Translator: CinderTL
Despite Song Wen's plan, Shu Niang remained uneasy. Reluctant to openly challenge his authority, she shifted her concern to another matter.
"Vice Hall Master," she began, "will you also be withholding the Spirit Herbs and rewards meant for the Second-Tier Alchemists?"
"Of course," Song Wen replied.
Shu Niang pressed further, "My cultivation is only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and my strength is meager. Do you really think Second-Tier Alchemists will tolerate being exploited by me? If they become enraged and attack me, my life could be in danger."
Suddenly, a Profound Earth Treasure Pagoda materialized before Song Wen—the Supreme-Grade defensive spirit tool he had acquired during his time with the Beastmaster Sect.
"Take this to protect yourself," he declared.
Then, ten High-Grade Spirit Stones appeared before him.
"Use these to purchase a peak Second-Tier Corpse Puppet. With these two treasures, you should be safe. If anyone dares to disrespect or harm you, rest assured I will see justice served."
Shu Niang accepted the pagoda and Spirit Stones, her anxiety slightly diminished.
"Thank you, Vice Hall Master. You can trust me to devote myself entirely to my duties."
After dismissing Shu Niang, Song Wen summoned the two Third-Tier Alchemists. He distributed all the Third-Tier medicinal pills from the mission equally between them, keeping none for himself. However, he did not touch their personal Spirit Herbs or rewards.
In the days that followed, Song Wen devoted himself entirely to refining Blood Demon Pills and cultivating with medicinal pills, paying little attention to the affairs of the Alchemy Hall.
One day, as Song Wen emerged from the alchemy room, he noticed several Second-Tier Alchemists waiting outside the Pill Refining Chamber, clearly having been there for some time.
"Vice Hall Master," said Jiang Rui, a male cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, "Shu Niang has been withholding our Spirit Grass and rewards. We implore you to intervene and ensure justice."
Song Wen recognized Jiang Rui. A flicker of surprise and anger crossed his face. "Oh? Is that so? How much Spirit Grass and rewards has she withheld?"
"Ten percent of each," Jiang Rui replied.
Song Wen pondered for a moment before saying, "You may withdraw for now. I will personally investigate this matter and provide you with a satisfactory resolution."
"But Vice Hall Master," Jiang Rui persisted, "why not summon Shu Niang here for a direct confrontation? The truth would naturally come to light."
Song Wen's expression darkened, his gaze turning icy. "Are you questioning my handling of this matter?"
"This subordinate would never dare!" Jiang Rui trembled, hastily retracting his statement.
"Hmph!" Song Wen snorted coldly and vanished without a trace.
The Second-Tier Alchemists shook their heads in disappointment. They were far from the first to report Shu Niang's misdeeds to Song Wen.
The previous accusations against Shu Niang had vanished without a trace, and she remained unpunished.
By now, everyone understood that Gou Jun was deliberately shielding her.
"Perhaps... we should report Shu Niang to the Hall Master?" a female cultivator suddenly suggested. "I refuse to believe that a mere Shu Niang can wield such power in the Alchemy Hall."
"The Hall Master won't interfere," Jiang Rui said dejectedly. "That would offend Vice Hall Master Gou Jun."
"Then let's go to Corpse King Peak and report her directly to the Demon Lord and Demon Sovereign!" the female cultivator declared.
Jiang Rui glanced at her, slightly taken aback.
"I forgot to extinguish the flames in my alchemy furnace," he said hastily. "I must excuse myself." He hurried away.
"I have urgent business at Zhenbao Hall. I'll leave first."
"I'm also heading to Zhenbao Hall. Let's go together."
"I forgot to close the gate to my Cultivation Cave when I left earlier."
Soon, several Second-Tier Alchemists had departed, each with their own excuse.
Watching their retreating figures, the female cultivator realized she had spoken foolishly.
Reporting Shu Niang to Song Wen would only offend her. But venturing to Corpse King Peak would inevitably draw the ire of Gou Jun.
Moreover, how could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like herself hope to meet the Demon Sovereign and Demon Lord?
With a swift movement, the female cultivator also hurried away, abandoning all thoughts of Corpse King Peak.
Four years later, at Song Wen's Cultivation Cave on West Cloud Peak:
"Vice Hall Master, these are the Spirit Stones that were skimmed off last month. Barely a thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones?" Shu Niang respectfully handed Song Wen a storage pouch.
Song Wen took the pouch and frowned. "Is this all we got for the entire month?"
"Vice Hall Master, most of the medicinal pills have already been refined. The quantity will continue to decrease," Shu Niang explained.
Song Wen nodded without further comment.
"Vice Hall Master, on my way here, I saw someone from the Liangyi Sect arriving. I fear something significant is about to happen," Shu Niang reported.
"The Liangyi Sect frequently sends representatives to our sect. There's no need to overreact to a mere envoy," Song Wen said dismissively.
"This time is different. The person they sent is of great importance—Demon Sovereign Ye Hua personally greeted them upon their arrival," Shu Niang insisted.
Intrigued, Song Wen asked, "What did they look like?"
"They flew high above, too far for me to discern their features clearly. However, I can confirm it was a female cultivator," Shu Niang replied.
"Understood. You may withdraw now," Song Wen said.
After Shu Niang left, Song Wen transferred the Spirit Stones from his storage pouch into his Storage Ring.
He had completely exhausted the Blood Demon Pills he had brought from the Asura Sect. Now, he had no choice but to rely on purchasing Bone-Melting Vines from Zhenbao Hall and acquiring other Spirit Herbs externally to brew more pills.
To avoid arousing Meng Lengyu's suspicion, he limited his purchases to one portion of Bone-Melting Vine per month, significantly slowing his cultivation progress.
Fortunately, his cultivation was nearing the bottleneck of the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
Over the past four years, Shu Niang had skimmed rewards and Spirit Grass worth approximately two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones each month. Combined with Song Wen's regular stipend, this barely covered his cultivation needs and the daily expenses of his Gu and Corpse Puppets.
Suddenly, a Communication Jade Slip in his Storage Ring began to vibrate.
Song Wen retrieved the jade slip and saw a message from Ye Hua:
[ Gou Jun, come to the Corpse King Hall immediately. ]
After a quick tidying up, Song Wen set off for the Corpse King Hall.
As he entered the Great Hall, he noticed a considerable number of people already present.
Yin Shuo sat regally on the main seat.
To his right, Ye Hua was seated below.
To Yin Shuo's lower left sat a beautiful female cultivator, Zi Yun of the Liangyi Sect.
Several Golden Core Stage elders from the Wu Ji Sect were also present in the hall, including Le Liang, Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall, and Meng Lengyu, Hall Master of Zhenbao Hall.
Noticing that Yin Shuo, Ye Hua, and Zi Yun were engaged in a private discussion behind a soundproof barrier, Song Wen bypassed formal greetings and walked directly to Le Liang's side.
"Hall Master," Song Wen whispered, "do you know why we've been summoned here?"
Le Liang shook his head without replying.
Song Wen didn't press further and silently awaited instructions.
As they waited, more inner sect elders from the Wu Ji Sect arrived.
Once seventeen or eighteen elders had gathered, Ye Hua dispelled the barrier, rose to his feet, and pointed at Zi Yun.
"Fellow Daoists," he announced, "this is Fellow Daoist Zi Yun, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Liangyi Sect. She has traveled far to inform us that the Demon Race has grown increasingly rampant, repeatedly attacking remote islands in the Central Region. Countless mortals and small cultivation sects have been slaughtered, leaving a trail of devastation. If this continues unchecked, the Human Race's living space will inevitably shrink until we face annihilation by the demons."
(End of the Chapter)
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