71: Ants should shut up.

"Why are you here?"

The moment he saw Shen Lian, Chen Wuji's questioning tone carried a hint of tremor.

Perhaps he hadn't even realized it himself, but ever since Shen Lian pulled him into the consciousness Domain to witness that unparalleled Sword Intent, an indelible lifelong shadow had been cast upon him.

"Before I answer such a foolish question, you trash, answer me first: Where did you get the courage to say your sword is powerful and terrifying?"

That single sharp question made Chen Wuji involuntarily take three steps back.

"Also, why didn't you move aside when you saw me!"

"I, I..."

"Answer me!"

Chen Wuji, at the Eighth Layer of Hunyuan, didn't know how to respond when facing Shen Lian's sharp questioning, which sounded like scolding a dog.

The final deep shout directly shook him so much that he nearly stumbled and collapsed onto the ground.

This scene greatly shocked Su Mengyao.

She had personally experienced Chen Wuji's cultivation level just now; he only needed a single finger to kill her.

This oppressive feeling was in no way inferior to that of Sect Master Nangong Li.

Yet, such a peerless powerhouse didn't even harbor the thought of confronting this man?

Who exactly is he?

At this moment, Chen Wuji's back was already soaked with sweat, and his steady legs were trembling.

The pressure Shen Lian exerted on him was even greater than anticipated.

Striving to suppress the fear and unease in his heart, he swallowed hard and spoke, "I saw that this girl has extraordinary bone structure, so I intended to take her as a disciple and pass down my mantle."

The result was Shen Lian's unrestrained mockery: "A sword technique so rotten and despicable, you actually have the nerve to bring it out and harm ants? I truly don't understand what goes on inside a trash's head!"

That single sentence made Chen Wuji's face flush crimson.

If anyone else dared to say this to him, they would likely have already turned into a pool of blood.

But in front of Shen Lian, he didn't even have the thought of raising a hand.

"Scram. This person belongs to me."

Shen Lian turned his back, making the decision without hesitation.

"You..."

Hearing this, a trace of anger and unwillingness flashed in Chen Wuji's eyes.

"I saw her first."

"And then what?"

That counter-question immediately silenced Chen Wuji.

"What can you do about it?"

Hearing Shen Lian say this, Chen Wuji's already abstract face became even more distorted.

He could tell that Shen Lian wasn't joking, but... "Why is this happening? He clearly only has Tribulation Crossing Realm cultivation. Killing him should be as simple as crushing an ant,

yet why does he make me feel more uneasy than I did facing the Sword Emperor back then? Who exactly is he?"

Seeing Chen Wuji fail to react, Shen Lian turned around, losing patience: "Are you deaf or mute? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Chen Wuji took a deep breath and slowly replied, "Good kid, this old man remembers you. I'll let you have this girl for now, but mark my words, this matter is not over."

After speaking, Chen Wuji immediately transformed into a streak of Crimson Light and fled the Medicinal Field as if running for his life.

"Truly trashy and utterly disgusting, hmph!"

Seeing Chen Wuji leave, a flicker of disappointment crossed Shen Lian's eyes. He cursed under his breath and walked toward Su Mengyao.

Before he could speak, Su Mengyao stood up and asked directly, "May I ask, were you the one who helped me in Yunluo City that day?"

The next second, her fair neck was firmly grasped by Shen Lian's iron hand.

In an instant, Su Mengyao's face turned pale, and her breathing became rapid.

Everything happened extremely suddenly, without the slightest warning.

Su Mengyao never expected that a simple, ordinary remark could provoke the other party's murderous intent.

"You remember this: I absolutely hate it when ants speak to me in such a questioning tone.

If you weren't still useful, you'd already be a cold corpse. Remember one thing:

Don't let ignorance and arrogance erode your already shallow understanding. Even an ant should know the principle of cherishing life!"

After speaking, Shen Lian released his hand and flung her three steps away.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The moment she was freed, Su Mengyao coughed greedily.

"Mengyao..."

Du Bingyan noticed the situation and quickly came out of the house to help Su Mengyao up.

"I'm fine..."

Su Mengyao shook her head at Du Bingyan, looked at Shen Lian, and bowed with difficulty, saying, "Senior, this Junior was quite presumptuous just now. I only wanted to know if Senior was the one who helped me in Yunluo City?"

Shen Lian was impatient: "Why ask the same question twice? I don't have time to waste with you. Pack your things now and leave with me."

Su Mengyao was stunned: "Where are we going?"

"I helped you twice. Shouldn't you know how to repay me?"

"Twice?"

Su Mengyao was startled at first, then quickly reacted.

"So Senior helped me today as well, then Senior..."

"Enough!"

Shen Lian roughly interrupted Su Mengyao.

"You talk too much nonsense. Pack your things immediately and come with me!"

"Where is Senior taking me?"

The next moment, a wave of Aura Pressure swept out, directly sucking Su Mengyao into Shen Lian's palm.

"I told you, you have too many questions. I don't mind poisoning you until you're mute."

Shen Lian showed no pity for the fair sex and directly grabbed Su Mengyao's beautiful black hair.

"A tiny ant, do you have the qualifications to decide your own fate?"

"If you receive benefits, you should give the corresponding repayment. What did you think I intervened twice for?"

Su Mengyao endured the sharp pain of her hair being pulled, quickly nodded, and replied, "Senior, please let go. This Junior knows she was wrong."

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Shen Lian withdrew the Aura Pressure and released her hair.

Su Mengyao, having just escaped, calmed her emotions. She never expected Shen Lian to be so crude, and a trace of fear arose in her heart.

But she still mustered her courage and said to Shen Lian, "Senior, can I speak a few words with Senior Sister Du?"

"The time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Shen Lian snorted coldly, gave a time limit, turned around, and lightly shook his Folding Fan while waiting.

Su Mengyao immediately pulled the dumbfounded Du Bingyan into the Thatched Hut, and the two whispered instructions to each other for a moment.

Shen Lian had no interest in listening to what they were saying. His attention was currently focused on how to refine the heaven and earth root.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Su Mengyao appeared behind Shen Lian on time, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Senior, let's go."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Lian retracted the Folding Fan in his hand.

Black Cloud suddenly appeared within his body, quickly enveloping the two of them.

"Whew—"

When Su Mengyao regained her senses, she found herself inside a carriage, and outside the carriage compartment came the mournful neighing and howling of a netherworld warhorse.

"Senior, is this a Spirit Beast?"

This was Su Mengyao's first time riding inside a Spirit Beast vehicle, and she couldn't help but look around curiously.

"Noisy."

But the next moment, Shen Lian's extremely impatient reprimand came through.

"Given your current cultivation and limited perspective, don't fantasize about things that don't belong to you."

"Oh, understood."

After only a brief time together, Su Mengyao had already gained a preliminary understanding of Shen Lian's personality.

He was an extremely difficult person to get along with; the Aura emanating from him gave off a feeling of keeping people thousands of miles away.

The best way was to shut up, do nothing, and just wait for his arrangements.

Seeing Su Mengyao stop talking, Shen Lian closed his eyes and continued to increase his cultivation.

The netherworld chariot sped through the night sky like a meteor chasing the moon, traveling over three hundred miles in the blink of an eye, entering the depths of the Back Mountain... Meanwhile, inside the Medicine King Glazed Valley in the Spirit Realm, Lian Zhen and Nangong Li met Su Yuheng, who was healing in the Medicinal Pool.