4: Wang Chen: Where did this little fox come from?

“Report—Shen Li of the Shen Family requests an audience.”

In a grand hall within the market, specifically in its council chamber.

A Qi Refining (Level 1) youth and a Qi Refining (Level 7) elderly man sat on chairs.

The youth's gaze was somewhat gloomy and restless.

He seemed to have just made a Breakthrough, and his Spiritual Qi was still a bit unstable.

“That Outer Sect Disciple from the Shen Family has broken through to the Qi Refining Realm?”

“That’s quite rare. He didn’t enter the main branch for Cultivation, so his Cultivation Aptitude should be ordinary, and the Shen Family branch behind him is also of average strength. Logically speaking, it should be impossible for him to enter the Qi Refining Realm so quickly.”

“Could it be that he has some other Opportunity?”

The youth's eyes flickered as he asked.

“Uncle, do you think we need to…”

After speaking, he made a gesture.

The Qi Refining (Level 7) Cultivator glanced at him, then shook his head helplessly and said.

“This person is a Shen Family Disciple; it’s not that serious.”

“Let’s see if he has Cultivated any unorthodox Dao before making a decision. Perhaps it’s just an Opportunity.”

“Currently, the Shen Family and our Wang Family are planning for an Elder position on Qingchi Mountain. Don’t make rash decisions; your Heart-Nature shouldn't be so narrow-minded.”

“You just had a Breakthrough, and you used external force, so your Heart-Nature is unstable. You really need to Cultivate properly.”

“Furthermore, I hear the place he’s assigned to is the rather chaotic Black Horn region. This area has treacherous terrain and is teeming with Yao Beasts. If we maintain a good relationship with him, we can be prepared immediately if anything happens, can’t we?”

The youth looked somewhat disappointed.

“I understand.”

“Let him in.”

Shen Li entered, exchanged a few pleasantries, then got straight to the point.

He smiled slightly and said.

“To be honest, Wang Family Uncle, I had a sudden whim yesterday and went for a walk. Passing by a certain area, I felt the soil was loose, so I thought someone might have buried something.”

“Then I casually dug around and indeed found something. I don’t know its value, so I’d like to ask Wang Family Uncle to appraise it.”

The Qi Refining (Level 7) Elder smiled slightly, thinking to himself, what good thing could an Outer Sect Disciple of the Shen Family possibly produce?

He then took it with a hint of disdain.

“No problem, perhaps it truly is a great Opportunity.”

The young Wang Family Cultivator beside him smiled and said casually.

“Brother Shen, there are indeed many Opportunities everywhere in the Yellow Sand Plains, but it’s impossible for Brother Shen to just go for a stroll and stumble upon a great Opportunity.”

“If that were the case, would we even need to Cultivate? We’d just follow behind Brother Shen and pick up so many scraps we couldn’t finish them all!”

Before his words finished, the tea cup on the Elder’s table suddenly shook, then fell to the ground, shattering with a crash.

His eyes suddenly burst with sharp light, and he looked up at Shen Li in disbelief, saying with a hint of shock in his voice.

“Nephew… did you really dig this thing out?”

“Indeed.”

“Where did you dig it out?”

“Under a tree in front of the public restroom.”

“You mean, in front of the exploded public restroom, you dug out a diagram for a ninth-grade Formation? And it’s an extremely rare offensive Formation?”

The young Cultivator lost his voice upon hearing “ninth-grade Formation.”

“What ninth-grade Formation?”

Just as he was about to reach out and take it to examine, the Formation diagram was lightly held in Shen Li’s hand, who said with a slight smile.

“I wonder, Wang Family Uncle, can you determine its value?”

Shen Li didn’t bother to look at the Qi Refining (Level 1) Disciple. This person’s Spiritual Qi was unstable, clearly from taking drugs.

Shen Li used heaven and earth treasure, which had no negative repercussions, while the person in front of him actually used such low-grade medicine.

Shen Li disdained him!

Shen Li only looked at the old man and asked softly.

“This diagram, I originally intended to transport it back home, but the journey is long, and I don’t know when I’ll arrive.”

“Since I am an Outer Sect Disciple and have been assigned here, you know I should think more for myself.”

“One matter, one master. If Wang Family Uncle offers a sufficient price, and is willing to trouble himself to set up this Formation once at the place I’m stationed, making up the difference in price, then I, your junior, will respectfully present this Formation.”

“What do you think?”

“What kind of transaction!”

Before Shen Li could speak, the young Cultivator, who had been ignored and whose face was somewhat gloomy, spoke up.

“Brother Shen, since this item was dug up within Moonfang Market, it naturally belongs to our Wang Family. You’re talking about a transaction with the wrong person, I’m afraid.”

“Our Wang Family can purchase it for one hundred Spirit Stones, considering it your effort, Brother Shen. How does that sound?”

Shen Li was momentarily stunned, still not looking at the young Disciple, but instead turned to the Elder in front of him and asked with confusion.

“Are all Wang Family Disciples so innocent-hearted? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such simple words.”

Upon hearing these seemingly complimentary words, the person’s face suddenly turned gloomy.

Although he had a short temper, he wasn't a fool. Innocent-hearted? Was this saying he had no brain? Simple? Was this saying he was stupid?

What a Shen Family Disciple! How dare he insult him on his Wang Family’s territory!

He said in a sinister tone.

“Brother Shen, you should know that trouble comes from the mouth.”

Shen Li then looked at the young Cultivator as if realizing something, but still smiled and said.

“Oh, then kill me.”

“Be quick; I’m afraid of pain.”

Seeing this, the person was stunned and was about to say something when the Elder waved his hand, interrupting him.

“Enough, Wang Hao, you may leave first.”

“Uncle.”

“Leave!!!”

Once the hall was empty, Wang Chen looked at Shen Li in front of him and, after a long silence, sighed and said.

“You, little child, your Cultivation Aptitude is ordinary, but your mind is quite sinister.”

“Wang Family Uncle, what are you saying?”

Shen Li wore a harmless expression, saying somewhat innocently.

“Such slander against me, wouldn’t that spoil our harmony?”

Wang Chen said exasperatedly.

“Coming from the Shen Family to the Yellow Sand Plains, it seems your status in the Shen Family isn’t high, and the resources you can use are limited, right?”

“The Black Horn region where you are to be stationed is a chaotic mix of good and bad. I’m afraid a small Cultivator at Qi Refining (Level 1) like you won’t be able to suppress it.”

“You want to keep the Formation for yourself, but you clearly know your strength isn’t enough! You can’t maximize the Formation’s benefits!”

“You don’t want to give it to the Shen Family, because it’s too far, or for other reasons, but you really need this Formation.”

“And you don’t have enough money, so you came up with this plan?”

“To discard a hot potato, and have my Wang Family set up a Formation for you, allowing you to gain a foothold in the Black Horn Mountain Range for a short time?”

“It’s true you dug this thing out, but the person who hid a ninth-grade Formation is definitely not ordinary, so you want to throw all the Karma onto my Wang Family?”

“Am I right?”

Shen Li was surprised internally, but his expression remained unchanged.

“Wang Family Uncle, if you hadn’t said it, I truly wouldn’t have known I possessed such cunning and depth of mind!”

“Alright, less nonsense. Two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

“Eight hundred!”

Wang Chen pointed exasperatedly towards the door.

“Take your diagram and get out.”

“Are you raising the price on the spot? You should just bargain; who does business like this?”

“I’m not in the mood to joke with you. Name a price!”

“Five hundred!”

“Deal!”

“But I don’t want this Formation set up. I want you to set up the Wang Family’s unique Yunmai Heshui Formation for me!”

“What a little fox.”

“You flatter me, you flatter me.”