Far away from the battlefield and disputes, once he reached a place where no one was around, Li Pingcan began to recount the loot he had just obtained.
His divine consciousness circled the Ghost Dao magical implement, which was a banner entirely pitch black, embroidered with three fierce green-faced fanged ghosts. Holding it sent a chill deep into his bones, as if he were gripping a thousand-year-old mystical ice.
As he probed a little deeper, a violent, vengeful, and toxic intent fiercely backlashed at him. It was as if the anguished wails of thousands of wronged souls echoed in his ears.
“An evil and twisted artifact.”
Li Pingcan frowned tightly. As a druid close to nature, he instinctively loathed such magical tools refined by sacrificing living souls.
This “Three Ghost Banner” was powerful, no doubt, but the entangled karmic causes and consequences tied to it were equally astonishing.
Prolonged use would surely cause backlash—at best, a drastic change in temperament leading to bloodlust; at worst, one’s soul would be devoured by ghosts, ending in irrevocable calamity.
“Keeping it is just trouble. Better to exchange it for genuine spirit stones.”
Li Pingcan made up his mind, feeling not a trace of reluctance.
He was always pragmatic; flashy but impractical gear that carried a “curse” attribute was, in his eyes, far less valuable than a bottle of spirit-containing pills that could restore spiritual energy at critical moments.He returned once more to the chaotic Rogue Cultivator Market, still dressed in the nondescript garb of a middle-aged rogue cultivator.
This time, he did not wander but directly approached a stall that specialized in buying all kinds of “problematic odds and ends.”
The stall owner was cloaked entirely in a black robe, his face obscured—a common sight in the black market, almost a local specialty.
When Li Pingcan slapped down the “Three Ghost Banner” and several ghost talismans confiscated from the Masked Man onto the stall counter, the black-robed man’s aura visibly shifted.
“Ghost Dao magical implements? Or a full set of talismans?”
His voice carried a subtle excitement, almost imperceptible. “Fellow Daoist, are these things legitimately sourced?”
“Whether they’re legitimate or not, will you buy them or not?” Li Pingcan’s voice was hoarse, mimicking the unique wariness and impatience of a rogue cultivator.
“I’ll buy them, of course!”
The black-robed man chuckled, “As long as it’s good stuff, I buy everything. This banner’s condition is decent, and the grudge energy is sufficient. How about this: sixty mid-grade spirit stones, plus these talismans—I’ll take them all.”
“One hundred.”
Li Pingcan cut straight to the point.
“Fellow Daoist, you’re being unreasonable.”
The black-robed man’s voice turned serious, “Ghost Dao implements, though powerful, are ultimately illicit and unsanctioned. Aside from me, you won’t get even thirty spirit stones anywhere else.”
“Then ninety, take it or leave it.”
Li Pingcan made a move as if to take back the items.
“Wait!”
The black-robed man hurriedly called out, hesitated a moment, then bit his lip and said, “Seventy-five! I can’t go higher! This is already a favor to you!”
“Deal.”
Li Pingcan decisively pushed the items over.
He knew well that although the Ghost Dao magical implements were sinister, in the hands of cultivators who specialized in this path, they were coveted treasures worth far more than sixty-five mid-grade spirit stones.
However, these hot potatoes were best sold quickly, exchanged for tangible resources—that was the right way.
Seeing the heavy bag of spirit stones, Chen Haoran felt a little pleased.
As for the few weapons confiscated from the unlucky fellow that couldn’t be sold, they were useless but too precious to discard, so he tossed them all into the “warehouse,” ready to be handed out as rewards for future family disciples.
His vision had broadened; some trivial things no longer caught his eye.
...
“This is a storage ring that Dad specially had Xiao Fei deliver…”
Li Mengze looked at the antique-looking storage ring. It was made entirely of an unknown blue jade, engraved with delicate cloud patterns, smooth and warm to the touch—obviously no ordinary item.
His face full of curiosity, he took the ring and probed it with his divine consciousness.
Spirit stones sparkled inside, piled like mountains. Li Mengze’s clear, wide eyes instantly widened in astonishment, as if he had endured five years of hardship only to realize he was a “second-generation rich kid.”
He knew his father was always mysterious and extraordinary, but he never imagined he was hiding such a massive fortune!
“Wow, inside here… at least several hundred to a thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”
At the same time, within the storage ring were several divine consciousness fragments left by his father.
“Ze’er, I need your help with something. These spirit stones are your ‘start-up capital.’ You must use this money to quietly gather some information within the academy.”
A list of “Blood Maple Forest” and many second-grade spirit materials simultaneously appeared before Li Mengze’s eyes.
“These places and materials are extremely secretive. You need to use your connections and your wisdom to uncover their origins, production areas, and... methods to acquire them. Remember, no third party can know about this, including your teachers.”
...
Li Mengze looked at the list in his hand. These were formation refining spirit materials, so it was obvious his father was likely a formation master.
With such overwhelming wealth, it was no wonder.
“Dad, you really hide things deep!”
“Don’t worry.”
He nodded heavily, showing a confident smile very similar to Li Pingcan’s.
“I will definitely complete this task.”
But to perfectly accomplish his father’s orders, relying solely on the reputation of an outstanding academy student was far from enough. Though he often read widely in the Scripture Repository, he had never heard of these secret matters.
Perhaps only the royal family’s Scripture Repository held such secrets.
Li Mengze lowered his head and looked at a name card on the table, clenching his fist slightly—that was the qualification for the royal family pill refiner trial!
...
Songling Prefecture Academy.
The preparatory trial for royal family pill refiners had finally begun.
Those qualified to participate were all alchemical prodigies painstakingly nurtured by the major immortal cultivation families and sects within the prefecture.
They were either of noble birth or exceptional talent, each carrying an innate pride.
When Li Mengze, dressed in a simple blue robe, quietly stood among the crowd, he only attracted the attention of a small group.
“Oh, isn’t this Teacher Su’s precious disciple? Why are you here stirring up trouble?”
“Shh! Quiet, he’s currently the academy’s red star. Even the elders praise him endlessly.”
“So what? Pill refining depends on foundation and heritage. What insight could someone from a mundane family possibly have?”
Amid the whispers, a haughty and arrogant voice suddenly rang out without warning.
“Make way! Make way! Can’t you see?”
A girl wearing a goose-yellow dress with a golden hairpin, her face exquisitely made up, pushed through the crowd surrounded by her servants. Wherever she went, people hurriedly gave way.
The girl appeared about fifteen or sixteen years old, stunning in appearance and tall figure, but her beautiful phoenix eyes revealed blatant arrogance and contempt.
“That’s Wei Linger, the lord of Qingyang County!”
“My god, she’s here too? Isn’t she specialized in talisman crafting?”
“What do you know! She was raised with heavenly materials and treasures since childhood. Rumor has it she also has some talent in pill refining.”
In the crowd, a thin-faced youth in gray cloth frowned deeply at Wei Linger’s arrogant demeanor. His eyes flashed with a trace of indignation.
His name was Chen Haoran. Born into poverty, he barely entered the academy thanks to extraordinary perseverance and talent. He most despised the swagger and tyranny of these privileged children.
Seeing Wei Linger’s servants rudely shove a classmate who nearly fell, Chen Haoran could no longer hold back and muttered quietly, “Abusing power, utterly shameless.”
Though his voice was low, the sharp-eared Wei Linger heard every word clearly.
“What did you say?”
Wei Linger suddenly turned her head. Her beautiful phoenix eyes instantly turned icy cold, fixating on Chen Haoran.
Chen Haoran’s heart tightened, but he still straightened his back and met her gaze without bowing or yielding.
“I said, you abuse your power.”
“Good, very good!”
Wei Linger laughed bitterly with anger. She appraised Chen Haoran from head to toe with a look like she was staring at an ant she could crush at will.
“A poor wretch who can’t even afford a decent robe dares to bark in front of the county lord? Seems I’ve been too lenient lately, letting you vermin forget what rules are!”
Before she finished, she flicked her wrist. A scarlet whip crackled with lightning, like a venomous snake, fiercely lashing toward Chen Haoran’s face!
The whip was fast and brutal, clearly meant to kill.
Chen Haoran’s face changed drastically. He never expected that just one sentence would lead to public violence!
He tried to dodge, but the lightning on the whip carried a slight paralyzing effect, slowing his reflexes by half a beat.
Just as the whip was about to strike his face, Li Mengze’s pupils suddenly contracted.
He had no intention of interfering, but watching a classmate almost disfigured over a just remark, he simply could not stand by.
With a snap of his fingers, he flicked a tiny stone. It tore through the air and arrived just in time, striking precisely the tip of the scarlet whip.
“Snap!”
With a crisp sound, the normally unstoppable whip was deflected slightly, grazing Elder Zhao’s cheek and leaving only a faint red mark.
Wei Linger was stunned, then instantly furious. She turned sharply and fixed her murderous glare on the stone-thrower.
“Who let a wild dog interfere with the county lord’s affairs!?”
The surrounding students were so scared they dared not breathe, backing away en masse for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Chen Haoran held his face, the burning pain and soul-deep humiliation making him tremble all over, his teeth grinding loudly.
In a corner, Li Mengze furrowed his brows imperceptibly.
“A mad dog.”
He silently labeled the county lord miss in his heart.
Having been taught by his father Li Pingcan since childhood, he deeply understood one truth: never provoke those without bottom lines who act on whims. You never know what crazy thing they might do next.
This county lord Wei Linger was clearly such a person.
Arrogant because of her background, ruthless in action, and without any scruples. Chen Haoran’s low mutter earned such humiliation; if a direct confrontation occurred, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Li Mengze decided to keep as far away from this “mad dog” as possible, ideally never crossing paths with her in this lifetime.
He silently stepped back two paces, trying to melt into the shadows of the crowd to reduce his presence.
Wei Linger raised her whip, seemingly intending to strike Chen Haoran again to make an example, when a grave and authoritative voice rang out like thunder breaking the silence.
“Stop! This is the sacred place of pill refining! What is the meaning of this disorder?”
Everyone turned to see a gray-robed elder wearing the academy’s official elder attire, holding a scroll of pill formulas, walking over with a solemn expression.
His steps were steady, radiating a natural aura of authority that silenced the noisy atmosphere.
“That’s the royal family elder!”
“Why is Elder Zhao here?”
Wei Linger’s arrogant demeanor immediately toned down upon seeing him.
Though spoiled, she knew her limits. This royal family elder held an extraordinary position in the academy; even her father had to show respect.
“Elder Zhao.”
She reluctantly put away her whip and nodded slightly in greeting.
Elder Zhao didn’t even glance at the scoundrel Chen Haoran on the ground. Instead, his gaze flicked like lightning over Wei Linger as he snorted coldly.
“The royal family pill refining trial is imminent. You all are the future pillars of the prefecture. If there is any more disturbance or disruption, regardless of status, qualifications will be canceled and severe punishment enforced!”
His voice was not loud but carried undeniable pressure.
Wei Linger’s face flushed pale and red. She knew Elder Zhao’s words were meant for everyone but were clearly targeting her.
Yet she could not retort and could only suppress her anger.
She glared fiercely at Chen Haoran, her eyes full of malice as if saying, “Just wait for me!”
Elder Zhao said no more, obviously unwilling to meddle further in petty squabbles among juniors.
The commotion seemed to settle.
Li Mengze, witnessing this, became even more determined to avoid trouble.
Unfortunately, sometimes trouble doesn’t let you avoid it just because you want to.
Wei Linger, scolded publicly by Elder Zhao, had nowhere to vent her nameless fury.
Her blazing anger had no outlet. She dared not lash out at the royal elder, so she resentfully scanned the crowd like a lioness hunting prey.
Her gaze swept past the timid students, past Chen Haoran clutching his face filled with unwillingness and humiliation, and finally, as if compelled by some unseen force, fixed on the calm-faced youth in the corner.
Li Mengze’s heart skipped a beat. This was bad.
His inconspicuous tranquility, so out of place in this environment, had become a silent provocation and an eye-catching anomaly to the arrogant county lord.
Wei Linger’s phoenix eyes narrowed with a killing intent. She put away her whip and, to the astonishment of the crowd, took graceful steps directly toward Li Mengze.