16: Being targeted!

Zhou Yang watched the two bargain with cold eyes.

After the two successfully completed their transaction, several others successively began to exchange for what they needed.

When it was Zhou Yang's turn, he took a deep breath and stood up.

“I have some Talismans for sale here: Windwalk Talismans, Aura Concealing Talismans, and Fire Crow Talismans. They are all high-quality Talismans. I’m not trading items, only exchanging for Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals!”

Saying this, Zhou Yang first took out a few Talismans and placed them in front of him for everyone to inspect.

All the Cultivators present looked at the Talismans. Although there was some distance, as immortal Cultivators with sharp senses, far superior to Mortals, they could get a general idea at a glance.

“The spiritual essence is abundant, and the Talismans are fluid. They are indeed high-quality!”

“Fellow Daoist Luo, where did you get these…”

“I wonder what price Fellow Daoist Luo is asking?”

“……”

“I was entrusted by a Senior named ‘Wu Daoren’ to sell these Talismans on his behalf. Those interested can take a look. I guarantee that every Talisman is of this quality.”

Zhou Yang also revealed the alias Lu Ming had given him. He was afraid he couldn’t command the situation, so he had no choice but to do so.

Moreover, since that Senior had given his Daoist title without hesitation, it was likely for this very purpose.

After the people present scanned them a few times and confirmed their authenticity, they all showed interest.

Although they were all Low Grade Tier 1 Talismans, they were high-quality Talismans, which were relatively rare in daily life, except for a few specialized Talisman shops.

Furthermore, their cultivation was low, so using Low Grade Talismans was just right for them.

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Zhou Yang gained a bit more confidence and stated the prices he had already decided upon.

“Windwalk Talismans are eight Spirit Crystals each, Aura Concealing Talismans are nine Spirit Crystals each, and Fire Crow Talismans are six Spirit Crystals.”

“Buying more can get you a discount: buy three and save one Spirit Crystal, buy five and save two.”

As his words fell, the scene was initially silent, then several people began to speak.

“Fire Crow Talismans, give me five!”

“I want three Windwalk Talismans!”

“I want…”

“……”

These prices were slightly cheaper than outside, and such small, high-quality items were never hard to sell.

“One by one!”

This was Zhou Yang’s first time encountering such a situation. He was a bit flustered at first, but gradually he became more adept.

Before long, all the Talismans were sold out, and the small cloth bag in his hand was filled with Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals of various sizes.

Zhou Yang, now seated, was excited. He had sold a total of fifty-five Spirit Stones this time. According to Wu Daoren, five of them belonged to him.

This was his salary for two or three years!

He had earned it in just one day.

However, his excitement hadn't faded yet when he felt some subtle, greedy, and fervent gazes.

It made sense. Ordinary Loose Cultivators were usually tight on Spirit Stones, and the sudden appearance of over fifty Spirit Stones had ignited their greed.

Moreover, he was only at the first layer of Qi Refining, making him one of the lowest-cultivated individuals present, the easiest to bully!

Zhou Yang’s expression tightened, realizing he had been a bit overconfident.

Fortunately, the rules of the gathering forbade fighting on the premises, or they would face the combined efforts of everyone else!

But he didn't dare to stay long and quietly left immediately.

Behind him, some people also took their leave, following Zhou Yang’s footsteps.

The remaining people in the venue, seeing this, couldn't help but exchange glances, their eyes filled with a playful mockery.

It was obvious why that group of people left, but none of them tried to stop them.

Some people, envious of Zhou Yang's harvest, even started to scoff.

“A first-layer Qi Refining Cultivator dares to openly display such wealth; he truly doesn’t know what he’s doing!”

“Alas, we won’t see Fellow Daoist Luo at the next Opportunity…”

“Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Chen, you’re going to get rich now.”

“……”

...

...

Even though he left through a secret passage.

He still perceived that two people were closely following him from behind.

Zhou Yang was anxious, but he dared not stop his steps.

Fortunately, there was a Law Enforcement Team in the Green Bamboo Market, so he figured these two wouldn't dare to commit murder in broad daylight.

Pondering a countermeasure, Zhou Yang began to lead the ‘tails’ behind him in circles around the Green Bamboo Market.

However, as time passed, he grew increasingly anxious.

He dared not return to his residence now, as that would expose his original identity, and he would only have more trouble in the future.

If anyone present were to leak information about his sale of Talismans today, it might attract the attention of the Talisman Cultivator Alliance.

He was merely a small ant at the first layer of Qi Refining and could not contend with such an existence.

“I wonder where Senior Wu is…”

Zhou Yang thought to himself. That ‘Wu Daoren’ had not left any contact information, only saying he would come to find him.

If he could find Wu Daoren, today’s crisis would naturally be resolved easily.

……

Behind him, two figures with gloomy eyes locked onto the figure ahead.

One was a middle-aged Cultivator, the other an old man in hemp clothes, both with Qi Refining second-layer cultivation.

Seeing Zhou Yang lead them in circles, turning left and right, they felt incredibly frustrated.

The Law Enforcement Team was patrolling the Green Bamboo Market, so they dared not make a move.

But they were unwilling to give up that bag of Spirit Stones.

Over fifty pieces was a huge sum for them; how could they easily give it up!

Moreover, a mere first-layer Qi Refining Cultivator could be easily dealt with once an Opportunity arose. That bag of Spirit Stones was within their grasp!

As for the ‘Wu Daoren’ mentioned by the other party.

The two sneered inwardly; who couldn't make up a story!

Even if there really was some ‘Wu Daoren,’ what of it?

Just a weak Talisman master; they had killed such people before.

The two followed Zhou Yang for another distance when they suddenly noticed him accelerate and turn directly into an alley.

Their eyes lit up, and they were overjoyed.

He was getting anxious!

He was starting to flee in a panic. That alley had few people passing through; it was the perfect Opportunity to strike.

The two exchanged glances, their emotions unspoken.

Their magical power circulated throughout their bodies, and they both sped up, chasing into the alley.

Just as the two entered the alley entrance, one after the other, a black-robed figure brushed past them.

The two didn't pay it any mind; their eyes were only on the fifty-five Spirit Stones walking away.

But just then.

The middle-aged Cultivator walking in front suddenly paused.

The old man in hemp clothes behind him, not paying attention, bumped into him and immediately cursed with dissatisfaction.

“Chen Hu, what the hell are you doing…”

But before he could finish, he stopped speaking. In his line of sight, Fellow Daoist Chen’s body began to tremble violently as if enduring immense pain.

Then he fell to his knees, letting out heart-wrenching wails.

The old man in hemp clothes was completely bewildered, not knowing why this person suddenly started screaming.

But he instinctively pulled out his Magical Artifact and guarded his surroundings. Then he slowly walked towards the middle-aged Cultivator kneeling on the ground.

However, when he clearly saw the middle-aged Cultivator’s appearance at that moment, his face changed drastically.

At this moment, Chen Hu’s face was withered, his body shrunken, like a dried corpse. It was as if all his essence, Qi, and spirit had been completely drained, a terrifying sight.

“This… this…”

The old man in hemp clothes looked terrified, his liver and guts trembling, stammering, unable to utter a single word.

“Is this still Chen Hu? How did he suddenly become like this?”

Suddenly, it was as if something clicked in his mind, and he shivered.

“It must be him! It must be him! That Wu Daoren!”

Aside from Wu Daoren, the old man in hemp clothes couldn't think of anyone who would suddenly attack Chen Hu.

It must be that their actions had angered the Wu Daoren behind Fellow Daoist Luo!

Looking at Chen Hu’s miserable state, the old man in hemp clothes could no longer stand steadily, retreating several steps backward.

Now, he had no mind to chase Zhou Yang; he only wanted to escape this place quickly.

This Wu Daoren was too terrifying. Without even a trace of a move, he had drained all of Chen Hu’s vital essence.

“This person must be a Demonic Cultivator!”

The old man in hemp clothes ignored Chen Hu’s desperate eyes. He could tell that Chen Hu was certainly going to die.

He was only worried that after Chen Hu died, he would be next.

Whether it was from fear or if it was truly happening, he vaguely felt his whole body starting to ache.

Without further delay, he turned and fled out of the alley.

At this time, the commotion also attracted nearby Cultivators.

The Law Enforcement Team also noticed the abnormality here.

In a restaurant not far away, Lu Ming was drinking spiritual wine and watching all of this with interest.

This was his first time seeing the tragic state of those who bore the consequences; he had only heard about it before, never witnessed it firsthand.

He had actually been following Zhou Yang all along, ever since he set off. This was his carefully chosen front, and he couldn't let him be killed so easily.

Later, it was he who transmitted a message to Zhou Yang, telling him to find a secluded place to make his move.

After all, he still had to consider the impact; doing something like this on the street could easily scare children.

After confirming that the two were only at the second layer of Qi Refining, Lu Ming decisively activated the Blood Burning Secret Technique.

However, because the two would share the damage, he simply chose one person to transfer the side effects to.

And with his current Perfection-level Blood Burning Secret Technique, Chen Hu, who was in the Early Stage of Qi Refining, could not withstand it at all, and in a short while, he was reduced to skin and bones.

Watching Chen Hu breathe his last in extreme pain and unwillingness, Lu Ming nodded slightly. He was very satisfied with his masterpiece.

He absolutely loved this method of killing invisibly.

“This isn’t a Karma golden book; this is clearly the Book of Life and Death!”

However, although he could use the golden book to kill people invisibly, one thing made Lu Ming very uncomfortable: it was almost impossible to loot the bodies.

Sometimes, after killing someone, he wouldn't even know where they died, thus missing out on many Opportunities.

For someone like him, for whom not earning was a loss, it was the ultimate torment.

Looking at the golden book unfolding in the Void Realm, Lu Ming sighed inwardly.

At this moment, on the golden book, two more names had appeared below Chang Wei, Huang Quan, and Chang Yun.

【Chen Hu】【Yan Ping】

Only now, Chen Hu’s name slowly faded, eventually disappearing without a trace.

“Yan Ping shouldn’t be kept either. Let him run for a while first, preferably running home to die there.”

Lu Ming secretly made a decision in his heart. After getting rid of these two, it should deter many people for a short period.

Even if some people harbored ill intentions, it wouldn't affect him; it would only add new names to his golden book.

And the commotion this time was not small. Although only a small Cultivator in the Early Stage of Qi Refining died, the Green Bamboo Market had always severely cracked down on Demonic Cultivators.

However, this was not a bad thing; on the contrary, it would increase the intensity of patrols in the Green Bamboo Market, and as an owner in the Green Bamboo community, he would only live more peacefully.

After finishing the last sip of wine in his cup, Lu Ming dropped a few Spirit Crystals and turned to go downstairs.

When the Law Enforcement Team arrived, they found a dried corpse lying there. After some questioning and investigation, they found no clues or leads whatsoever.

One of the Cultivators grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“Which Demonic Cultivator is so bold as to dare to make a move in the Green Bamboo Market? I must drag him out!”

At this moment, a middle-aged Cultivator in the team, hearing this, gave him a big slap.

“You get a few Spirit Stones a month, what are you risking your life for?!”

Lu Ming, passing by, stumbled when he heard this.

Well, he had overestimated the professional ethics of this group of people.