164: Delivered to your door

"You guys, clean that area up. Yes, be careful."

"And you, you clumsy oaf, why don't you find someone to help you?"

Inside Qixuan Pavilion, Du Bingyan struggled to adapt to her change in status and, with the help of Su Mengyao, began managing this windfall of wealth.

After three days of interaction, the staff inside Qixuan Pavilion, whether Cultivators or Mortals, had quickly adapted to the reality that Du Bingyan was their new mistress.

In fact, compared to Tang Yuan and Mu Yaoguang, these staff members preferred Du Bingyan's benevolent attitude; at least she treated them as human beings.

The only thing they were uneasy about was the fear of retaliation from Medicine King Valley.

Also, they must absolutely not offend that Cultivator named Shen Lian in the slightest.

Shen Lian gently shook his Folding Fan, observed the busy scene in the shop, and quietly walked downstairs.

"Revered Master!"

When the two women saw Shen Lian, they simultaneously bowed to him.

"Hmph."

Shen Lian let out an annoyed hum and then walked up to a staff member who was polishing a Glazed Lamp.

When the staff member saw Shen Lian approaching, cold sweat immediately broke out. He deliberately pretended not to notice, frantically rubbing the surface of the Glazed Lamp with his rag.

But the next moment, Shen Lian's hand rested on his shoulder.

At that instant, the staff member felt the Grim Reaper beckoning him and truly wanted to cry.

The two women were also on tenterhooks, unable to predict what Shen Lian would do next.

"How long are you going to polish one Glazed Lamp?"

Hearing this, the staff member was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"I'm sorry, Immortal Elder, please don't kill me, don't kill me!"

"Kill you? Is there anything about you worth me making a move?"

Shen Lian glanced at him dismissively and then stepped past him.

"Your Jianjing Acupoint is throbbing incessantly. This is a side effect caused by forcefully practicing the Qi Condensation Art. If you don't treat it promptly, you will definitely die from a Spiritual Qi backlash within three years."

Hearing this, the staff member looked utterly bewildered.

Only then did Du Bingyan finally realize that Shen Lian was using the staff member's situation to warn her: as the Person in Charge, she must constantly monitor the condition of every subordinate.

So she immediately pulled out an Innate Silver Needle, rushed behind the staff member, and directly inserted the needle into his Jianjing Acupoint.

"Ugh ah~"

After a painful groan, the staff member felt relief throughout his body, even letting out strange sounds involuntarily.

After Du Bingyan withdrew the needle, the staff member immediately thanked her: "Thank you, Shopkeeper."

"No need. Go back to work."

Du Bingyan left that phrase, and when she looked back at Shen Lian, she saw him lying on a Reclining Chair in front of the counter.

The soft sunlight shone upon Shen Lian’s cold, arrogant, yet handsome face, making him appear like a Banished Immortal.

Du Bingyan felt her heart skip a few beats and instinctively wanted to move closer for a better look, but Su Mengyao beat her to it.

"Revered Master, since we have nothing to do right now, can we talk?"

Shen Lian didn't even open his eyes: "Before you speak, you had better think clearly about what you want to say. If the topic doesn't please me, then obediently shut up."

Su Mengyao puffed out her cheeks: "Revered Master, your Disciple just wants to ask one thing: are those rumors about you circulating in the Jianghu true or false?"

Shen Lian's hand, which was originally shaking the Folding Fan, instantly stopped.

Su Mengyao continued: "Recently, rumors about Revered Master have been spreading everywhere in the Eastern Domain, but after hearing them,

I really can't reconcile the person in the rumors with Revered Master. Could you please tell your Disciple what the truth is?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the air pressure inside Qixuan Pavilion suddenly dropped, and various jade artifacts began to emit faint trembling sounds.

The staff members also felt the Qi and blood churning within their bodies, as if it was about to burst out the next second.

Suddenly, Shen Lian opened his eyes and looked at Su Mengyao expressionlessly.

Su Mengyao immediately felt her scalp tingle, instinctively wanting to retreat, but her legs were disobedient, unable to move even half a step.

"Revered Master, I..."

"Su Mengyao, if you think you have a long life, I can make an exception and send you on your way.

Do you think you're truly too idle to have the audacity to ask me such a question!"

A trace of fragrant sweat appeared on Su Mengyao's forehead. Facing Shen Lian, who was right in front of her, she found herself unable to speak again.

"Ask, why aren't you asking anymore?"

"Since you had the courage to ask, you should consider the consequences."

"Now, do you still plan to continue asking?"

Shen Lian revealed a gaze that viewed her like an ant, stinging Su Mengyao's heart painfully.

But she still endured the immense pressure and slowly opened her mouth, saying: "I apologize, Revered Master. Your Disciple was just curious: for a powerhouse like Revered Master, who in this world could possibly be worthy of you?"

"This is what you wanted to talk about? Su Mengyao, I'm starting to regret taking you as a Disciple."

Shen Lian's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"On the path of cultivation, love and affection are ultimately just burdens on the road ahead. Those who truly pursue the Dao will not waste time on such trivial matters.

You ask who in this world is worthy of me? Then I will tell you now: no one can make Shen Lian feel even a trace of compassion.

In Shen Lian's dictionary, emotion is a burden. Do you understand?"

As his words fell, the pressure withdrew, and Su Mengyao finally let out a sigh of relief.

Before she could recover, Shen Lian’s cold and arrogant voice came again: "Since you are so idle, go practice the Mistaken Sword Art two hundred more times. If you miss even one time, I will ruthlessly erase you."

"Yes."

"Hmph."

Su Mengyao reluctantly went to the Backyard as Shen Lian instructed.

Everyone in the main hall who witnessed this didn't dare to breathe deeply.

This Lord is truly someone whose thoughts cannot be measured by common sense.

Just then, a contrary gale swept through.

Shen Lian's previously closed eyes opened again for an instant, and a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Let me see which person is so audacious as to dare occupy the property of Medicine King Valley."

The corner of Shen Lian's mouth curved slightly. He slowly rose from the Reclining Chair, meeting Su Yuheng's shocked gaze directly.

"It's you..."

"Su Yuheng, are you planning to voluntarily deliver yourself to the door to meet your death?"

Su Yuheng never expected that the occupied property belonged to Shen Lian.

Upon hearing his words, she immediately circulated her internal Vital Energy.

"Shen Lian, why are you here?"

"Naturally, I came to collect your life and Mu Yaoguang's. I didn't expect it to be you who came—what a pleasant surprise."

Boom~

Su Yuheng immediately struck out with a palm, sending a sharp Qi Radiance directly toward Shen Lian's chest.

Shen Lian merely lifted his left hand slightly, using Void Concealment to transform the force, directly dissipating the Qi Wave into nothingness.

"You, your cultivation..."

Seeing this scene, Su Yuheng was dumbfounded.

The palm strike just now utilized eighty percent of her cultivation, yet Shen Lian neutralized it so easily. She could instantly tell that his cultivation was already above hers.

But why?

In less than two short months, why had Shen Lian's cultivation advanced so rapidly? This simply defied common sense.

Just as she was still in shock, Shen Lian's death sentence sounded clearly in her ear: "Su Yuheng, are you prepared to conclude your tribulation?"

Shen Lian stepped forward, his expression a slight smirk, giving Su Yuheng an extreme sense of oppression.

"Last time you used the seven-colored stone cord to escape a disaster. This time, I want to know if you'll still have such good luck!"