The Truth of The Clan

The [Towering Cloud Step] at its initial form was already the level Le Feng revealed on that day.

Such smooth progress from his martial arts form gave rise to Chen Yu's pondering. The very first thing he thought of was still the [Metal Plow Fist].

Ever since that mysterious heart fused with him, it could be said that his physical constitution had changed greatly. It was as if he had shed his mortal body and exchanged his bones entirely.

When he first practiced the [Metal Plow Fist], he had a kind of smooth and unhindered feeling, as if he had the help of a deity. Now, this feeling was reflected on the [Towering Cloud Step] once more.

"[Metal Plow Fist], [Towering Cloud Step], 'Fiendish Cloud Boxing Technique'... I managed to practice these three kinds of martial arts skills that lean towards 'Physical-type Techniques' very smoothly."

Chen Yu finally found the points they had in common.

As a martial arts form technique, the [Towering Cloud Step] essentially couldn't break away from using an individual's body. Even though it had a corresponding Mental Technique and compatible Inner Breath, they only assisted the [Towering Cloud Step].

On the other hand, Chen Yu's practice was slower with respect to the "Fiendish Cloud Mental Technique".

To say that it was slower was a comparative measure, it was no better than being "ordinary".

"The 'Fiendish Cloud Mental Technique' was inclined towards Inner Breath, stressing on one's inner being. Therefore, it has certain requirements towards one's aptitude. But the reason why I find it difficult is because it is said that I only have a Half Soul Physique in terms of aptitude."

The more Chen Yu thought about it, the clearer it became to him.

His own innate skill was reflected in the field of "Physical Technique".

Inner Breath was essentially a kind of unusual energy and was another field, yet Chen Yu was faced with many limitations with respect to aptitude in this field.

In the end, Chen Yu still managed to cultivate his Inner Breath successfully through the "Fiendish Cloud Mental Technique". The main reason was because the foundation of his physical constitution was surprisingly solid, and far surpassed the requirements of the Connective Meridian stage. It even comprehended the inner meaning of the complementary "Fiendish Cloud Boxing Technique".

Chen Yu could really be considered to be a "Physical Technique genius" if one were to look at it this way.

It was no wonder that the old man with the reddened face in the Heavenly Martial Pavilion recommended the [Bronze Statue Technique] to him thanks to it.

Chen Yu decided to find the time to test the [Bronze Statue Technique] out again.

…

In the lively bazaar amongst the stream of people in Xiangyang City.

Chen Yu was walking leisurely.

This was the place where he grew up over the periods of his childhood and youth. Every single brick and roof tile was incredibly familiar to him.

This place had retained the childhood phases Mu Xueqing and him once spent, as well as other memories ever since they were acquainted with one another up until they frolicked about.

Naturally, his clan, as well as the people dearest to him, were here.

"I've returned."

Chen Yu was filled with expectation in his heart. He hadn't returned home in close to a year, but he returned with a piece of good news this time.

As one of the three influential clans of Xiangyang City, the "Chen Clan" occupied an official residence, taking up a thousand fields.

There was an endless stream of people at the gate paying the Chen Clan a visit every day.

"You are… Young Noble Chen Yu?"

The servant on duty as gatekeeper blurted out in surprise after sizing him up twice.

It wasn't that their eyes were dull, but rather, Chen Yu's recent changes were really too great!

It went without saying that fourteen to fifteen years old was the age where one's body grew. Besides, Chen Yu's body had transformed internally and externally after fusing with the mysterious heart.

"Is the Clan Head, as well as my parents in their residences?"

Chen Yu had a relaxed expression as he stepped across into the official residence.

He felt comfortable from head to toe now that he had returned home, becoming incomparably amiable.

"The Clan Head and the others are there. I will announce your arrival right away…" replied the servant keeping guard.

"There's no need to. I can enter alone," Chen Yu smiled and said.

He was secretly thinking in his heart that the Clan Head and his parents would definitely be pleasantly surprised by the news of him making a break through to the Connective Meridian stage and being established in the sect.

Chen Yu passed through a few corridors along familiar doors and old paths before he entered his family's courtyard.

A middle-aged married couple was currently steeping tea in the courtyard.

"Father, Mother…"

The sound of a young man broke the tranquility in the courtyard.

"Yu'er?"

Chen Tiande, Father Chen, stood up abruptly and was pleasantly surprised as he stared at Chen Yu.

Chen Tiande was approximately fourty years old, yet he still looked handsome with a straight posture and eyes that were bright and full of expression.

"Son, it's been more than a year. You are finally willing to make a trip home."

The teacup in Liu Wen, Mother Chen's hands almost fell to the ground.

Father and Mother Chen were dressed rather appropriately, and their complexions were much younger than in reality.

Mother Chen, Liu Wen in particular, was a person who was almost forty years old. She had fair skin and shining eyes, yet she was still charming. It seemed as though she was only thirty or so years old at the most.

In the courtyard, the family of three were joyous and harmonious as they started reminiscing.

"Yu'er has really changed a lot in a year…"

Mother Chen's eyes stopped over on her son's body from beginning to the end.

Chen Yu had grown a large chunk in height and body size, while his temperament and grace had also changed significantly.

In the past, Chen Yu gave people the feeling of being slightly depressed, yet the feeling he exuded today was one where he was full of youthful energy, as well as having a reserved divine light.

Chen Yu announced the news after drinking a mouthful of tea.

"Oh? You've already ascended to the Connective Meridian stage and established yourself in the outer sect."

Father and Mother Chen exchanged a glance. Other than being happy, they felt that it was only a bit unexpected to hear such a piece of news.

Hmm?

Chen Yu sensed that something was amiss somewhere.

In the ordinary course of events, his parents should be very pleasantly surprised now that he had finally made a breakthrough to the Connective Meridian stage since his clan had placed high hopes on him and sent him to a sect.

But his parents weren't that pleasantly surprised like he had anticipated as they felt more unexpected than surprised.

Could it be that his parents didn't place too much hope on him?

"Yu'er ah, when you passed the primary sect election three years ago, we learned that you have a 'Half Soul Physique'."

Father Chen Tiande might have seen Chen Yu's suspicions, which was why he explained the reason behind their surprise.

"As expected," Chen Yu said in his heart. His parents didn't have excessive expectations that he could have such great achievements.

"True cultivation physiques are known as 'Soul Physiques'. This kind of physique is naturally suited to cultivation as the feeling of qi is stronger, thereby making it even easier for them to open up their meridians. The key point is that they can interact with the world's vital energy in their follow-up advancements, and possess an advantage blessed by the heavens," Father Chen sighed as he explained.

"Then what about my Half Soul Physique?" Chen Yu questioned.

"Soul Physiques favour devoting themselves to cultivation, and they too have differences in their ranks. I won't speak about this for now. Below the Soul Physique is the Temporal Physiques that the overwhelming majority of us have. It isn't that those who possess the Temporal Physique can't cultivate, but rather, it is extremely difficult and they practically have close to no feeling of qi. It is said that the limit Temporal Physiques can reach is the Organ Tempering stage," Father Chen supplemented.

It was very evident that Father and Mother Chen ought to have Temporal Physiques.

"Your Half Soul Physique lies between the Temporal and Soul Physique. To put it in another way, it is a kind of damaged Soul Physique, being not that much stronger than that of the Temporal Physique. Generally speaking, this kind of physique can't remain that long in a sect. Even if expenses were paid for that individual to advance to the Connective Meridian and Organ Tempering stage, there is a limitation to their future achievements as well."

When he reached this point, Father and Mother Chen looked at Chen Yu in extreme amazement.

It seemed as though the duo practically never thought that Chen Yu could breakthrough to the Connective Meridian stage in three years.

"I understand." Chen Yu bitterly laughed in his heart. In a flash of understanding, he figured many things out.

One of those particular details was that the clan practically didn't provide Chen Yu with any assistance in terms of resources in the three years he had been in the sect, regardless of how arduously he worked hard.

The difference between him, Wang Lingyun, and Le Feng were like heaven and earth apart.

Chen Yu was very naive in the past and thought that the duo were young masters in the clan, which was why they could only get such great assistance in terms of resources.

He now understood the truth.

His clan didn't have any hope towards Chen Yu from the start, and had even abandoned cultivating him.

...

At night, the Chen Clan arranged a celebratory banquet for Chen Yu's return.

Regardless of what the case was, the establishment of a child of the Chen Clan in a sect was worth celebrating.

Other than Father and Mother Chen, as well as Clan Head "Chen Tianwei", there were a few Clan Elders who held comparatively higher ranks in the clan attending the banquet.

There was a faint hint of disappointment in Chen Yu's heart.

The Clan Head and the Clan Elders didn't seem to be that pleasantly surprised by him making a breakthrough to the Connective Meridian stage.

The most it was could be considered to be a little unexpected joy.

Naturally, even if these older generations on the scene had Temporal Physiques or Half Soul Physiques, they had cultivated for several dozens of years and many of them were at the Connective Meridian stage.

"Hehe, so you're that Older Cousin Chen Yu."

A voice resembling silver bells could be heard.

A young lady wearing a floral skirt walked into the Banquet Hall. Even though her looks weren't like that of Mu Xueqing's, she was somewhat lively and beautiful as well.

Older Cousin? When did I have this Younger Cousin?

Chen Yu went blank for a moment.

"Ying'er, why have you come?"

The Clan Head stood up at once with a concerned and caring expression on his face.

The few remaining Clan Elders actually stood up in succession and appeared to be extremely polite as they greeted the young lady wearing the floral skirt.

That degree of importance they attached to her was far superior than that of what they gave Chen Yu.

"This is?"

Chen Yu only felt that this young lady sounded a little familiar, including her name.

"This is the adopted daughter your Uncle took in. You met her when you were young. Do you have an impression of her?" Father Chen Tiande explained.

Chen Yu carefully recalled and only had a vague impression of her.

From what he remembered, Clan Head Chen Tianwei, who was also Chen Yu's Uncle, only had one son at the knee. Unfortunately, this son didn't have any aptitudes in practicing martial arts, so he was travelling outside as a salesman in heart and soul.

From some period in time, when Chen Yu was roughly three or four years old, Clan Head Chen Tianwei had taken an "adopted daughter" in, so this Ying'er should be the one.

But a few years later, that adopted daughter suddenly disappeared from everyone's field of view.

At that time, Chen Yu was only a child, and there were many people of the same age in the clan, so he didn't really pay attention to them that much.

What was going on right now?

That adopted daughter, who had disappeared for a long time, had emerged once more. It seemed as though all the higher ups in the clan were unanimously singing her praises.

"I'm Ying'er, Chen Ying'er."

The young lady in the floral skirt said rather idly as though they were old friends and whispered, "I've heard of you, the Older Cousin who couldn't make something of himself, a long time ago. I never thought that you actually broke through to the Connective Meridian stage right now. It really is unexpected…"

Eh… an Older Cousin who couldn't make something of himself?

Chen Yu looked quite stunned. This Chen Ying'er really was impolite.

"Yu'er, don't take offense. Ying'er has a carefree personality and a knife-like mouth…" said Clan Head Chen Tianwei to Chen Yu with a smile on his face.

He was worried Chen Ying'er's words hurt Chen Yu's pride, but his words still faintly expressed how he pampered Chen Ying'er and took her side.

"Mother, what's this Chen Ying'er all about?" Chen Yu inquired in a low voice.

"You're talking about Ying'er? She had astonishing aptitudes ever since she was a kid. She stepped into the Body Tempering stage around seven or eight years old, and was sent to the 'Water Moon Faction' located in the eastern part of the state of Chu. She's only fourteen years old right now, yet she had ascended to the late Connective Meridian stage. It is said that she possesses a 'mid-ranked Soul Physique'. The Elder of the Water Moon Faction took her in as his disciple and she's already an inner sect disciple…" Mother Chen said with a smile on her face.

As she spoke, she had a fond appearance towards Chen Ying'er.

Water Moon Faction? Late Connective Meridian stage? Inner sect disciple?

This series of news startled Chen Yu, and the shock he received wasn't small.

One had to know that this Chen Ying'er was a year younger than he was.

He finally comprehended things thoroughly and clearly as to why the Clan Head and his parents didn't feel that pleasantly surprised about the news surrounding his ascension to the Connective Meridian stage.

As it turned out, the truth about everything was here!

The Chen Clan had actually groomed such a woman favoured by the heavens in secret.

"Yu'er, you're officially acquainted with Ying'er. In the past, we never made her public because we were worried enemy clans would conspire to murder her since Ying'er has am outstanding aptitude. Now, we don't need to be overly cautious since Ying'er has become a disciple of the Sect Elder," Clan Head Chen Tianwei said with a smile.

Chen Yu nodded, but he silently cursed in his heart. This Chen Ying'er was being protected very well. He pitied his past self who had to bear Wang Lingyun's persecution.

"Little Older Cousin."

Chen Ying'er curled her lips, and in a tone depicting she was proud of her age and experience, she said, "If you have anything you don't understand in martial arts in the future, you can consult me for guidance!"

Chen Yu was truly speechless.