CHAPTER 981: CHAPTER 551: NASCENT SOUL TALISMAN AND VOID NETHER STONE_2

Zhao Sheng and Sili Qiu engaged in this duel, not only without losing decorum but also displaying ease and confidence. They surely earned a lot of recognition for the Chen Family and successfully thwarted the Sili Family’s scheme.

"Hmph!" Chen Dacheng couldn’t help but snort lightly upon hearing this.

Although the Family Head, for the sake of the bigger picture, was unwilling to offend the Sili Family, Chen Dacheng internally marked a grudge against Sili Wuwo and his nephew. When the opportunity arises someday, there would undoubtedly be "payback".

Sili Wuwo lightly coughed and said with a faint smile, "Qiu’er was momentarily itching for action and interrupted the Chen Family’s great competition. To express my apologies, I will decide to yield the entire disputed spirit stone mine. Mr. Qian, what do you think?"

"Hahaha, Brother Wuwo, your gesture is truly generous! No wonder the Sili Family is deemed the number one family in this realm by the world," Chen Daqian laughed heartily, offering his praise.

With a slight raise of his eyebrows, Sili Wuwo waved his hand and said, "Mr. Qian is exaggerating. The Bi and Dan Families, known as ’Chulu’ and ’Hundred Jade,’ have Divinity Transformation True Monarchs overseeing them. Both families have been prosperous for over ten thousand years. Their overall strength surpasses my Sili Family by three parts. Therefore, the saying of being the number one family is a thing of the past and need not be mentioned again."

Speaking thus far, Sili Wuwo changed the topic: "Mr. Qian, my useless nephew’s Divine Soul is injured, so I now need to take him back for healing and will not stay longer. Farewell!"

Finishing his words, Sili Wuwo casually cupped his hands in farewell, then grasped Sili Qiu’s shoulder, ascended into the air, and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the clouds.

Watching the two departing figures, the smile on Chen Daqian’s face gradually faded.

At this moment, Chen Dacheng walked forward with a serious expression and whispered, "Family Head, since the Situ Family failed to oppress us this time, there will surely be trouble in the future, we must be vigilant! Additionally... Mingxi has already stood out in front of outsiders, and we should also be cautious in the future to prevent premature failure."

"What you say, Brother Cheng, is reasonable. But there’s no need to be overly concerned, I will make the arrangements. When you return, remind Mingxi not to step out before breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Alright, we can discuss all the detailed matters later. Now it’s time to announce the results of the grand competition."

After finishing his words, Chen Daqian replaced his smile and leisurely walked to the front of the high platform. Looking at the thousands of Chen Family members, he announced unhurriedly, "I declare..."

...

The three-day family competition finally concluded amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.

Undoubtedly, Zhao Sheng not only rose to fame in one move but was also the ultimate winner.

Besides the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and the top-grade spiritual artifact, the ten-thousand-year-old Thunder Wood Sword, which were the rewards, he also won nearly six thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones from the banker, becoming instantly rich!

The day after the competition ended, Zhao Sheng was brought by Chen Dacheng to the ancestor’s cave mansion and met Bai Mei.

After giving him some pointers on cultivation, Bai Mei specially rewarded him with a Nascent Soul Talisman.

This talisman treasure, also known as the Transcendent Vajra Talisman, possesses both escape and offensive capabilities.

If confronted by a formidable enemy in the Nascent Soul Realm, one can trigger the Transcendent Godly Escape, fleeing several hundred miles in one breath.

If wishing to annihilate the enemy, this talisman can gather earth into mountains, summoning a hundred-zhang Vajra Stone Puppet. This Vajra Stone Puppet is indestructible and powerful enough that anything below Nascent Soul would struggle to escape death.

It is worth mentioning that this talisman treasure is newly refined and can be activated three times in total.

However, the minimum requirement to activate this talisman treasure is that the owner must have a cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

From this, the intent behind Bai Mei’s action can be inferred.

Naturally, Zhao Sheng quickly understood the implications, so he used this opportunity to announce a retreat to cultivation upon returning to the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, directly turning away batches of visiting Chen Family’s Disciples at the door.

Of course, the official excuse was: "The insights gained from this family competition are profound, and I need to go into seclusion to digest these gains, and thus cannot receive visitors."

Zhao Sheng’s "unaccommodating" behavior immediately drew a lot of criticism.

Many self-assured Qi Refining Clan Members felt slighted and expressed sourly among their peers that after Chen Mingxi won first place by luck, he became arrogant and conceited... and that his path in cultivation would surely not go far and so on.

After going into seclusion, Zhao Sheng paid no attention to the external chaos, focusing solely on refining the newly acquired ten-thousand-year-old Thunder Wood Sword.

This sword is of too high a grade, and it is an excellent treasure embryo. It only needs to be sacrificially refined for a hundred years to ascend into a Magical Treasure and can even be used as a Lifebound Magic Treasure for sacrificial refining in the future.

As a result, Zhao Sheng spent more than half a month doing sacrificial refining just to initially engrave his Divine Sense into the spiritual artifact. But to easily and freely wield it for enemy killing, he still lacks the strength!

At the very least, he needs to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, with both Divine Sense and Spiritual Power significantly increasing before he can barely manage it.

...

Nearly a month after the competition ended.

Late one night, Zhao Sheng silently appeared in the medicine garden.

After waiting for about half an hour, a masked person with unsteady legs quietly flew over the courtyard wall and landed three zhang away from Zhao Sheng.

Upon seeing this person appear, Zhao Sheng unceremoniously asked, "Did you find what I wanted?"

As soon as the words fell, Zhao Sheng suddenly turned his head to look outside the courtyard and coldly said, "Since you’re already here, why hide? Friend, please come out!"

"Taoist, do not take offense. Mr. Ren’s identity is somewhat sensitive, hence the action."

As the words were spoken, a person also clad in black clothing and masked, emerged from the shadows, standing still five zhang away.

This person was robust, with palms of a scorched-yellow like they had been burned by fire, and wore an iron medallion shaped like a tree crown on the chest, which was the mark of an advanced member of the Black Alliance.

Zhao Sheng maintained his tone and coldly asked, "Old man, I don’t care who you are, as long as you can deliver what I need, the deal goes on.

"Good! Taoist friend, truly straightforward!" The newcomer praised and then turned his head to the previous person and ordered, "There’s nothing more for you here, quickly leave!"

"Yes, yes, I’m leaving immediately!" responded the limping masked man, as if relieved, quickly darting out of the medicine garden and soon disappearing into the distance.

Mr. Ren watched this, then stared at Zhao Sheng, retrieving an object from his bosom while saying, "Mr. Ren has collected thirty grains of Shadow Sand and one Void Nether Stone, more than half an inch in diameter. As for your half part of the Golden Core Technique?"

Zhao Sheng glanced at the gray, nondescript stone in the other’s hand, then immediately took out half a book from his Qiankun Bag without uttering a word and asked, "How do we trade here? Taoist friend, feel free to show your proposal."

"Hehe, the Black Alliance’s transactions have always been fair dealing. Mr. Ren will say it directly! Thirty grains of Shadow Sand in exchange for the second half of your technique. As for the Void Nether Stone, you’ll need to use other items in exchange."

"Fine!" said Zhao Sheng, effortlessly tossing over the book without the slightest intent of haggling.

Ren Ling swiftly caught the book and eagerly flipped through several pages to confirm the authenticity of the technique.

Even someone as cautious as him was taken aback by Zhao Sheng’s forthrightness.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng almost pieced together his assumptions about this person’s character and background, immediately said, "Taoist friend, I assume, specializes in the Earth Element, and is almost breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. I happen to have an auxiliary Core Formation Secret Skill that will be very useful for your future Core Formation. If you want it, exchange it with the Void Nether Stone!"

Hearing this, Ren Ling’s heart pounded, and he strongly restrained his excitement, saying, "How can Mr. Ren know that you’re telling the truth unless you let me verify it first."

Zhao Sheng chuckled softly, "It seems Taoist friend does not wish to trade. Very well, I will take a bit of effort to find another Black Alliance member for the transaction!"

"Wait! Mr. Ren is convinced. Here!" Immediately panicked, Ren Ling called out to stop Zhao Sheng and then, gritting his teeth, threw over the Void Nether Stone.

Zhao Sheng gestured, drawing the Void Nether Stone into his hand, and after a careful inspection confirmed it matched the book’s description precisely.

"Good! This is a good start." Having said that, Zhao Sheng put away the Void Nether Stone and then took out a blank Jade Scroll, inscribing the auxiliary Core Formation Secret Skill into it. He then tossed the Jade Scroll into the other’s arms.

As Ren Ling verified the truth of the secret skill, Zhao Sheng continued, "Old man needs more Void Nether Stones, Shadow Sand, Kongtong Shell, and other treasures imbued with the Power of Space-Time. As long as Taoist friend can find these treasures, old man welcomes them and ensures to satisfy you. Never mind a mere Core Formation Secret Skill, old man even has the means to acquire Golden Congealing Pills."

Ren Ling was overcome by Zhao Sheng.