55: Buy one get two free

"... Fellow Daoist Du really is a smart man."

Lu Xian smiled calmly, his ability to paint a picture effortless. "Cooperating with a smart man always saves a lot of breath. Rest assured, the sincerity of our cooperation today does not stop here."

He felt slightly surprised inwardly.

He hadn't even brought out more conditions yet; he didn't know what this old man had imagined on his own to be so forthcoming.

However, this played right into his hands.

Just as he had anticipated before coming, Du Huaigu had operated in Qingyun City for many years; it was perfectly normal for him to have one or two enemies of the same Rank.

And this was exactly what he wanted.

Having free labor, without needing to waste effort going out of the city to "fish"—wasn't that wonderful?

"Really?" A sharp light flashed in Du Huaigu's eyes, and his breathing became a bit hurried.

It wasn't just the Spirit Bird business?

"Does Fellow Daoist remember the Small Wind and Thunder Killing Formation Plate that Qing Hong brought back?"

Lu Xian mentioned it seemingly casually.

"Ah?"

A High Grade Formation Master?!!

Du Huaigu was shocked inside. "The Formation Plate Qing Hong brought back last time was actually... made by Fellow Daoist Han himself?"

Lu Xian nodded slightly, not revealing any more information.

Trust needs to be built step by step; occasionally revealing the tip of the iceberg was enough.

"Fellow Daoist, please, please take the seat of honor!"

Du Huaigu's attitude became increasingly enthusiastic as he rose to leave and make arrangements personally.

Before long, he returned to the private room, all smiles. "Fellow Daoist Han, I also hold a few shares in this Hundred Flavors Studio. My Du Family also often studies the way of Spirit Cooking, so I felt an itch to cook two small dishes just now. Please, do taste them!"

Lu Xian sat still.

Strength, foundation, and potential were the truly hard currency.

The change in attitude before and after made Lu Xian sigh inwardly.

For the next half hour, the two finalized all the details.

As Lu Xian proposed, in the Early Stage, he would provide 30 Spirit Bird and 500 spirit eggs per month.

The split remained eight-two.

"Then, regarding the Spirit Bird... could a portion be left for my Du Family's own use?"

Du Huaigu had an idea; he wanted to take the opportunity to make the Hundred Flavors Studio bigger and stronger.

"It can be done."

Subsequently, the two talked for a while longer, exchanging some insights on how to Cultivate, and Lu Xian occasionally gained something.

When parting, Du Huaigu gave a promise.

"One month! I need to plan this out. That old thing is suspicious by nature, and the people around him are quite troublesome. To lure him out, it requires careful arrangement..."

Du Huaigu spoke about the specific capture plan.

"Good, I await Fellow Daoist's good news!"

Lu Xian nodded calmly.

He only wanted the result; he didn't want to personally inquire about the process.

After exchanging contact methods, he did not stay.

In the room, Du Huaigu's white eyebrows were sometimes locked in a frown, sometimes relaxed, and finally turned into a touch of resolution.

The opportunity for the Du Family to soar was in this one move!

"I have been cautious for so many years; it is time... to take a risk!"

On the other side, Lu Xian returned to the small courtyard in the shantytown.

Inside the [Cultivation Chamber].

With no worries about the malicious soul, he naturally could not waste time.

He took out the "Hundred Forms Thousand Illusions Art".

He would Cultivate this technique first; after all, it could be used all the way to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Lu Xian's mana, like fine silk threads, moved through the meridians of his face, guiding the muscles and bones to undergo subtle changes that ordinary people could not imagine.

The initial stinging sensation was nothing compared to the overbearing nature of the "Spirit Devouring Bone Transformation Scripture".

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Lu Xian stared at himself in the mirror.

The person in the mirror had brows that had become mediocre, a nose bridge that was no longer straight, and lips that had lost their original contour.

The entire face was so ordinary that one would forget it after one glance.

If he had been a dashing young man before, now he was just an ordinary young lad.

Except for that unique air of composure when he moved, he was no different from the countless Loose Cultivators in the city.

"From now on, I am this plain-looking 'Fellow Daoist Han'."

Lu Xian took out the quasi-immortal jade token to check for messages as a routine.

During these days, he had been comprehending Spells, but daily tasks often interrupted his rhythm.

It was best to find the malicious soul early and free his hands early.

Today, there was finally a response.

"Du Huaigu: Fellow Daoist Han, the person has been captured. One hundred and thirty-five miles southeast of the city."

Attached was a detailed location map.

Lu Xian withdrew his Divine Sense and stood up tall, without restoring his original appearance.

He passed through the teleportation array, exited from the east gate of the city, and immediately flew on his sword toward the target location.

The mountain wind was chilly, and in less than an hour, he landed at the foot of a mountain.

In front of him was a cave.

"Fellow Daoist Han?" Du Huaigu's chest was stained with blood, and his aura was slightly unstable.

He saw that the person's face was unfamiliar, but observing his posture and bearing, he felt a bit of familiarity.

Lu Xian casually sent over a Medicinal Pill for healing that Tang Jingcheng had given him before, saying, "Eat it."

Du Huaigu's suspicions vanished; being able to find this place so accurately confirmed his identity.

He took the Medicinal Pill and looked closely.

A High Grade Soul Nourishing Pill!

However, he did not take it immediately; it was a treasure.

He would save it for when he needed it more; he wouldn't die for now.

Lu Xian walked straight into the cave.

Du Huaigu followed behind and explained, "I developed a feud with this old thief ten years ago over a Spirit Medicine. A few days ago, I deliberately spread news and found the Spirit Medicine in the original place. Sure enough, I lured him here, and with the prior arrangements, I barely managed to capture him alive."

Inside the cave, an old man had torn skin and flesh, his aura was weak, and he seemed to have fallen into a deep coma.

Lu Xian's Divine Sense swept over him carefully and noticed an abnormality.

Although that person's heartbeat was slow, it was strong and powerful, and there was still 30% of his mana left in his body; clearly, he still had the strength to fight.

"Fellow Daoist Du, you did not clean up this loose end very well."

Lu Xian's tone was flat.

"What? Could it be that this old scoundrel is faking it?"

Du Huaigu understood immediately, his face showing shame. "I will finish him off now."

"No need, I didn't expect it to be buy one get two free today..."

Lu Xian's Divine Sense spread, and two figures were rapidly approaching this place.

However, they were only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

"Hahahaha! I thought you, old man Du, had suddenly grown some heaven-defying guts to dare to set a trap for me!"

Tian Yun, who had been "comatose", suddenly sprang up, looking disdainful. "After all that, a greenhorn came. What, is the Du Family out of people, or are you regressing as you age?"

"You, you... you faked death to wait for a chance to counter-attack?" Du Huaigu was stunned.

"Otherwise? You old thing captured me but didn't kill me immediately, instead acting like you were waiting for someone. I had no choice but to play along and send a message to call for help!"

"Tsk, I thought your precious grandson was coming, just in time to send you and your grandson to be reunited! Do you still remember how miserably your son died back then? Hahahaha!"

Tian Yun laughed wildly, ignoring Lu Xian on the side entirely.

Just at this moment, the light at the cave entrance dimmed, and two people appeared, blocking the retreat and forming a pincer attack.

"Fellow Daoist Han, it is my miscalculation today. Later, I will fight to the death; please, Fellow Daoist, break out quickly!"

Du Huaigu's expression was grave; decades of experience allowed him to understand the situation instantly.

He hesitated slightly, then added in a deep voice, "I only hope that, for the sake of Qing Hong, you will not blame the Du Family..."

"Hahahaha, want to leave? Today, even if the Heavenly King himself came, none of you are leaving! Do you think I, Tian, am a vegetarian?"

Tian Yun's eyes were fierce, as if he were looking at two lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

"I heard... that extracting a living soul to refine into a malicious soul, if done when the Cultivator is in the greatest state of terror, the quality of the soul body can increase by a fraction. Today, I can actually try it out."

Lu Xian muttered to himself as if no one else was there.

The few people in the cave were all stunned, not understanding.

"That so-called Tian is your mistake, you solve him. The other two at the Ninth Layer, I will handle."

"I do not want any more accidents. Otherwise, the cooperation ends here."

After speaking, he turned around leisurely and walked toward the cave entrance.