Inventory of Gains

"Come to think of it, perhaps this wasn't entirely an unprovoked disaster?"

Sorting through all the causes and consequences, Shen Changchuan suddenly thought of the token engraved with the character "Xiang" that he had discovered alongside the Green Origin Water Grass in the hidden cave beneath the Dawan River.

That token, perhaps, was the very token once held by that branch member of the Shen family?

Although there was no direct evidence, Shen Changchuan guessed that this was likely the case.

Zhao Hangao was right in the backyard, so he could simply ask him directly when the time came.

However, at the thought of Zhao Hangao, Shen Changchuan also recalled another matter from earlier.

"No wonder this Zhao Hangao knew my identity from the start; I fear he had been keeping an eye on me from the very beginning, hadn't he?"

Shen Changchuan remembered that when they first met, Zhao Hangao had adopted an extremely humble posture. At that time, when he asked the man why, Zhao Hangao replied that it was because he had learned of Shen Changchuan's true identity, which was why he was so respectful.

In contrast, when he later came into contact with the cultivators from the other six villages, none of them had the slightest inkling of his identity. At the time, Shen Changchuan had felt that was somewhat strange.

Looking at it now, it seemed likely that Zhao Hangao had set his sights on Dawan Village long ago, which was why he had learned of his identity the moment he arrived.

Yet, at the same time, although he knew Shen Changchuan's identity, he did not understand the specifics of his situation. Otherwise, he would not have worried about the potential existence of a Dao Protector or similar bodyguard behind Shen Changchuan, and thus would not have set a trap to ambush him.

"It was also fortunate that those people didn't strike immediately, giving me a reprieve of two or three months."

Thinking of this, a sense of relief could not help but rise within Shen Changchuan's heart. If Zhao Hangao and the Four Evils of He Mountain had known his true standing and treatment within the Shen family back then, and understood that there was no possibility of any bodyguard or Dao Protector behind him, they would have surely come knocking at his door directly!

Given his strength at that time, he would have had absolutely no power to resist such opponents! It could be said that Shen Changchuan had narrowly brushed past a mortal crisis!

"The Cultivation World is too dangerous! This time I was lucky, narrowly dodging a death trap and gaining enough time to develop."

"My luck was also good afterward; I obtained opportunities one after another, allowing my strength to improve rapidly in a short period and granting me the ability to protect myself."

"Otherwise, the one lying on the ground today would likely be me!"

"Strength! I need even greater strength!"

A resolute light ignited in Shen Changchuan's eyes. His inner desire for the improvement of his strength became even more urgent.

When he was at the Shen Family Estate, he had to live in constant fear. But even after moving thousands of miles away from the Shen Family Estate to this Dawan Village, he had almost met with a catastrophe without even realizing it.

The root of all this was caused by his own insufficient strength!

If he possessed the strength of the Out-of-Body realm, who within the Shen Family Estate would dare to target him?

As for the mere Four Evils of He Mountain, how would they dare to plot against him?!

Strength, he needed even more powerful strength.

Only then could he truly master his own life!

Shen Changchuan's resolve grew even firmer within.

"Grandfather, leave everything regarding Zhao Hangao to me from here on out."

"However, you must ensure that the secrets involved here are never leaked."

"Once news of an Out of Body Realm expert's cave dwelling ruins gets out, I fear countless people will swarm here like a tide."

"If I am not mistaken, the Out of Body Realm expert from the family that personally moved to annihilate the Hu Clan of Dawan Village twenty years ago likely acted for that very same reason."

"If the word spreads, we will surely face a massive disaster!"

Shen Changchuan gripped the thick stack of documents, his voice low and heavy.

At the same time, a thought flickered through his mind, and his perfected Fireball Technique was cast in an instant. The scorching heat swallowed the documents in the blink of an eye, burning them to nothingness.

Shen Changchuan gave his palm a light flick, and the ashes in his hand turned into fine dust, vanishing between heaven and earth.

He had thoroughly erased every trace.

"Rest assured, Changchuan. I was the only one present during the interrogation."

"I understand the gravity of the situation; I will not reveal this secret to anyone, not even Dayong!"

Han Qinhu nodded, his expression equally grave.

With the cautionary tale of Zhao Hangao's son, Zhao Jingming, right before his eyes, Han Qinhu would naturally never commit such a blunder.

He had already decided

that all secrets regarding this matter would be locked deep within his heart, never to be uttered to the outside world.

"Then I leave it to you, Grandfather."

After a brief discussion regarding the subsequent management of Zhao Family Village, Han Qinhu bid him farewell and departed.

Shen Changchuan then retreated into the back room.

It was not until half an hour later

that he emerged with a calm expression.

He had questioned Zhao Hangao for more detailed information, and had also confirmed

that the token discovered at the bottom of Dawan River

was indeed the very key used by that branch of the Shen Clan to enter the ruins years ago.

From him, Shen Changchuan also obtained a map leading to the cliff where the ruins were located.

However, Shen Changchuan was not so blinded by the prospect of an Out of Body Realm cave dwelling that he would rush off to take risks.

He had looked at the map;

it was located deep within the Monster Beast Forest.

He was only at the mid-stage of the fourth level of Qi Refining, and although he had a few tricks to bolster his combat power, he was ultimately too weak.

Shen Changchuan did not intend to explore it now.

He felt that even if he were to investigate, he should at least wait until he reached the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining.

It was always better to be cautious.

With various matters temporarily settled, Shen Changchuan finally had the time to take stock of his gains.

The battle to counter-kill the Four Evils of He Mountain

was the most perilous fight Shen Changchuan had faced since his transmigration.

It was also his most bountiful harvest.

After sorting through the various supplies in the storage bags, Shen Changchuan's final gains were as follows:

Two hundred and twenty-three spirit stones, The magical artifacts included one Soul-Absorbing Bell, the poisoned dagger from the hand of Second Brother of He Mountain, a shattered defensive leather armor from Fourth Brother, and a quasi-low-grade artifact blade held by Third Brother that was infused with a significant amount of Gold Essence.

The spiritual herbs consisted of one stalk of Green Spirit Grass, three Green Heart Leaves, two Jade Dew Flowers, and so on. These were all low-grade spiritual herbs, much like the Spirit Ginseng Shen Changchuan had consumed during his early cultivation, and there were no herbs particularly worth noting.

The pills totaled thirteen Qi-Nurturing Pills and two Essence Pills.

The remaining materials and sundries included ninety catties of Spirit Grain, twenty catties of Iron Essence, one piece of Red Origin Iron Ore, several pitch-black ores he could not identify, spiritual wood, beast materials, and more.

Inside the storage bag, Shen Changchuan also found a hand-copied True Explanation of Spells, which recorded basic spells such as the Breath-Concealing Technique, Water Blade Technique, Water Dragon Technique, Earth-Stone Collision, Earth-Shaking Technique, Golden Bell Technique, and others.

It appeared to be a collection of various spells that the Four Evils of He Mountain had gathered over many years.

Among them were also the Basic Qi-Gathering Art, various cultivation experiences, and so on.

Beyond all of this, there was also a formation called the Lost Two-Forms Formation that Shen Changchuan had uprooted from the ground before he left.

He had not realized the extent of these many gains until he took stock, and once he did, Shen Changchuan was nearly given a fright.

As he stood now, he could almost be said to have struck it rich overnight!