I Pick up a Lost Godhood-Chapter 61 - 59: Triumphant Return

Tang Wei let out a cold snort, leaving behind a single sentence. Suo Ming, lying on the ground, was terrified. ’He’s kicking me out of Hengshan Hall! I’ve offended so many people over the years. Once they find out I’ve lost the Hall’s protection, won’t they just stomp me flat?’

But the words of apology on the tip of his tongue came out as mere whimpers. Shenn Tu waved his hand, and a few Hengshan Hall disciples dragged Suo Ming away. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Shenn Tu knew someone had to take responsibility for what happened today. ’If it wasn’t Suo Ming, it would have been me,’ he thought. The losses were so great, and no one was in a good mood.

He had conducted an investigation beforehand, yet he never expected such a major screw-up. ’How could this have happened?’

He couldn’t figure it out. No one could. But without a doubt, a turning point had arrived for Thunderlight Hall.

On the way back, however, the group was full of laughter and cheers. Once they left Hengshan Hall, they let loose. Zhang Xiaopang didn’t stay idle for a moment, giving everyone who had been there a vivid, play-by-play retelling. And you had to admit, even for those who had witnessed it firsthand, his version added a certain fantastical flair.

"What are we going to do with all these Spirit Stones?" Zhang Xiaojiang asked, having never been so wealthy in his life.

"Div... ide... them..."

Zhou Qian said weakly from his place on Qiuqiu’s back.

"Ah, Brother Zhou, you’re awake! Haha, you missed a great show! We won!"

Ma Tian’Er said cheerfully. She and Zhang Xiaopang had been the most lively ones on the entire trip back.

Zhou Qian was stunned for a moment, then lay back down with a contented sigh, gazing up at the sky. ’Holy hell, we actually won. Have the heavens finally decided to smile upon us?’

"We will divide some of it, but I have an idea," Wang Meng said. "We should establish a reward system within Thunderlight Hall to provide more support for our most outstanding disciples."

"Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? I’m in!" Ma Tian’Er immediately raised her hand in support.

"That’s a good idea," Hu Jing nodded. "This fortune in Spirit Stones should solve our most urgent problems. We might even be able to recruit some disciples from other Halls."

Zhang Xiaopang and Zhou Qian looked at each other. ’Three votes already?’

’With so many Spirit Stones, why not just split them all and call it a day!’

"Everyone worked hard and deserves a reward. Two Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones for each of you. Give the rest to Hu Jing to manage. Spirit Stones are just a tool, something we can’t become reliant on. It’s just like how Life Mark Level is only one factor and doesn’t determine the outcome of a battle. We proved that today."

Wang Meng smiled faintly. The battle made him a bit nostalgic for his old life. ’Maybe it’s time to get out and about again.’

Wang Meng’s group moved quickly. Even though they were in the Holy Hall, the saying "wealth invites disaster" still held true. Getting robbed of so many Spirit Stones would be a crying shame. Fortunately, the journey back was completely uneventful.

Due to Zhou Qian’s injuries, the group couldn’t travel too quickly. But long before they arrived, news of Thunderlight Hall’s crushing victory over Hengshan Hall had already spread throughout the Nine Peaks of the Holy Hall.

Back at Thunderlight Hall, it was business as usual. Inside Thunderlight Pavilion, Liuu Mei and a few other gossipy senior sisters were chatting idly. ’Thunderlight Hall is what it is,’ they thought. ’What can you do?’

Only an occasional customer or two would wander in to buy something before leaving. They were, however, a little worried about that girl, Ma Tian’Er. ’No idea what’s gotten into her, falling for a guy like Wang Meng and even following him into some hall battle. Losing is one thing, but I just hope she’s alright.’

"S-Senior Sister! B-b-big... news!"

"Little Stutterer, calm down. Take a breath and get your words out straight. Even if the sky were falling, it wouldn’t be our job to hold it up." Liuu Mei puffed out her chest. ’Nothing can surprise me anymore. Besides, having a chest this big is just tiring.’

Little Stutterer swallowed hard, his face flushing bright red. "We won!"

"Won? Oh? What did you win? Don’t tell me you finally beat Gong Qingqing at chess."

"N-O-O-O! We beat Hengshan Hall!" Little Stutterer shouted. In his excitement, the words came out perfectly smooth.

"Oh, beat Hengshan Hall... You mean... the hall battle???" Liuu Mei’s large bust jolted violently, a rather spectacular sight.

Little Stutterer nodded frantically.

Liuu Mei stared blankly outside. ’What in the world is going on?’

"Is it true? Thunderlight Hall won?"

"It’s the real deal! Forty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Holy shit, Thunderlight Hall just became loaded! They’re so damn rich now!"

"I was drooling just watching that Little Fatty pack away all those Spirit Stones!"

"Damn, you could make a bed out of that many Spirit Stones."

Zhang Liang also immediately began to sell his information. With news, the faster, the more valuable. And his analysis and judgment were worth far more than the exaggerated rumors floating around.

’Lingyin Hall and Flying Phoenix Hall are out of some income, but getting to see Senior Sister Yang Ying made it worthwhile. This Wang Meng is quite the character, too. He even refused an invitation from Senior Sister Yang Ying. I can’t tell if he’s playing hard to get or if he genuinely doesn’t care.’

’But one thing is certain now: the person Li Tianyi is looking for is him. Wang Meng!’

’His Life Mark Level seems to be around the tenth layer, but he could be intentionally hiding his true strength. Otherwise, how could he use such a powerful Body Technique? A Body Technique that can cause an opponent to be struck by the backlash of their own power... that level of mastery is vicious. To think Thunderlight Hall was hiding someone like that!’

’That Hu Jing is no slouch either. She’s beautiful, and she can use a Water-Fire Combination Talisman Array. That feat alone is enough to make her famous throughout the Holy Hall.’

’And Ma Tian’Er, from the Ma Family, was there fighting for Thunderlight Hall. Tsk, tsk. The Ma Family is slapping the Zhao Family right in the face. The strange thing is, given the Ma Family’s reputation for being insidious and cunning, why would they do something so brazenly?’

’Zhou Qian and that Little Fatty are decent, too. But across the entire Holy Hall, they’re just that—decent. For Thunderlight Hall, however, even that level of skill was previously thought to be unattainable.’

’How did it all happen?’

Zhang Liang recalled his previous intelligence reports and assessments of Thunderlight Hall. The discrepancy was simply too great.

’But even so, Hengshan Hall should not have lost this hall battle. The main reasons were carelessness and underestimating their enemy. They weren’t prepared and probably didn’t even bring half of their true strength to bear.’

’This is what you’d call capsizing in a gutter.’

Zhang Liang took out a small notebook and made new adjustments and evaluations for both Hengshan Hall and Thunderlight Hall. This was his little secret codex. He loved to analyze things, loved the feeling of having all the information at his fingertips.

When the news reached Zhao Guang’s ears, he thought he must have been hearing things.

’They won?’

’After he left, Thunderlight Hall actually beat Hengshan Hall? This was a blatant slap in the face.’

In his mind, it would have been better for Thunderlight Hall to fall into ruin. That would have proven his own importance. But now...

He could even feel the strange looks from the other Dao Guang Hall disciples around him, which made him extremely uncomfortable. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it.

When Wang Meng and his group returned to Thunderlight Hall, they received a grand welcome from its disciples. Wang Meng suddenly noticed something. ’Thunderlight Hall actually has this many people!’

No Sub-Hall was ever small in number; it was all a matter of unity. Thunderlight Hall’s unity had just been too poor. This unexpected victory, however, had made many people curious enough to return and see what all the commotion was about.

Wang Meng nodded at Zhang Xiaopang, who theatrically opened his Qiankun Bag. Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, he poured all the Spirit Stones into a massive heap. The gazes of the Thunderlight Hall disciples were easily a hundred times more intense than those of the Hengshan Hall disciples had been; it felt as if their stares alone might melt the Spirit Stones.