Without a doubt, as the rumors spread, the area around the Wu Family Collection would become the eye of the storm! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Of course, not everyone would believe the rumors. Many would be suspicious, thinking someone was just trying to use them as a weapon to get revenge on the Wu Family and would scoff at the idea.

But that’s the thing about some matters.

You don’t need everyone to believe it. As long as some people do, that’s enough!

The potential profits from the Cyan Essence Water Grass were great enough to stir the hearts of adventurous Cultivators!

It was like in the ancient times of his previous life.

A rumor would spread that a mountain range hid a gold mine.

Even if most people who heard it would stay home and continue to peacefully tend their fields.

There would still be plenty of bold individuals, hoping to strike it rich overnight, who would venture deep into the mountains to investigate!

These people...

They were bold enough.

While not entirely lawless,

they were certainly not the type to quietly abide by the rules!

With such Cultivators continuously pouring into the Border Desolate Land,

Shen Changchuan could already foresee the immense challenges that Dawan Village and the surrounding region were about to face.

"This is trouble!"

After understanding the specifics of the situation,

Shen Changchuan’s brow furrowed deeply.

It was easy to imagine,

as the rumors spread,

that a significant number of the adventurous Cultivators coming to the Border Desolate Land and entering the Demon Beast Forest to search would be at the Qi Introduction Late Stage!

And the strength of a Qi Introduction Late Stage Cultivator...

Shen Changchuan recalled his battle with Old Ghost Song.

Dealing with Old Ghost Song, who was at the Seventh Layer, had been incredibly difficult. He had only managed to defeat and kill him by a stroke of luck.

What would happen if he faced even stronger Cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Layer?

Wouldn’t he be completely at their mercy?

And as the news spread, there would be no shortage of people with that Realm of strength among those daring to wade into these murky waters!

Shen Changchuan’s heart sank.

He could almost imagine what was coming in the near future:

people holding a sword to his throat, interrogating him for information, and forcing "the local" to act as their guide into the mountains.

In a worse scenario,

they might force him at swordpoint to act as bait, to scout out the dangers, ultimately ending up as food for the Demon Beasts in the forest.

That was not an experience he wished to have.

’There’s a delay as information travels. Even if people set out immediately after hearing the news, it will take time for them to reach the area around the Wu Family Collection.’

’So the influx of people will probably peak in about three or four months. And until that secret location from the rumors—the one that produces Cyan Essence Water Grass—is found, the frenzy will likely last for at least a year...’

Shen Changchuan’s expression was grim as he mulled things over.

But the more he thought about it,

the bigger his headache became.

The strength of a Cultivator in the Qi Introduction Late Stage Realm was simply too immense!

Based on the techniques Old Ghost Song had displayed, even a barrage of his own Perfection Level Magic had been completely ineffective.

After a full combo, the man had been practically unharmed.

The only thing that had any effect

was the Cyan Wood Sword Light, a skill with an extremely long Casting Preparation time.

But a technique like that was clearly unsuitable for use during a battle with a Qi Introduction Late Stage Cultivator. Its extremely long ’Casting Preparation’ was a massive vulnerability.

Using it rashly in combat would be suicide.

Unless he could cultivate it to Perfection and achieve an Instantaneous cast.

Only then could it be useful in a fight against a Qi Introduction Late Stage Cultivator.

But as it stood,

at Shen Changchuan’s current pace,

it would take at least half a year of hard work to cultivate the Cyan Wood Sword Light to Perfection!

By then, it would be far too late. The danger would have arrived months earlier!

Who knew what kind of disaster might befall him in the months before he could master the Cyan Wood Sword Light?

Was he supposed to rely on the name of the Tian Nan Shen Clan

to intimidate those audacious and reckless people?

Shen Changchuan felt

that wasn’t a reliable plan.

After all, Dawan Village was too far from the core of the Tian Nan Shen Clan.

So far that it was already at the very edge of the Shen Family’s sphere of influence.

’Being far from the Shen Family’s core territory offers more safety and room to develop.’

’But at the same time, the clan’s deterrent power is significantly weaker, making the name of the Tian Nan Shen Clan a much less effective shield.’

’After all, we’re out in the boonies. In their eyes, they could kill me and just flee to another Immortal Cultivation Realm. The Shen Family isn’t going to raise a huge fuss over a single peripheral clan member who’s only in the Qi Introduction Realm, right?’

Putting himself in their shoes,

Shen Changchuan could easily predict the mindset of the first bold adventurers to arrive.

The Shen Family might be a colossus.

But the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. With all the chaos, good luck even finding them.

’This is bad. This is very, very bad!’

A worried expression clouded Shen Changchuan’s face.

’With such a massive upheaval on the horizon, outsiders won’t give a second thought to a "demoted" member of a Shen Family side branch... unless I go out of my way to publicly announce my identity. But my strength has skyrocketed in just over half a year. If news of that gets back to the clan and reaches that Great Madam... isn’t that just asking to be killed?’

’Right now, that Shen Han is the thorn in the Great Madam’s side, so he’s got most of her attention. Still, this situation could put her on alert. It’s a good thing Dawan Village is so remote that news travels slowly. But if my current accomplishments and reputation were to reach Tian Nan City because of my connection to that good-for-nothing father of mine... the consequences would be unimaginable...’