Chapter 101: Undercurrents in the Camp! The Worth of a Pill‑Talisman Master!

"What if I don't lend it?" Wang Shan didn't even lift an eyelid, his voice calm as a deep pool.

Du Yan Lang's cheek muscle twitched, and the feral light in his single eye grew brighter: "Not lend? Kid, you must not have asked around properly. In this Pioneer Camp, no one dares to deny me, Du Yan Lang, face! Today, these Contribution Points, you must borrow them whether you want to or not!"

A few men behind him clanged their weapons free, eyes hostile, clearly ready to strike.

The air froze instantly, and a few onlookers among the cultivators stepped back, fearing collateral damage.

"Is that so?" Wang Shan finally raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Du Yan Lang and his men. "I do know some of the camp's rules. Under the Bear Leader's rule, it seems private plundering is forbidden, right?"

"Don't use the Bear Boss to press me!" Du Yan Lang spat. "The Bear Boss handles countless affairs daily; he can't worry about our petty matters! Besides, we're 'borrowing', not robbing. Master Wang's great enterprise deserves a little help for his brothers, doesn't it?"

"Exactly, Master Wang, don't be so stingy!"

"Our brother Du Yan Lang is eyeing your Contribution Points, just to give you face!"

A few henchmen nearby echoed, their swagger arrogant.

Wang Shan sneered inwardly as the system panel flashed before his eyes at just the right moment.

【Target: Du Yan Lang, Body Refining Eighth Layer Peak, practicing the technique "Mad Wolf Form", temperament violent, greedy. Overall rating: Moderate threat.】

【Target: Henchman A, Body Refining Seventh Layer…】

【Target: Henchman B, Body Refining Sixth Layer…】

Sure enough, they were a ragtag mob, but this Du Yan Lang was tougher than a typical Body Refining Eighth Layer Peak. In his prime, Wang Shan could have wiped them out in a flip, but now… he didn't want to reveal too much.

"Face is earned by oneself, not given by others," Wang Shan said calmly. "If you, Sir Du Yan Lang, are truly short on cash, why not spend more time in the hunting grounds, earn your meals by skill—wouldn't that be more gallant?"

"You're looking for death!" Du Yan Lang roared in fury. He had assumed the frail pill‑refining, talisman‑crafting Wang Shan would cower after a few threats, but the audacity surprised him. He swung his hand: "Take him down! Let him know how many eyes Prince Ma has!"

A few men snarled and lunged forward.

Just then, a bright voice rang out: "Hey, who's making a ruckus early this morning? Oh, it's the Du Yan Lang brothers! What, you're short on Contribution Points again?"

Li Hu and Zhang Mei arrived together; Li Hu strode to Wang Shan's side, patted his shoulder, and grinned at Du Yan Lang: "Du Yan Lang, Daoist Wang is my brother Li Hu; what are you up to?"

Zhang Mei said nothing but stood on Wang Shan's other side, her gaze cold as she stared at Du Yan Lang.

Du Yan Lang's fury eased a bit upon seeing Li Hu and Zhang Mei. Though Li Hu is only Body Refining Eighth Layer, his mastery of the armor‑piercing spear is unparalleled; in a real fight he can't be sure of an easy victory. Moreover, with Zhang Mei beside him, the sibling pair together would make even a typical Body Refining Eighth Layer Peak think twice.

"Hmph, Li Hu, this is a matter between me and Master Wang, none of your business!" Du Yan Lang said, fierce outwardly but trembling inside.

"How can it be unrelated?" Li Hu glared. "Daoist Wang is now our squad's 'technical consultant'. If something happens to him, who will we siblings turn to for premium pills and talismans? Can you, Du Yan Lang, even refine them?"

"Pfft…" a nearby onlooker cultivator couldn't help but laugh.

Du Yan Lang's face flushed blue and white; he naturally couldn't refine them. In the camp, Wang Shan's crafted pills and talismans are the most effective and reasonably priced—a widely acknowledged fact.

"Li Hu, don't go too far!" Du Yan Lang gritted his teeth.

"Who exactly is being too aggressive?" Zhang Mei said coldly. "Daoist Wang earns Contribution Points by merit, yet you try to snatch them; is there any law left?"

"Law? In this wilderness, the fist is the law!" a henchman behind Du Yan Lang shouted in dissent.

"Oh? Is your fist as hard as the Bear Leader's?" Wang Shan suddenly spoke, his voice low but silencing the scene again.

Du Yan Lang's single eye narrowed, staring intently at Wang Shan. This kid kept invoking the Bear Boss to pressure him, and indeed he felt a bit wary. He dared not openly defy Xiong Ba's rules.

"Fine, very fine!" Du Yan Lang said bitterly. "Kid, you're ruthless! Let's go!"

He glared viciously at Wang Shan, then swept his gaze over Li Hu and Zhang Mei, and slunk away with his men.

"Pah! What nonsense!" Li Hu spat at their retreating backs. "Daoist Wang, don't worry; with us siblings here, who dares to touch you!"

Wang Shan smiled: "Thanks to both of you for stepping in." He knew Li Hu and Zhang Mei's arrival was only a temporary rescue; people like Du Yan Lang wouldn't stop easily. Others eyeing him in the camp were likely more than just Du Yan Lang.

"Daoist Wang, your pills and talismans business is so good it's making others jealous," Zhang Mei's brows furrowed. "Du Yan Lang's group is also a considerable force in the camp; they have a dozen or so men, all outlaws."

"I know," Wang Shan nodded. "Looks like I need a more reliable backing."

"Backing?" Li Hu scratched his head. "The biggest backing in this camp is the Bear Boss himself! Though the Bear Boss isn't easy to talk to."

Wang Shan had already been scheming. He looked toward his stone house and said, "You two, come in and sit; I have some new pills and talismans I'd like you to sample."

Li Hu and Zhang Mei's eyes lit up as they followed Wang Shan into the stone house.

Wang Shan took out several Jade Bottles and a stack of talismans, handing them over: "These are some pills I've recently refined, plus a few newly crafted talismans; have a look."

Li Hu lifted a pill bottle, poured out a single pill, and saw that the pill's hue was more lustrous than the previous First Order Return Spring Pill, its fragrance richer, with a faint strange energy ripple.

"Daoist Wang, this… what pill is this? It feels better than your previous Return Spring Pill!" Li Hu exclaimed in surprise.

"This is the Strong Return Spring Pill, its potency more than double that of a First Order Return Spring Pill, especially effective for cultivators above Body Refining Seventh Layer," Wang Shan explained. "And this is a Second Order Swift Movement Talisman, which can dramatically boost speed for a short time, useful for both pursuit and escape."

Zhang Mei picked up a Swift Movement Talisman, feeling its abundant Spiritual Power, her eyes flashing: "Daoist Wang, you… you actually can refine Second Order talismans now?"

It should be known that throughout the Pioneer Camp, only a handful of talisman masters can reliably craft Second Order talismans, and they charge exorbitant prices that ordinary cultivators can't afford.

Wang Shan smiled faintly: "I luckily succeeded with a few." He wouldn't admit that he used system space to hasten a few crucial herbs and exchanged his remaining Spirit Plant Points for premium talisman paper to achieve it.

"Goodness! Daoist Wang, you're amazing!" Li Hu exclaimed, rubbing his hands excitedly. "With these goodies, our future hunts will have even better odds!"

Wang Shan said, "I plan to offer a portion of these pills and talismans to the Bear Leader."

"Offer them to the Bear Leader?" Li Hu and Zhang Mei both stared in surprise.

"Indeed," Wang Shan nodded, "the Bear Leader protects the whole camp, his labor great. As a member of the camp, I ought to contribute. Moreover, I wish to ask the Bear Leader for a small favor."

Zhang Mei, perceptive as ever, instantly grasped Wang Shan's intent: "Daoist Wang wants… the Bear Leader to step in and intimidate those petty scoundrels?"

"Exactly that," Wang Shan replied calmly, "I just want to refine pills and talismans peacefully, without these distractions. With the Bear Leader's protection, I should save a lot of trouble."

Li Hu slapped his thigh: "Great idea! The Bear Boss values talent useful to the camp; your skill, Daoist Wang, will definitely earn his respect! Let's go, we'll find the Bear Boss right now!"

Wang Shan nodded, packed the pills and talismans he intended to present to Xiong Ba, and headed with the Li Hu siblings toward the stone house at the camp's center.

Xiong Ba still bore his towering, fierce demeanor; upon seeing Wang Shan and the two others enter, he merely raised his eyelids: "Oh, it's you three, what's up?"

Li Hu rushed: "Boss, Daoist Wang has recently refined something great, and we brought it to honor you!"

Xiong Ba, hearing this, finally looked straight at Wang Shan, his gaze scrutinizing: "Oh? Let's see."

Wang Shan stepped forward, presenting the Jade Bottle and talismans: "Bear Leader, these are the junior's newly refined pills and talismans, slightly improved in quality, hoping they'll benefit the camp."

Xiong Ba took the Jade Bottle, uncapped it to sniff, then lifted a Swift Movement Talisman to feel it; a surprised look crossed his face: "Strong Return Spring Pill? Second Order Swift Movement Talisman? Kid, impressive! You can craft Second Order talismans so quickly?"

"Just luck," Wang Shan replied modestly.

"Ha ha, what luck!" Xiong Ba laughed heartily, his voice booming, "You kid are right up my alley! Speak, if you come with no business but flattery, you're either a crook or a thief. What do you want?"

Wang Shan clasped his hands and said: "I have no other request, I only wish to live peacefully in the camp and devote myself to the study of pills and talismans. However, lately some short‑sighted fellows keep trying to disturb my tranquility. Therefore, I ask the leader to grant me some protection, to spare me these nuisances. In return, I am willing to regularly supply the camp with a batch of high‑quality pills and talismans, and if the camp possesses rare beast materials, I am also willing to exchange Family Contribution Points, or pills and talismans, for them first."

Xiong Ba stroked his steel‑needle‑like beard on his chin, his eyes flickering. He naturally understood what Wang Shan meant. He was too lazy to bother with the camp's petty affairs, but if anyone tried to shake the camp's foundation, he would not stand by. The value Wang Shan displayed had already earned his considerable attention.

Nowadays the camp's resources are tight, often squeezed by other forces and the Heishi Town merchants' guild; a steady supply of high‑quality pills and talismans would undoubtedly greatly boost the overall strength and survivability of the camp's cultivators.

"Kid, you really know how to do business," Xiong Ba mused for a moment, then thumped his thigh hard. "Fine! I like decisive people! From today on, you, Wang Shan, are under my protection! Anyone who dares to trouble you will be crossing me! I'll skin them!"

He turned to Li Hu: "Tiger boy, go deliver the message right away: say that Master Wang Shan is now my honored guest, and anyone who dares to plot against him will be severely punished without mercy!"

"Yes! Boss!" Li Hu replied excitedly, turned and ran out to deliver the message.

"Thank you, Bear Leader!" Wang Shan thought to himself, bowing in salute.

"No need to thank me," Xiong Ba waved his hand. "From now on, keep refining pills and crafting talismans for me; you'll reap the benefits! As for the rare beast materials, the camp's storeroom does have some; later I'll have Zhang Mei take you to see them. Whatever you need, just exchange it according to the rules."

"Understood."

Xiong Ba's proclamation quickly spread throughout the Pioneer Camp. The minor factions that had previously harbored ill will toward Wang Shan instantly fell silent. The one‑eyed wolf, upon hearing the news, smashed several clay jars in his stone house in fury, but could only deem himself unlucky and never dared to trouble Wang Shan again.

With Xiong Ba's protection, Wang Shan's days indeed became much quieter. He poured more of his energy into refining pills, crafting talismans, and cultivation.

The pills and talismans he supplied far surpassed the camp's previous standards, especially the targeted healing pills and defensive talismans, which greatly increased the survival rate and haul of hunting parties. In a short span, Wang Shan's reputation in the camp rose sharply, and many cultivators felt grateful toward him.

Wang Shan also seized the chance to use Family Contribution Points and pills to exchange with Xiong Ba for several years‑old high‑grade spirit herbs and some second‑tier beast essence blood, bones, and other materials. These items are hard to find in the Outside World, but in the wilderness, anyone with strength can obtain them.

With these materials and the aid of the system's space, Wang Shan soon successfully refined a Second‑tier Essence Spirit Pill—a pill that can slightly boost the Spiritual Power cultivation of Body Refining practitioners—and a Second‑tier Sharp Gold Talisman—an offensive talisman.

When Wang Shan handed the first batch of Second‑tier Essence Spirit Pills and Sharp Gold Talismans to Xiong Ba, Xiong Ba stared at the pills and talismans glowing with Spiritual Light, his eyes widening.

"Good kid! You're truly a treasure!" Xiong Ba exclaimed, patting Wang Shan's shoulder. "With these, our camp's strength can jump up by a huge margin!"

He immediately decided that Wang Shan would have priority rights to exchange any rare materials obtained from the camp's hunts.

Wang Shan's worth rose again in Xiong Ba's eyes. This Ninth‑Tier Body Refining leader would even, in his spare time, proactively ask Wang Shan about pill pharmacology, and occasionally discuss cultivation doubts.

Wang Shan naturally would not miss such an opportunity; he subtly probed and extracted a lot of information from Xiong Ba about the deeper parts of the Man Yun Mountain Range and the surrounding areas.

"Bear Leader, is the deep Man Yun Mountain Range truly that terrifying?" Wang Shan asked during a casual chat.

Xiong Ba gulped a mouthful of Spirit Wine, a hint of dread flashing on his face. "Terrifying? It's more than that! When I was young, ignorant and reckless, I and a few brothers once ventured in and nearly lost our lives! Inside, Third‑Tier Demonic Beasts roam everywhere, Fourth‑Tier ones are commonplace, and it's said there are Fifth‑Tier great demons comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators! With our current cultivation, going in would be a death sentence!"

"Besides the demonic beasts, is there anything else?"

"Yes!" Xiong Ba lowered his voice. "I've heard there are some reclusive oddities inside, whose cultivation is unfathomable. There are also strange ruins that hide great opportunities as well as great dangers. Oh, and I vaguely recall hearing about a place called Hundred Beast Valley; it's said to be a paradise for demonic beasts, but might also yield rare treasures. Still, it's all legend—no one has truly gone there."

Hundred Beast Valley? Wang Shan silently noted the name in his mind.

"What about the Ten Thousand Families of Qingyang City?" Wang Shan asked, feigning casualness. "Last time I heard the leader mention, they seemed to be active in Heishi Town."

Xiong Ba frowned. "Ten Thousand Families? Hmph, those big powers have nothing good about them! They indeed operate frequently around Heishi Town, as if searching for something important—or someone—making the town restless. But I don't know the specifics. Fellow Daoist, I advise you: stay out of the affairs of those big powers, lest trouble befall us."

Wang Shan nodded, but his mind was racing with countless thoughts.

Wan Tianjue, Ten Thousand Families… It seems that to peacefully seek Foundation Establishment pills, regain strength, or even take revenge, this tiny Pioneer Camp is ultimately just a temporary foothold.

He needs greater power, and he must step into a broader, more complex world.