Chapter 169: Chapter 161: Baiting with One’s Life

Where the vine passed, some shrubs and weeds in the forest seemed to transform into Chen Youran’s extensions for sensing the surroundings and attacking enemies.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The vine quickly plunged into the dense shrubbery, and the blue spiritual power spread out. In the next moment, the surrounding shrubs seemed to come alive, waving their thorn-covered branches chaotically at the surroundings!

In an instant, over a dozen figures hiding behind the shrubs were forced out!

They were barbarian warriors with cropped hair and tattoos, wearing animal skin skirts!

“What a strange technique!”

One of the barbarian cultivators exclaimed in surprise, quickly forming a seal with his fingers and casting a black smoke toward the frantically dancing thorny shrubs.

The black smoke seemed to have strong corrosive properties, and the thorns and shrubs withered and decayed instantly when enveloped.

The long whip turned vine in Chen Youran’s hand flickered with blue light upon contact with the black smoke, but soon returned to its whip form.

The shrubs that separated both sides disappeared, and both sides cautiously observed each other.

“That is the magical artifact that the lord bestowed upon Alai Gu!”

Across from them, a bald barbarian man covered in strange runic tattoos noticed the magical artifact great bow in Shen Chongming’s hand and spoke deeply.

“Oh?”

Another strong man with a bare chest and a tiger skin around his waist heard this, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes as he laughed: “That useless Alai Gu, having received so many rewards from the lord, ended up dying at these people’s hands.”

“General, these juniors from the Shen Family, despite their young age, are already Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators, so they must be the Shen Family’s direct lineage.”

“The lord said that killing a direct lineage of the Shen Family would earn us one magical artifact as a reward.”

“Could it be the Tale Tribe’s lucky day, running into four of them at once?”

The bald barbarian man laughed heartily: “Four youngsters mean four magical artifacts, and counting their spoils, it’s eight magical artifacts in total.”

“With so many magical artifacts, the strength of the Tale Tribe will surely enhance significantly.”

“Now, with the Alag Tribe almost wiped out, it’s time for the Tale Tribe to rise!”

Listening to the other side’s blatant conversations, Shi Miao beside Shen Chongming had a peculiar expression.

“Young Clan Leader, in their eyes, we have become fish on the chopping block.”

Shen Chongming said nothing.

Having reached the peak of Qi Cultivation Third Layer, he could sense that among the opposing dozen people, seven were Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators.

The one with the highest cultivation was the man in the tiger skin skirt. Judging by his aura, he was at least at the late stage of Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, likely at the peak of Fourth Layer.

“Be careful, the opponent isn’t weak.”

Zhao Tuan spoke deeply.

Though the opposing side had many people and quite a few cultivators, the fortunate thing was that there weren’t any disciples from the Hundred Beasts Mountain among them.

At the same cultivation level, the disciples from the Immortal Sect were generally stronger than the native cultivators from the Yangnao Land.

After all, these barbarian cultivators before them only received some rewards from the Immortal Sect and luckily reached their current realm.

In terms of techniques, talismans, and magical artifacts, they were far inferior to the Immortal Sect disciples.

“Youran, accompany me to deal with the strongest one.”

“Leave the rest to you two.”

“They have numbers, so remain vigilant for opportunities.”

When saying the words “remain vigilant for opportunities,” Shen Chongming’s tone softened somewhat.

Shi Miao and Zhao Tuan exchanged glances, mutual understanding evident in their eyes.

Seeing the two understood his message, Shen Chongming immediately raised the magical artifact great bow in his hand, aiming it at the opposite side.

Seeing this, Chen Youran directly tossed the long whip in his hand into the air, following with seal formations with his hands.

The next moment, the long whip magical artifact seemed to come alive, twisting and transforming into a thick vine charging toward the man in the tiger skin skirt!

The bald strong barbarian man beside the man with the tiger skin skirt noticed this, immediately forming a seal again, and spat a mouthful of black smoke at the vine transformed from the long whip, attempting to emulate the previous person.

Yet Chen Youran’s eyes flashed with brilliance, as the vine in mid-air instantly changed its attack style!

From a previously snake-like flexible state, it directly turned into a vine spear!

The vine spear broke as it collided, and the sharp spearhead, as long as a foot, shot straight at the bald strong man’s face!

The bald strong man seemed unprepared for Chen Youran’s sudden direction change, attacking him.

Nor did he expect such a transformation method in the technique, and he immediately prepared to dodge aside.

However, at that moment, small thorny branches had already sprouted from the soil under him, unnoticed.

As he intended to move, the bramble vines quickly wrapped around his legs!

These ordinary bramble vines were quite small; not to mention a cultivator, even an ordinary person tied by them could break free with a slight struggle.

However, in a life-and-death moment, any minor influence could be fatal.

The bald strong man’s body stumbled because of the bramble vines, missing the best chance to dodge.

In an instant, the vine spear was already at his face!

Buzz!

Seeing that his head was about to be pierced by the sharp spear, a spiritual power shield instantly appeared on the bald strong man’s body!

Bang!

The vine spear crashed into the spiritual power shield fiercely, causing it to flicker continuously.

Amid the splattering wood chips, a silent arrow at that moment silently passed through the flying wood chips, instantly shattering the bald strong man’s spiritual power shield and penetrated his head without losing momentum!

The spiritual power carried by the arrow exploded in an instant, blasting his head to pieces!

All this happened too fast.

The general of the Tale Tribe initially thought Shen Chongming and Chen Youran’s target was him, so he had prepared for defense as soon as Shen Chongming raised his bow.

Who would have thought that the two suddenly shifted their target to his brother beside him?

Their cooperation was so exquisite that he couldn’t react at all, and a Qi Cultivation Third Layer tribe member was thus killed in front of him.

“Go!”

After a successful strike, Shen Chongming spoke immediately.

All four of them immediately cast a Divine Movement Skill on their legs, running toward the dense forest in the distance.

This scene left the Tale Tribe’s general dumbfounded.

He initially thought the opposing side, having killed one of their own at lightning speed, would strike again next.

Who would have thought Shen Chongming and his companions didn’t linger at all, choosing to turn and flee directly.

The Tale Tribe general was baffled.

Weren’t they supposed to have two people deal with him, and the other two deal with the rest?

“Damn little brats!”

“Cunning little brats!”

In just the blink of an eye, as he was in a daze, he watched as the figures of the four had already disappeared into the dense forest, and the Tale Tribe General roared angrily!

“Chase!”

“Send out the message, let the other scout teams hold them off!”

Amidst his furious roar, Shen Chongming and the others had already reached a distant place.

“There should be quite a few Barbarian scouts in this forest.”

“If every scout team is like this so-called Tale Tribe with Cultivators, it would be a big trouble if they reach the front line guarded by our tribesmen.”

As Shen Chongming sprinted wildly, he spoke.

Zhao Tuan nodded.

Compared to the Western Wilderness Barbarian Race, the Shen Family not only had fewer people, but also fewer Cultivators.

After all, the entire Barbarian Race has nearly ten million people, and even if one Cultivator can be born out of ten thousand people, it’s still more than the Cultivators currently in the Shen Family.

“What’s Young Clan Leader planning to do?”

Shi Miao spoke up.

Shen Chongming glanced around and, after pondering for a moment, said, “Brother Tuan, I plan to use myself as bait, letting them know that I am the Young Clan Leader of the Shen Family.”

“Then lead them around in circles here, taking the opportunity to gradually eliminate the Cultivators among these Barbarians.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tuan’s expression slightly changed.

He had also overheard the conversation among those from the Tale Tribe earlier; Hundred Beasts Mountain had offered Magical Artifacts as rewards to deal with the Shen Family and had placed a bounty on the Shen Family’s Direct Lineage.

From this, it could be seen that the reward for the “Young Clan Leader of the Shen Family” should be even higher.

If the identity was exposed, those Western Wilderness Barbarian Cultivators might pounce like wolves smelling blood.

“This move is too dangerous.”

Shen Chongming smiled wryly, “I know it’s very dangerous.”

“But now Third Uncle can’t take action, and there aren’t many people the Shen Family can rely on.”

“If we can’t weaken these Western Wilderness Barbarians as much as possible now, how will we resist when their Cultivators gather here and charge all at once?”

The Shen Family, as it is now, has barely more than ten Cultivators.

Fortunately, Hundred Beasts Mountain, at present, is overconfident and harbors the intention of torturing the Shen Family.

If they later realize this and have the Barbarian tribes gather together, the Shen Family will have no way to resist.

Zhao Tuan wasn’t foolish; he knew that now was the best opportunity to weaken the Barbarians.

“Since that’s the case, let’s all check our Talismans, Elixirs, and Spirit Crystal Fragments so we can plan carefully.”

The four of them each checked the items they carried.

Spirit Crystal Fragments and Qi Nourishing Pills can quickly replenish Spiritual Power.

According to Shen Chongming’s plan, they would face endless battles ahead, with little time to meditate and recover Spiritual Power.

The Talismans were drawn by Shen Yuan in his spare time. Although they’re Low Tier Techniques, they can also have miraculous effects at critical moments.

Having counted the resources on them, they began to discuss the specific plan.

…

Shen Family Manor.

Zhao Xuan finally compromised.

Shen Chongxuan has since completely abandoned Immortal Cultivation and started studying with Lu Zhiyuan instead.

“Master, I would like to compile a family history for the Shen Family.”

In the academy’s pavilion, seven-year-old Shen Chongxuan looked up and spoke to Lu Zhiyuan.

Looking at the child before him, who bore some resemblance to Shen Wenyan, Lu Zhiyuan’s expression was somewhat dazed, reminding him of the conversation when he first met that little fellow.

The tender and innocent questioning voice of Shen Wenyan still echoed in his ears.

“Master?”

Seeing Lu Zhiyuan silent, Shen Chongxuan spoke again.

“Hmm.”

Lu Zhiyuan slowly sat down, smiling, “Then tell me, why do you want to compile a family history?”

Shen Chongxuan tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, “History allows future generations to know what is happening now. Using history as a mirror can help them solve doubts in adversity and discipline themselves in prosperity.”

“The Shen Family is destined to be extraordinary. After a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, not to mention Master and Grandfather, but even the disciples’ descendants of this generation may have long turned into a mound of yellow earth.”

“Without a family history, how can future generations know the Shen Family’s past and understand how difficult these generations were?”

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, yet he was somewhat surprised in his heart.

The Shen Family for thousands of generations…

How could this little fellow be so confident?

“Alright, then I will teach you the method to chronicle and compile history.”

“Compiling history can also rectify oneself, so you must ponder well.”

The old and the young sat in the pavilion, just like they did back in Jinliu Village.

Late at night.

Shen Yuan awoke from his cultivation, feeling that his Realm had reached the critical point for a breakthrough.

After some hesitation, he fetched a water jug, uncorked it, and drank a few mouthfuls of the Spiritual Spring’s water.

The rich Earth Vein Spiritual Qi dissolved inside him as Shen Yuan slowly walked into the courtyard and sat cross-legged.

Extracting a Spirit Crystal Fragment from the Storage Bag at his waist, he began to draw out the Spiritual Power inside and start slow Refinement.

After a long time had passed, a powerful wave of Spiritual Power suddenly erupted from him.

That Spiritual Power’s fluctuation then slowly subsided, and Shen Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

It had been almost twenty years since he set foot on the path of cultivation, and reaching this Realm now could neither be considered slow nor fast.

After slightly stabilizing his Realm, he slowly stood up and looked at the gloomy night sky.

“Looks like another heavy rain is about to fall soon.”

He slowly walked to the side of a lounge chair and lay down. In the corner of the courtyard, a big black dog came out of its kennel and gently nudged the lounge chair with its head, making it rock.

Seeing this, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but smile and pat its head.

“You creature are becoming more and more like a person.”

“In a few more years, perhaps you might even talk and keep me company.”

The lounge chair gently swayed as Shen Yuan slowly closed his eyes.

The cool breeze patted lightly, and with the brief relaxation after the breakthrough, Shen Yuan quickly fell asleep.

When he woke up again, it was because of the “noise” from the White Jade Turtle Shell in his Sea of Consciousness.

His Divine Sense sunk into his Sea of Consciousness, and the usually quiet White Jade Turtle Shell was now trembling incessantly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep