20: Plan to leave

The golden seal of the Xiao Langlang Mountain Relics shattered with a bang under the spiritual power infusion of the Cultivators, and a strong spiritual power aura surged out like a tide, instantly filling the entire valley.

The group of rogue Cultivators who had just been frustrated were about to confront the Li Family, but they were overwhelmed by the abundant spiritual power aura before them.

The Cultivators all showed joy, as if they had already seen the mountains of treasures piled up in the relics.

Xu Qi'an stood up with difficulty, observing all this with cold eyes, but his heart was undisturbed.

“Everyone!” Li Wanggao’s voice rang out like a great bell, suppressing the clamor of the crowd.

“The relics are open, but entrants must pay three Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Any items taken out of the relics can be kept by yourselves, and the Qingzhu Market will never forcibly seize them!”

“This is the Qingzhu Market Master’s request, you all must understand my difficulties!”

“Of course, you are free to leave, but if you miss such an Opportunity once, you will never find it again!”

As soon as these words came out, the Cultivators immediately started discussing.

Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones were not a small sum for Spiritual Farmers, but for those Family Cultivators and rogue Cultivators, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

Soon, most Cultivators took out ling stones and lined up to enter the relics.

Even some Spiritual Farmers gritted their teeth, paid the ling stones, and stepped into the entrance of the relics with a hopeful mentality.

Xu Qi'an did not move.

He stood in the distance, his gaze sweeping over the excited Cultivators, a cold smile in his heart.

Li Wanggao’s promise sounded tempting, but he knew deeply that there was no free lunch in the world.

The dangers in the relics were far greater than they appeared on the surface.

What’s more, he already had his own Opportunity, so why take another risk.

“Aren’t you going in?” A Spiritual Farmer beside him asked curiously.

Xu Qi'an shook his head and said lightly, “Although the Opportunity is good, you must have the life to enjoy it.”

The Spiritual Farmer was stunned for a moment, seemingly touched by Xu Qi'an’s words. After a moment of hesitation, he also withdrew his steps.

Xu Qi'an turned and walked towards the exit.

However, just as he was about to walk out of the Formation’s range, a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Daoist Xu!”

Xu Qi'an’s steps paused, he sighed inwardly, and slowly turned around.

He saw Meng Shuran walking quickly, his face showing a tired but joyful expression.

His cultivation had reached the Qi Refinement Sixth Level, but his face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, evidently, he had not had an easy time recently.

“Daoist Meng, congratulations on your cultivation advancement.” Xu Qi'an cupped his hands, his tone flat.

Meng Shuran shook his head repeatedly and said with a wry smile, “It was just luck, not worth mentioning.”

He looked at Xu Qi'an, hesitated to speak, and finally whispered, “You… aren’t you going in?”

Xu Qi'an smiled and was about to answer when he suddenly heard a contemptuous laugh from the side.

“Yo, isn’t this the ‘expert’ at the Qi Refining Third Level?”

Xu Qi'an turned his head and saw a man and a woman walking towards him.

The man was Li Sheng, whom he had seen at the Lingyun teahouse that day, and the woman was his companion, Li Xiu.

Li Sheng was dressed in luxurious clothes, his expression arrogant, his gaze sweeping over Xu Qi'an with undisguised mockery.

“Why are you still at the Qi Refining Third Level?” Li Sheng sneered, “What, you don’t plan to enter the relics, can’t even take out three Low-Grade Spirit Stones?”

“That’s right, a Spiritual Farmer like you will just guard those few ling stones as your coffin money!”

Xu Qi'an’s expression was as usual, and he smiled faintly, “Although the Opportunity is good, you must have the life to enjoy it. I, Xu, know that my strength is low and dare not make extravagant demands.”

Upon hearing this, Li Sheng raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that Xu Qi'an would be so frank.

He stared at Xu Qi'an for a moment, then suddenly sneered, “You do have some self-awareness. However, a useless person like you is a waste of resources staying in the Qingzhu Market.”

Xu Qi'an did not respond, just cupped his hands, “Daoist Li is right, I will take my leave first.”

After speaking, he turned and left, his back straight like a pine, without any hint of distress.

Li Sheng stared at Xu Qi'an’s retreating back, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He always felt that this Qi Refining Third Level Cultivator was somewhat off, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

“Li Sheng, why bother with a Spiritual Farmer?” Li Xiu advised softly.

A fierce light appeared in Li Sheng’s eyes, and he said sharply, “My intuition tells me this person… is not simple. Go investigate his background.”

Meng Shuran, who was nearby, quickly stepped forward and said, “Brother Li, Daoist Xu has had contact with me, he is just an ordinary Spiritual Farmer, why bother…”

“Shut up!” Li Sheng coldly interrupted him, “It’s not your place to tell me what to do.”

“Hurry up and refine your Talismans!”

“If you still can’t refine a first-grade super-grade Talisman, the Li Family’s investment in you will have to be repaid double!”

Meng Shuran’s face turned pale, and he lowered his head, no longer speaking, but a complex expression flashed in his eyes.

He then glanced in the direction Xu Qi'an had left, as if he thought of something, and sighed slightly.

Xu Qi'an returned to his residence in the shantytown, closed the door, and let out a long breath.

He sat at the simple wooden table, his fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop, his mind recalling everything that had happened today.

“The Qingzhu Market will not be peaceful from now on.” Xu Qi'an muttered to himself, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

He knew that he could no longer stay in the Qingzhu Market.

The appearance of the Xiao Langlang Mountain Relics would inevitably cause countless disputes, and he, a Spiritual Farmer at the “Qi Refining Third Level”, would easily become a soft target in the eyes of others.

At least the other two Qingzhu Markets, or even other rogue Cultivators, might come to stir up trouble, which was uncertain.

He didn't want to leave hastily before, firstly because his cultivation was too low, and secondly because the various items he wanted were not yet prepared. Now, from Bai Zhan and Wan Feng, he had prepared the necessary things.

“It’s time to prepare to leave, while everyone’s attention is drawn to the relics in these few days.”

Xu Qi'an stood up and began to pack his things in the room.

There was nothing valuable in the room; Xu Qi'an kept all important items on his person.

However, the various furnishings in this room had accompanied Xu Qi'an for so long that he felt a bit reluctant to part with them now.

However, he quickly composed himself.

He inventoried the items in his storage bag one by one, including the newly acquired Formation Flags and magic tools, as well as the remaining ling stones and Talismans.

After packing, Xu Qi'an sat by the bed, took out a map of Yue Country, and studied it carefully.

He planned to leave the Qingzhu Market first, find a remote place to go into seclusion and Cultivate, and after his Qi Refining and Body Refinement cultivations both reached Perfection, he would then come out to search for clues to Foundation Establishment.

This would be the most appropriate approach.

After this, he would try not to return to the Qingzhu Market; returning would definitely raise suspicions of exposure.

He could go to the Jinshi Bazaar and the Lingmiao Market, and even change his identity. Xu Qi'an would no longer have to be timid and endure the slights of a Spiritual Farmer!