I Pick up a Lost Godhood-Chapter 76 - 74: Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting

To allow Wang Meng to focus on his cultivation—and, of course, to prevent others from prying into his secrets—the word had been put out that he was in seclusion.

He sighed heavily. "Sigh, it’s that woman, Luu Yun. She’s been after my chief position for ages. I have to admit, she has some skill, and with that talented disciple of hers, she’s constantly one-upping me. Life in the Main Hall has been so miserable that I had to come out for some air."

"Don’t count on me."

"You’re a heartless little brat! I said we’re friends. But what if—and I’m just saying, what if—that woman Luu Yun comes looking for trouble? As men, can we just chicken out?"

"I suppose not," Wang Meng nodded.

"Exactly! I’ll handle Luu Yun, naturally. But as for her disciple, I can’t very well bully a junior, can I? When the time comes, you can just... give her a few pointers. Keep them from getting so arrogant all the time."

Zhou Feng said.

"I’ve only been learning for a few days. If I go, I’ll be the one getting schooled. But if something really happens and I can help, I’ll definitely be there. If I end up embarrassing myself, that’s on you."

"What does it mean to be a man? Winning or losing is another matter, but we can’t run from a challenge, right?"

Wang Meng smiled. Old Zhou was becoming more and more interesting. At first, he had only wanted Alchemy for his own sake, but now his own interest in the craft was growing. Of course, Wang Meng wasn’t a Pill Zealot focused solely on Alchemy. His concentration was on how Alchemy could help him break through his Five Elements bottleneck. There was another important reason: he had discovered the possibility that a Pill might be able to affect the Heaven and Earth Spirit Locking Array.

Once the Heaven and Earth Spirit Locking Array settled inside the body, it became a part of it, like a blocked section of one’s Life Mark. If the Pill was suitable, it could clear the blockage.

For now, he had no use for his Godhood, but he had to remove the seal before entering the Middle Thousand World. Otherwise, heaven only knew what might go wrong during his ascension. Possessing a Heaven-Defying Godhood meant that every Celestial Tribulation he faced was a brush with death. If his Godhood remained sealed, it would mean certain death.

"You need to have some confidence in yourself. Even though your Pill Flame is only level two, what’s important is your insight and understanding. That girl’s is only a Level 4 flame, after all."

Zhou Feng was really going to great lengths. On one hand, he wanted to give Wang Meng confidence, but on the other, he couldn’t say too much. After all, his rival’s disciple had spent five years to reach a Level 4 Pill Flame, while Wang Meng...

’Damn it, for the past few days, I’ve been waking up laughing in my sleep. But I have to hold it in. This kid seems to have a natural instinct to protect the "weak."’

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Who’s afraid of who? Come on, Old Zhou, let’s have a drink. I’ll teach you how to play chess in a bit."

This time, the pained expression on Zhou Feng’s face was the real deal. He gritted his teeth. "Down the hatch!"

However, Zhou Feng’s painful chess career was interrupted by the arrival of Hu Jing and the others.

Hu Jing, Zhang Xiaojiang, Ma Tian’Er, Zhou Qian, and Suo Ming. Having survived a great disaster, Suo Ming had become a man of few words, but he was far more resolute. His relentless efforts in cultivation were astonishing.

Zhou Feng didn’t want to disturb the young people’s gathering and vanished faster than anyone. These days, the mere mention of chess made him turn pale.

"It’s rare to see you all here together. Is there something going on?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Wang Meng smiled. The small thatched hut was instantly full. Usually, they came one by one.

"Brother Meng, the Holy Hall’s Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting is about to start. We were wondering if we should participate,"

Zhang Xiaojiang said excitedly.

"The so-called Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting is, to put it simply, a trade fair for the disciples of the Nine Halls. But since every hall participates, there’s always a certain amount of showing off and comparison involved," Hu Jing explained.

"They say Thunderlight Hall’s Sword Tomb saves ten years of effort, Lingyin Hall’s Talismans are an extra zhang longer, Immortal Origin Hall has potent Spirit Pills, Fire Cloud Hall has the real Magical Artifacts, Beast Hall has Spirit Beasts running everywhere, Flying Phoenix Hall’s beauties can topple nations, Hundred Herbs Hall’s Elemental Qi flows like a spring, Hengshan Hall’s disciples are a bunch of hooligans, and Dao Guang Hall’s standards are the highest of all. Back in the day, our Thunderlight Hall really had its moment of glory, but now the Sword Tomb is gone. I guess this time, it’s the thought that counts."

"Brother Zhou, we can’t give up before we even start!" Ma Tian’Er said. "We have to show what we’ve got. It doesn’t matter if we’re not as good as the others."

Zhou Qian gave a bitter smile. Miss Ma’s optimism was backed by substance; it wasn’t something others could imitate.

Although no one knew Ma Tian’Er’s exact status in the Ma Family, she was definitely connected to them. Since Ma Tian’Er didn’t talk about it, it wasn’t right for anyone to pry into her private affairs.

"Brother Meng, for years the Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting has basically been dominated by Immortal Origin Hall, Fire Cloud Hall, Hundred Herbs Hall, and Beast Hall. Aren’t you learning Alchemy from Elder Zhou? Why don’t you refine a few batches so we can go show off a little?"

Zhang Xiaojiang said.

WHACK! The Little Fatty immediately received a knock on the head.

"You brat, you think I’m a Hundred Treasures Pouch? I’ve only been learning for a few days, and Old Zhou criticizes me all day long,"

Wang Meng said.

"Immortal Origin Hall has the best Pills, then there are Fire Cloud Hall’s Magical Artifacts, Beast Hall’s Spirit Beasts, Hundred Herbs Hall’s rare treasures, and Lingyin Hall’s Talismans. Dao Guang Hall is sure to dabble in a bit of everything, while Flying Phoenix Hall has always been the most popular. The point of the Hundred Treasures Hall Meeting isn’t about trading anymore; it’s about showcasing each hall’s strength. Our Thunderlight Hall has started to make a comeback thanks to the battle with Hengshan Hall. It’s crucial for us to make a good showing at this meeting."

Speaking of Hu Jing, she was now considered the lead disciple of Thunderlight Hall. Only after reaching this position did she realize how difficult it was. In retrospect, Zhao Guang had been pretty capable himself.

"Wang Meng, it’s simple. They want to participate, but I suggest we stay out of it. Better to hide our inadequacies than to make a fool of ourselves," Zhou Qian said.

Hu Jing clearly wasn’t exaggerating like Zhang Xiaojiang. Wang Meng didn’t like to get involved in these things, but he had to step up when it mattered. He did have the Wumu Essence, but that thing was a bit thorny to handle. Besides, one item alone wouldn’t be enough to make a difference.

"So what’s your plan now?" Wang Meng asked with a smile. It was obvious this group had come to him with a plan already in mind.

Hu Jing nodded. "I think we need to strike while the iron is hot and not back down. If we’re going to participate, Tian’Er’s Little Cutie can be the main attraction at the Thunderlight Hall booth. Suo Ming has a talent for forging, and I think he should give it a try. I can provide some Pills, and Brother Zhou can provide some Talismans. We might not be as good as the others, but we’re not afraid of losing face. We can’t lose in terms of spirit!"

The more you cower, the more cowardly you become. Sometimes, it’s not the opponent people fear, but themselves.

This wasn’t reckless self-destruction; this was a do-or-die commitment.

Wang Meng admired Hu Jing’s decisiveness and magnanimity. "Little Jing, I support you, no question. No matter how my Pills turn out, I’ll contribute some. How could Thunderlight Hall miss out on a party like this!"

"Hehe, Brother Meng, if you could get Elder Zhou to secretly refine a batch for us, we..."

WHACK...

Before he could finish, Zhang Xiaojiang was smacked by Hu Jing.

"Enough with these devious tricks! Do you think everyone else is blind?!"

Zhang Xiaojiang pouted pitifully. "I just wanted to bend the rules a little."

Wang Meng knew this kid was up to no good; so his plan had been to use Zhou Feng. Knowing Zhou Feng’s personality as well as he did, Wang Meng was sure that mentioning this would just be asking for a scolding. He himself had been getting into the swing of Alchemy lately, so there was no harm in testing his skills. He wasn’t afraid of embarrassing himself, anyway. ’Besides,’ he thought, ’it can’t be *that* bad, right?’