### Chapter 34: Overbearing  

Fortunately, He Song had discussed with Wei Fan three months ago what might happen if True Person Bear Mountain left and the Immortal Market fell into chaos. 

Now that True Person Bear Mountain had indeed suddenly left, Wei Fan didn't feel panicked. 

Over the past three months, he and He Song had made thorough preparations. 

Talismans. 

Magical tools. 

Robe armor. 

These items, essential for combat, were things he hadn't prepared before. 

Since he had never encountered danger in the Immortal Market, he had initially thought it unnecessary to spend resources on them. 

However, after He Song explained the pros and cons in detail, he gritted his teeth and equipped himself with some. 

Now, as a cultivator who had just broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, his combat strength was quite formidable. 

He had also prepared some talismans specifically for combat. 

Thus, even if True Person Bear Mountain suddenly left, at least their safety wouldn't be a concern. 

"Fellow Daoist, please return to the courtyard. Leave the outside matters to me. If there's any danger, use the Earth Escape Talisman to flee," Wei Fan said calmly, thinking of the magical tools and talismans he had prepared. 

Over the past three months, he had not only equipped himself with magical tools, talismans, and robe armor to enhance his combat strength but had also purchased two life-saving talismans. 

The Earth Escape Talisman. 

The Earth Escape Talisman was a high-grade talisman that allowed the user to instantly escape underground for a distance of ten miles, enough to evade pursuit from Qi Refining cultivators. 

Wei Fan had prepared one for himself and lent one to He Song. 

Although he was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, and all the surrounding residents were also late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, it was better to be safe than sorry. 

Having been friends with He Song for so long, his personality had also leaned toward caution. 

If he were to lose a fight and the surrounding late-stage Qi Refining cultivators proved unreliable, these two Earth Escape Talismans would allow them to escape quickly and perhaps survive to fight another day. 

These two talismans were their trump cards. 

"Alright, Brother Wei, be careful," He Song nodded without arguing and immediately retreated into the courtyard, activating the Breath Concealment Technique to erase his presence. 

Outside, he wouldn't be able to help and might even become a target for evil cultivators. 

A small early-stage Qi Refining cultivator living in the home of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator would seem suspicious to evil cultivators. 

If he were captured and used to threaten Wei Fan, it would only make things worse. 

Rather than causing trouble, it was better to hide in the courtyard, using the Breath Concealment Technique to make himself invisible. This would allow Wei Fan to face the crisis more calmly. 

On the pavilion, Wei Fan had just put away the tea set when he sensed He Song's presence disappearing from the courtyard. 

Noticing this, Wei Fan's expression remained unchanged, but he nodded inwardly. 

His friend's cultivation level might not be high, but when it came to caution, He Song was second to none. Among the people he knew, He Song was the most cautious. 

Wei Fan had also come to appreciate the benefits of caution. 

If it weren't for He Song's caution, the talismans and magical tools he now carried would still be the ones he had used during the mid-stage of Qi Refining. 

But now? 

The talismans, magical tools, and even the robe armor he wore were all suited for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. 

Thus, even though his cultivation was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, he didn't have to worry about his safety when facing other late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. 

It could be said that without He Song's caution, he might not have been so calm now. 

Let alone confidently waiting at home. 

This wait lasted an entire night. 

That night, the Immortal Market remained as peaceful as ever. 

It seemed as though True Person Bear Mountain's departure hadn't caused much of a stir. 

However, after dawn, the sudden increase in the prices of talismans, magical tools, and robe armor in the Immortal Market made sensitive cultivators feel that something unusual was happening. 

Some poorly informed rogue cultivators cursed, accusing the Immortal Market of shamelessly raising prices. 

Meanwhile, well-informed rogue cultivators silently took out their spirit stones to purchase various life-saving items. 

The prices of talismans, magical tools, and robe armor began to rise again. 

To buy these life-saving items, many well-informed cultivators emptied their savings overnight. 

Most of the Immortal Market's internal personnel responsible for selling these items didn't know why the prices had suddenly increased. However, faced with the influx of cultivators buying life-saving items, they could only sell them as usual. 

Although they didn't know why the higher-ups had raised the prices, those at the bottom of the hierarchy didn't dwell on it. 

Instead, they found it strange that more people were coming to buy despite the price increase. 

On the first day, He Song and Wei Fan stayed indoors in the courtyard. 

Most rogue cultivators outside continued to live, cultivate, seclude themselves, and break through as usual. 

Meanwhile, the prices of magical tools, talismans, and robe armor began to rise. 

On the second day, He Song and Wei Fan remained indoors. 

The prices of magical tools, talismans, and robe armor continued to climb. 

Some relatively perceptive rogue cultivators seemed to sense something and began purchasing life-saving items. 

Among the pedestrians on the streets, there were more hurried figures. 

On the third day, He Song and Wei Fan stayed indoors. 

Several rogue cultivators' bodies were discovered in dark corners of the Immortal Market. 

The Immortal Market's law enforcement team came to investigate but ultimately found nothing and had to hastily conclude the matter. 

At the same time, most of the magical tools in the Magical Tools Pavilion were sold out. Although rogue cultivators continued to flock in, only the outrageously expensive tools remained. 

Even so, they were quickly sold out. 

The talismans in the Talisman Pavilion were also sold out, and rogue cultivators turned to the market area. 

However, the talismans in the market area had also been sold out. 

As for the robe armor in the Robe Pavilion, it wasn't something ordinary rogue cultivators could afford. Only late-stage Qi Refining cultivators or wealthy mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators could purchase them. 

On the fourth day, He Song and Wei Fan stayed indoors. 

Someone had heard the sounds of intense combat the previous night, but no one dared to investigate. 

It wasn't until morning that people cautiously ventured out. 

They then discovered bodies scattered across a street. 

Among the bodies were unidentified cultivators dressed in black and wearing masks, as well as some nearby cultivators who had come out to investigate. 

When this news spread, the entire Zhushan Immortal Market became restless. 

Soon, the Immortal Market's law enforcement team issued a notice to every household: 

"Evil cultivators have infiltrated the Zhushan Immortal Market and are killing indiscriminately. The law enforcement team is hunting them down." 

"Those who harbor evil cultivators will die!" 

"Those who shield evil cultivators will die!" 

"Those who know but fail to report will die!" 

"Those who take advantage of the chaos to loot will die!" 

"Those who refuse to cooperate will die!" 

"Those who collude with evil cultivators will die!" 

"..." 

A series of blood-red "die" characters glared at He Song, making him frown slightly. 

It was the first time he had seen such a bloody notice, where even the slightest offense meant death. 

It was too overbearing. 

(End of Chapter)