CHAPTER 398: CHAPTERS 167-168 RETURN (TWO-IN-ONE CHAPTERS, ASKING FOR MONTHLY TICKETS)_4

「In the days that followed.」

Shen Changqing remained inactive, quietly cultivating the Divine Sun Collapsing Heavenly Finger technique he had merged.

Although Martial Arts would merge again later, his long-standing experience told him that the higher the level of Martial Arts before merging, the greater the benefits afterward. Indeed, if it weren’t for the Chiyang Divine Palm reaching the fourth layer, the merged Divine Sun Collapsing Heavenly Finger couldn’t possibly have directly reached the second level.

KNOCK, KNOCK!

The sound of knocking at the courtyard door resounded.

Tiankui went forward on its own, slid the bolt with its paws, and directly opened the door.

Outside the door stood Xing Yi.

"Steward Xing, why have you come again today?" Shen Changqing paused his Martial Arts cultivation, sat down on a stone bench, and remarked, as if to himself.

Xing Yi, familiar with the place, nodded at Tiankui before striding in.

"Defender Xun has returned, so he sent me to inform Elder Shen."

"He has?" Shen Changqing’s spirits lifted. He had been anxiously awaiting Xun Qu’s return.

"Where is Defender Xun now?"

"Lord Defender is in the hall. If Elder Shen is available, you may go over there," said Xing Yi.

Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing didn’t waste any time, immediately getting up and heading for the hall.

Inside the hall, Xun Qu was seated. In the center of the hall lay three objects resembling coffins. They were engraved with strange patterns and bound with huge chains. The coffins occasionally shook, as if something inside was forcefully pounding against them.

At that moment, Shen Changqing walked in from outside.

His gaze was instantly drawn to the coffins. After glancing at them, he then turned his attention to Xun Qu, who was sitting there.

"Defender Xun has returned!"

"Elder Shen, sorry to keep you waiting. As requested, I have transported three Demon Evils from the Capital City. Inside each of these, a Demon Evil is sealed," Xun Qu said with a faint smile, pointing at the coffins in front of him.

Shen Changqing nodded slightly. He had sensed a faint Yin Evil Aura from the coffins as soon as he saw them.

While he was examining the coffins, Xun Qu remarked, a hint of emotion in his voice, "I never thought that such major events would take place in Mountain-Breaking City during my short absence. I regret not being able to witness with my own eyes Elder Shen’s great feat of severely wounding the Eternal Alliance Master and executing the invading Demon Evils. It’s truly a pity."

Only a small part of his words conveyed emotion; the vast majority was shock. Yes, utter shock.

Xun Qu had never imagined Shen Changqing’s strength would be this great. The strength Shen Changqing had displayed in Luyang City, and later in the Heavenly Realm, was already formidable. Yet, it was vastly different from the reports Xun Qu had since received.

Xun Qu found it incredibly hard to believe that Shen Changqing’s strength could have soared to such an extent in just a month or two. He was well aware of how difficult it was for a powerhouse of this Realm to enhance their strength. Dismissing that possibility, only one other remained: Shen Changqing had always been concealing his true strength.

However, Xun Qu believed he understood Shen Changqing well enough; the man didn’t seem like someone who would deliberately hide his true abilities. If it wasn’t deliberate concealment, then there was no other explanation. Of course, the possibility couldn’t be dismissed that Shen Changqing’s fortuitous encounters were genuinely profound—so profound as to enable a complete transformation of his power within a mere month or two.

It was impossible for him to claim he had no thoughts on the matter. But Xun Qu also understood that even if Shen Changqing truly possessed profound fortuitous encounters, he was now beyond the reach of anyone’s covetous desires.

Executing a mid-rank Demon Evil, severely wounding the Eternal Alliance Master... With such strength, even ordinary King Rank Defender Envoys could not compare. Such a powerful individual, even within the Demon-Subduing Division, would qualify as top-tier. In the Jianghu, aside from that Mahavairocana, he couldn’t think of anyone else who could contend with Shen Changqing.

Therefore, even if Shen Changqing possessed great opportunities, no one had the power to act on any covetous desires.