Chapter 96: Evil Cultivator Assassination!

Baibao Lou truly lives up to being Nanshan Fang's premier magical artifact shop; besides its flagship magical robes, it also has a plentiful stock of offensive magical swords.

After Ruan Qingzhu's instruction, a cultivator immediately brought out the top batch of magical swords from the inventory for Xiao Zhangqing to choose.

In the end, Xiao Zhangqing selected two swords of first‑rank supreme quality and four swords of first‑rank superior quality.

"I'll take these six swords; how many Spirit Stones in total?" Xiao Zhangqing asked.

"The original price was 3,739 low‑grade Spirit Stones. After the discount, Symbol Master Xiao pays… just 2,800 low‑grade Spirit Stones," Ruan Qingzhu quoted.

The discount is substantial.

Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would not receive such a discount at Baibao Lou.

Even Cao Hao, a mid‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, experiences the same.

After all, Baibao Lou is an enterprise of Baihua Valley; Ruan Qingzhu claims to be the shopkeeper, but in fact it's essentially a 'job'.

Every magical artifact and every transaction in the shop is audited by someone each year.

Ruan Qingzhu, remembering that Xiao Zhangqing once saved her son's life, used part of her own quota to give Xiao Zhangqing a discount.

"Then thank you, Manager Ruan."

Xiao Zhangqing promptly completed the payment.

He also knew Ruan Qingzhu was giving him a huge concession, so he didn't haggle.

Thus, now he can spend nearly three thousand low‑grade Spirit Stones without blinking an eye.

Had it been a few years ago, he wouldn't even dare to imagine it.

Even many poorer early‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it hard to produce three thousand low‑grade Spirit Stones.

It's because Xiao Zhangqing, as a Second‑rank Talisman Master, is the top earner of Spirit Stones in Nanshan Fang; plus Lin Zixi runs Guangju Lou, giving him a wealthy fortune.

From this, it's understandable that the Foundation Establishment cultivators behind Lai Feng Lou were reluctant to leave Nanshan Fang and venture into Great Immortal City.

He's only buying first‑rank magical artifacts; if he wanted second‑rank ones, how much would it cost? Low‑grade Spirit Stones would be counted in tens of thousands! "Manager Ruan, three days from now I'll hold a small Foundation Establishment celebration; if you have time, remember to attend."

Xiao Zhangqing issued the invitation before departing.

Ruan Qingzhu quickly nodded in agreement: "I'll definitely be there."

……

Just as Xiao Zhangqing was preparing the small Foundation Establishment celebration.

Beyond Nanshan Fang, the long‑standing Evil Cultivator formation that had been unable to break through began to show dissenting voices.

In the Evil Cultivator's plan, the first target was Yin Ye Peak Market, followed immediately by Nanshan Fang.

Then Taohua Fang.

As it turned out, Yin Ye Peak fell easily as planned, but the subsequent invasion of Nanshan Fang was thrown into disarray.

Originally, the Evil Cultivator side had the Dan‑refining cultivator 'Yin San Gongzi' personally arrange the scheme, expending much effort and even employing a rare forbidden item among Evil Cultivators today, yet it still failed.

They were forced to adjust their target on the fly, attacking Taohua Fang first. However, the Sun family's foundation in Taohua Fang was unexpectedly strong, and they spent heavy money recruiting mercenaries, leading to a stalemate.

The Evil Cultivators again shifted focus, turning back to besiege Nanshan Fang, intending to forcefully seize it.

Meanwhile, the Cao family's mid‑stage Foundation Establishment head, together with a group possessing Second‑rank Talisman Scripts and late‑stage Qi Refining cultivators who could threaten the Foundation Establishment realm, defended Nanshan Fang impenetrably.

"Yin San, the higher‑ups are now seriously dissatisfied with our progress! In nearly half a year, apart from the tiny Yin Ye Peak, we've gained nothing!"

"If this continues, punishment will surely fall upon you and me!"

Over a hundred li from Nanshan Fang, a strikingly beautiful, voluptuous female cultivator stared coldly at a dashing young master beside her, who held a folding fan.

The usually gentle‑appearing, seemingly upright Yin San Gongzi now wore an unpleasing expression.

In the task allocation, capturing Nanshan Fang was his mission, but what he once considered a walk‑in‑the‑park, now was stubbornly blocked!

It felt like a bone stuck in his throat—unable to swallow, yet unable to spit out.

Who could have imagined his flawless plan would be thwarted by a Qi Refining‑realm ant?

First, his highly‑valued Mu Renjie was eliminated, causing the plan for Baibao Lou to collapse without a fight, directly affecting all his subsequent schemes.

Not long ago, he resolved to have his subordinates strike forcefully, arrogantly seizing Nanshan Fang and killing its current strongest, Cao Hao, amidst the chaos. Yet because of Xiao Zhangqing, who was wildly selling Second‑rank Talisman Scripts in Nanshan Fang, the Foundation Establishment combat power there surged, rendering his scheme futile.

If the timing weren't not right now, and he could not enter the field personally, he would disregard his status, bully the weak, seize Xiao Zhangqing, skin and muscle‑tear him, imprison his soul, and torment him day and night! "If you're willing to help me, lend me all your subordinates; with our forces combined, the attempt half a month ago would have been enough to breach Nanshan Fang!" Yin San Gongzi said to the seductive She Ji, his expression unkind. She Ji sneered, "If I lend you my subordinates, can you give me the credit? Moreover, who told me early on that Nanshan Fang was a bag‑handed prize, everything within grasp? Yet now you need my help!"

Among Evil Cultivators, profit is paramount; even within the same formation, scheming against each other is commonplace, and it's the same among righteous cultivators.

Yin San Gongzi gazed far toward Nanshan Fang and said coldly, "No need for sarcasm. Just wait. The mountain‑guard array of Nanshan Fang has been studied thoroughly; a frontal breach is impossible, but creating a fissure is not a problem. Then we only need to send someone to infiltrate Nanshan Fang covertly, assassinate Xiao Zhangqing, cut off the source of Second‑rank Talisman Scripts, and the fall of Nanshan Fang will be only a matter of time."

She Ji, coquettishly touching her cheek, replied alluringly, "Even if you could slip into Nanshan Fang unnoticed, are you sure you can successfully assassinate Xiao Zhangqing? That kid killed your prized Mu Renjie, didn't he? Mu Renjie refined the Nether‑dark Holy Stone; although he never fully merged and lost his mind, he can't compare to a true Dan‑refining cultivator, yet he was at least a late‑stage Foundation Establishment. Which of your men would go, with a hundred percent guarantee of killing this kid? Moreover, two months ago this kid already succeeded in Foundation Establishment—how strong is he, can you be certain?"

She Ji chuckled lightly, "Or perhaps you think Mu Renjie wasn't killed by Xiao Zhangqing, that it's just a rumor spread by the Luoxia Sect? Want to gamble again?"

Yin San Gongzi didn't want to say more; confidence returned to his face as he said lightly, "Just wait and see!"

He had lost twice; how could he keep gambling? This time, of course, he had a hundred percent certainty of assassinating Xiao Zhangqing!

He didn't underestimate Xiao Zhangqing, perhaps even overestimated him. If the rumors are true—that his Soul Transformation is vastly stronger than peers and he knows secret mind‑techniques—he could threaten or even kill late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

So… if his secret mind‑technique loses its purpose, what storm could that damned little ant still stir up?

Even if he successfully establishes his foundation, so what?

The newly early‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, not even ants but slightly larger locusts, are easy enough to assassinate.

In his current arrangement, Xiao Zhangqing is destined for ten deaths without a chance of survival!

Assassinate Xiao Zhangqing, deprive Nanshan Fang of its future Second‑rank Talisman Script supply; after a few more strong assaults exhaust the existing Second‑rank Scripts, Nanshan Fang will have no room left to resist.

……

……

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

Xiao Zhangqing's small Foundation Establishment celebration invited few people, totaling fewer than twenty.

Most were old acquaintances from the original Ten‑Cave Residence, and any unfamiliar sycophants were outright rejected by Xiao Zhangqing.

He's no longer short of such gifts, nor does he fear losing anyone's face or offending anyone.

It is worth mentioning.

Mu Chunfeng was also invited by Xiao Zhangqing to attend.

This amounts to sending a signal to the outside world: Xiao Zhangqing acknowledges Mu Chunfeng as a friend, and those in Nanshan Fang who wanted to kick the Mu Clan while they were down can now restrain themselves a bit.

Although Xiao Zhangqing did not use the Foundation Establishment Pill given by Mu Chunfeng for this breakthrough, he also does not intend to return it, keeping it for his future use.

So since he promised to help the Mu Clan, he will do it thoroughly.

When Mu Chunfeng appeared at the celebration, everyone attending naturally knew this former eldest miss of Nanshan Fang.

Then he suddenly understood why, two months earlier, the Cao Clan had stopped targeting the Mu Clan, withdrawn the Mu Clan from their 'suicide squad' position, and begun spending large amounts of spirit stones and various treasures to recruit cultivators to take their place.

It turned out not that the Cao Clan had become merciful, but because Xiao Zhangqing was protecting the Mu Clan!

Interestingly, neither of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Cao Clan attended Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment celebration in person; they merely arranged for a ninth-layer Qi Refining clansman to deliver gifts on their behalf.

Cao Hao had his clansmen deliver the message, congratulating Xiao Zhangqing on his advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, saying that he had been injured in the previous battle with the Evil Cultivator and still needed recuperation, so he would not attend the celebration.

As for the Cao Clan's Supreme Elder, he didn't even send a message and simply did not come.

Xiao Zhangqing didn't mind this either, after all he and the Cao Clan originally had no particular friendship.

One mountain cannot harbor two tigers; he resides at the Jia-one Cave Abode, the most renowned location in Nanshan Fang, so the Cao Clan likely already had someone with objections to him.

As for his helping the Mu Clan stand up two months ago, which caused the Cao Clan to back down, that was merely the fuse.

Xiao Zhangqing suspects that, had it not been for the Evil Cultivator's attack and siege of Nanshan Fang, the Cao Clan might have moved against him! Of course, Xiao Zhangqing now actually wouldn't mind if the Cao Clan made a move, so he could test his true strength after Foundation Establishment.

The celebration lasted a full three hours, with host and guests enjoying themselves; only when the sky grew dark did everyone depart in droves.

The congratulatory gifts everyone presented were valuable and quite expensive; Xiao Zhangqing's hospitality was not stingy, and he also explained some of his experience and process when breaking through Foundation Establishment to several Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivators who still hoped to achieve Foundation Establishment.

It might not be useful, but it could give them a bit more reassurance.

"My lord, Manager Ruan has returned again. He says there is an important matter and wishes to discuss it privately with you…"

Xiao Zhangqing rested a while, was about to return to the training chamber to cultivate, when suddenly Lin Ziyu came to report.

(End of Chapter)