It's not like I have no connections.

“Otherwise?” Shen Wen looked at her.

Cao Ying suddenly smiled, a hint of helplessness in her expression.

More than that, it was the confidence of a Pill Tower Core Disciple, coupled with a touch of teasing, as if saying, “How could a smart person like you be so muddled?” She said, “My dear husband, have you perhaps become too accustomed to handling everything yourself these past years, forgetting who stands behind you?”

She walked over to Shen Wen, her tone relaxed: “You’re not like that Xiao Yan kid, fresh out of the mountains, without roots or connections, having to fight, guess, and brave everything on his own.

You are a Pill Tower Core Disciple, Old Monster Lin’s only personal Disciple!

Behind you is the colossal entity that is the Pill Tower!”

She paused, a flicker of cunning in her eyes: “Since you’re worried someone might tamper with the Space Wormhole, why force your way through it yourself?

Just send a message back to the Pill Tower, ask Revered Master to spare some time to come over, or send a few trustworthy Elders to meet us, and while they’re at it… ‘inspect’ the Space Wormhole, wouldn’t that solve it?”

“With Revered Master or a Pill Tower Elder present, the Hall of Souls wouldn’t dare to tamper with the passage unless they want to immediately provoke a full-scale war.

Even if they did set up some traps, in front of a Dou Sheng or a high-level Dou Zun, it would just be showing off before an expert, easily dismantled.”

Cao Ying’s words were like a ray of sunlight piercing through the fog, making Shen Wen slightly stunned.

Yes, he seemed to have indeed fallen into a certain mindset. He was accustomed to facing, planning, and breaking through situations alone, but he almost forgot.

The current him was no longer a lone wolf fighting by himself.

Behind him stood the Pill Tower, and a Dou Sheng Revered Master!

What formidable capital and reliance was this?

Many times, solving problems doesn't require personally stepping into every trap.

Leveraging power is itself a more brilliant wisdom and safety.

Looking at Cao Ying’s slightly mischievous smile, Shen Wen couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, the heavy feeling in his heart instantly dissipating by more than half.

After hearing Cao Ying's words, Shen Wen was first stunned, then shook his head and laughed.

Indeed, his thoughts just now had unknowingly gone down a rabbit hole.

Before, in the Northwest Continent, he mostly planned things himself.

And apart from Cai Lin, almost everyone else around him was under his protection.

But now he was preparing to return to the Central Plains.

And he wasn't dealing with people from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

But rather the Hall of Souls, the continent's number one force on the surface.

There was no need for him to handle it himself.

I'm not without connections.

Behind him was the Pill Tower, a Dou Sheng Revered Master, a colossal entity capable of making the Hall of Souls wary.

Since he anticipated that the Hall of Souls would likely set up a killing trap in the Space Wormhole, why did he have to personally step into this trap?

Being recklessly brave and taking risks is the act of a hot-blooded brute. Shen Wen didn't consider himself one, nor was there any need to be.

Moreover, he wasn't alone on this trip; he had Cai Lin, Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, and others who needed his protection.

Some methods he might be able to handle himself, but they might not be able to safely endure them.

“Ying'er is right.” Shen Wen looked at Cao Ying, his eyes filled with approval and relief, “I was indeed thinking incorrectly.”

He no longer hesitated, his mind stirred slightly, and he called out: “Elder Zhao.”

In a corner of the Quiet Room, space rippled like water, and Zhao Kuo’s figure slowly emerged.

He was still in his gray robe, his aura calm and steady, but at this moment, the look in his eyes when he gazed at Shen Wen held a hint of solemnity.

“Young Revered Master.” Zhao Kuo cupped his hands.

“Elder Zhao,” Shen Wen got straight to the point, clearly stating his conjecture, “The Hall of Souls suffered heavy losses in the Northwest Continent and will certainly not let it go. When we return to the Central Plains this time, the most likely place for them to strike is the Space Wormhole.

I suspect that not only Tianya City but several major passages have probably been tampered with.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuo’s expression immediately became serious.

He didn't think Shen Wen was exaggerating; on the contrary, given his understanding of the Hall of Souls' methods and the increasingly fierce secret confrontations between the Pill Tower and the Hall of Souls recently, this possibility was extremely high.

It would be strange if the Hall of Souls, after suffering such a great loss, didn't try to get even.

“Young Revered Master’s concerns are very valid.” Zhao Kuo said in a deep voice, “It was this old man’s oversight; I only focused on vigilance along the way, but didn’t deeply consider the passage itself.

The Hall of Souls is skilled in spatial and Soul techniques, and setting traps within the wormhole would be impossible to guard against. If they truly succeed, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

He paused, a fierce glint in his eyes: “This matter must be reported to Old Lin immediately. With Old Lin taking action, or sending other trustworthy powerhouses to meet us, the Hall of Souls’ tricks will be nothing to fear.”

Shen Wen nodded: “Precisely. Please trouble Elder Zhao to contact Revered Master as soon as possible and explain the situation here. We will temporarily delay our journey and await Revered Master’s arrangements.”

“Young Revered Master, rest assured, I will go handle it now.” Zhao Kuo nodded solemnly, saying no more.

His figure flickered, then disappeared as if merging into the Void Realm, clearly using a secret technique to transmit the message back to the Pill Tower at the fastest speed.

In the Quiet Room, Shen Wen gently exhaled.

Cao Ying walked to his side, took his hand, and softly said: “Husband, you don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders. Some storms should naturally be blocked by higher eaves.”

Cai Lin also nodded slightly, her purple eyes showing approval. Although her personality was strong, she wasn’t inflexible.

Knowing there was a fatal trap ahead and still forcing her way through while pregnant wasn’t bravery, it was foolishness. Being able to leverage power to resolve a crisis was the act of a wise person.

Shen Wen smiled, returning Cao Ying’s grasp, then looked at Cai Lin: “You’re both right.”

He gazed in the direction the flying boat was heading, his eyes clear.

Since the Hall of Souls had laid a net, he might as well… invite someone important enough to tear that net, along with those who cast it, to shreds.

“Let the flying boat slow down for now, and also maintain vigilance around us, waiting for Revered Master’s word.”

...Several days later, deep within the Pill Tower.

Old Monster Lin stood with his hands at his sides, his demeanor showing a rare reverence.

Before him, a small figure, appearing to be a child of about ten years old, dressed in simple cloth clothes, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling as he looked up at him.

The child’s eyes were clear and translucent, yet deep within them seemed to harbor ancient wisdom and vicissitude.

“Little Linzi,” the child spoke, his voice clear but his tone ancient and venerable, “Your precious Disciple certainly has quite the attitude.

A few days ago, this old man told him to come back, and he actually replied that he ‘didn’t have time right now’.”

He shook his head, his smile unchanged, yet it made Old Monster Lin’s brow subtly bead with sweat.

This childlike Elder was none other than Xuan Danzi, the guardian of the Pill Tower, whose seniority was terrifyingly high.

This Ancestor of the Pill Tower was originally a Grade 9 Profound Pill, refined by a Senior of the Pill Tower.

That Senior exhausted his life force and perished when the pill was formed. As he perished, a trace of his consciousness, in a peculiar way, merged into that Ninth Grade Pill, causing it to mutate and take on a human form, thus giving birth to the Ancestor of the Pill Tower.