Chapter 70: A Deal

Qin Ming's mind went blank.

"What?!"

"All of you fellow cultivators have perished?"

"What about Lin Zi?"

Qin Ming's heart churned like a storm-tossed sea.

Among these people, apart from the Feng brothers who were at the eighth level of Qi Condensation, the other three were all at the peak of Qi Condensation.

Even so,

With such a lineup, only Feng Yuan survived.

"Ah, I'm ashamed to say it—if not for the fact that I was with Lin Zixiao when I fled, and he used his array to hold them back, I wouldn't have made it back either."

"As for Lin Zi, when I escaped, I saw him surrounded by several Foundation Establishment cultivators—I fear he's unlikely to survive." Feng Yuan sighed, speaking softly.

The moment he finished speaking.

Feng Yuan's face suddenly flushed crimson, a trickle of black blood seeped from his lips; he grimaced in unbearable pain, clutching his chest as he gasped for air.

Qin Ming clearly saw a dim, deathly aura flash through the man's pupils.

Seeing this, Qin Ming quickly pulled out a healing pill, ready to give it to him.

"Cough! Cough!"

"Qin Daoist, don't waste the pill—I've suffered a fatal wound; all my meridians are severed, my Qi sea and dantian are shattered. No healing pill can save me now." Feng Yuan spat out a mouthful of black blood and raised his hand to stop Qin Ming.

"I know full well I'm a dying man—right now, I'm barely clinging to life thanks to the Gen Xue Pill."

Qin Ming looked at Feng Yuan with a complex expression; though their relationship was only average, they had been neighbors for years.

The straightforward nature of the Feng brothers had always left a good impression on him.

"Ambushed?"

"Didn't you fellow cultivators go to the ruins seeking a Foundation Establishment opportunity?" Qin Ming frowned, puzzled.

Feng Yuan wiped the black blood from his lips, glanced at Qin Ming, then explained: "We did go to the ruins—but we only entered the outer region. Even so, we still obtained the Foundation Establishment spiritual item: Tianhuo Spirit Liquid."

"Besides that, we gained other considerable spoils."

"But just as we were preparing to leave, a large group of sect cultivators suddenly appeared, ambushing and attacking us."

"Among them, the majority were from Baihua Sect and Shennong Gate, with some from Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley—they seized everything we took from the ruins."

"All our effort was for nothing—just making clothes for others."

"My younger brother and the other cultivators were killed by them." As he spoke, Feng Yuan's eyes burned with hatred.

Hearing this, Qin Ming was not surprised.

These sects had openly spread word of the ancient ruins, then leaked rumors of Foundation Establishment resources inside.

Their goal was to lure lone cultivators in as cannon fodder—even if they luckily gained something, they could never escape the sects' grasp.

"Ah! Feng Daoist, please bear up." Qin Ming didn't know how to comfort him.

For a moment.

The two fell silent, the air frozen.

Feng Yuan hesitated for a long while, as if making a final decision.

Then he suddenly lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Qin Ming and said seriously: "Qin Daoist, I have a deal to propose—will you accept it?"

"Oh? What deal?" Qin Ming was taken aback.

Feng Yuan took from his storage bag a jade vial, a dragon-shaped token, and a tattered map, placing them on the table.

He then spoke slowly: "This is our greatest spoil from the journey—the jade vial contains the Foundation Establishment spiritual item, Tianhuo Spirit Liquid."

"But this spirit liquid was discovered by me alone, secretly hidden—even my brother didn't know."

"As for this token and map, the five of us found them together on the corpse of an ancient corpse in a cave at the ruins' outer edge—they must be deeply connected to entering the ruins." When Qin Ming heard that the items before him were the legendary Foundation Establishment spiritual item, Tianhuo Spirit Liquid, his heart pounded wildly.

His Dao heart began to waver.

When a cultivator attempts to break through to Foundation Establishment, besides taking a Foundation Establishment Pill, supplementing it with the Tianhuo Spirit Liquid increases success rate by two-tenths.

For a major realm breakthrough, a two-tenths boost is an extremely significant advantage.

"I can give you these three treasures, but in exchange, you must agree to two conditions." Feng Yuan's expression was grave.

"First, should you ever have the chance to reach Foundation Establishment, kill one core disciple from each of these sects, to avenge us!"

"Second, my brother and I have no blood relatives in the Immortal Realm—only a single descendant remains in a mortal village somewhere in Wei State. If you ever have the chance, please look after them within your ability."

Hearing this, Qin Ming's brow furrowed into a deep crease.

Even though he was deeply tempted by the Tianhuo Spirit Liquid, the man's conditions demanded he seek revenge against multiple sects.

He pondered for a moment, then immediately refused: "Feng Daoist, I cannot accept the first condition—I'm merely a spirit herbalist, low in strength; I dare not provoke multiple sects."

"As for the second condition, if the opportunity arises, I may agree."

"As for the dragon token and the ruined map—I cannot accept them."

Qin Ming immediately saw that the dragon token and tattered map were a burning coal.

Countless people outside were searching for them.

He had no desire to invite disaster and become the target of all.

Hearing Qin Ming's reply, Feng Yuan's face showed disappointment.

But he had no recourse—given Qin Ming's cautious nature, this response was perfectly understandable.

After long hesitation, he gritted his teeth: "Fine! Then as you say, Qin Daoist—I hope you won't break your word."

Saying this, Feng Yuan retrieved the dragon token and tattered map.

Then he gently pushed the vial of Foundation Establishment spiritual item, Tianhuo Spirit Liquid, toward Qin Ming.

Qin Ming's gaze burned hotly as he picked up the jade vial, uncorked it, and swept his spiritual sense inside.

Inside, there rested less than half a bottle of spirit liquid resembling flames, emitting astonishing spiritual rhymes, truly miraculous.

"It really is Heavenly Fire Spirit Liquid!" Qin Ming rejoiced wildly, sealed it tight, and silently stored it in his storage bag.

Then again, he could accept this spirit liquid with a clear conscience, after all, Jiang Kun, a core disciple of the Spirit Feather Sect, had been slain by his own hands.

Feng Yuan took out a handwritten letter and a jade pendant token, handed them to Qin Ming, and offered a few words of instruction.

Afterwards.

The conversation between the two ended.

"Very well, it is time for Feng to take his leave; Fellow Daoist Qin need not see me off." Feng Yuan bid farewell to Qin Ming, rose, and departed.

Qin Ming watched Feng Yuan's stumbling back as he walked away, his heart filled with mixed emotions, sensing an inexplicable sorrow for one of his own kind.

Thinking back to those years, the Feng brothers were considered notable figures in the Qingyang Market, yet they met such an end.

Just as Feng Yuan reached the door.

He suddenly turned his head, revealing a highly forced smile, and mocked himself to Qin Ming: "I know my days are numbered; once I leave this time, I fear I shall merely seek a geomantic treasure land to await death. That token and the ruin map will, barring the unexpected, be buried with me. If Fellow Daoist Qin ever changes his mind, feel free to come and retrieve them."

Having said this, he whispered a location to Qin Ming.

Immediately after, Feng Yuan lingered no longer and departed from the Qingyang Market.

Watching Feng Yuan walk into the distance, Qin Ming smiled bitterly and said:

"It is one thing for you to seek a geomantic treasure land for your eternal rest, but why tell me about it?!"

……

PS: Thanks to all fellow Daoists for following the updates! Thanks for the recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; this newcomer bows in gratitude!

(End of Chapter)