Chapter 98: 200 Million Pills! Sudden News!

Climbing the Heaven-Stepping Ladder.

Chen Zheng watched Wan Lianshan and his entourage's retreating silhouettes, his gaze a bit odd.

He never expected to be challenged by Wan Lianshan, who pointed to the heavens and swore, setting a three‑year pact.

Wan Lianshan was only missing a loud shout: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not despise a poor youth."

The script doesn't fit.

Could he be the villain?

No.

He is a truly upright gentleman, beloved senior brother Chen, and also a victim.

Wan Lianshan is the truly evil main antagonist.

Otherwise, why would tens of thousands of female disciples on the lower plaza, the distant streets and the Immortal Mountain, gaze at him with reverent eyes?

Yet they look down on Wan Lianshan with disdain?

Various thoughts vanished in an instant; Chen Zheng's expression remained calm as he descended the heavy steps, moving swiftly downward.

Before long, he returned to the plaza at the foot of the mountain.

"Senior brother Chen…"

Piao Yun, Ye Qingqing and the other women rushed forward, their faces tense as they looked at him, evidently worried about his duel with Wan Lianshan three years later.

Not only them, but Qiu Xiyu and many surrounding disciple Elders were the same.

Come to think of it, indeed.

Even the young Linglong Immortal Sovereign and the youthful Huangquan Great Emperor could not, in three years, cultivate from low‑level divine abilities to Tenfold, especially to catch up with a peerless figure like Wan Lianshan.

In their eyes, Chen Zheng's ability to reach the summit of the Heaven-Stepping Ladder meant his potential should be comparable to Linglong Immortal Sovereign and Huangquan Great Emperor.

But potential remains potential; it still requires ample time to materialize.

A mere three years is far too short, not even enough to bring a single divine ability to consummation.

Give Chen Zheng a hundred years, and perhaps it would be about right.

Chen Zheng surveyed the women, eyes bright as stars, spirit radiant, and chuckled, "Ladies need not worry; no three years needed—after three months, killing Wan Lianshan will be as easy as slaying a chicken."

"This..."

The women were stunned.

What kind of overwhelming confidence is that?

It's almost unbelievable.

At the summit of the Immortal Mountain, senior sister Cang Hai looked out at Chen Zheng, letting out a soft sigh: "Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that he can surpass his generation, reach the pinnacle of Sumeru, and see all other mountains as insignificant."

"Senior brother Chen has an invincible bearing."

"He truly deserves to become an immortal in the future, a figure who can walk alongside our Supreme Headmaster."

Six junior sisters, many true‑disciple disciples, and female Elders all gazed with dazzling eyes, deeply admiring.

"Chen Zheng, I heard Piao Yun and the others say you want to do a deal with my Linglong Blessing Land. Let's go to the Reception Hall for a detailed talk."

Qiu Xiyu stepped forward to invite, snapping her fingers to create a rainbow bridge that linked the plaza beneath Chen Zheng to a distant, grand hall shrouded in clouds.

She went up first.

"Heaven‑Punishment Elder, hold on."

Chen Zheng looked at the six women led by Piao Yun who had trained with him and brought him to Linglong Blessing Land, flicked his sleeves to release six streams of light that drifted to each of them, and laughed, "Six junior sisters, a small trinket as a keepsake."

Having said that, he stepped onto the rainbow bridge, traveling with Qiu Xiyu toward the distant Reception Hall.

"These are the Taiyi Sect's Wind and Thunder Devices, the Six Qi Soul‑Extinguishing Flying Knife Formation, and the Golden Crystal Treasure Wheel. Also the Kun Yuan Blade, the Soul‑Quelling Tower, and the Seven‑Star Ring—rare mid‑grade treasures!"

"Senior brother Chen bestowed six treasures upon Sister Piao Yun and the others, worth over ten million Baiyang Pills—he's so generous!"

"Ah, if Senior brother Chen were to leave the Feather Ascension Gate and join our Linglong Blessing Land, I'm sure the Supreme Headmaster and the Elders would make an exception for him…"

The female disciples stared at the six floating treasures before Piao Yun and the others, both surprised and envious.

Many true‑disciple disciples and Elders felt a twinge of envy, unable to resist glancing at the six treasures a few more times.

"Thank you, Senior brother Chen!"

Piao Yun, Ye Qingqing and the other women beamed, reaching out to take the artifacts and loudly thanking the departing Chen Zheng.

Although each of them already possessed mid‑grade or higher treasures, who would complain of having too many artifacts?

Moreover, a single mid‑grade treasure is worth several hundred thousand Baiyang Pills, equivalent to the entire fortune of a major sect cultivator with a Three‑ or Four‑Fold divine ability.

Even selling many Free Cultivators with Five‑ or Six‑Fold abilities might not raise a few hundred thousand.

So this is a windfall.

On the other side.

Chen Zheng had followed Qiu Xiyu into the Reception Hall of Linglong Blessing Land.

Both parties took their seats as host and guest.

Swish swish swish!

Without a word, Chen Zheng waved his hand and brought out the vast majority of the treasures he had obtained from the Taiyi Sect disciples, five divine races, as well as the Seven‑Leaf Demon Lord and his eighteen subordinates, suspending them in midair.

He kept only a Five‑Prison King Cauldron, a Seven‑Scourge Gourd, fewer than ten treasures and a Hundred‑Treasure Pouch, plus over five hundred spirit artifacts. The spirit artifacts are awarded to meritorious Feather Ascension Gate disciples, while the treasures are reserved for close companions.

As for the Five‑Prison King Cauldron, it has another purpose.

"Hmm, so many Taiyi Splitting Light Swords, Bagua Purple Gold Dao Robes. This is the Great Marsh Sword of True Immortal Fushou, a high‑grade treasure, not bad either."

Qiu Xiyu smiled and nodded at the numerous artifacts before her, looking quite satisfied.

These artifacts mean little to a timeless titan like her; the crucial point is that they all belong to Taiyi Sect disciples.

If future female disciples of our sect wield these artifacts against Taiyi Sect disciples, those hypocritical gentlemen would surely be so angry they'd spit blood.

"Huh, this is the Demon Blade Blood Azure Sky, the son of the Nine Yin Demon God, famed for its lethality. It already harbors a spirit; though its intelligence is low, possessing only a killing instinct, it is still formidable. Chen Zheng, are you sure you want to sell this artifact to my Linglong Blessing Land?"

Qiu Xiyu saw the blood‑colored great sword at the center of the treasure collection, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

The Blood Azure Firmament can be called the finest among the supreme treasures; even cultivators with Ninth and Tenfold divine abilities find it handy.

Moreover, her sharp eye immediately discerned that the Blood Azure Firmament has a robust foundation, containing only a single killing array with a single function, making it an excellent raw material for forging a low‑grade Dao artifact.

If she uses Nine Yang Holy Water to purge its demonic nature, transmuting the Blood Azure Firmament into pure Yang, adds a batch of rare divine materials, and spends two to three hundred years of arduous effort, she will most likely be able to forge it into a Dao artifact.

You have arrived at this novel.

This is far more time‑ and effort‑saving than the usual practice of taking a thousand years or more to forge a low‑grade Dao artifact.

Chen Zheng laughed, "Now that I have the Heavenly Doom Shark Vessel, I no longer need the Blood Azure Firmament; naturally, I will exchange it for cultivation resources."

In fact, he had never used the Blood Azure Firmament at all, truly living up to the saying: obtain a treasure in the morning, it becomes useless by the afternoon.

"Indeed."

Qiu Xiyu fell silent.

After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "If you sell the treasure to my Linglong Fudi, I won't let you lose out: I'll give you 150 million for the Blood Azure Firmament, 12 million for the Great Marsh Sword, and another 12 million for the other mid‑low‑grade treasures. To make a round number, I'll add up to a total of 180 million White Sun Pills. How does that sound?"

"Fine, deal."

Chen Zheng nodded without hesitation.

This price already far exceeded his expectations.

It even surpassed the market price.

He couldn't help but marvel at the generous wealth of Linglong Fudi.

Of course, Qiu Xiyu's high offer also carried the intention of courting Chen Zheng.

He would not refuse.

And he would return the favor.

He waved his hand, conjuring a jade register and thrusting it toward Qiu Xiyu, saying seriously, "Elder Tianfa, earlier on the Heaven‑Stepping Ladder, I obtained the Heavenly Doom Shark Vessel from Wan Lianshan. I must also thank you and the many elders for your assistance. I have nothing else, so consider this as a token of gratitude."

"What is this?"

Qiu Xiyu's eyes widened in confusion; she took the jade register, opened it, and was instantly shocked, standing up abruptly.

The jade register surprisingly recorded a Great Cutting Technique.

It is one of the three thousand Great Dao that surpasses supreme divine abilities; once cultivated successfully, its execution is sharper than a flying sword, capable of cutting all things, shattering space, and reducing the vast world to dust.

The value of this technique is incalculable!

"Very well, since you have such intentions, I, on behalf of Linglong Fudi, thank you; we have many days ahead."

Qiu Xiyu tucked away the jade register, her smile blooming like a flower, and gave Chen Zheng a slight bow.

Immediately, a small pouch flew out from her sleeve.

"We have many days ahead."

Chen Zheng took it and examined it; the pouch was filled with a full 200 million White Sun Pills, causing him and Qiu Xiyu to exchange smiles.

At that moment, Chen Zheng's relationship with Linglong Fudi had surpassed his ties with Yuhua Gate.

Everything was understood without words.

"Elder Tianfa, the matter is settled; I'm returning to Yuhua Gate," Chen Zheng stood up to take his leave.

Having been away from the sect for so long, his strength was now incomparable to before, and his treasures had upgraded from spears to cannons.

Many things he previously lacked the ability to do were now within his reach.

Qiu Xiyu tried to retain him, "Won't you stay a few more days? Linglong Fudi has mastered many secret realms and ruins; you could explore them with our disciples and perhaps obtain more treasures."

"I have other matters, so I won't trouble your esteemed sect," Chen Zheng shook his head with a smile and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Qiu Xiyu suddenly seemed to receive a message, her expression flickered, and she shouted.

Chen Zheng halted, turned back with a puzzled look, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's… something big happened recently in Yuhua Gate; you can see for yourself."

Qiu Xiyu wanted to speak but stopped, ultimately sending Chen Zheng a divine thought message.

"What!"

Upon receiving the message, Chen Zheng's complexion instantly turned ice‑cold, murderous aura erupting, causing the temperature of the entire hall to plunge sharply.

Even the void seemed on the verge of being torn apart by this terrifying murderous aura!

(End of Chapter)