I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 125 - 123: Arm-Thick... Leg Hair

...Dozens of Evil Spider Kings... ’Have I fallen into an Evil Spider King’s nest?’

’Why is there a row of pillars next to me? And what are those sticks stuck in the pillars? This is so weird.’

’The sticks aren’t very hard. What is this stuff?’

Wang Meng looked up. ’The cave ceiling shouldn’t be this low...’

The ceiling slowly pressed down, rotating. A pair of giant eyes, as large as millstones, opened, casting a ghastly green glow over the entire cave.

—The Ten Thousand Evil Spider Ancestor!

Those black sticks, as thick as a man’s arm... were its leg hairs!

SWOOSH...

The corpse of an Evil Spider King on the ground was lifted directly into the air and devoured in a few bites by this giant counterpart.

Wang Meng licked his lips. ’Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best one!’

He took off running. Behind him, the Ten Thousand Evil Spider Ancestor moved like a small mountain, making the entire cave tremble as if it were about to collapse. A pack of Evil Spider Kings gave chase from all directions.

Only a place like the Five Elements Land could produce such a monstrous spider. Wang Meng threw out his Cliff Sword and recited the Sword Formulas, transforming into a streak of sword light that shot out like lightning. Behind him, a dense cluster of explosions erupted. He flew at a low altitude through the cave as explosions boomed continuously behind him, and a dense web of silk threads bombarded his position.

The Evil Spider Kings pursued him desperately, and Wang Meng fled for his life. Having just gained the ability to use Sword Flight, he was certainly getting his fill of it now.

As the spider swarm closed in, a glimmer of light finally appeared before Wang Meng.

WHOOSH...

Wang Meng burst out of the cave. An Evil Spider King, unable to stop in time, crashed out after him. The moment it met the sunlight, it began to struggle violently as white smoke billowed from its body. After a few twitches, its legs went still.

The other Evil Spider Kings stared fearfully at the light of the entrance. Just then, a low hum echoed from the depths of the cavern, and only then did the spiders slowly retreat back inside.

Wang Meng looked at the sun in the sky. ’Ah, what a beautiful day.’

He was currently hanging from the top of a tree...

After countless hardships, when Wang Meng finally returned to Thunderlight Hall and saw his simple thatched hut, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. ’There’s no place like my own little hut.’

Not far away, Zhou Feng’s door opened. "Damn, where the hell did you run off to, you brat? I thought you’d died out there."

Wang Meng grinned. "Just got back from my trip. Didn’t meet any beauties, but I did get my ass kicked by a bunch of monsters. Luckily, I have good fortune and a strong will to live."

Wang Meng’s clothes were in tatters; he really did look a bit like a ragpicker. Although his Fifteenth Layer of Elemental Power wasn’t enough for sustained Sword Flight, it was sufficient to get him back by flying in short bursts and resting in between.

"You stinking brat! How many times have I told you? Being a Pill Cultivator is so much better—it’s elegant and safe. But no, you insist on being a miserable Sword Cultivator. What am I supposed to say to you!"

Zhou Feng said, nagging like a concerned mother.

"Hey, Old Zhou, can you let me eat a full meal first? Then I can listen to you ramble," Wang Meng said with a laugh. ’This guy must have been a neighborhood busybody in his past life.’

"You brat, you think this is your personal cafeteria!" Despite his words, Zhou Feng actually had quite a bit of food. It seemed he had prepared for this.

Wang Meng, of course, showed no courtesy, feasting and drinking while spinning wild tales of his adventure. Zhou Feng listened from the side, completely dumbfounded.

After hearing about Wang Meng’s experience, Zhou Feng couldn’t help but lament, "Tell me, why did you have to go and provoke Yanm Yuyue for no reason? Sigh, if you had become Master Zhou’s disciple, she wouldn’t have dared to touch you, not in a million years."

The Holy Hall wouldn’t offend the Heaven-Dominating Hall over a mere Sub-Hall disciple, but it would be a different story if he were a disciple of an Ancestral Master. A disciple of an Ancestral Master is an Elder in their own right, and the Heaven-Dominating Hall couldn’t go too far.

"Old Zhou, how is that my fault? I’m the victim here! Besides, how was I supposed to know that old man had enemies? Luckily, they just wanted to ask me a few questions. They just overestimated my strength."

Wang Meng chuckled. For low-level Cultivators, Sword Flight was purely a physical endurance test.

"You were lucky this time. Be more careful next time. You’re quite popular, you know. While you were gone, a lot of people came looking for you, especially that Ma Tian’Er. She’s a good kid. You should consider it."

Zhou Feng said with a grin.

Wang Meng nearly choked. Only then did he notice Zhou Feng seemed to be glowing with happiness. "Old Zhou, don’t tell me you and Elder Luu...?"

Wang Meng touched his thumbs together, a suggestive, slightly saucy grin on his face.

For once, Zhou Feng actually looked a bit embarrassed. "Ahem, Luu Granny... I mean, the Elder and I were a couple when we were young. Sigh. I was too focused on Alchemy and neglected her. Small conflicts became big ones, and things ended up like this. But I have you to thank for this. Your situation gave us a rare chance to talk. We suddenly realized that the reason we’ve been at odds all these years is because we still care about each other."

As he spoke, a happy smile spread across Zhou Feng’s face.

"Haha, congratulations! Ah, does this mean you’ll be moving back? Where am I going to get my free meals?"

"You’re too direct, kid. Don’t worry, I have no plans to move for now. Besides, I’m planning to craft some Thunder Strike Bombs, and the Thunder Qi on Thunderlight Peak is perfect for that."

Zhou Feng thought to himself, ’How can I go back without getting you sorted out first? I won’t be able to face my master.’

"Thunder Strike Bombs? That stuff packs a serious punch. Does the Main Hall have some sort of plan?"

"Who knows. The demand seems pretty high. Maybe they’re planning to open up a Secret Realm."

Zhou Feng just focused on his Alchemy, not caring about anything else.

"Old Zhou, I want to learn Alchemy from you."

Wang Meng blurted out between bites.

"Learn Alchemy... huh? Learn Alchemy? You want to be a Pill Cultivator?" Zhou Feng was stunned. ’Did this kid actually have an epiphany after getting kidnapped???’

"I just think that while you’re alive, you should try and experience as much as you can."

"You’ve finally seen the light! When you’re young, you have to try many things to find what suits you best!"

Tears streamed down Zhou Feng’s face. ’It hasn’t been easy for me! A respected Elder like me, staking out this place... even Heaven would be moved! This kid has finally come to his senses.’

Wang Meng roared with laughter. In his heart, he was very grateful to Zhou Feng. ’I must cast aside my prejudices and start from the basics. Only then can I truly master Saint and Evil Dual Cultivation. Wangtian, you have to stay alive! That battle didn’t count!’

"I have to tell the Ancestral Master this good news and have her accept you as a disciple."

Wang Meng waved his hand. "Old Zhou, don’t be in such a hurry. I think I should learn from you first and build a foundation. When you feel you can’t teach me anymore, it won’t be too late to find Ancestor Master Zhou."

"Damn it, you’re one cocky brat! As if I can’t even teach you!"

"Old Zhou, you can’t be so sure. You’re the one who called me a genius."

"Genius my ass! Back in my day, I was called a peerless Pill Cultivator prodigy, the one and only in the Pill Cultivation Realm!"

That day, Zhou Feng drank quite a bit and told many stories of his high-spirited youth, including, of course, some about Luu Yun. Wang Meng roared with laughter listening to them. It turned out everyone was a bit of a fool when they were young. But hey, if you aren’t a fool when you’re young, when will you be?

Wang Meng sent Spirit Rhinoceros Xiaoben to let Zhang Xiaopang and the others know he was safe. After all, he had been gone for nearly two months.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Wang Meng was about to go to sleep when someone knocked on his door. He opened it to find Ma Tian’Er.

Standing outside the door, Ma Tian’Er looked a little awkward. When she saw Wang Meng, a relieved smile spread across her face. "Brother Wang, I just came to see you. Now that I know you’re alright, I’ll be going."

Wang Meng saw the beads of sweat on Ma Tian’Er’s forehead. ’She must have run all the way here as soon as she heard the news.’ A warmth spread through his heart, followed by a faint sigh.

"Tian’Er, come in and sit down. Don’t worry about me. I’m the kind of person who isn’t very blessed, but is very hard to kill."

Ma Tian’Er gently bit her lip. "I don’t know why, I just couldn’t rest easy."

"It was just a misunderstanding." Wang Meng smiled and recounted how the Evil Cultivator had abducted him and then let him go, omitting the more complicated details.

"How could those people do that? And Yanm Yuyue is completely lawless! This is the Holy Hall, not her Heaven-Dominating Hall."

Ma Tian’Er was like a gentle cat that had its tail stepped on; she had a fiery side too.

"Haha, it’s fine. The misunderstanding has been cleared up. How are you all doing? Training hard for the grand competition?"

Wang Meng poured Ma Tian’Er a cup of water and listened as she told him about their "grueling" special training...

The night deepened. Ma Tian’Er drowsily fell asleep. Wang Meng covered her with a blanket. He could tell the poor girl was mentally and physically exhausted; she was just too tired.

’To be honest, feelings are not something I need. Perhaps I’ll have women in my life, but I won’t have attachments. My life won’t be confined to this place, and the real danger hasn’t even arrived yet. Since we’re bound to part sooner or later, it’s better not to start anything. But Ma Tian’Er is too kind. I know I’m not a good person, but I don’t want to leave her with scars. Yanm Yun is a perfect example of that.’

’A good woman deserves to be happy.’

’Alone, without ties or worries, free to repay my debts and settle my scores. Even if I die in battle, so what!’

’If a god stands in my way, I will slay the god. If a demon blocks my path, I will slay the demon. If Heaven itself obstructs me, I will defy it!’

Gazing at the peacefully sleeping Ma Tian’Er, Wang Meng suddenly understood how even the hardest steel could be wrapped around a soft finger.

’Perhaps... he was afraid...’

「Daybreak.」

The calls of mountain birds formed a beautiful symphony. When Ma Tian’Er opened her eyes, she realized where she was. A noise from outside startled her, and she quickly shut her eyes again. After a moment, she realized the sound was coming from a distance.

She checked herself over, and her slightly panicked Heart Spirit calmed. ’Brother Wang really is a true gentleman.’

"Holy crap, kid! Fire, fire! Aiyah, I told you not to be in such a rush!"

BOOM...

Two ash-covered figures ran out, coughing.

"Old Zhou, you were the one who told me to use my full power. I told you it wouldn’t work."

Wang Meng was frustrated, but Zhou Feng was even more so. "You brat, you didn’t tell me you’d already refined a Fifth Grade Flame! How was I supposed to know?"

He sounded angry, but Zhou Feng’s eyebrows were practically dancing with joy. ’Damn it, now this is a real genius! The kind of fucking genius you don’t see for a hundred years! A once-in-a-century prodigy!’ Elder Zhou was truly riding high on success. Even though the cauldron had exploded, he was still overjoyed.

"Ah, you’re awake, little lady," Zhou Feng said with a laugh when he saw Ma Tian’Er.

"Greetings, Elder Zhou."

"Tsk, tsk, we’re all familiar here. No need for such formalities."

Zhou Feng’s gaze was full of insinuation. Wang Meng shot him a sidelong glance. "Old Zhou, don’t be a gossip. And don’t get any funny ideas!"

"What was I thinking, kid? You’re the one with the dirty mind!"

Zhou Feng immediately retorted.

Ma Tian’Er couldn’t help but chuckle. ’What a pair of characters.’ It seemed Wang Meng had decided to walk the path of a Pill Cultivator. ’That’s actually a good thing. It’s safe...’

"Ah, I snuck out to come here! Elder Zhou, Brother Wang, I have to go back now!"

Only then did Ma Tian’Er realize how high the sun was in the sky. Her special training was probably about to start.

Ma Tian’Er could be a little scatterbrained at times.

Watching Ma Tian’Er’s departing figure, Zhou Feng couldn’t help but shake his head. "Such a good girl. What kind of woman do you even like, kid? How about Wangg Qing? I can help set you two up."

"Forget it. I can’t handle that temper of hers. You can have her."

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)