191: Fight, leave the city

“This Legacy originated from the legendary Thousand Machine Sect. The Puppet Cultivators of the Thousand Machine Sect were known as Cultivators who were invincible among those of the same Realm.”

“Legend has it that the Thousand Machine Puppet Art was the Sect’s most prized Magic Treasure, making its Legacy incredibly rare and valuable.”

“However, let me state upfront that this Legacy was accidentally obtained by Tianbo City, and it is incomplete. Although it records the Thousand Machine Sect’s Puppet Legacy and Golden Core Stage Puppet control methods, the part about Puppet creation only covers the Early Stage of the Golden Core. Its true value lies in the Thousand Machine Sect’s methods.”

“Nevertheless, this Legacy is still extremely valuable, and its price will not be cheap.”

At this moment, on the central display platform of the auction house, a seemingly ordinary Jade Slip lay quietly.

Within that Jade Slip, the Legacy of the Thousand Machine Puppet Art was contained, and Chen Cuo’s eyes were still burning with fervor.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators cast eager glances. Such a Legacy was priceless to any force.

Because a Puppet Legacy is different from others; as long as one can comprehend it, it can greatly enhance one’s strength and bring immense assistance to one’s force.

“Starting bid, five hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!” Vice President Pang Shan’s voice echoed through the auction house, instantly igniting everyone’s enthusiasm.

“Each bid must not be less than fifty Medium Grade Spirit Stones.”

One Medium Grade Spirit Stone equals one hundred ordinary Spirit Stones, meaning the starting bid alone was fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

“Damn it, that’s really expensive!” Chen Cuo gasped. “If not for the support of the entire Chamber of Commerce, I really wouldn’t dare to speak.”

Many Cultivators began to bid, and the price soared.

In various corners of the auction house, many Cultivators from major forces also showed a hint of longing in their eyes.

“Eight hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

“One thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones.”

This price! Aside from Cultivators with the backing of a force, how could a Foundation Establishment cultivator afford it?

“Two thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones! I hope everyone will give Linglongzi some Face. This one values this Legacy greatly…”

“Hmph, Fellow Daoist, do not rely on the power of Linglong Pavilion to oppress others, or do not blame this Pang for being impolite. In an auction, the highest bidder wins. Anyone who tries to bully others with their influence again…”

Linglong Pavilion is also one of the second-rate forces, similar to Lingbao Mountain. The Cultivators within the pavilion are mostly known for their mastery of escape techniques, which are truly astonishing.

Their mastery of escape techniques is unparalleled, and few would dare to disagree.

Linglong Pavilion excels in speed, and the Cultivators of this Sect are excellent candidates for assassins.

In fact, that is precisely the case.

The relationship between Linglong Pavilion and other forces is complex, sometimes cooperative, sometimes contentious.

Relying on their excellent escape techniques and wisdom, they navigate freely among the major forces.

And Linglongzi is also the title for their Sect’s Saint, and that person, unexpectedly, is a Cultivator at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, his actions were undoubtedly disrupting the order of the auction, so even though Vice President Pang Shan’s cultivation was slightly lower, he was not afraid at all. After all, he represented the Puppeteer Association of Tianbo City.

Nevertheless, with this incident, the lively atmosphere of the auction immediately cooled down. No one was willing to risk offending Linglong Pavilion to compete for this Legacy again.

“Two thousand five hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

A voice suddenly appeared, and everyone was immediately startled, looking towards the source of the sound.

The person who made the bid was naturally Chen Cuo. At this time, he had already concealed his aura to appear as an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a burly appearance. Bai Tang, who was behind him, wore a white bamboo hat with a veil, which was clearly a Magical Artifact, completely obscuring herself.

“This… who is so bold! To dare offend the Saint of Linglong Pavilion, that Cultivator is surely doomed.”

“Yes, yes, the Cultivators of Linglong Pavilion are natural assassins.”

Linglongzi was dressed in black, with sinister eyes. Behind him was an old man at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, who looked coldly towards Chen Cuo.

Linglongzi snorted coldly, then chuckled, “Hmph, Fellow Daoist, you have guts. Two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.”

The cultivation Dao of Linglong Pavilion emphasizes Spells, methods, and wisdom, but is casual about Physical Body strength. There are very few cases of Dual Cultivation of both Law and Body. In short, close combat is a weakness.

Linglongzi possesses a rare Wind Spiritual Root, and is only a hair's breadth away from reaching the Heavenly Spiritual Root Aptitude, far superior to Chen Cuo's Senior Brother Feng Wuchen.

His Master, Immortal Master Huang Feng, a Golden Core Cultivator of Linglong Pavilion, is known as the number one in escape techniques in the West Sacred Continent, even surpassing some Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Their common weakness is their lack of proficiency in close combat, which is why Linglong Pavilion Cultivators enjoy researching protective Dao methods. For example, Linglongzi always brings his elderly Protector slave with him whenever he travels.

Chen Cuo could tell that the Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was a Body Cultivator.

However, Linglongzi’s Master, after reaching the Golden Core, developed a fondness for researching the Dao of Puppets, and had achieved some success. When fighting others, he would unleash dozens of Puppets at the Foundation Establishment Realm simultaneously. Not to mention Golden Core Cultivators, even Nascent Soul Cultivators would find it a headache.

There was nothing they could do. If they fought, the opponent used a human-wave tactic, and if they ran, they couldn’t outrun him. He was quite a figure in the West Sacred Continent.

No Cultivator who has reached Foundation Establishment is foolish. Even if they didn't know Immortal Master Huang Feng, they knew that a Golden Core Cultivator was not to be trifled with, and Linglongzi himself was not weak.

Linglongzi was also eager to hunt, knowing that this auction in Tianbo City had a Golden Core Puppet Legacy, and specifically wanted to buy it to offer to his Master.

That’s why he revealed his identity and tried to forcefully bid earlier. The Puppet City behind Tianbo City is also a second-rate force, and being proficient in the Dao of Puppets, they have a good relationship with his Master, so he couldn’t offend them too much.

Seeing Chen Cuo being so ignorant, he found it amusing instead and did not threaten him further.

However, Chen Cuo paid no mind and continued to bid indifferently, “Three thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Three thousand one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Four thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Four thousand one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Five thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones!”

Bai Tang trembled behind Chen Cuo, “This is too extravagant!”

Five thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones, that’s five hundred thousand Spirit Stones! At the current income of the Chamber of Commerce, it’s almost a year’s worth of profit. Such a large expenditure at once means that recent business expansion will have to halt.

However, Chen Cuo naturally had his own plans. The expansion of the Chamber of Commerce could be slowed down, but the research of the Puppet Craftsman could not stop.

Once he can refine Magic Treasures, the Chamber of Commerce will quickly recover.

As soon as the price of five thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones was announced, it had far exceeded Vice President Pang Shan’s expectations, and also the expectations of most Cultivators, who were able to witness this good show.

Even Linglongzi was furious, his eyes filled with so much hatred that it almost overflowed. He wished he could slice Chen Cuo into a thousand pieces on the spot.

However, this price had far exceeded what a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could afford, so he dared not bid further.

After three confirmations, the Puppet Legacy officially fell into Chen Cuo’s hands.

The remaining auction items, though valuable, held little interest for him. Having secured the Puppet Legacy, and due to Linglongzi’s idiocy, which caused him to spend so many extra Spirit Stones, he also had to consider the Chamber of Commerce.

Even if it meant not expanding temporarily, he couldn't overdraw their potential or exhaust their resources.

So he gave up. After Tianbo City delivered the auction item, he paid the Spirit Stones directly and then swaggered out of the city.

Inevitably, several figures appeared behind him, their eyes burning as they looked at this fat sheep.

However, when an old man and a young man, both Foundation Establishment cultivators, closely followed, many others were deterred.

Chen Cuo and Bai Tang did not conceal their tracks at all, but as soon as they left the city, the two boarded a Spirit Wind Boat and quickly sped away from Tianbo City.

Soon, Chen Cuo hurried in the direction of Yuanfu Sect, which was towards Tianshui Sect.

Feeling the countless Cultivator auras behind him, he and Bai Tang plunged into a watery wilderness. After randomly choosing a direction, they disappeared into the vast swamp.

The people behind followed closely, but some, not accustomed to the power of the water, retreated, their numbers dwindling.

Chen Cuo hurried to a watery island, where the mist was thick, the fine rain continuous, and the water vapor abundant, but unfortunately, it was not a Spiritual Vein.

Chen Cuo threw out a set of Formation Plates and handed them to Bai Tang, instructing her to arrange them around the island, awaiting the enemy.

After a short while, the Formation was set up.

Soon, human voices were heard from outside, “Great Master Mo, that rogue who forcibly bought my Thunder-Struck Wood Blazing Flame is in this Formation. Please act quickly, Great Master.”

A moment later, the Formation set up by Chen Cuo was bombarded by countless Puppets, and streams of Spell light struck the Formation shield, causing the Formation to totter.

Chen Cuo had now set up a safe barrier within the Formation, then manipulated the Life and Death Talisman Needle to make Bai Tang fall unconscious, placing her within the barrier.

A moment later, the Formation shattered with a bang, even the Formation Plate was destroyed. There was nothing to be done, after all, it was only a Formation of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Being able to block Cultivators of the same Realm for so long proved that his Formation Dao cultivation was finally not that of a novice. At the very least, it should be rated as masterly.

“Oh, you’re the first to arrive.”

Chen Cuo felt a trace of disbelief. He didn't expect that among the several Foundation Establishment cultivators outside, it wasn't someone from Linglong Pavilion, nor those Cultivators who participated in the auction, but the Cultivator who sold him the Wood-attributed Spirit Fire, Thunder-Struck Wood Blazing Flame—the Loose Cultivator Wang Anping.

“Great Master Mo, you must uphold justice for me! It was this person who, relying on his identity as a Cultivator from a major force, forcibly bought the Spirit Fire from my hand. That Spirit Fire was originally prepared for you to offer!”

“Great Master Mo, such a display, could it be Mo Wuying, the Cultivator stationed in Tianbo City’s Puppet City?!”

The Chamber of Commerce, doing business with shops in Tianbo City, naturally had also learned about the information of this city. The Cultivators of Puppet City would also send Great Cultivators to be stationed in this city for easier governance.

And this person was precisely Mo Wuying, a Golden Core Cultivator from Puppet City, in the Early Stage of Golden Core.

Only a Golden Core Cultivator could instantly control a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Puppets, breaking Chen Cuo’s Formation in mere moments.

Chen Cuo’s heart tightened slightly. Looking at the countless Puppets around him, and the dozen or so Cultivators, he remained very calm.

“Brother Wang, when I did business with you, we signed an agreement. Now you’re going back on your word and slandering me. Aren’t you afraid of damaging your Dao Heart?”

“Great Master Mo, I am a Disciple of Lingbao Mountain. My business dealings have always been based on integrity. How could there be any forced buying or selling? Everything Chen says is true, and I will never deceive you.”

Facing a Golden Core Cultivator, Chen Cuo naturally explained a bit more. Both being second-rate forces, Puppet City had three Golden Core Cultivators, making its overt strength slightly stronger than Lingbao Mountain.

When Mo Wuying saw Chen Cuo display the nameplate of a Lingbao Mountain Disciple, a flicker of surprise crossed his Face, but he quickly returned to normal, showing a hint of unexpected amusement.

Wang Anping was startled upon seeing this. He knew that the other party had done business with him under the name of a Chamber of Commerce, only knowing that the other party was a fat sheep, but he never expected him to be a Disciple of Lingbao Mountain. Now he had to worry about Great Master Mo silencing him.

However, he still braced himself and said, “I, Wang, swear on my Dao Heart: if selling the Thunder-Struck Wood Blazing Flame was my true intention, then let me be pierced by ten thousand swords, shattered to pieces, and forever cut off from the immortal path.”

Mo Wuying’s smile widened. He looked at Chen Cuo, and with a strange expression, said, “Young Friend, you see that Fellow Daoist Wang has sworn on his Dao Heart. I’m afraid this matter is not false. Why don’t you hand over that Spirit Fire to me and return to Tianbo City with me? I will give you an explanation, how about that?”

“Heh heh!”

Chen Cuo scoffed twice!

Then he looked towards another direction, a place covered in mist, and said, “Since you Fellow Daoists have arrived, why not reveal yourselves!”

Chen Cuo’s voice seemed to carry an inexplicable power. In the blink of an eye, the concealed flowing clouds immediately dispersed, revealing the Cultivators hidden within. Seven or eight people were grouped together, with a scattering of more than a dozen Cultivators behind them.

“Linglongzi, what are you doing here?” Mo Wuying naturally recognized the leading Cultivator in the cloud group at a glance. Then, looking at the Protector Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator behind him, his expression stiffened.

Although his Puppets were numerous enough, facing a Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator who was only one major Realm away, crushing the Puppets under his command was still easily achievable.

Moreover, Puppeteers and Linglong Pavilion Cultivators are quite similar, both having physically weak existences. Once such a Body Cultivator gets close, even if he is a Golden Core Cultivator, he will not fare well.

Naturally, his expression was not very good.

“This nephew greets Great Master Mo. I am here to pursue this person. This person greatly offended me at the auction, and I am looking for trouble with him!”

“I wonder what grudge Great Master Mo has with him? This nephew is willing to settle this person for Great Master Mo, but I desire something on his person. What does Great Master Mo think?”

Linglongzi’s tone was respectful, but his words clearly made Mo Wuying somewhat angry. Linglongzi clearly didn’t put him in his eyes.

“Hmph, then suit yourself. But if what you want concerns me, then I will not let it rest.”

“Haha, naturally not!”

Chen Cuo’s expression was strange. This group of people, weren’t they too ridiculous? At this moment, he was still standing right here, and the other side had already started discussing how to divide the spoils.

Chen Cuo narrowed his eyes and chuckled.

“Hahahahaha, hahahahaha, hilarious, hilarious, truly hilarious!”

“Hmm, you rogue, what are you laughing at?”

“Laughing at what? Heh, a bunch of pig-dog-like things, actually discussing killing a tiger and eating its meat. Isn’t that laughable enough?”