Longevity Hacker: When Every Curse Becomes a Blessing

Chapter 20 – I want to borrow a bit of money from Senior Brother Li

"Li Kui?!"

The white-bearded stall owner’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile. "This is the market. The sect's rules state that no fighting or forced buying and selling is allowed here."

Clearly, he had heard of Li Kui's reputation.

In fact, apart from cultivators above the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, most people in the market avoided Li Kui.

There was no choice.

His reputation was too overwhelming, and now that he had become a follower of Liu Wangchuan, with such a strong background, no one dared to provoke him.

"I won't break the rules. One price, three hundred spirit stones. Are you selling or not?"

Li Kui didn't even glance at Ye Bufan, looking coldly at the white-bearded stall owner.

He needed the pill recipe for his brother, Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng was a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, just one step away from Great Perfection, and was more famous in the Heavenly Demon Sect than Li Kui.

Few knew of their brotherly relationship.

Now, with the Sealed Demon Ruins approaching, his brother wanted to break through to Great Perfection and could only ask the people of Dan Peak to refine pills.

Mo Hai, a candidate for the Saint position at Dan Peak, was not only powerful but also highly skilled in alchemy.

The pill recipe and spiritual herbs were the keys to asking Mo Hai to refine pills for his brother.

He judged people by their appearances; there were many pill recipes in the market, but most were treasured by pill shops.

Anyone who could open a shop here had some backing.

He was reckless, but not stupid.

"Three hundred spirit stones, that's daylight robbery."

The white-bearded stall owner's face turned green. The market price for two pill recipes, even with side effects, was worth at least a thousand spirit stones!

But if he didn't make the deal...

Li Kui might not say anything now, but who knows if he would come after him once they left the market?

"I've already made a deal with this young brother. If Brother Li wants it, you can ask him."

The white-bearded man rolled his eyes, pointing at Ye Bufan.

It was clear he wanted Ye Bufan to take the brunt of the trouble and loss.

"Is there no one decent in this demon sect?"

Ye Bufan was speechless.

"Don't play games with me! Are you making the deal or not?!"

Li Kui glared, cursing.

He was fully aware of the white-bearded man's intentions and wouldn't be led by the nose.

"As long as this young brother agrees, I'll reluctantly part with it."

The white-bearded man's face was grim, making a last-ditch effort, hoping Ye Bufan would stand up to Li Kui.

"Kid, are you trying to snatch the pill recipe from me?"

Li Kui's gaze turned to Ye Bufan, his words carrying a warning.

This scene made many cultivators around shake their heads.

"Another unlucky soul. Li Kui only bullies those like the white-bearded man who have no backing."

A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered.

Though a demon cultivator, he had his pride.

He'd rather rob than stoop to such lowly acts.

"Who's that dark-skinned young man? I've never seen him before."

"Probably some junior brother who's been in closed-door cultivation for a long time."

"I wonder if this guy dares to stand up to Li Kui."

The cultivators who had been extorted before looked at Ye Bufan with hope.

They wished this dark-skinned young man would put Li Kui in his place.

Unfortunately...

"No, I don't dare. The pill recipe is yours."

Ye Bufan said immediately, putting away his Foundation Establishment Technique and turning to leave.

No one noticed the sly smile on his lips as he left.

Moments later, he disappeared into the crowd.

"Another coward! Damn!"

"How can he be so spineless? It's disgraceful!"

"It's cowards like him that embolden Li Kui, making him more arrogant!"

The cultivators who had been extorted couldn't help but curse.

They completely forgot how submissive they had been when they were extorted.

The rest of the onlookers showed no surprise.

Li Kui's fierce reputation was well-known; few dared to provoke him, so being cowardly was normal.

The white-bearded stall owner had no choice but to make the deal with Li Kui for three hundred spirit stones.

After the transaction, he packed up his stall with a gloomy face and left in a hurry.

"What are you all looking at? Scram!"

Li Kui smiled smugly and continued to scour the market for pill recipes and precious spiritual herbs.

As for Ye Bufan...

He had long since forgotten about him.

In his eyes, Ye Bufan was just a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, not worth his attention.

Time passed.

Li Kui spent the entire day scouring the market, and only in the evening did he return fully loaded, riding a green mist towards Saint-Demon Peak.

Saint-Demon Peak was the foremost of the Six Great Peaks of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the most powerful, and he was a disciple of Saint-Demon Peak.

"This time, my brother should be able to break through to Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment. Plus, with his Thunder Spiritual Root, he might form a Golden Core when he enters the ruins!"

Li Kui felt a pang of pain; the pill recipes were one thing, but the spiritual herbs had cost him dearly, especially a few five-hundred-year-old herbs that cost him six thousand spirit stones.

But thinking of his brother's potential Golden Core, his expression softened.

In the Zhao Kingdom, Foundation Establishment barely allowed one to stand firm, but a Golden Core made one a true big shot.

In any sect or power, they were at the elder level.

The resources and treatment they enjoyed were beyond the reach of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, forming a Golden Core was extremely difficult. The Heavenly Demon Sect had thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but only a few dozen Golden Cores, which spoke volumes.

"By then, with my brother's abundant resources, and once Liu Wangchuan becomes the Saint, the resources I'll receive, I might glimpse the path to the Golden Core in this life."

The more Li Kui thought about it, the more excited he became.

He had an Upper Grade Spiritual Root, with less than a thirty percent chance of forming a Golden Core, but with help, it could increase to forty percent!

"Boom!"

Just as he was riding the green mist over a forest, a house-sized green snake suddenly appeared ahead.

Demonic energy surged, and it lunged at him with its mouth wide open.

"This is... Demon Dragon Technique? A Great Perfection Demon Dragon Technique?!"

Li Kui's scarred face showed shock.

But he had been through battles, and quickly summoned a black flag.

The flag expanded in the wind, seeming to emit ghostly wails, colliding head-on with the green snake.

"Crack!"

The flag snapped, and the green snake shattered on the spot.

"A high-grade magical instrument, broken?"

Li Kui's face changed dramatically.

He had seen the Demon Dragon Technique before, but no one in the entire Heavenly Demon Sect, including the candidates for the Saint position, had mastered it to this extent.

Great Perfection!

How much blood of demon snakes had to be sacrificed for this?

"May I ask which senior I have offended? I apologize here. Can we talk? Liu Wangchuan is my brother."

Li Kui respectfully cupped his fists.

He was arrogant, but surviving until now wasn't just due to strength; he had a keen mind.

Judging by the power of this Demon Dragon Technique, the attacker was definitely above the sixth level of Foundation Establishment.

If it were just a sixth-level, it might be a toss-up, but someone who had mastered the Demon Dragon Technique to Great Perfection was definitely a madman.

Judging by appearances, he knew such people were best not provoked.

"I'd like to borrow a little money from Brother Li."

A young man in a gray robe, with a dark complexion, appeared ahead, extending his hand.

This scene made Li Kui's eyelid twitch, reminding him of when he extorted those Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"So it's you. I didn't expect Senior Brother to have such hidden skills. I misjudged."

Li Kui recognized the dark-skinned young man from earlier who had bought the pill recipe.

Still exuding the aura of a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But now, Li Kui didn't believe it for a second.

"Heh, we didn't know each other until we fought. I apologize for any offense. Now that the pill recipe is in my hands, I'll give it to you."

Li Kui's expression changed, forcing a relaxed smile.

His gaze focused on the gray-robed young man, highly vigilant.

Meanwhile, his hand reached for his storage bag, as if genuinely retrieving the pill recipe.

"I want both the pill recipe and the spirit stones."

The gray-robed young man sneered, suddenly charging at Li Kui.

"Do you really think I'm afraid of you?!"

Li Kui's face twisted, slapping his storage bag, and a stone hammer appeared.

This was a top-tier magical instrument, the Heaven-Shaking Hammer.

Just as he was about to summon it.

Suddenly, he felt a cold wind behind him.

Before he could react, a long rope wrapped around him from behind, binding him like a mummy.

"This is... a pseudo-magical treasure?!"

Li Kui's face filled with terror, feeling his mana locked, unable to move.

He quickly turned his head.

Behind him stood an identical gray-robed young man on a flying sword, wearing an innocent smile.

Without a word, the man pulled out a black brick and smashed it on his forehead with a thud.

Before losing consciousness, Li Kui had only one thought.

Is this bastard even human?! His cultivation is stronger than mine, he has a pseudo-magical treasure, and he still tricked me!

...