Translator: Cinder Translations
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The burly female cultivator glanced at Song Wen and Zhou Siyi.
She realized that she couldn't see through their cultivation levels.
She then turned her gaze to the attendant, her eyes filled with inquiry and doubt, as if silently asking, "Are you sure these two are easy targets? Or are they hiding their true strength?"
The attendant gave a confirming look. Then, with a gesture, he signaled the female cultivator to look at the pile of spirit stones on the ground.
"The fat sheep has already taken the bait, now we need to milk it dry."
After exchanging a look, the burly female cultivator relaxed, her voice deep and resonant as she spoke.
"Five thousand middle-grade spirit stones, not a single one less. Otherwise, neither of you will leave my shop today."
Song Wen replied, "We don't have five thousand middle-grade spirit stones. However, I do have fifty high-grade spirit stones."
The burly female cultivator and the attendant were stunned when they heard this.
Five thousand middle-grade spirit stones was their initial asking price, a price meant to squeeze Song Wen and Zhou Siyi dry.
They never expected that Song Wen and Zhou Siyi could actually have this many spirit stones.
If they truly had fifty high-grade spirit stones, they would need to reconsider their approach.
"Fifty… high-grade spirit stones!"
A bad premonition rose in the female cultivator's heart, and she began to speak with hesitation.
"That's right," Song Wen said with a calm smile.
His nonchalant demeanor made the burly female cultivator feel a chill in her heart.
This was not the attitude one would expect from an "easy target."
At that moment, the only thought left in the minds of the burly female cultivator and the attendant was that Song Wen was just bluffing. Otherwise, they had truly kicked a steel plate.
"I'm impressed. You two are so bold, daring to trick others without understanding your customers. I thought you had some powerful cultivators backing you, but it turns out you're just a mere mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Song Wen's words directly revealed the female cultivator's cultivation, causing the last shred of doubt in the minds of the two to disappear.
Suddenly, a cold and oppressive aura emanated from Song Wen.
"Bang! Bang!"
The burly female cultivator and the attendant both felt as if a mountain had fallen on them. Their legs buckled, and they knelt to the ground simultaneously.
They now realized that they hadn't kicked a steel plate, but rather an iron mountain.
From the aura radiating from Song Wen, the female cultivator quickly deduced that he was a Golden Core cultivator.
"Senior, I did not recognize your greatness and have offended you. I deserve to die a thousand deaths. Please, Senior, show mercy and forgive me this time."
Her voice trembled as fear spread across her face.
"Forgive you? Give me one reason," Song Wen replied indifferently.
The female cultivator hurriedly spoke, "Daoist Fu Mei of Qingluo Mountain is my aunt. I hope that, for her sake, Senior will let me go this time."
"Daoist Fu Mei? Who is that?" Song Wen asked with confusion.
Zhou Siyi, standing by, also shook her head, clearly unfamiliar with the name.
The female cultivator explained, "Senior, you must be new to Yishan Ridge, right?"
Song Wen nodded.
"There are seven Golden Core cultivators in Yishan Ridge, and Daoist Fu Mei is one of them. She's also one of the two late-stage Golden Core cultivators," the female cultivator said.
"Ah, so you really do have a Golden Core cultivator backing you," Song Wen said with a mocking smile. "But even so, I still have to wonder—how can I be sure Daoist Fu Mei is really your aunt?"
The female cultivator suddenly produced a black token from her hand, engraved with the words "Fu Mei."
"Senior, this is Daoist Fu Mei's identity token. Only a few close individuals are allowed to have it."
Song Wen's fingers moved slightly, and the token flew out of the burly female cultivator's hand and landed in his palm.
Song Wen looked at the token for a moment, then frowned.
This was just an ordinary identity token with no trace of any cultivation aura.
With a casual toss, the token hit the ground with a loud "clang."
"A mere token doesn't prove anything."
The burly female cultivator was shocked.
Daoist Fu Mei was one of the strongest cultivators in Yishan Ridge.
Her identity token was now casually thrown on the ground?
"Unless Daoist Fu Mei herself comes forward to plead for you, there's no escape from death." Song Wen said coldly.
"Wha…" The burly female cultivator hesitated.
"What's wrong? Can't you bring her?" Song Wen scoffed.
The female cultivator replied, "Senior, Qingluo Mountain is over a thousand miles away, and it's too far to contact her using a communication jade slip."
Song Wen glanced at the attendant kneeling beside the burly female cultivator.
"Then send someone to fetch her."
The female cultivator immediately understood.
"Xiao Si, take my aunt's identity token and go to Qingluo Mountain to bring her here."
Xiao Si looked up at the female cultivator, then turned his gaze to Song Wen. Seeing that Song Wen didn't stop him, he picked up the token from the ground, stood up, and started to leave.
"Senior, shall I go and invite Daoist Fu Mei?" Xiao Si asked cautiously.
Song Wen nodded.
A hint of joy flashed in Xiao Si's eyes as he quickly ran off.
"Xiao Si, I'm waiting for you, don't forget, you promised me you'd stay with me forever," the burly female cultivator called out loudly.
Song Wen glanced over in surprise.
The person named Xiao Si was as thin as a chicken, barely over five feet tall.
Standing, he was shorter than the kneeling female cultivator. And yet, they were a couple?
Could it be...
Little Horse... Big Cart?
Xiao Si's face, full of urgency and fear, briefly showed a complicated expression. His figure paused for a moment, but then he continued running out.
At this moment, Song Wen's voice suddenly rang out.
"That's right, I should take precautions, just in case you try to escape."
Song Wen's words caused Xiao Si to feel a wave of disappointment. His plan to escape had just been thwarted.
Suddenly, Xiao Si felt a tremendous force hit his back.
This force didn't cause him any physical harm but instead seeped into his body, settling in his abdomen.
"If you don't return within an hour, this force will explode, and both your body and soul will be shattered to pieces," Song Wen said calmly.
Xiao Si's body trembled, fear evident in his eyes.
Without another moment's hesitation, he summoned a flying ship, soaring over the crowd in the street, and shot into the air.
The commotion in the shop had attracted the attention of many passing cultivators.
Seeing that Song Wen didn't try to drive them away, they took the opportunity to watch from outside the shop.
When they saw the burly female cultivator kneeling, many cultivators displayed expressions of satisfaction, clearly showing that some of them had been wronged by this shop in the past.
(End of the Chapter)
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