Chapter 151: Chapter 108: Massacre_1

Translator: 549690339

Inside the White Dragon Tower, Yun Yan once again received Xu Yang.

It was evident that this great steward of the White Dragon Tower also donned a worried expression.

Seeing this, Xu Yang didn’t beat around the bush and directly asked, “What happened?”

“Isn’t it because of the Three Sects of Golden Core’s initiative to develop the Hundred Thousand Mountains?”

Yun Yan revealed a bitter smile and didn’t conceal anything, “Half a month ago, within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, for some unknown reason, a Perfect Qi Refining Flying Peng Demon King suddenly appeared, with an extremely fierce temperament. The Three Sects of Golden Core, seeing this, could only halt their development plan, and the yet-to-be-issued recruitment order simply vanished without a trace.”

“So, that’s what happened.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang also understood, “Then the loss is indeed not small.”

“Indeed.”

Yun Yan said with a bitter smile, “Initially, the news that spread about the Three Sects of Golden Core developing the Hundred Thousand Mountains, mentioned extremely generous merit rewards. If one fought for a moment there, it was equivalent to ten years of Cultivation, which led many Cultivators to spend all their savings, trade up their equipment, purchase magic artifacts and talismans, as well as pills and other items, while also offloading various materials…”

“As a result, the prices of all sorts of battle-related items soared, practically all were traded at a premium, whereas the prices of Cultivation-related items and materials continuously dropped. With such an influx and outflow, the deficit is imaginable.”

“If the Three Sects of Golden Core had proceeded with their plan to develop the Hundred Thousand Mountains, then everything would have been negotiable, any losses could have been recovered, and there might have even been a surplus of profit. But now that an error has occurred, and the development plan is canceled, the situation has turned rather dire.”

Yun Yan shook her head and sighed, “With this wave of impact, who knows how many people’s hard work has gone down the drain. Not to mention loose cultivators, even a Foundation Establishment force like White Dragon Island has suffered considerable losses, severely damaging our vital energy.”

“Is that so?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang appeared unconcerned, “So, what’s the market situation for various materials now?”

“This…”

Seeing Xu Yang’s indifferent attitude to the situation, Yun Yan’s bitter smile deepened, but she still responded honestly, “There are ups and downs; items aiding in Cultivation have increased in price, whereas those used for fighting have decreased. Which type is the Senior looking to purchase?”

Previously, it was rumored that the Three Sects of Golden Core had offered very generous conditions, directly designating three Spirit Lands in the Hundred Thousand Mountains as outposts. Not only could one rent a Spiritual Vein Cave Mansion for Cultivation at an extremely low cost of military merits, but one could also exchange for all sorts of pills, Cultivation Techniques, and rare treasures.

All these were Cultivation resources, essentially meaning that as long as one entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains, there would be no further worry over the needs of Cultivation.

Therefore, Cultivators decisively invested their entire fortunes, traded for equipment, and the magic artifacts, pills, and talismans they purchased were all geared towards combat and fighting, with very few items for Cultivation purposes.

As a result, when the news of the development plan’s failure spread, the magic artifact market completely crashed, with the price of all items related to combat plummeting rapidly, while Cultivation-related items and materials surged in value, even the rental fees for the Spiritual Land Cave Mansions changing three times a day.

This left those Cultivators who had invested their fortunes and traded up their equipment in a bitter and incessant struggle. The handful of Spirit Stones they had left could hardly sustain them for long. They either had to sell the previously purchased magic artifacts at a low price or go out to find opportunities to somehow maintain their Cultivation needs.

However, this had nothing to do with Xu Yang.

He not only did not suffer any losses, but also took advantage of the situation to sell off a batch of magic artifacts at high prices and acquired a batch of materials at low cost.

Even though the market is presently saturated, and these materials cannot be sold, with sufficient patience, waiting for the market to adjust, he could still reap a considerable profit.

There was no loss, not in the slightest. In fact, he could even take advantage of this situation to stock up on another batch of low-cost materials for constructing the two great Mana Altars.

Xu Yang produced a list, “Based on what is written here, purchase the materials that have dropped in price. Forget about the ones that have risen.”

“Understood!”

Yun Yan nodded, summoned a maidservant, and instructed her to take the list and prepare accordingly.

Although White Dragon Island also suffered significant losses in this “financial storm”, as a Foundation Establishment power that operated a Cultivation Market, with a Spirit Land as their cornerstone, they were able to endure the loss. At most, it meant tightening the belt a bit further.

The truly miserable ones were the Qi Refinement loose Cultivators.

Their meager fortunes simply couldn’t withstan such a beating. Some unlucky individuals now don’t even have the Spirit Stones to rent a Cave Mansion, forcing them to live as wild Cultivators in the mortal world.

The way of Cultivation does not tolerate stagnation; a Cultivator, spending too much time in the mortal world, risks lowering their Cultivation.

“No wonder there have been an increasing number of Cultivators coming to Dongting Lake lately. They are driven by their circumstances.”

“It seems it’s time to advance further.”

“To live in seclusion within the bustling market, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, practicing in the mortal world, would indeed appear unusual.”

Xu Yang inwardly mused, planning his future development.

After a short while, the maidservant returned, presenting the requested items.

Xu Yang checked them, confirmed their accuracy, and then proceeded with the exchange of Spirit Stones.

With the transaction complete, Xu Yang didn’t linger any longer, and stood up saying, “I shall take my leave!”

“Senior, please wait a moment.”

Yun Yan called out to him.

Xu Yang turned back around, “Does Manager Yun have further advice?”

“Senior jests.”

Yun Yan said earnestly, “Due to this incident, many Cultivators are desperate and resorting to dangerous measures, turning to the acts of Robbing Cultivators. As such, there have been continuous disturbances in various markets lately. It would be best for the Senior to be cautious as well.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

Xu Yang nodded, then turned and left.

Seeing this, Yun Yan, left behind, also wore a bitter smile.

Indeed, there had been continuous disturbances in various markets lately, all caused by Robbing Cultivators committing murder and robbery.

After all, with the suspension of the Hundred Thousand Mountains’ development, the Cultivators needed an outlet for their combat equipment, and with not as many opportunities or perilous locations to explore, they were left with no choice but to turn on other Cultivators.

Even if not Robbing Cultivators, under these circumstances, they had to turn rogue, fighting others to the death.

However, these situations generally occurred only among Qi Refinement Cultivators.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators, already successful in their practices, possessing substantial wealth, were able to weather this storm.

Unless driven by sufficient profit, Foundation Establishment Cultivators rarely engage in the acts of Robbing Cultivators. The Three Sects of Golden Core also don’t permit them to disrupt the lower echelons’ ecological balance.

If there really were any Foundation Establishment Robbing Cultivators to come across this “King Shifa” of immeasurable strength, they would likely gain no advantage.

This reminder was only a courtesy, a good deed for fostering a good relationship.

But it seems now…

This favor, it’s not so easy to grant.

Such petty tricks and thoughts aren’t enough to truly change the nature of our relationship.

Yun Yan felt utterly powerless.

She considered herself to be quite tactful and adept at socializing, even among Foundation Establishment Cultivators she could handle herself with ease. But facing “King Shifa,” she always felt like she was exerting force on nothingness, unable to grasp anything substantial.

“Where does he really come from? He’s as inscrutable and deep as a thousand-year-old enigma!”

“Let it be. Regardless of his origins, White Dragon Island isn’t plotting against him.”

“As long as we treat each other with sincerity and mutual benefit, that’s all that matters.”

Let’s not dwell on the petty thoughts for now.

Elsewhere, Xu Yang, who had left White Dragon Island, was maneuvering the pitch-black Thunder Cloud out towards the lake’s exterior.

But before he could fully leave the range of White Dragon Lake,

“Cultivator Shi, please wait a moment!”

A man approached on a Flying Boat, gesturing from the prow.

It was an old man with a celestial aura about him, his Cultivation having reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement.

He stood on the Flying Boat, waving from afar and addressing him as a fellow daoist, showing no apparent malice.

However, Xu Yang’s expression was frosty, and he directly unleashed a palm of thunder.

If there was something to discuss, couldn’t it be done in the Market? Why intercept him outside? Did they think they could fool anyone with such tricks, treating him like a three-year-old?

In a world like the Cultivation World, acting this way towards a stranger is asking for death, even if it leads to a misunderstanding and wrongful killing. It’s no one else’s fault but their own.

Therefore, Xu Yang was decisive in his actions.

“Boom – Boom – Boom!”

With the sound of thunder, a bolt of lightning crackled forth like a dragon, directly striking the man.

“!!!”

Although he was prepared, the sudden decisive strike still startled the man, who didn’t dare to resist and quickly steered his Flying Boat to evade.

“Boom!”

The thunder exploded, a deafening roar ensued, and the high-grade Magic Artifact level Flying Boat was shattered by Xu Yang’s Thunder Series attack.

In the splendid fireworks, a broken corpse plummeted into White Dragon Lake along with the debris of the Flying Boat.

Qi Refinement’s tenth level, gone in a blink!

Xu Yang’s expression remained unchanged without any perturbation, he stood on the Cumulated thundercloud and swung out another palm, thunder and lightning swiftly striking towards an empty space.

It was a void, an empty void.

There seemed to be nothing there, but under the bombardment of the thunder, a figure was blasted out.

Dressed in a black robe with a sinister aura all around, his mana suggested he was of Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

Hiding in the nothingness, the black-robed man was awkwardly forced to reveal himself by Xu Yang’s thunderbolt.

“Foundation Establishment!”

“Damn it!”

Facing Xu Yang, who had flushed him out, the man in the black robe’s face twisted with rage, then without a second thought, he clenched his teeth and fled.

He was a Robbing Cultivator, one who practiced Demon skills of Foundation Establishment level.

He had targeted Xu Yang upon receiving confirmed information that this “Thunder Lightning Mana King” had conducted multiple large transactions with White Dragon Tower, which suggested considerable wealth. Even though he appeared to be a mere Perfect Qi Refining stage cultivator, his actual wealth exceeded some Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Even though his identity as a Thunder Cultivator was quite intimidating, it didn’t mean he was invincible. The gap between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment couldn’t necessarily be bridged by Thunder skills.

Hence, the man in the black robe was tempted, ready to take a risk and see if he could take down this fat sheep.

After all, he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and of the Demon Path at that, most adept at sneak attacks. If he managed a successful ambush, with his Evil Skills, even a Thunder Cultivator would become easy prey, ready for the slaughter.

This was the source of his confidence.

But now, that confidence had vanished.

Dammit, those bastards at the Listening Pavilion dared to sell him fake information—this person wasn’t some mere Perfect Qi Refining, but a genuine, bona fide Foundation Establishment!

A Foundation Establishment, and moreover, a Thunder Cultivator, how could he even fight this?

Any victory would come at the cost of half of his life!

Only a fool would engage in such a loss-making deal!

The man in the black robe didn’t hesitate to turn tail and run.

But would Xu Yang let him escape?

Having Robbing Cultivators come knocking was something he had foreseen.

After all, he had engaged in so many transactions with White Dragon Tower before, each time involving tens of thousands of Spirit Stones—it had accumulated into a considerable fortune. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators might be tempted.

Such wealth couldn’t be secured by Qi Refinement alone, even for a Thunder Cultivator.

That a Foundation Establishment Robbing Cultivator would target him and make a move was thus expected.

Xu Yang was not surprised but had long been prepared.

He wasn’t ready to give up his identity as “Shi Jian” just yet.

Therefore, revealing his strength this time, he intended to kill a chicken as a warning to the monkeys, to deter any covetous gazes.