Departure

Mo Tianxing’s hands trembled as he received the smooth, jade-like Break-Sect Pill, so excited he was incoherent: “Many thanks, Great Master! The Black Emperor Sect will never forget your kindness!”

He carefully put away the Medicinal Pill, a smile on his face, yet seemingly finding it difficult to speak.

“This… Great Master, two days ago, that old fool Qi Shan was blind and offended you and your wife. He truly deserves death!”

As he spoke, he secretly observed Shen Wen’s expression. Seeing that Shen Wen showed no reaction, he continued: “I have already severely punished him, docking him three years of resource offerings! Today, I specifically brought him to apologize to Great Master!”

With that, he winked toward the back.

Qi Shan, with his head bowed and unsteady steps, walked forward, his previous arrogance gone, replaced only by fear and lingering dread.

“G-Great Master, this old man Qi Shan, was blinded by greed before and offended Great Master and your wife. Please forgive me, Great Master!”

Qi Shan bowed deeply, his voice trembling, holding a jade box in both hands.

“This is an ancient Pill Formula that this old man obtained by chance.”

“Although I don't know its specific grade, it is definitely not ordinary. I offer it to Great Master as a token of my apology. I hope Great Master will be magnanimous!”

Shen Wen glanced at him indifferently. He didn't pay any attention to such a minor character.

He casually took the jade box and put it away without even looking at it.

“What’s past is past.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Tianxing and Qi Shan finally let out a long sigh of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.

Back at the courtyard, Shen Wen tallied his gains.

In addition to the agreed-upon Break-Sect Pill Materials, Azure Underworld Fruit, and Longevity King Sap, Mo Tianxing indeed gave him an extra set of Medicinal Materials from the Pill Formula he had listed at the Thousand Medicine Workshop earlier.

Coupled with the two sets Yao Ling had managed to gather and deliver over the past two days, the Medicinal Materials he had for refining the enhanced version of the “heavenly soul blood fusion pill” now amounted to a remarkable five sets.

Cao Ying looked at the dazzling array of Medicinal Materials on the table and couldn't help but exclaim: “This Black Emperor Sect and Thousand Medicine Workshop truly went all out to curry favor with husband.”

Shen Wen smiled and put away the Medicinal Materials one by one: “Resources must be used where they are most effective. I won't refine this heavenly soul blood fusion pill for now.”

“Hmm? Why?” Xiao Yi Xian asked, puzzled, “Wouldn't it be better to prepare it for Sister Cai Lin sooner?”

Cai Lin also cast a questioning gaze, her hand subconsciously caressing her lower abdomen.

Shen Wen explained: “The Medicinal Materials are complete, but I have an idea. If a more top-tier Bloodline essence is used as the medicinal primer, the Medicinal Pill’s effect might improve even further.”

“A higher Bloodline? Is the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Bloodline not enough?” Cao Ying was stunned. One must know that among the current top Demonic Beast races.

There are only three: the Void Ancient Dragon, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix, and the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python.

And the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python is known for its numbers, being the race with the most affiliated races among the three Demonic Beast races.

The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Bloodline is already considered top-tier, and even more top-tier than the Heavenly Demon Phoenix is only the Void Ancient Dragon.

“Void Ancient Dragon? Could it be that husband knows where there are Void Ancient Dragons?”

Cao Ying asked suspiciously.

“Mm.”

Shen Wen nodded, while Cai Lin’s eyes held emotion. This was a Void Ancient Dragon, a top-tier Bloodline that even her current Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python couldn't compare to.

She hadn't expected Shen Wen to be planning this for her... In the following days, Shen Wen again visited the Thousand Medicine Workshop and the Black Emperor Sect's storerooms, confirming that Black Emperor City indeed no longer had anything he particularly needed.

He learned from Yao Ling and Mo Tianxing that the large auction in Black Seal City would still take some time to be held.

Shen Wen casually said to Sect Master Mo: “Sect Master Mo, please continue to keep an eye out for the ‘bodhi transformation saliva’ that I inquired about earlier.

This item is crucial to me, and if there is any news, there will definitely be a generous reward.”

Mo Tianxing patted his chest and guaranteed: “Great Master, rest assured! I have mobilized all my connections to inquire, and I will report to you immediately if there is any clue!”

“When there is news, just have someone send the message to Jia Nan Academy. I will be there for a while.”

“Good!”

At the same time, Shen Wen also began to gather information about Jia Nan Academy through the Black Emperor Sect’s channels.

That night, Shen Wen spread out a map in his room and said to the women gathered around him: “Black Emperor City is almost done. Our next step is to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range first and get the bodhi transformation saliva.”

His finger traced across the map, landing on another marked point.

“Then, we'll detour to Maple City to deal with that trouble, Han Feng, and complete the transaction with the Young Miss of the Ancient Clan.”

Finally, his fingertip pressed heavily on a vast mountainous area.

“After that, we'll go and meet the renowned Jia Nan Academy of this continent!”

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying’s eyes sparkled with excitement: “Are we finally going to Jia Nan Academy? I've long wanted to see what that Fallen Heart Flame looks like!”

“But how do we get in? It seems only Qing Lin meets the enrollment age.”

Dan Chen asked, puzzled.

Shen Wen smiled, “If you can't be a student, you can be a teacher! I know a bit about the dean of Jia Nan Academy, so there's no need to hide our origin from the Pill Tower from them.”

“It just so happens that we've gained a lot during this period, so we can consolidate it at Jia Nan Academy.”

“That’s good too.” Cao Ying and the others nodded… The flying boat transformed into a streak of light and left Black Emperor City.

Shen Wen stood at the bow, holding two maps.

One was a detailed map of the Black-Corner Region provided by Mo Tianxing, and the other was a marked map gifted by Battle King Jiang Chen.

He carefully compared the two maps, his fingertip slowly moving along the mountain ranges.

“It should be this area.”

Cao Ying leaned over, following his finger, and saw the continuous mountain ranges on the map outlined in dark ink, majestic and perilous, with one spot specifically circled in vermilion.

“It doesn’t look far.” She blinked her charming eyes, “Is husband planning to just charge in?”

“Let’s see the situation first.”

Shen Wen maneuvered the flying boat to lower its altitude, passing through the clouds. The outlines of the mountains below gradually became clear, with ancient trees reaching to the sky and mist swirling, and faint roars of beasts could be heard from deep within.

The flying boat slowly landed in a relatively flat clearing in the forest.

The hatch opened, and Shen Wen stepped out first, followed by Cao Ying, Cai Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, Dan Chen, and Qing Lin in order.

As soon as Qing Lin's feet touched the ground, she subconsciously moved closer to Xiao Yi Xian.

“Is this it?”

Cai Lin’s purple eyes scanned the surroundings, her cold and beautiful face expressionless, but her hand habitually pressed against her lower abdomen.

She was pregnant now, and although it didn't affect her movements, Shen Wen always paid her a bit more attention.

“The valley marked on the map should be deeper inside.”

Shen Wen put away the map, and just as he was about to speak, a dull tremor suddenly came from the ground.

“Thump, thump, thump, thump—”

The sound grew louder and closer, causing the surrounding trees to rustle and shake.

“Something’s charging over!” Dan Chen exclaimed softly, subconsciously grabbing Xiao Yi Xian’s sleeve beside her.

Everyone looked up, only to see dust rolling from deep within the forest. A massive dark shadow was crashing through trees at an astonishing speed, heading straight for them!

It was a rhino-like Demonic Beast, as large as a small mountain, with a bluish-gray hide as thick as armor, and a curved horn on its forehead glinting coldly.

Behind it, surprisingly, were a pair of atrophied fleshy wings disproportionate to its size. Although unable to fly, they indicated an unusual origin in its Bloodline.

“Earth-Splitting Dragon Rhino.” Shen Wen narrowed his eyes, “This is it.”