Poison Cultivation

Within Qingxia Lane, shops selling and buying religious artifacts are numerous, with varying reputations.

Reputable shops act fairly, and the ritual implements are of impeccable origin.

Unscrupulous merchants are driven by profit and will even accept stolen goods and illicit items.

Chen Luo's silver star bullets came from a clean source, and he was unwilling to be undervalued for no reason, so he chose the most fair and trustworthy old shop in the neighborhood - Qiling Pavilion.

Upon entering the store, one finds an elegant and well-organized interior, with several rosewood display cabinets arranged on both sides, and Buddhist artifacts neatly categorized and placed.

In the center stands a jade table, with a lamp burning quietly and smoke drifting gently.

The walls were engraved with celestial talismans and jade inscriptions, and the entire hall was quiet and solemn, completely devoid of any vulgarity or commercialism.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in his forties, with thick eyebrows, bright eyes, a square face, and wide lips, and he had an upright and honest appearance.

Upon seeing Chen Luo enter the shop, his face immediately lit up with friendliness, and he rose to greet him with a cupped-hand salute and a smile:

"Fellow Daoist, it's a pleasure to meet you. Are you here to select some magical artifacts or rare items?"

Our Spirit Artifact Pavilion offers genuine products from the best sources, with a complete range of categories, and guarantees to meet your expectations.

Chen Luo nodded slightly, his palm open, revealing three silver star bullets:

"Please trouble you, shopkeeper, to give me a fair estimate."

When the shopkeeper saw that they had come to consign Buddhist artifacts, his smile became even warmer.

The magical artifacts that cultivators refine and use with them accumulate spiritual energy over time, becoming more refined and purer with each use.

No one would be willing to sell it easily.

He carefully took it and examined it closely.

The three star-shaped bullets were silvery and lustrous, with smooth textures and a subtle spiritual energy flowing within them, making them quite pleasing to the eye.

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"This is a mid-grade first-tier silver star bullet. It has been nurtured and refined with earth element true qi for many years, and its spiritual essence is already quite remarkable."

"Fellow Daoist, are you truly willing to part with what you cherish?"

Chen Luo nodded calmly.

The shopkeeper understood immediately and raised his hand to make a six-character gesture:

"Fellow Daoist is sincerely offering this item; our shop is offering an honest price of sixty low-grade spirit stones."

Chen Luo glanced at it slightly, knowing in his heart that the Silver Star Bullet, after years of refinement by him, was probably priced within this range.

The price offered by the other party is already quite fair and reasonable.

However, in business dealings, there is always room for negotiation and compromise; one must always try to save face.

He feigned reluctance and sighed softly:

"This item has been with me for many years, like a sibling. I wipe and care for it day and night, and I really can't bear to part with it."

The shopkeeper, a seasoned veteran, immediately understood the refined meaning behind the music and couldn't help but smile.

"Very well, seeing your genuine appreciation for these items, I'll add another five points, making it sixty-five. How about that?"

Chen Luo immediately responded, "Deal!"

The two exchanged money and goods, and were both satisfied with the transaction.

After leaving the Spirit Artifact Pavilion, Chen Luo had a clear goal: to head to the pharmacy.

Just as he took a step, a person suddenly appeared in front of him and blocked his way.

The man chuckled and spoke:

"Brother Chen, you're walking so hurriedly, where are you headed?"

Chen Luo looked up and saw that the newcomer had slicked-back hair and a frivolous expression. His brows immediately furrowed.

It turned out that the person in front of him was Zhang Sheng, a former neighbor, whose cultivation level was only at the third level of Qi Refining.

This man has always been idle and irresponsible, spending his days in gambling dens and brothels.

Later, he gambled away his entire fortune and moved out of his old home long ago.

Unexpectedly, we met here today.

He didn't want to get too involved with the other party, and said indifferently:

"I haven't been feeling well lately and am about to go to the pharmacy to buy some medicine to help me recover. What advice do you have for me, Brother Zhang?"

Zhang Sheng looked around furtively, then took a few steps closer and lowered his voice:

"I have come here today specifically to save your life."

Chen Luo raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of suspicion: "Oh? What do you mean?"

Zhang Sheng said: "Hu Bao, the loan shark, came to me yesterday and forced me to find a way to lead you to the bay thirty miles east of the market."

He had already laid an ambush on the road, intending to kill you.

I remember our past as neighbors, how could I do such a thing to harm a friend? That's why I risked coming to warn you.

Chen Luo was surprised. Hu Bao was only at the third level of Qi Refining, yet he dared to ambush him?

Who gave him the guts?

Then he realized that everyone outside knew that his meridians were destroyed and most of his cultivation was lost, leaving him with only the ability of the third level of Qi Refining at most.

It seems that Hu Bao harbored resentment after his previous setback and wanted to take this opportunity to seek revenge.

It was rather strange that Zhang Sheng would kindly come to deliver the message.

To know,

This man was a compulsive gambler in the past, idle and lazy, cheating all the neighbors out of their money and defaulting on countless debts. In the end, he had nowhere to live and had to move away.

Back then, I was still soft-hearted and lent him a spirit stone in an emergency.

Such a greedy and ungrateful person suddenly changes his tune and shows goodwill. Is it out of gratitude for past favors, or does he harbor ulterior motives?

Having witnessed the indifference of his neighbors, Chen Luo dared not believe a single word Zhang Sheng said.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke slowly, as if testing the waters:

"In your opinion, Brother Zhang, how should this matter be resolved?"

A glint flashed in Zhang Sheng's eyes, and he said urgently:

"Hu Bao is only at the third level of Qi Refining, while Brother Chen is at the fifth level of Qi Refining."

Since he dares to resort to underhanded tactics, why don't we join forces and wipe him out in one fell swoop!

"The spirit stones and valuables recovered afterward were divided 70/30 between you and me. Is this distribution fair?"

Chen Luo pondered to himself, unwilling to agree rashly, and declined lightly:

"This is a serious matter; please allow me to go home and think it over carefully."

Zhang Sheng immediately became anxious and repeatedly advised:

"They've come to your door to bully you and try to kill you, what's there to think about?"

With my help, how could you possibly fear these few scoundrels?

Chen Luo sneered inwardly.

His cultivation level has now stabilized at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Killing a few henchmen at the third level of Qi Refining is as easy as taking something out of a bag. What is there to fear?

Unable to determine whether Zhang Sheng was genuinely reporting the news or harboring a scheme, they decided to test him again.

"That's settled then. I still have worldly affairs to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying this, he raised his hand in a gesture of respect, stepped aside to walk past Zhang Sheng, and left directly.

Zhang Sheng called out several times, but seeing that he didn't stop walking and refused to turn around, the urgency in his eyes disappeared and was replaced by a sinister look.

"With a cultivation level of five, he didn't even dare to provoke a rogue at the third level. It seems that his serious injury and loss of cultivation are indeed true."

Hu Bao was right; this deal was indeed made.

It turned out that he had secretly colluded with Hu Bao to plot against Chen Luo, but he also knew that Chen Luo was a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator, and even if there were rumors of damaged meridians, it would be difficult to tell the truth. So he set up this series of traps:

If Chen Luo dares to join forces to eliminate the scourge, it proves that his cultivation has not been lost. He can then take advantage of the situation, use Chen Luo to get rid of Hu Bao, and enjoy a share of the spoils.

If Chen Luo hesitates and dares not go forward, it will confirm Hu Bao's words—Chen Luo is already seriously injured and weak.

Then he would turn around and join forces with Hu Bao to capture him in one fell swoop and seize his personal treasures.

In short, he can gain considerable benefits no matter which side he stands on.

However, those who scheme against others will always be schemed against.

Chen Luo the Second was no longer the naive man he once was. This apparent delay was actually a subtle test of him.

If Zhang Sheng is indeed in cahoots with Hu Bao, he will certainly spare no effort to lure him out of the market.

Once he was certain of her intentions, Chen Luo wouldn't mind getting rid of these pests once and for all, so they wouldn't keep buzzing around his ears all day.

However, Hu Bao's appearance also reminded Chen Luo that he had sold the Silver Star Bullet and no longer had any protective artifacts.

To prevent petty thieves from causing trouble, we should practice more Wan Du Men techniques to achieve unexpected victories.