Li Guanqi hesitated for only a brief moment before resolving to find a way to save Qi Mobai!
There was no other reason than that he was not someone devoid of loyalty or heart. Nor was he someone who would sacrifice others just to preserve his own life. If he were to do that, how would he be any different from those selfish, insidious scoundrels?
He had ascended to the Immortal Realm to point his sword at the heavens and walk untethered. If he were to resort to unprincipled means merely to cling to life, how would he differ from the cultivators upon the Ascension Platform?
Casting aside the stray thoughts in his mind, with his convictions clear and unhindered, Li Guanqi actually felt the second immortal ring shackle binding his origin spirit loosen ever so slightly.
Sitting atop the mountain peak, Li Guanqi calculated the timing based on what had transpired. Even though Zhao Chengyong was a Heavenly Immortal, traveling from the Tianshu Ascension Hall to Yuxu City would take at least four days at the fastest.
With a wave of his hand, Li Guanqi manifested a weiqi board.
He placed stone after stone in rapid succession, but after merely a few moments, a cold sweat beaded upon his brow. The enemy was simply too powerful. No matter what scheme or strategy he attempted, there was no way to rescue Qi Mobai from the clutches of the formidable Tianshu Ascension Hall.
Going alone would be nothing short of suicide!
The disparity in strength was overwhelming...
Even if he could withstand an ambush by four Mystic Immortals, the moment Zhao Chengyong intervened, it would be a dead end!
Thoughts churned through his mind. Li Guanqi lowered his gaze and stared at the board, murmuring under his breath, "A direct confrontation offers zero chance of victory. Plots and stratagems are useless illusions. If I rely on outside help... what outside force can I even borrow right now?"
As he pondered, the figure of a white-browed elder suddenly flashed through his mind!
"Qian Ronghe! Linlang Emporium!"
He clearly remembered that even when the elder realized the items in his hands belonged to Zhao He, he had still accepted them without a second thought. In other words... whoever stood behind Linlang Emporium had no fear whatsoever of Zhao Chengyong!
For a treasure emporium to stand tall and unshakeable in Yuxu City, Li Guanqi could not help but wonder about the identity of the power behind it.
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes and glanced back in the direction of Yuxu City. Licking his lips, his gaze flickered with calculation.
"If it were merely an ordinary Heavenly Immortal expert, they would likely still be wary of Zhao Chengyong's status, wouldn't they? Which means... the person behind it..."
At this thought, Li Guanqi communicated inwardly with the Flame Spirit about a certain matter.
Upon receiving Shiwu's affirmative answer, Li Guanqi took a deep breath, rose into the air, and shot back toward Yuxu City.
Concealing his movements, he arrived at Linlang Emporium.
The instant he stepped inside, Qian Ronghe on the third floor immediately sensed his presence.
The white-browed elder frowned slightly and instructed softly, "Go bring the guest downstairs up to a private room."
Right after, an unexpected voice transmission sounded in Li Guanqi's ear. Li Guanqi nodded slightly, slipped quietly through the crowd, and made his way into a secluded private room.
Qian Ronghe sat upright in a chair with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Looking up at the young man who was slowly removing his black robe, his pupils shrank slightly.
*So young!*
Gazing at Li Guanqi's true face, the elder narrowed his eyes and spoke softly. "Little friend, you could have simply walked away. Why have you returned?"
The reason Qian Ronghe asked so directly was that Li Guanqi had revealed his true appearance, clearly indicating he had business to discuss.
Li Guanqi sat in a chair, looked at the elder, and said quietly, "If I wanted the power behind Linlang Emporium to help me rescue Qi Mobai, what price would I have to pay?"
Qian Ronghe pursed his lips and shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed. He rose to leave, waving his sleeve. "You may see yourself out, little friend. Linlang Emporium will not offend Zhao Chengyong over a mere Qi Mobai."
Li Guanqi did not move. He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The person behind Linlang Emporium should be the Castellan of Yuxu City, right?"
Boom!
The elder's robes billowed without any wind. With eyes sharp as a hawk's, he whipped around to glare at Li Guanqi. "Who are you?"
Li Guanqi smiled. It seemed his guess had been right on the mark.
"Just a nobody. It was merely a speculation on my part, but it seems I guessed correctly." Li Guanqi looked at the elder and said softly, "Let us make a deal."
Qian Ronghe scrutinized Li Guanqi's calm, composed demeanor, inwardly astounded!
*From start to finish, this boy has remained completely unfazed, without the slightest ripple in his emotions. It seems he truly was just guessing. Though he cannot fully withstand my pressure, he remains as steady as a mountain. His foundation is remarkably solid. Or could it be... he isn't afraid of me trying to kill him at all?*
A slight sheen of cold sweat coated Li Guanqi's back.
The elder before him had definitely surpassed the third layer of the Mystic Immortal realm! The fourth layer? The gap was massive, but Li Guanqi was confident that if the other man harbored murderous intent, he could protect himself and escape.
The elder remained silent, and neither did Li Guanqi speak.
Only the faint, subtle pressure between the two permeated the room.
The elder's senses were keen, and he noticed that Li Guanqi was already close to touching the shackles of the second layer!
His lips trembled slightly. How long had it been... What terrifying talent and cultivation speed! For a newcomer to the Immortal Realm, how could his cultivation progress so fast?!
Frowning slightly, Qian Ronghe speculated inwardly, *Could he have elders or a clan backing him in the Immortal Realm? Otherwise, how could an ordinary ascended cultivator adapt to the Immortal Realm so quickly and cultivate at such a frightening pace?*
For a time, Qian Ronghe was uncertain.
Over three breaths of silence, the atmosphere in the room grew rather stifling.
Moments later, Qian Ronghe slowly turned around, his cloudy eyes fixing on Li Guanqi as he spoke softly, "Let's hear it."
Li Guanqi looked at the elder and said quietly, "If I am not mistaken, your Linlang Emporium doesn't have an alchemist of its own, does it?"
Qian Ronghe's brows knitted together, a flicker of astonishment flashing in his eyes. Li Guanqi's tracks were very simple. It was virtually impossible that he had gleaned this from asking around the city.
"How did you know? Was that a guess as well?"
Li Guanqi shook his head. "Usually, establishments like Linlang Emporium would love nothing more than to set up dedicated showcase counters for medicinal pills. Yet Linlang Emporium focuses primarily on rare treasures, heavenly and earthly spirit herbs, immortal artifacts, magic treasures, and cultivation method manuals. While those items are of high value, their liquidity is far inferior to pills. I took a look at your pill display cabinets—most of the stock was very miscellaneous and disorganized. That indicates Linlang Emporium relies on buying back pills and reselling them to make a profit on the margin."
The more Qian Ronghe listened, the more astonished he became. He had not anticipated Li Guanqi's powers of observation to be so acute, his mind so exceptionally sharp!
Taking a deep breath, the elder looked at Li Guanqi and said in a grave voice, "That's right. Linlang Emporium indeed does not have its own alchemist. In the Immortal Realm, alchemists possess noble standing and lofty status. Out of tens of millions of fire-attribute cultivators, it's lucky if even one becomes an alchemist. But what is the point of telling me all this?"
Tucking his hands back into his sleeves, the elder looked at Li Guanqi with a faint smile and teased, "Could it be that you are an alchemist yourself, little friend?"
Li Guanqi shook his head.
"Then there is nothing to be done... You have said all this, but if you merely have a large quantity of pills on hand, there is still no room for negotiation on this matter. I still have business to attend to. Please see yourself out, little friend."
The elder rose and walked to the doorway, when Li Guanqi suddenly spoke.
"What if... Qi Mobai happens to be an exceptionally talented alchemist?"
Chapter 1578