Chapter 228: Targeted

"Five Elements Primordial Qi Spirit Peaches, starting bid: eight hundred medium-grade spirit stones."

"Each increment must be no less than fifty medium-grade spirit stones."

As Xue Zhili's voice fell,

the underground venue of the black market auction erupted in clamor; countless cultivators strained their voices to the limit and began bidding one after another.

Those Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivators, watching the bidding price leave them far behind, could only sigh in helplessness.

Such supreme-grade spirit fruits naturally could only be purchased by those Foundation Establishment cultivators with deep reserves.

Moreover, once such a spirit fruit was sold, many cultivators would likely choose to consume it on the spot; otherwise, within the black market where fish and dragons mingled, one might easily become targeted by those with ulterior motives.

Whether one could walk out safely was uncertain; only once inside the stomach was it truly safe.

"One thousand two hundred fifty!"

"One thousand three hundred!"

The auction continued; even Qin Ming himself had not expected these Five Elements Primordial Qi Spirit Peaches to be so popular.

It was nearly identical to the scene of low-grade rogue cultivators fighting over Foundation Establishment Pills.

Thinking of his remaining eight hundred and sixty-plus years of lifespan, as well as the endless supply of spirit peaches he could eat, Qin Ming felt a surge of emotion.

In the final stages of the auction, only a few old monsters at the peak of Foundation Establishment remained bidding.

To Qin Ming's great surprise, the white-faced middle-aged man transformed by Lin Zixiao continued to place bids alongside them.

Furthermore, each bid was exactly fifty spirit stones higher than the previous cultivator's.

"Two thousand!"

"Two thousand and fifty!"

Gradually, the competition among those few peak Foundation Establishment cultivators reached a white-hot stage.

"Two thousand two hundred!"

As a vigorous voice rang out, no other cultivator followed with a higher bid.

The bidder was none other than Muhe Laogui, whom Qin Ming had seen earlier.

His eyes burned intensely as he stared at the spirit peaches on the platform; it seemed this price was the absolute limit he could offer.

Hearing the silence settle around him, a trace of nervousness flashed across Muhe's expression.

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty!"

Lin Zixiao's voice, calm as a still well, rang out, completely shattering Muhe's illusions.

Xue Zhili's face nearly split from smiling; seeing no one else bid, he immediately announced, "Two thousand two hundred and fifty, once!"

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty, twice!"

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty, thrice!"

"Sold!"

"Congratulations to this Daoist friend!"

With Xue Zhili's decisive hammer strike, the Five Elements Primordial Qi Spirit Peaches on the platform were delivered by a maid to the white-faced middle-aged man transformed by Lin Zixiao.

Muhe Laogui's eyes seemed ready to drip blood; simultaneously, countless gazes fixed upon the white-faced middle-aged man.

Lin Zixiao did not glance sideways; after handing over the spirit stones, he placed the Five Elements Primordial Qi Spirit Peach into a jade box and stored it away.

'It seems this person has no intention of consuming it immediately.'

Witnessing this scene, many cultivators in the venue began harboring wicked thoughts.

After all, those who came to trade in the black market surely included many with vicious intentions.

"Very well, this black market auction has concluded successfully!"

"Fellow Daoists may now communicate amongst yourselves or depart at your leisure."

"When the next trading assembly begins, this old man shall invite you all to attend once more."

Following this, Xue Zhili declared the black market trading session ended.

After instructing his subordinates, Xue Zhili strode over to Qin Ming and, with a broad smile, handed him a bag of spirit stones.

"Hehe! Daoist Friend Qin, here are the spirit stones after deducting the commission: a total of three thousand eight hundred and twenty-five medium-grade spirit stones; please count them."

Qin Ming took the bag of spirit stones, swept his gaze inside to confirm the amount was correct, then stored it away.

"The number of spirit stones is correct. Daoist Friend Xue, Qin Mou has urgent matters to attend to and must take his leave first."

"Very well! When Daoist Friend Qin has free time, you may come to my residence in Canghai Immortal City for a gathering," Xue Zhili said with a laugh.

Subsequently, Qin Ming did not linger further; he followed the path he had come by to return to the surface.

Suddenly!

He swept his gaze through the crowd and discovered quite a few cultivators with ill intent fixing their eyes upon him.

'One should not display wealth; it seems I've been targeted.'

'Xue Zhili's confidentiality measures were far too poor; I won't be coming next time.'

'Fortunately, this trip was not in vain; unexpectedly, I managed to assemble the other half of the bronze mirror,' Qin Ming thought as he walked outward, vigilantly observing the cultivators around him.

However, his brows furrowed as he suddenly sensed the white-faced middle-aged man transformed by Lin Zixiao walking toward him.

"Daoist Friend Qin, what a coincidence?"

"Would you like to travel together?"

Lin Zixiao asked with a smiling face.

"No, Qin Mou's route does not align with yours, Daoist Friend; let us part ways here," Qin Ming rejected without a moment's hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zixiao froze; he had not expected Qin Ming to answer so decisively.

He could only offer an embarrassed smile. "Hehe, then let us meet again when fate allows."

"I felt an instant kinship with Fellow Daoist Qin; I merely wished to make your acquaintance."

Qin Ming secretly cursed this old fox in his heart; nine times out of ten, the man was plotting against him again.

They truly had felt an instant kinship, yet Lin Zi could never have imagined that his disguise had already been seen through by Qin Ming.

"Next time, certainly! Next time, certainly!"

"Qin Mou has urgent matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."

Qin Ming replied with those words, then quickened his pace and exited that artifact-refining shop.

He could still feel himself firmly locked onto by the divine senses of no fewer than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators.

'This black market holds many treasures, yet the risks are equally substantial.'

'I wonder what went wrong with Xue Zhili this time; somehow, so many rogue cultivators have managed to slip in.'

'If this band of rogue cultivators fails to know what's good for them, then they cannot blame me for being ruthless!'

Qin Ming's expression remained unchanged; alone, he exited the market town, then rode the air flying southward.

The moment he had just departed, over a dozen cultivators of various appearances also soared into the sky in pursuit.

These dozen-plus cultivators clearly did not belong to the same faction.

"So we are all comrades of the greenwood, hehehe!"

"That Fellow Daoist Qin from the State of Wei is a fat sheep indeed!"

"We spotted him first."

"We all eat from this same bowl of rice; let us skip such formalities."

"Let us settle the matter with our fists and feet after we capture that lad."

"Hurry and catch up, or else he will escape."

"Rest assured; how could a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment spirit planter escape the grasp of us Five Demons of Blade Peak Mountain?"

"Far too wishful thinking."

Over a dozen trails of escaping light flashed and vanished in an instant, speeding rapidly in Qin Ming's direction.

Half a teacup of time later, this group caught up to Qin Ming.

Immediately afterward, this band of rogue cultivators swiftly surrounded Qin Ming on all sides.

Among them, a bald, burly man spoke to Qin Ming with a sinister grin:

"I have long heard of the great name of Fellow Daoist Qin, the Island Lord of Moon-Gazing Island; I have also heard that Moon-Gazing Island is filled entirely with treasures, yet alas, the misty illusion realm outside is too formidable, leaving me no chance to behold it."

"Otherwise..."

"Could Fellow Daoist Qin guide us rough folk on a brief tour?"

"I can guarantee that when Fellow Daoist Qin dies shortly, you will suffer slightly less physical torment."

Surrounded by this band of rogue cultivators, Qin Ming remained expressionless, showing not the slightest trace of panic.

He roughly scanned these cultivators; most were at the early or mid Foundation Establishment stage, with only three at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

'It just so happens that my innate spirit plant, the Yin-Yang Yang Xuanteng, has not received nourishment for quite some time; since this band of rogue cultivators has delivered themselves to my door, they can serve as fertilizer.'

A smile appeared on Qin Ming's face as he spoke: "Naturally, there are many treasures on Moon-Gazing Island, yet Qin Mou happens to be carrying a few great treasures on his person; I can allow you all to view them briefly."

"Oh? What great treasures? Bring them out quickly so we may see."

Seeing Qin Ming surrounded yet displaying such composure, this band of rogue cultivators began to grow secretly wary.

To work in this trade and reach the level of a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator requires a certain degree of professional competence.

Nevertheless, with such overwhelming numbers on their side, even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it impossible to escape now, wings or no wings.

Thus, they also wished to see exactly what trick Qin Ming intended to play.

Qin Ming smiled faintly, then immediately slapped his spirit pet bag.

Three massive figures, emanating terrifying auras, abruptly appeared before everyone.

Yet this was not all.

He only saw him immediately flick his finger; spiritual light flashed ahead, and two more turtle puppets, radiating mid-stage Foundation Establishment power, leaped out.

Creaking and groaning sounds erupted, while two beams of golden light ignited within their gazes.

(End of Chapter)