Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Seven

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Seven

Ever since deciding to openly challenge the people from the immortal mountain, Shen Wang had received full support from the special department. The treasury, which previously allowed him to select a few items after achievements, was now fully open to him.

…However, the quality of the spiritual plants was still not very good.

The good news was, in the Sumeru space created by Shen Wang, thanks to the careful nurturing by the Ninefold Lotus, the spiritual plants obtained from Hei Jiao and Zhuo were thriving.

Although they weren't aged top-grade spiritual herbs, they were at least useful for concocting some low-grade pills.

Thus, Shen Wang decided to go into seclusion for a few days and produced various grades of pills. The lower-grade ones were sent to his shop for sale, while the higher-grade ones were distributed to various sects.

This was both to garner support and to show that there was no need to appease the immortal mountain for quality pills in the metaphysical world, achieving two goals at once.

The result was quite good; those who were appeasing the immortal mountain for benefits hesitated, and those who had remained neutral needed no further convincing.

Unbeknownst to the immortal mountain, their status was already under threat, but their arrogance prevented them from noticing the changing dynamics around them.

Shen Wang learned about these developments later from Gu Dongting and Minister Shi. He was only responsible for pill concoction; the special department handled the intricate political maneuvering.

After finally completing a batch of pills, Shen Wang took a break and visited his shop, coincidentally encountering several elders from the immortal mountain throwing their weight around.

After the people from the celestial mountain left, the shop burst into cheers. They gathered around Shen Wang, talking non-stop: "They needed to be put in their place."

"Brother Shen, you don’t know how outrageous those people were!"

Those from the celestial mountain were arrogant, looking down on practitioners from the metaphysical world as if they were mere ants, which was incredibly frustrating.

The practitioners from the metaphysical world were also proud descendants of their families or sects, never having faced such humiliation, especially on their own turf.

If they could have beaten them, they would have already bagged those celestial mountain people.

When Shen Wang and Gu Dongting returned and fiercely subdued the arrogance of those celestial mountain people, it was incredibly satisfying and uplifting.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wang merely smiled. When the conversation shifted to spatial talismans and medicinal pills, he spoke: "For now, this is all the medicine we have, limited to three per person. But don't worry, we'll have new stock in a few days."

"Yay!"

Everyone, happy with the news and not fretting about missing out, left with smiles on their faces.

As Shen Wang was about to leave, a breathless figure rushed in. He looked closely and saw it was Bai Fuchun, laughing: "Weren't you in closed-door cultivation?"

According to Shi Yan, the celestial mountain folks had a competition in pill-making with the Bai family, which the latter lost miserably.

The usually carefree Bai Fuchun was so affected that he immediately went into closed-door cultivation to study pill-making earnestly, wanting to bring honor to his family.

It hadn't been long, and Bai Fuchun had already emerged from cultivation.

Bai Fuchun, ignoring Shen Wang's teasing and with eyes wide open, asked, "Brother Shen, was the Rejuvenation Pill sent to my family made by you?"

Seeing Bai Fuchun so agitated, Shen Wang replied in confusion, "It should... be, right?"

"Brother Shen!" Bai Fuchun exclaimed excitedly, jumping in front of Shen Wang with sparkling eyes, "You never mentioned that your pill-making skills were so amazing!"

Shen Wang touched his nose: "Am I the kind to boast?"

Bai Fuchun's words got stuck in his throat, his eyes questioning: Aren't you?

He quickly gathered his thoughts: "Brother Shen, your pill-making is so incredible, can you take me as your disciple? I want to learn pill-making from you!"

Being defeated in their strongest field, pill-making, by the celestial mountain folks, had deeply affected the Bai family. The atmosphere was downcast, even the elder Bai seemed to have aged a decade overnight, looking much more haggard.

Bai Fuchun, seeing this and feeling anxious, wanted to contribute to the Bai family, but felt helpless due to his limited abilities.

After the special department delivered the Rejuvenation Pill crafted by Shen Wang to the Bai family, the atmosphere there changed dramatically.

Even Bai Fuchun, with his level of skill, could tell the quality of the Rejuvenation Pill was excellent, let alone Elder Bai. Knowing it was made by Shen Wang, Elder Bai, instead of being sad, laughed.

"Good! Good! Good!" He exclaimed thrice in delight, laughing, "Truly, a young hero emerges!"

Elder Bai was happier about the metaphysical world having such promising youth than being upset about losing to a younger person, relieved they wouldn't be completely overshadowed by the celestial mountain.

Upon learning this, Bai Fuchun got an idea and promptly ended his half-hearted seclusion, seeking information about Shen Wang.

Shen Wang had been in seclusion for pill-making until today. Bai Fuchun rushed over as soon as he heard of Shen Wang’s appearance.

Hearing Bai Fuchun’s words, Shen Wang was both surprised and amused: "You, with a family lineage in cultivation, seeking me as a master? Aren’t you afraid your grandfather will break your legs?"

"My grandfather wouldn’t do that; he likes you a lot," Bai Fuchun said, puffing out his chest and looking eagerly at Shen Wang, pleading, "Brother Shen, please accept me. I promise to be your most obedient and diligent disciple."

Shen Wang, caught off guard by this request, was at a loss for words: "No, I don’t take disciples... but if you have questions about pill-making, feel free to ask."

Seeing Shen Wang's firm stance, Bai Fuchun nodded in disappointment: "Alright... Thank you, Brother Shen."

Shen Wang touched his nose, pulling out a small box from his space and tossing it to Bai Fuchun: “This is a medicine for treating an ugly, cursed face. Apply it morning and night; within a month, your face will be restored.”

Bai Fuchun's eyes brightened, nearly moved to tears: "Brother Shen, you're too good to me, finding time to make this medicine while dealing with those from the celestial mountain. I don’t know how to repay you..."

Shen Wang shuddered and quickly stepped back: "Stop it! Don’t make me throw you out!"

"…I'll go through fire and water for any of your needs!" Bai Fuchun said, then blinked in confusion, "Brother Shen?"

Shen Wang: "…Alright, that’s enough. Go find your beloved and share the good news."

It was all Xiao Hei and Gu Dongting's fault for making him paranoid. Hearing "repay you", he subconsciously thought the next words would be an offer of his body, scaring him out of his wits.

Bai Fuchun, unaware of Shen Wang's turmoil and how close he was to being thrown out, held the medicine gratefully: "Brother Shen, I'm not joking. If there's anything you need, anything the Bai family can do, we're at your service."

Shen Wang didn't think he'd ever need Bai Fuchun's help. Weary, he waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I got it. I'm closing the shop now."

Bai Fuchun left with a thousand thanks, and Shen Wang watched his retreating figure, shaking his head with a smile.

Planning to return and concoct more pills, Shen Wang suddenly sensed something, a strong surge of negative energy fleeting by, rushing towards the outskirts of the city, clearly an evil ghost.

With many ordinary people in the city, even a slight touch from this evil ghost could bring bad luck or serious illness, and if it intended harm, it could hurt countless.

Frowning, Shen Wang quickly sent a message to Shi Yan and followed the ghost.

The ghost soon reached the outskirts, a large undeveloped wasteland, deserted and overrun with wild grass. It vanished without a trace.

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow, looking around and suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Come out."

As he spoke, his spiritual energy surged, kicking up dust and revealing the concealed traces of a formation, with several figures emerging in the distance.

Shen Wang chuckled upon seeing them: "Well, well, familiar faces."

Tang Jiu, Gu Dongting, and the celestial mountain elders he had just met.

Tang Jiu glared at Shen Wang, his lifelong enemy, his expression twisted with excitement: "Shen Wang, you didn't expect this."

"Today is the day you die!"

Tang Jiu, using all his knowledge, had created a formation that drained spiritual energy. Once Shen Wang stepped in, no matter how powerful, his energy would be completely siphoned.

With the celestial mountain elders there, dealing with Shen Wang seemed more than manageable.

Unless something unexpected happened, Shen Wang would meet his end here.

Shen Wang looked down at the formation, then at Tang Jiu, and back at the formation, clicking his tongue lightly: "Where did you learn this formation?"

"Trying to buy time?" Tang Jiu laughed, "Don't struggle, no matter how much you delay, it's futile. This is a formation from the celestial mountain!"

A product of the celestial mountain. Shen Wang nodded, confirming his suspicions.

This familiar energy-draining formation had appeared in mountain villages, ancient battlefields, overseas, and on islands. Although it had taken different forms each time, disguised with various runes.

"The superficial runes can be removed, but the core essence has never changed."

"And now, this formation has appeared in Tang Jiu's hands."

"While Shen Wang was still pondering, Tang Jiu, unable to wait any longer, said to the others, 'Elders, I'll control the formation; this man is yours to handle.'"

"As Tang Jiu moved, the formations began to light up gradually, the runes flowing slowly as if alive, moving towards Shen Wang."

"The elders also summoned their own magical treasures, launching an attack on Shen Wang."

"But in the next second, Tang Jiu was shaken to the core, suddenly spewing a mouthful of fresh blood, his face incredulous as he stared at Shen Wang, eyes blood-red: 'How is this possible!'"

"Shen Wang, standing on the still runes, showed a pitiful smile, 'Sorry, but I not only know how to draw talismans, I also have some knowledge in alchemy, and formations... I know a bit about them too.'"

"Hearing this, Tang Jiu couldn't restrain the fresh blood in his chest, which sprayed out like a scattered flower."

Shen Wang disdainfully said, "Don't splash your blood on me, it's dirty."