161: Chapter 161 Tribulation Cultivator

"Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?"

Ouyang Li stopped and asked patiently.

Although the other party's cultivation was weaker than his, their Alchemy techniques were good, so they likely had some background.

Since they had come to find him, he should treat them with courtesy to avoid causing offense.

Fang Huai didn't waste words; he grabbed Li Zhu and threw her at Ouyang Li, while simultaneously lunging at him: "I see that your Alchemy techniques are quite good, Fellow Daoist, so I've come specifically to invite you to refine pills for me."

Li Zhu transformed into a fox demon and pounced on Ouyang Li, her bloody maw looking as if it would swallow him whole.

Ouyang Li hurriedly dodged, only to see Li Zhu spitting out a vast amount of red mist.

"Blood Jade Worms?"

Ouyang Li was quite well-traveled and immediately recognized the Gu insects within the red mist.

He hurriedly spat out Danxia Spirit Flame to burn the red mist.

At the same time, Fang Huai's figure had already arrived, his palm transforming into a bone claw as he lunged at the crown of Ouyang Li's head.

"A junior at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage dares to be so insolent?"

Although Ouyang Li didn't practice body tempering, he was confident that with his Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage Physical Body, he could definitely withstand an attack from the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, especially since the opponent was already in his twilight years.

He raised his sword to strike Fang Huai's bone claw, but with a "crack," the spirit sword was caught by Fang Huai and then twisted into a pretzel.

After twisting and breaking the spirit sword, the bone claw's momentum didn't decrease as it lunged straight for Ouyang Li's neck.

"I was careless! Teleportation Talisman!"

Ouyang Li instantly activated the talisman and moved a hundred zhang away. Looking back, he saw Fang Huai recklessly chasing after him.

Although he was at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, he was far behind Fang Huai in terms of both flight speed and physical strength.

Thinking of this, he used his last Teleportation Talisman.

Two high-quality Teleportation Talismans had cost nearly a hundred Spirit Stones, but now was not the time to be stingy. If he died, the remaining Spirit Stones would be useless.

He pushed his gourd to its limit, but suddenly, the feeling of spiritual energy depletion that had occurred during the assessment reappeared.

"Fellow Daoist, I have no grievances or enmity with you. Why make things difficult for me? If you lack wealth, I can give some to you. If you want my life, you must consider my Ouyang Bloodline."

Ouyang Li was powerless to flee. Standing in mid-air, he slapped on several spiritual light talismans, which shone around his body.

Fang Huai arrived unhurriedly. Seeing Ouyang Li's pathetic state, he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be nervous. I simply saw your superb Alchemy skills and felt a desire to cherish such talent. I'm merely inviting you to become my honored guest."

"And if I refuse?"

Ouyang Li had already sent out a distress talisman. Calculating the time, as long as he held out for half an incense stick's time, the rescue Cultivators would arrive.

"Then I'll kill you!"

How could Fang Huai not see through his thoughts? He pressed his palm against his spine, and spiritual energy guided the spine sword as it was drawn from his back.

The spine sword had the effects of polluting spiritual energy and breaking spells. It was the perfect time to test its effectiveness against the spiritual light shield.

Seeing such a bloody scene, Ouyang Li exclaimed in shock, "Are you a demonic Cultivator?"

"Slow reaction!"

After Fang Huai spoke, the spine sword slashed against the spiritual light shield. Under this single strike, the seemingly sturdy shield actually developed small cracks.

Taking this opportunity, the bone claw lunged out, directly shattering the spiritual light shield and grabbing Ouyang Li's neck inside.

"Death or life?"

Fang Huai lifted Ouyang Li up like a chick, his words delivering a final ultimatum.

"Life, I want to live!"

How could Ouyang Li be willing to die? Besides, if he were killed by a demonic Cultivator, his soul would not find peace.

Under such circumstances, he naturally tried every possible way to survive.

Fang Huai dropped his fierce expression and smiled: "If you had this realization earlier, I wouldn't have had to waste so much time."

However, wanting to live cannot just be words; you also need to make a small oath...

Ningyun City.

The beautiful woman paced back and forth in the room, cursing under her breath.

"I haven't had a single day of good life following Hang Wanglong. I was originally thinking of stealing his Storage Pouch and flying away one day, but now look, I'm stuck in this Pill Refining Room for the rest of my life."

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A heavy knocking sounded from the door.

"Knock, knock, knock! Knock your ghost, I'm not deaf!"

The beautiful woman cursed angrily and slowly moved to the front room. She pulled the door open forcefully, only to find a Foundation Establishment Cultivator looking at her with an unfriendly expression.

"Immortal Master... may I ask what business brings you here?" the beautiful woman asked with a trembling voice.

"I am Ouyang Li, I've come to refine pills!"

Fang Huai and Luo Yao sat together on a Transport Beast.

Luo Yao was in a good mood. The ten-year-long trade expedition had earned her quite a bit, especially after buying low and selling high a large batch of Alchemy Materials in Ningyun City, making her confident that her gains would exceed those of her elder brother.

The caravan arrived at the edge of the Purple Ink Sand Sea. The purple sea of sand stretched as far as the eye could see, with countless rays of light shimmering on the horizon. Such a magnificent sight was rare in the Mortal world.

Luo Yao gazed into the distance and said, "This will be the last time I pass through here as the Young Miss of the Luo family. The next time I come here for trade, I will be the head of the Luo family."

Fang Huai said softly, "You're quite confident. I'm curious, what exactly is your family head assessment like?"

Luo Yao said, "It's very simple. First is a comparison of income, which is the proceeds from this trade expedition, and second is a comparison of Realm, which is cultivation."

Fang Huai asked, "In the trade comparison, what if someone cheats and misreports their income?"

Luo Yao said, "There is a Heart-Questioning Gu in the Changfeng Chamber of Commerce. During the assessment, my brother and I will be made to consume this Gu. If we falsely report the amount, the Heart-Questioning Gu will immediately devour our hearts."

"And what if one wins in income but loses in Realm, or vice versa?"

"Then I will need you to help me..."

In the Purple Ink Sand Sea, violent winds swept through.

This kind of storm, carrying Evil Qi, cut off the connection between the surrounding Mortal towns and Jinyu City.

But for the Changfeng Chamber of Commerce, it was not an obstacle.

Luo Yao had traveled this trade route several times, and with the Star Compass as a guide, it was naturally impossible for a mere gale to block their path.

However, the sudden appearance of Killing Intent in the sand sea caused Luo Yao and the others to stop in their tracks.

"Fellow Daoists on the road, I am Luo Yao of the Changfeng Chamber of Commerce. I am willing to pay three thousand Spirit Stones for safe passage. I hope you all will let us through."

Although she hadn't seen the Bandit Cultivators yet, at this critical juncture, Luo Yao was willing to use Spirit Stones to buy safety.

"Bang!"

Several millstone-sized Wind Blades struck directly at Luo Yao, serving as a response to her words.

"Is there no room for negotiation, Fellow Daoists?" Luo Yao hurriedly dodged.

"Talk my ass!"

Fang Huai launched several sword lights toward the direction where the Wind Blades had come from, and instantly heard several miserable howls: "They've already come to rob you, and you're still thinking of paying for your life?"

Fang Huai's Divine Sense far exceeded Luo Yao's. Combined with the System's detection function, he had already identified the Bandit Cultivators.

One Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage and five Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators. Such a configuration lying in ambush in the desert was definitely not just for wealth, but more likely for their lives.

Those Bandit Cultivators definitely knew there were spirit meteor cannons on the Transport Beasts, so they kept their distance and attacked from afar, preferring to consume more spiritual energy rather than have their positions discovered.

These solid Foundation Establishment Cultivators were much stronger than Luo Yao's group, who had been forced up through Spirit Pills and secret methods. The techniques from their Secret Manuals struck the Changfeng caravan, causing casualties among the Qi Refining Cultivators.

If Luo Yao and the others took the initiative to attack, the Bandit Cultivators could split some of their people to attack the Transport Beasts. If they didn't take the initiative, they would eventually be worn down to death.