149: Shen Lian's teaching method

"Hmph."

Facing the welcome of the three, Shen Lian merely gave a cold snort and walked straight to the lounge chair, sitting down easily.

Su Mengyao and Du Bingyan exchanged glances, unsure what to do for a moment.

Ding Buer, however, took the initiative to approach and ask, "Master Shen, how did your business go?"

"Others might not know how the business went, but don't you? Why ask such a foolish question?"

Ding Buer quickly said, "Master Shen, please don't misunderstand. The entire continent has been in an uproar recently, all trying to eliminate you. I was just showing concern, wasn't I?"

"Hypocrite!"

Shen Lian grumbled dismissively, then surveyed the estate's environment.

"Did you do all this?"

Ding Buer immediately replied, "Of course. Master Shen, take a look. If there's anything you're dissatisfied with, I'll change it right away. But judging by Old Ding's standards, Master Shen must be quite satisfied, right?"

Shen Lian closed his eyes and gently fanned himself with a Folding Fan. After a moment, he said to Su Mengyao and Du Bingyan, "What about you two? Have you wasted time during this period?"

Su Mengyao immediately replied, "Disciple has strictly followed Revered Master's teachings. Since arriving at Buming Mountain, I haven't dared to slack off for a moment, spending eight hours daily Cultivating sword techniques."

Du Bingyan also replied, "Disciple is the same. I have successfully cultivated Level Three Spirit Medicine as instructed by Revered Master, and I have also reclaimed ten Medicinal Field on the back mountain."

Shen Lian's lip curled: "Listening to you, it seems you are very satisfied with your current progress. Do you think these small achievements are remarkable?"

"Disciple dares not!"

The two simultaneously knelt before Shen Lian, lowering their heads in apology.

"Rise."

Shen Lian swept his Folding Fan. The two felt as if thousands of needles were pricking their feet and immediately stood up straight again.

"Since you are so confident in your results, I will now give you a test to examine your progress during this period. Do you dare accept it?"

"Please give us the test, Revered Master!"

The two girls spoke in unison, their eyes filled with confidence.

Shen Lian turned his gaze to Su Mengyao: "You go to the back mountain and wait for me first."

"Yes, Revered Master."

Su Mengyao immediately got up, glanced at Du Bingyan, gave her a reassuring look, and then flew to the back mountain using her sword.

After Su Mengyao left, Shen Lian looked at Du Bingyan again: "I ask you one last time, is your mastery of Heavenly King Pharmacology complete?"

Du Bingyan nodded vigorously: "Please give the test, Revered Master. Disciple will definitely not disappoint you."

"In that case, then..."

Suddenly, Shen Lian's eyes turned cold, and he fiercely swept the Folding Fan in his hand, releasing a burst of seven-colored mist.

Du Bingyan had no time to react and was immediately struck by the mist, which entered her body.

"Ugh..."

Instantly, Du Bingyan let out a moan, and her whole body began to tremble in pain.

"Revered Master, this is..."

"This is the Five Poisons Smoke Net Hand. Anyone poisoned by it has only seven days to live. When the poison takes effect and they die, countless Gu insects will burst out of their body, resulting in an extremely miserable and painful death."

Hearing this, Du Bingyan felt her stomach churn with nausea, and she immediately spat out a mouthful of dark green liquid.

Shen Lian: "These are only the initial symptoms. The toxins will slowly corrode your internal organs as time passes.

If you don't want to die, concoct the antidote before the poison flares up. If you fail, Buming Mountain will merely gain one more foolish vengeful spirit."

Having said that, Shen Lian stood up and walked directly toward the back mountain.

Ding Buer hastily chased after him: "Master Shen, isn't what you're doing too cruel?"

Shen Lian said expressionlessly, "If a doctor cannot even cure themselves, what right do they have to claim to be benevolent and save the world?

If she wants to save others, she must first learn to save herself. Whether she survives or not depends entirely on her mastery of pharmacology."

After speaking, Shen Lian left without looking back.

"Alas!"

Ding Buer slapped his thigh, then walked up to Du Bingyan: "Miss Du, don't panic. Go beg Master Shen later. He wouldn't be so cruel as to harm his own Disciple."

Du Bingyan shook her head: "No, Revered Master is right. If a doctor cannot save themselves, how can they speak of being benevolent and saving the world?

This is Revered Master's test for me. I—I definitely won't disappoint him!"

With that, Du Bingyan forced her poisoned body to stand up and walked toward the pharmacy.

"That's too extreme."

Ding Buer shook his head and sighed, then chased after the direction Shen Lian had disappeared.

On the other side, by the cliff edge of the back mountain, Su Mengyao stood alone holding the "nameless edge," gazing at the sight of the rolling, layered clouds, and couldn't help but be mesmerized.

"Are you ready?"

Suddenly, a cold and arrogant voice behind her interrupted the girl's contemplation of the beautiful scenery.

She turned and replied firmly, "Revered Master, I am ready."

Shen Lian wasted no more words and directly pointed his sword finger.

Immediately, vast Dao power burst forth from his fingertip, quickly forming an everlasting Two Forms Totem around Su Mengyao.

"Break through the Tiangang Sword Formation within seven days. If you cannot break it, your life will be devoured by the Tiangang Sword Formation."

Su Mengyao furrowed her sword-like brows, took a deep breath, and her eyes were unusually resolute.

"Revered Master, Disciple will not disappoint you!"

After speaking, she stepped forward directly.

Following Su Mengyao's movement, the Tiangang Sword Formation instantly activated.

Su Mengyao felt her vision go dark, and she found herself in a vast, empty void.

Swoosh—

Poof—

Suddenly, a Sword Light sped toward her. Su Mengyao immediately got up and dodged, but she was half a step too late, and her shoulder was struck by half a streak of Sword Qi.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

As her figure moved, more Sword Qi carrying deadly intent assailed Su Mengyao from the void.

Immediately upon entering the formation, Su Mengyao was thrown into a life-or-death situation. In just a moment, she had been struck by three streaks of Sword Qi.

However, after a brief period of shock and distraction, Su Mengyao gradually adapted to the Sword Qi's offense, starting to maneuver to avoid the Sword Qi while timely seeking opportunities for a counterattack.

"No, if I only defend and don't attack in this formation, I will eventually be swallowed by the rain-like density of the Sword Qi. I must proactively attack and find the formation core."

"But where exactly is the formation core?"

Seeing Su Mengyao enter the formation, Shen Lian ignored her, turning and walking toward the edge of the cliff.

He had never cared about the lives or deaths of these two cheap Disciples.

"Master Shen!"

Ding Buer's voice sounded from behind.

"I finally found you. Would you listen to Old Ding for a moment? This method you use to Cultivate Disciples might lead to casualties."

Shen Lian heard this and was indifferent: "If they can't even withstand such a small test, then there really is no need for them to live.

Ding Buer, have I been too lenient with you? Have you forgotten that I told you not to meddle in my affairs?"

Ding Buer sighed: "Fine, I won't interfere with your matters. Now I want to ask, what do you plan to do next?"

Shen Lian looked in the direction of the Road of No Return: "In seven days, I will depart for the Spirit Realm."

"I understand." Ding Buer nodded. "You plan to make a move against Su Yuheng and Mu Yaoguang."

"Since you understand, don't ask unnecessary questions. Why did you come looking for me?"

"Master Shen, I sense a powerful force of resentment emanating from the direction of the Ice Domain. This power seems to originate from beyond the domain."

"Hmm?"

Shen Lian frowned.

"It seems Liu Yixue's death caused these trash to completely break down. Since that's the case, we might as well go all the way and directly erase the Ice and Snow Sect from this continent!"