Chapter 624 - 605: The Creditor Has Come Again

Wang Meng had been busy all night, trying to perfect the seal. He realized the Spirit Containing Artifact had shattered last time not just because the container was flawed, but also because of an issue with his sealing method. The technique for a Third-Transformation beast was different from the ordinary kind. To ensure a stable seal, it seemed he would have to make a trip to the Spirit Control Association after all.

He hadn’t even left the house when Fatty Bai arrived early in the morning, both frantic and full of excitement.

"The Five Elements Divine Beast Festival?"

Wang Meng searched through Wang Rencai’s memories but came up completely blank.

Fatty Bai nodded, explained the whole story behind the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival, and then said, "I’ve thought it over. This is the Bai Family’s chance to get back on its feet. We have a spot to participate this time, but..."

One of the events in the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival was to display the power of a True Essence Beast, demonstrating a family’s strength through its control over the beast. To put it bluntly, it was a chance to show off. The Bai Family currently didn’t have the resources to compete with anyone. Their only hope was Wang Meng.

"What’s the usual standard?"

"In previous years, it’s always been Third-Transformation beasts. But since this is the first *Five Elements* Festival, the standards are a level higher. In addition to the display, there will also be beast fights."

Wang Meng nodded. "That does sound interesting. I’m in."

"Boss, I’m planning to auction off that Taiyuan Demon Spirit, then hire a strong team to explore the Taibai Mountain Range again!"

Fatty Bai clenched his fists, ready to go all in.

Wang Meng smiled. "That won’t be necessary. Use that money to restore your shops, recruit staff, and get the Bai Family’s channels and networks back to normal. Leave the rest to me."

Wang Meng went to the Spirit Control Association. Along the way, he gathered more information about the specifics of the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival. Although Fatty Bai’s explanation was detailed, there were some nuances he had to investigate himself to come up with a targeted plan.

Fatty Bai wouldn’t accept his charity, so Wang Meng could only invest in the Bai Family. For Wang Meng, this wasn’t an entirely trivial matter. He had been in the Middle Thousand Realm for some time now and had discovered he couldn’t ignore its rules. In a world so deeply concerned with worldly affairs, even Master Wang couldn’t survive without the support of secular power. Otherwise, the path forward would be difficult indeed.

By propping up the Bai Family, he wouldn’t have to personally handle every trivial little thing.

The Five Elements Divine Beast Festival had clearly become the biggest festival in Wang City. Without a doubt, this first upgraded Divine Beast Festival was an opportunity for everyone, be it the Bai Family or the Kun Family.

As long as they displayed sufficient strength, the Bai Family could secure its footing. In truth, Fatty Bai’s standards were very low. He just wanted to avoid embarrassment and stabilize their current situation so they could start over.

"Brother Wang, it really is you!"

Su Xueyou had sharp eyes and spotted Wang Meng at a glance. Dropping what he was doing, he rushed over with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Haha, Brother Su, I heard you completed your certification as a Third Grade Spirit-Controlling Master. Congratulations."

Su Xueyou looked a little embarrassed. "It’s nothing much... Brother Wang, are you really a Spirit-Controlling Master?"

Su Xueyou glanced around and asked cautiously. After last time, his uncle seemed to suspect that Wang Meng was a Spirit-Controlling Master.

After news spread that Wang Meng had been completely abandoned by the Wang Family, most people in the Spirit Control Association no longer believed he was any kind of master. As for his performance at Miss Jiang’s birthday banquet... it could have been an act, or perhaps a case of a blind squirrel finding a nut. And Chairman Luo Shan... he was as elusive as a Divine Dragon, with the personality of a playful old man. Who knows if he simply took pity on Wang Meng that day and decided to help him out? That was a very real possibility.

A grown man, cowering in a corner at his own fiancée’s birthday banquet, watching her be surrounded by other men, powerless to do anything... In the eyes of outsiders, how pathetic was that...

However, Su Xueyou was an exception. He was a simple person. If his uncle said it, it must be true. It was just that the matter was so incredible he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

Wang Meng smiled. ’This Su Xueyou is getting more and more interesting.’ "Brother Su, it’s very simple. Have I been certified as a Master?"

"No?"

"There you have it. If I’m not certified, I’m not a Master. There’s nothing to be confused about."

Su Xueyou scratched his head. ’That seems logical, and very simple. But something doesn’t feel right, does it?’

"Brother Su, I’ve come to trouble you again. I want to learn about the appraisal and Sealing Technique for Third-Transformation True Essence Beasts."

"Uh... a Third-Transformation beast? I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you today, Brother Wang. In the entire Spirit Control Association, only my uncle can seal a Third-Transformation True Essence Beast, and I don’t know where he is right now. Although I’ve trained in it, I can’t control the technique yet."

As he said this, a few disciples from the Spirit Control Association happened to be passing by.

"Hey, isn’t that Wang Rencai!" one of them suddenly called out.

"Brother Su, whoever hangs out with him is asking for bad luck."

Su Xueyou was a bit embarrassed. "Don’t talk nonsense!"

"We’re not! Even the Wang Family is completely abandoning him. You can just imagine what kind of person he is!"

One disciple emphasized the word "completely," glancing at Wang Meng with his eyes darting about. Anyone with even a bit of information knew about the terms the underworld had put out.

Although Su Xueyou was already a Third Grade Spirit-Controlling Master and held an official position in the association, he had no imposing presence at all. In the Wang City Spirit Control Association, nearly everyone who got in had some background and talent, so naturally, they didn’t take the meek Su Xueyou seriously.

"Brother Su, you’re usually good to us, so I’m just giving you a friendly reminder: you’d be better off not associating with people like him."

"The guy is a good-for-nothing jinx. Brother Su, even if you don’t care about yourself, don’t bring his bad luck into our Spirit Control Association."

Su Xueyou shook his head. "Don’t believe the rumors. Brother Wang is a good person."

Wang Meng just smiled. He wouldn’t take the squawking of these buffoons to heart. When a dog barks at you, you don’t need to bark back. Of course, if they dared to do more than talk, Wang Meng wouldn’t mind teaching them a lesson. Fortunately, this group was just all talk.

In the end, out of respect for Su Xueyou, the group didn’t make a move. Su Xueyou then pulled Wang Meng into the Spirit-Controlling Hall.

「The Third-Transformation Spirit-Controlling Hall.」

This was the hall dedicated to sealing Third-Transformation True Essence Beasts. In the center was the Spirit-Sealing Platform, surrounded by various arrays with sealing properties, such as the Spirit Suppressing Array.

A Third-Transformation True Essence Beast already possessed great intelligence comparable to that of a human. Without first suppressing its Spiritual Sense, sealing it was nearly impossible. Of course, it wasn’t out of the question to seal one by force, but the success rate was extremely low—less than one in a hundred.

"Brother Su, what’s the difference between sealing a Third-Transformation beast and an ordinary True Essence Beast? I’d like to learn."

Su Xueyou was definitely the type who loved to teach. He immediately began explaining everything to Wang Meng in great detail, completely forgetting that Wang Meng wasn’t a member of the Spirit Control Association.

「Meanwhile, in the guest tower of the Spirit Control Association.」

Muhe Xiaoyu was with Zhan Yingluo, the most favored Spirit Control Genius of the Zhan Family. Like Muhe Xiaoyu, she had also recently advanced to become a Fifth Grade Spirit-Controlling Master three months ago. This time, she had come all the way from Haojing specifically for the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival.

Zhan Yingluo had delicate and lovely features, making her quite beautiful. What was even rarer was her snow-white skin, which was simply unrivaled. In Haojing, she was known by the moniker "Snow Fairy." The mere mention of her fair complexion was enough to make countless men fall at her feet.

The two genius Spirit-Controlling Masters were exchanging insights from their last three months of training.

As they were talking, someone announced from outside, "Miss, someone from the branch association is here. They say they have important news to report to you."

Zhan Yingluo blinked. "Oh? Just have them give you the message. You can reward them as you see fit."

Zhan Yingluo was friendly with Muhe Xiaoyu because they had trained together at the Spirit Control Association and their personalities clicked, making them good friends. However, Zhan Yingluo’s arrival this time had surprised Little Yu. Deep down, her friend was a typical Haojing native who looked down on other places.

Seeing the person hesitate to speak, Muhe Xiaoyu smiled. "Should I step out for a moment?"

"No need. I didn’t plan on hiding anything from you by coming here."

A moment later, the same maidservant came in to announce, "Miss... there’s news about Wang Rencai."

"Good!" A faint pink blush appeared on Zhan Yingluo’s snow-white skin as she bit her pearly teeth.

Muhe Xiaoyu was taken aback. She glanced at Zhan Yingluo and asked, "Yingluo, do you have a grudge against him?"

Zhan Yingluo’s body visibly stiffened before she denied it. "It’s not really a grudge, but that brat caused trouble for our Zhan Family before. Now it’s time to settle the old score... Speaking of which, Little Yu, you went back to Wang City three months ago, right? You should know how disgusting that brat is. We must eliminate evil completely!"

For a beauty as pure as snow like Zhan Yingluo to say the word "disgusting," one could only imagine what terrible things Wang Rencai must have done...

Muhe Xiaoyu blinked. ’It’s probably not that simple.’ Wang Rencai’s infamous reputation was always tied to beautiful women.

"Where is that bastard now?" Zhan Yingluo said coldly.

The maidservant kept her head down. She was clearly aware of the history between her mistress and Wang Rencai... Not daring to say more, she just reported concisely, "He’s right here at the branch association. They say he’s sealing a True Essence Beast."

Zhan Yingluo was visibly stunned for a moment. "Sealing a True Essence Beast?"

"Yes, that’s what those two people told me."

The pink on Zhan Yingluo’s face slowly faded...

’That worthless bastard Wang Rencai is sealing a True Essence Beast? What is he up to?’

’Training? Absolutely not!’

’It seems the rumors are true. To get back to Haojing, Wang Rencai is putting on an act in Wang City, borrowing influence to trick people... and that is absolutely unacceptable!’

’If Wang Rencai were to be accepted back into the Wang Family, the consequences would be unimaginable!’

"Little Yu, would you be willing to come with me?"

Muhe Xiaoyu nodded. "I’ll lead the way. But... I suggest you observe him first before you make a move."

To be honest, Muhe Xiaoyu had no reason to stop her, but she felt that the current Wang Meng might have already repented. If their conflict wasn’t too serious, she hoped to help resolve it.

Angry pink clouds reappeared on Zhan Yingluo’s little snow-white face. "Hmph, letting him die would be getting off too easy. It won’t be that simple!"

The two women moved quickly and soon arrived at the front hall of the Spirit Control Association.

But after searching all the Sealing Spirit Rooms, they couldn’t find Wang Meng...

"Strange... Could they have lied to me?" Zhan Yingluo’s delicate brows furrowed, and she clenched her small, pink fists. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)