8: Enemies meet on a narrow road, I’ll send you off!

Inside the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Shi Chuan specifically sought out a counter in the corner of the first floor, presented his Utility Disciple token, and explained his purpose.

“This is your share of the bigu pill.”

“Junior Brother, are you planning to sell the puppet behind you?”

“A low-grade first-tier Corpse Puppet can fetch two Spirit Stones for you Utility Disciples. With Spirit Stones, you can accelerate your Cultivation speed.”

“Only by advancing to the Outer Sect early can you truly embark on the path of Cultivation!”

Behind the counter was an old man in a black robe with white hair. His Face was dark, his eyes sunken, and a heavy air of decay emanated from him.

Tan Xinghuai glanced at the Mighty Corpse Puppet behind Shi Chuan with a profound gaze, and advised in a weak, aged voice.

If his Yin-Penetrating Toad hadn't sensed wrongly, this young fellow, for some unknown stroke of luck, had a special Corpse Puppet behind him, not an ordinary one.

Such a Corpse Puppet was quite valuable, whether for his own use or for the younger generation in his Family.

‘This person is at most an old Cultivator in the Mid-Stage Qi Refining. He might have a special Magical Artifact or a Spirit Beast that can sense Corpse Puppets.’

‘This Corpse Puppet isn't worth much. If I wanted to refine one, I could make several by wandering around the underground dark river in the Corpse Refining Cave a few times.’

‘But it definitely shouldn't be sold so cheaply…’

Shi Chuan's expression on the surface showed hesitation, as if he had been persuaded.

“Junior Brother, the price is negotiable. Three Spirit Stones are also acceptable.”

“With Spirit Stones, you can also buy Talismans for protection and Medicinal Pills to advance your cultivation. The benefits are not small.”

Tan Xinghuai stroked his white goatee and continued.

“Hey, you old fox, Tan, if you want to buy this Utility Junior Brother's Corpse Puppet, it should at least be five Spirit Stones, right?”

“I'll offer five Spirit Stones.”

From another counter window a few steps away, a green-haired man with a long neck emerged. His neck extended nearly ten feet, his eyes were red, and as he spoke, two fangs appeared in his mouth.

His appearance was already inhuman.

“Don't be afraid, Junior Brother. My surname is Jiang, and I'm also interested in your Corpse Puppet. The price I offer will definitely be higher than Old Tan's.”

“Instead of selling it to him, why not sell it to me, Senior Brother!”

Jiang Kang stared intently at Shi Chuan and said with a chuckle.

He had known Tan Xinghuai, that old fox who never did anything without profit, for many years and understood his nature deeply. For him to uncharacteristically buy this Utility Disciple's Corpse Puppet, there must be a profit to be made.

Jiang Kang was not afraid of this old fox; offending him wouldn't matter.

After all, that fellow Tan already had one foot in the grave.

‘Corpse Puppet Integration?’

‘It's probably a similar technique, or a Magical Artifact…’

Shi Chuan pretended to be startled and took a step back, but he was quite calm inside. The memories of Eternal Vine contained such a technique, combining oneself with the art of Corpse Puppets.

However, this technique had severe side effects. If one integrated a Corpse Puppet during the Qi Refining Stage, the chances of advancing to Foundation Establishment in the future would become extremely slim.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang!”

Shi Chuan steadied himself and quickly cupped his hands in a bow.

“Hmph!”

“Junior Brother Jiang, I was the first to offer to buy this Utility Junior Brother's Corpse Puppet…”

“Stop, stop. I'm not listening to your nonsense. This Utility Junior Brother is as clear as a mirror in his heart. Whoever offers more Spirit Stones, he'll naturally give it to them. He's not an idiot.”

Tan Xinghuai's old Face in the counter window stared coldly at Jiang Kang, who was flying like a snake in the air. Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted and retorted.

At the same time, Jiang Kang casually summoned a layer of black Evil Qi mist, enclosing the area around their two counters and obscuring Shi Chuan's and their figures and voices.

“Eight Spirit Stones!”

Tan Xinghuai's Face darkened as he uttered a dry sentence.

“Seven!”

Jiang Kang's long head lazily rested on the counter, speaking indifferently.

It seemed as if he was specifically targeting Tan Xinghuai.

“Eight!”

Tan Xinghuai's lips twitched.

Eight Spirit Stones for a low-grade first-tier ordinary Corpse Puppet was already the price at the Corpse Raising shops in the market. If the Corpse Puppet behind this Utility Disciple wasn't a special Corpse Puppet, he definitely wouldn't have continued pursuing it.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Jiang Kang's gaze fell on the Corpse Puppet behind Shi Chuan, and he basically confirmed it.

For the stingy Tan Xinghuai to offer eight Spirit Stones, this Corpse Puppet must be a special Corpse Puppet.

Otherwise, Tan Xinghuai wouldn't be foolish enough to bid.

“Ten!”

Jiang Kang finished speaking.

Tan Xinghuai inside the counter did not speak again.

Outer Sect Disciples had to complete tasks on Corpse Refining Peak to earn Spirit Stones.

They only received one Spirit Stone a month for being on duty at the counter in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Shi Chuan put on a good show, not daring to look at Tan Xinghuai inside the counter. He lowered his head and walked to Jiang Kang's counter, released control of the Corpse Puppet, and allowed Jiang Kang to put it into his corpse raising bag.

Afterward, at the counter Jiang Kang was in charge of, he spent two Spirit Stones to buy two years' worth of bigu pills, and with the remaining eight Spirit Stones, he bought a bottle of Qi-boosting Medicinal Pills to enhance his cultivation.

After getting his items, he hurriedly left the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

“Hahahaha!”

“Old Tan, your eyesight is truly good. The Evil Qi on this Corpse Puppet is so dense, it's not comparable to an ordinary Corpse Puppet!”

Jiang Kang was in a good mood. The Corpse Puppet in his corpse raising bag had extremely dense Evil Qi, so it must be a special Corpse Puppet among the low-grade first-tier ones. If it were cultivated into a middle-grade first-tier Corpse Puppet, it would be a great help in combat.

Meanwhile, Tan Xinghuai in the adjacent counter completely ignored Jiang Kang's words. The image of that Utility Disciple appeared in his mind, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

“Shi Chuan.”

“He Cultivates the lowest-level Corpse Raising Art and has no Family background, yet he dares to make me lose Face.”

“He seeks death. If I don't kill this kid, my thoughts won't be clear!”

“Little Treasure, have you remembered that kid's aura?”

Tan Xinghuai raised his hand and stroked the head of the Yin-Penetrating Toad in his arms. The Yin-Penetrating Toad, his Spirit Beast, nodded in response.

As for Jiang Kang, the other party had a Family background and was at Qi Refining Layer Five, while he was only at Qi Refining Layer Four, so he couldn't afford to provoke him.

After leaving the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Shi Chuan could clearly feel someone following him. He used his Purple Fiend Eyes to investigate a few times and found that they were just two Utility Disciples in gray robes.

Although no one saw what Shi Chuan did in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, the Outer Sect Disciple at the counter was able to summon a mist of Evil Qi to conceal them, so things were definitely not simple.

Regardless, it was just two Utility Disciples. Going up to them and giving them a good beating might yield some treasure.

“It's a pity they're just two Utility Disciples. They definitely don't have anything good on them!”

Shi Chuan felt regretful.

But then again, Outer Sect Disciples usually weren't interested in Utility Disciples.

Now, Shi Chuan clearly understood that the old Disciple from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall must have held a grudge against him.

Just as he entered the gloomy black mist of the Corpse Refining Cave and walked a few hundred steps, Shi Chuan was about to deal with the two Utility Disciples behind him.

About ten steps ahead, an Outer Sect Disciple in a black robe approached. Upon seeing Shi Chuan, he headed straight for him, holding a lifelike portrait, which he presented before Shi Chuan's eyes.

The person in the portrait was none other than Li Jiang, whom Shi Chuan had killed earlier!

‘Is this Li Meng!?’

Shi Chuan instantly understood.

Enemies often cross paths. Might as well send them all on their way together!