Chapter 755: Back Mountain Shell, a Top‑Grade Spiritual Artifact

This time, Shang Hongchen was only angry, took no action, and did not lash out.

She froze in place, standing for a long, long time; Tianlian Zhenren arrived beside her, and she still didn't react.

Tianlian Zhenren called out a few times, yet she still didn't respond; looking at the disciple before her, Tianlian Zhenren felt a pang of sorrow.

However, some words still needed to be said: for this disciple herself, and for her future—Longshe Shan is her future; staying here she will develop better. The future Heavenly Heart Sect may collapse and be destroyed, and their path back to the Heavenly Heart Sect will be gone.

Tian Xin Dao Ren will not allow them to return either, unless Longshe Shan is destroyed and Chen Chuyang dies.

Letting Shang Hongchen strike Chen Chuyang is sheer fantasy; not to mention whether she could win, the Formations of Longshe Shan are beyond her to break, and countless Strong Ones are watching, eyes like tigers; as soon as she entertains the thought, she would be killed instantly. Those people are not Chen Chuyang, so they would not spare her because of her status.

To put it bluntly, if Shang Hongxue weren't at Longshe Shan, Chen Chuyang would probably have been too lazy to care about them and would have killed them long ago.

"Hongchen disciple, actually your sister is right; since you and I have both fallen into this situation, perhaps think for yourself."

"Chen Chuyang is a good match for you; you two are childhood sweethearts, grew up together, the two families are so close; if you follow him, he won't treat you poorly."

"Your sister Shang Hongxue doesn't mind; you, then, stop being stubborn."

Some matters, once spoken openly, turn out to be nothing.

For example, Chen Chuyang himself, although he didn't say it personally, having Shang Hongxue come to speak about it makes no real difference.

It's all the same; whichever of the two says it, it's identical. Shang Hongxue doesn't mind these things, doesn't care. As an elder sister, Shang Hongchen really has no need to keep being hard‑mouthed.

"Master, why are you like this too? Is it that I have no choice but to follow him?"

Shang Hongchen was unwilling; her pride told her she could not submit to a man.

In this lifetime, she could never bow to Chen Chuyang.

That is her pride, her dignity, the last thing she can retain.

Tianlian Zhenren heard this, chuckled, "Hongchen, don't you get it? So‑called dignity and pride are merely self‑deception. You, stop deceiving yourself."

"Sometimes, following a man doesn't mean you submit to him; you merely grow together with him."

"Look at your sister; she has always been by Chen Chuyang's side. By now, her cultivation surpasses yours, and she is widening the gap at a rapid pace. If you remain coy for another three to five years, by then you won't be able to turn back."

"Opportunity once missed never returns; this time Shang Hongxue spoke personally."

Next time, no one will say such things.

By then, Shang Hongchen wanting to bow still couldn't.

Strong Ones never lack women around them.

From what she knows, many women have their eyes on Chen Chuyang: the Female Emperor Qi Ruohua of the Great Qi Dynasty, the commander Jing Yuheng, and the Holy Maiden Zhuge Ruolan of the Yin Gui Sect; these women watch like tigers, ready to act at any moment.

Compared with those, Shang Hongchen has no advantage; had she not been Shang Hongxue's elder sister, perhaps…

"Master, I believe I can do it."

"It's just Pill Refining; I can advance using my own strength."

Shang Hongchen lifted her head, staring firmly at her master.

At this moment, she was so proud, so stubborn.

She wanted to tell her master she could do it, without relying on anyone.

Tianlian Zhenren froze in place for a long while, then sighed, "Fine, since you trust yourself so much, then give it a try."

As a master, this is all she can do; at a time like this, it's not to strike down her disciple but to encourage her.

"Hongchen, these are my Pill Refining insights; take them."

"Master, disciple."

Tianlian Zhenren raised a hand, cutting off Shang Hongchen, shook her head, "No need for more words; I know, I trust you."

Shang Hongchen took the master's Pill Refining notes, felt moved, gritted her teeth and said, "Master, I will not disappoint you."

……

Time passed three days.

That day, Chen Chuyang stepped out of the room, holding an additional weapon.

A turtle‑shell‑like weapon, freshly forged, emitting a vivid green glow.

Its phosphorescence flowed, covered with a layer of Formation protecting the shell.

Heishanyang looked at the turtle shell before him and leapt up at once.

He couldn't wait to don his new weapon, the Back Mountain Turtle shell; once strapped on, it looked extremely comical.

The scene—a black goat bearing a green turtle shell—was funny no matter how you looked at it.

Chen Chuyang suppressed a laugh; Heishanyang, with the turtle shell on his back, swaggered back and forth, showing off his new weapon.

That posture, that look, seemed very pleased.

"How about it? Do you like it?"

Heishanyang nodded satisfactorily, "Perfect, though it's not a Holy Artifact, it's close enough."

The weapon forged from the Back Mountain Turtle shell is very powerful, its defense terrifying, comparable to ordinary Holy Artifacts.

Not a Holy Artifact, but close enough.

Even just its defensive ability qualifies it as a Holy Artifact; other functions may be a bit lacking. Overall, this turtle shell is a top‑grade Spiritual Artifact, one step shy of a Holy Artifact, and that step depends on Heishanyang's own cultivation.

Back Mountain Shell, a top‑grade Spiritual Artifact, forged by Chen Chuyang himself, only lacking a bit of underlying essence.

It had the potential to surge to a Holy Artifact, but unfortunately couldn't make the leap in one go.

"Back Mountain Shell, the name of this turtle shell."

"First, recognize your master, then familiarize yourself with this Spiritual Artifact."

"Yes." Heishanyang has his own way of recognizing a master, no need for Chen Chuyang to teach.

The rest requires no orders from Chen Chuyang, nor his supervision.

He immediately found the girl Shang Hongxue; she was in the Pill Refining Hall, watching Xiao Qian'er refine the Hundred Herbs Pill.

Helping together, enduring the foul smell.

Two women gathered together, the atmosphere quite harmonious.

A brand-new Hundred Herbs Pill appeared; the two excitedly embraced, letting out joyful cries, Chen Chuyang arrived before them, yet they didn't notice.

"Hahaha, another success—this time the quality and quantity of the Hundred Herbs Pill have reached their limit."

The Hundred Herbs Pill is of top quality, and there are nine pills.

This was their best result over the past three days of pill refining; Xiao Qian'er was naturally delighted, making another breakthrough.

She was really too excited, her whole body clinging to Shang Hongxue's, that posture very familiar.

The two spinning around seemed to notice Chen Chuyang's arrival, quickly separating; Xiao Qian'er was bashful, head lowered, not daring to meet Chen Chuyang's eyes.

Shang Hongxue had no such reservations, running over and jumping onto Chen Chuyang to cling.

A familiar scene, a familiar feeling.

Chen Chuyang patted her shoulder and asked, "Why are you also here to refine pills?"

This girl doesn't usually like pill refining, yet she came here to join the fun.