Chapter 27: The Shen Clan of Tianlan City

"What do you want?"

Ling'er caught the flash of burning heat in Chu Feng's eyes and immediately glared at him with a hint of anger.

"I haven't decided yet, but whatever it is, I would never hurt you!"

Chu Feng chuckled softly. He would never hurt Ling'er — he would only cherish her.

"Hmph! I can tell you're up to no good!"

"I'm warning you, I'm very powerful! If you dare have any improper thoughts about me, I'll slap you flat!" Ling'er raised her hand with a fierce little pout.

"How could I?" Chu Feng laughed awkwardly.

Ling'er thought for a brief moment, then suddenly smiled with a sly gleam in her eyes:

"A bet isn't out of the question, but we need to set the terms properly."

"Let's say ten years. If you can refine a saint-grade pill within ten years, I'll grant you one condition!"

"Ten years?" Chu Feng paused slightly, but then immediately agreed with a grin. "Deal! It's settled!"

Ten years was a short time, and Chu Feng had no absolute certainty he could refine a saint-grade pill within that window.

But even if he lost to Ling'er, it wouldn't matter — he'd simply let her do as she pleased with him.

And if he won, then he could make Ling'er...

In an instant, the gaze Chu Feng turned on Ling'er burned with intense heat.

"What are you staring at!" Ling'er caught his burning look and immediately shot him a fierce glare.

"Of course it's because my Ling'er is so beautiful — I can't help but be drawn to you!" Chu Feng said with a gentle smile.

"Hmph! At least you know how to talk!" Ling'er let out a coquettish huff.

After playfully bickering with Ling'er for a while, Chu Feng took a Divine Origin Pill and began cultivating.

Refining the Divine Origin Pills earlier had consumed most of his spiritual energy.

He needed to take a Divine Origin Pill to restore his spiritual energy before he could refine the remaining ones.

Four hours later, Chu Feng had fully absorbed one Divine Origin Pill, and his cultivation advanced to the sixth level of the Spirit Entry Stage!

He then continued and refined the remaining two batches of materials.

From the last two batches, one yielded two supreme-grade Divine Origin Pills, and the other yielded three supreme-grade Divine Origin Pills!

This left Chu Feng quietly excited for quite a while.

Right now, a single Divine Origin Pill could raise his cultivation considerably, so having more of them meant a significant boost to his power.

Once he finished refining all the Divine Origin Pills, Chu Feng bid farewell to Ling'er and returned to the outside world.

By then, it was already past midnight. Chu Feng took out another Divine Origin Pill and began cultivating again.

By the time dawn broke, Chu Feng had fully absorbed another Divine Origin Pill, and his cultivation rose by one more minor level, reaching the seventh level of the Spirit Entry Stage!

"This body's constitution is far too poor!" Chu Feng felt a mild sense of disappointment.

With his Netherworld Demon Body from his previous life, a single Divine Origin Pill would have raised him by at least two or three minor levels within the Spirit Entry Stage.

In this life, his Nine Yang Body provided no amplification to cultivation whatsoever — a single Divine Origin Pill could barely push him up one minor level. The pace was far too slow.

"I'll have to find a way to improve this constitution in the future!"

A cultivator's constitution could indeed be improved, but it required divine blood or the essence blood of some ancient exotic beast.

Such things were rare and could not be sought out — one could only hope for a Fortuitous Encounter.

Before long, Shen Qianning arrived with two beautiful handmaidens to wake Chu Feng, the two maids carrying washing and grooming supplies in their hands.

"Young Master Chu, your cultivation level..."

Shen Qianning noticed that Chu Feng's cultivation had risen by two minor levels since yesterday, and she exclaimed in surprise.

"I obtained a rare material earlier and refined it into pills last night. After taking them, my cultivation rose by two minor levels," Chu Feng said calmly.

"Alchemists are truly remarkable — to be able to refine pills that raise one's cultivation by two minor levels!" Shen Qianning said with an expression full of admiration.

"My cultivation is only at the Spirit Entry Stage, so rising two minor levels at once isn't anything special," Chu Feng replied with a faint smile.

Soon, after Chu Feng had washed up, Shen Qianning arranged breakfast. After dining together, she eagerly led Chu Feng toward Tianlan City.

Mu Changhai stayed behind to manage the merchant guild. This trip to Tianlan City included only Chu Feng and Shen Qianning, along with a few guards.

Chu Feng wanted to cultivate along the way, so he specifically requested a carriage.

Shen Qianning had originally intended for everyone to ride horses so they could reach Tianlan City faster.

Traveling by carriage would be twice as slow, but since Chu Feng had requested it and there was still ample time, Shen Qianning had no choice but to agree.

* * *

Four days later, Chu Feng and the others finally arrived at Tianlan City.

Over those four days, Chu Feng had fully absorbed all of the Divine Origin Pills, and his cultivation reached the extreme realm of the Spirit Entry Stage!

However, he had not managed to break through to the True Spirit Stage, which left him mildly disappointed.

The extreme realm required an enormous amount of spiritual energy, and even after taking three Divine Origin Pills in succession, Chu Feng still couldn't break through.

Still, since the extreme realm was so difficult to break through, once Chu Feng did achieve a Breakthrough to the True Spirit Stage, his power would increase dramatically.

Suddenly, Shen Qianning halted her horse and stepped into Chu Feng's carriage, saying:

"Young Master Chu, I'm about to take you to see my father. The Shen Clan members may try to block us, and their words might be unpleasant — I ask that you bear with it for now."

Chu Feng heard this and looked at Shen Qianning with mild curiosity.

"I am only a concubine-born daughter of the Shen Clan, but my father has always doted on me greatly."

"Now that my father doesn't have much time left, the direct-line members of the Shen Clan are worried that if he sees me, he might leave me some inheritance — so they've been keeping me away from him," Shen Qianning said with barely concealed fury.

"That's your problem to handle. My only responsibility is to refine pills," Chu Feng said plainly.

Chu Feng only wanted to display his abilities as a fifth-grade Alchemist before everyone to ward off certain troubles, and perhaps collect some payment from the Shen Clan on the side.

As for Shen Qianning's family disputes, he had no desire to get involved.

"I'll handle my own affairs."

"I was just worried that the direct-line members of the Shen Clan might say something that drives you away — that's why I'm telling you in advance," Shen Qianning said quickly.

"Don't worry, I won't be driven away," Chu Feng said calmly.

There was no way Chu Feng would be driven away by words. If things got too out of hand, he would simply kill them.

"Then I'm relieved."

"Young Master Chu, thank you. Once my father is saved, I'll make sure he rewards you handsomely!" Shen Qianning said, her expression brightening with joy.

"Mm. Let's go," Chu Feng said.

Before long, Shen Qianning led Chu Feng to the Shen Clan's ancestral grounds in Tianlan City.

The Shen Clan's grounds were situated at the very center of Tianlan City, occupying a vast area.

Even from a distance, one could see the exquisite pavilions within — like a palace from the heavens.

"Thirteenth Young Miss! Why have you returned?"

As Shen Qianning led Chu Feng to the Shen Clan's main gate, they were immediately stopped by the gate guards.

"What? Am I not allowed to return to my own home?" Shen Qianning fixed the guard with an icy stare.

"The First Madam has given orders that the Thirteenth Young Miss committed a transgression and is temporarily forbidden from entering the Shen Clan," the guard said without a trace of fear.

"Hmph! I have brought a fifth-grade Alchemist to save my father."

"If you dare block us and delay the time to save my father, the entire Shen Clan will have your skin!" Shen Qianning threatened coldly.

"Thirteenth Sister, you actually found a fifth-grade Alchemist?"

At that moment, a group of people walked out from inside. A handsome young man at the front heard Shen Qianning's words and immediately wore an expression of utter astonishment.