Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 381 - 229: Ling Changqing: An Angler Never Comes Back Empty-Handed...

There were four Storage Pouches in total. The Cultivation Resources inside were all sorted by category, and there were no discrepancies in either quantity or quality.

"Alright. I’m very satisfied with this transaction. I hope we have the chance to work together again!"

Ling Changqing said as he put all four Storage Pouches away.

"Of course. We look forward to our continued cooperation with Fellow Daoist Ling!"

The Female Steward, whose surname was Xu, said with a beaming smile.

After a bit more small talk, Ling Changqing announced his departure, and the Female Steward personally saw him to the door.

Back on the main street, Ling Changqing was in no hurry to leave. He discreetly tossed the Storage Pouches into the Era Star Palace’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, then changed direction and headed for the Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s branch.

He had more than enough Spirit Stones on him anyway, so it wouldn’t matter even if he spent them all here.

An hour later, Ling Changqing walked out of the main entrance with a satisfied expression, a beaming Commerce Association Steward seeing him off.

His third stop was, naturally, the Gathering Sea Pavilion’s branch for another round of bulk buying.

「One day passed quietly.」

As night fell, a perfectly content Ling Changqing checked into the most luxurious inn in the Marketplace.

In addition to the branches of the Three Major Commerce Organizations, Ling Changqing had also made a round of the second- and third-rate merchant houses, markets, and shady underground trading posts. His valuable gains were numerous.

Inside his room, Ling Changqing casually instructed a Maid to arrange a sumptuous feast. Only after eating and drinking his fill did he return to his bedchamber to rest.

"Fellow Daoist, do you require a Female Cultivator to attend to you in bed?"

A Maid in red asked from the doorway with a mysterious smile.

In this kind of high-end inn, every form of enjoyment was top-tier, including the serving Female Cultivators.

As long as one paid enough Spirit Stones, the inn’s hidden boss could arrange not just Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, but even a Female Cultivator at the Golden Core Level.

Naturally, Ling Changqing declined. He dismissed her with a few brief words and locked the door.

Even though he was planning on fishing for bigger prey, he had no intention of provoking these Female Cultivators for no reason.

Lying on the spacious bed, Ling Changqing began to communicate with Gong Ling.

"...Master, there are at least six different groups watching you outside!"

Gong Ling’s soft, pleasant voice echoed in his sea of consciousness.

A Middle stage Golden Core Cultivator was strong enough to make most Tribulation Cultivators hesitate, but it was still not enough to guarantee one’s absolute safety.

"I know. The whole point was to lure them out. How could it work if there were too few?"

Ling Changqing said with a laugh.

He had been swaggering around outside, visiting every single place that sold resources. Anyone with a discerning eye would know that a wealthy patron had arrived in the Marketplace.

Among the six groups, besides a few gangs of Tribulation Cultivators, there were also shady underground commerce organizations. It was even possible that some disciples of the Qin Family were involved.

In their eyes, a foreign "fat sheep" like Ling Changqing was a rare sight, one they absolutely could not let get away.

Perhaps finishing this one job would be enough to sustain them for many years.

Of course, Ling Changqing wasn’t particularly concerned. According to his calculations, these gangs were mostly composed of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Cultivators. The strongest among them were only at the Late stage Golden Core at best.

To others, a Golden Core Level Tribulation Cultivator was already an unimaginable, Nightmare Level existence. Ordinary targets weren’t even worthy of their attention.

But from Ling Changqing’s perspective, unless he was facing an opponent at the Nascent Soul True Monarch level, he didn’t need to take them seriously.

He had just about spent all his Spirit Stones anyway. It would be perfect to recoup some of his losses from these gangs of Tribulation Cultivators.

「The next morning.」

Ling Changqing rose early, had a hearty breakfast, then settled his bill and left the inn.

After strolling about for a while, Ling Changqing indeed noticed a group of hidden tails behind him, watching him from a distance.

He pretended not to notice and continued to wander aimlessly, acting the part of a street loiterer for half the day.

When he figured enough time had passed, Ling Changqing finally changed direction and headed toward the exit of the Marketplace.

His movement immediately tensed up the people following him. One hidden aura after another quickly converged on the exit area. Their intentions were obvious.

Once he reached the spot, Ling Changqing stomped his foot, and his entire body transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the distance.

"...Damn it! The kid is getting away!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Stop him!"

"You bastards! This big fish was spotted by our Yulong Association! You’d all better back off!"

"Get lost! It belongs to whoever catches it!"

...

Amidst the chaotic shouts and curses, a large number of Escape Lights shot into the sky like fireworks, scrambling over each other as they sped after Ling Changqing.

As Tribulation Cultivators, it had to be said that these people were quite capable. Nearly every one of them had a high-speed Flying Sword, a rather practical tool for both chasing targets and escaping.

’Excellent! The more the merrier. I like it this way...’

Ling Changqing laughed inwardly as he picked up speed, leading the group on a frantic chase across the Celestial Vault.

The pursuers grew more and more anxious, each using every trick they had to stay latched onto Ling Changqing’s figure.

They sped along like this for over an hour. Fewer than ten Cultivators were still able to keep up, all of them hardened veterans at the Late Middle Stage Golden Core.

As for those left far behind, there were several hundred of them, ranging from Early stage Golden Core and True Pill to Pseudo Core Foundation Establishment.

"This should be enough. I’ll take care of this wave first, then go back for the rest..."

Ling Changqing muttered, deliberately slowing his Flying Sword and coming to a stop in the clouds.

The relentlessly pursuing Tribulation Cultivators were a bit surprised, but their target was, after all, just one person. Coupled with the subtle interference of Destiny, they didn’t suspect a trap and continued to accelerate toward him.

A few dozen breaths later, they had closed in on Ling Changqing, entering a dangerous range.

"...Kid, you’ve got some serious nerve!"

The leader, a bald old man with an aquiline nose dressed in black daoist robes, sized up Ling Changqing and said grimly:

"Which family’s young master are you, running around out here? To be so ostentatious, didn’t your elders teach you to be cautious and low-key?"

Ling Changqing spread his hands, a look of innocence on his face. "I really didn’t know. Is that wrong?"

"Heh heh, then this one shall teach you a good lesson today. Being too flashy will cost you!"

The bald old man cackled sinisterly and, with a flick of his hand, threw out a net-like Magical Artifact wreathed in black smoke. It expanded in mid-air to the size of several acres and rapidly descended upon Ling Changqing.

The old man planned to capture him alive. Not only could he plunder all the kid’s wealth, but he might also play the part of a kidnapper and extort a handsome sum from the power behind him.

Ling Changqing smiled faintly and waved his hand, summoning the Nether Moon Celestial Net Banner. A tough, thick screen of light surged forth, blocking the bald old man’s attack.

"Kid, you’ve got quite a few nice things on you!"

The greed in the bald old man’s eyes burned even brighter as he took out a flying needle-like Magical Artifact.

But before he could activate it, a warning bell suddenly rang in his heart.

An unprecedented, excruciating pain assaulted him from behind, causing the bald old man’s face to twist in an instant, nearly making him faint.

He struggled to turn his head and saw a tall, slender, and breathtakingly beautiful woman who had appeared behind him at some unknown point. With a half-smile on her face, the Longsword in her hand had already shredded his internal organs and heart meridian.

"Long Nu? A Nascent Soul...?"

Only at death’s door did the bald old man realize this was an elaborate trap. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do now.

’If I had known he had a Nascent Soul True Monarch as a guard, why would I have joined in on this? Did I have a death wish?’

A breath later, the bald old man’s mangled corpse fell straight from the sky. His possessions had been completely plundered, and even his Divine Soul had been devoured by the Era Star Palace.

Seeing this, the few Golden Core Tribulation Cultivators who were rapidly approaching turned pale with fright. They all slowed down and tried to flee, but it was too late.

The sound of wind and thunder erupted in mid-air. Luo Qingxuan’s figure flickered in and out of sight, and with Xue Qingtan and Tang Qiu Yao coordinating, all seven Golden Core Tribulation Cultivators were dead within ten breaths.

Then, it was the turn of the True Pill and Pseudo Core Cultivators further behind.

In just a moment, the sky became clear once again.

"This feeling of fishing is really great!"

Ling Changqing said with satisfaction, holding a large pile of plundered Storage Magical Artifacts.

’A classic saying from my past life holds true in this world as well: An angler never goes home empty-handed.’