Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Stepping outside, Shen Wang slapped a speed-boosting talisman on his leg and affixed an invisibility talisman to himself.

With a slight exertion of his long and straight legs, outlining an attractive contour, he whooshed off like an arrow released from a bow.

On the busy road with flowing traffic, no one noticed a strangely dressed person flash by their windows, like a running potted plant, leaving only a blur faster than the cars.

The wind whistling past his ears, Shen Wang sighed deeply: "Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage can one fly with a sword. It's so inconvenient."

Now, he had to rely solely on his legs for travel... Thinking of the Liu Jin Stone and Qing Han Stone in his backyard, Shen Wang became even more determined to gather more materials and quickly craft his personal magical weapon.

The idea of flying with a sword was just too appealing.

Following the phone's GPS, Shen Wang ran for over half an hour and finally arrived at his destination: Qingcheng Mountain.

As a renowned major sect in the entire southwest region, Qingcheng Mountain literally owned a small mountain, constantly visited by people for sightseeing and worship.

Shen Wang moved along with the crowd and soon found the Taoist temple of Qingcheng Mountain.

Looking at the lavishly decorated, resplendent Taoist temple, Shen Wang's eyes lit up: "Such fancy decor, they must be really wealthy."

The spiritual energy in Qingcheng Mountain was denser than in the city, and even the ancestral master enshrined in the temple had absorbed some due to years of incense and worship.

Gazing at the ancestral master statue, Shen Wang reluctantly averted his eyes: "This statue is too big. Moving it would surely be noticed immediately."

Little Daoist monks bustled about in the temple. Shen Wang casually followed one, then switched to follow others, meandering through various buildings.

The throng of tourists gradually dwindled as he went further, and the places became more secluded. Shen Wang knew he was now inside Qingcheng Mountain.

As he expected, the buildings open to visitors were just the outer structures of Qingcheng Mountain, with the inner sect hidden deep in the mountains, inaccessible to tourists.

While Shen Wang was hesitating about which way to go, several people hurried past him: "How is Junior Brother Chen Feng now?"

"What exactly happened last night... Didn’t anyone in the sect notice anything unusual?"

"Who knows? They say Junior Brother Chen Feng offended a powerful enemy outside, and that enemy came for revenge."

"I’ve always said his arrogant and haughty nature would lead to trouble someday..."

"Junior, shut up! If the sect leader hears you, do you still want to continue your cultivation?"

All of them tensed up, closed their mouths, and said no more, just hurried forward.

Shen Wang's eyes flickered, and he quietly followed these people.

The group traveled along a long, narrow mountain path, stepping on a fine cobblestone walkway that wound and twisted, finally stopping at the gate of a simple and quaint courtyard.

"Junior Brother Chen Feng, your Senior Brother is here to see you," the leader announced loudly at the entrance, while the others stood respectfully behind him.

From their demeanor, it seemed less like a visit to an injured junior and more like paying respects to an elder.

There was no response from the courtyard for a long time. Just as Shen Wang was getting impatient, the distant door slowly opened, and the person opening it spoke with lowered eyes and bowed head: "The Sect Leader invites the Senior Brothers inside."

The visitors exchanged relieved glances: "Thank you, Junior Brother."

Fortunately, they hadn't done or said anything inappropriate.

After straightening their clothes, they entered the courtyard with even more deference, followed closely by Shen Wang.

As the courtyard gate closed gradually, Shen Wang sensed a tense atmosphere inside, along with a lingering smell of blood, unsure if it belonged to Chen Feng or someone punished by the Qingcheng Mountain Sect Leader.

Entering Chen Feng's bedroom, the smell of blood grew stronger. Shen Wang couldn't help frowning but immediately smiled upon seeing the barely alive Chen Feng on the bed.

In previous encounters, Chen Feng was always surrounded by flatterers, exuding arrogance. Now, he lay pale and weak in bed, devoid of his earlier haughtiness.

Shen Wang almost burst out laughing in schadenfreude.

Ignoring his nominal Senior Brothers, Chen Feng whined to the person sitting beside his bed: "Master, I'm in so much pain. Can I have another one of those pills?"

"That's a miracle cure, and we only have a few. You can't just eat them like candy," the person sitting beside the bed scolded with a straight face, but his eyes were full of pity.

This person must be the Qingcheng Mountain Sect Leader, Shen Wang surmised, narrowing his eyes.

The Qingcheng Mountain Sect Leader appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, with raised eyebrows, thin lips, and a long, thin face that exuded selfishness and indifference. He spoke softly to comfort Chen Feng but turned to his disciples with a cold and stern expression.

The other disciples, accustomed to the Sect Leader's quick changes of demeanor, were not surprised by his double standards and simply bowed their heads deeper.

The Sect Leader looked at his disciples with inscrutable eyes: "Why are you here?"

The leading disciple answered, "We heard Junior Brother Chen Feng was injured and came to visit him out of concern. We've put together a modest gift, hoping it might aid in his recovery."

Saying this, he stepped forward and presented a box with both hands.

The Sect Leader opened it and his cold expression softened slightly: "Good, it's the thought that counts."

Inside was a high-quality healing elixir.

The elixir was handed to a young monk who opened the door, and after verifying it, the Sect Leader then fed it to Chen Feng.

This entire process was conducted in front of the disciples.

The disciples all looked respectful, showing no sign of anger at being suspected. The Sect Leader continued, "Chen Feng is your junior brother and now injured. He needs your help. It's reassuring to see such unity and affection among you."

"If something had happened to him..." The Sect Leader's gaze hardened, his aura suddenly intensifying, "If I find any clue, I swear the culprit will not die a good death!"

Under the intense aura, the disciples knelt down with a thud, unable to raise their heads: "Yes, Master!"

After admonishing his disciples, the Sect Leader turned back, speaking gently to Chen Feng: "Xiao Feng, rest well. Don't worry, I will find a way to restore your cultivation."

Chen Feng clenched his teeth: "Master, please hurry. I don't want to become a mortal!"

The Sect Leader affectionately patted Chen Feng's head and stood up: "You've seen your junior brother, and he needs to rest. Let's not disturb him further."

With that, he led the disciples away.

Once everyone had left, Shen Wang looked at Chen Feng, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his lips.

As Chen Feng closed his eyes in exhaustion, Shen Wang took out a bottle of grey powder, sprinkling it evenly on the bed and deliberately on the tea cup on the bedside table.

After finishing, Shen Wang promptly turned and left, following the direction the Sect Leader had gone.

He first saw the disciples, walking slowly, their expressions gloomy and silent. As Shen Wang passed them to continue following the Sect Leader, he suddenly heard a soft comment.

"If only Uncle Li hadn't left..."

"Shush! Don't mention this again! It's taboo!"

Shen Wang's mind stirred, deep in thought.

There was only one path to their destination. Shen Wang quickly spotted the sect leader's figure and hurried to follow. Before he could get close, the sect leader suddenly turned with a stern expression: "Who's there!"

Shen Wang: "!!!"

"Could I have been discovered?"

The sect leader's muscles tensed, his eyes like those of a venomous snake, he scanned the surroundings with a sinister gaze: "I know you're here. You hurt my disciple and dare to linger in Qingcheng Mountain!"

"If I catch you, I'll tear you to pieces and scatter your soul!"

A gust of wind carrying leaves spun around, the surroundings eerily quiet, nothing else happened.

The sect leader frowned and took out a brand new phone, making a call: "Notify everyone, full martial law in Qingcheng Mountain. Strictly inspect all visitors. Any cultivator found should be detained without question!"

Whatever was said on the other end of the phone made the sect leader snort coldly: "I said last night, someone dared to come here and cripple my disciple. Who's to say there won't be another victim?"

"If anyone can just breach Qingcheng Mountain, where is the dignity of our sect?"

"No matter their identity, whether from the Metaphysical Association or the Special Department, any outsider cultivator found must be detained immediately for my personal interrogation!"

After hanging up, the sect leader's gaze swept around menacingly. His aura surged suddenly, attacking a nearby old tree, sending leaves flying everywhere.

After furiously beating the air, the sect leader, seething with anger, flung his sleeves and left.

As he left, Shen Wang, who had unknowingly climbed to the top of a tree, sensed something and saw a piece of black clothing peeking out from behind another old tree.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," thought Shen Wang, pretending not to see it. He continued following the sect leader, internally mocking: "Wearing such conspicuous black clothes in broad daylight, are they asking to be discovered?"

Patting his bright red coat and adjusting his fluorescent green shirt, stepping in purple sneakers, Shen Wang genuinely believed that the person in black nightwear during the day was simply absurd.

Perhaps worried about being followed, the sect leader kept stopping and starting, continuously on alert.

Shen Wang witnessed him battling his wits against the air all the way, looking at him as one would at a madman.

It took just over half an hour to get from C City to the city center, but following this person in circles, Shen Wang ended up spending nearly two hours, until the sect leader finally assured no one was following, hurriedly entered a certain room.

Shen Wang, trailing behind him, felt exhausted: he had never seen such a paranoid lunatic.

Inside the room, someone was already waiting for the Qingcheng Mountain sect leader, who asked with dissatisfaction, “Did you go to see your illegitimate child again?”

The sect leader gave him a sinister look: “What exactly are you here for?”

The vice president of the Metaphysical Association was also annoyed: “You can’t touch Shen Wang.”

Shen Wang: "???"

Is this old man really that kind-hearted?

“Impossible,” the sect leader flatly refused, “Xiaofeng just had a dispute with him and then something happened. There’s no way he’s not involved!”

Shen Wang frowned: Sorry to say, but I really have nothing to do with it.

The vice president of the Metaphysical Association snorted coldly: “I’ve already checked for you. After he left yesterday, he went straight home and didn’t step out. When Chen Feng had his accident, Shen Wang was talking with Hui Ping and Si Ke; he couldn’t possibly have been at Qingcheng Mountain!”

The sect leader was at a loss for words, but still unwilling to concede: “Even if he didn’t act personally, it's very likely he instigated it from behind. I will not let him off!”

The vice president of the Metaphysical Association rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on: “We can let others go, but not him. Do you know about his talent for drawing talismans? He still owes our Metaphysical Association fifty-five talismans!”

“The higher-ups have long been displeased with our Metaphysical Association’s dominance and are vigorously supporting the Special Department... Do you think your Qingcheng Mountain can remain unaffected? You've heard, right? Now, to take on a mission, you must report to the Special Department and even pay taxes.”

“Do you think the higher-ups are only after this bit of tax? They have been dissatisfied with the metaphysical world for a long time.”

The sect leader fell silent for a while before counter-questioning, "What does this have to do with Shen Wang?"

"As long as we can bring him into our Metaphysical Association, with his talisman skills, our strength will significantly increase, enough to completely overpower the Special Department." The vice president was clearly exasperated, breaking down the situation in an attempt to explain, "He's very useful. Without concrete evidence, you can't make a move against him."

The vice president's stance was clear. The sect leader's gaze flickered several times, reluctantly agreeing.

Seeing him relent, the vice president finally relaxed and continued to caution, "We are in a partnership, bound together. Our fortunes and misfortunes are intertwined. Don't be short-sighted and do something regrettable."

"Your position today was hard-earned. Don’t forget how you came into power!"

The sect leader's head was bowed, his eyes harboring a sinister look unseen by the vice president.

After a thorough reprimanding, the sect leader coldly bid farewell to the vice president. Only when he could no longer see the other's figure did he sneer, "Now that he's the vice president, he thinks he's invincible."

Shen Wang, having overheard their conversation, pondered thoughtfully when suddenly the third elder of the Metaphysical Association appeared out of nowhere.

Without turning, the sect leader asked, "What about the malevolent ghost?"

The third elder respectfully replied, "It has been taken by the Special Department, but rest assured, master, it knows nothing and won’t expose us."

The sect leader nodded and then ordered, "As usual, go and take care of Shen Wang."

Just warned by the vice president, the sect leader immediately disregarded his words, now even more determined to eliminate Shen Wang: "If this child is not removed, he will become a great threat."

The third elder, initially hesitant, no longer vacillated upon hearing this, "Shen Wang is powerful, ordinary ghosts are useless against him. We'll have to send the Lesser Ghost King."

The Minor Ghost King... The sect leader hesitated for a moment, but his eyes quickly hardened with resolve: "By any means necessary, he must be eliminated!"

Since Chen Feng harbored murderous intentions towards Shen Wang, Qingcheng Mountain and Shen Wang were now sworn enemies. Even if Chen Feng’s injuries had nothing to do with Shen Wang, the sect leader wouldn’t let him off.

After the vice president emphasized Shen Wang's importance, the sect leader felt only threat, a profound threat.

It’s not the enmity with others that’s frightening, but with a genius of limitless potential. Such a genius must be obliterated while still weak.

Shen Wang, who overheard everything, had a subtle expression.

Slowly moving away from the sect leader, Shen Wang reflected pensively, "He's truly ruthless."

Even when Chen Feng blatantly plotted against him, Shen Wang had never thought of retaliating directly. In contrast, the sect leader, without any clear reason, was shouting for bloodshed. Comparing the two, Shen Wang felt he was indeed a good person.

Shaking his head inwardly, Shen Wang wandered around and finally found his intended destination: the Qingcheng Mountain Treasury!

The place where Qingcheng Mountain stored its treasures was blatantly located at the rear of the inner gate, with a signboard 'Treasure Pavilion' hanging conspicuously, making it effortless to find.

The treasury was patrolled by a dedicated team, with a protective formation around it, accessible only with a special key. Forcing entry without the key would trigger the formation’s attack.

But for Shen Wang, such a child's play formation was akin to an open door, welcoming him in.

Easily locating the formation's core, Shen Wang walked through the entrance unabashedly, with the formation remaining silent.

The Treasure Pavilion had three levels. The first floor housed various weapons and body refining techniques, which Shen Wang ignored completely as he ascended to the second floor.

The second floor had fewer items, including spiritual plants, medicinal pills, techniques, and some oddities. A hint of satisfaction flickered in Shen Wang's eyes as he invoked the 'Mystic Jade Immortal Tome' in his mind.

"Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, wake up, it's time to eat!"

Having exhausted its remaining energy to save Shen Wang, the world's spiritual energy was too scarce, forcing the Xuan Yu Immortal Book into hibernation to conserve energy. Awakened by Shen Wang and hearing the word 'food', it almost emitted a hungry green light: "Where is there food?"

Shen Wang waved his hand generously, "Anything here is yours for the taking. Eat as much as you can!"

Surveying the surroundings, the Xuan Yu Immortal Book disdainfully commented, "This trash barely has any spiritual energy…"

Shen Wang was indifferent: "Be grateful there's something to eat. If I had a spatial artifact, it wouldn't be your turn to be picky."

Xuan Yu Immortal Book: "..."

It wondered if it should tell its master that it actually had a storage space inside...

After a brief moment of hesitation, the Xuan Yu Immortal Book swallowed the nearest spiritual plant: "Forget it, better just eat it myself!"

Worrying about competing with Shen Wang for food, the Xuan Yu Immortal Book stopped being choosy and started gobbling everything up like a starving ghost, quickly devouring everything edible on that level.

As Shen Wang rushed to the third floor, the Xuan Yu Immortal Book was greedily consuming everything, while Shen Wang prepared his snake skin bag, indiscriminately sweeping everything on the shelves into it.

The snake skin bag was not very big, and after filling it with items from the third floor, it was bulging and could hardly fit anything more.

Shen Wang remarked, "It's a good thing I have you, this glutton, or this trip would've been in vain."

Xuan Yu Immortal Book glanced at the snake skin bag and wisely chose to remain silent.

Reaching the fourth floor, Shen Wang's eyes lit up: "Finally, something worth looking at!"

Just as he was about to sweep the items into the snake skin bag, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded overhead, startling Shen Wang: "Damn it! There's an alarm system?"

The duo worked in tandem, one collecting items, the other consuming spiritual plants and pills, quickly emptying the fourth floor.

Carrying the cumbersome bag, Shen Wang jumped out of the window, cursing: "These cultivators, why install an alarm in the treasury... The lower floors didn't have one!"

The Mystic Jade Immortal Tome, now slightly replenished and less weak, remarked, "What can you expect in a world based on science?"

"Damn it!"

The alarm in the treasury was enormously loud, startling everyone in the inner sect of Qingcheng Mountain: those meditating, reading, and even disciples in disheveled clothes, engaged in dual cultivation, all ran out.

"An intruder!"

"Someone's breaking into the treasury to steal! Everyone, catch the thief!"

"Doesn't the treasury have a protective formation? How did a thief get in... I'll go call the sect leader!"

"Audacious thief, take this!"

Amidst the clamor, everyone saw a red and white snakeskin bag flying through the air. Without time to think, they surrounded it: "Sneaking around, showing only a hint of yourself, who are you?"

"Who dares to run wild in Qingcheng Mountain!"

"Stop him quickly!"

Shen Wang moved incredibly fast through the crowd, dodging attacks at tricky angles. Unnoticed, his invisibility talisman was grazed by an attack and, flickering for a while, it finally stopped working.

The disciples of Qingcheng Mountain finally saw the previously invisible thief.

First, a pair of purple shoes appeared, then pink jeans, followed by a green shirt and a red jacket, and finally... a pink Pig Bajie mask!

The disciples: "!!!"

This outfit was just too eye-catching, too ludicrous!

"Scoundrel, surrender now or you'll regret it!"

"Drop our spiritual weapons and we'll spare your life!"

"Qingcheng Mountain is sealed, you can't escape!"

Shen Wang didn't care about their threats, carrying the large snake skin bag, he moved through the crowd like an eel, unharmed and without losing a single hair.

Surprised by the thief's slippery nature, the disciples became frustrated. No matter how powerful their attacks, he always dodged them easily, sometimes even causing them to accidentally hit their own.

The crowd was frustrated, eagerly hoping for their sect elders to arrive quickly.

Amidst high expectations, the sect leader and the third elder appeared simultaneously, and without a word, they attacked Shen Wang, who was carrying a snake skin bag.

Xuan Yu Immortal Book screamed in Shen Wang's mind: "Master! He's at the Foundation Establishment stage!"

Shen Wang rolled his eyes: "So what if he is at Foundation Establishment? What's there to be afraid of."

Since returning, although Shen Wang lost his cultivation world strength, his consciousness and soul became even more condensed and powerful. Not just Foundation Establishment, even Golden Core cultivators were far inferior to him.

He might not have the strength for a head-on fight, but he definitely had the strength to escape.

The arrival of the sect leader and elders energized the Qingcheng Mountain disciples, who quickly informed them about the situation, hoping the sect leader could capture this hateful thief and retrieve the stolen treasures.

Surprisingly, the sect leader, like his disciples, failed to land a single hit on Shen Wang, not even grazing a piece of his clothing.

The disciples watched, dumbfounded and exchanging glances.

"Who is this person? Could he be even more powerful than our sect leader?"

"No matter how strong, he shouldn't steal from Qingcheng Mountain..."

"The treasures in the treasury are the foundation of our Qingcheng Mountain. Look at his bulging bag, he must have taken a lot... We can't let him escape!"

"If even the sect leader can't handle him, what can we do..."

Shen Wang dodged while moving towards the mountain base, but being held up by the sect leader and reluctant to harm the ordinary disciples, he found himself in a dilemma as more people surrounded him.

If he discarded the large snake skin bag, Shen Wang could easily escape, but he clung to it, refusing to let go.

Ridiculous, since when had he ever returned something he took?

Shen Wang was conflicted; using talismans could help him escape, but even with a mask, it would increase the suspicions around his identity.

In Shen Wang's sea of consciousness, Xuan Yu Immortal Book was also conflicted.

It realized that the snake skin bag was slowing down its master. If it stored the bag in its own space, the master could escape... but how could it explain devouring all the spiritual plants and pills without leaving a trace?

Just as Shen Wang and the Xuan Yu Immortal Book were about to make a decision, a flying knife whizzed past Shen Wang's shoulder and flew straight towards the infuriated Qingcheng Mountain sect leader.

Although the knife was only the size of two fingers, it gleamed coldly, its tip shimmering with a faint blue light, obviously poisoned, and wrapped in a chilling intent to kill.

The Qingcheng Mountain sect leader's pupils contracted, he hastily retreated, dodging the knife's attack.

With the pressure on him suddenly reduced, Shen Wang looked at the person who threw the knife, overjoyed: "Xiao Hei! Save me, Xiao Hei!"

Xiao Hei: "..."

He turned his head away as if he couldn't bear to watch, his attacks ruthless. In a blink, he knocked down a circle of disciples, creating a gap for Shen Wang to seize the chance and leap out of the encirclement.

"Don't linger, Xiao Hei, run for it!"

As he yelled this, Shen Wang had already run a good distance, his voice trailing far behind him.

Xiao Hei, who had come forward to help but ended up being left behind: "..."

He even began to regret coming out.

The two ran wildly, Shen Wang with the snake skin bag on his back, looking comical like a snail with a shell, but surprisingly fast. Xiao Hei, carrying nothing, appeared more graceful and handsome, his figure agile and clothes fluttering.

Once out of sight of their pursuers, Shen Wang had run all the way to a nearby city. He dived into the mountains, took several turns, set up a simple misdirection formation, and then stopped.

Placing the huge snake skin bag on the ground, Shen Wang sat down with a sigh, took a few deep breaths, and chuckled foolishly: "At least I broke even."

With this bag of items, the jade talismans he used in the entrance exam were worth it.

"You risked being caught just for these things, refusing to let go?" A voice coldly mocked.

Shen Wang patted the snake skin bag, nonchalant: "I wasn't caught, was I? Thanks to you, Xiao Hei."

Xiao Hei — Gu Dongting snorted: "Reckless and foolish."

Unfazed by Gu Dongting's cold demeanor, Shen Wang opened the snake skin bag, eagerly checking what he had managed to collect.

"Wow! Such a large piece of top-quality jade! Must be worth millions at least!"

"What's this junk stone? To think they even bothered placing it in the treasury."

"Hey, this small pill furnace isn't bad. I just happen to need a stove for burning."

After rummaging for a while, Shen Wang finally remembered the presence of another person. Biting his lip, he said reluctantly, "Xiao Hei, consider this loot ours. You can take half. We'll split it fifty-fifty."

Gu Dongting originally didn't care for these items. As a sword cultivator, he didn’t rely on external objects, with a single sword being enough to look down upon the world. Yet seeing Shen Wang's pained expression, he was tempted, "I'll pick first."

Shen Wang: "...don't push your luck!"

If the other person picked first, what good items would be left?

"We pick together! One item each!" Shen Wang swore, this was the biggest concession he could make.

Gu Dongting chuckled, "No need, I was just joking."

Shen Wang visibly relaxed, not objecting in the slightest, "That's what you said."

Shen Wang still wore the amusing Pig Bajie mask on his face, which Gu Dongting removed swiftly before Shen Wang could react.

Touching his face in confusion, Shen Wang wasn't bothered by Gu Dongting's intrusive action but instead asked curiously, "Little Black, how did you recognize me dressed like this and even wearing a mask?"

They had only met a few times and were hardly acquainted.

Gu Dongting's gaze sharpened. When he saw someone flashy and carrying a snakeskin bag being attacked, he hadn't even realized it before his dagger was already thrown.

Even with the mask, he recognized Shen Wang at first glance. Gu Dongting himself was puzzled - how did he manage that?

Behind the ghastly mask, Gu Dongting's thoughts remained hidden as he said indifferently, "I have a grudge against Qingcheng Mountain."

So, he hadn't actually recognized Shen Wang. It was more about 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' mentality that had led him to rescue him. Shen Wang nodded in understanding: "When I was trailing that sect leader, I saw someone in black. That was you, right?"

Gu Dongting nodded slightly. He had sensed someone at that time and revealed a bit of his aura, which the Qingcheng Mountain sect leader detected.

He hadn’t expected that person to be Shen Wang.

"What a coincidence," said Shen Wang with a smile, "What’s your grudge with Qingcheng Mountain?"

Gu Dongting fell into a subtle silence.

The grudge wasn’t with him, but with his younger self. He thought for a moment, then half-truthfully said, "The illegitimate son of the Qingcheng Mountain sect leader offended me."

Shen Wang was shocked: "You’re the one who ruined Chen Feng’s cultivation?!"

Gu Dongting looked at Shen Wang nonchalantly, "What? Do you think it's too cruel of me to cripple him over a minor grudge?"

Shen Wang slapped his thigh: "I knew we had a connection. I too have a grudge against Chen Feng!"

Speaking of this matter, Shen Wang felt aggrieved: "He first tried to steal my talismans and failed. Then, after I tricked him into buying millions-worth of jade, he harbored murderous intentions and unleashed a fierce ghost to kill me."

Strictly speaking, there wasn't any deep-seated hatred between them. Even if Chen Feng was tricked out of millions, he wouldn't lose much by reselling the jade – in the metaphysical world, good jade is very valuable.

"Who would have thought he'd be so heartless and murderous over such a trivial matter, dragging dozens of other exam candidates with him."

Gu Dongting's expression darkened: "This is what they call the righteous and prestigious path."

Shrugging, Shen Wang continued to rummage through the contents of the snakeskin bag: "I was wondering who had crippled him, turns out it was you... I should thank you, saved me the trouble."

Leaning against a tree, Gu Dongting looked indifferent. He had intended to kill Chen Feng the previous night but then thought, what's more painful than death?

The young Gu Dongting was too impulsive and naive. Gu Dongting didn't mind helping him refine his methods of revenge.

Suddenly, Shen Wang shouted: "Little Black, look what this is!"

Gu Dongting glanced down nonchalantly, then his eyes sharpened: "Is this... Qingcheng Mountain’s heritage technique?"

Qingcheng Mountain was one of the top sects in the southwestern region because modern inheritances were either lost or incomplete, but Qingcheng Mountain's relatively intact techniques placed it among the top sects.

Now, Shen Wang had stolen these techniques.

Gu Dongting laughed: "What are you planning to do with this technique? Destroy it?"

Shen Wang shook his head: "That’s too crude. This is the painstaking work of our ancestors, a treasure of antiquity. How could we destroy it?"

Gu Dongting looked puzzled: This was Qingcheng Mountain's unique technique. Anyone else practicing it would be immediately detected and pursued by Qingcheng Mountain and other sects.

"What else can be done but to destroy it?"

"We are good people who like to share." Shen Wang dusted off the tome, smiling innocently and upright, "How can we let such a treasure vanish from the annals of history?"

"The obvious choice is... to share it unconditionally!"

Isn't the only reason no one dares to practice it because Qingcheng Mountain is so powerful that practicing it would lead to being hunted down by all sects?

But what if everyone in the metaphysical world had a copy of this technique? Surely the other sects wouldn't mind having an additional technique, right?

As long as enough people have the technique, Shen Wang didn't believe Qingcheng Mountain would actually go after each individual. Other sects and individuals in the metaphysical world wouldn’t be swayed by Qingcheng Mountain either.

Gu Dongting’s pupils contracted, looking at Shen Wang in amazement.

Shen Wang with an innocent face: "What's wrong?"

Gu Dongting, holding his forehead, chuckled softly: "It seems my thinking was too conservative."

His attitude towards the technique was too cautious; he hadn't thought of such a cunning and insightful plan.

In his previous life, for the sake of his family's secret treasures and techniques, almost all sects in the metaphysical world joined the hunt against him. Cornered and without escape, he destroyed the technique in front of everyone to gain a moment’s respite.

If he had known earlier, he would have sent the Gu family's techniques to those sects. Just spreading the news that he had secretly given the technique to one sect... Who would be the next Gu family then?

Collecting his thoughts, Gu Dongting took the technique from Shen Wang’s hands, saying with a hint of playfulness: "I'll handle this matter."

Shen Wang agreed happily, showing a mischievously complicit smile: "Pleasure doing business with you."

This trip was incredibly worthwhile. Not only did he get back a big bag of treasures, but he also got to give Qingcheng Mountain a substantial setback. The irritation of being outwitted vanished, and he could even forgive the sect leader of Qingcheng Mountain for planning to send the Minor Ghost King to kill him.

After all, the world is so beautiful, and it's not good to be so hot-tempered.

Shen Wang and Hei Gu: Partners in Crime

Who says being partners in crime isn't another form of harmony and agreement? (laughs)