Chapter 82

"Cough, cough!" Shen Lang coughed twice and then opened a few more jade boxes.

"This Dinging Pill, Father won't be able to take it; it's for Sister and Mother. Its use is very simple; it can solidify Mother and Sister's peerless beauty, so even when they grow older, there won't be much change. A Mystic-level Dinging Pill should have at least two hundred years of efficacy. The average lifespan of ordinary people on the Starry Continent is over a hundred and fifty years, so two hundred years should be sufficient."

Amidst the stunned expressions of everyone, Shen Lang continued, "The Elixir of Longevity is a bit harder to refine, mainly because several of the spiritual materials are too rare... This elixir can not only extend life but also contains abundant medicinal power that will be slowly absorbed by the body. So, Father... when you find that your cultivation has improved without practicing, don't be surprised."

"Wow..." Yin Kuang poked his head over again.

"As for these large boxes..." Shen Lang opened the other jade boxes.

"These boxes contain a total of over a hundred and fifty Yuanzeng Pills. Fifty for Father, Mother, Sister, and Xiaohong each. One every seven days, which can last for about a year. These Yuanzeng Pills can purify and strengthen your body, enhancing your power. Even if you don't practice for a year, once you finish these fifty pills, your cultivation will improve significantly... For example, Sister is currently at the Fifth Heaven of the Qi Martial Realm. After taking these pills, conservatively, she should reach the Seventh Heaven of the Qi Martial Realm. If she practices diligently during this year, reaching the Eighth or Ninth Heaven of the Qi Martial Realm is not out of the question..."

"Master, do I... do I have any too..." Xiaohong, standing to one side, blushed and spoke softly.

Shen Lang smiled and said, "Why wouldn't you? I've always treated you like my sister, and Father and Mother have treated you like their daughter. If Sister has them, you certainly do too."

"Thud!"

A dull sound, and the towering Yin Kuang ungracefully sat on the ground.

However, everyone was still in a daze, and the unfortunate Yin Kuang was ignored by these unrighteous people.

Even Shen Haoxuan, with his firm will and knowledge of Shen Lang's abilities, was completely stunned and could not speak.

Because in this world, where spiritual energy is increasingly scarce, elixirs are rarer than spiritual artifacts.

The Shen family, a small clan, is not to be mentioned, but Yin Kuang and others come from powerful families in the capital, and they have never seen such elixirs being refined and consumed like food!

One every seven days!

A Mystic-level Yuanzeng Pill!

How valuable is one Yuanzeng Pill? It's something that would cause families like Yin Kuang's and Shui Buyu's to fight to the death over!

And to get one or two in a year would be considered lucky!

Here, Shen Lang was letting Shen Moran and the others take one every seven days!

And from the looks of it, they could eat as many as they wanted, and more could be refined when they ran out!

The most infuriating thing was that even Xiaohong had some!

Xiaohong is a maid in the Shen family...

"Xiaodie, this is all Lang's heartfelt gesture. Don't just stand there; put them away first."

Shen Haoxuan was the most composed, quickly hiding the fiery look in his eyes.

"Then... what about us?"

Two figures flashed, and Zeng Zuimo and Lin Yue each hugged one of Shen Lang's arms.

"Here we go again..."

In front of his parents, Shen Lang was hugged by two young women, and they were so bold and open that they let his arm touch their softness, leaving him speechless.

"There are six Dinging Pills in total. Three are for you two and Sister Su Jin. Take them yourselves. As for the others, don't think I'm being stingy; pay for them. You know, refining elixirs is easy for me, but finding the materials is hard. Which one doesn't cost money? Your families are not short of money. If you weren't friends with my sister, I wouldn't even bother refining them for you!"

"We knew you were the best, Little Lang!"

Zeng Zuimo and Lin Yue cheered in unison and immediately let go of Shen Lang's arms.

But the jade boxes were in front of Luo Dieqi, so they didn't dare to be too presumptuous.

Luo Dieqi smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Don't listen to what Lang says. I know his character very well. If refining elixirs is not a big deal for him, your shares will naturally be there. Moran is a quiet person and doesn't bring just anyone home. Since you are her good friends, how could Lang ask for too much?"

The pavilion erupted in cheers.

Yin Kuang got up from the ground and roared like a bear.

At this moment, Shen Lang pursed his lips and shook his head, then looked at Shen Moran and said, "By the way, Sister, don't participate in the family martial arts competition today. Leave it to me."

"Okay."

Shen Moran smiled and nodded slightly, obediently following her brother's words and trusting him completely.

Shen Haoxuan was a bit hesitant and said, "Lang, do you mean you're going to participate in the family martial arts competition? This..."

"Father, I haven't participated in the family martial arts competition for many years. Although my stage is not here, since I am part of the Shen family, it's best to resolve some troubles early." Shen Lang said calmly, "I don't care about the title of a waste, but I want people to know that your son is not a waste! No one will be able to boss us around in the future! Not the Shen family, not any force in Tianfeng City!"

"Madam, why are you crying..."

Xiaohong exclaimed, and everyone saw that Shen Lang's mother was wiping away tears.

"Mother..."

Shen Moran's voice was a bit choked as she wiped away the tears on Luo Dieqi's face.

"Mother is not crying; she is happy..."

Luo Dieqi, though crying, had a smile in her eyes.

For so many years, the family had been struggling under immense pressure, especially after Haoxuan fell seriously ill...

Now, Lang has finally become successful.

Not only did he cure Haoxuan's illness, but he also has such a heaven-defying talent in alchemy...

And from his words, it seems he has made significant progress in martial arts as well. Otherwise, with his steady character, he wouldn't have said such bold things.

...

"Auntie, you should be happy. With Little Lang, everything will change!"

Shui Buyu, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward and said.

Shui Buyu paused and continued, "Actually... I don't know how to say this, but I hope Auntie doesn't blame us for acting on our own... The other night, we sent messages to our respective families... We have already agreed that each of our five families will send a skilled expert here. These people will stay here to protect Uncle and Auntie! I know, our actions might seem a bit opportunistic, but in truth, we also have some feelings involved, because Moran is our good friend..."

"We can't let our friend's family be bullied!" Lin Yue waved her fist.

"That's right. Because of our relationship with Sister Moran, we absolutely won't allow anyone to disrespect you! We didn't know before, and Sister Moran never mentioned it... If it weren't for Chu Qingcheng asking us to come by, we probably wouldn't have met Little Lang until now!"

Yin Kuang roared, making the tiles on the pavilion rattle.

The atmosphere in the pavilion suddenly became a bit strange, a mix of anger, warmth, and gratitude...

"Thank you, all of you. However, the matter of sending people to protect us still needs to be discussed. We are not in any danger, actually..." Shen Haoxuan's eyes also showed a hint of gratitude.

He was genuinely happy that his children had such friends.

"Father, this is also a gesture from Brother Kuang and the others. Don't take it too seriously; just treat it as if it never happened," Shen Lang comforted.

Then he stood up and said, "Mother, distribute the elixirs first, and put the rest away... The competition has probably been going on for some time. Since there's nothing else to do, I'll go check it out."

"We'll go too, I want to see the commotion! I want to see what these selfish and inhumane people in the family look like!" Yin Kuang shouted.

Su Jin's face darkened, "Buyu and Zuimo can go with Little Lang, but you can't. You're more trouble than help, and you can turn a peaceful situation into chaos. You can't go!"

"I..." Yin Kuang's face stretched long like a donkey's, then he quickly said in a flattering tone, "I won't do anything, I won't say anything, I'll just be Little Lang's follower. I'll do whatever he says, and if he doesn't speak, I'll be silent. Is that okay?"

Shen Moran smiled and shook her head, "Let him go. If you don't let him, he'll be more miserable than if you killed him."

"Yay!"

Yin Kuang, Shui Buyu, and Zeng Zuimo immediately followed Shen Lang, striding confidently toward the Shen family's martial arts arena.

The rain was getting heavier...

The Shen family's buildings were somewhat grand, with long, covered corridors. Even in a heavy rain, one could walk from Shen Lang's home to the martial arts arena without an umbrella.

However, before reaching the arena, Shen Lang stopped and frowned.

In the distance, a somewhat familiar figure stood in a pavilion, hands behind his back.

The figure was proud, lonely, weathered... and deserved a beating.

As Shen Lang and the others approached, he spoke in a melodious, drawn-out tone:

Outside the pavilion, a heavy rain is falling,

The wind is not strong.

Someone is singing,

A song called 'Weathered'...

Shen Lang's eyes widened, and he was speechless.

Unexpectedly, the guy continued:

The night sky is dark,

A river of stars divides it into two,

This side is heaven,

The other side is also heaven.

Shen Lang couldn't hold back any longer, "Heaven, my sister, heaven! The Shen family's year-end martial arts competition, you don't participate, but you come here to recite some unrhymed, unmetrical, nonsensical poetry... Don't you feel a bit bored and restless?"

"Ha ha ha..."

Yin Kuang couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

Shui Buyu and Zeng Zuimo couldn't help but laugh, shaking their heads.

"Shen Lang!" Shen Jianfeng turned around, his face full of anger, "Mind your own business!"

At this moment, Shen Jianfeng no longer had his usual confident and spirited appearance. Instead, he looked like a fallen scholar, with a scruffy, unkempt, and haggard face.

Shen Lang shook his head, "I don't care... But it's just a competition. Losing once shouldn't bring you to this state. Where is your determination to cultivate martial arts? Where is your patience and resolve to hide your dual martial souls? If you keep this mindset, you won't even be able to leave Tianfeng City, let alone the Purple Chu Kingdom, the Western Wasteland, or the Starry Continent!"

"Fine, reciting poetry here is also a way to live. Keep doing it."

Shen Lang said this, but his steps didn't stop. Soon, he reached the end of the corridor and turned the corner, disappearing from Shen Jianfeng's sight.

"Damn, couldn't you be a bit more tactful... But what you said is right..."

Shen Jianfeng held the wine jar and stared into the distance, silent for a long time.

...

The Shen family's martial arts arena was now packed with people, over a thousand gathered, bustling and lively, even the heavy rain couldn't dampen their enthusiasm.

The entrance to the arena was blocked by wooden barriers, and a large canopy overhead kept the rain away. Many people were gathered here, and more were constantly entering, indicating that the event had not yet started.

"Hey, look, it's that waste, Shen Lang! That waste is also coming to the martial arts arena!" Someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone turned to look and indeed saw Shen Lang and the three others slowly approaching.