Chapter 324: Hand Over What You Just Bought

Things had already reached this point. How could Song Jiulai not see their true motive?

What a clumsy attempt to lure her in!

Song Jiulai smiled enigmatically. "Are you trying to trick me? You have something this good, but you won’t bring it here? You want me to go over there instead? Are you planning to pull something on me?"

"My friend, you wound me!" Seeing that Song Jiulai was unconvinced, the man pointed to the heavens and swore an oath. "We can form a contract."

Song Jiulai pursed her lips.

She was clearly tempted.

The system cackled strangely. "This guy’s still trying to trick you. He can form a contract with you, sure, but that doesn’t mean someone else can’t just kill you and take your things."

’True enough.’

Song Jiulai said, "Ah, good. Now that you’ve said that, I feel much more at ease."

Sure enough, a flicker of glee appeared in the man’s eyes.

He had immediately noticed the mark on Song Jiulai’s wrist, an insignia for those who did odd jobs for a Sect.

A mark like that meant she was just an ordinary disciple.

He formed a contract with Song Jiulai, but she used a simple illusion and never drew her Heart Blood at all. He hadn’t noticed a thing.

In his eyes, Song Jiulai was merely at the Late-stage Qi Refining realm, hardly a threat.

To make Song Jiulai believe him, the man even produced the Fire Nao Wood and thoughtfully told her she could pay for it later.

And Song Jiulai, acting as if she were lost in the giddy excitement of getting a huge bargain, followed the male cultivator, Hu Fan Yang, without a moment’s hesitation.

The system piped up, "You’re really going to follow him?"

Song Jiulai replied, "What if they actually have it? I’ll go and see who they are. As long as there’s no one in the Golden Core Stage... and even if there is, it’s not like I can’t put up a fight. Worst case, I can always run."

If they were willing to use a Third-rank Dragon Breath Spirit Fire Nao Wood as bait, Song Jiulai was more than happy to take it.

Even if a Golden Core Stage cultivator appeared, she was confident in her ability to escape.

But if there wasn’t one...

Then they’d better watch out!

She refused to believe that a group pulling this kind of stunt would have a Nascent Soul expert in their ranks.

Even if this crew had powerful backing, Song Jiulai wasn’t afraid.

Changing her face was a simple matter for her!

She followed the man for quite some time. Even when she saw they were about to leave Xuanwu City, Song Jiulai didn’t say a word.

Up ahead, Hu Fan Yang recalled how Song Jiulai hadn’t even batted an eye when offering dozens of Mid-grade Spirit Stones for the Fire Nao Wood. ’This woman is definitely not short on Mid-grade Spirit Stones,’ he thought.

’She must have at least a few dozen on her.’

After all, it was rare to see a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who could produce dozens of Mid-grade Spirit Stones at a moment’s notice.

’She must have some kind of backing.’

’But it can’t be that powerful.’

Hu Fan Yang was certain of it. Anyone still at the Late-stage Qi Refining realm at her age couldn’t possibly be a Core Disciple.

He possessed a Magic Treasure that could directly ascertain Song Jiulai’s true appearance and cultivation level.

The woman hadn’t concealed her cultivation or her face, and since Hu Fan Yang had never seen her before, he had locked onto her as his target.

They dared to operate like this in Xuanwu City because they had their own connections. This was far from their first time, so Hu Fan Yang wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

’So young,’ he thought, ’and so easily hooked by a single piece of Fire Nao Wood. It’s obvious she’s never seen real treasures or experienced any real danger.’

Just thinking about it made an irrepressibly wicked grin spread across Hu Fan Yang’s face as he led the way.

After they left the city gates, Song Jiulai flew behind him, using her Divine Sense to observe his expression with perfect clarity.

She sighed in bemusement. "He’s not even trying to hide it."

’He might as well have "bad guy" tattooed on his forehead.’

The system said, "It’s hard to believe he actually picked you."

Song Jiulai replied, "I just hope they actually have something good on them."

As she spoke, Song Jiulai’s voice suddenly took on a panicked and anxious tone. "Fellow Daoist, are we almost there?"

Clearly, an inexperienced Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator had finally realized something was amiss.

Hu Fan Yang turned his head, a wide, reassuring smile on his face. "Don’t be anxious, Fellow Daoist. We’re almost there."

And it really was soon.

Barely ten minutes later, a small gathering place appeared up ahead.

There were about twenty or so Cultivators in this place.

It was another small trading post.

A few of the Cultivators were browsing spirit materials.

The highest cultivation level among them was Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

No one at the Golden Core Stage.

Hu Fan Yang led Song Jiulai down to the ground and over to one of the stalls.

At the stall stood two identical twin Cultivators, both at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.

’Oh—just Late-stage Foundation Establishment!’

Song Jiulai felt her ego swell to incredible proportions. ’A month ago,’ she thought, ’I would never have been able to say something like "just Late-stage Foundation Establishment".’

Hu Fan Yang brought Song Jiulai before the two Cultivators. "Liang," he said, "this fellow Daoist wants to purchase Fire Nao Wood with Dragon Breath and Nine Nether Snake Bone Liquid."

He was all smiles as the twin Cultivators at the stall let their gazes roam over Song Jiulai without any attempt at subtlety.

Upon seeing that Song Jiulai was a ’somewhat attractive’ female cultivator, their expressions turned even more malicious.

Under their stares, Song Jiulai appeared to grow uneasy, lowering her head uncomfortably.

One of the Cultivators at the stall spoke, his voice rough and grating. "Oh? What price did you agree on with her?"

"Fifty Mid-grade Spirit Stones for two pieces. I’ve already given her one," Hu Fan Yang said casually. "Fellow Daoist, if we add in a portion of Nine Nether Snake Bone Liquid, it’ll be eighty Mid-grade Spirit Stones in total. How does that sound?"

Song Jiulai’s eyes brightened, and she couldn’t help but look up. "You really have it?"

"Of course. We Liang Brothers have been operating here for many years. Whatever goods you’re looking for, we have them."

’That sentence was loaded with information,’ she thought. ’It means they’re the local bosses.’

’Which also means they have some serious backing.’

’Otherwise, there’s no way they could get away with this stuff for so long without being wiped out. Two Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators aren’t enough to pull that off on their own.’

As he spoke, the Cultivator waved his hand. A stalk of Third-rank Fire Nao Wood and a vial of Nine Nether Snake Bone Liquid appeared in front of Song Jiulai.

Song Jiulai’s eyes lit up.

’I can’t believe the goods are actually real.’

She immediately said, "I’ll take it all. Eighty Mid-grade Spirit Stones, it is."

As she spoke, she tossed out the Spirit Stones.

The smile on Hu Fan Yang’s lips was unstoppable. ’What a fat fish,’ he gloated inwardly.

To her surprise, the Liang Brothers actually handed the items directly to Song Jiulai.

After completing the purchase, Song Jiulai turned and walked away.

She knew they wouldn’t make their move here. Hu Fan Yang had formed a contract with her, and if they attacked here, he would be implicated.

Besides, there was no need for two Late-stage Foundation Establishment masters to deal with a lone Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Sure enough, a few minutes after she left, the Liang Brother who hadn’t spoken a word quietly slipped away.

The other Cultivators trading in the area saw this happen clear as day.

Everyone had different expressions, but one veiled female cultivator seemed to hesitate.

As she turned to leave, she was stopped by her companion. "Stay out of it. You can’t afford to provoke the people backing the Liang Brothers."

The female cultivator pursed her lips. "I’m just going to watch."

With that, her figure vanished without a sound.

Meanwhile, Song Jiulai was leisurely cruising on her Flying Magical Treasure. She hadn’t gotten far before her Divine Sense detected a female cultivator catching up to her.

Her speed was incredible. She had clearly trained in an extraordinary Speed Type Technique.

She seemed even faster than Song Jiulai’s own Lotus Birth Kill.

She was tailing Song Jiulai at a breakneck pace.

Song Jiulai prepared to make a move, but then she sensed another aura swiftly approaching.

"Junior, hand over what you just acquired!"