Chapter 6: Abusive Luo Yao?

"Why?"

The man widened his eyes, clutching his chest in disbelief—he never expected Luo Yao to act so decisively, to strike at this moment, so he had no preparation at all.

"Because... you acted too fake."

Saying this, Luo Yao didn't waste another word with him.

She pulled out her Long Sword, watching the man collapse to the ground, his palm revealing a Talisman Paper nearly activated.

Seeing this, Luo Yao felt a chill of relief—thankfully she struck first; otherwise, she might have fallen for the trap.

In the Xuanyuan Sect, within a certain Cave Abode.

Besides the cultivation technique, there were other Jade Slips, such as "Comprehensive Guide to Pills" and "Comprehensive Guide to Arrays."

She had spent three years desperately completing quests for just one Frost-Crystal Pill—and now she had a whole bottle.

And there was also a shield, seemingly a one-time-use Defense Weapon.

So, had she achieved her goal in coming to the Market? Then, did she still need to go to the Market?

If she broke through, crushing Luo Yao would be even easier—even though crushing Luo Yao without breaking through was already easy.

"I could try it if the chance arises!"

Although it was low-grade Talisman Paper, it was equivalent to a Spell from a Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivator.

"Frost-Crystal Pill?"

Luo Yao's eyes lit up, her smile never fading.

If she hadn't been sharp-eyed, she would be dead now.

After stabilizing her cultivation, she stepped out of the Cave Abode, muttering to herself.

She said the man acted too fake—and that was indeed true.

"Congratulations, Sister Zhao!"

From her sudden ambush and the man's effortless evasion of her attack, it was clear her true strength far exceeded the apparent Qi Refining Layer 4—she was clearly stronger.

Fluid, seamless, swift and precise.

"Could it be this guy used the Spirit Stones he stole to buy these Pills?"

Luo Yao glanced: one bottle of Frost-Crystal Pills, one bottle of Clear-Heart Pills, and two more bottles of unnamed Pills—so many Pills, she'd hit the jackpot.

She put away the Frost-Crystal Pills and opened the other jade vials.

It was meant for concealing his aura and hiding his true strength.

She was currently Qi Refining Layer 3; while sufficient to handle Luo Yao's Qi Refining Layer 1, she still felt uneasy, so she swallowed the Frost-Crystal Pill, planning to test whether she could break through.

Just imagining the look on Luo Yao's face when she discovered Zhao Lili had reached Qi Refining Layer 4 during the tournament, Zhao Lili couldn't help laughing triumphantly.

Of course she'd go—it'd be good to see the sights.

Instantly, Luo Yao understood.

Could someone hiding their cultivation have no ill intent?

That was the first point.

Unexpectedly, the man who appeared solved her problem.

This stack contained over a dozen.

As the Frost-Crystal Pill's Spirit Power continuously flooded in, Zhao Lili's Qi Refining Layer 3 bottleneck finally shattered—though her talent was poor, it was far better than Luo Yao's.

All she needed was to wait until her Golden Finger was free, then use the doubling function, and she'd have enough—even limitless—Pills.

With these Pills, she wouldn't need to spend any money on them during her visit to the Market.

"Clear-Heart Pills?"

That meant he had hidden his cultivation.

One bottle contained exactly ten Pills.

She shook her head, brushing aside these chaotic thoughts, and walked toward the Market.

One sword, its quality far superior to those issued by the Xuanyuan Sect.

Now, she had cultivation Pills, an Attack Weapon, and a Defense Weapon.

After inventorying the supplies, Luo Yao destroyed the man's Storage Bag—though it could fetch a few Spirit Stones, it would inevitably leave lingering dangers.

Fireball Technique, Ice Spike Technique, and others.

Zhao Lili likely swallowed the stolen Frost-Crystal Pills, and her internal Spirit Power surged violently.

"Sister Zhao has broken through—she's guaranteed to win the match in three days."

"Profit!"

Luo Yao sighed inwardly—indeed, killing and arson bring golden belts; this money came terrifyingly fast.

She put away the Spirit Stones and continued examining the contents.

The man probably acquired clothes and Tokens from somewhere, then waited for disciples of other sects, dressed as one of them, pretended to sell goods, waited until they let their guard down, then ambushed and murdered them for their loot.

"What nonsense! Even without breaking through, Sister Zhao could still utterly dominate that Luo Yao!"

Four Spirit Stones—fewer than Luo Yao had imagined.

Besides, she had other things to buy.

"Yes yes yes, I was wrong."

Then she picked up the Jade Slip from the Storage Bag—it was the man's cultivation technique.

Luo Yao couldn't help smiling—with this stack of Talisman Paper, even if Zhao Lili had a Dharma Treasure, Luo Yao could use the Talismans to effortlessly drain her Spirit Power.

She happily tucked away the Talisman Paper and turned to the nearby jars and vials—apparently Pills.

Finally, Luo Yao looked at the remaining Weapons.

However, even if the man had hidden his true strength, he was no more than Qi Refining Stage 6 or 7—such cultivation could not possibly afford so many Spirit Stones.

If he wanted to stop people to sell goods, he would choose those weaker than himself, for greater safety.

The man claimed to be a merchant, but his Storage Bag contained very little.

It would be nice if, like in past-life novels, he could find hidden bargains.

So a single Ningshuang Pill allowing her to break through her bottleneck was perfectly normal.

Otherwise, with only this level of strength, selling goods would fail, and she might get robbed.

Getting robbed would be the best outcome—she might even lose her life.

But who doesn't want to grow stronger and stronger?

Inside the Storage Bag were also a Ziguang Sect Token and robes; just as Luo Yao thought he was a Ziguang Sect disciple, she saw an Xuanyuan Sect Token and attire.

Yet the man deliberately disguised himself as having even lower cultivation.

"Enough," Zhao Lili interrupted their flattery. "Don't spread the news of my breakthrough—lest that Luo hear it and dare not challenge me."

If the man had others behind him, they might use the Storage Bag to track her down.

Though the harvest was considerable, she still had to go to the Market.

Once in a safe place, Luo Yao planned to examine the contents of the man's Storage Bag.

"Good, good."

It could withstand a strike from a Qi Refining Stage late cultivator.

Besides these, there was a stack of Talisman Paper.

"Luo Yao, you bitch—you're dead."

Without the doubled Spirit Stones from her Golden Finger, she would have been too ecstatic to speak—but now, her heart remained utterly still.

It was similar to her own cultivation method, but slightly better than the common Xuanyuan Sect techniques—still a decent gain.

She uncorked the vial and saw inside the Pill—exactly the Ningshuang Pill she had once longed for.

But luck comes only once.

Of course, that was just fantasy—do it again a few times, and who lived or died was uncertain.

Too bad it wasn't suitable for her.

Also, although setting up a stall at the Market required payment, the Market also protected the stallholder's safety.

She just didn't know if the doubled dice could work on cultivation techniques.

In fact, Luo Yao even discovered the "Refinement Breath Art."

It was a Pill to assist cultivation, helping to focus the mind and calm the qi—like the Ningshuang Pill, it was expensive.

After finishing this, Luo Yao quickly left the spot, finally exhaling in relief.

She thought there'd be a pile.

Yet one unexpected harvest nearly made her rich—she wanted to do it again a few times.

Outside the Market, everyone was on their own.

As soon as she emerged, the several dog-boys rushed over.

If it were her, with only Qi Refining Stage 4, she'd never dare stop strangers to sell goods—she'd avoid people entirely.

Then, Luo Yao slashed with her sword, sending the man's Storage Bag flying, and followed with a Fireball Technique, reducing him to ash.

Luckily, she was clever enough to pretend belief, lulling him into complacency.

Such a glaring flaw—she wasn't blind.

She had planned to publicly humiliate Luo Yao before the entire sect, even provoke her into a Life and Death Duel to kill her.

Zhao Lili quickly sank into fantasy, unaware that Luo Yao had long since broken through to Qi Refining Stage 5—who would humiliate whom was still uncertain!

(End of Chapter)