Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

In the quiet room, Wang Chen opened his eyes, returning from the deepest state of meditation.

In the past few days, he had been constantly on the road, without any proper time for cultivation.

In fact, being in the Spiritless Land, the daily practice of cultivation had become incredibly difficult.

Now that he had arrived at the Guarding Heavenly Master's mansion and activated the Star Observation Pavilion's array, he could finally continue to enhance his halted cultivation level, diligently striving to break through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.

However, Wang Chen found that even with the array's blessing, the efficiency of cultivation was very poor.

It was no match for the time he spent in the Inner Sect of the Cloud Sun faction!

Although Wang Chen had mentally prepared for this, having personally experienced it, he was quite disappointed.

If this continued, the time it would take to advance to the ninth level would be significantly prolonged!

This was not what Wang Chen wanted to see.

Even though he had temporarily escaped the major turmoil of the Cloud Sun faction, he was not absolutely safe in Great Qian, and he couldn't always reside in the world of mortals; naturally, the higher his strength, the better.

To solve this problem, there were ways.

For instance, by increasing the array's operating intensity and coupling it with a Spirit Gathering Array, the cultivation efficiency would undoubtedly soar.

But the investment in Spirit Stones would be a bottomless pit!

Even though Wang Chen currently had a rather ample supply, it wouldn't last very long.

Additionally,

he touched the Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net on his arm.

The Demon-Slaying Net still stored an abundance of exceptionally pure Spiritual Power, which would have a much better cultivation effect than a Spirit Gathering Array.

The problem was that a little used was a little lost; once it was all used up, it would be gone.

Unless...

Suddenly, an idea struck Wang Chen, and he immediately got up and left the secret chamber.

He returned to the first floor of the Star Observation Pavilion.

With a wave of his sleeve, the large doors in front of him instantly swung open to both sides.

By now, the sky had already darkened.

Wan was standing at the door, and upon seeing Wang Chen, she immediately bent her knee in salute, "Immortal Master."

Wang Chen said, "There's no need for such formalities, come in and speak."

He had just perceived her arrival.

It seemed that the matter had reached a conclusion.

Normally, the array of the Star Observation Pavilion, once activated, would prevent anyone without a token from entering.

But now, the array was completely under Wang Chen's control.

Just as he had guessed, Wan was there to report the results of an inquiry.

During his predecessor's time guarding Nan Shao, the Heavenly Master's mansion had hired a large number of service staff.

Stewards, servants, maids, chefs, gardeners, coachmen...

In total, there were more than three hundred of them!

However, his peer had dismissed most of the hired workers before his departure, leaving behind only a handful to guard the Heavenly Master's mansion.

Waiting for the arrival of the next Heavenly Master.

The wait turned out to be three years!

During these three years, some of the guards left to find other employment due to uncollected salaries.

However, over thirty people stayed behind.

At first, these people were reasonably well-behaved, guarding the Heavenly Master's mansion without daring to cause mischief.

But as time passed day by day, and the new Heavenly Master remained unseen, they started to entertain other ideas.

Under the name of the Heavenly Master's mansion, these people caused trouble outside to seek personal gain, growing bolder and bolder.

They even committed outrages against men and women!

Because they had the backing of the Guarding Heavenly Master's mansion, the Prefectural Government dared not interfere, turning a blind eye and allowing them to commit all sorts of misdeeds.

Now, the leading steward not only had made a fortune,

but the twelve concubines he had just taken last month were all abducted.

He virtually ruled over Nan Shao like a tyrant!

Wan had dispatched Imperial Guards to inquire in the city.

The reputation of the Guarding Heavenly Master's mansion was now terribly bad, almost to the point where it was hated by everyone.

The common people were both resentful and fearful, simmering with anger they dared not voice!

"These people even make excuses, saying that all their actions were for the Heavenly Master's Mansion."

Wan scoffed coldly, "They claim that without their painstaking efforts, the Heavenly Master's Mansion would have long become a deserted house!"

"Heh heh."

Wang Chen sneered, "By that logic, they are not only innocent but have actually made contributions."

Wan lowered her head, "As for their punishment, please instruct me, Immortal Master."

"If it were merely for wages to fill their stomachs, that might be forgivable."

Wang Chen answered, "But to tarnish the reputation of Cloud Sun, the crime is unforgivable."

Forgivable circumstances, unforgivable crimes!

Wan cautiously asked, "What do you mean?"

"Kill them all."

Wang Chen said indifferently, "Confiscate their family properties to compensate the victims, and furthermore…"

"The severed heads, send them all to the Prefectural Government's office."

These minor characters are not worth mentioning, but the attitude from the Prefectural Government is highly suspicious.

Ruan Zhaoming, the Prefect of Nanshao, a member of the Deer Faction, actually let these presumptuous nobodies run wild. To say there was no intentional indulgence to sully the name of the Guarding Heavenly Master's Mansion, Wang Chen did not believe it.

Perhaps there was even support from behind the scenes!

No matter what tricks the other side played, Wang Chen didn't want to entangle with them.

So he decided to make a swift and decisive action.

These heads then, would serve as a warning.

It would be best for everyone to not offend each other's boundaries.

If they still caused trouble after this, they couldn't blame him for being heartless and ruthless!

Wan bowed deeply, "Understood."

"You have worked hard."

Wang Chen waved his hand and took out two large boxes from the Storage Bag, "Take this gold and silver for the Imperial Guard's salary, draw double from it and hire some more people for miscellaneous tasks."

Wan replied, "Understood!"

Wang Chen nodded and suddenly asked, "How much longer do you need to break through to the Innate Realm?"

When he first met Yu Feihong, Wang Chen thought Wan, who served by the latter's side, was part of the atmosphere team, responsible for scattering flowers and providing background music.

But after following him, Wang Chen found this beautiful woman to be quite capable!

She was a competent and reliable assistant.

Considering that Wan had to often represent him in public in the future, he intended to cultivate her.

It was also for her protection.

And to Wang Chen's question, Wan replied timidly, "About three years."

Her current martial cultivation level had reached the peak of the Acquired Realm.

Only one step away from the Innate Realm.

But this one step had blocked countless heroes through the ages.

No matter how excellent her talent was, without the right opportunity, she needed enough accumulation to attempt breaking through the bottleneck.

"That's too slow."

Wang Chen took out a White Jade Vase and handed it to her, "There are three Innate Pills inside. Find an appropriate time to attempt your breakthrough. Failing once or twice doesn't matter."

Innate Pill!

A boom resounded in Wan's mind as she was completely stunned.

As the name suggested, Innate Pills were used by martial artists to break through to the Innate Realm.

Such pills were incredibly precious, sought after by countless Acquired Realm martial artists to no avail.

In the Great Qian Martial World, there had been a bloody battle involving dozens of sects and hundreds of martial artists over a single Innate Pill, leading to rivers of blood.

With Wan's status, even if she made great contributions, it was highly unlikely for her to be rewarded with an Innate Pill.

And now, Wang Chen had casually brought out three Innate Pills for her.

Wan took the pill bottle with both hands.

The beautiful woman bent down as low as she could toward the ground and said with a trembling voice,

"I would lay down my life for the Immortal Master!"

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The second update is here.