“Chapter Forty-Six”

"Chapter Forty-Six"

"This damned bastard!"

"Chen Feng, wishing he could devour Shen Wang alive, glared with his swollen panda eyes, which only made him look somewhat comical."

"Shen Wang immediately cried out louder: 'See, see, he is still glaring at me! I’ve suffered great mental and emotional trauma, the Metaphysical Association must give me an explanation!'"

"The others exchanged glances, scrutinizing them, and then someone exclaimed in surprise."

"'Isn’t that Brother Chen?'"

"'How did he get beaten up like this…'"

"'Hurry up and help him get up.'"

"'Oh right, quick, quick! Brother Chen, are you alright?'"

"One person hurried to assist Chen Feng, inadvertently stepping on Qian Liangjun’s hand without noticing, only concerned about flattering Chen Feng: 'Brother Chen, are you okay? Do you need us to teach that guy a lesson?'"

"Hearing this, Shen Wang subtly shifted backwards: 'The Metaphysical Association is really unreasonable, deciding to punish me without even clarifying who's in the wrong?'"

"'Indeed,' someone disagreed, 'We should first understand the truth of the matter.'"

"'You and your rigid thinking! He’s been brought to the Metaphysical Association for investigation, how can he be a good person? This is Brother Chen we're talking about... his master is one of the three elders!'"

"'Even if his master is the president himself, it doesn’t justify ignoring the facts...'"

"Chen Feng looked intently at the person who had spoken, memorizing his face, and said, 'This man stole from our Qingcheng disciples and has connections with evil spirits, even secretly nurturing ghosts.'"

"The crowd gasped in shock: 'Raising ghosts!'"

"'Nurturing ghosts is taboo in the metaphysical world, this is…'"

"As they hesitated, Chen Feng pointed at Qian Liangjun, still on the ground: 'My brother here witnessed him dealing with evil spirits, the entire process. You’ll know once you ask him.'"

"Qian Liangjun, dazed and confused, lay unnoticed on the ground for a long time before finally being helped up."

"Jolted awake, Qian Liangjun was in pain all over, even his left fingers aching. Clutching his hand and grimacing, his first reaction was to lash out at Shen Wang: 'Shen Wang, how dare you harm a Qingcheng disciple! With both human and material evidence against you, let’s see how you talk your way out of this!'"

"No one helped Shen Wang up, so he got up by himself: 'You attacked me first. I was forced to defend myself; it was legitimate self-defense.'"

"Amidst the argument, several mature-looking middle-aged men approached. The leader scanned the crowd and asked in a stern voice, 'What’s all this commotion about?'"

"'Vice President.'"

"The younger members tensed up, respectfully bowed their heads, and greeted him. They glanced at each other, none daring to speak first."

"In the Metaphysical Association, it was well known that the Vice President was cold, eccentric, and unsympathetic, feared by everyone like students fear a strict principal."

"After seeing him, the previously confrontational crowd wilted, looking like chicks drenched in the rain."

"Hesitating for a few seconds, Chen Feng stepped forward and called out to the Vice President and one of the middle-aged men: 'Vice President, Master.'"

"After calling them, Chen Feng immediately exaggerated the incident and showed off the injuries he and Qian Liangjun had sustained to everyone present."

"Outrageous!" Chen Feng's master, after hearing the story and seeing their swollen faces, erupted in fury, "What audacity from a wicked sorcerer to flaunt power within the Metaphysical Association, showing no respect for us!"

The other two elders also frowned deeply, "Those who nurture evil spirits are usually cruel-hearted, committing numerous atrocities... If this is true, this person deserves to be stripped of his cultivation to prevent endless disasters."

The Vice President, who also deeply despised those who harbored evil spirits, scrutinized Shen Wang sharply.

Instinctively, Shen Wang covered his stomach, whimpering pitifully.

"Putting on an act, certainly not a good person!" The Vice President concluded internally and asked Shen Wang, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"I am innocent," Shen Wang protested loudly, "I neither harbored evil spirits nor stole anything. I understand your association is influential, but that doesn't justify such bullying."

"There's a witness who saw you trading with an evil spirit and stealing his talismans! The evidence is right here; what else can you argue?" Chen Feng interjected immediately.

Feeling something amiss, yet unable to back down, Qian Liangjun stepped forward and bowed to the elders, "I bear witness..."

Before he could finish, he was cut off, "Just your word is enough to convict me?"

"Then I can also claim, I witnessed you committing murder," Shen Wang pointed at Chen Feng's master.

"You committed arson," pointing at another elder.

"And you, robbery." After pointing out each elder present, he directed his finger at the Vice President, pondering momentarily.

Everyone present was alarmed by his brazen accusations, wishing they could just disappear.

Offending half of the Metaphysical Association's elders in one go, who exactly was this audacious man?

The elders, accused of murder, arson, and robbery, looked grim and displeased.

"'And you... um...' After pondering for a while, Shen Wang pointed at the Vice President and said, 'You stole 30 million from me, pay it back now! If you don’t, I’ll sue you!'"

"'Nonsense!' The Vice President's brow furrowed deeply as he shouted angrily."

"Shen Wang, feigning confusion, retorted, 'I have my witness right here, and yet you deny your crimes and resist obstinately?'"

"Although internally aware that Shen Wang was deliberately provoking him, the Vice President was infuriated, his face turning iron blue, especially upon noticing the younger members smirking."

"'What a mess this man has made of our respectable Metaphysical Association!' The Vice President, simmering with anger, asked Qian Liangjun, 'Is there any other evidence?'"

"Qian Liangjun was completely flabbergasted, unable to believe how brazen Shen Wang was in disrespecting the elders."

"Now questioned by the Vice President, he tasted bitterness in his mouth, 'Evidence...'"

"These were all fabrications out of thin air, where would the evidence come from?"

"Although he had seen Shen Wang communicating with the evil spirit intent on killing Liu Zhengyi, he was too weak at the time to gather any evidence."

"Muttering incoherently and unable to articulate anything, the Vice President's expression grew even more displeased, 'You can’t provide any evidence?'"

"Suddenly, Chen Feng had a flash of insight, 'Junior brother, you said he stole your talismans. Surely he hasn’t used them all up by now. Search him, and we'll find the unused talismans!'"

"Reminded by this, Qian Liangjun quickly followed suit, 'Yes, yes!'"

"'How could a low-level independent cultivator, without any sect or school, possess so many advanced talismans if not stolen? Just search him, and the truth will be revealed!'"

"All eyes turned to Shen Wang again."

Shen Wang suddenly covered his pockets, trembling, "No, don't, don't search me!"

Seeing his demeanor, Qian Liangjun and Chen Feng were pleased, knowing there must be a talisman in that pocket. They approached, one controlling Shen Wang's hands, the other reaching into his pocket.

Shen Wang looked terrified, letting Chen Feng pull out the contents of his pocket.

Then, everyone saw Chen Feng pull out a stack of...

Talisman papers?

Judging by their appearance and quality, they were of poor quality.

Everyone waited, only to see Chen Feng pull out a small bottle of cinnabar and a basic knowledge book. Apart from these, there was nothing else.

Not to mention high-level talismans, there wasn't even a low-level one.

Finally, someone couldn't help but question, "You don't have any talismans at all, what are you hiding?"

Shen Wang sighed deeply, "You bunch of filthy men, searching me, I feel tainted."

The others: "???"

This guy must be crazy.

Somehow, although everyone had initially trusted the confident Chen Feng and Qian Liangjun, after Shen Wang's act, they started to feel...

That their credibility wasn't as high as they thought.

The expressions of several elders were extremely unpleasant, whether it was because of Shen Wang's act or because of Chen Feng and Qian Liangjun.

Under unfriendly gazes, Qian Liangjun panicked, "Impossible, don’t you have many talismans? Using talismans like plain paper... why don’t you have any? Where did you hide them?"

Shen Wang defended boldly, "I used them all up."

"Impossible!" blurted Qian Liangjun, "So many talismans, how could you possibly use them all!"

"It's just a few talismans," Shen Wang puzzled, "Used up means used up. Can’t I just draw more? What’s the rush."

"They're not even anything special."

Talismans not special? This statement enraged everyone, not just Chen Feng and Qian Liangjun.

"What are you saying! Do you know how hard it is to draw talismans!"

"High-level talismans are rare and costly. At critical moments, they can not only assist us but possibly save our lives!"

"You, a country bumpkin still learning the basics of the metaphysical world, how would you understand the value of talismans!"

Seeing the anger he caused, Shen Wang was not alarmed but pleased, stroking his chin, "Are talismans really that precious?"

"Yes, they are that valuable!"

"What else did you think?"

Shen Wang nodded, "Okay."

Everyone thought he was convinced and about to admit his ignorance.

But Shen Wang's next words were, "Then I'll sell them for a higher price."

"Things are precious when scarce, right? Since you all say so, it would be a disservice not to raise the price after your enthusiastic explanations."

The others: "???"

"Who do you think you are? Drawing talismans requires strength and heavily relies on talent. Even with great strength, a faulty talisman is still a faulty talisman, let alone for a country bumpkin like you..."

"Exactly, such arrogance."

"You don’t even know the basics of the metaphysical world, yet you draw talismans."

Shen Wang, with his hands behind his back, looked up to the sky and sighed deeply, murmuring, "My master and I have endured years of rigorous training. Finally, I graduated, and he told me that I'm a one-in-a-million talisman drawing prodigy, born to draw talismans."

"He also instructed me to benefit the metaphysical community and humanity after stepping into the world... Having nothing but my skills, I can only draw and sell talismans for a living."

The crowd: "..."

"You don't believe me?" Shen Wang turned around, facing their incredulous looks.

The crowd silently nodded.

"If that's the case, I have no choice but to demonstrate my skill." Shen Wang brushed his sleeves. If he were in traditional attire, this gesture would be very dashing, but in a shirt, it just looked lonely, "Not only to prove myself but also to clear the false accusation of theft!"

Saying so, Shen Wang picked up the talisman paper and cinnabar from the ground. Looking around, he casually took a pen clipped to someone’s chest.

Holding the talisman paper in one hand and opening the cinnabar bottle with the other, he dipped the back end of the pen in the cinnabar and began drawing in one fluid motion!

When Shen Wang mentioned proving himself, everyone was prepared to see a joke, especially since he was casually attempting to draw a talisman on low-quality paper.

The fact that he used a regular pen instead of a special brush only added to their amusement.

Who doesn't prepare for drawing talismans with incense and a bath, laying out the paper smoothly, using the finest brushes and cinnabar... Even for sect leaders and elders, succeeding with half of ten talismans is remarkable.

Looking at Shen Wang's careless approach, it seemed less like drawing talismans and more like scribbling.

"What kind of talisman is this, with not a trace of spiritual energy..." In a few breaths, Shen Wang had completed half of it, and someone couldn't resist mocking as he was finishing.

His words were cut off as the final stroke landed.

The ordinary, spiritless talisman paper suddenly flashed with a layer of white light. No one knew what happened, but the talisman now radiated an inner glow.

"Did it, did it work?!"

"What kind of talisman is this? It looks no less in grade than those I've used..."

"Is he even human? How can such a haphazard drawing succeed! I prepare with incense and baths, focus my mind, and still can't succeed even once!"

Shen Wang flicked the talisman in his hand, sighing, "Pity, the pen wasn’t good enough, didn’t draw it well."

The others were speechless with his Versailles-like attitude. If his 'not good enough' pen did this, what were they using? Divine pens to draw on toilet paper?

As Shen Wang spoke, he casually tossed the talisman, and several bolts of heavenly thunder rolled, striking the ground.

"Damn it! You bastard!"

Shen Wang jumped in surprise, looking at the red-eyed, furious person.

"You're wasting heavenly materials, the Five Thunder Talisman! You're playing around with a Five Thunder Talisman! You! You!"

Shen Wang also felt wronged, "If I didn’t prove it was mine, wouldn’t you say I stole it again? Wuu, I can't bear this injustice."

Hearing this, the crowd, in their bizarre mood, recalled someone accusing him of stealing their high-grade talismans.

Looking at Shen Wang, who could draw a Five Thunder Talisman with a trashy pen, and then at Qian Liangjun, who claimed his talismans were stolen, the crowd's expressions became subtly complicated.

Saying he stole talismans... It might be more plausible to say he stole elixirs.