84: Leaving the Market

So, after a simple wash and meal, he immediately went to the Town Market and wandered around.

Compared to yesterday's liveliness, Qing Ling Market was noticeably much quieter today, which was obviously due to the large number of Loose Cultivators who had all gone to the ancient ruins.

However, no news had come back so far, suggesting that exploring the ancient ruins was not an easy task.

Those Family and Sect forces probably intended to let the Loose Cultivators scout ahead, which was why they didn't make any moves at first.

Of course, these matters had little to do with Gu Chang. Without obtaining any valuable information, Gu Chang simply spent his last twenty-odd Spirit Stones, purchasing two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills that could aid in Cultivation.

Afterward, he directly returned to his Immortal Cave to continue drawing Talismans and Cultivating.

The tranquility of Qingling Mountain Trading District lasted for about five days. On the fifth day, when Gu Chang went out again, he immediately heard the news.

“They struck it rich! They struck it rich!”

“It's actually a Secret Realm of the legendary Spirit Jade Sect! Not only are there a large number of Spirit Medicines inside, but there's even a Legacy!”

“Someone actually obtained Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma inside! That's the main ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills!”

“Hiss~ How could there be such a good thing?”

“Isn't that right? Several Family Cultivators immediately wanted to buy it on the spot. Just this one type of Spirit Medicine is worth over a thousand Spirit Stones!”

“There's still a large area that hasn't been unsealed yet; there will definitely be good things inside!”

“…”

The Cultivators who returned to the Town Market immediately boasted about their experiences in the ancient ruins, instantly causing some Cultivators who were not very moved to become interested.

After all, this world is material. Cultivating, Cultivating, no matter how firm one's Dao Heart is, what's the use if there are no Cultivation resources to support it?

However, Gu Chang already felt that something was very wrong; things were clearly developing in the worst direction he had anticipated.

“I can't stay on Qingling Mountain anymore!”

“I must leave quickly, right now!”

As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall. Although Gu Chang was not exactly a gentleman, he still possessed the instinct to seek good fortune and avoid disaster.

All he needed was a place suitable for Cultivation, not to be embroiled in various troubles.

So, having made up his mind, Gu Chang immediately went to various shops to sell a portion of the Talismans in his possession for Spirit Stones, and then used these Spirit Stones to purchase the resources he needed for Cultivation.

Then he walked out of Qing Ling Market without looking back, looking just like an excited Cultivator.

“It's a pity my Cultivation is only at Qi Refining Third Stage right now, otherwise, Flying Sword would be much faster!”

The biggest problem in the Early Stage of Qi Refining is insufficient magical power. Without magical power support, any Spell, Magical Artifact manipulation, or even the hundred arts of Cultivation are relatively difficult to perform.

After leaving the Town Market, Gu Chang plunged directly into the misty mountains and quickly disappeared.

However, about half an hour after Gu Chang left the Town Market, he suddenly discovered that he was surrounded.

“I didn't expect it to be Shopkeeper Lin. May I ask why you are waiting for me here?”

Gu Chang looked at the familiar person stepping on a Flying Sword in front of him, as well as the other Cultivators subtly surrounding him. His heart sank instantly, and he feigned a nervous expression before asking the other party.

“Fellow Daoist Zhao, you're being too formal. I, Lin, have come to find you for a great opportunity!”

Shopkeeper Lin looked calm and composed, not overly worried about Gu Chang, whose strength was only at Qi Refining Third Stage.

After all, his own strength had already reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and there were three other members of his clan accompanying him, whose strengths had also reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refining. There was no way they could lose.

“Good opportunity? What good opportunity?”

Gu Chang felt somewhat speechless upon hearing this. This scene clearly indicated they were here to ambush him, no doubt about it.

He just couldn't understand what he possessed that was worth such a grand operation from the other party. The small amount of Spirit Stones he earned from drawing Talismans was truly nothing to a Late Stage Qi Refining shopkeeper.

“I, Lin, see that Fellow Daoist possesses extraordinary talent and an uncommon demeanor, so I have specifically come to invite Fellow Daoist to join my Lin Family. At that time, not only will we provide Fellow Daoist with the resources needed for daily Cultivation, but we can even marry a female Cultivator from our clan to Fellow Daoist. What do you say?”

A hint of a smile appeared on Shopkeeper Lin's face upon hearing this, and he then explained his purpose to Gu Chang.

“Thank you for Shopkeeper Lin's kindness, but I am accustomed to being free and unfettered, so I'm afraid I cannot accept your kind offer.”

Gu Chang froze in place upon hearing his purpose.

He had wondered why a wealthy Family Cultivator would be interested in the small amount of Spirit Stones in his pocket. So it turned out this was his intention!

That's right, what were those few Spirit Stones on him?

As long as they got him, a talented person, Spirit Stones could be earned back very quickly. As long as he was imprisoned and controlled, drawing Talismans every day and sowing seeds daily—that was the true treasure trove, the gold mine!

How dark! The people in the Cultivation world are truly dark!

This kind of blatant act of turning a Cultivator into a slave or a breeding pig is truly terrifying!

“Uncle, why waste so many words with him? Just beat him half to death and bring him back; that's the important thing!”

“Exactly. Once we get him back and serve him well, no matter how stubborn he is, he'll immediately become obedient!”

“He's just a Qi Refining Third Stage Loose Cultivator, how many tricks can he have?”

Seeing Gu Chang refuse, the other few Cultivators from the Lin Family immediately clamored, as they had long disliked Shopkeeper Lin's approach.

“Heh heh, it seems Fellow Daoist prefers the hard way!”

Shopkeeper Lin's expression darkened when he saw Gu Chang directly refuse. Then, his whole body's magical power vibrated, and he immediately attacked Gu Chang.

In an instant, magical power condensed directly into a giant hand that enveloped Gu Chang from above.

“Sigh, why do they have to force me?”

Seeing that things couldn't end well, Gu Chang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Couldn't these Cultivators just Cultivate honestly?

“Boom! Rumble!”

“Bang bang bang!”

The next moment, several jars containing a large number of Blazing Flame Talismans were thrown out by Gu Chang, immediately producing huge explosions that forced the surrounding Cultivators to defend with all their might.

At the same time, as Gu Chang's primary target, several golden saber shadows appeared out of thin air in front of Shopkeeper Lin, then shot towards him.

“Golden Blade Talisman!”

“Bang bang bang!”

The moment these golden saber shadows appeared, Shopkeeper Lin released a turtle shell-shaped shield Magical Artifact to block in front of him.

“Boom! Roar!!!”

“Roar!”

However, at this point, Gu Chang, having finished these actions, had already changed positions. The Martial Dao Divine Paragon appeared, sabers and spears raised, with a tiger's roar and a Dragon's cry.

In the blink of an eye, he charged towards the other three Lin Family Cultivators, and his very first move was his ultimate killing blow!

“Crack! Pfft!”

With just one strike, he hit one of them. Although the opponent had a defense similar to a Vajra Talisman, it was completely useless against Gu Chang's full-power attack. In an instant, the opponent's body was torn apart!

“No! Uncle, save me!”

The other two Lin Family Cultivators, who had just recovered from the explosion, were scared out of their wits when they saw this scene.

“Hmph!!!”

However, Gu Chang's movements were even faster. The Soul Shocking Roar erupted, his four wings spread, and he instantly appeared before the two of them. The Seven Kill Saber Technique wielded like a torrential storm, raining down densely upon their bodies.

“Pfft! Ah!”

“Uncle!!!”

“Die!”