Watching the Mountain

The young Golden Core Cultivator from the Profound Celestial Sect was named Luo Qianfan. He was dressed in a lavish purple robe, a Moyu Waistband cinched at his waist. With his long hair half-tied, his entire presence exuded an air of nobility that marked him as someone extraordinary.

He currently stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching Shen Wuchen a short distance away with an indifferent expression, as if awaiting his response.

At that moment, the spectators on the scene all turned their gazes to Shen Wuchen.

The disciples of the Profound Pure Sect were all seething with indignation, suppressed fury burning in their eyes.

As for the other onlookers, they wore mocking expressions, their eyes fixed squarely on Shen Wuchen.

No one knew how Wuchen True Monarch would react. For a Nascent Soul True Monarch to be "praised" with such condescension by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator...

If he failed to react, the name Wuchen True Monarch would be nailed to history’s pillar of shame, forever a laughingstock on the lips of others.

Facing the crowd’s stares, Shen Wuchen let out a cold snort. He expressionlessly held out a hand toward Luo Qianfan and said stiffly,

"The Spirit Stones. Hand them over. Don’t think a few nice words will get you out of paying. Not a chance."

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere on the scene froze. Many people stared, utterly dumbfounded.

They had expected Wuchen True Monarch to fly into a rage in the face of such humiliation and provocation. His reaction, however, was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Luo Qianfan of the Profound Celestial Sect also stared at Shen Wuchen in astonishment. The response felt like landing a punch on a bale of cotton.

Seeing Luo Qianfan remain unresponsive, Shen Wuchen’s gaze hardened. "You didn’t bring them?" he asked coldly.

"Then don’t blame me for sending word to your Sect and having your elders deliver them."

"I brought them." Luo Qianfan snapped back to his senses and spoke quickly, tossing a Storage Ring to Shen Wuchen.

After Shen Wuchen caught it, Luo Qianfan said nonchalantly, "There are two million Spirit Stones inside. I’ll have to trouble Wuchen True Monarch to inspect them."

Hearing this number, Shen Wuchen’s gaze sharpened. He quickly sent a wisp of his Divine Sense to investigate. When he saw the mountain-like pile of Spirit Stones inside the Storage Ring, his eyes flashed. He abruptly raised his head, staring intently at Luo Qianfan, and asked in all seriousness,

"You... When’s our next fight?"

As the words fell, Luo Qianfan’s expression froze. He stared blankly at Shen Wuchen, his mind in turmoil. ’I don’t understand... Does this man have no sense of shame whatsoever?’

’I mock and taunt him, and not only is he unfazed, but now he’s actually inviting me to fight again. He’s clearly after my Spirit Stones.’

’Is he willing to cast aside the pride of a Nascent Soul True Monarch for a few paltry Spirit Stones?’

The spectators were also stunned by Shen Wuchen’s actions, and they stared at him with bizarre expressions.

This Wuchen True Monarch was truly full of surprises.

After a moment, however, an old man in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, "Brilliant!" He then stared at Shen Wuchen with a look of pure admiration.

Seeing this, the others quickly turned to ask, "What’s so brilliant about it?"

The old man explained, "Think about it. After Master Luo defeated Wuchen True Monarch and spoke to him with such an attitude, any response from Wuchen True Monarch would have seemed weak. The only way to wash away the humiliation would have been to defeat his opponent in a direct confrontation."

"But now, with his demand for Spirit Stones, Wuchen True Monarch has completely changed the nature of this battle. A competitive spar has been reframed as a paid guidance session. The final outcome no longer matters."

"After all, who would believe that Wuchen True Monarch would use his full strength in a ’guidance’ match fought for the sole purpose of earning Spirit Stones?"

"What was once a clear-cut battle of victory and defeat has now become an ambiguous exchange, forever leaving a sliver of doubt about the true outcome."

As the old man finished speaking, realization dawned on the spectators, and they too looked at Shen Wuchen with admiration.

’As expected of Wuchen True Monarch. Even in a situation like this, he can casually erase any stain on his reputation.’

Luo Qianfan had also heard the old man’s words. He looked at Shen Wuchen in astonishment and said in a heavy voice, "So that was your goal?"

Shen Wuchen showed no reaction, standing there with a proud, aloof expression and a cold aura.

Seeing this, Luo Qianfan shook his head with a small smile. "So this is the caliber of someone from a Lower Sect," he said dismissively. "I’ve learned something today."

To his disappointment, however, Shen Wuchen remained completely unmoved, as if he hadn’t heard a word.

But just because Shen Wuchen didn’t react didn’t mean others wouldn’t.

"I can’t just pretend I didn’t hear that. Why don’t we have a round?"

The casual words drifted over as the ranks of the Profound Pure Sect’s disciples parted.

A powerfully built young man in black, close-fitting attire slowly walked forward. He carried himself with a steady, restrained aura.

"It’s the Evergreen Sword Saint!"

Someone in the crowd gasped as they got a clear look at the newcomer.

Luo Qianfan’s gaze sharpened. He sized up Zhang Zhentian for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Evergreen Sword Saint. I’ve heard of you. But aren’t the rumors that you’re in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough? Why are you here? And judging by your aura, it seems you haven’t succeeded yet."

Zhang Zhentian smiled faintly. "I was about to break through, but then I heard someone was insulting a member of my sect, so I postponed it."

He finished by beckoning to Luo Qianfan.

"I specifically postponed my breakthrough just to convince a proud talent like you from an Upper Sect. You wouldn’t be too scared to accept my challenge, would you?"