Chapter 24: Killing and Plundering

After pondering for a moment, Li Changsheng looked at Shopkeeper Song with a hint of excitement on his face and asked, "Shopkeeper Song, are you serious about what you just said?"

Upon seeing his reaction, a subtle glint of joy flashed in Shopkeeper Song's eyes, though he quickly hid it and replied, "Of course, I'm serious. However, let me be clear upfront—you only have the priority to choose a pill furnace. Other items will be divided equally among us."

"Deal!"

Li Changsheng nodded repeatedly, as if afraid of missing this opportunity.

The two of them chatted for a while in the VIP room before Li Changsheng got up and left.

...

After sending Li Changsheng away, Shopkeeper Song returned to the VIP room. Three more people had appeared in the room by then. All three were peak Qi Refining cultivators, and one of them showed signs of being on the verge of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

"Old Song, how did it go?"

As soon as Shopkeeper Song returned, one of the three, a withered old man, quickly asked. They had been in the next room earlier but hadn't made any moves because they were wary of Li Changsheng, who was also at the peak of Qi Refining, fearing it might disrupt their plans.

"Wu Liu, what's the rush?"

Shopkeeper Song leisurely took a sip of tea. "That guy has already agreed to join me on the expedition. Once we leave this marketplace, he'll be at our mercy."

"Moreover, even if he doesn't leave the marketplace, I've already bribed his shop assistant. As long as the assistant opens Hundred Herb Pavilion's array for us, the four of us can easily kill him."

"That guy just came to Heavenly Armory Pavilion to buy a top-grade artifact pill furnace. He probably has thousands of spirit stones on him. With those stones, we'll definitely be able to bid for a Foundation Establishment Pill at next year's auction. By then, Big Brother, you'll surely break through to Foundation Establishment!"

Shopkeeper Song spoke respectfully to the burly middle-aged man, who was the strongest among them.

This middle-aged man was none other than the infamous rogue cultivator "Mountain Tiger" of the Qi Kingdom's cultivation world. The group often engaged in robbing other cultivators on the road. However, thirty years ago, they accidentally killed a direct descendant of the Zhu family, a Foundation Establishment clan, which led to a Foundation Establishment cultivator hunting them down. Of the original group of over a dozen, only the four of them remained.

Over the years, they had hidden in Tunmen Marketplace, occasionally luring out wealthy but unaffiliated cultivators and killing them.

Upon hearing this, Mountain Tiger's eyes gleamed with joy. "Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I'll never forget you brothers. I'll definitely find Foundation Establishment Pills for all of you."

"Then, together, we'll storm the Zhu family, exterminate them, and take over their spiritual vein to establish our own power!"

...

Li Changsheng returned to Hundred Herb Pavilion.

He handed a piece of paper to Wu Yuan and said, "Go and post this recruitment notice in a prominent location."

Wu Yuan quickly took the paper, but his face turned pale.

"Manager, are you trying to get rid of me?"

Working at Hundred Herb Pavilion, where he only had to sell pills, earned him five spirit stones a month—something he could never have dreamed of as a rogue cultivator. But now, the manager was hiring someone new.

Li Changsheng gave Wu Yuan a deep look and said, "Don't overthink it. I'm just finding someone to share the workload. In a few days, you'll be coming out with me. When we return, I'll teach you alchemy. After that, you'll be responsible for refining a few simple pills. How would you have time to manage the shop?"

Hearing this, Wu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Manager, I'll go right away."

Watching Wu Yuan's retreating figure, Li Changsheng shook his head slightly.

Now suspecting that Wu Yuan had already colluded with Shopkeeper Song, naturally, he wouldn't leave him alone in the shop. This was a perfect opportunity to test whether Wu Yuan had betrayed him.

...

Five days later.

The new assistant at Hundred Herb Pavilion was a twenty-something female cultivator named Lin Yue, at the first level of Qi Refining. Li Changsheng offered her a monthly salary of two spirit stones, which she gladly accepted.

For early-stage Qi Refining rogue cultivators, being able to stay in the marketplace was already a great opportunity. The concentration of spiritual energy in the marketplace was much higher than in the farmland outside. However, to stay in the marketplace long-term, one either had to rent a cultivation chamber or have their own business.

Becoming an assistant at Hundred Herb Pavilion not only allowed her to cultivate in the marketplace but also earn spirit stones. It was a win-win situation.

Meanwhile, Li Changsheng had already left the marketplace and was waiting for Shopkeeper Song outside.

Soon, Shopkeeper Song arrived with three peak Qi Refining cultivators at the marketplace entrance.

The moment Wu Yuan saw Shopkeeper Song, his expression became uneasy.

Shopkeeper Song feigned confusion and asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, isn't this an expedition to explore the ruins? Why did you bring your shop assistant?"

"Just taking him out for some experience," Li Changsheng replied with a smile, then turned to the other three. "And who might you three be?"

"Wu Liu, Zhao San, Zhao Kuo."

Shopkeeper Song explained with a smile, "These three are renowned rogue cultivators in the marketplace. They're joining us on this venture."

The three nodded slightly at Li Changsheng, acknowledging him.

"Now that everyone's here, let's go!"

Li Changsheng didn't dwell on it. After all, these people would be dead soon enough.

Mountain Tiger Zhao Kuo and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with amusement. It was the first time they'd encountered someone so eager to die.

With their cultivation, even the weakest among them, Wu Yuan at the fourth level of Qi Refining, traveled at a rapid pace.

Three days later.

They arrived at the Black Wind Mountain Range, which marked the border between the Qi Kingdom and the Nanzhao Kingdom.

"Alright, we're here. This should be far enough!"

"If we go any further, we'll actually reach those ruins!"

Wu Liu, the withered old man who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped and spoke.

"The Black Wind Mountain Range is deserted year-round. It's indeed a good place for a burial!" Zhao San sneered while looking at Li Changsheng.

Even the slowest person would realize something was wrong by now.

"Shopkeeper Song, for the past six months, I've followed your instructions and reported this guy's every move to you. Please spare my life. I swear I won't tell a soul!"

Wu Yuan immediately fell to his knees.

He had thought that Manager Li Changsheng and Shopkeeper Song were out here treasure hunting together. Now he realized that Shopkeeper Song had marked Li Changsheng as a fat sheep, planning to kill and plunder him!

"You've been quite obedient during this time," Shopkeeper Song said, shaking his head. "But if I let you go back and word gets out about my identity as a rogue cultivator, how will I continue running Heavenly Armory Pavilion?"

"So, you'll have to die!"

As soon as Shopkeeper Song finished speaking, Wu Yuan pulled out two Swift Wind Talismans and slapped them on his legs, darting away at full speed.

"A mere fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator trying to escape?"

Shopkeeper Song sneered. A mid-grade artifact sword appeared in his hand, and with a surge of true energy, the sword shot out.

"Whoosh!"

The sword pierced through Wu Yuan's chest.

Wu Yuan's corpse fell heavily to the ground.

Li Changsheng didn't even glance at Wu Yuan's body. Instead, he turned his attention to the strongest among them, Mountain Tiger Zhao Kuo, and asked with interest, "Is the Vajra Sect's ruin you mentioned located in the Black Wind Mountain Range?"