Chapter 168: Turning Hostile
“Daoist friend, we are willing to sign a Spirit Contract. The resources borrowed today, we will repay with interest in the future!”
In the end, it was Qin Feng who made the solemn statement, while the other nine Foundation Establishment cultivators all revealed bitter and troubled expressions.
So after all this, they were here to borrow Spirit Stones and resources to tide over their difficulties.
“Brother Lin, is this fellow surnamed Qin out of his mind, actually daring to think of such a good thing!”
Old Hu secretly transmitted his voice. The six of them were no fools.
Help their opponents get through their difficulties?
Especially Lin Chang’an, the mastermind behind the scenes, who sneered coldly in his heart.
Reaping what they sowed, nothing more.
But if the other side really managed to pull through, gaining such a reputation, they might indeed make a comeback.
After all, even after being plotted against in collusion, if they could still honorably deliver resources, that foundation would naturally attract many supporters.
“Daoist Qin, it is not that we refuse to help, but as you also know from your visits to our marketplace, we also have large-scale trade dealings with these guilds.
There simply aren’t that many resources, and after such a big incident, we too must tread carefully.”
Lin Chang’an’s voice seemed calm, yet beneath the surface, it was nothing but mockery of their underhanded behavior.
Old Hu and the others all nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, these people had ill intentions before, and we suffered quite some losses as well.”
“Daoist friends, why don’t you go and ask at other marketplaces instead?”
Even Yun Yao said coldly, “We have no ties with you, and in fact, you even secretly came to our marketplace to poach people. I needn’t spell out the details, do I?”
As Yun Yao, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, spoke in her icy tone, her cold gaze swept over them, as though to say—their deeds in secret had already been exposed.
At this point, the fact that they were not kicking them while they were down was already merciful. And they still expected help?
Impossible!
“Daoist friend!”
Qin Feng’s group all looked extremely ugly. Who could endure such humiliation, especially when they had already thrown in all their assets?
They were all desperate men walking on the edge of a cliff.
One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, eyes bloodshot, spoke viciously: “Patriarch Qin, I say since they don’t want us to have it easy, then we won’t let them have it easy either.”
“That’s right! Perhaps these very people are the ones behind the scheme. Otherwise, how could things be so coincidental?”
Their eyes turned blood-red, faces twisted in anger. Clearly, they had been forced into a dead end.
Yet in the face of such threats, even Old Jia’s expression revealed a trace of killing intent.
Old Hu outright cursed: “Qin, I knew you wouldn’t come here with good intentions today. So you’ve come to extort us, is that it!”
“Old Hu, you should be thanking them. This group clearly had their eyes on us, but who would’ve thought that you secretly harbored greed and tried to poach our people, only to bring this upon yourselves.”
Crude as Old Hu’s words were, the logic was sound. After this matter, many in Tianxuan City believed that from the beginning, this trap had been aimed at the Eastern District black market.
Yet instead, the Western District black market had rushed in headfirst, making many secretly sigh at the Eastern District’s good fortune.
Lin Chang’an and the others all revealed cold looks.
Meanwhile, the Western District Foundation Establishment cultivators, despair and madness flickering in their eyes, were led by Qin Feng, who hurriedly tried to appear conciliatory.
But in Lin Chang’an’s eyes, it was all too clear.
Red face and white face—they were just playing out the routine.
“Daoist friends, we came only to borrow resources to get through this crisis. Let’s not be hasty.”
“Daoist Qin, it isn’t that we are hasty. But how could this matter be such a coincidence?”
“Exactly, it’s too much of a coincidence.”
Playing good cop and bad cop, their tone carried nothing but veiled threats.
The ten Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Western District had staked everything. If they truly lost it all, they would never let the Eastern District have peace.
“Well, Brother Lin, do you see it now? These people, trapped by their own greed, still want to blame us!”
Old Hu was furious. They dared to threaten him?
But before he could even react, a flash of cold light and a streak of azure gleam shot forth in an instant.
“Brother Lin!”
Old Hu’s eyes widened, but Yun Yao, wielding her chilling spear, never gave them the chance to utter threats. A spear shadow imbued with icy force lunged straight ahead.
“Not good!”
Qin Feng and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were shocked, hastily activating their mana shields. None had expected the other side to attack without a word.
They had no defense prepared at all.
Lin Chang’an’s Azure-scaled Sword moved almost simultaneously with Yun Yao, both without the slightest hesitation.
With a thunderous crash!
The black market building walls shattered, bodies of Foundation Establishment cultivators were flung out. Meanwhile, cries of alarm spread through the market.
“Not good, someone’s causing trouble in the marketplace!”
“Who’s so bold?”
“Look—it’s the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Western District causing a ruckus here!”
Though the black market was quieter during the day, plenty of cultivators still gathered from afar to watch the commotion.
Amidst the rubble, coughing echoed. Qin Feng’s eyes were wide and bloodshot, his face filled with disbelief.
“Ho…how is this possible!”
That one strike! Qin Feng’s gaze carried sheer terror. Others might not recognize it, but he did—those were top-grade Spirit Artifacts!
And there were two of them!
That late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator having one was fine, but how did that fellow surnamed Lin also have one? Too unfair!
The two early Foundation Establishment cultivators who had spoken rudely before now lay sprawled on the ground, eyes filled with fear.
As for the others who had only just entered Foundation Establishment, they were utterly shaken, staring in horror at the scene.
All their anger had long since evaporated.
As icy qi spread, a dragon slowly descended into Yun Yao’s hand, transforming into a chilling spear.
At this moment, Yun Yao, her face veiled in black, radiated the terrifying might of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, spear in hand.
“Scram!”
Her cold and indifferent voice reverberated, her killing aura spreading. The difference in power was overwhelming—no number of early Foundation Establishment cultivators could compare.
Terrifying killing intent filled the air.
Beside her, Lin Chang’an’s strike was equally decisive, yet all the attention had gone to Yun Yao. He showed no dissatisfaction, only gazed coldly at Qin Feng.
“Tsk, tsk, Old Qin, look at you. Why are you sitting on the ground like that?”
With Yun Yao and Lin Chang’an having struck, Old Hu was quick to follow, grinning as he taunted, though already holding a large blade in hand.
The threat was clear.
“Old Qin, I told you long ago—Foundation Establishment cultivators are not all equal. Numbers don’t make you stronger.”
Old Ghost, He Yan, and Old Jia all emanated killing intent.
Among them, even Old Jia, though calmer now, had once spent years hunting demon beasts. His aura of baleful qi was nothing to be underestimated.
The Western District might have ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, but only two were at mid-stage, the rest all early-stage.
It was a complete mismatch.
“A misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
At this moment, Qin Feng, his face full of grief, hurried to stand between both sides, claiming it was only those two Daoist friends being impulsive, that it was all a misunderstanding.
“Daoist Lin, Daoist Yun, please quell your anger. They were just rash. A misunderstanding.”
That single strike, with death so close, finally sobered the early Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Now, when forced to choose between their wealth and their lives, naturally, they chose their lives.
“So…sorry!”
The two early Foundation Establishment cultivators lying miserably on the ground trembled as frost spread across their skin, their teeth chattering as they forced a grimace and cupped their fists.
Their faces turned pale-blue not from rage, but from the sheer cold of that late-stage cultivator’s mana.
And with that attitude—if they dared step out of line, today would be their end.
“A misunderstanding!”
Under so many eyes, each was an old cultivator who had lived over half a century. They knew how to weigh matters. Under that chilling aura, all their fire vanished.
Qin Feng, ashamed, clasped his fists and apologized, then led his group to retreat in disgrace.
“Old Qin, I’ll be watching you!”
Having already made an enemy, Old Hu naturally wouldn’t miss the chance to sneer. He gestured with two fingers to his own eyes, the mocking smile clear.
It was as if to say—they would keep watching, and if there were any underhanded tricks played behind the scenes, they would show no mercy.
The farce came to an end, but it spread the mighty reputation of the Eastern District Marketplace.
The strength of the six Foundation Establishment cultivators—so overwhelming that the Western District didn’t even have the power to resist.
……
With cultivators’ speed, the shattered walls had already been restored.
At this moment, everyone sat together, their expressions heavy.
“Everyone, let’s be careful for the time being, lest those people try some sinister scheme in the dark.”
“Hmph! If not for this being Tianxuan City, where we cannot act recklessly, those people would have been dealt with today already.”
Old Ghost’s indifferent gaze clearly revealed a hint of regret.
If even one or two of those fellows had been rash enough to act earlier, there was no way they would have left so cheaply.
It could only be said that because this was Tianxuan City, and because of their identities as members of the demonic sect, Tianxuan City had secretly issued warnings. Naturally, they could not act recklessly.
“At this point, the Western District Marketplace is already at a dead end. Let’s see how long they can remain arrogant.”
Everyone sneered. As the true mastermind behind everything, Lin Chang’an’s expression was calm, without the slightest trace of guilt.
If that Qin fellow had not schemed against them, he would not have cut off all retreat like this.
As for revenge—within Tianxuan City, they feared no such newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Just as Old Hu had said, Foundation Establishment cultivators had ranks as well. Against those who had just advanced, he could take on ten!
And this affair was only the beginning.
Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered, deep in thought. For now, it was unwise to go too far within Tianxuan City.
But in the future, given the chance, it would be best to remove this hidden danger.
……
Meanwhile, the group that had staggered back in disgrace to the Western District Marketplace all wore expressions of fear, circulating their mana to dispel the cold qi within their bodies.
“A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator… terrifying indeed!”
“Yes, we must swallow this loss. Wealth can be regained, but offending a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator is not worth it.”
The others all wore dark faces, but none refuted.
These ten had been bound together only by profit. Now that such a disaster had struck, as they looked at the desolate marketplace, they began blaming each other.
“Qin, you said it was foolproof. Now all our assets are gone…”
“Damn it, if we had advanced steadily, this would never have happened…”
Some pointed fingers in blame, others shook their heads and sighed, unwilling to be involved any longer.
Bound by profit, they now split apart for the same reason.
As the chief instigator, Qin Feng ground his teeth: “That Lin, that Hu, and that wretched woman—I will not lose!”
In Tianxuan City, the turmoil of the black market became a much-discussed topic.
Qin Feng might have had some schemes, but in this situation, with hearts unsettled and some already withdrawing, the Western District Marketplace collapsed.
Alas, Heaven did not favor him!
The black market pie was only so big. Many took the chance to kick them while they were down. Lin Chang’an and the others hadn’t even made a move.
The other black markets joined forces, squeezing the Western District until it grew desolate.
The once-vaunted Western District Marketplace, built up by ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, ended in miserable failure.
Still, it wasn’t the worst—they hadn’t lost absolutely everything, and still had some Spirit Stones and resources left, though the group disbanded.
Their fate served as a warning to the other black markets.
As for suspicion toward the Eastern District? The cultivators who understood simply shook their heads. Such a grand scheme could only have been backed by a powerful force.
……
Soon after, shocking news spread from the Western District Marketplace.
It turned out Qin Feng had colluded with foreign cultivators to set up this scheme. And the reason the Qin Family abandoned its interests in Tianxuan City was because they were preparing to migrate to another kingdom.
The Qin Family had long been preparing to relocate, and this time it was proven beyond doubt.
In no time, the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Western District turned on each other, putting on a grand show.
“Old Lin, that Qin really is no good, colluding with outsiders. But he got unlucky this time. They left, while the Qin Family suffered a heavy loss.
I heard the Qin Family’s elder Foundation Establishment cultivator was so angered he fell seriously ill. And that Qin fellow had no face left to see his family, resigned as patriarch, and left Tianxuan City weeping and half-mad.”
Old Hu spoke with gloating delight, recounting the Qin Family’s downfall.
Lin Chang’an listened with a smile and nodded, but in his heart he pondered.
This way, the other side posed no further threat.
It had all been his plan. After all, with a dozen second-rank skill cultivators at hand, fabricating evidence was child’s play.
One or two could be dismissed, but more than ten? Impossible.
“One wrong step, and every step after goes wrong. The Qin Family has lost its foundation—it is no longer the Qin Family it once was.”
Lin Chang’an’s expression was calm. Having orchestrated everything, forcing the Qin Family into ruin, he felt no remorse.
Such was the world of cultivation. When one schemed with greed, one should have considered the consequences.
“Who can deny it?” Old Hu nodded in agreement.
“That Qin may have been displeasing, but he had some skill. Unfortunately, when Tianxuan City fell into turmoil, he made the wrong move. Greedy for quick success, he brought disaster upon himself.”
Old Hu shook his head. Since the Yue Kingdom had erupted into war, there had been no peace.
The rise and fall of century-old families left many sighing at the cruelty of the cultivation world.
When the Qin Family decided to sell off their Spirit Fields and shops to prepare for migration, that was the wrong step. But who could foresee the future?
Qin Feng, anxious from the start, feeling guilt toward his ancestors, had only sought desperately to make amends.
“The remaining few scattered cultivators all sent apologies. Some joined families as guest elders, while others went to foreign merchant guilds.”
Old Hu listed the fates of the ten, and Lin Chang’an nodded in acknowledgment.
This Old Hu was cautious after all, keeping watch over every potential threat.
“So many leaving Yue Kingdom?”
Hearing that many Foundation Establishment cultivators had been recruited by foreign merchant guilds as guest elders, Lin Chang’an frowned.
After all, Tianxuan City’s abundant spiritual qi was rare—rogue cultivators would find it hard to locate another such place.
Old Hu sighed helplessly.
“It’s all because Yue Kingdom’s situation is so tense. The Divine Sword Sect and the Palace of Blazing Fire joined forces, and the war shows no sign of stopping.
Not everyone is like us, free of entanglements and focused solely on the Dao.”
As he spoke, Old Hu cast a discreet glance at Lin Chang’an, secretly sighing in his heart.
This Old Lin, talented as a high-grade Talisman Master—had he been less gifted, would he have persevered this far?
And himself—if not for the foundation left by his ancestors, would he not also have given up long ago?
“Yes, who knows when this war will finally end.”
Lin Chang’an sighed with melancholy. Tianxuan City, standing guard over the Yunwu Mountain Range, was such a blessed land.
If not for the war, how many cultivators would ever wish to leave?
Qi Refining cultivators eager for Foundation Establishment flocked here ceaselessly.
But those who had already reached Foundation Establishment, disheartened after years of stagnation, only wished to live in peace.
Everyone made their own choices. As for right or wrong—none could say.