Shopkeeper Han's Apprehension

"Sigh, spirit stones!" Chen Zhuo let out a long sigh, feeling a pang of heartache over that Sword Qi Talisman. After all, it had been quite expensive. After sighing, Chen Zhuo darted forward with practiced ease to collect the duo's storage bags and magical artifacts. He should be able to break even. Two saber artifacts, and one defensive shield artifact. Between the two storage bags combined, there were also seventy or eighty grains of spirit sand, and only three complete spirit stones. Aside from that, inside the kite-faced burly man's storage bag, there was actually a packet of Qi Gathering Powder. This Qi Gathering Powder looked rather familiar. It seemed to be one of the three packets he had sold earlier. "I've broken even," Chen Zhuo murmured to himself as he weighed the artifacts in his hands. Of the two saber artifacts, one was a Black Iron Mystic Saber, looking utterly unremarkable. The other was a ring-pommel broadsaber carrying a faint reek of blood, clearly a demonic artifact that had likely undergone blood sacrifice. In the Immortal Mansion world, these artifacts could not be sold at all. Even if he tried to sell them, they would probably only pass as antiques. After all, to the Immortal Mansion, the quality of these artifacts was far too low. They were not even as practical as talismans! Their only use in the Immortal Mansion would be to melt them down for raw materials to be reprocessed. Rather than going through that trouble, it was better to turn them back into local nourishment right here in the market and cash them out on the spot. However, that packet of Qi Gathering Powder stirred Chen Zhuo's thoughts. "It looks like this Shopkeeper Han is running a dirty under-the-table racket after all..." A murderous glint immediately flooded Chen Zhuo's eyes. On the surface, Shopkeeper Han of Jishi Hall ran an apothecary, but in secret, he colluded with these robber cultivators, specifically targeting outsider cultivators. Then again, it was hardly surprising. Anyone who could run an apothecary in a place like the shantytown and hold his ground undisturbed was hardly a harmless soul. "Just as well." Chen Zhuo sneered coldly. "Conveniently, I can do another piece of business with this Shopkeeper Han!" With that thought, Chen Zhuo hesitated no longer. He promptly pinched an incantation gesture and cast a Fireball Technique, burning the two corpses to ash. Next, he used earth magic to bury the remnants, ensuring no trace was left behind, before turning and heading back toward the shantytown. Destroying the corpses and wiping away the traces was the utmost sign of respect in the underworld of immortal cultivation. Although leaving the bodies exposed in the wilderness would not have mattered much, it was somewhat disrespectful to Yunjin Market. It was only natural—just like in the lower district of Taiqing City, where low-level cultivators and mortal laborers who overdosed on pill toxins were dumped beside trash bins so the wealthy elites of high society would not have their moods spoiled by the sight. Having eliminated every shred of evidence, Chen Zhuo's Dao heart remained steadfast as he strode toward the shantytown with vigorous steps. Chen Zhuo soon arrived before Jishi Hall. The apothecary apprentice stood at the entrance. Seeing Chen Zhuo walk up, he froze for a moment before quickly stepping forward. "Greetings, sir! Back again? Are you here to buy medicine or sell this time?" The apprentice was clearly astonished that Chen Zhuo was still among the living. Assuming those two filthy scoundrels simply hadn't made their move yet, he cursed his bad luck inwardly before quickly putting on a welcoming smile. Chen Zhuo glanced at him and said, "I'm looking for Shopkeeper Han." "The shopkeeper is inside. Please follow me." The apprentice hurriedly led Chen Zhuo into the inner hall. Seeing Chen Zhuo enter, Shopkeeper Han set down an ancient tome, his gaze sweeping over Chen Zhuo in surprise. *This kid isn't dead?* Though bewildered inwardly, Shopkeeper Han rose with a smile and cupped his hands. "May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist here this time?" Chen Zhuo did not beat around the bush. He retrieved four packets of Qi Gathering Powder and one Qi Condensation Pill directly from his storage bag and placed them on the table. "Shopkeeper Han, I want to sell these pills." Chen Zhuo's voice was flat. Shopkeeper Han's gaze fell upon the medicines, and his pupils shrank almost imperceptibly. *How does this kid have so many pills?* Though suspicious, Shopkeeper Han picked up one packet of Qi Gathering Powder, uncorked the vial, and took a light sniff. "Mm, exquisite quality, abundant spiritual energy, practically no impurities..." A moment later, after inspecting all the medicines, Shopkeeper Han spoke politely: "Our hall is willing to purchase these pills at a premium. Twelve spirit stones per packet of Qi Gathering Powder, and forty-five spirit stones for the Qi Condensation Pill. That comes to ninety-three spirit stones in total. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?" This price was considerably higher than last time. However, Chen Zhuo showed no sign of surprise or delight, merely nodding. "Fine." With that, Chen Zhuo dropped the pretense. He slapped his storage bag, and a blood-red saber radiating surging malevolent qi slammed directly onto the apothecary table. Raising his voice, he said, "Shopkeeper Han, I happened to pick up an artifact saber outside. Unfortunately, I am no practitioner of demonic arts, so I wish to part with this treasure. I wonder if Shopkeeper Han has the channels for it?" When Shopkeeper Han saw that blood-red saber, his gaze froze. He was all too familiar with this weapon. Liu Wu's Slaying Ring Saber! The Slaying Ring Saber was a low-grade magical artifact forged through the blood sacrifice of four to five thousand mortals. The blade was wrapped in crimson hues, radiating menacing malevolence—it was the signature artifact of that pair of robber cultivators. Now that this saber had ended up in Chen Zhuo's hands, there was only one possibility... Zhao Si and Liu Wu had been killed by this fourth-layer Qi Refining kid standing right before him! Shock rippled through Shopkeeper Han's heart, but his expression remained impassive as he swiftly regained his composure. Shopkeeper Han picked up the Slaying Ring Saber, examined it closely for a moment, and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist, this Slaying Ring Saber has dense blood fiend energy. It was clearly forged through the blood sacrifice of four to five thousand mortals. Though it is merely a low-grade magical artifact, among slaughter implements of this sort, it is considered a fairly common type." He paused, then continued, "Artifacts like this are generally worth around sixty to seventy spirit stones. However, since Fellow Daoist is willing to sell it in my shop, saving you the trouble of visiting multiple establishments, if you do not mind a slightly lower price, I am willing to take this saber for fifty-five spirit stones." *Fifty-five spirit stones?* Chen Zhuo sneered internally. This Shopkeeper Han was indeed an old fox. He clearly recognized the saber's origin, yet used this tactic of driving down the price to pretend he knew nothing about it. Still, Chen Zhuo did not care about such minor details. To him, this saber was pure windfall anyway; turning it into cash was the best outcome. Chen Zhuo could not be bothered to traipse through other shops, risk making others think he was loaded, and invite another ambush... To be honest, once or twice was fine. Too many times, and flaws would inevitably show. Although killing people was a surefire path to riches, the risk was enormous. What if the robbers ambushing him possessed trump cards of their own? He could not underestimate others just because he held trump cards himself! "Very well," Chen Zhuo nodded, giving a concise agreement. Seeing Chen Zhuo agree, Shopkeeper Han wasted no words. He immediately retrieved spirit stones from his storage bag, counted them, and pushed them toward Chen Zhuo. One hundred and forty-eight spirit stones piled onto the table like a miniature mountain. Chen Zhuo swept them with his divine consciousness, confirmed the count, and swept every last one into his storage bag. Having stowed the spirit stones, Chen Zhuo turned and walked out. Inside Jishi Hall, only Shopkeeper Han and the apprentice remained. Watching Chen Zhuo's departing back, the apprentice looked terrified. Stepping up to Shopkeeper Han, he blurted out instinctively, "Shopkeeper, wasn't that..." "Shut up!" Shopkeeper Han's face looked grim to the extreme as he barked at the apprentice. Frightened by Shopkeeper Han's sudden rebuke, the apprentice dared not say another word. Only after a long pause did Shopkeeper Han lower his voice, his eyes glinting fiercely. "Some things are better left unsaid!" The apprentice felt his skin crawl under Shopkeeper Han's glare. He quickly lowered his head, keeping his mouth shut. Shopkeeper Han remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Zhao Si and Liu Wu are both dead." At those words, the apprentice's face instantly drained of color. "What?! They were sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivators! Working together, they could even contend with someone at the seventh layer. How could..." "Indeed, how could they?" Shopkeeper Han sneered coldly. "That kid is only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. No matter how many trump cards he possessed, it would be impossible for him to kill two sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivators." "Unless..." Shopkeeper Han paused, his tone growing even heavier: "Unless that kid isn't an independent cultivator at all, but someone from an immortal cultivation clan! And there must be at least one cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining—or even the Qi Refining pinnacle—protecting him as a Dao guardian!" Hearing this, the apprentice sucked in a sharp breath. "The Qi Refining pinnacle?!" A cultivator at the Qi Refining pinnacle was at the absolute limit of the Qi Refining stage, just a single step away from Foundation Establishment! Such cultivators were formidable figures in Yunjin Market. Aside from a few Foundation Establishment deacons from the superior sects, they could practically walk unchallenged throughout Yunjin Market. Shopkeeper Han nodded and continued, "Furthermore, though he does not wear a magical robe, the fabric of his clothes has stitches so neat and dense that only a cultivator guiding their needle with divine consciousness could have tailored it. He must hail from an aristocratic clan! And right now happens to be the eve of the Qiwu Sword Sect opening its doors to recruit disciples..." Shopkeeper Han naturally had no idea that in the other world of the Immortal Mansion, there existed something called machine manufacturing. For mortal clothing to possess such tight, uniform craftsmanship, he could conceive of no explanation other than a cultivator using divine consciousness. "Does the shopkeeper mean he came for the Sword Sect's disciple recruitment?" the apprentice asked cautiously. "Most likely," Shopkeeper Han said in a grave voice. "Scions of such immortal cultivation clans are often sent to train in major sects, and the Qiwu Sword Sect, being the foremost sect in Xu State, is naturally the premier choice." "His arrival this time is likely for the Sword Sect's disciple recruitment! As for his Dao guardian, they are probably waiting just outside the shantytown right now, or have already entered the market." With that, Shopkeeper Han's mood grew visibly unsettled, and he continued, "If he comes again, you must treat him with the utmost courtesy. Serve him some spiritual tea, and don't be stingy with the tea leaves!" "We are closing the shop for today. I will go into the market at once to confess my fault to the master. If this person hails from a Foundation Establishment clan, only the master's personal intervention can resolve this grudge."