Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Maid
Chapter 410: Maid
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The most important thing in cultivation was resources and talent, especially in the Abyss of Supreme Darkness. Resources below the Divine Transformation Realm were not barren, but all kinds of resources above the Divine Transformation Realm were relatively rare. It was even more so at the edge of the gray fog. Therefore, the strongest demon in the entire Gray Stone City was a Void Refinement Realm demon like Shi Hu. In the past, there was still the Jing family’s ancestor of the human race. However, the Jing family’s ancestor had encountered a calamity and died, leaving only Shi Hu.
As for Late Void Refinement Realm and Body Integration Realm experts, they would not easily come to Gray Stone City. Therefore, Shen Ping knew very well that with the talismans, puppets, various rare treasures, and precious materials he provided, he could make the True Treasure Pavilion open up.
However, to be able to move so quickly, it was obvious that Jing Huilan and her brother, Jing Yan, had put in a lot of effort. He stretched out his finger. Shen Ping pinched Jing Huilan’s fair face and praised her with a smile, “Not bad.”
She received her husband’s praise. Jing Huilan couldn’t help but look happy. She said weakly, “All of this is thanks to the resources you gave me and your trust in me.”
Shen Ping lowered his head and kissed her red lips. “Lan’er’s little mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter. Looks like I have to reward you more.”
His broad body moved. The two of them had experienced five years of cold and hot wind and rain. Their movements were obvious at a glance. Jing Huilan’s small and exquisite curve quickly curled down.
Dozens of days later, Shen Ping sat at the head of the table. After the situation in the True Treasure Pavilion gradually opened up, the An family’s ancestor vaguely expressed his intention to cooperate through An Zhi. After all, those precious resources were really coveted by the An family’s ancestor. Therefore, although they said that they were cooperating, they actually wanted to rely on Shen Ping.
If it was before, the An family’s ancestor, who was at the early-stage of the Divine Transformation Realm, would definitely not have such an attitude. However, after the negotiation in the Frost Wolf Swamp, the An family’s ancestor knew that Shen Ping was definitely not a Golden Core Realm expert. He was very likely a Void Refinement Realm expert who had hidden his cultivation. Especially after the establishment of the True Treasure Pavilion, he was even more certain of this.
Level 5 talismans, puppets, and precious materials like Heavenly Obsidian Gold were not things that a Golden Core Daoist could casually take out. Moreover, even if Shen Ping’s cultivation was really in the Golden Core realm, the other party’s background was definitely not simple.
It was precisely because of this that the An family’s ancestor made the choice of ‘cooperation’ after careful consideration.
Shen Ping accepted it gladly. His foundation in Gray Stone City was very shallow. If he wanted to establish his own faction and control the information around him or even further, he could not rely on himself.
“Pavilion Master, Shi Meng, under Shi Hu’s command, has already headed to the Frost Wolf Swamp. Through our investigation, that Shi Hu indeed has plans to monopolize the trade route. The Frost Wolf Clan was only pushed out by him to test the caravans of the surrounding races. With the death of the Frost Wolf Clan’s Patriarch, Shi Hu should be a little afraid. He gathered the caravans of the various races to renegotiate the road fee.
“According to my guess, it’s very likely a stalling tactic. They’ll stabilize the various races first and wait for the opportunity before continuing to monopolize them.”
An Zhi was wearing a bright rose-colored dress. Her enchanting curves were rather eye-catching. Moreover, her legs seemed to be covered in soft armor, making her look very slender and well-proportioned. Wherever she extended, Shen Ping could not help but think of Pei Huoyu.
After a simple report, she cupped her hands and asked, “Pavilion Master, if Shi Hu asks for too much, how should my An family’s caravan deal with it?”
Shen Ping picked up the teacup and took a sip. He said indifferently, “Agree to it first. After the pavilion recruits some Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation guest elders, we can carry out harassment and probing. If necessary, I will take action, but this will take time.”
Although he could easily kill the late-stage Nascent Soul Frost Wolf’s Patriarch with a high-level beast spirit treasure, Shen Ping was not too confident in facing a Divine Transformation cultivator. Whether it was his comprehension of divine powers or his control of Dharma treasures, Divine Transformation cultivators far exceeded the Nascent Soul realm. Moreover, at the Divine Transformation realm, his divine sense would really undergo a transformation and would be extremely oppressive to the Nascent Soul realm.
Therefore, at this stage, he did not plan to contend with the Stone Tiger Clan.
An Zhi nodded. “I understand.”
They talked about other things. The Jing siblings left. Shen Ping was about to leave when An Zhi hurriedly said, “Pavilion Master, please wait.” “What is it?” Shen Ping asked her.
An Zhi hesitated for a moment and bit the corner of her lips. “Senior Shen, what do you think of my sister, An Yue?”
Shen Ping did not react for a moment and subconsciously replied, “Not bad.”
An Zhi continued, “Senior Shen, you’re now the pavilion master of the True Treasure Pavilion. Sister Huilan is the only one serving you. I’m afraid it’s not enough. Since you think my sister is alright, why don’t you let her serve you too?”
Only then did Shen Ping come back to his senses. He glanced around and quickly noticed An Yue, who was hiding in the corner of the hall. The other party sensed his gaze and immediately shrank back like a deer in shock.
“Fellow Daoist An, your sister has a good spiritual root and cultivates hard. In the future, she will have extraordinary achievements. If she serves me, I’m afraid she will suffer!” He declined politely.
Speaking of which, he did lack a dao companion after leaving the five continents and four seas. Firstly, he was indeed energetic. Secondly, his skills in talismans, puppets, and other skills had not improved for a long time. If this continued, it would definitely become his shortcoming.
One had to know that cultivating the Beast Scripture required ordinary skills as a foundation. Furthermore, the Beast Scripture was greatly related to strange beasts and was the fruit of the blood and sweat of the immortal cultivators of the human race. Shen Ping would not give up on cultivating it.
Jing Huilan’s proficiency in divination was very useful to him, but An Yue was relatively ordinary. The other party was only slightly proficient in charm illusions and rarely involved in other techniques. He knew this.
An Zhi was smart and naturally understood the meaning in Shen Ping’s words. She could not help but say, “Senior Shen, it’s her blessing to be able to serve you. Even if it’s just a maid, it’s her honor.”
Shen Ping pondered for a moment. It was not impossible if it was only a maid. Other than going into seclusion to cultivate in the Strange Beast Gate, he would spend the rest of his time refining talismans, puppets, and so on. He indeed needed the maid to help clean the room and buy materials. Previously, Jing Huilan was in charge, but she was very busy managing the True Treasure Pavilion.
“How’s Fellow Daoist An Yue’s culinary skills?” He thought for a moment and asked.
In the five continents and four seas of the Nine Continents Tower, as long as he did not enter seclusion to cultivate, he maintained the habit of eating two meals a day. However, he almost did not do so now.
Now that he was prepared to cultivate peacefully in Gray Stone City for a while, he naturally had to pick up this delicious food again.
“Cooking?” An Zhi was stunned. “This…” She and her sister were both outstanding juniors of the An Clan and cultivators. Usually, they wouldn’t come into contact with mortal things like cooking. Even if they wanted to taste some spirit herbs, they would go to a special cultivation restaurant.
“S-Senior Shen, I-I can learn. I will definitely learn it!” At this moment, An Yue, who was hiding outside the hall, hurriedly walked over and said seriously, “Senior Shen, please give me this chance.”
Shen Ping looked at An Yue. She had a delicate and pleasant appearance, but compared to his wife, concubine, Dao companions, and Jing Huilan, she did not have many characteristics. Even if their doors were different, he could at most have a taste. However, considering the An family, he nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll go into seclusion in a few days. I hope to be able to eat delicious food after I end my seclusion.”
He then left.
An Yue looked excited. “Thank you, Senior Shen.”
An Zhi’s face also revealed a look of joy. Although she was only a maid, as long as she could accompany him, there would always be a chance. “Sister, this opportunity is not easy to come by. You must cherish it well. Even the Old Ancestor values it extremely. As long as you can serve him well, you will definitely gain a lot in the future.”
An Yue nodded heavily. “Sister, I understand.”
Half a month later, Shen Ping refined some talismans and puppets. He then took out a portion of the precious materials obtained from the genius cultivators of the various races from the Yin Chen Spirit Ring and handed them to Jing Huilan. He instructed, “Lan’er, these things are enough to last for a while. We’ll talk after I come out of seclusion.”
After giving the instructions, he set up the array. Then, he walked into the quiet room and sat cross-legged. As the spirit platform emptied, Shen Ping sensed the Strange Beast Gate.
Whoosh. When he entered the Strange Beast Gate, he was already in a dark environment.
“The second floor of the underground palace!” He felt the suppressive power that was everywhere. Shen Ping moved his body uncomfortably, but his eyes flickered with anticipation. He had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm with the Beast Pattern Golden Core, and his body was filled with the power of a strange beast that seized the creation of the world. If he wanted to increase his cultivation realm, he had to be in the Strange Beast Gate. “Strange stone. Beast Spirit Treasure.”
These were the two most attractive items to cultivators in the Heavenly Palace and the Underground Palace. In addition, there were also some extremely rare natural treasures, such as the Earth Flower Fruit. It was said that a Nascent Soul cultivator could increase their physique to the level of a Body Integration Demon cultivator after eating one.
However, the chances of encountering it were very low. Moreover, such natural treasures were usually extremely dangerous. The strange fish that Shen Ping encountered on the first level was one of the dangers.
“I wonder if such a special place was naturally formed or built by living beings.” Shen Ping let his imagination run wild for a while before immediately suppressing his distracting thoughts and starting to explore..