Chapter 74: Zuo Mutang

After staying in the shop for nearly half an hour, Zhang Nuo finally walked out, stroked the Storage Bag at his waist, and nodded in satisfaction. This time, he had spent nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones in total, and the variety of Pills he purchased was extensive, ranging from those that enhanced cultivation to those that replenished Spirit Power; the quantity of each type was not small.

With the Pills now in hand, he could finally return to his Cave Abode for secluded cultivation. Walking leisurely through the city, Zhang Nuo heard many more things about the "Scorpion-Snake Couple," but he did not take this matter to heart at all.

Zhang Nuo was young, after all. If it were some Loose Cultivator who had survived in the Cultivation World for a long time, they would know that after killing someone and seizing their Spirit Stones, there is no reason not to leave the area quickly. Furthermore, the "Scorpion-Snake Couple" was so rampant in Guyan City that the backer behind them must certainly be significant.

Additionally, the principle that one should not flaunt wealth is also very important. It would be strange if he were not suspected after spending such a large sum of Spirit Stones in the same shop all at once. If his cultivation were higher, naturally no one would suspect him, but with Zhang Nuo's Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation and his status as a Loose Cultivator, having too many Spirit Stones on his person would indeed attract the attention of others.

Zhang Nuo was completely unaware of all this. After leaving the city, he steered his Flying Sword and flew toward the direction of his Cave Abode.

…………

In a room of a large mansion somewhere in Guyan City, a sound of someone slapping a table suddenly rang out, and at the same time, the sound of an old man cursing in anger emerged.

"Who has such great courage to dare kill my disciple, Zuo Mutang!"

Inside the room, an old man of about sixty was roaring with sky-high rage. This old man was dressed in fine robes, and his snow-white beard fluttered against his chest; due to his anger, the beard on his chin was almost standing on end. However, the old man's cultivation was not weak; judging from the Spirit Power fluctuations emanating from his body, he possessed the level of a Golden Core Initial Stage.

Standing at the side of the old man with his hands hanging down was a man of about thirty, thin and gaunt, with a sallow complexion, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

"Master, I have already sent people to investigate. I believe there will be news within a few days!"

The sallow-faced man was so frightened he dared not even breathe loudly. Seeing his master in a great rage, he immediately bowed and said.

"Scorpion Man and Snake Woman have brought back no small amount of Spirit Stones for me over these years. The location where they met with trouble was so close to Guyan City; why did Scorpion Man have to run into the deep mountains at that time?"

The old man named Zuo Mutang sat down on a chair with a thud, his gaze appearing somewhat puzzled.

"Perhaps it is because the opponent Scorpion Man encountered was not weak, and he was afraid that leading them into the city to seek Master's protection would be detrimental to Master's reputation?"

The old man lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He let his disciples commit all sorts of evil outside while he himself always posed as a righteous person; in fact, many cultivators within Guyan City were already well aware of this. Some people secretly cursed this Zuo Mutang, saying he wanted to be a whore while still wanting to set up a memorial arch for chastity.

However, within the entire city, Zuo Mutang's cultivation was almost the highest, so no one dared to expose this point. Those who knew also cursed him in their hearts but dared not speak of this matter. In any case, the people killed by the Scorpion-Snake Couple were not them, so there was no need to invite trouble.

"But I have heard that Scorpion Man and the others had a Cave Abode somewhere in the Panlong Mountain Range outside the city, and the surroundings of the Cave Abode were filled with various Restrictions. Could it be that he wanted to lure the cultivator to his Cave Abode to kill them? And then swallow the treasures on their person all for himself!"

"This... this..., I cannot say for sure!"

The sallow-faced man was in a difficult position. He also knew that the "Scorpion-Snake Couple" had a Cave Abode outside the city, and he had even seen a few of the treasures hidden inside. Now that the two were dead, as long as he found that Cave Abode, the things inside could all belong to him. As for the Zuo Mutang before him, as long as he could deceive him, everything would be easy to handle!

"Two ungrateful things! Lv Qi, you go and find out where their Cave Abode is! Then take everything inside and hand it over to me! Do not dare to play any clever tricks on your own; if I find out, you will have a hard time!"

The sallow-faced man named Lv Qi trembled all over upon hearing these words, and with a 'thump', he knelt before Zuo Mutang.

"This disciple would not dare!"

"Alright, you go out first! As soon as you find out who killed the two of them, come and report it immediately! I want to slaughter them with my own hands!"

Lv Qi hurriedly retreated from the room and reached out to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, while inwardly cursing:

"Zuo Mutang, you old thing, if I have the chance, I will definitely leave your side!"

A trace of hatred flashed in his eyes, and Lv Qi walked toward another room.

…………

After three days of flying, Zhang Nuo finally returned to his Cave Abode. Sitting cross-legged on the stone bed and looking at the few small bottles placed in front of him, his face was always filled with an excited smile.

A few days ago, he was still worrying about Spirit Stones, but in the blink of an eye, after killing two cultivators, he had also become a rich man. The few bottles of Spiritual Medicine before him would be of great help to his cultivation. If he went into secluded cultivation here for about ten years, with the aid of the Pills and the Spiritual Qi gathered by the 'Nine Dragon Sword Case', he should be able to step into the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage realm.

It seems that this thing called Spirit Stones is just like the yellow and white wealth of the mortal realm; the more, the better!

Calming his mind, Zhang Nuo opened one of the small bottles, took out a Pill, and swallowed it. Immediately, a wave of heat rose from his dantian.

Seeing that the medicinal power had dissolved, Zhang Nuo began to close his eyes and cultivate again. In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. Zhang Nuo's cultivation was smooth sailing, and the Spiritual Qi in his body became increasingly thick, but there was still a long way to go before he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

During these half a month, Guyan City was almost boiling over. Lv Qi took his subordinates and kept inquiring for news in the city, but he always came up empty-handed.

For one thing, the cultivators in the city hated the 'Scorpion-Snake Couple' to the bone, and no one was willing to disclose information to them. Secondly, no one knew the strength of the cultivator who killed the 'Scorpion-Snake Couple'; if they let something slip and brought a fatal disaster upon themselves, that would be bad!

After searching in the city for two consecutive months, Lv Qi had not found a single clue, while Zuo Mutang was urging him all day long, and a few times even threatened him with his life.

Lv Qi knew Zuo Mutang's methods well. Forced by necessity, he finally thought of a way: under heavy rewards, there must be brave men. He did not believe he could not trade for news if he brought out enough Spirit Stones.

The next day, various notices were posted in the streets and alleys of Guyan City: whoever knew the whereabouts of the murderer who killed the "Scorpion-Snake Couple" would be rewarded with fifty thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!

This move was indeed effective. At noon on the day the notices were posted, a cultivator immediately came to provide a clue! Lv Qi listened to the cultivator's account and kept the description of this person in his mind.

"A light blue robe! Hehe, I must go and meet you first!"

Having made up his mind, Lv Qi stood up and said to the cultivator who provided the clue:

"You go back and wait first. If the clue you gave is true, I will naturally pay you fifty thousand Spirit Stones!"

After speaking, he turned around and took four people with him as they flew toward the Panlong Mountain Range.