Chapter 494

Chapter 494: Reward

"How many spirit stones and materials are required?"

Wang Chen was well aware that this little fellow wouldn’t lift a finger without some incentive; it was a classic case of "no profit, no action."

The Little Cauldron grinned, licking its lips, and said, "Master, you can give whatever you deem fit. Transforming this spirit tool into a staff won’t require much material, though adding some high-quality materials would certainly enhance it."

"No need for spirit stones; the Little Cauldron will assist Master free of charge."

Huh?

Wang Chen was taken aback—had the sun risen from the west today?

This gluttonous little creature was offering its services for free.

But Wang Chen knew better: free offerings often come with the highest price.

"Ensure it’s refined properly," he declared firmly. "If the transformation is successful, I shall reward you with one hundred Intermediate Spirits."

The Little Cauldron’s face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Master, for your generous reward!"

Wang Chen then opened his Qian Kun Ring, allowing the Little Cauldron to select the necessary materials from within.

During the last repair of the Qing Qian Kun Mirror, he had invested heavily in acquiring a batch of precious spiritual materials, using only a portion and saving the rest.

Now, these materials proved to be useful.

Since this was merely a transformation and not a forging or repair, after placing the nine-ringed golden silver staff along with the materials into the precious cauldron, the process was completed in just two hours.

A freshly forged metallic long staff landed in Wang Chen’s hands!

The staff was five feet seven inches in length, with a diameter of two fingers and a weight exceeding one thousand pounds, similar to the original nine-ringed golden silver staff.

However, compared to the nine-ringed golden silver staff, this bronze-colored long staff appeared rather plain and ordinary.

Only the ends were adorned with golden rings, engraved with numerous true seal characters, giving it an understated yet remarkable appearance!

Wang Chen held the staff, casually swinging it a few times.

With his current physical strength, wielding a weapon weighing a thousand pounds was no challenge, and the long staff was evidently more practical than the staff, making him reluctant to put it down.

After some thought, Wang Chen named it “Concealed Dragon Stick,” symbolizing the potential of a hidden dragon in the sky.

The weapon’s destructive power required the activation of Heavenly Dragon’s strength.

Wang Chen summoned the Cultivation Panel to check, but the Concealed Dragon Stick did not appear in the equipment section.

This indicated that its grade had not yet met the required standard.

It was similar to the Chini Sword.

However, the Chini Sword was Wang Chen’s primary weapon at the moment, while the Concealed Dragon Stick served as a secondary weapon or for altering his identity.

As for the techniques, Wang Chen had previously amassed a vast collection of martial arts manuals covering all eighteen kinds of weapons.

With his cultivation level, mastering them was entirely within his capability.

In the following days, Wang Chen secluded himself in the Seven Star Pavilion, engaging in closed-door cultivation without receiving any visitors, awaiting the sect’s response.

The aftermath of Wang Chen’s Fight to the Death with the Sand Tribe Sorcerer lingered for several days before gradually dissipating.

Meanwhile, the region beyond the city gates became unusually tranquil, with the Sand People avoiding the area within a hundred-mile radius. Whispers even spread that several Sand People tribes had already fled the region.

Wang Chen’s fame in Daying City soared to unprecedented heights.

On the seventh day, the rewards from the West Sea Sect finally arrived in Daying City.

Wang Chen had braced himself for a sect Inquiry, but the envoy merely recited the sect’s decree of rewards, handed him a storage talisman, and left without delay.

The envoy departed swiftly, showing no inclination to linger even for a moment.

Though the reward process seemed somewhat perfunctory, the West Sea Sect proved to be exceedingly generous. Wang Chen was granted not only three thousand contribution points but also five thousand pounds of spiritual rice and a hundred bottles of Purple Palace Level Elixirs.

The spiritual rice was of the second-grade, high-quality variety, specifically reserved for the daily consumption of mid to high-level Purple Palace practitioners. Each grain weighed a pound, sufficient to provide a full meal for an individual. It was not only delicious but also brimming with spiritual energy.

The spiritual rice bestowed by the West Sea Sect would sustain Wang Chen for several years!

Most importantly, his cultivation of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method had evidently been overlooked by the sect.

This was akin to having it officially documented, ensuring that no one would raise the issue again in the future.

Wang Chen suspected that his smooth passage was largely due to Kou Shihai’s influence.

Thus, he arranged a banquet in the Seven Star Pavilion to honor the Grand Commander.

"No need for formalities, Junior Brother," Kou Shihai said with a smile, wiping his mouth after the meal. "We shed blood and risk our lives defending the borders. If we still face baseless suspicion, what’s the point of remaining in the sect?"

Wang Chen nodded in agreement. "You speak wisely, Senior Brother."

"This matter is behind us now; you need not worry any longer," Kou Shihai assured him.

"What concerns me is the Western Buddhist Sect. If they discover that you’ve cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method to such a level, they won’t let it slide easily!"

Wang Chen had encountered a rare opportunity, achieving the Invulnerable Vajra body.

The issue wasn’t his cultivation speed or talent, but the fact that he had defied convention and achieved the extraordinary without joining the Buddhist sect or studying its teachings.

If Tianlong Temple remained indifferent, it would be nothing short of astonishing!

Given the nature of the Buddhist sect, they might very well seize Wang Chen for "research"!

"Junior Brother, from now on, avoid leaving Daying City unless absolutely necessary," Kou Shihai advised gravely. "Better to be safe."

The city defense formations of Daying City could temporarily withstand Nascent Soul true immortals and posed no threat to Golden Core true masters. Moreover, the city housed a large teleportation array directly connected to the sect, making it a secure haven.

However, venturing beyond the city walls would render the situation unpredictable.

It was well known that Daying City harbored spies from the Buddhist sect, who could relay information through various means.

By now, Wang Chen had undoubtedly caught the attention of the Buddhist sect!

"I understand," Wang Chen replied promptly. He was not one to disregard advice. "Rest assured, Senior Brother."

Kou Shihai laughed heartily and patted his shoulder. "Junior Brother, your future is boundless. Share some of that spiritual rice with me; I’d like to take some back for my wife and children to try."

The abrupt shift in topic left Wang Chen both amused and exasperated. "Surely you’re not short on such a small amount of spiritual rice, Senior Brother?"

"My appetite is vast; it’s truly insufficient," Kou Shihai replied with a rueful smile, rubbing his belly. "The sect’s allocations are limited, after all."

In truth, as the Grand Commander of the Sand Guard, Kou Shihai received enough spiritual rice to meet his daily needs.

However, his generous nature often led him to share his portion with loyal subordinates, leaving even his closest family seldom able to enjoy a meal of spiritual rice.

Wang Chen, not one to be stingy, promptly handed over two thousand pounds of spiritual rice to Kou Shihai.

Kou Shihai had been of great help to him and had even vouched for him; in comparison, gifting some spiritual rice was a trivial gesture.

Kou Shihai accepted the two thousand pounds without much ado, merely patting Wang Chen’s shoulder once more.

Everything was understood without the need for further words.

In the days that followed, Wang Chen became even more reclusive, rarely venturing to the top of the Seven Star Pavilion to "hunt," and instead dedicating himself to prolonged closed-door cultivation.

Amidst the monotony and rigor of his training, his experience points for the Preheaven Five Element Technique steadily accumulated, inching closer to the threshold of the third level of the Purple Palace!