Chapter 274: Targeted

"The Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach starts at eight hundred mid-grade spirit stones."

"Each bid must increase by at least fifty mid-grade spirit stones."

As Xue Zhili's words faded,

the underground auction hall erupted in clamor, cultivators shouting at the top of their lungs to bid.

Those Foundation Establishment cultivators at the early stage could only sigh helplessly at the soaring prices.

Such a supreme spirit fruit could only be won by Foundation Establishment cultivators with deep reserves.

And once this spirit fruit was won, many cultivators would likely consume it on the spot—otherwise, in this den of thieves and scoundrels, someone might take a fancy to it.

Whether they could even walk out safely was uncertain; only once inside the belly was it truly secure.

"One thousand two hundred fifty!"

"One thousand three!"

The bidding continued, and Qin Ming himself hadn't expected the Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach to be this popular.

It was almost like low-grade cultivators fighting over Foundation Establishment Pills.

Thinking of his remaining eight hundred sixty years of life and the endless supply of spirit peaches, Qin Ming felt a deep pang of emotion.

In the final round, only a few Foundation Establishment peak elders remained bidding.

To Qin Ming's great surprise, Lin Zi's disguised white-faced middle-aged man kept bidding as well.

And each time, he raised the bid by exactly fifty spirit stones above the previous one.

"Two thousand!"

"Two thousand and fifty!"

Gradually, the competition among the Foundation Establishment peak elders reached a fever pitch.

"Two thousand two hundred!"

As a deep, resonant voice rang out, no one else raised their bid.

The bidder was Mu He Laogui—the very man Qin Ming had seen before.

His eyes burned fixedly on the spirit peach atop the stage, as if this price were his absolute limit.

Hearing the silence around him, Mu He's expression flickered with tension.

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty!"

Lin Zi's voice, calm as still water, shattered Mu He's hopes.

Xue Zhili's face nearly split with joy; seeing no further bids, he declared, "Two thousand two hundred and fifty—once!"

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty—twice!"

"Two thousand two hundred and fifty—three times!"

"Sold!"

"Congratulations, esteemed cultivator!"

With Xue Zhili's gavel strike, the servant delivered the Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach to the white-faced middle-aged man, Lin Zi's disguise.

Mu He Laogui's eyes seemed ready to bleed, and countless gazes locked onto the white-faced man.

Lin Zi kept his gaze straight ahead, paid the spirit stones, and stowed the spirit peach inside a jade box.

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

Seeing this, many cultivators in the crowd began nursing sinister thoughts.

After all, those who came to the underground auction were surely no strangers to malice.

"Alright, this underground auction has concluded successfully!"

"Cultivators may exchange information or depart as you wish."

"When the next auction begins, I shall invite you all once more."

Xue Zhili then announced the end of the underground auction.

After giving instructions to his subordinates, Xue Zhili walked up to Qin Ming, smiling broadly, and handed him a bag of spirit stones.

"Hehe! Qin cultivator, here are the spirit stones after deducting the commission—three thousand eight hundred and twenty-five mid-grade spirit stones. Count them."

Qin Ming took the bag, glanced inside, confirmed the amount, and put it away.

"The spirit stones are correct. Xue cultivator, I have urgent matters—I'll take my leave."

"Of course! When you have time, come to my estate in Canghai Xiancheng," Xue Zhili said with a smile.

Qin Ming didn't linger; he followed the path he'd come and returned toward the surface.

Suddenly!

He scanned the crowd and noticed several cultivators with hostile eyes fixed on him.

'Wealth must not be flaunted—I've been targeted.'

'Xue Zhili's secrecy measures are terrible. I won't come again.'

'Fortunately, this trip wasn't wasted—I accidentally gathered the other half of the bronze mirror.' Qin Ming walked out, alertly observing the surrounding cultivators.

But his brow furrowed—he realized Lin Zi's white-faced disguise was approaching him.

"Qin cultivator, what a coincidence?"

"Care to travel together?"

Lin Zi asked with a friendly smile.

"No, I'm not heading the same way as you—farewell," Qin Ming replied without hesitation.

Lin Zi froze, surprised by Qin Ming's blunt refusal.

He forced a weak laugh. "Hehe, then perhaps we'll meet again."

"I felt an instant kinship with you, Qin cultivator—I merely wished to make your acquaintance."

Qin Ming silently cursed the old fox—he was almost certainly plotting something again.

They truly had felt an instant kinship—but Lin Zi could never guess that Qin Ming had already seen through his disguise.

"Next time, for sure! Next time!"

"I have urgent matters—I must go first."

Qin Ming replied, then quickened his pace and exited the alchemy shop.

He still felt at least a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators' spiritual senses locked onto him.

'This underground market has many treasures—but the risks are high.'

'I wonder what Xue Zhili was thinking—so many bandit cultivators slipped in.'

'If these bandits are foolish enough to press their luck, don't blame me for being ruthless!'

Qin Ming's expression remained unchanged as he walked alone out of the marketplace, then took to the skies heading south.

Moments after he left, over a dozen cultivators of varying appearances took to the air and chased after him.

These dozen cultivators were clearly not a single group.

"So we're all forest brothers, hehehe!"

"That Qin cultivator from Weiguo is a fat sheep!"

"We spotted him first!"

"We're all in this line of work—no need for games."

"Once we catch the brat, let's settle it with our blades."

"Hurry up—he'll escape if we dawdle!"

"Don't worry—this Foundation Establishment early-stage herbalist won't escape our Five Demons of Dao Feng Mountain!"

"Too naive."

Dozens of light trails flashed and vanished, streaking toward Qin Ming's direction.

Half a cup of tea later, they caught up to Qin Ming.

The bandit cultivators quickly surrounded him.

One bald, burly man grinned wickedly at Qin Ming.

"I've long heard of the Lord of Wangyue Island, Qin cultivator. I've heard your island is full of treasures, but the mist illusions outside are too fierce—I've never had the fortune to see them."

"Otherwise—"

"Could you show these rough men a glimpse?"

"I guarantee, when you die, you'll suffer less pain."

Surrounded by the bandits, Qin Ming's face showed no expression, no trace of panic.

He quickly assessed them—most were Foundation Establishment early to mid-stage, only three were late-stage.

'Perfect—my life-plant, Yin-Yang Xuan Teng, hasn't fed in a long time. Since these bandits came to me, they'll make excellent fertilizer.'

Qin Ming smiled faintly and said, "Wangyue Island holds many treasures, but I happen to have a few great treasures on me—I can let you all take a look."

"Oh? What great treasures? Show them quickly!"

Seeing Qin Ming so calm despite being surrounded, the bandits grew wary.

Those who reached Foundation Establishment as bandit cultivators had some professional discipline.

But with their overwhelming numbers, even a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator couldn't escape.

So they waited to see what trick Qin Ming might pull.

Qin Ming smiled slightly, then tapped his spirit beast pouch.

Three massive figures, radiating terrifying aura, appeared before them.

But this was not yet over.

He flicked his fingers again, and before him, spiritual light flared as two more turtle golems, radiating Foundation Establishment mid-stage energy, leapt forward.

A screeching and grinding sound filled the air, and two golden glows ignited in his gaze.

(End of Chapter)