Chapter 122: Chapter 122: One Tier Higher
 

Wang Chen, once more, through a sleepless long night.

He was like Nazha who just obtained the Huntian Silk, Sun Wukong with his Golden Cudgel, and the pig… scratch that.

His heart was itching with impatience, and he was overflowing with joy!

The Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net was undoubtedly the most awesome treasure Wang Chen possessed.

The Thousand Mechanisms Changing mask was very impressive as well.

But the ability to change appearance and identity obviously couldn’t compare to the Punisher Net’s combat power.

This treasure truly lived up to the name “Demon-Slaying.”

Its power to exterminate Evil Wraiths was incredibly fierce, and its ability to transform Spiritual Energy was mysteriously unparalleled.

And for such a treasure,

to be refined and controlled by Wang Chen, who was at the Qi Cultivation Realm, was unheard of!

You should know that high-tier Magic Artifacts and Magical Treasures

often require a cultivation realm of equal level to unleash their full might.

Qi Cultivation corresponds to first-tier Magic Artifacts, Purple Mansion to second-tier Spiritual Artifacts, and Golden Core to third-tier Magical Treasures.

While mid-to-high level Qi Cultivators might barely be able to drive a Spiritual Artifact, and Purple Mansion can refine Magical Treasures for their use,

a Qi Cultivator should not even dream of controlling a third-tier Magical Treasure.

It’s like a child who can lift a large sword and swing it a few times, but give them a copper hammer and they’d exhaust themselves trying to lift it!

Wang Chen didn’t know the tier of the Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net, but he imagined that Magical Treasures probably couldn’t be much better.

Yet, after he completed the initial refinement, he used it as easily as if it were an extension of his arm, without the slightest awkwardness or delay.

Furthermore, Wang Chen felt that this treasure had an extremely high limit. It was just that with his current cultivation strength, he could only unleash a small part of its power.

One must remember that before “Demon-Slaying” there were the words “Heaven-Ensnaring.”

In short, it’s extremely badass, utterly badass!

And such an awesome treasure falling into his own hands made Wang Chen involuntarily think of the Thousand Mechanisms Changing mask he got from the Traveling Merchant.

The points needed to unseal this mask were completely the same as the Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net.

The two might very well be of the same tier!

There was also the Ruyi Golden Needle.

In others’ possession, it was like a pearl gathering dust, but in his hands, it immediately shone with brilliance.

Wang Chen felt that in the more than a year since he had crossed over, his luck had been very good.

It was as if fate had chosen him, or like he was a human-shaped Cornucopia, attracting all the overlooked treasures around him into his own bowl!

Even when encountering characters like Land-sweeping Monks, he received both Cultivation Techniques and Bone Relics.

However, for the time being, Wang Chen had no plans to cultivate the subsequent techniques of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method, and he approached the Dragon-subduing Bone Relic offered by Wu Xiang with caution, so he kept both in the very bottom of his Storage Bag.

Those would be dealt with later.

He repeatedly refined the Heaven-Ensnaring Punisher Net until daybreak.

“Meow meow!”

The just awakened Yuanyuan scurried into the quiet room, jumped onto Wang Chen, and clung to his collar, meowing for attention.

Wang Chen chuckled and stored the Punisher Net he had refined all night as an arm guard.

He petted the loveable little creature and took it up to the surface.

The Outer Sect area of the Cloud Sun Sect was actually very safe now; it had been half a year since the Grey Eye Thieves and even Evil Wraiths had been seen.

Especially after the disturbance caused by the manhunt incident had passed, both inside and outside Cloud Mountain City, there was an atmosphere of utter tranquility and peace, reminiscent of the ancient era where lost valuables would remain untouched by the roadside.

But Wang Chen had gotten used to living in the underground chamber and didn’t mind climbing up and down every day at all.

Besides, he wouldn’t stay here for many more days.

He washed up, made a fire, cooked, but had no chickens to feed.

After eating his fill, Wang Chen, hoe in hand, headed to the Spirit Fields.

The morning breeze swept across the land, bending the stalks with their golden heads of rice, and a lonely scarecrow stood in the midst of the field.

The harvest was imminent!

Having farmed for a year, Wang Chen was now completely able to step into the role of a Spiritual Plant Farmer.

The scene before his eyes filled him with a sense of openness and contentment, evoking a palpable sense of joy.

At this time, even the most stubborn weeds were no longer a problem and didn’t require any more effort from Wang Chen.

He bent down and pinched off two grains of rice, popping them into his mouth and chewing.

A rush of sweet flavor instantly filled his mouth.

In two more days, it would be time to harvest!

After collecting this season’s rice, Wang Chen planned to re-establish his Immortal Register in the Inner Sect.

As for the ten mu of Spirit Fields and the cottage, he intended to return them to the Spirit Planting Hall.

Actually, Wang Chen could have kept these Spirit Fields if he wanted to.

He could simply sublease them to others; even if he didn’t collect a single grain of rice in rent, he would still earn Merit Points.

It was said that some Inner Sect Disciples did just that!

But Wang Chen wanted a clean break, not worth the hassle of keeping a loose end for that bit of contribution to the sect.

Moreover, the hidden chamber and tunnel beneath the cottage also needed to be cleared up.

So as not to be discovered by future inhabitants and reveal his secrets.

“Wang Chen!”

As Wang Chen pondered his subsequent matters, four or five Cultivators appeared on the village road ahead.

One of the burly Cultivators took the lead and bellowed, “This time, let’s see where you can run!”

Wang Chen turned to look in the direction of the voice, and anger surged in his heart!

It was that guy again!

Wang Chen had not yet settled the issue with them for ruining his mother hen last time.

Unexpectedly, they had come again today.

Lingering like malignant spirits!

He saw the group of cultivators quickly approaching, subtly encircling him.

The burly cultivator, holding a Spirit-sealing Lock, sneered at Wang Chen, “Are you going to surrender without resistance, or do you plan to put up a futile fight?”

Wang Chen ignored him, instead directing his gaze toward a middle-aged cultivator.

This cultivator was at the eighth tier of the Qi Cultivation Realm, clearly the core of the group.

“Ahem!”

The middle-aged cultivator coughed twice before speaking, “Wang Chen, someone accused you of plotting murder for wealth, and we are here to investigate.”

His attitude was unexpectedly conciliatory.

The burly cultivator arrogantly said, “This is our Punishment Hall’s new Hall Master Cao.”

“Hall Master Cao’s discerning eyes cannot be fooled; you can’t hide your actions from his magical vision. I advise you to just confess your crimes!”

The middle-aged cultivator waved his hand to correct, “It’s Vice Hall Master.”

Wang Chen’s eyes flashed as he asked, “Plotting murder for wealth? May I ask whose wealth I coveted, and whose life I supposedly took?”

“You’re the one who killed my uncle!”

At that moment, the young cultivator beside the burly one shouted angrily, “And you forcefully took away his deed to the house. Do you dare claim you’re innocent?”

Uncle?

Wang Chen was momentarily taken aback.

The person they were undoubtedly referring to was Lv Defang.

Yet he had no idea that the latter had a nephew.

Vice Hall Master Cao explained, “This is Lv Tailai, the direct nephew of Lv Defang. Two nights ago, Lv Defang’s Soul Tablet shattered. According to him, you went to the Household Court yesterday morning and transferred the ownership of Lv Defang’s house.”

“If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be!”

Lv Tailai glared into Wang Chen’s eyes with a venomous, sinister look.

“Hall Master, let’s not waste time talking with him,”

the burly cultivator said eagerly, “Let’s bring him back to the hall for interrogation straight away. Under the seven tortures, he won’t dare refuse to confess!”

Vice Hall Master Cao frowned.

He did not appreciate the other’s presumption.

Nevertheless, in his eagerness to show off, the burly cultivator grinned viciously and raised the Spirit-sealing Lock.

No matter what Wang Chen chose to do this time, be it run away, resist, or surrender without a fight, he was doomed!

“Capture me?”

Wang Chen laughed, “You’d need to be qualified for that!”

He flipped his wrist and revealed a Jade Token, pouring mana into it and triggering it right there and then.

All five cultivators, including Vice Hall Master Cao, were stunned into silence, their eyes wide with shock.

Inner Sect Disciple!

Wang Chen was actually an Inner Sect Disciple!!

Internal affairs of the Inner Sect are managed by the Inner Sect, and the Outer Sect’s Punishment Hall truly does not have the authority to apprehend an Inner Sect Disciple.

Unless they were ordered from above.

The burly cultivator took two steps back subconsciously, his eyes showing terror.

If he had known Wang Chen was an Inner Sect Disciple, he would not have accepted the task from Lv Tailai even if it killed him.

Especially not after involving Vice Hall Master Cao.

He was done for!

At this moment, the burly cultivator truly despised the uncle-nephew pair, Lv Defang and Lv Tailai.

They were sending him to his grave alive!

Meanwhile, Lv Tailai was utterly dumbfounded.

He too felt hatred.

The manager in the Household Court must have known that Wang Chen was already an Inner Sect Disciple, which was why he processed the transfer for Wang Chen.

Yet he hid the fact from him, leading him to fall into this deep pit.

Inner Sect Disciple!

The significance of these four words could not be clearer to Lv Tailai.

Being just one tier higher could crush someone!

In despair, he looked at Vice Hall Master Cao with imploring eyes.

But Vice Hall Master Cao didn’t notice Lv Tailai’s pitiful gaze at all.

He was momentarily surprised, then suddenly turned to Wang Chen with a smile warmer than the spring breeze, “So you’re an Inner Sect junior brother! It’s like a flood that has washed into the Dragon King Temple!”

The Punishment Hall’s Vice Hall Master stepped forward and handed Wang Chen a business card, speaking with warmth, “This must be a misunderstanding. It’s my oversight that has caused you discomfort, junior brother. Tonight I’ll make amends by hosting a dinner at the Yueyue Pavilion, and I humbly ask you to grace it with your presence.”

He was originally an Inner Sect Disciple, assigned to the Outer Sect’s Punishment Hall.

Of course, he saw Wang Chen as one of his own.

“Senior brother is too kind.”

Wang Chen took the business card with a smile, “Ignorance is not a crime. It should be I who treats you instead!”

Vice Hall Master Cao laughed heartily, “It’s all the same, no matter who treats whom!”

In the midst of laughter, any previous resentment evaporated into thin air.

And at that very moment, both the burly cultivator and Lv Tailai were as pale as death!

——–

Here’s the first update.