9: Chapter 9 is awesome!!!

Chapter 9: Refreshing!!!

"Someone, come here!!!"

Wang Zhenshan's furious roar exploded in the Wang Family courtyard, shaking the surrounding roof tiles.

He staggered to his feet, his Qi in disarray and blood foam hanging from the corner of his mouth, looking utterly pathetic.

"Chase him!!! Catch that thief!!! I want to tear him into ten thousand pieces!!!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

Several figures rushed out from various parts of the Wang Family and landed in the courtyard.

Every newcomer had a powerful aura; even the weakest was at the first layer of the Dharma Image Realm.

Leading them was a white-haired old man with a thin frame, but eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

He was the previous head of the Wang Family and Wang Zhenshan's father, Wang Tiangang.

"Zhenshan, what happened?!"

Wang Tiangang's expression changed drastically upon seeing his son's miserable state.

He had been in seclusion for many years and had only just made a Breakthrough to the Void Piercing Realm a few months ago. He had been cultivating in the ancestral lands when he suddenly sensed a disturbance outside tonight, forcing him to end his seclusion early.

Wang Zhenshan trembled all over, pointing in the direction where the man in black had disappeared: "There's a thief!!! He stole my storage Magic Treasure!!! He took everything inside!!!"

Wang Tiangang frowned and said in a deep voice: "Chase!"

Before his voice finished echoing, he had already soared into the sky, racing in that direction.

Several Wang Family experts followed closely behind him.

However—

Half an incense stick later.

Wang Tiangang landed back in the courtyard, his face ashen.

"Lost the trail."

He looked at Wang Zhenshan and asked solemnly: "What was the intruder's cultivation level?"

Wang Zhenshan gritted his teeth, his voice shaking: "I... I don't know... He suppressed my Faxiang with just one hand..."

Wang Tiangang's pupils constricted.

Wang Zhenshan was at the sixth layer of the Dharma Image Realm. To suppress his Faxiang with one hand, the opponent must be at least at the Peak of the ninth layer of the Dharma Image Realm, or even...

The Void Piercing Realm!

Wang Tiangang took a deep breath, suppressing the shock surging in his heart, and asked deeply: "Did you see the intruder's appearance?"

Wang Zhenshan shook his head: "He wore a mask, and his aura was hidden extremely deep. I couldn't sense it at all..."

Wang Tiangang fell silent for a moment. "Let this matter drop for now. Our Wang Family is at a critical juncture; we cannot afford any chaos. Be more careful when acting outside from now on."

...

Wutong Garden.

Under the Wutong tree, upon a soft couch.

Shen Qingyuan lay lazily, picking up a grape and slowly tossing it into his mouth.

Moonlight filtered through the golden Wutong leaves, casting a dappled pattern of light and shadow over him.

Luo Qingyue sat kneeling to the side, her white clothes as pure as snow and her features cool and elegant, as she quietly brewed tea.

The tea's aroma curled upward, blending with the fresh scent of the Wutong leaves, refreshing the soul.

Suddenly—

The corners of Shen Qingyuan's mouth curled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

Noticing the change in his expression, Luo Qingyue looked up: "Young Master?"

Shen Qingyuan gave an "en" and said casually, "It's nothing, I just watched a good show."

Luo Qingyue was slightly taken aback.

A good show?

She extended her Divine Thought, trying to sense something.

But with the Formation Shen Qingyuan had arranged around Wutong Garden, her Divine Thought couldn't penetrate outward at all.

Shen Qingyuan glanced at her and smiled: "Over at the Wang Family, a guest just arrived."

Luo Qingyue's brow furrowed slightly: "A guest?"

Shen Qingyuan nodded, his eyes filled with playfulness: "A man in black at the fourth layer of the Primal Chaos Realm. He gave the Wang Family head, Wang Zhenshan, a beating, snatched his treasures, and then ran off."

Luo Qingyue: "..."

Fourth layer of the Primal Chaos Realm?

Wang Zhenshan was only at the sixth layer of the Dharma Image Realm. With a difference of two entire major Realms, this was a complete dimensional strike.

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Shen Qingyuan: "Does Young Master know that person?"

Shen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow and didn't speak.

Seeing this, Luo Qingyue didn't press further.

She had followed the Young Master for three years and had long grown accustomed to his 'I know but I won't say' attitude.

However—

Someone at the fourth layer of the Primal Chaos Realm would be a top-tier expert even in the entire Southern Region.

This Guangnan City truly was a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

Luo Qingyue lowered her gaze and continued brewing tea.

Shen Qingyuan lay back on the soft couch, hands pillowed behind his head, but his gaze drifted toward the direction of the Shen Family's main hall.

Fourth layer of the Primal Chaos Realm... no wonder he dared to sneak into the Wang Family alone!

...

Meanwhile.

Shen Family, Main Hall.

Patriarch Shen Tianze returned to the hall silently. He took off his mask and black robe, stuffing them into his storage ring.

He walked to a bronze mirror and carefully examined himself.

The corners of his mouth curled into a satisfied smile.

Refreshing!!!

Wang Zhenshan, you let your son target Little Nine!

You let your son hit my son!

You think I can't deal with you? What a joke!

Patriarch Shen Tianze toyed with the storage jade pendant in his hand, sending his Divine Thought inside to carefully take inventory.

The more he inventoried, the tighter his brow furrowed.

"That's it?"

He couldn't help but mutter, "The dignified head of the Wang Family, an expert at the sixth layer of the Dharma Image Realm, sitting on eight hundred years of Family foundation—how can he have so little?"

One hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, three thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, dozens of bottles of Medicinal Pills, a few Magic Treasures, two Spiritual Plants...

Truth be told, these items would be a significant fortune in the eyes of any Dharma Image Realm Cultivator.

But the problem was—

He was the head of the Wang Family!

The head of one of the five great families in Guangnan City!

Only this much in his personal stash?

As Patriarch Shen Tianze inventoried, he couldn't help but complain: "That old fellow Wang Zhenshan usually acts all high and mighty, surrounded by attendants whenever he goes out. I thought he was wealthy. Turns out it's just this? Just this? Where did all the Spirit Stones he saved over the years go? Did he spend them all at Yicui Pavilion?"

It wasn't that he truly looked down on these items—in fact, this amount of resources was quite considerable and enough for the Shen Family to live comfortably for a while.

He just simply wanted to complain.

Who would ever complain about having too much?

After finishing the inventory, Patriarch Shen Tianze stood up, straightened his robes, and walked out of the hall.

...

The Third Elder's courtyard was on the west side of the Shen Mansion. It was a quiet little yard with an old locust tree planted in front, its lush branches blotting out the sky.

Patriarch Shen Tianze arrived at the courtyard gate and raised his hand to knock.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?" an aged voice called out from inside.

"Third Uncle, it's me."

A moment later, the gate opened.

A white-haired old man poked his head out; it was the Shen Family's Third Elder—Shen Yuanshan.

Shen Yuanshan was Patriarch Shen Tianze's third uncle, already over two hundred years old. With a cultivation at the Peak of the ninth layer of the Dharma Image Realm, he was one of the strongest people in the Shen Family besides the Old Ancestor in seclusion.

He was usually responsible for managing the Shen Family's treasury and distributing clan resources, making him the Shen Family's true 'Great Steward'.

"Tianze?" Shen Yuanshan was slightly stunned to see the visitor. "It's so late, why have you come over?"

Patriarch Shen Tianze smiled: "Third Uncle, let's talk inside."

Shen Yuanshan nodded and stepped aside to let Patriarch Shen Tianze into the courtyard.

The two sat down at a stone table in the yard.

Shen Yuanshan poured him a cup of tea and asked, "Go ahead, what's the matter?"

Patriarch Shen Tianze didn't stand on ceremony, taking a sip of tea before pulling several bottles of Medicinal Pills from his robes and placing them on the stone table.

Shen Yuanshan glanced at them, his brow furrowing slightly: "This is..."

He picked up a bottle, pulled the stopper, and brought it to his nose to sniff.

The next moment—

His eyes snapped wide open!

"These are... Grade Five Medicinal Pills?!"

He looked up at Patriarch Shen Tianze in utter disbelief.

Grade Five Medicinal Pills were extremely precious resources for a Family like the Shen Family.

Normally, only direct line descendants or those who had performed great service were eligible to receive them as rewards.

But the pills in this bottle were all perfectly round and full, with spiritual light flowing over them; they were clearly top-quality even among Grade Five pills!

Shen Yuanshan hurriedly opened the other bottles.

One bottle, two, three...

All Grade Five!

And every bottle was full, with at least a dozen pills in each!

"Tianze, you..." Shen Yuanshan swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "Where did so many Grade Five Medicinal Pills come from?"

Patriarch Shen Tianze's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "I saved them up."

Shen Yuanshan: "???"

He stared at Patriarch Shen Tianze with a look that clearly said—do you take me for a fool?

Could he not know what kind of person Patriarch Shen Tianze was?

This kid had been mischievous since childhood and was still a handful as an adult. Although he had restrained himself somewhat after becoming the Family head, it was only 'somewhat'...

Besides, being the Family head meant having countless matters to attend to. How could he possibly save up so many Grade Five Medicinal Pills!

These were Grade Five!

Not common cabbage!

Shen Yuanshan took a deep breath, fixed his gaze on Patriarch Shen Tianze, and said slowly: "Tianze, tell your Third Uncle the truth. These pills... did you go and rob some power?"

Patriarch Shen Tianze's face darkened.

Rob?

What robbery?

He, Patriarch Shen Tianze, the dignified head of the Shen Family and overlord of Guangnan City, how could he do such a sordid thing?!

Well, he actually did do it tonight.

But could he say it?

Definitely not!

Patriarch Shen Tianze kept a straight face and said righteously: "Third Uncle, what are you saying? Am I, Patriarch Shen Tianze, that kind of person?"

Shen Yuanshan stared at him with a meaningful look: "Then you tell me, where did these pills come from?"

Patriarch Shen Tianze: "..."

He opened his mouth, only to find he truly couldn't come up with a logical explanation.

Seeing Patriarch Shen Tianze's reaction, Shen Yuanshan became even more certain of his guess. He said earnestly: "Tianze, what's done is done. I just want to know if the job was clean. If it wasn't, I'll go find Second Grand-Uncle right now, and us old fellows will make another trip!"

Hearing this, Patriarch Shen Tianze's eyelids twitched.

What on earth?

Make another trip?

Was Third Uncle planning to exterminate the Wang Family?

He hurriedly waved his hands: "No, no, no! Third Uncle, don't be impulsive! It was done cleanly, absolutely clean! I just went and gave Wang Zhenshan a beating and snatched some things. I didn't leave any evidence!"

Shen Yuanshan narrowed his eyes at him. "So the man in black who appeared at the Wang Family tonight was you!"

Patriarch Shen Tianze was stunned: "Third Uncle, how did you know the Wang Family..."

Shen Yuanshan snorted coldly: "How did I know? When Wang Tiangang was chasing you, I was watching from a rooftop!"

Patriarch Shen Tianze: "..."

So you were spectating the whole time?

Shen Yuanshan took a slow sip of tea and said unhurriedly: "You've been hiding quite deep, kid! When did you return? I didn't even notice!"

He was now a Primal Chaos Realm expert himself, yet he had actually lost track of Patriarch Shen Tianze.

Hearing this, the corners of Patriarch Shen Tianze's mouth turned up slightly, feeling secretly proud.

Ever since he had mooched a few meals and eaten a few pills at Shen Qingyuan's place, his cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds.

Don't be fooled by his surface appearance of being at the Peak of the ninth layer of the Dharma Image Realm; in reality, he had long since broken through to the fourth layer of the Primal Chaos Realm.

Third Uncle was only at the Dharma Image Realm; how could he possibly detect his movements!

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