Li Xingtian looked at the youth in front of him and directly brought out the rhetoric he had long discussed with his Eldest Senior Sister. With a calm tone, he asked outright:
Whatever they are paying you, I will double it. We want to study the pillar of light. At the same time, if necessary, you must pass false information to them.
Hearing this, the youth looked a little surprised. He fell silent for a moment before sighing softly and replying:
This isn't about the money...
Li Xingtian's tone carried a hint of disdain: If it's not about the money, then what is it? Whatever they can afford, my Evil Spirit Cult can certainly double!
Sigh, fellow Daoist should know that this pillar of light wasn't created by humans. The youth looked helplessly toward the distant pillar of light, his tone growing heavy. I assume fellow Daoist also knows...
So to put it this way, we can't come to an agreement? Li Xingtian directly interrupted the youth.
This was obviously a tactic to raise the price on the spot.
Although he was an evil cultivator, he was still human. Regardless of whether it was for spirit stones or not, he had truly become a traitor to humanity.
Li Xingtian naturally understood that there was no need to talk about moral bottom lines with an evil cultivator, but he also truly lacked the patience to negotiate terms with one.
When it came to how to properly skip all this nonsense, Li Xingtian actually had some experience.
Seeing the killing intent flash through Li Xingtian's eyes, the youth hurriedly spoke up:
Of course we can come to an agreement, but fellow Daoist must understand the risks I am taking.
Are you joking with me?
What does fellow Daoist mean by that?
Isn't an evil cultivator talking about risks a joke? If you were afraid of risks, why would you become an evil cultivator? Have you forgotten everything you just said?
Hearing this, the youth didn't dare to beat around the bush anymore. Sure enough, beating around the bush with a blood qi cultivator was just making things hard for himself. He said straightforwardly:
Double is too little. If fellow Daoist adds a bit more money, I'll do it!
Li Xingtian asked coldly: Then how much do you want?
Double it again! The youth said in a soft tone. Fellow Daoist, after all, once this matter is over, it will be impossible for me to get such an easy job again. If you really calculate it, I might be the one losing out.
Li Xingtian had no interest in talking further. No matter how much the youth asked for, he would naturally be able to take it all back afterward. However, agreeing too early would always arouse suspicion.
He remained silent for a moment before asking: What price did they give you?
The youth decisively held up five fingers:
Converted entirely, it should be worth five thousand spirit stones. Fellow Daoist only needs to give me fifteen thousand spirit stones, and both I and that pillar of light will entirely belong to you and your esteemed Cult.
Li Xingtian hesitated for a moment, then tossed a spatial ring into the youth's hands:
We do things by the rules. I'll pay thirty percent upfront.
The youth sent his spiritual sense into it to take a look, then said in a low voice:
Fellow Daoist, this isn't the right amount. It seems to be a little short, right?
Li Xingtian said in a displeased tone: Does the ring in your hand not count as spirit stones?
Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on the youth's face. He then cupped his hands and said:
Naturally, it counts. Now fellow Daoist can do as you please. Additionally, I do not know if there are other formations or anything else inside this pillar of light. I have never approached it.
Li Xingtian frowned slightly and questioned coldly:
Do you think this money was just picked up off the ground? You think just giving a single explanation is the end of it? You need to accompany me the entire time.
The youth gripped the ring in his hand. Hearing this, his tone became somewhat helpless again:
If fellow Daoist puts it that way, then this won't be the price anymore. It has to go up. After all, if something happens, I will definitely have to bring up the rear for fellow Daoist, won't I?
Truly insatiably greedy.
The feeling of disgust in Li Xingtian's heart grew stronger. Sure enough, compared to negotiating terms with these evil cultivators, it was much more comfortable to discuss Dao arts with them.
At the same time, Li Xingtian also understood that he could not concede any further.
If he agreed to everything, this youth would definitely know that he had other motives.
Li Xingtian's cold eyes locked onto the youth:
Giving you money isn't my only option. You might have the life to take it, but you also need the life to spend it. As for bringing up the rear... are you saying that to humiliate me?
Hearing this, the youth revealed a gentle smile and cupped his hands:
I am Gao Fang. Fellow Daoist doesn't need to take my previous words seriously; it was merely a slight test.
After all, with the eighteen immortal sects conducting a comprehensive encirclement and suppression, it's still unknown whether those who come are fellow followers of our path. If it weren't for fellow Daoist's robust blood qi, I certainly wouldn't have dared to show my face to meet you.
Since the price has been met, I have some truth to speak.
This pillar of light is nothing but a ritual formation. I have observed it carefully, but I just don't know what methods those demons used to shift the spirit veins to continuously maintain the grand formation.
I haven't noticed any other abnormalities in its effects. If fellow Daoist is interested in understanding it, it would also help resolve my own doubts.
Gao Fang gently stroked the spatial ring in his hand. Then, after going through quite a psychological struggle, he threw the ring back to Li Xingtian and said in a sincere tone:
Since fellow Daoist feels that this pillar of light is worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, then you naturally have your own unique insights, and its value is definitely far beyond my imagination.
As cultivators, how could you and I be like ordinary mortals, coveting only a few pieces of silver before our eyes? What we covet is the eternal long night.
I am willing to return the spirit stones to fellow Daoist, only asking that if you can gain some inspiration from this ritual, you will not be stingy and share a little with me.
I don't ask for much, only whatever fellow Daoist sees fit. I merely wish to be able to see a bit further ahead on the path.
This is all I ask, and I am willing to be generous for fellow Daoist.
Li Xingtian rubbed the ring in his hand, his eyes sweeping over it as he replied in an indifferent tone:
Since you are so sincere, that is naturally fine.
Hearing this, Gao Fang breathed a sigh of relief, his expression becoming even more humble as he said:
Then, does fellow Daoist want to go take a look right now?
My Divine Cult has many members, and there are specializations in our arts. Naturally, we need to find the profound experts among us to study it. If I go look by myself, I naturally won't be able to figure out the tricks behind it, Li Xingtian said. I will go prepare the notifications first. I just need to know how to contact you.
Hearing this, Gao Fang hurriedly took out an extremely simple communication talisman and handed it to Li Xingtian, saying:
Fellow Daoist only needs to trigger this talisman, and I will immediately come to see you.
Li Xingtian reached out and took the talisman, then dropped a single sentence: Wait for me to find you.
Afterward, his figure instantly dissipated, leaving only a trace of blood qi lingering in place.
Seeing this, the humble expression on Gao Fang's face slowly returned to normal. He stood up straight, and then his gaze turned toward his so-called disciple, who was still kneeling to the side.
Good disciple, obedient disciple. Gao Fang's tone suddenly became very strange. He slowly walked in front of the black-robed youth who was trembling all over as he groveled on the ground. This is the great immortal you said could peel off your skin with just a single look?
R-reporting back to Master... Y-yes.
Sure enough, letting a fool handle anything will just result in a mess. How could you mess things up like this when all I asked you to do was watch a place and deliver a message?
Gao Fang gently reached out and touched the black-robed youth's head: How many times have I told you? When delivering a message, you must be accurate, and then accurate again. Just say what you know. Why are you still using your old tricks?
Could it be that you think... only he would peel off your skin, and I wouldn't?
Master, spare my life! Master, spare my life!
Quiet! Gao Fang gave a low shout.
The black-robed youth instantly fell silent, not daring to make another sound. Even his breathing became barely perceptible.
Gao Fang sighed softly,
"It is only for the sake of our past bond as master and disciple,"
"That I am telling you this."
"I want you to die understanding, to die with absolute clarity, and to know that your death is not unjust."
Raising his hand, Gao Fang gazed at the severed head dangling from his grasp. Staring into those eyes filled with sheer terror, he spoke in a tranquil tone,
"Do not panic. I know you can hear me."
"After all, I am a merciful man. You are not the first to hear these words."
e school belle recognized by the whole school, a genius girl from the kendo club. She also has a hidden identity, the youngest legendary demon hunter. Chen Shuo just transmigrated and found himself turned into a weak, helpless little vampire. He was caught by Su Xiyen and taken home at the very beginning. Since then, Chen Shuo's life creed only had two items. "First, classmate Su Xiyen is always right." "Second, if classmate Su Xiyen is wrong, please refer back to item one." Many years later, Chen Shuo, who had turned back into a human, led a pair of twins to appear in front of all the vampires to share the secret of how he turned back into a human. "It's simple, I tricked a female demon hunter into becoming my wife!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
