595: Chapter 6 Treasure Hunt and Origin

Hearing Tang Xuejian's invitation, Meng Li smiled and said, "Miss Xue Jian, I appreciate your kindness, but I currently have other matters to attend to, so I won't impose."

"I will pay a visit later when I have time."

Hearing this, Tang Xuejian did not press the issue: "Fine, then I shall return first. If you ever need anything in the future, Great Master, feel free to seek me out at the Tang Clan."

"I certainly will."

After Tang Xuejian left, a rumbling sound suddenly echoed from the area.

Meng Li and Jing Tian looked toward the sound, their gaze falling upon Xu Maoshan.

Xu Maoshan patted his stomach and chuckled sheepishly: "Boss, Grandmaster Meng, it's morning. It's time for breakfast."

Jing Tian slapped his forehead and laughed: "Grandmaster Meng, the best time to arrive is the perfect time! Let's have breakfast together. After we've eaten our fill, I'll properly introduce you to the treasures cherished by the Yongan Pawnshop."

As he spoke, he glanced around, seeing no one else, and then whispered: "There are some truly good treasures that even our shopkeeper doesn't know about."

"That sounds great," Meng Li readily agreed.

Afterward, Jing Tian and Xu Maoshan went to wash up.

Meng Li had no such need.

With his current cultivation, his body had long reached the untainted state of being free from dust and required no cleansing.

After washing up, Jing Tian brought Xu Maoshan and Meng Li to a stall to eat breakfast.

The breakfast was nothing special—just steamed buns paired with wontons.

After eating simply, the three arrived at the Yongan Pawnshop.

Jing Tian began seriously introducing Meng Li to some of the genuine treasures collected in the pawnshop.

This included the broad-sleeved flowing immortal skirt.

The reason Meng Li intended to ask Jing Tian to introduce the treasures of the Yongan Pawnshop was not because he wanted to collect them, but because he lacked a Magic Treasure and wanted to find some good items to refine a few.

For the Yongan Pawnshop to operate for so long in Yu Zhou City, possessing a treasure like the broad-sleeved flowing immortal skirt that remained uncorrupted through a thousand years, it must have some real items.

When it came to familiarity with the Yongan Pawnshop, Jing Tian claimed second place, and no one dared claim first.

During this browsing, Meng Li indeed discovered some excellent items.

For example, a genuine work by Wang Xianzhi, a belt hook inlaid with gilded jade, the Zeng Zhongyou Father Kettle, a beast-faced pattern jue cup, and jade Ward off evil spirits (Bixie/Evil-Warding Beasts)...

Some of these were suitable for refining Magic Treasures.

Meng Li selected several items of relatively high quality that were easy to carry and had Jing Tian pack them up.

He Bi Ping, who was nearby, immediately pulled out an abacus to calculate the cost, but Jing Tian pulled him aside and whispered: "Grandmaster Meng is an expert, and he saved me and Mao Mao last night. Calculate a lower price for me; just make it look reasonable, don't fleece the customer."

He Bi Ping immediately showed a troubled expression: "But what about Zhao Pi Pi..."

Before he finished speaking, Jing Tian interrupted: "His appraisal skills are mediocre, and he's not here right now. Just fool him a bit. Besides, you know his character—he's a greedy vampire. No matter how much money you make for him, he won't give you a raise."

"Furthermore, I'll tell you, there's an outbreak of Poisonous People in the city recently; they bite anyone they see."

"Grandmaster Meng knows Martial Arts and Spells. If you try to gouge him and anger him..."

"What if we run into Poisonous People later and need him to save us, but he just watches and does nothing? You'll have no time to cry then."

"This... Alright then," He Bi Ping gritted his teeth and agreed.

He was a rather practical person and understood the natures of both Zhao Wenchang and Jing Tian.

It was true that Zhao Wenchang was a vampire, but Jing Tian was also someone who dreamed of getting rich, wishing he could sell something worth one hundred taels for a thousand.

Now that Jing Tian was actively telling him not to fleece Grandmaster Meng, it showed that his mention of the rescue and the Poisonous People situation was highly likely to be true.

Given this, He Bi Ping felt there was no need to play the villain.

Of course, the main reason was that trying to fleece him would yield no good results, and it would only anger Jing Tian.

Reporting a normal price, as long as he could fool Zhao Wenchang, there would be no downsides.

If he failed to fool Zhao Wenchang, the worst that could happen was pushing Jing Tian out to take the blame.

Afterward, He Bi Ping went back to calculate the prices of those few treasures.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished calculating, Meng Li said: "Let these few items stay here for now. How about I come back in a couple of days to pay and pick them up?"

"This..." He Bi Ping looked stunned.

Jing Tian was also taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "No problem, but Grandmaster Meng, it's best if you hurry. Otherwise, I fear that time brings trouble."

"I will."

Meng Li smiled and agreed, then chatted for a couple more sentences before leaving.

Once he was gone, He Bi Ping couldn't help but mutter: "Could this Grandmaster Meng be out of money?"

Jing Tian replied: "He is an expert who knows Martial Arts and Spells, how could he be out of money? And look at his clothes—does he look like someone without money? I think there must be something else going on. Even taking a step back, the items are with us. Even if he doesn't have the money and doesn't come to collect them, we suffer no loss."

He Bi Ping thought this made sense and nodded.

Afterward, Jing Tian took the packed items inside and found a place to store them securely.

What the two did not know was that Meng Li did not take the items immediately precisely because of the issue of money.

It wasn't that he had no money, but that he didn't have enough.

And regarding Jing Tian and the others, he did not intend to play any tricks.

Therefore, Meng Li arrived at the Grand Triple casino again.

He remembered that the main culprit behind the Poisonous People incident in Yu Zhou City was the notorious Pili Hall, whose leader was named Luo Rulie, an unscrupulous opportunist.

And the main base of the Pili Hall was located beneath the Grand Triple casino.

In other words, the power behind the Grand Triple casino was the Pili Hall.

Shortly after the Poisonous People appeared, the Pili Hall was wiped out.

Since that was the case, he might as well fleece them a few more times.

...

Shushan, Wuji Hall.

The four Great Elders—Cang Gu, Jing Ming, You Xuan, and He Yang—along with Xu Changqing and Chang Yin, were all gathered.

The captured Poisonous People were placed rigidly on simple wooden plank beds.

Elder He Yang held a classic text and said: "Found it! According to the records in this text, these Poisonous People were originally normal people. They only turned into their current state after being afflicted with a potent poison. Initially, there was only one; the poison refiner poured the highly refined poison into his body, causing him to lose his nature and attack humans, spreading this potent poison."

Xu Changqing's expression turned grave: "So, starting from the primary subject, the potent poison in their bodies began to spread."

Chang Yin frowned: "If this isn't stopped in time, won't everyone turn into Poisonous People?"

Just then, several unconscious Poisonous People suddenly awoke, struggling to rise with bared teeth and claws.

Xu Changqing and Chang Yin's expressions shifted slightly, and they quickly moved to restrain them.

The four Great Elders timely chanted scriptures for calming the soul and soothing the mind, but they failed to make the Poisonous People fall back into slumber as before.

Helpless, they had no choice but to use Spells to imprison the Poisonous People.

The situation was smoothly stabilized, but there was no joy on the faces of those present; instead, their expressions grew heavier.

Elder You Xuan said solemnly: "Even the Clear Heart Great Sutra has little effect. It seems the potent poison has turned them into beings no different from wild beasts."

At this moment, Xu Changqing noticed that a nearby Poisonous Person who looked like a youth was struggling, and around his neck hung a name tag shaped like a longevity lock, bearing the words 'Wen Xuan'.

His heart stirred, and he leaned closer to ask that Poisonous Person: "Wen Xuan, is your name 'Wen Xuan'?"

The Poisonous Person's eyes moved slightly, as if responding.

Elder He Yang saw this and pondered: "It seems this youth's emotions and memories have not been completely destroyed. Perhaps this is the way to awaken them."

Chang Yin immediately cupped his hands and said: "We will go down the mountain immediately to investigate the identities of these Poisonous People."

Elder Cang Gu, however, said: "You still need to go to another place. There is a Tang Family Fortress in Yu Zhou City, also known as the Tang Clan."

"They specialize in poisons; the matter of the Poisonous People might be related to them."

Saying this, he paused briefly and looked at Xu Changqing: "Changqing, you will go down the mountain together to investigate this matter."

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder He Yang added: "The current Sect Leader of the Tang Clan, Tang Kun, has some acquaintance with me. I might as well accompany you on this trip."

The three Elders Cang Gu, You Xuan, and Jing Ming nodded: "That is excellent."

Not long after, the group set off toward the Tang Clan in Yu Zhou City.

Halfway there, Chang Yin seemed to recall something and asked Xu Changqing: "Senior Brother, the information you previously mentioned about Meng Li from the Qingyun Sect—was it mistaken?"

Xu Changqing was momentarily stunned and asked suspiciously: "Why do you say that?"