Chapter 109: Encounter with the Shen Family Patrol

The long sword in Shen Duo’s hand flashed, and Hu Ren’s left leg was severed below the knee. Taking bandages and medicine from the storage ring, she quickly treated his wound.

Just as her hands stopped moving, a proud male voice rang out beside her.

“So it seems someone has beaten us to it. Looks like they’ve taken quite a beating. Well, that’s good—it’ll show these lawless, unruly wanderers the strength of the Nascent Valley, and maybe they’ll think twice before causing trouble.”

“Exactly. Do you think you have any right to covet the Dragon Scale Grass? If you know what’s good for you, get lost!” another female voice added.

Shen Duo frowned slightly and looked up toward the source of the voices.

A group wearing deep blue, finely crafted illusionist robes with various gleaming badges pinned to their chests stood before her. Leading them was a middle-aged sky illusionist—none other than the Shen family’s expedition team out for training!

The middle-aged man met Shen Duo’s gaze in midair. He was momentarily taken aback, then nodded slightly in her direction.

“Uncle Taixing, this guy can’t even absorb spiritual illusion energy—a complete waste. Why bother being polite to them?” a young man behind him complained.

To this young generation of Shen family trainees, the four people not far off were no real threat. Shen Duo wasn’t even an illusionist; Feng Jun was a poor-quality eight- or nine-star illusionist; the strongest of the four, Chen Boguang and Hu Ren, were only high-level grand illusionists—and Hu Ren was grievously injured. This small team was laughably weak, entering the Nascent Valley only to be easy prey. There was no need to show them any respect.

These insignificant figures in the cultivation world could be crushed with a casual move. The leader’s caution was not prudence but outright cowardice—they were a Shen family expedition team, after all!

Shen Taixing cast a cold glance at the young man behind him and said sternly, “Young man from the Little Six family, don’t be rude!”

“Uncle Taixing!” the young man protested, confused and irritated by Shen Taixing’s politeness.

Shen Duo had no desire to get involved with these arrogant Shen family trainees. She glanced at them once and then ignored them completely. Feng Jun, ever the icy mountain, didn’t even bother to scrutinize them.

Only Chen Boguang looked somewhat uneasy and gave Shen Taixing a friendly smile.

Stepping forward, Shen Taixing wore a gentle expression as he asked, “May I ask the name of this young friend?”

Though Shen Duo had no intention of engaging with this haughty Shen family training squad, since Shen Taixing asked politely, she did not withhold her answer.

The girl before them had a cold expression, but her eyes shone brightly like stars. She parted her lips slightly and replied coolly, “Shen Duo.”

Shen Taixing raised his brow. “I didn’t expect you to share the same surname. What a coincidence. I’m Shen Taixing. You can call me Uncle Taixing. I’m the leader of this Shen family training squad. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The young Shen family disciples behind him snorted disdainfully.

Shen Duo could hear one of the girls whispering mockingly, “Hmph! Also surnamed Shen? This waste must be doing it on purpose, thinking sharing a surname means we’re connected? Not a single shred of the Dragon Scale Grass will go to them! Ridiculous! I really don’t understand what Uncle Taixing is thinking, associating with these losers.”

The Shen family, one of the Four Great Clans, was like an empire, counting its direct descendants by the hundreds. Shen Duo had only lived in the main city’s lowest levels for a few years, so there was no risk of anyone recognizing her.

Shen Duo nodded slightly to Shen Taixing.

The middle-aged man smiled. “Shen Duo, I imagine you’ve also discovered this Dragon Scale Grass. Such a rare treasure is accompanied by magical beasts. There are more than just those lantern grass monsters nearby. How about we cooperate?”

As soon as Shen Taixing spoke, his team immediately erupted in disapproval, shooting him disapproving looks—yet dared not speak out due to his authority.

Shen Duo glanced at Shen Taixing and asked, “If our teams merge, how will the spoils be divided?”

“Still asking for a share of the spoils? Look in the mirror and see your own strength. Uncle Taixing bringing you here to gain experience is already generous. Now you want the treasure? You’ve got more nerve than a city wall,” a young man from the Shen family sneered.

Feng Jun frowned and glanced at the speaker.

“Seems the members of Lord Taixing’s team are not keen on us,” Shen Duo said quietly, rising. Despite her slender frame, her upright posture somehow radiated an imposing aura.

Shen Taixing smiled kindly. “They’re just kids—sometimes a bit blunt. Here’s the deal: after we get the Dragon Scale Grass, we divide it into three portions. Each person will draw lots once, and whoever draws the lot gets the share.”

This method seemed fair but was anything but.

Hu Ren had lost his combat ability. Shen Duo’s team had only three members, while Shen Taixing’s Shen family team numbered fifteen. That meant Shen Duo’s team only had a one in six chance of obtaining the Dragon Scale Grass—hardly a favorable deal. She was not willing to be a fool fighting hard and gaining nothing.

“Sorry, I don’t agree with this distribution plan.”

Shen Taixing asked patiently, “Then how would you like to divide it?”

“Two teams, each half.” Had it not been for Shen Taixing’s decent strength, Shen Duo wouldn’t have bothered to ally with these arrogant people.

Upon hearing this, the Shen family trainees behind Shen Taixing almost pointed their fingers at her in outrage.

This waste is too arrogant! Only three of them want half the Dragon Scale Grass—how dare she say it aloud!

Even Shen Taixing frowned. “Young friend, don’t you think your demand is a bit excessive?”

“I can only accept that arrangement. Otherwise, we’ll go our separate ways and fight for the treasure by our own means,” Shen Duo said calmly, her tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation.

Shen Taixing clenched his fists silently. If not for his good upbringing and gentle nature, he would have already thrown a spiritual illusion energy orb at her.

“Uncle Taixing, why bother talking to her? Let me teach this ungrateful brat a lesson!” a young man from the Shen family training squad angrily rushed forward.

Shen Taixing stopped him with a hand. “Since this young friend does not wish to cooperate, I won’t force it. But when we deal with the lantern grass monsters later, you’d better stay clear. Those spiritual illusion energy orbs don’t discriminate.”

As a senior member of the Shen family, Shen Taixing only expended this effort because he saw that Shen Duo possessed the strength of a Sword King. If she had not, he wouldn’t have wasted breath. If gentle persuasion failed, he wouldn’t blame his subordinates for being ruthless.

“Thank you for your warning, Lord Taixing. I will protect my teammates well,” Shen Duo responded without flinching.

“Such false pretentiousness really gets on my nerves!” Lou Jingbai rolled his eyes at Shen Taixing and sent a mental message to Shen Duo.