Free Web NovelChapter 184: Chapter 181: Calm
Unlike Cultivators in other Realms, those who reached the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer were figures capable of establishing their own power base and becoming regional hegemons.
In the entire region of Southern Qing City, there were no more than a hundred Cultivators who had reached the Ninth Layer Realm.
With the exception of a few who preferred arduous, secluded cultivation and shunned the outside world,
virtually every one of them was a prominent and famous figure.
The two Ninth Layer Tribulation Cultivators Shen Changchuan had slain in the mountains,
stood at the very pinnacle of the Tribulation Cultivator gangs surrounding Qing City!
With two Ninth Layer experts—and powerful ones at that—at its helm,
that Tribulation Cultivator gang had a fearsome reputation in the Southern Qing City region.
Even some of the great families and major powers within Qing City dared not ignore them.
However,
this very same infamous gang had been completely wiped out by a single person.
What’s more, that person had only revealed the Cultivation of the Eighth Layer Realm!
In an instant,
the local Immortal Cultivation Realm was shaken to its core!
The name Zhang Qingyuan,
began to spread like wildfire.
His name became a constant topic of conversation, discussed in teahouses and on street corners.
Because of his feat of easily slaying a Ninth Layer expert while only at the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer,
his reputation eclipsed that of many actual Ninth Layer Cultivators!
He was gradually coming to be seen as the number one prodigy of the new generation in the Southern Qing City region’s Immortal Cultivation Realm!
As a result, during this time,
even in the ever-bustling Border Desolate Forest, many had begun to take notice of the name Zhang Qingyuan...
As for all this,
Shen Changchuan had only briefly heard about it and paid it no mind.
’All he needed to know was that the first phase of his plan was complete.’
And indeed, it was.
Before he had dealt with the Tribulation Cultivator gang led by two Ninth Layer experts,
the United Trade Team had been attacked three times in a row.
But after Shen Changchuan annihilated what could be called the largest Tribulation Cultivator gang in the Southern Qing City region—
whether intimidated by his feat,
or perhaps frightened by the trail of bodies he’d left—
the rest of their journey,
was free of attacks.
Although they occasionally spotted scouts from various factions observing from a distance,
no one dared to attack the convoy again.
This allowed the United Trade Team to reach Dawan Village safely.
’Looks like the battle to establish my reputation was won ahead of schedule... Now, as long as I can ensure one or two more successful runs, I won’t need to personally escort the convoy anymore...’
As he watched the convoy stream through the back gate of Dawan Village, a glint flickered in Shen Changchuan’s eyes from within his carriage.
After unexpectedly taking care of the Tribulation Cultivator gang led by Ninth Layer experts, his plan was, for all intents and purposes, complete ahead of schedule.
Given his recent battle record, combined with his merciless slaughter of Tribulation Cultivators,
it was unlikely the convoy would face many problems even if they handled the transport themselves from now on.
Tribulation Cultivators were after money, not a death wish.
The United Trade Team’s record was enough to tell them that making a move would be a one-way ticket to the grave.
Of course,
he wouldn’t let go of the reins completely.
Xiaofeng had already advanced to the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer,
and fed on a diet of various Wasted Pills, the creature’s rate of improvement was nothing short of astonishing.
With its speed and abilities further enhanced,
Shen Changchuan’s own reinforcement speed would be even faster.
In the future, if the convoy were attacked, its members would only need to form a defensive wagon circle and hold off the enemy for a short time.
Once he received word, he could arrive as reinforcement in no time at all...
’I’ll escort them two more times. The biggest Tribulation Cultivator gang may be gone, but this world is never short on the bold and reckless... Someone with a strange way of thinking might figure that if the guards are this strong, the cargo must be incredibly valuable, and that might give them ideas...’
’Keeping the trade route open means Dawan Village will have a steady stream of rental income and can collect Spirit Stones from Loose Cultivators... That’s my ticket to obtaining a large amount of Spirit Stones, which I can use to buy the Cultivation Elixirs I need to rapidly advance my Cultivation!’
The thoughts flashed through Shen Changchuan’s mind.
...
Time flew,
and in the blink of an eye, another half a month passed.
During that time, after delivering its cargo, the United Trade Team began its return journey, transporting large quantities of Spirit Rice, Spirit Medicine, and other Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
Shen Changchuan once again assumed his alias of Zhang Qingyuan to personally escort them.
On this journey,
he didn’t run into any more suicidal fools looking for a fight,
and the convoy wasn’t attacked by any Tribulation Cultivator gangs.
Evidently,
after so many massacres and with news of his battle record spreading,
the remaining Tribulation Cultivator gangs understood that the United Trade Team was a hornet’s nest they couldn’t afford to poke.
Even the strongest gang, which had been led by Ninth Layer Cultivators, had been annihilated.
What could the rest of them possibly do?
To make a move was to die!
Tribulation Cultivators weren’t afraid of death,
but that didn’t mean they enjoyed seeking it out!
Thus, the journey was peaceful.
There were no incidents whatsoever. The convoy was so large that
even the Demon Beasts along the path gave them a wide berth.
They returned to Qing City without a hitch.
While Shen Changchuan nodded in approval, he also felt a tinge of regret.
Regret, of course,
because on the journey from Qing City to Dawan Village, although they had been attacked by several Tribulation Cultivator gangs,
the spoils had been considerable.
Shen Changchuan had acquired roughly seven thousand Spirit Stones, several Magical Artifacts, and a number of Cultivation Elixirs.
In addition, he had obtained twenty to thirty different Magic skills of varying levels from the loot, greatly expanding his repertoire.
The haul had been impressive, to say the least.
With the danger
came a significant increase in income.
In comparison,
the uneventful return trip,
also cut off Shen Changchuan’s source of extra income.
On the whole trip,
he hadn’t earned a single extra Spirit Stone,
which was, without a doubt, a little disappointing to Shen Changchuan.
Fortunately, however, the trip wasn’t a complete loss for Shen Changchuan.
While on the road,
he had taken advantage of the peaceful interlude to consume two Purple Gold Pills, gradually raising his Cultivation to the Eighth Layer Middle Stage Peak.
It had to be said,
the cleansing effect of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk on Shen Changchuan’s body was immense.
Given the potent Medicinal Power of a Purple Gold Pill, Shen Changchuan would have previously needed at least ten days to fully refine and absorb a single one.
But now,
that time had been cut by more than half.
And this,
was the direct result of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk tempering his body, strengthening and toughening his Dantian and meridians.
After being refined by two separate Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, the current Shen Changchuan
had an aptitude on par with the top prodigies who surpassed ninety-five percent of their peers!
