Chapter 86: Enemies on a Narrow Road
Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Enemies on a Narrow Road
"I bid twenty-seven thousand Spirit Stones. I hope you will all do me this favor. I am Song Xinghai, grandson of Song Youdao of the Cangwu Sect’s Song Family—a Golden Core Clan. Furthermore, I am an Inner Sect Disciple of the Cangwu Sect."
"Additionally, my grandfather is preparing for Core Formation, and I will be able to reach Foundation Establishment within a few years. If you all yield the Spiritual Liquid this time, I will be endlessly grateful."
Just then, a cultivator made another bid. He also announced his identity, removing the Conical Hat from his head to reveal a handsome, arrogant young face.
"Song Xinghai of Cangwu’s Inner Sect?"
"His grandfather is Song Youdao?"
"What rotten luck!"
Hearing this, the crowd of cultivators was shocked. His competitors could only curse their luck and immediately gave up.
Clearly, no one dared to offend Song Xinghai.
Besides, this was the Cangwu Sect’s territory to begin with.
"Hmph!"
Guan Ruxin’s expression soured.
His stunt had directly suppressed the price of the Spiritual Liquid by a great deal. Otherwise, it would have been easy to sell the three drops for over thirty thousand.
"Shopkeeper Guan, please don’t take offense. I am in dire need of this item. How about this? When I reach Foundation Establishment, I will be sure to invite you to the seat of honor at my celebration. What do you say?" Song Xinghai said with a smile upon seeing her expression.
"Thank you for the high praise, Fellow Daoist Song. I wouldn’t dare blame you. Nor am I worthy of being your guest. As long as you don’t use your influence to suppress the prices of the remaining items, I will be eternally grateful," Guan Ruxin replied, politely declining his offer with a helpless tone.
"Haha, thank you for your understanding, Shopkeeper Guan. I’ll remember this."
His invitation was rejected. A menacing glint flashed in Song Xinghai’s eyes, but he laughed heartily on the surface.
After that, the auction continued, and as expected, he rarely participated.
’Song Xinghai, a junior from the Song Family? So our paths cross. It seems fate has decreed you’ll meet your doom today!’
At that moment, however, Zhang Chi gave a cold smile. He decisively released a Phantom Beetle, having it secretly follow Song Xinghai.
Zhang Chi observed Song Xinghai’s surroundings and found he had no attendants, nor was there a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse shadowing him for protection.
This wasn’t surprising, however.
This was Cangwu Sect territory, after all. Besides, not only was Song Xinghai an Inner Sect Disciple at the Tenth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he was also a prodigy from a prominent clan. His own Combat Power had to be immense.
As Song Youdao’s grandson, the average cultivator wouldn’t dare make a move on him. Plus, he was certain to have some Protective Measures on his person.
After all, his status in the Song Family was far higher than Chen Ling’Er’s in the Chen Family.
Even Chen Ling’Er had a Protective Sword Talisman, to say nothing of him.
However, this did not scare Zhang Chi.
The moment Zhang Chi learned his identity, he already considered Song Xinghai a dead man walking.
He held an irreconcilable grudge against Song Youdao of the Song Family for obstructing his path of cultivation—a debt that had to be repaid.
Although the Song Family had never moved against him directly, the Xie Family had come after him time and again at Song Youdao’s behest.
The Xie Family hadn’t made a move recently, not because they’d had a sudden change of heart, but because he had been sufficiently low-key and cautious. Furthermore, the Xie Family was wary of Chen Bufan and had no idea he would be secretly leaving the Sect.
Otherwise, the Xie Family would have killed him countless times over by now.
Therefore, he couldn’t possibly miss this chance to collect a little more interest from the Song Family and obtain the Earth Milk Spirit Liquid in the process.
There were risks, of course, but as long as he was careful and covert, they would never be able to trace it back to him.
As for the future, he might be exposed, but by then he would surely be stronger. A little suspicion wouldn’t matter.
With that, Zhang Chi immediately left the auction. He went to the main road between White Cloud Marketplace and the Cangwu Sect, found a suitable spot, and set up the Thousand Illusions Locking Array ahead of time.
Afterwards, he sat cross-legged in the array and began to wait quietly.
Through the Phantom Beetle, he had a perfect grasp of Song Xinghai’s every move.
That Song Xinghai waited until the end of the auction before leaving in an unhurried manner.
Afterwards, Song Xinghai went to the Songhe Tower in the Marketplace for a lavish feast. During his meal, even the resident Foundation Establishment Cultivator of White Cloud Marketplace heard of his presence and rushed over to personally keep him company.
Finally, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator escorted him for over a hundred li beyond the Marketplace before turning back.
’Timid as a mouse. No wonder that at his age, he’s only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and can only get a post guarding this measly White Cloud Marketplace!’
At that moment, Song Xinghai was piloting a black Upper Grade Small Flying Boat. He flew swiftly yet leisurely toward the Cangwu Sect, a look of disdain on his face.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator had actually wanted to escort him all the way back to the Sect, but he had flatly refused.
"Kid, stop!"
"If you don’t want to die, leave behind your Storage Bag and Flying Boat!"
But just as his Flying Boat passed a barren mountain, two black-robed, masked cultivators suddenly appeared on the peak. They rode two blood-colored Flying Sword Magical Artifacts, blocking his path.
At the same time, five more black-robed cultivators appeared from other directions.
This group of five consisted of two at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and three at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. They immediately surrounded Song Xinghai.
"Tribulation Cultivators? Perfect timing. This young master was just getting bored!"
Far from being panicked, Song Xinghai’s eyes lit up. He halted his Flying Boat, slapped his Storage Bag, and instantly summoned three palm-length, silver-white Flying Knife Magical Artifacts that glinted with a cold light.
SWOOSH...
The Flying Sabers flickered, transforming into a hundred sharp saber shadows that rushed toward the two black-robed cultivators in front like a torrent.
"Oh no, it’s an Upper Grade magical artifact!"
"We were wary of your status and didn’t want to take your life, but it looks like we’ll have to kill you first!"
Startled, the black-robed cultivators all summoned their magical artifacts or cast spells, which transformed into dazzling streams of light hurtling toward Song Xinghai.
Song Xinghai, however, acted as if he hadn’t even seen them. He allowed their attacks to rain down on him, and at the critical moment, a black barrier of light materialized around the Flying Boat, easily deflecting the assault.
"No!"
At the same time, the Flying Knife Magical Artifacts instantly struck their targets. They shattered their defenses with overwhelming force and pierced straight through their skulls.
"Oh no, run!"
"Split up!"
The remaining black-robed men were scared out of their wits.
They clearly hadn’t expected Song Xinghai’s Combat Power to be so ferocious. They instantly lost their will to fight, turned, and fled.
"Trying to run? Too late! None of you are getting away!"
But Song Xinghai only sneered. He formed another Spirit Technique, and the sharp saber shadows immediately split up, striking the backs of the fleeing cultivators with incredible speed and killing them all.
"A bunch of useless rabble. Pathetic that someone so weak would dare to be a Tribulation Cultivator!"
Song Xinghai scoffed. Spreading his fingers, he made a grasping motion in the air. His Exorcism Technique immediately pulled the corpses of the black-robed cultivators and their scattered magical artifacts onto the Flying Boat.
PFFT!
But before he could loot the bodies, a large, barefoot man suddenly leaped up from the mountain peak below, spewing a black mist at him.
"Courting death!"
The defensive barrier on Song Xinghai’s Flying Boat blocked the black mist, but he was startled and flew into a rage. He pointed a finger, and the Flying Knife Magical Artifacts circling him once again transformed into saber shadows, blasting toward the barefoot man.
BANG!
The barefoot man was struck and sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string.
The man didn’t seem to be dead, however. He hit the ground, sprang back to his feet, and took off in a frantic sprint.
"Huh? Such a strong defense? Too bad for you. You ran into me. No matter how tough your defenses are, you’re still going to die!"
Song Xinghai was surprised for a moment, but his expression quickly turned into a sneer as he decisively piloted his Flying Boat in pursuit.