Chapter 1874: Great Filial Son Chu Shen

On Three Realms Island, in the cultivator residential area, Lu Ye and Chu Shen sat facing each other in Lu Ye's bamboo house. Several small dishes and two pots of fine wine adorned the table as they enjoyed their drinks and conversation.

Since returning yesterday after evacuating from Zixuan, Lu Ye had brought the Minor Constellation Palace back with him. He readjusted the power of this supreme treasure's subordinate artifact and placed it beneath Three Realms Island.

Only a little over half a month had passed since he had taken the Minor Constellation Palace to Zixuan Island and installed it there. Therefore, although there was some slight impact on Three Realms Island, it was not significant. Many people hadn't even noticed any major changes on Three Realms Island.

Today, Lu Ye had specifically invited Chu Shen for a meal. There was no formality; the two brothers simply ate, drank, and chatted casually. Lu Ye didn't even explicitly thank him, as some things were better kept in the heart than expressed aloud. Chu Shen didn't mention it either, but Lu Ye knew that Nine-Colors' appearance on Myriad Manifestations Island that day was no coincidence; such coincidences simply didn't happen in this world. If anyone in this world could have persuaded Nine-Colors, it could only have been Chu Shen.

"How long until you reach the peak of Constellation?" Lu Ye casually asked, popping a nut into his mouth.

Chu Shen chuckled, "Soon, within two or three years."

Since arriving at Three Realms Island, Chu Shen had mostly kept to himself, constantly in seclusion for cultivation. His exceptional talent, combined with the island's superior cultivation environment and abundant resources, meant his progress was remarkably fast. He hadn't always been like this. As a youth, he was impulsive and rebellious, often running away from home. But ever since the loss of Peerless Island, Chu Shen had realized the importance of his own strength, which allowed him to calm down and strive for improvement. A cultivator's path to growth always involves many hardships; this is true for everyone. It is precisely through the tempering of these difficulties that one's character becomes more stable.

Aside from Chu Shen, some of the Kyushu Constellation cultivators who were among the first to arrive with Lu Ye on Three Realms Island had already reached the late Constellation stage. Their cultivation strength had significantly improved since they first came to the Myriad Manifestations Ocean.

Lu Ye nodded. "I'm planning a trip to Chime Realm. What do you think I should bring?"

Nine-Colors had intervened to help him resolve such a major crisis. At the time, Lu Ye couldn't express his gratitude because the Spirit Island Battle was still ongoing, so he had immediately rushed back to Zixuan Island. Now that everything had settled, it was natural for him to visit Chime Realm and thank Nine-Colors in person. Going empty-handed would be inappropriate, so Lu Ye wondered if he should bring some thank-you gifts. But what could possibly interest a Sunblaze cultivator? After much thought, Lu Ye concluded he would have to ask Chu Shen, as a son knows his mother best.

"You don't need to bring anything. Just go, Big Brother, and I'll accompany you when the time comes," Chu Shen waved his hand.

"No, I should bring something. Give me some ideas," Lu Ye insisted. He knew Chu Shen was just being polite by saying he didn't need to bring anything. "Does Senior Nine-Colors have any particular preferences?"

Chu Shen scratched his head. "I honestly don't know. I've never seen Mother particularly like anything."

"Think carefully. You're Nine-Colors' son, after all. How could you not know what your own mother likes?"

Chu Shen pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up. Lu Ye immediately looked at him expectantly.

"How about Big Brother finds a Dao companion for my mother? She's been alone her whole life; it's time someone was by her side."

Lu Ye's mouth twitched. "What a filial son," he thought. Could he actually say something like that? Besides, where would he find a Dao companion for Nine-Colors? Nine-Colors was a Sunblaze, and only another Sunblaze could be worthy of her.

He quickly felt something was off and frowned. "If Senior Nine-Colors has been alone her whole life, then where did you come from?"

Chu Shen chuckled. "My mother found me. We're not biological mother and son."

Lu Ye's eyes widened in surprise. All this time, he had assumed Chu Shen and Nine-Colors were biological mother and son. He was stunned to learn they weren't; Chu Shen would never joke about such a thing.

Chu Shen, however, was unfazed. "I've known since I was very little. Mother never hid it from me. According to her, decades ago, when she was traveling through a certain realm, she saw me, still an infant, placed in a wooden basin, drifting downstream. Jackals prowled along both banks, eyeing me predatory. If no one had intervened, I would have either drowned or been eaten by them. Unable to bear it, she took me in and cared for me diligently. My name comes from the 'Shen' character in that realm's name, and my mother found me in a small country within that realm called Chu. So, she named me Chu Shen."

Lu Ye blinked. "I thought you took your father's surname."

Chu Shen smiled. "I don't even know who my father is." At this point, Chu Shen suddenly said, "If Big Brother really insists on bringing a gift, you might as well give it to Aunt Yue. Mother probably doesn't want anything, so whatever you give her, she won't care. But if Big Brother gives it to Aunt Yue, the effect will be the same."

Lu Ye pressed, "So, what are Aunt Yue's interests?"

Chu Shen thought for a moment and replied, "As far as I know, Aunt Yue has prospects of reaching Sunblaze, so the God-Refining Pills should be good. Oh, and a few months ago, Aunt Yue seemed to be looking for treasures that could improve the quality of her Dharma Source. I'm not sure if she found any."

With that, Lu Ye had an idea. Indeed, for someone at Aunt Yue's peak Moonblaze cultivation, premium God-Refining Pills would undoubtedly be an excellent gift.

Three Realms Island's premium God-Refining Pills were now a hallmark, coveted by countless peak Moonblaze cultivators across the vast Myriad Manifestations Ocean. Although the pills were not difficult to refine on the island, with the pill gourd, theoretically, they could be produced in unlimited quantities as long as there were enough raw materials. However, they certainly couldn't be supplied in unlimited quantities to outsiders. Firstly, it would attract undue attention, and secondly, it would hinder Shui Yuan's cultivation. Especially in recent years, after Three Realms Island became established, Shui Yuan's main purpose in using the pill furnace to refine spirit pills was to meet the cultivation needs of their own cultivators. Selling them was secondary, as Three Realms Island no longer relied on selling spirit pills to earn spirit jade. With the addition of the Flower Clan, they could refine common spirit pills of good quality, but producing premium spirit pills still depended on luck.

Therefore, currently, there was only one way for Three Realms Island to sell premium God-Refining Pills externally: the annual Five-Colors Merchant Guild auction. Each time, a large number of Moonblaze cultivators would attend, and a single bottle of premium God-Refining Pills could be bid up to a very high price. This time of year was also when Three Realms Island was at its liveliest. While there were limited auctions for outsiders, it was simple for Lu Ye to acquire them; he could just take as many as he needed.

As for treasures that could enhance the quality of one's Dharma Source... that was a sore subject. Lu Ye had asked the Myriad Manifestations Merchant Guild to keep an eye out for such treasures several years ago, but so far, there had been no news. Even the massive treasury on Zixuan Island didn't contain such a treasure. Instead, he had found one in Hu Guang's storage ring; it must have been Hu Guang's personal stash. Lu Ye had originally intended to refine it later to improve his own Dharma Source quality, which would slightly boost his cultivation efficiency. Now, it seemed he wouldn't need to refine it and could simply give it to Aunt Yue as a gift. Although the treasure was rare, the incident that day would have been difficult to resolve without Nine-Colors' intervention. In the future, Three Realms Island would continue to develop on the Myriad Manifestations Ocean, and the protection of Chime Realm would be indispensable.

The next day, Lu Ye gathered the gifts and set off with Chu Shen, leaving the Myriad Manifestations Ocean and heading towards Chime Realm. The journey was smooth and uneventful. Chu Shen hadn't returned to Chime Realm for many years, so he was quite excited along the way.

Upon arriving at Chime Realm, there was no need for formalities. Led by Chu Shen, they entered the realm directly. Myriad Hues Sect on Myriad Hues Mountain was the largest sect in Chime Realm, and also Nine-Colors' sect. When Chu Shen and Lu Ye arrived, Aunt Yue was already waiting in front of a grand hall, clearly having sensed Chu Shen's return.

"Aunt Yue!" Chu Shen called out, stepping forward to greet her.

"It's rare for you to even think of coming back to visit," Aunt Yue said with a slight smile. "I thought once you left Chime Realm, you'd be like a bird flying high and never want to return."

Chu Shen's face fell slightly. "Wasn't I just engrossed in cultivation, completely lost to myself? When I was younger, I was ignorant and caused Mother and Aunt Yue a lot of worry. Now that I've grown up, I finally understand that home is where I truly belong."

Aunt Yue blinked, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Shen'er has truly grown up." She then looked up at Lu Ye, who was standing behind Chu Shen. Lu Ye quickly bowed. "Aunt Yue!"

Since Chu Shen called her 'Big Brother,' Lu Ye naturally followed suit, addressing her the same way. Although their cultivation levels were similar, Aunt Yue was indeed much older. Aunt Yue paused, momentarily unsure how to respond. Previously, Lu Ye had addressed her as 'fellow Daoist.' Now, she couldn't simply call him by his name, as they weren't that familiar yet. She could only nod. "Island Master Lu." The title of 'foremost among those below Sunblaze' was one even she dared not ignore; it was a reputation earned through genuine battles.

"Aunt Yue, this is a gift Big Brother brought for you." Chu Shen quickly handed over a storage ring he had prepared in advance.

Aunt Yue smiled faintly. "It's good you came; you didn't need to bring gifts." Despite her words, she didn't decline, reaching out to accept it. After a casual inspection, her eyes lit up. "You're very thoughtful." Not to mention how rare the treasure that could enhance Dharma Source quality was, even the premium God-Refining Pills were exactly what she needed most at the moment. One could say Lu Ye's gifts perfectly matched her desires.

Seeing this, Lu Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Aunt Yue accepting the gifts undoubtedly showed her attitude: she didn't treat him as an outsider. Then again, if they had considered him an outsider, Nine-Colors wouldn't have appeared on Myriad Manifestations Island that day, and Aunt Yue wouldn't have made a special trip to Three Realms Island.

"Where's Mother?" Chu Shen asked, not seeing Nine-Colors.

"She's inside," Aunt Yue replied with a slight smile.

"Mother!" Chu Shen exclaimed, rushing into the great hall like a young wife returning home.

"Island Master Lu, please come in," Aunt Yue gestured with her hand.

"Thank you," Lu Ye said, following Aunt Yue into the hall. Inside the hall, Lu Ye immediately saw a female figure seated at the head of the room. Chu Shen stood beside her, chatting cheerfully. Lu Ye focused his gaze on Nine-Colors' face and was immediately astonished, for he still couldn't make out her features. Just like outside Myriad Manifestations Island that day, her face was enveloped in a hazy glow. Observing Chu Shen's reaction, it was clear that what he saw was different from Lu Ye's perception. Thus, Lu Ye vaguely suspected that Nine-Colors had employed some technique to conceal her face from him. But why? Lu Ye was quite perplexed.