Chapter 120: Storms Rise Again in Heishi Town

Heishi Town, usually a relatively peaceful border town, has in recent days seen its atmosphere become like a pond into which a massive stone was thrown—waves surging, unable to settle.

"Did you hear? That overbearing Wan Tianjue of the Wan family took a huge tumble in the Man Yun Mountain Range!" In the tea house at the east side of town, a mercenary who had just returned from the outskirts of the mountains lowered his voice, but his face betrayed uncontainable excitement.

A man at the neighboring table, slinging a plain sword, immediately leaned over: "Is it true? Wan Tianjue is a master of the Foundation Establishment stage; who could make him fall?"

"Who else? It's that 'Old Wang' who caused a stir in town not long ago!" The mercenary slapped his thigh. "I heard Wan Tianjue was beaten by Old Wang into a half‑dead state, crawling and rolling back!"

"Hiss—Old Wang that fierce?" a young cultivator nearby clearly doubted. "Doesn't Wan Tianjue always have a group of Wan Family Descendants and beasts with him?"

"Hey, you just didn't know that," the first mercenary said smugly. "It's said Old Wang's Talisman technique is peerless, and he also knows a secret method that specifically subdues beasts! The Wan family's beasts before him are like paper—some even turn and bite their own masters!"

The news spread like wings, quickly reaching every corner of Heishi Town. The Shi Clan, Li Family, and Mercenary Guild—major forces in the town—naturally received the rumor at once.

Shi Clan residence.

Shi Tianlei sat in his study, a secret report clenched in his hand, his brows twisted into a knot. He had thought Wang Shan was merely a Body Refining cultivator with a few tricks—perhaps more Talisman use, better pills—but who could have imagined he could severely wound a Foundation Establishment‑stage Wan Tianjue?

"Father, is this news… reliable?" Shi Yong, Shi Tianlei's son, stood nearby, his face also showing disbelief.

Shi Tianlei set the secret report down, rubbed his temple. "Nine‑tenths true. The Wan family suffered a huge humiliation this time; many saw Wan Tianjue's miserable state. That Old Wang… we all underestimated him." He paused, then added, "The Wan side will probably go mad."

Shi Yong, somewhat worried, said: "Then what about our Shi Clan…"

"Watch and wait," Shi Tianlei replied. "Right now the water is murky; whoever surfaces will be unlucky. However, Old Wang is someone we should… keep an eye on." He mulled over it: a Body Refining practitioner capable of severely wounding a Foundation Establishment cultivator must have something complicated behind it.

Li Family.

Li Changqing listened to his subordinate's report, expression calm, yet his fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table.

"Wan Tianjue severely injured… Old Wang's doing…" Li Changqing murmured. "What exactly is this Old Wang? Pills, Talisman, methods to subdue beasts… and now he can directly confront Foundation Establishment. This is beyond the capability of ordinary lone cultivators."

"Family Head, the Wan family suffered such a huge loss this time; they certainly won't be satisfied with a quiet end. Moreover, I've learned that the Wan family seems to be contacting the Ten Thousand Beasts Gate," the subordinate reported.

"Ten Thousand Beasts Gate?" Li Changqing's motion halted. "They also want to get involved? Hmph, the Beast Taming Sect's inheritance really is a hot‑potato." After a moment of thought, he ordered, "Keep watching the Wan family and the Ten Thousand Beasts Gate. Here in Heishi Town, restrain our people and don't get too close to any side for now."

"Yes, Family Head."

Li Changqing looked out the window; the sky over Heishi Town seemed about to change. He sensed a deeper layer of crisis, not just the feud between Wang Shan and the Wan family, but one that might stir up an even larger turmoil.

Mercenary Guild.

Guildmaster Zhao Tie Zhu, a burly man with a rugged face, was at this moment convening the guild's senior members for a meeting.

"Speak up, what do you think of this matter?" Zhao Tie Zhu's voice was somewhat dull.

A gaunt steward spoke: "Guildmaster, Wan Tianjue was severely injured by Old Wang; this matter has both advantages and disadvantages for us."

"Oh? How so?"

"The benefit is that the Wan family's prestige in Heishi Town has been significantly suppressed, so our mercenaries will have fewer constraints in the future. The drawback… the Wan family will surely retaliate wildly; Old Wang's whereabouts are unknown, and if the Wan family vents their anger on us, those of us who have previously dealt with Old Wang…"

Another bearded brute shouted: "What are we afraid of! Even if the Wan family is overbearing, could they possibly wipe out our entire Mercenary Guild? Old Wang is a true man, daring to clash head‑on with the Wan family! In my view, we might as well…"

"What, like what?" Zhao Tie Zhu glanced at him.

The bearded brute shrank his neck: "Uh… I mean, could we perhaps… um, slightly… support Old Wang?"

Zhao Tie Zhu hummed: "Support? How to support? Do you know where Old Wang is now? Do you know what he's facing? The Wan family this time will probably expose even their deepest secrets!" He paused, his tone softening, "Nevertheless, we've taken note of this favor to Old Wang. If an opportunity arises later, we can lend a hand, naturally we won't stand by. But for now, prudence comes first; don't drag ourselves into the trap either."

"The guildmaster is wise," everyone echoed.

In Heishi Town's market, the most lively topic these days was undoubtedly the legendary tale of the "Pill‑Talisman Fierce Old" battling Wan Tianjue.

"Hey, have you heard? Old Wang's duel with Wan Tianjue—what a scene, crackling, sand and stones flying, the sun and moon darkened!" a storyteller spat wildly while gesturing at his stall.

"Is it true? Isn't Old Wang just a Body Refining practitioner? How could he defeat a Foundation Establishment Wan Tianjue?" a listener questioned.

"Hey! That's something you don't know!" the storyteller smiled mysteriously. "Old Wang is a reincarnation of an ancient great being; a mere Foundation Establishment is nothing to him. With a casual wave, he summons divine thunder across the sky; a stomp makes the earth quake! Wan Tianjue's beasts, upon seeing Old Wang, have their legs go weak with fear and instantly defect!"

"Wow! That's that powerful?"

"Indeed! There's even a more divine skill! It's said Old Wang possesses a technique called 'Stare‑Who‑Gets‑Pregnant'… ah, sorry, 'Stare‑Who‑Gets‑Unlucky', and Wan Tianjue, after a single glare from Old Wang, spat fresh blood and lost all his cultivation!"

All sorts of bizarre rumors kept emerging, painting Wang Shan as a three‑headed, six‑armed deity with boundless magical power. The moniker "Pill‑Talisman Fierce Old" shifted from a mildly disparaging label to one of awe and reverence. Many lone cultivators even began covertly probing Wang Shan's whereabouts, hoping to connect with this ruthless figure who can overturn Foundation Establishment, seeking pills, Talisman, or simply to latch onto his influence.

"If Old Wang is truly that powerful, then in the Man Yun Mountain Range we might be able to stride around freely, right?"

"Dream on! Old Wang is Old Wang, you are you! However, the Wan family took a hit this time; they'll probably tone down in town from now on."

Indeed, the Wan family's influence in Heishi Town suffered a considerable blow due to Wan Tianjue's severe injury. The previously arrogant Wan Family Descendants have been tucking their tails these days, no longer flaunting as before. Lone cultivators observed this, and their fear of the Wan family lessened somewhat.

However, this turmoil also gave Heishi Town's cultivators a more concrete awareness of the dangers deep within the Man Yun Mountain Range. Even a Foundation Establishment powerhouse like Wan Tianjue nearly perished there; for Body Refining cultivators, venturing in would be like sending vegetables. Suddenly, those who had planned to explore the mountains for treasure began to retreat.

"The depths of the Man Yun Mountain Range truly aren't places for us little shrimp to go."

"Yeah, yeah, better to just enjoy the breeze on the outskirts—safety first."

Heishi Town, stirred by Wang Shan and the Wan family, has undercurrents swirling. Everyone speculates how this upheaval will finally end. Meanwhile, deep within a Cave of the Man Yun Mountain Range, Wang Shan remains unaware of the massive wave he has stirred in Heishi Town, and also oblivious that a net woven personally by Wan Tianhao, the Wan family head—one that even summons the Wan family's late‑stage Foundation Establishment monsters—is slowly closing around him.