Strongest War Emperor

Alchemy Masters, like Artifact Refining Masters, were highly sought after by every Sect.

There wasn’t a single master in the entire Evil Wind Valley who could concoct a Second Grade Profound Level Elixir!

He also had one question he didn’t dare ask aloud: ’What kind of Alchemy Master would let his own maidservant eat Profound Level Elixirs like they were snacks?’

”I’m the one who refined them,” Shen Lang said coolly.

The old-timers from Tayun Academy and the members of the Five Great Noble Families all sneered inwardly.

’An Alchemy Master? Shen Lang is not just an Alchemy Master, he’s an Artifact Refining Master too! You guys sure are lucky, stumbling upon a treasure like this for no reason...’

Ling Chen turned around and saw Drunken Thousand Cups standing there with a miserable expression, unsure whether to remain standing or sit down.

Drunken Thousand Cups had gone all out. Strictly speaking, two Profound Level Elixirs, plus a pile of Spirit Stones, was a considerable show of sincerity.

But when he looked at the bottles in Xiaohong’s hands, Drunken Thousand Cups once again felt the urge to cry...

Getting beaten up by Shen Lang was one thing; at least he was still an Elder of Evil Wind Valley.

But to be so thoroughly humiliated by a mere maidservant... Drunken Thousand Cups was so embarrassed he wished the ground would swallow him whole.

The biggest problem was, if a single maidservant had so many Profound Level Elixirs, what could he, Drunken Thousand Cups, possibly offer that would impress them?

Suddenly, the corner of Ling Chen’s eye twitched as his gaze fell upon someone he hadn’t noticed before.

Taking several quick strides, Ling Chen walked up to Xue Dangdang. His face wreathed in smiles, he bowed with a cupped fist and said, ”I didn’t expect to see Miss Dingdang here as well. My attention was previously focused on Elder Shen. My sincerest apologies!”

Everyone’s expression changed, and all eyes immediately focused on Xue Dangdang.

Xue Dangdang’s identity had always been a mystery.

Even the old-timers from Tayun Academy only knew that she was from the Imperial Dragon Sect and held a high status, but they had no way of knowing which specific Noble Family she belonged to.

They never expected the great Punishment Hall Master of Evil Wind Valley to speak to her with such reverence.

Drunken Thousand Cups was taken aback and was just about to speak when he heard Xue Dangdang say with a cold expression, ”It’s useless even if you know me. I would never put in a good word for Evil Wind Valley with Brother Lang. On the contrary, I was just thinking that if this guy—Thousand-Cup Drunk, or whatever his name is—had actually hurt Uncle Tian, I would have definitely found someone to level your Evil Wind Valley!”

Drunken Thousand Cups felt as if someone had viciously smashed his head with a big hammer, making him see stars...

Xue Dangdang giggled and said, ”If I were you, I’d bring out something good right away. Brother Lang always responds to sincerity, not coercion. If you have something good, maybe he’ll forgive you.”

Secretly wiping away a bead of sweat, Ling Chen’s heart stirred. Having made up his mind, he suddenly tapped his forehead with his finger.

A small lotus flower slowly emerged from his forehead and floated above the palm of his hand.

The lotus was like green jade, with eight petals. Each of the eight petals was like the most flawless jade, so perfect it seemed a work of nature. At a glance, it was so crystal clear and translucent that one couldn’t help but want to hold it and never let go.

However, a sense of danger involuntarily rose in everyone’s heart, as if the lotus flower was fraught with peril!

Startled, the crowd focused their gaze on it and were instantly shocked!

Only then did they finally realize that the eight petals of the lotus were actually eight swords!

”A Sword Lotus, condensed from Sword Intent by a Sword Dao master! No wonder you, Ling Chen, have been acting so arrogantly. You’ve actually managed to grasp Sword Intent!”

Zeng Wuming taunted, his expression somewhat grave.

The surrounding crowd was shocked, instantly understanding the meaning behind Ling Chen’s actions.

’Ling Chen intends to use this Sword Lotus as compensation and to win over Shen Lang at the same time!’

’What a generous offer! No, it’s beyond generous—it’s extravagant to the extreme!’

’A Sword Lotus that can help a Martial Artist comprehend Sword Intent... calling it priceless would be an understatement! And he just took it out like it was nothing!’

Shen Lang’s expression remained unchanged. He merely gave Ling Chen a cool glance and still said nothing.

Realms such as Sword Intent, Saber Intent, or Icy Intent were exceptionally profound and mysterious. Comprehending these Realms meant one had already touched the true edge of Martial Arts.

But these Realms were utterly illusory and intangible, almost impossible to grasp. This was why, even though Shen Lang possessed the War Emperor’s legacy, all of his Cultivation Techniques, and several millennia of experience in his mind, he had still only managed to comprehend Saber Intent on his own during a moment of crisis while fighting the Netherworld Wolf King.

To comprehend such a Realm, a Martial Artist needed a perfect combination of opportunity, outstanding talent, and some form of external catalyst.

For example, the Ice Soul Water Jade within Shen Lang’s Heaven-Sealing Cauldron was one such item that could stimulate and guide a Martial Artist to touch upon, or even comprehend, the Ice Realm. That was why Shen Lang had been ecstatic when he first discovered it.

Even with countless Spirit Stones or Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, it was nearly impossible to comprehend these Realms without peerless talent and this kind of Exotic Treasure.

The vast majority of Martial Artists wouldn’t even have a chance to truly come into contact with a Realm until they reached the King Martial Realm—and that was just contact, with no guarantee of successful comprehension.

And after comprehending a Realm, cultivating it to make it grow and strengthen was another task as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Once a Realm reached Great Success, one could cause mountains to collapse and the earth to split, or make rivers flow backward with a single thought. It was a truly unfathomable power.

However, comprehending something like a Realm was far, far more difficult than ordinary Martial Arts Cultivation.

Thus, among all the powerful experts, those who had truly comprehended one were exceedingly rare.

Ling Chen had already comprehended Sword Intent when he was at the Xuanwu Realm Fifth Heaven, making him an existence as rare as a phoenix feather in the entire Purple Chu Empire.

And this Sword Lotus he had just produced was an Exotic Treasure he had accidentally obtained in an Ancient Secret Realm.

This item had been formed by a Sword Dao predecessor who, upon his death, condensed his comprehended Sword Intent into it, leaving it behind for a successor.

After obtaining it, Ling Chen spent ten years studying the Sword Dao Realm within it before he finally managed to comprehend Sword Intent, which showed just how precious it was!

Now, he was presenting this item. Under everyone’s horrified gaze, he said leisurely, ”Young lady, you possess a Sword Martial Soul and are a true Sword Cultivator. Although your Cultivation is only at the Qi Martial Realm Sixth Heaven, your entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit already contain a trace of elusive Sword Intent. If you spend time studying this item, you will certainly be able to comprehend Sword Intent. Today, I will gift this Sword Lotus to you, hoping that you will be able to take a great step forward on the path of the Sword Dao.”

As he spoke, he slowly sent the Sword Lotus forth, and it flew toward Shen Moran.

The crowd in the square felt their blood begin to boil. They stared at the Sword Lotus, not even daring to blink.

”A Sword Lotus! A Sword Lotus that can help one comprehend Sword Intent! Hall Master Ling Chen is actually giving it to Shen Moran...”

”The Shen Family is about to strike it rich! This... this is...”

”It’s unbelievable! An Exotic Treasure like this is something even an expert at the Peak of Xuanwu Realm Ninth Heaven would find difficult to obtain!”

Zeng Wuming glanced at Ling Chen and pursed his lips. ”This fellow is usually so stingy. Trying to borrow even a couple of Spirit Stones from him is like trying to carve off a piece of his flesh. I never thought he’d offer up such a treasure on his first move...”

”Xiaolang, this...” Shen Moran’s face flushed slightly as she looked at Shen Lang, not daring to accept the Sword Lotus.

The gloomy expression on Shen Lang’s face slowly softened. He let out a soft chuckle and said, ”Hall Master Ling is our elder. For an elder to give such a gift to a junior is a sign of his care for us. Go ahead and accept it, Sister.”

Drunken Thousand Cups had already apologized and yielded. Ling Chen had given more than enough face to both Shen Lang and the Shen Family, even presenting such an Exotic Treasure as a gift. If Shen Lang continued to press the matter, he would be putting them in an impossible position.

He naturally understood the principle of quitting while one was ahead.

On the other side, Ling Chen, Drunken Thousand Cups, and the others, who had been watching Shen Lang nervously, immediately broke into loud laughter, feeling an incomparable sense of relief.

Their biggest fear had been that Shen Lang would refuse.

As things stood, no one from Evil Wind Valley present could have produced anything better or more precious than Ling Chen’s Sword Lotus...

The conflict was finally resolved, and the heart-pounding tension at last dissipated. It was a happy outcome for all.

”By the way, Hall Master Ling, could I ask the Iron Guard to do something for me?” Shen Lang suddenly asked.

Ling Chen’s expression turned serious. ”The Iron Guard is at Elder Shen’s command.”

Shen Lang gave him a grateful nod and waved his hand. ”Iron Guard, hear my command! Seal off the entire Shen Family estate. People may enter, but no one may leave, especially those currently in this square. If anyone dares to spread word of what happened here, apprehend them immediately!”