Chapter 288 Taking Over the Power

After leaving the Pill World, the Revered Master and disciple landed one after another in Old Monster Lin's quiet small courtyard.

Shen Wen hadn't had time to change his tattered robes yet, though he had casually wiped away the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth.

Old Monster Lin sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard, looking up at him with a gaze that held a hint of complexity.

"Sit."

Shen Wen sat down on the opposite stone bench as told.

Old Monster Lin didn't speak immediately. He just took out a flask of wine and two cups from his storage ring, filled them both, and pushed one toward Shen Wen.

Shen Wen picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and waited for him to speak.

Old Monster Lin also took a sip, then set down the cup and leaned back against the chair. His gaze drifted toward the sun setting in the distance, his tone tinged with a sense of reminiscence.

"In all my life, I have never taken a disciple."

He paused before continuing, "It's not that I didn't want to, but that I didn't think much of them. Those so-called geniuses are nothing special in my eyes. Taking them in would just be a waste of time."

Shen Wen didn't interrupt, listening quietly.

Old Monster Lin withdrew his gaze and looked at Shen Wen, a rare smile appearing on his face. "But you are different. When I first picked you up, you were still an infant in swaddling clothes."

"At that time, I felt that this child had a spiritual aura, and would surely amount to something when grown up."

Shen Wen cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Revered Master, for the grace of raising me!"

"As you grew up, you indeed did not disappoint me," Old Monster Lin continued. "With such great talent, yet you were always clamoring to take a wife!"

"In this life, I have no attachments. Those so-called forces and manpower are all burdens to me."

"But you were raised by my own hands, like both a disciple and a grandson. I cannot ignore you."

Shen Wen understood the meaning behind his words and sat up a bit straighter.

Old Monster Lin said, "I've been in the Pill Tower for so many years. Although I don't like getting involved in those messy affairs, I still have some people under me."

"Old fellows who were Loose Cultivators, those who owe me favors, and a few talents I nurtured in my early years who have now made names for themselves."

"I've never really used these people. But you need them now."

Shen Wen didn't deny it.

He indeed needed manpower.

Although he had already cleared the way with the Cao Clan, those people ultimately belonged to the Cao Clan; there would always be a distance when using them.

In the team he had cultivated himself, although there were some Dou Zongs, there were too few Dou Zuns—only Bing He, Shen Tian, Iron Sword Venerable, and Demon Crow.

Compared to behemoths like the Hall of Souls and the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python, this amount of manpower was indeed insufficient.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Old Monster Lin continued, "Among these people, there are Dou Zuns and Dou Zongs."

"They are all trustworthy. I will have them report to you in batches, and they will follow your orders from now on."

"As for how to use them, that's your business. I won't interfere."

Shen Wen was silent for a moment, then stood up and gave Old Monster Lin a deep bow.

"Thank you, Revered Master."

Old Monster Lin waved his hand, his tone casual. "Alright, enough with the formalities."

"Go back and tidy up, and change out of those tattered robes."

Shen Wen smiled, bowed once more, and turned to leave.

The next few days passed peacefully.

Every day, Shen Wen cultivated in the residence and studied Formations, occasionally heading over to the Pill Tower to chat with Xuan Danzi and ask a few questions about medicine refining.

Cai Lin was still recuperating. Shen Yinian was being well-cared for; born as a Dou Zong, the little girl ate and slept much more soundly than ordinary infants, rarely crying and looking around with her purple eyes—she was quite easy to look after.

Zi Yan continued to practice diligently every day, saying she wanted to Breakthrough to Dou Zong as soon as possible to refine the dragon phoenix origin fruit.

Qing Lin stayed by her side, occasionally offering pointers on the Dou Technique insights she had learned from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

This day, Shen Wen was sitting in the Flower Hall flipping through a scroll of Formation notes brought back from the Cao Clan when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching.

A moment later, a white figure landed in the courtyard.

Xiao Yi Xian.

Shen Wen put down the notes and stood up to greet her.

Today, Xiao Yi Xian wore a moon-white dress, her long hair simply tied back. A faint smile played on her lips, and the aura surrounding her was completely different from before she left the residence.

Within that gentleness, there was a faint, deep sense of pressure.

Dou Zong.

And it wasn't the flighty aura of one who had just entered Dou Zong, but that of a true, stable Dou Zong.

"You're back?" Shen Wen walked up to her, his gaze sweeping over her, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes. "Did it work?"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, her lips curving into an arc. "It worked."

She paused and added, "I thought there would be some trouble, but it went more smoothly than expected.

"Thanks to the poison pill you refined for me before. During this Breakthrough, although the poison power rioted a few times, it was all suppressed by the poison pill."

Shen Wen nodded, led her into the Flower Hall, had her sit down, and ordered a maid to serve tea.

"Why did you go to the Snake-People Clan to Breakthrough?" he asked.

Xiao Yi Xian picked up the teacup and took a sip, explaining, "If I broke through in Pill City, I was afraid the poison power would riot and hurt the people in the residence.

"The Snake-People Clan's territory is spacious and deep in the mountains. Even if something went wrong, it would be easier to control."

She paused and looked at Shen Wen with an apologetic gaze. "Besides, with my Physique... when I Breakthrough, the poison power leaks out. I was afraid it would affect Sister Cai Lin and One Thought."

Hearing this, Shen Wen felt a slight warmth in his heart.

This girl was indeed thoughtful.

He reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's been hard on you."

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head and smiled. "It's not hard. I'm more than happy to have broken through to Dou Zong."

She suddenly remembered something, took out a communication jade slip from her storage ring, and handed it to Shen Wen.

"By the way, news came from Ice River Valley saying they've captured a group of Dou Zongs and settled them according to your instructions. They want you to go and handle it."

Shen Wen took the jade slip and probed it with his Soul power. A moment later, a flash of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Ice River Valley certainly hadn't been idle during this time.

Ice River Valley had worked together to capture seven Dou Zongs from the surrounding areas.

With seven more Dou Zongs, it could be said to be stable enough to be sent to the Northwest.

Shen Wen put away the jade slip and stood up.

"I'm going to Ice River Valley."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "Go ahead."

Shen Wen smiled, gave her a light kiss on the forehead, and with a flicker of his body, disappeared from the Flower Hall.

Ice River Valley.

That massive Sect established deep in the snowy mountains was now in Shen Wen's pocket.

When Shen Wen stepped out of a space crack, Bing He was already waiting outside the mountain gate with the Elders.

"Venerable." Bing He bowed in greeting, his attitude respectful.

Shen Wen nodded and followed him through layers of halls to a hidden dungeon deep within Ice River Valley.

The dungeon wasn't large, but it was extremely well-guarded.

Seven figures were held separately in different cells, their auras sealed, unable to move.

Shen Wen stood before the first cell, his gaze falling on the middle-aged man inside.

Three-Star Dou Zong.

The man sensed Shen Wen's gaze and looked up, his eyes filled with caution and dread.

Shen Wen said nothing, simply raising his hand as a point of warm golden light lit up in his palm.

The golden light surged out like a tide, instantly enveloping the man.

The man's body suddenly stiffened. Struggle, fear, and anger flashed through his eyes, but in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, all emotions receded like a tide, turning into a deep, pool-like calm.

"Greetings, Venerable."

Shen Wen nodded and turned toward the next cell.

An hour later, all seven Dou Zongs had been converted.

Shen Wen withdrew his hand. His Dou Qi consumption was significant, but his face wore a satisfied expression.

Now, the number of Dou Zongs under him was nearing triple digits.

This force, if placed in the open, would be enough to make any first-rate power wary.

But Shen Wen knew this was far from enough.

Behind the Hall of Souls is the Hun Clan, a true behemoth. The Nine Serene Earth Nether Python has a Dou Sheng overseeing it, and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan is equally unfathomable.

If he wanted to move with ease among these forces, he had to have stronger power in his hands.

Dou Zong wasn't enough; he needed Dou Zun.

Dou Zun wasn't enough; he needed Dou Sheng.

Shen Wen took a deep breath, suppressed his thoughts, and turned to look at Bing He.

"You did well."

Bing He bowed and said, "Serving the Venerable is my duty."

Shen Wen nodded and added, "Continue to keep an eye on the surrounding areas, but don't alert the enemy. If you encounter suitable candidates, note them down and wait for an opportunity."

"Yes."

Shen Wen gave a few more instructions and then lingered no longer.

Space Power surged, and his figure disappeared from the snowy peak of Ice River Valley.

When he returned to the Shen Residence, it was nearly dusk.

Xiao Yi Xian was still in the Flower Hall, chatting with Qing Lin. Seeing him return, both women looked up at the same time.

"Is it handled?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.

Shen Wen nodded, sat down beside her, and took a sip from the teacup.

Leaning back against the chair, Shen Wen looked out the window at the darkening sky and suddenly said, "Revered Master said he will also send some people over. There will even be Dou Zuns."

Xiao Yi Xian was slightly taken aback, and then a flash of joy appeared in her eyes.

"Old Ancestor Lin?"

Shen Wen nodded.

Xiao Yi Xian understood.

Old Monster Lin was Shen Wen's Revered Master who had raised him since childhood, making him like both a disciple and a grandson.

Now that Shen Wen's wings had grown, it was only natural for Old Monster Lin to hand over his manpower to him.

"That is indeed a good thing," Xiao Yi Xian said. "Old Ancestor Lin's people will certainly be trustworthy."