Chapter Eighty-Six

Chapter Eighty-Six

Shen Wang examined the Sumeru Stone carefully, his racing heart gradually calming down.

The Sumeru Stone needed for making spatial artifacts has extremely high quality requirements. Rather than calling it a Sumeru Stone, it would be more accurate to call it Sumeru Jade.

However, the Sumeru Stone in his hand was of mediocre quality; after refining, there would hardly be anything left... truly a superfluous item.

Squinting and pondering for a long time, Shen Wang finally figured out the perfect use for the stone: "It can't be directly used for artifacts, but it can be used for storage talismans."

Storage talismans, in terms of space size, preservation duration, and durability, are inferior to proper spatial artifacts, but they are more than sufficient for emergency use.

Especially in modern society, even a low-level storage talisman is akin to a cheating device.

With a plan in mind, Shen Wang carefully stored the ordinary-looking broken stone, treasuring it on one side.

Having gathered all the materials needed to modify Liang Ruyue's constitution, Shen Wang directly confronted all the members of the Liang family, bluntly asking, "Have you made your decision?"

Liang's father looked somewhat weary. After one last look at his daughter, seeing her determined eyes, he sighed deeply, "Master, Ruyue... she wants the second treatment option."

She wants to explore another world, to try a different life.

No matter how reluctant the parents of the Liang family were, they couldn't overrule Liang Ruyue's persistence and had to reluctantly agree.

The eldest son, fully devoted to live streaming, became a joke among the rich second generation. Now, the younger daughter suddenly rebels, wanting to become a celestial master and hunt ghosts... For the first time, Liang's father began to doubt himself, wondering if there was something wrong with his parenting approach.

Shen Wang, unaware of how Liang Ruyue convinced her family and indifferent to it, simply nodded, "Are you ready? Modifying your constitution is not a simple matter."

Liang Ruyue, with pursed lips, nervously yet eagerly responded, "I'm ready!"

Shen Wang had the Liang family prepare a special room with a huge bath tub, into which he crudely dumped the medicinal herbs after filling it with cold water.

"Sit in it," Shen Wang instructed Liang Ruyue. "It will be a bit painful. Don’t come out until I say so."

Liang's father, looking at the tub, hesitated, "Master... can we use hot water instead?"

His daughter was already weak, and soaking in cold water all night was a worrying thought.

Shen Wang shook his head, "Don't worry, it will heat up once she sits in it."

Really? I don't believe it. Liang's father's eyes showed doubt, but he dared not question, only watching his daughter worriedly.

Liang Ruyue, standing there with a flushed face, said, "Shen... Shen Ge, I need to undress..."

Shen Wang was shocked, "No! Just get in as you are!"

"What's shown on TV is all fake. How much can a few layers of clothing affect the medicine’s potency? Those scenes on TV where they undress for medicinal baths are just nonsense!"

Seeing Shen Wang's earnest concern, Liang Ruyue's tense heart slightly relaxed. She smiled faintly, lips pursed, and turned to sit in the tub.

The moment she entered the water, though it wasn’t the cold season yet, Liang Ruyue still shuddered, her skin breaking out in goosebumps.

Seeing her immersed obediently in the medicinal liquid, Shen Wang nodded in satisfaction, "Stay there, I’ll go prepare some more medicine for you."

Saying so, he promptly left the room, leaving the dumbfounded Liang family behind.

Liang's father: "Is it okay for Ruyue to soak like this alone?"

Liang's mother: "Xiaoyue, are you cold? Shall I get you a cup of hot water?"

Liang Ruri: "...Little sister, do you think this medicinal solution will work for me? I want to cultivate too."

Hearing Liang Ruri's words, both Liang's father and mother glared angrily: "At this critical time, you’re still not serious!"

Liang Ruri, feeling wronged, lowered his eyes: "With Brother Shen here, what can go wrong? You guys don’t need to worry unnecessarily."

Liang's father almost slapped the back of Liang Ruri's head: "So just because she's not your biological child, you don’t care about her, is that it?"

Liang Ruri: "She’s my own sister, how could I not care... I was just speaking off the cuff, making a joke to lighten the mood..."

Liang Ruyue smiled quietly, listening to her family talk.

When she first entered the water, she shivered from the cold, but after soaking for a few minutes, she was surprised to find herself not feeling cold at all.

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed like the temperature of the medicinal solution was rising, becoming warmer and warmer.

While they were talking, Shen Wang came in carrying a big bowl of something. The sea bowl in his hand was filled to the brim, almost spilling over the edge.

How did he carry it without spilling? Liang's family's first reaction was confusion, followed by a sudden wave of nausea.

Liang Ruri blurted out: "What is that! It smells awful!"

Bitter, astringent, spicy, pungent, and mixed with a strong tanned medicinal juice scent. An amalgamation of strange smells that was so overwhelming it felt like a torture to the senses.

It was even a bit eye-watering.

Shen Wang clicked his tongue: "What do you know? This is a medicinal solution I personally prepared. Its efficacy is 100% stimulated, not a single bit wasted."

Liang Ruri, with a grim expression: "…Can we use just 20%, no, 10% of the medicinal effect and change the flavor?"

The thought of its taste being so overpoweringly dreadful without even tasting it, how could anyone bear to drink it!

"The poison Pan Jinlian gave to Wu Dalang couldn't have been much worse than this."

"It's not like you have to drink it," Shen Wang said disdainfully, his face screaming 'why are you so nosy?', before he handed the medicine over to Liang Ruyue.

Liang Ruyue stared at the large bowl of dark, unidentifiable liquid, on the verge of tears. She thought she had mentally prepared herself, but now realized she hadn't.

Liang Ruyue hesitated to take the medicine, sensing Shen Wang's puzzled gaze upon her.

Taking a deep breath, Liang Ruyue accepted her fate and grabbed the bowl. She held her breath and gulped down a big mouthful. An indescribable, strange taste exploded in her mouth. Unable to hold it in, she turned and vomited.

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow: "Don't spit it out, drink it all."

Tears welled in Liang Ruyue's eyes from the pungent smell of the medicine. Her silent, pitiful plea was ignored by Shen Wang, who instead urged her, "Drink up quickly before it gets cold and tastes worse."

Liang Ruyue: "!!!"

It was already hard to swallow, but she hadn't imagined it could taste even worse. With tears in her eyes, Liang Ruyue closed her eyes, aided her breathing, and opened her mouth wide, pouring the rest into her mouth.

After downing it in one go, Liang Ruyue felt her stomach churn. She tried to hold back the nausea but couldn't, turning to vomit, only to be forcefully stopped by a hand.

Shen Wang single-handedly suppressed Liang Ruyue's resistance, unflinchingly stating, "Don't waste it."

The taste of the medicine lingered in her mouth, throat, and even her stomach. Liang Ruyue blinked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

In the original story, Liang Ruyue was saved from danger by the male lead, Tang Jiu, leading to a series of misunderstandings and eventually, a romantic encounter.

Liang Ruyue, seemingly quiet and obedient, was actually somewhat rebellious. Curious about another world and intrigued by her mysterious savior, she gradually found herself falling.

Now, it was Shen Wang who opened the door to a new world for Liang Ruyue. His stunning appearance was nearly blinding, and aside from a somewhat lazy and carefree personality, he had no other flaws.

Even Liang Ruyue herself didn't realize that her feelings towards Shen Wang were somewhat different.

However... after this ordeal, the budding fondness in Liang Ruyue's heart shattered into pieces.

Shen Wang had no idea what he had missed, and even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care. Feeling the water temperature with his hand, he casually asked, "How do you feel now?"

"I feel a warm flow inside, warming me up," Liang Ruyue admitted, trying to suppress the strange taste in her throat.

"Good," Shen Wang nodded, "The medicine is taking effect. Those not involved should leave now."

Witnessing their daughter being forced to drink a large bowl of strange liquid, Liang Ruyue's parents were heartbroken. "Master, can we stay here with her?"

Even if they couldn't share Liang Ruyue's pain, they wished to stay by her side.

Shen Wang, unyielding, replied, "No."

Now was when the medicine's effects were mildest. Once it intensified, and they saw Liang Ruyue in agony, they might cause a scene, demanding explanations from him.

He certainly didn't want that trouble.

Seeing Shen Wang's resolute stance, the Liang family had no choice but to leave the room reluctantly.

As expected, before long, Liang Ruyue began groaning in pain. The initially cold medicinal bath started bubbling and boiling without heat, even producing thick steam.

Amidst the misty steam, Shen Wang said solemnly, "Does it hurt? Good. The Yin Moon physique is meant to serve others, incapable of cultivation. To pursue cultivation, you must endure this."

"Cultivation is a defiance of nature, fraught with hardships. There are no shortcuts, only perseverance on the right path."

Liang Ruyue soaked in the medicinal liquid for seven days. Except for the brief respite during daily changes of the liquid, she was in constant agony, sometimes even screaming in pain.

On the seventh day, when Shen Wang told Liang Ruyue the treatment was over, she lay in the tub like a lifeless dog, struggling to lift her eyes towards him.

Shen Wang, with his outstanding looks and exceptional demeanor when silent, sent a shiver down Liang Ruyue's spine, as if she saw the King of Hell, quickly averting her gaze.

Now, just the sight of his face made her entire body ache!

Shen Wang said with a smile, "Congratulations, your Yin Moon physique is completely gone. No need to worry about being abducted by evil cultivators anymore."

"You can now start cultivating. I'll give you a manual as an introductory technique. Don't worry, it's free of charge."

It was just a common technique from Qingcheng Mountain, Shen Wang thought without much concern.

Meanwhile, as Shen Wang spoke, in City C, at the Tang family's home.

"Tang Jiu has been feeling an oppressive heaviness in his chest these days, a weight that made him uncomfortable, yet he couldn't pinpoint any specific illness."

"Now, the Tang family's company has declared bankruptcy, utterly divided and consumed by others. Their influence in the metaphysical world of talisman making has diminished repeatedly, struggling to survive under the pressure of newly emerged talisman papers."

"The atmosphere in the Tang household grows tenser by the day. Tang's father spends his time in a futile rage, smashing things around, while his mother constantly weeps and cuts back on expenses."

"While trying to salvage his image in Gu Manling's heart, Tang Jiu also cautiously tries to appease... Now, all the family's hopes rest on his shoulders."

"These days, he has been feeling unwell, but no one has noticed, especially today when Tang Jiu's heart felt like it was about to burst."

"After a bout of rapid heartbeats, Tang Jiu took a deep breath, gasping for air, as if he had just had a near-death experience. He lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes void of expression."

"He couldn't shake the feeling... that he had lost something extremely precious."

"That thing should have been quietly waiting somewhere for him to use, but now, it seemed to have vanished completely."