Chapter 48: Absolute Nonsense, Who Doesn't Know I Have Iron Kidneys?

"What kind of tune were you back then?"

Faced with An Yiyao's inquiry, Shen Lang cleared his throat and sang a song that was an absolute must-sing in the karaoke bars of his past life: "I once dreamed of taking my sword and wandering the ends of the earth, to witness the bustling prosperity of this world..."

As the song came to an end, An Yiyao's face was covered in tear tracks.

"My lord, is this a tune written by you?"

Shen Lang put on a deeply profound look and waved his hand dismissively. "It was merely something tossed off on a whim, nothing special!"

Seeing Shen Lang's modest expression, An Yiyao's heart felt as though it was melting.

She could not fathom what kind of immense fortune had allowed her in this lifetime to encounter a man like a god, such as Shen Lang.

Yet she knew one thing for certain: once this song, *The You of the Past*, was truly performed for the world to hear, the entire continent of Nine Provinces would likely go wild over it.

At this thought, An Yiyao looked at Shen Lang with an expression of utmost solemnity. "My lord, rest assured, this humble concubine will definitely find the finest vocalists to sing this divine melody of yours and build momentum for you!"

"Huh?"

Hearing the phrase "building momentum," Shen Lang suddenly wondered if An Yiyao had misunderstood something.

He was just about to explain that building momentum wasn't necessary—his current cultivation level could not yet withstand such a commotion.

Before the words could leave his lips, however, An Yiyao's figure had already vanished from the room.

All that remained in the air were her words, filled with deep attachment.

"My lord, once this concubine has arranged everything, I shall return to serve by your side. Wait for me..."

*Damn it.*

It seemed that without paying attention, he had blown things out of proportion!

Realizing the kind of trouble he might bring upon himself if his moniker truly spread far and wide, Shen Lang immediately asked in the depths of his mind:

"System, that technique I drew yesterday, *One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones*, is that the most powerful technique of the Daoist tradition?"

"Yes, Host. Once you learn *One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones*, you can split into up to three avatars at your highest level!"

"The strength of the avatars will be determined by the level of the technique!"

Shen Lang looked at the system panel floating before him and raised an eyebrow. "At this first stage, how much of my strength can the avatars retain?"

"Seventy percent of the host's true body!"

Hearing that it was as high as seventy percent, Shen Lang's eyes lit up.

"How much resentment value is required to upgrade by one level?"

"One million resentment value points!"

*Damn.*

Why was it so expensive?

Shen Lang's expression turned somewhat ugly.

This *One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones* required a million resentment points just for its first upgrade.

If he were to upgrade it to the maximum level, how much would it cost?

"Host, *One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones* is a genuine Heavenly Dao-grade technique. Naturally, it is expensive for a reason."

"If the host has no use for it, you can also recycle it back to the system in exchange for ten million resentment value points!"

Hearing the system's tempting offer, Shen Lang immediately refused. "In your dreams!"

"Learn it for me!"

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for learning the Heavenly Dao-grade technique, *One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones*!]

Feeling the various profound and esoteric memories flooding into his mind, Shen Lang immediately executed the technique according to those memories.

The next second, right beside him, a man identical to him in every way appeared.

His aura was only slightly weaker than his own, but the strength of his physical body had been completely inherited.

This made Shen Lang, who had just thought of a certain plan, quite excited. "Are there any masks that can prevent others from investigating or seeing through him?"

[Cloak of Akatsuki: Can conceal the wearer's aura, impassable to anyone below the Void Training stage. Price: 30,000 resentment points!]

[Banshee's Veil: Can block one spell attack, obstruct spiritual sense exploration from powerful beings below the Tribulation Transcendence stage, increase the host's law strength by 120%, and grant +50% law resistance. Price: 10 million resentment points!]

Hearing the system's price list, the corners of Shen Lang's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Things produced by the system were indeed overwhelmingly awesome, but the price was truly exorbitant.

Right now, he only had 31,121 resentment points left.

He could only afford the Cloak of Akatsuki.

"System, I'll take a Cloak of Akatsuki!"

[Ding! Deducted 30,000 resentment points from the host!]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Cloak of Akatsuki!]

Looking at the cloak appearing in his inventory, Shen Lang did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately retrieved it and draped it over his avatar.

Seeing that his avatar truly resembled the members of Akatsuki from *Naruto*, a playful smile crept onto the corners of his mouth.

Afterwards, he ordered the avatar to wait on the street outside.

As for himself, he walked out of the room with a carefree and casual demeanor.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw He Rencho stumbling out of a private parlor with weak legs.

However, the female companion walking out right behind him wore a look of utter disdain.

Clearly, this fellow's performance in battle last night had been a failure.

In order to execute his plan, Shen Lang took the initiative to tease He Rencho: "Yo, fatty, judging by your looks, did you injure your kidneys yesterday?"

"How is that possible?" He Rencho abruptly straightened his posture. "Throughout the entire Great Qin, who doesn't know that He Rencho possesses iron kidneys?"

"Is that so?" Shen Lang smiled playfully. "Shall we keep going in broad daylight, then?"

"No, no, spare me. My old man just sent me a message telling me to go back and see him. I need to go rustle up some money, and then we can have fun again!"

Seeing He Rencho wear an expression that said *you know how it is*, Shen Lang smiled and nodded. "No problem, my fortune from here on out depends on you!"

***

At this moment, as Shen Lang stepped out of the First House, Zhou Er immediately reminded Zhou Hao, who was deep in meditation, "Young Master, Shen Lang and He Rencho are coming out!"

At these words, Zhou Hao snapped his eyes open.

Then, he uttered a sentence devoid of the slightest trace of emotion: "Follow me and beat him to death!"

Hearing this, Zhou Er nervously reminded him, "Young Master, shouldn't we report this to the master first?"

"No matter what, this Shen Lang is also..."

"No need to report!" Zhou Hao interrupted with a ferocious expression. "Even if I kill him, not even the God-Emperor of Heaven's Mandate would dare say a word!"

With that, without waiting for Zhou Er to say another word, Zhou Hao leaped straight down from the roof and stood coldly right in the path Shen Lang had to take.

Seeing this scene, He Rencho felt a sudden tremor in his heart.

Unable to help himself, he whispered, "Brother Lang, that guy wouldn't be a sore loser and try to make a move on you, would he?"

"What are you panicking about? I'm an official of the seventh rank in Great Qin. Would he dare touch me?" Shen Lang put on a haughty and arrogant front.

Yet He Rencho panicked even more.

"Brother Lang, it's not that your brother looks down on you, but a seventh-rank official versus Zhou Hao amounts to absolute squat!"

"Why don't you hand the divine artifact over to me first, and I—"

Before He Rencho could finish his sentence, an extremely cold voice suddenly rang out from behind him: "Good dogs don't block the path!"

"You mother fu—"

He Rencho was about to curse.

But upon catching sight of the black robe worn by the newcomer, adorned with those bewitching red clouds, the words died in his throat, and he didn't dare utter them.

He could sense that this person was not someone to be trifled with.

While He Rencho was still stunned, Shen Lang's avatar also arrived in front of Zhou Hao.

With a bone-chilling tone, the avatar said, "Good dogs don't block the path. Scram!"

*Swish.*

As those words fell, Zhou Hao, already burning with rage, saw a monstrous killing intent flash in his eyes. "Bastard, are you talking to me?"

"You tired of living?"

"Noisy!"

With that, Shen Lang's avatar suddenly made a move.

With a fierce, heavy punch, he smashed straight toward Zhou Hao's head.

The speed was so blinding that Zhou Hao's expression changed drastically!

"Not good!"