Settle the snake people and trade

The vast Tagor Desert, where heat waves steamed.

Shen Wen and Cai Lin appeared above the Snake-People Tribes Sacred City.

Below them.

The tribal camps, once scattered, had been consolidated. A large quantity of supplies was being organized and packed into boxes, carried by strong Snake-People warriors and tamed Demonic Beasts.

The air was filled with a busy yet hopeful atmosphere. The entire Snake-People Clan was like a precisely operating machine, solely for the migration that was about to begin.

"Lord Shen, Queen Cai Lin." A voice came. Elder Huang Ling of Heavenly Serpent Mansion, accompanied by Lü Man, smiled and greeted them, "Our Mansion Master learned of the events in the Imperial Capital and has long admired Your Excellency. She specifically instructed this old one to convey her regards again."

She paused slightly, her tone becoming more solemn and clearly leaning towards them: "Our Heavenly Serpent Mansion is established in the Northwest, and we have always disapproved of the Hall of Souls' shadowy activities."

Shen Wen's gaze shifted slightly, understanding dawning on him.

The news of the battle in the Imperial Capital spread quickly. Heavenly Serpent Mansion's stance at this moment was tantamount to openly taking a side, releasing goodwill towards him and the Pill Tower behind him.

"The Mansion Master is thoughtful." Shen Wen nodded, his tone calm.

He indeed needed to stay in the Northwest for some time. Having a cooperative local power would save him a lot of trouble. "Since I promised to refine Medicinal Pills for your mansion, why not do it today instead of choosing another day?"

Huang Ling's smile widened: "That would be excellent! The Medicinal Materials are already prepared. We trouble Master Shen."

Everyone moved to the prepared quiet room.

Shen Wen brought out the heaven burning cauldron, and his Heavenly Realm Soul power spread out like mercury, controlling every subtle change in all the Medicinal Materials.

The Future Non-Existence Sutra silently operated, deducing countless possibilities for the Medicinal Power's Fusion, making the entire process as easy as observing patterns in his palm.

Refining the peak seventh-grade Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill seemed effortless and fluid in his hands.

Huang Ling and Lü Man stood to the side, watching Shen Wen's almost artistic control, their initial anticipation gradually replaced by disbelief.

Lü Man couldn't help but gasp in a low voice: "Elder, his technique... it's too effortless!

It looks much easier than any Seventh-Rank Alchemist we've ever seen!"

Huang Ling took a deep breath and slowly nodded, her gaze fixed on Shen Wen's every movement, afraid of missing any detail: "The core successor of the Pill Tower, truly living up to his reputation... No, far exceeding the rumors."

Just as the Medicinal Pill was about to take shape, the sky suddenly darkened. Heavy dark clouds gathered, silver lightning snakes danced wildly, and a destructive Pill Lightning's pressure descended with a roar!

"The Pill Lightning is here!" Huang Ling's expression tightened.

However, Shen Wen unhurriedly struck the last hand seal into the Medicine Cauldron, causing the Medicinal Pill to solidify completely.

He took a step, and his figure already appeared in mid-air, directly facing the thick lightning that roared and poured down.

Under the horrified gaze of everyone below, he not only did not avoid it but suddenly opened his mouth.

"Swallow!"

An invisible, terrifying suction burst from his mouth. The violent Pill Lightning, powerful enough to severely injure a low-level Dou Zong, was completely swallowed into his belly, not a single wisp remaining, like a whale absorbing water!

Lightning flickered and crackled on his body's surface but quickly subsided into silence, as if completely digested by him.

Shen Wen slowly exhaled a breath tinged with electric light, his expression normal, as if he had merely drunk a cup of water.

He raised a hand and beckoned. A Medicinal Pill the size of a longan, entwined with Yin and Yang Qi, flew out of the cauldron and landed in a pre-prepared jade bottle, which he casually tossed to the dumbfounded Huang Ling.

"I have not failed in my mission."

Huang Ling fumbled to catch the jade bottle, feeling the surging Medicinal Power within. When she looked at Shen Wen again, her eyes had completely changed, filled with awe and relief.

She bowed deeply, her tone even more respectful than before, even carrying a hint of humility:

"Master Shen's Divine Abilities are unparalleled, this old one... is thoroughly impressed! Our Heavenly Serpent Mansion will surely remember Your Excellency's kindness!"

Shen Wen's smile remained unchanged, but his topic subtly shifted:

"Oh, by the way, Elder Huang."

His tone was casual, as if discussing a trivial matter.

"For the next period, I will be moving around the Northwest Continent."

Huang Ling subconsciously tightened her grip on the warm jade bottle and looked up at him.

Shen Wen continued, his eyes, however, gaining a hint of sharpness:

"If your mansion discovers traces of those rats from the Hall of Souls here... for example, the exact location of one of their branch halls..."

He deliberately paused, watching Huang Ling's pupils constrict slightly.

"As long as the information is confirmed to be accurate, I will refine a seventh-grade pill for your mansion for free, how about that? Any seventh-grade pill, as long as you can provide the Materials."

Huang Ling's breath hitched, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the jade bottle.

A seventh-grade pill! Any kind!

The temptation was simply too great.

Although Heavenly Serpent Mansion was strong, the favor of a Seventh-Rank Alchemist and their Medicinal Pills were still rare and precious resources.

But... a clear struggle and apprehension appeared on her face, and her voice lowered slightly:

"Master Shen, your conditions are indeed tempting.

However... the Hall of Souls is, after all, a powerful and mysterious entity, the most feared force in the Central Plains.

If they were to find out that it was our Heavenly Serpent Mansion providing the information..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was self-evident.

Although Heavenly Serpent Mansion was the overlord of the Northwest, it definitely did not want to easily provoke a behemoth like the Hall of Souls.

Shen Wen seemed to have anticipated her concerns and chuckled softly.

"Elder, rest assured."

His tone was calm but carried a convincing certainty.

"I have my own methods for handling the source of the information. Heavenly Serpent Mansion will absolutely not be implicated, nor will it be publicly stated that the information came from your mansion."

He subtly shifted his words, his gaze sincere:

"Of course, the Hall of Souls' methods are strange. If they investigate and discover something themselves, that would be outside the scope of my promise. I trust your mansion can weigh this risk."

Huang Ling fell silent, her eyes flickering, clearly engaged in an intense internal deliberation.

Risk and reward swayed on the scales.

Ultimately.

The Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, which she had just received and still carried the residual warmth of Shen Wen's palm, along with the possibility of obtaining more seventh-grade pills in the future, outweighed her hesitation.

She took a deep breath, her face regaining its previous smile, though a hint of resolve now flickered in her eyes.

"Master Shen is straightforward and meticulous in his actions."

She solemnly cupped her hands towards Shen Wen.

"This matter, this old one will truthfully report to the Mansion Master. As soon as there is definite information, I will notify Your Excellency immediately."

Shen Wen's smile deepened, knowing that this transaction was preliminarily concluded.

"If there's any information, just find a way to get it to the Snake-People Clan."

After all, compared to himself, Heavenly Serpent Mansion's intelligence network was certainly better.

Now, discovering the Hall of Souls was like finding a series of big gift packages for him, so he naturally couldn't let them go.

Huang Ling and the others left in a hurry, and the Snake-People Clan's relocation officially began, a mighty procession, with the Four Great Elders, Ten Great Commanders, and Kui Xing on alert around them.

To prevent sudden attacks.

However, the remaining Luo Yan Empire and Mu Lan Empire had been warned by Heavenly Serpent Mansion, so they naturally wouldn't do such a thing.

Moreover, since Heavenly Serpent Mansion already knew what happened in the Imperial Capital.

They were closer to the Jia Ma Empire, so they naturally learned the information faster. They dared not come to obstruct.