen Wanjing, since he had such a great chance of achieving the Immortal Realm, by rights should have been willing to do anything to become an Immortal—that was the image of a Cultivator Yang Fei had in his mind.

Yet for the sake of his daughter, he hadn’t hesitated to damage his foundation, essentially cutting himself off from the Immortal Path. A man so deeply affectionate and righteous was truly worthy of admiration and respect.

"Then was his daughter saved?" Yang Fei asked.

Wan Daorong let out a light sigh and shook his head, "Heaven’s mandate is hard to defy. Even with Shen Wanjing’s high Cultivation Realm, even with his immense wealth and the countless Exotic Treasures in his home, he still could not truly defy the heavens, and ultimately could not escape the mortal sorrow that Cultivators must face of white-haired parents sending off black-haired children."

Yang Fei said regretfully, "Was it because Shen Wanjing’s daughter couldn’t cultivate and was only a mortal, so she couldn’t break through the limit of her lifespan?"

Wan Daorong nodded, "Yes. This is a painful matter that the vast majority of Cultivators will experience. In the Cultivation World, even if a Cultivator has outstanding aptitude and talent, their offspring may not necessarily possess Spirit Root aptitude. This leads to a situation where the higher one’s own innate talent, the more likely it is that one’s descendants will be inferior."

Yang Fei nodded in understanding. He even suddenly felt a bit thankful that he, Qin Yanyang, and Tong Yunshu happened to not have any children yet.

If they had children, who knew whether those children would have the qualifications for Cultivation in the future? Even if they did, what their talent and aptitude would be was still an unknown.

If the three of them lived longer, but their children’s lifespans failed to match theirs, then the three of them would one day also face the mortal sorrow of white-haired parents sending off black-haired children.

Thinking of this, his expectations about whether he, Qin Yanyang, and Tong Yunshu could have children suddenly lessened.

"Did he only have that one daughter?" Yang Fei asked.

Wan Daorong nodded.

After thinking a bit, he added, "Not only did he have only that one daughter, but that daughter was born from him and a mortal woman."

"Huh?" Yang Fei was greatly shocked; that truly surprised him.

With Shen Wanjing’s family background and personal strength, finding any kind of Heavenly Pride Girl he wanted in the Cultivation World would have been an easy matter, so how did he end up taking a mortal as his wife?

Wan Daorong said with emotion, "You’re quite surprised, aren’t you?"

Yang Fei nodded, "Indeed very shocked, but even more so, it’s unexpected."

Wan Daorong nodded, "Anyone who hears about it would be astonished. But that’s the truth. Back then, Shen Wanjing fell in love with a woman, but that woman was just a mortal. The Shen Family was absolutely unwilling to allow him to be with a mere mortal woman. Yet he would rather give up his right of inheritance in the family and leave the Shen Family altogether, just to be with that woman. At that time, this caused quite a stir in the Cultivation World."

Yang Fei suddenly asked, "Then later on, did he ever look for another Dao Companion?"