33: The Twelve Realms of Ascension: The Celestial Demon Sable's "Insight"
Nanjun Outer City, Iron Sword Sect Base.
This was a spacious manor. Although it couldn't compare to the grandeur of the Cultivation Families in the Inner City, in the chaotic Outer City, it was already a colossal entity that commanded respect.
"Bang!"
With a loud crash, a fine Red Sandalwood Eight Immortals Table was smashed to pieces by a large hand wrapped in azure Spiritual Power.
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
"What did you say? Ma San is dead? Along with seven Outer Gate Experts? All of them were lost in the Black Alley?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man wearing a gray robe, with a grim face, high cheekbones, and a pair of eagle eyes flashing with predatory malice.
He was Li Lie, the Outer Gate Elder of the Iron Sword Sect.
Kneeling at his feet were several trembling Black Alley scouts, desperately kowtowing:
"El... Elder, it's absolutely true! The person was a newcomer, looking only in his early twenties. He... he didn't even use Spiritual Power, he just relied on his Physical Body strength to crush Third Master Ma's ankle, and he severed two fine iron swords with a single slash!"
"Didn't use Spiritual Power? Just relied on his Physical Body?"
Li Lie narrowed his eyes slightly, the rage in them gradually replaced by a hint of greed.
He slowly stood up, hands clasped behind his back, radiating a Spiritual Pressure several times heavier than that of an ordinary Qi Cultivator—a sign of Spiritual Power liquefaction.
"Hmph, Mortal Martial Dao mostly stops at Marrow Cleansing Perfection. For the Physical Body to contend with a Spiritual Artifact, one must have stepped onto the threshold of the 'Twelve Stages of Ascension'."
Li Lie's voice echoed in the hall, carrying an air of superiority:
"The Immortal Ascension Path, every step is a climb to the Immortal Realm."
"The first stage, Kaiyuan Realm, involves Guiding Qi into the Body and True Qi Transforming into Essence. This merely grants an entry ticket."
"The second stage, Spirit Sea Realm, involves Gas State Liquefaction and Spiritual Power Like the Sea. Only then can one unleash true Divine Abilities and Spells."
He, Li Lie, was a genuine Spirit Sea Realm Early Stage powerhouse!
"Since that kid could instantly kill Ma San and the others, it means he is at least Kaiyuan Realm Perfection, or perhaps Cultivates some high-grade Body Refining Secret Manual."
Li Lie licked his lips, a glint flashing in his eyes:
"A Loose Cultivator with no background, possessing such cultivation and treasures at a young age... This is the heavens delivering an Opportunity right to me."
In the Cultivation world, killing people and seizing treasures was the norm.
A wild expert, in the eyes of a Sect Elder, was a walking treasure vault.
"Pass on my order!"
Li Lie waved his large hand, filled with Killing Intent:
"Block the Black Alley exit! That kid killed my nephew, this is an irreconcilable feud! This Elder will personally take action, extract his soul and refine his essence, to comfort Ma San's spirit in heaven!"
As for who would claim the Body Refining Secret Manual and treasures on that kid after the revenge, that went without saying... Meanwhile, at the Southern Commandery Market.
Lin Que did not know that he had been targeted by a Spirit Sea Realm "old monster." Of course, even if he did know, he would likely be more excited than afraid.
After all, the side effects of the Spirit Sea Realm must be much more potent than those of the Qi Refining stage.
At this moment, he was strolling along the bustling Black Market Street.
Compared to the slums of the Black Alley, this place was clearly a step up. The sides of the street were no longer lined with tattered cloth stalls, but legitimate shops and jade counters, selling items that ranged from scrap Materials to low-grade Spiritual Plants, Ores, and Talismans.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
A sudden commotion came from his chest.
Lin Que looked down and saw that the Little Snow Ferret, which had been sleeping, had woken up at some point. It poked its small white head out from his collar, its black jewel-like eyes fixed intently on a roadside sundry stall, its small paws desperately scratching Lin Que's chest.
"Hungry?" Lin Que raised an eyebrow.
"Squeak!! Squeak!!" (Not hungry! It's treasure!)
The Heavenly Demon Ferret squeaked frantically, its small tail spinning like a propeller as it pointed at the stall.
Lin Que’s heart stirred.
He had known since the first volume that although this little thing was a gold-swallowing beast, its ability to sense treasure was unparalleled. Back in the Wuyou Hall, it was the one that swallowed the treasures from three treasure boxes in a single gulp.
"Alright, I'll trust you this once."
Lin Que calmly walked up to the sundry stall.
The stall owner was a seemingly honest, middle-aged Cultivator. The stall was piled high with miscellaneous Ores and unknown metal fragments.
"Customer, feel free to look around. These are old items dug up from the Ancient Battlefield outside the city. Although they're a bit damaged, who knows, there might be an ancient relic inside!" the stall owner greeted enthusiastically.
Lin Que didn't speak, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the stall.
The Little Snow Ferret in his chest was still scratching frantically, pointing toward a dusty, cinder-like stone in the corner of the stall.
If one didn't look carefully, they might even mistake it for a brick used to prop up a table leg.
Lin Que understood.
He didn't immediately pick up the stone. Instead, he first picked up a half-broken Bronze Sword nearby and pretended to examine it:
"This sword is interesting. Although the runes on it are worn, the Materials are quite sturdy. How much?"
"Customer, you have good vision!" The stall owner's eyes lit up. "This is the personal sword of a famous general from the previous dynasty, five Spirit Stones!"
"Two pieces." Lin Que immediately haggled. "If I take this back, I'll just melt it down to refine some fine copper. For five pieces, I could buy a new one."
"This..." The stall owner looked pained. "Fine, fine, two pieces it is, just to make a sale!"
Lin Que took out two Spirit Stones and tossed them over, picking up the broken sword. Then, as if casually, he pointed to the "cinder" in the corner:
"Is this broken stone also from the Ancient Battlefield? It looks like leftover charcoal. Can you throw it in for free? I can use it to test the sword when I get back."
The stall owner glanced at the useless stone, which had been gathering dust on his stall for who knows how many years. He chuckled inwardly at the kid's lack of discernment, but pretended to be generous:
"Sure! Customer, you're straightforward! This stone is yours!"
Lin Que expressionlessly swept the broken sword and the "cinder" into his sleeve (in reality, placing them into his Storage Pouch).
The moment the items entered the pouch.
The Little Snow Ferret in his arms let out an excited "squeak." If Lin Que hadn't held it down, it probably would have burrowed straight into the Storage Pouch for a meal.
"I found a bargain."
The corner of Lin Que's mouth curled up slightly. Anything that could excite the Heavenly Demon Ferret this much was definitely not ordinary.
However.
Just as he turned to leave.
A chilling coldness suddenly rose from his spine.
This wasn't due to the weather cooling down, but... Killing Intent.
[Malicious Lock Detected!]
[Malice Source: Directly behind, thirty steps away.]
[Intensity: Spirit Sea Realm Early Stage (Killing Intent/Greed).]
The System's notification sound always arrived faster than the enemy's attack.
Lin Que paused his steps and slowly turned around.
The bustling crowd suddenly parted like a tide, making way for a wide path.
At the end of the path, Li Lie walked over with a gloomy expression, his hands clasped behind his back. Behind him followed over a dozen fully armed Iron Sword Sect Disciples, each holding sharp blades and radiating Killing Intent.
"Kid, you run quite fast."
Li Lie stopped ten steps away from Lin Que, his eagle eyes fixed on him, and a massive Spiritual Pressure pressed down like a great mountain:
"You killed people from my Iron Sword Sect, and you still dare to swagger around the market looking for treasures?"
"You certainly have guts."
When the surrounding Loose Cultivators saw this display, the scene instantly erupted.
"It's 'Eagle Claw Hand' Li Lie! The Iron Sword Sect Elder!"
"Who is that young man? How did he provoke this fiend?"
"It's over. Li Lie is a Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse. That young man is definitely dead!"
Facing the Spiritual Pressure of a Spirit Sea Realm expert, Lin Que showed no panic. Instead, he reached out and pressed down on the Little Snow Ferret in his arms, which wanted to peek out.
He looked at Li Lie as if looking at a "great gift package" delivered right to his door.
"Iron Sword Sect?"
Lin Que tilted his head, his tone so calm it was irritating:
"You hit the young one, and the old one shows up. Does your Sect have a rule called 'Calabash Brothers Saving Grandpa'?"
"Sharp tongue!"
Li Lie's expression darkened, and he stopped talking nonsense.
He took a step forward, and the bluestones beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, as a terrifying wave of Qi belonging to the Spirit Sea Realm erupted!
"Hand over your Storage Pouch, and the Body Refining Secret Manual you Cultivate! This Elder can consider leaving you a complete corpse!"
The true motive was finally revealed.
Revenge, nephew—in the face of absolute profit, these were all just excuses. What he truly coveted was the "secret" that allowed Lin Que, a Loose Cultivator, to kill several people.
[High Concentration of Greedy Malice Detected!]
[Target Locked: Li Lie (Spirit Sea Realm Early Stage).]
[Binding Successful!]
Hearing the System notification, Lin Que smiled.
It was the smile of a hunter seeing his prey fall into the net.
He slowly raised his hand and crooked a finger at Li Lie:
"You want my things?"
"Fine."
"I'll stand right here."
"Come and take them yourself."