Chapter 108: Chapter 105: Meeting ’Acquaintances’ Again
Everything he had surmised about the First Madam was pure speculation.
The truth could be a world of difference.
For all he knew, the First Madam was just born that cruel and vicious.
But regardless,
until he broke through to the Soul Emergence Realm and had some power to protect himself,
Shen Changchuan had to continue hiding his true self and maintain his persona as an ordinary son of a concubine.
He had to avoid her notice,
lest he become a thorn in her side.
’Fortunately, if my future cultivation speed stays like this, it won’t be long before I can make a name for myself without any reservations!’
’Maybe I can set a goal: advance to the Soul Emergence Realm before the clan meeting in three years?’
Recalling how he had advanced three layers in just over half a year, Shen Changchuan was filled with confidence.
By comparison,
the goal of reaching the Soul Emergence Realm in three years didn’t seem so arrogant after all.
Of course,
Shen Changchuan also knew full well,
that to maintain such a rate of progress after reaching the Qi Introduction Late Stage,
a sufficient supply of Cultivation Elixirs
was absolutely essential.
At this thought,
his gaze involuntarily fell upon an empty Jade Bottle to the side.
That Jade Bottle had once contained ten Top Grade Qi Introduction Pills.
But now,
not a single one remained.
The sight made Shen Changchuan’s heart ache a little.
According to Si Houqing, most cultivators only needed seven or eight pills to get from the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Early Stage to the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak.
But whether it was because the Cyan Essence Purifying Spirit Pill had improved his aptitude, allowing his Dantian and meridians to hold more Magical Power, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that it took consuming all ten Top Grade Qi Introduction Pills to barely raise his Cultivation to the Sixth Layer Peak.
’I was planning on saving a few to sell and recoup some of my losses.’
’And now look. Not a single one left.’
At this thought,
Shen Changchuan couldn’t help but sigh.
He felt a pang of regret.
From a previous chat with Si Houqing, Shen Changchuan had learned a little about cultivation beyond the Qi Introduction Late Stage.
One crucial point was that elixirs for accelerating cultivation at the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer were at least five times more expensive than Top Grade Qi Introduction Pills!
The price for a single Top Grade Qi Introduction Pill,
using Si Houqing’s inside connections, was eighty Spirit Stones.
On the open market, however, the price was at least a hundred Spirit Stones or more!
And at five times the cost,
that meant four to five hundred Spirit Stones a pill, even with the insider price!
Tallying up his own assets,
he figured he could only afford eight or nine pills if he completely bankrupted himself.
The problem was,
according to Si Houqing,
to cultivate from the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer Early Stage to the Seventh Layer Late Stage,
one needed at least twenty to thirty pills, if not more!
And,
that didn’t even account for the elixirs needed to break through any potential bottlenecks!
The resources required for his future Cultivation would only become more unimaginably vast!
’The Immortal Dao is a hard path to walk!’
Shen Changchuan heaved a long sigh.
He had thought he was wealthy.
But now, it seemed,
that wasn’t the case at all.
If cultivating at the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer was already this difficult, what about the subsequent Qi Introduction Eighth Layer, Qi Introduction Ninth Layer, or even breaking through to the Soul Emergence Realm?
It would undoubtedly be even harder!
Perhaps,
his goal of advancing to the Soul Emergence Realm within three years was a bit too ambitious.
Of course,
Shen Changchuan’s calculations were based on the high-consumption method of brute-forcing his progress with elixirs.
The resource consumption for a typical Cultivator at the Qi Introduction Late Stage was nowhere near this extravagant.
Then again,
if he didn’t use Elixirs to advance his Cultivation and relied solely on his own ability to refine Magical Power,
Shen Changchuan figured it would take more than ten years of arduous effort to even glimpse the Soul Emergence Realm!
Ten years from now,
he would only be twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
For the vast majority of other cultivators, this would be an achievement to be ecstatic about.
But to Shen Changchuan, it was an unbearably long time.
After all,
that narrow-minded First Madam was a blade hanging perpetually over his head.
The feeling was anything but pleasant.
Besides,
delays only invite complications.
Shen Changchuan couldn’t be sure
that he could remain hidden for a whole decade without her catching wind of anything.
Shen Changchuan was always in the habit of preparing for the worst.
That was why he believed the sooner he reached the Soul Emergence Realm, the better.
’Ah, forget it. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.’
’As long as I’m strong enough, I can always earn more Spirit Stones!’
’If I can get the "commercial district" in the eastern part of the village up and running and attract a few merchant guilds, that might just solve the problem of funding my Qi Introduction Seventh Layer cultivation.’
Steadying his Heart Spirit, Shen Changchuan reined in his scattered thoughts.
He resumed his meditation,
stabilizing his aura at the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak.
Before long,
having completely mastered the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak Cultivation Realm,
Shen Changchuan stepped out of the Spiritual Spring Secret Chamber after many days in seclusion. Breathing in the icy air, he gazed out at the vast, snow-white expanse and stretched languidly.
Just then,
Han Qinhu came looking for him,
reporting that members of the Shen Family had arrived as guests.
"The Shen Family? Who is it?"
Shen Changchuan’s expression tensed.
’Members of the Shen Clan are here to visit?’
’Could my Cultivation have been exposed? Is the First Madam here to get me?’
"I’m not sure, but they’re all quite young. Looks to me like they might be here to adventure, drawn by all the commotion over the Cyan Essence Water Grass?"
Han Qinhu added, hesitating slightly as he offered his guess.
"Let’s go and meet them, then."
Shen Changchuan felt a small sense of relief.
.....
When he arrived at the village’s main hall,
and saw the faces in the guest seats,
Shen Changchuan was taken aback.
Because,
these people,
were all "acquaintances" he had met once before!
"I am Shen Zhongshan. Greetings, Young Master Changchuan."
Upon seeing Shen Changchuan enter,
a powerfully built young man who had been sitting in a guest seat rose and clasped his hands in a formal greeting.
The others all rose at the same time and followed suit.
"You’re too kind. Please, sit."
Shen Changchuan quickly recovered, returning the gesture and speaking politely.
That’s right.
The visitors were none other than,
Shen Zhongshan and his group from the Shen Family, whom he had encountered months ago
at the Wu Family Collection, when he had entered the tournament ring at Si Houqing’s behest!
’The one I fought back then was named Shen Rongguang, wasn’t he?’
While making small talk with Shen Zhongshan, Shen Changchuan subtly glanced out of the corner of his eye at the sullen-faced Shen Rongguang standing behind him.
’Back then, I defeated that one with ease.’
’Afterward, this one here even rushed the stage, wanting a match with me.’
Shen Changchuan remained outwardly impassive,
but his mind was racing.
’Fortunately, I had my misgivings back then and decided to wear a mask.’
’They have no idea that the person on the platform back then was me.’
’Otherwise,’
’this would have been quite troublesome.’
