Chapter 291 The Power of Old Ancestor Lin

By the time Shen Wen returned to Pill City, the sky was already nearing dusk.

He went straight back to the Shen Residence. The lights were on in the flower hall, where Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian were sitting together talking, while Qing Lin quietly added tea on the side.

Cai Lin was not there; at this hour, she should be in the backyard coaxing Shen Yinian to sleep.

"Back?" Cao Ying looked up at him, her gaze sweeping over him once. Seeing his expression was as usual, she retracted her gaze. "Is everything settled on Huang Xuan's side?"

Shen Wen nodded, took a seat opposite them, and briefly recounted what had just happened.

When mentioning those two Void Ancient Dragons, Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly. "The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan is moving this fast?"

"Faster than I expected." Shen Wen picked up a teacup and took a sip. "It seems their demand for the zong ji pill is even more urgent than they let on."

Cao Ying mused, "That's fine as well. The more diligently they capture them, the more Hidden Moles you'll have on the Ancient Dragon Island."

Shen Wen hummed in response and added, "What about Demon Crow? Any news?"

Cao Ying took out a Jade Talisman from her sleeve and handed it to him. "It just arrived today.

He says he has already hooked two Dou Zun level Elders, and will be able to lure them out in a few more days."

Shen Wen took the Jade Talisman, his Soul Power probing into it. A moment later, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Demon Crow handled things reliably.

Those two Elders held no low status within the clan. If they could be converted, it wouldn't be difficult for him to infiltrate the core layers of the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python.

"Tell him not to rush." Shen Wen handed the Jade Talisman back to Cao Ying. "Prioritize stability. Better to be slow than to alert the enemy."

Cao Ying nodded and put away the Jade Talisman.

Xiao Yi Xian suddenly spoke from the side, "By the way, Old Ancestor Lin's people will arrive tomorrow."

Shen Wen looked at her.

Xiao Yi Xian continued, "The messenger said there are fifteen in total. Three Dou Zun and twelve Dou Zong. They are all the core team Old Ancestor Lin has built up over the years and are trustworthy."

A flash of satisfaction appeared in Shen Wen's eyes.

Three Dou Zun, twelve Dou Zong.

This force, if placed out in the open, was enough to make any first-rate power wary.

"I will meet them personally tomorrow," Shen Wen said.

...

The next day, at noon.

Fifteen figures landed in front of the Shen Residence's gate.

Leading them were three middle-aged men with steady auras. Their Dou Qi fluctuations were restrained, yet they faintly exuded a heart-palpitating sense of pressure. All three were at the Dou Zun level: one One-star Dou Zun and two Two Star Dou Zun.

Behind them were twelve people, men and women of varying ages, but every single one was a Dou Zong. The lowest was Three-star, and the highest was Seven-star.

Shen Wen stood at the residence gate, his gaze sweeping over them.

The fifteen people bowed in unison, "Greetings, Grandmaster Shen."

Shen Wen nodded and, without saying much, stepped aside to let them through. "Come in."

The group followed him through the front courtyard to the main hall.

Seats and tea snacks had already been prepared in the hall. Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian were also there, nodding slightly as a greeting when they saw them enter.

Shen Wen took the seat of honor and gestured for everyone to sit down.

The fifteen people took their seats, but their gazes all fell upon Shen Wen.

Old Monster Lin had told them to take orders from this young man, so they naturally didn't dare to disobey. But what they thought in their hearts was another matter.

Especially those three Dou Zun.

They had followed Old Monster Lin for many years and considered their strength to be not weak. Now, having to take orders from a young man in his early twenties, it was inevitable they would have some thoughts.

Shen Wen saw through it.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, his gaze falling on those three, his tone casual. "How should I address the three of you?"

The three exchanged looks, and the One-star Dou Zun spoke first, his voice deep and powerful. "I am Zhao Kuo. In my early years, I received life-saving grace from Old Lin and have followed him ever since."

He paused, his gaze meeting Shen Wen's directly. "Grandmaster Shen, I have a question. I don't know if it's appropriate to ask."

Shen Wen put down his teacup. "Speak."

Zhao Kuo said, "Old Lin sent us to follow your orders, and we will naturally obey. But I would like to know, on what basis do you expect our compliance?"

These words were blunt, even somewhat offensive.

The atmosphere in the hall froze slightly.

Cao Ying's brow furrowed slightly. She was about to speak, but Shen Wen raised his hand to stop her.

Shen Wen looked at Zhao Kuo and suddenly smiled.

"Senior Zhao asks a good question."

He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and swept his gaze over those fifteen people, finally landing on the two Two Star Dou Zun.

"Do you two, presumably, have the same question?"

The two looked at each other, and one of them nodded, not denying it.

Shen Wen was not angered. He simply stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent. "Then, let everyone see on what basis."

As he finished speaking, he raised his hand and gave a light wave.

Silver-gray light surged from his palm, instantly filling the entire main hall!

In the next moment, the faces of those fifteen people all changed drastically!

Because they discovered that they could not move!

It wasn't being bound or suppressed, but... the surrounding space itself had solidified.

They sat there, maintaining their original postures, yet they couldn't even blink their eyes.

That power was vast and overbearing, carrying an unspeakable majesty, as if the entire world had come to a standstill at this moment.

The pupils of the two Two Star Dou Zun shrank abruptly as they desperately circulated the Dou Qi within their bodies, trying to break free.

But it was useless.

That power was like a wall of bronze and iron, completely immovable.

Shen Wen withdrew his hand, the silver-gray light dissipated, and everyone regained their ability to move.

The hall was deathly silent.

Zhao Kuo opened his mouth but could not speak. Fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and the way he looked at Shen Wen was now completely different.

At that moment just now, what had he felt?

Was that... a Dou Sheng?

No, that's not right. Shen Wen's aura was clearly only at the Dou Zong level.

But that control over Space Power was definitely not something a Dou Zun could achieve!

The two Two Star Dou Zun exchanged a look, stood up simultaneously, and gave Shen Wen a deep bow.

"We were blind and have offended Grandmaster Shen."

Shen Wen waved his hand, gesturing for them to sit down, his tone still indifferent. "There is no need for that. You are Revered Master's people, so from now on, you are our own. Between our own people, there is no need to hide things."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "That move just now was only to let you know that although I am young, I do not sit here relying on Revered Master's reputation."

Everyone nodded silently; no one dared to have any more objections.

Shen Wen returned to the seat of honor, picked up his teacup and took a sip, then suddenly asked, "Do you know why I asked you to come?"

Zhao Kuo mused, "Does Grandmaster Shen want us to serve you?"

Shen Wen nodded. "Yes, and no."

He put down his teacup and looked directly at them. "The things I want to do require manpower. Dou Zong are not enough; I need Dou Zun. Dou Zun are also not enough; I need more."

"Now that you have come, you are our own. And I naturally will not mistreat my own people."

He took out a jade bottle from his robes and placed it on the table.

"Inside are fifteen zong ji pills. One for each person, to be distributed now."

Everyone was stunned.

A zong ji pill?

That was a Medicinal Pill that could allow a Dou Zong to increase by one star, and it was said that only Shen Wen could refine it!

Fifteen pills—that meant fifteen Dou Zong could each increase by one star!