Branch Hall Strength

When Huang Ling received the message that the Medicinal Pills had been refined, she was handling an affair for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion near the Black-Corner Region.

She did not dare to delay and set off for the Jia Nan Academy that very day, her heart filled with both anticipation and a bit of nervousness.

Shen Wen's speed of Alchemy was truly fast beyond reason.

Stepping into the courtyard where Shen Wen resided in the Inner Academy, Huang Ling immediately saw the youth in a black robe sitting by the stone table in the courtyard, chatting softly and laughing with several women. She hurried forward and bowed respectfully:

“Master Shen.”

Shen Wen looked up at her and smiled slightly: “Elder Huang arrived just in time.”

With a flick of his finger on his storage ring, several jade bottles and a jade box landed lightly on the stone table.

The bottles were translucent, and the luster of the rounded Medicinal Pills within could be vaguely seen; inside the jade box lay a Medicinal Pill the size of a dragon’s eye with interwoven red and white patterns, a rich vitality quietly permeating along with the medicinal fragrance.

Huang Ling took a step forward, her gaze sweeping over those Medicinal Pills, and her breathing couldn't help but hitch slightly.

Five Break-Sect Pills, each with three clear pill-veinss on the surface, their quality could be called top-tier.

And although there was only one bone-generating blood-fusing pill, the majestic life force contained within made even a Dou Zong like her feel heart palpitations.

“This, this is truly...” Huang Ling couldn't help but mutter, her face full of amazement, “Master's Alchemy skills are truly miraculous.”

It wasn't that she had never seen a Seventh-Rank Alchemist.

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion had stood in the Northwest Continent for many years and had some dealings with the Central Plains; the mansion also enshrined a Seventh-Rank Elementary Alchemist Guest Elder.

But that person often needed to go into seclusion in a Quiet Room for several days when refining pills, and would need to adjust their breathing for a long time after one cauldron of pills was finished. Someone like Shen Wen, who handled it with such ease and terrifying efficiency, was unheard of to her.

“If the Mansion Master knew Master was so fast, he would surely be overjoyed.”

Huang Ling's tone became increasingly respectful as she carefully put the Medicinal Pills into a specially made storage ring one by one, then looked at Shen Wen again and said solemnly:

“Master Shen, because the Mansion Master is tied up with important matters, he cannot come in person to thank you and feels very apologetic. He asked me to convey that if Master has time in the future, please be sure to visit the Heavenly Serpent Empire. The Heavenly Serpent Mansion will definitely welcome you with the highest specifications and would never dare to be the least bit negligent.”

Shen Wen heard this and just smiled, picking up his teacup and taking a sip:

“Elder Huang is too polite. If I have leisure time, I, Shen, will naturally visit.”

These words were spoken calmly, but did not give a definite promise.

Huang Ling was very shrewd and naturally heard the hint of a polite refusal, but she couldn't say much more and could only echo with a smile: “Then we shall wait for Master's good news in the Heavenly Serpent Empire.”

She exchanged a few more pleasantries and then tactfully took her leave.

As she walked out of the courtyard, she glanced back at Qing Lin, who was sitting quietly by Shen Wen's side with her head down flipping through a volume of the Medicine Ceremony. A trace of complexity flashed in her eyes before she finally turned and left quickly.

She had to safely deliver these Medicinal Pills, along with the previously auctioned Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, back to the mansion as soon as possible. Also... the information regarding the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils needed to be reported immediately.

In the courtyard, Cao Ying looked in the direction Huang Ling had left and lightly raised an eyebrow: “The way she looked at Qing Lin just now wasn't exactly pure.”

“Let her be.” Shen Wen's expression was indifferent, “The Heavenly Serpent Mansion knows its limits.”

He put down his teacup and cast his gaze toward the distant horizon.

Next, he had to seize the time to deduce the prototype of the 'zong ji pill', as well as the ideas for the Medicinal Pills and Soul Skills he had occasionally thought of that could target Dan Chen's special Soul Physique.

Once these matters were settled, there wouldn't be many reasons left to stay in the Northwest Continent.

It was time to prepare to return to the Central Plains.

But before that, there was one more thing to be settled.

Those strongholds of the Hall of Souls must be cleaned out... A month passed quietly.

In the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan's name gradually became prominent.

Because of the placement of the infant fallen heart flame, the trouble of Fire Poison in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower had completely disappeared. Although the Cultivation environment was not as violent as before, it was safer and more lasting, leading to the supply of cultivation rooms in the tower failing to meet demand, and the competition became increasingly fierce.

While competing for a high-grade cultivation room, Xiao Yan had a conflict with Liu Qing's younger sister, Liu Fei.

Liu Fei was arrogant and acted overbearingly by relying on her brother Liu Qing's prestige in the Inner Academy, but she didn't expect to run into Xiao Yan, who was equally unyielding.

The two sides exchanged words several times and almost came to blows. In the end, it was Lin Xiuya who rushed over upon hearing the news and temporarily suppressed the situation.

These disturbances did not reach Shen Wen's courtyard. He spent most of his time this month in the Quiet Room, deducing Medicinal Pills and Soul Skills, occasionally coming out to guide everyone's Cultivation, and his days were peaceful.

Until this afternoon, steady footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

Xiong Tao' burly figure appeared at the door. He was travel-worn, and his eyes carried the fatigue of a long journey, but his expression was solemn. Seeing Shen Wen, he stepped forward quickly and bowed with cupped fists:

“My Lord.”

Shen Wen put down the book in his hand: “How was the investigation?”

“According to the locations in the Jade Slip given by the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, I have checked them one by one.” Xiong Tao' voice was low and organized, “Most of the strongholds, like the one in the Izumo Empire, are just peripheral contact points.

The permanent residents are only Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs, and Soul Hall Protectors occasionally appear, but there are no fixed experts stationed there.”

He paused, his expression becoming a bit more serious: “Only one place, that branch hall within the borders of the Tianxin Empire, is heavily guarded and obscured by a Formation.

I didn't dare to get too close, and only used my innate talent to sense slightly from the periphery, and perceived at least two auras above mine.”

Shen Wen listened quietly, his fingers lightly tapping on the stone table.

Protectors at the Dou Zong level were not a problem for him.

But for Cai Lin and Xiong Tao, it was still quite troublesome, especially since these people from the Hall of Souls were all skilled in attacks targeting the Soul.

Moreover, Cai Lin was pregnant and it was not suitable for her to take risks.

“It seems that if I want to uproot these strongholds in one go, I still need some time to prepare.” Shen Wen said as if talking to himself.

He needed time to further Breakthrough, or to refine some Medicinal Pills that could briefly enhance combat power or have special effects. The Hall of Souls had been rooted in the continent for many years, and there must be communication between these branch halls; alerting the enemy was not the best strategy.

Xiong Tao stood quietly to the side, waiting for instructions.

“I'm so short of manpower...”

Shen Wen shook his head. It was a pity that the Jia Nan Academy could not possibly join their action against the Hall of Souls, and he could not force them.

Mang Tianchi wasn't dead yet, so offending a Half-Saint just like that was out of the question.

What a pity... Moreover, because he needed to devour the Souls of these people from the Hall of Souls, it was difficult to rely on others' hands.

Unless these people could capture the Hall of Souls' members and bring them back.

“Uproot that branch hall in the Tianxin Empire first, and then gradually uproot the other strongholds. However, two Dou Zun, even with Xiong Tao, would be quite difficult to resolve in a short time.”

“If one escapes, it will be quite troublesome to find them again.”

Shen Wen rubbed his brow. With his current strength, defeating one Dou Zun in a short time was not a problem, but two Dou Zun would still be quite troublesome.

It seems he still has to wait for a while.

Wait until he has completely mastered the Great Origin Technique, plus the various ancestral talismans, as well as the king destroyer celestial disk, cosmic clock, and other means, then dealing with them should not be difficult.