Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

"You must be very curious as to why Huang Deqi and his ilk would collude with Yuan Shenkui, right?"

In response to Luo Zhen's speculation, Wang Chen nodded.

He was indeed curious.

Even a three-year-old child knows that colluding with a demon cultivator is a heinous crime—so grievous that it could lead to the extermination of one's entire family!

For a local tyrant like Huang Deqi, who led a comfortable life and had no worries about cultivation resources, it made the least sense to collude with demon cultivators and plant such a huge hidden danger for himself.

Usually, only those who are desperate would take such risks.

Clearly, Huang Deqi was not among them.

Chen Anhe and Priest Xu were not much different.

But Wang Chen, who had interactions with them, had some vague suspicions.

"The Myriad Transformations Pill."

Luo Zhen didn't keep him in suspense any longer and simply revealed the answer, "Yuan Shenkui promised each of them a Myriad Transformations Pill."

Just as expected!

Wang Chen suddenly understood—his guess was correct.

The main purpose of the Myriad Transformations Blood Pool was to refine the Qi-Blood, mana, and souls of martial artists and cultivators, in order to produce the Myriad Transformations Pills.

The Myriad Transformations Pill could enhance one's cultivation level and longevity, as well as assist in Breaking Thresholds.

Chen Anhe's lifespan was nearing its limit; he was so old that there was no possibility for him to advance to the rank of Purple Mansion Superior.

The Myriad Transformations Pill could prolong life.

Huang Deqi had been stuck at the Qi Cultivation Perfection stage for over a decade; the longer it dragged on, the more remote his chances of breakthrough became.

The Myriad Transformations Pill could facilitate Breaking Thresholds.

As for Priest Xu, it must also be for one of these two reasons.

In the end, it all came down to a desire to live longer!

"But in reality, even if Yuan Shenkui did produce the Myriad Transformations Pills, he wouldn't share even half a pill with them,"

Luo Zhen scoffed, "His Blood Pool was entirely constructed for himself; he had already planned that when the time came to solidify the pills, he would summon Huang Deqi and the others to sacrifice them to the pool."

Wang Chen was speechless.

There is nothing more foolish than bargaining with a tiger for its skin, but when it comes to their own lives, many people often fail to see the truth.

Or perhaps they understand in their hearts but refuse to admit it!

"Yuan Shenkui has already been sent to the sect,"

Luo Zhen continued, "As for your reward, it will take some time to be issued, as there's a process of review and approval involved, so you'll need to stay in Datian Village for the time being."

The high-tier Purple Mansion Superior showed a hint of embarrassment.

Because this process could take a very long time!

The West Sea Sect was too massive.

As the number one Immortal Gates in the Mountain and Sea Realm, the West Sea Sect boasted millions of disciples, with more than 300,000 in the Inner Sect alone, Golden Cores abounded, and Purple Mansion Superiors were as numerous as hairs on an ox, with extremely complex internal affairs.

And very cumbersome!

If Wang Chen had taken on related tasks directly within the sect, then he would receive his rewards quickly.

But he was an outsider with no background, and he hadn't been in the West Sea Spirit Domain for very long.

To have made such a significant contribution without arousing jealousy would be truly strange!

No one would dare to snatch it openly, but there were too many things that could be done behind the scenes, making it absolutely impossible to guard against.

"I assure you,"

Luo Zhen said earnestly, "you won't lose out on anything you're entitled to!"

"Thank you for your righteous assistance, Dao friend,"

Wang Chen was very aware that he couldn't fully receive credit for such a great merit.

Therefore, he immediately stated, "I only want the status of an Inner Sect Disciple, the rest doesn't matter to me."

Luo Zhen took a deep look at Wang Chen, wanting to say something but then swallowed his words back.

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He handed Wang Chen a Storage Bag, inlaid with gold thread: "This is Yuan Shenkui's Storage Bag. I had someone send it to the Sect along with him, but I've examined the inner contents. Everything useful is in this bag."

"Now, the items are returned to their rightful owner!"

Wang Chen received the Storage Bag without opening it, and he respectfully bowed to Luo Zhen.

All was understood without words!

Wang Chen would always remember this favor.

In the following two days, the Combat Hall's Battle Cultivators, under the leadership of the Patrol Guards headed by Luo Zhen, thoroughly scourged the homes of Huang Deqi and his two accomplices, and also forced out their hidden wealth.

For instance, the shops and residences they had purchased in Wan City.

Even Yuan Shenkui, a Demon Cultivator, couldn't resist the tactics of the Patrol Guards, so how could these pampered individuals possibly withstand the interrogation?

They confessed to everything.

On the third day, Luo Zhen and the Combat Hall's Battle Cultivators left aboard the Flying Warship.

They took with them Huang Deqi, Chen Anhe, Priest Xu, along with their dozens of family members and subordinates!

Leaving the chaotic mess of Datian Village to Wang Chen.

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This mess indeed needed to be cleaned up by him, the village head, as no one else would have the legitimate authority to do so.

At the moment, Datian Village was in a state of unrest.

The village, with nearly 2000 residents, had its power firmly grasped by the hands of Huang Deqi and his two accomplices.

Huang Deqi held the highest position, while Chen Anhe had high prestige among his own clan, but still deferred to the former.

Priest Xu, in comparison, was shrouded in more mystery, usually keeping a low profile, but there were few in the Xu family who did not submit to him.

Now, the heads of the three leading families were taken away in one fell swoop, uprooted entirely.

The villagers, lacking anyone to issue orders and fearful of being implicated themselves, were utterly without leadership.

In such a situation, the village head Wang Chen naturally became the new pillar of support for these people!

Wang Chen was the village head and a Cultivator of substantial Cultivation Level from Purple Mansion Superior.

Who else could they rely on if not him?

Most importantly, when the villagers learned the true nature of the events, any remaining trust and reverence they had for Huang Deqi and his cohorts crumbled away!

To obtain the Myriad Transformations Pill, Huang Deqi and his associates not only actively acquired materials for Yuan Shenkui's Cultivation and the construction of the Blood Pool but also assisted the Grey Wolf Bandits in kidnapping villagers from the surrounding ten miles through various means.

Including the people from Datian Village itself!

Those villagers, abducted by the Grey Eye Thieves, were first sent to the mines, and once they were thoroughly exhausted, handed over to Yuan Shenkui to be dumped into the Blood Pool as ingredients for Alchemy.

Over the years, the number of people who had suffered such a fate was in the hundreds.

If it weren't for Wang Chen uncovering their conspiracy, the final victim count would have exceeded a thousand.

How could the family and friends of the village's own victims not hate Huang Deqi, who had betrayed them?

How could they not appreciate Wang Chen for seeking justice on their behalf?

Wang Chen's prestige in the village was established in this very manner!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

In truth, Wang Chen had no interest in holding office, let alone being a trivial village head.

But until the dust settled on Luo Zhen's side, he had to maintain this territory, not giving people a chance to fault him and tarnish his reputation.

After all, Wang Chen was still on his entry assessment mission for the Sect.

In the following days, apart from his daily Qi Cultivation routines, Wang Chen took time to manage village affairs.

He strove to learn how to be a qualified village head.

As days passed by, aside from a Communication Talisman from Luo Zhen's side, there was no further news.

Wang Chen wasn't in a hurry; he calmly waited.

Until the autumn harvest was brought in and the weather turned sharply colder, there was still no word.

He felt as though he had been forgotten.

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The second update delivered.

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