Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Hmph, if it were in the past, I might have been a little wary of this person..."

Faced with the crew-cut man's offer to help, Jia Chao gave a cold smile, then changed the subject, "However, this man is now crippled. Even if his cultivation is slightly better than mine, I can easily handle him."

The other party's name was Zheng Qiudong. He was not only one of the top experts in the Tianxia Merchant Guild, but also a trusted subordinate of his elder brother Jia Youqian. He was extremely powerful, and ordinary martial artists at the Qi Opening Realm could hardly do anything to him.

As for Song Que, he was extremely unlucky. Although he was the young patriarch of the Song family and his cultivation had reached the tenth level of the Condensation Realm, he was still no match for Zheng Qiudong. He was defeated after only a few rounds of fighting, and even his right arm was crippled on the spot!

"Song Que, if it weren't for the sake of your Song family, I would have sent you on your way long ago, instead of just crippling your arm. If you still want to fight, I'll gladly oblige!"

Jia Chao turned his gaze back to Song Que opposite him, crossed his arms, and said with an arrogant expression.

Although he also wanted to kill Song Que here, the other party was, after all, the young patriarch of the Song family, and the Song family was a powerful clan in Wuping County with many experts at the Opening Meridian Realm under their command, comparable to a quasi-eighth-rank force, and was not easy to deal with.

Jia Chao was well aware that if he were to actually kill Song Que now, the Song family behind him would be furious and might even use the entire clan to fight the Tianxia Merchant Guild to the death, which would be a loss for them.

"You bastard surnamed Jia! You're ruthless! I'll remember this grudge... You just wait and see!"

Faced with Jia Chao's threat, Song Que's face also turned ugly. However, after hesitating for a while, he still did not choose to make a move. He only threw out a few harsh words to the former and then turned and left.

After all, what the other party said was harsh, but it was also a bloody fact.

Moreover, Zheng Qiudong, a top expert, was also watching closely, and he was a formidable enemy that Song Que could hardly contend with.

Based on the brief exchange earlier, Song Que could roughly deduce that Zheng Qiudong in front of him possessed strength comparable to a martial artist at the third level of the Opening Meridian Realm. Even if he went all out, his chances of winning would be less than 30%!

"Holy crap, the young patriarch of the Song family actually chickened out?"

"Even Song Que, who is at the tenth level of the Qi Condensation Realm, is no match for this person. Just how strong is this crew-cut guy...!"

"As expected of the world-renowned merchant guild from the capital of Dongyun Kingdom, even a casual guard is a master of the Opening Meridian Realm. Such a powerful foundation is comparable to even an eighth-grade power, and might even rival a quasi-seventh-grade power!"

"We're doomed. Judging from this, the treasure hidden inside this secret chamber will most likely be monopolized by the World Merchant Guild. We might not even get a sip!"

Seeing Song Que take the initiative to back down and retreat, the various rogue martial artists in the secret room also had different expressions, whispering among themselves, with some of them showing resentment on their faces.

After all, they had gone through so much trouble to get here, and if they went back empty-handed, it would be a huge loss!

As for the interior of the golden hall, although there are thirty-six stone doors and more than one hidden chamber, no one dares to gamble that they can find treasures in the other chambers without encountering greater danger.

"The treasures and opportunities within this secret chamber now belong to the World Merchant Guild. If you don't want to die in vain, you'd better leave obediently, or don't blame me, Zheng, for showing no mercy!"

Seeing that no one showed any sign of leaving, Zheng Qiudong took another step forward, his tone cold and ruthless.

Although there were many martial artists present, most of them were lone cultivators, and their Yuan Power cultivation was mostly below the Opening Meridian Realm. Even if they all attacked together, it would be difficult for them to do anything to Zheng Qiudong.

This is also the source of Zheng Qiudong's confidence to claim that he would take all the treasures and opportunities in the secret chamber for himself. After all, in this dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, might makes right, and everything else is nonsense!

"Oh, what a pity!"

"Damn the World Merchant Guild! I never expected these guys to be even more domineering than the North Sea Blade Sect. They didn't even leave us a drop of soup! Damn it!"

"If the Qin family from Fancheng were here, that would be great. With the strength of Qin Dingce, the young master of the Qin family, he could definitely hold his own against the merchants from all over the world. We might even have a chance to fish in troubled waters..."

"Stop dreaming, brother. I've heard that the young master of the Qin family only cares about the legacy left behind by the former owner of the Loyal King's tomb. Ordinary opportunities are simply not worth his attention..."

Faced with Zheng Qiudong's threatening words, everyone in the secret room felt indignant, but no one dared to resist. They immediately scattered and left, with only a few people retreating back to the entrance, seemingly still making a final observation.

"Hmph, a bunch of cowards!"

Seeing this, Jia Chao's lips curled into a smug smile. "I must say, Zheng Qiudong is indeed a loyal lackey. It's just a pity that his first follower was Jia Youqian, not me..."

Swish!

Just as Jia Chao was about to search for the treasures and opportunities in the secret room, a thin figure suddenly rushed into the room, like a gray gust of wind, causing a whistling sound and making everyone turn their heads.

"Is this what antiquity is?"

Lu Feng landed steadily in the left corner of the secret room, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"There's absolutely no mistake, the aura of the Immortal-Nourishing Stone is becoming increasingly intense. In my estimation, this Immortal-Nourishing Stone is at least the size of a baby's fist, truly priceless!"

Gu Canyang's voice came again, his tone tinged with excitement, "I've got it! The Lu family boy is over there!"

"It really is a Celestial Stone...! And it's a huge piece!"

Following the sound of the other party, Lu Feng's gaze settled steadily on a black alchemy furnace. The furnace was incomplete, and most of the spiritual patterns on it were destroyed. It was clear that it had lost all its spiritual energy and was almost no different from a piece of junk.

However, a milky white light appeared on the lid of the cauldron, like a star in the night. Even though the entire alchemy furnace was already incomplete, it remained solid and did not dissipate, exuding a mysterious aura. It was none other than the Immortal-Nourishing Stone!

"Young Master Lu, we've really struck gold this time!"

Gu Canyang grinned.

As the spirit of the treasure basin, it is extremely sensitive to anything containing the aura of immortal power, which is one of the reasons why Gu Canyang could sense the Immortal Stone even from tens of thousands of meters away.

"Who goes there?!"

At this moment, seeing Lu Feng suddenly burst into the secret room, Jia Chao was also stunned and became wary.

He sensed a powerful and extraordinary Yuan energy fluctuation emanating from the other party, which was no weaker than his own.

"If this huge Immortal-Gathering Stone were completely absorbed by the Treasure Basin, it would not only greatly enhance the Treasure Basin's 'accumulating small amounts into large sums' function, but it could even unlock new, heaven-defying abilities...!"

Ignoring Jia Chao's questioning, Lu Feng raised his hand and summoned a massive surge of Yuan energy, which instantly crushed the lid of the black alchemy furnace. He then took the Immortal-Nourishing Stone, about the size of an infant's fist, into his palm.

"Who are you? How dare you lay a finger on my precious treasure!"

Upon seeing this, Jia Chao's brows furrowed, and he was filled with rage.

However, Lu Feng's gaze remained fixed on the Immortal-Nourishing Stone. His face was full of joy, as if the things around him were irrelevant and his mind was only on the Immortal-Nourishing Stone.

"You brat, you're asking for it!"

Seeing that Lu Feng not only took the treasure in public but also ignored him, Jia Chao's anger exploded. He immediately leaped forward and struck the top of Lu Feng's head with a palm, clearly determined to kill him!

After all, as the second young master of the Tianxia Merchant Guild, he was used to being pampered and spoiled. This was the first time he had been so looked down upon, especially since the other party was just an unknown rogue cultivator.

"Um?"

Faced with Jia Chao's sudden attack, Lu Feng narrowed his eyes and then threw a punch with his backhand. A surge of powerful Yuan energy suddenly erupted, its momentum like a tiger descending the mountain, which was difficult for ordinary people to withstand!

Bang!

In an instant, the two men's fists and palms collided fiercely, unleashing a large amount of residual energy. However, the next moment, Jia Chao's face changed slightly, turning pale.

ah...!

Another scream rang out, and the once arrogant Jia Chao suddenly retreated, then collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood. Like a tree blown down by a typhoon, he couldn't even get up and looked extremely pathetic!

"No way, is he really that weak?"

Lu Feng's face froze slightly after he knocked Jia Chao out with a single punch, seemingly equally surprised.

After all, the other party is the second young master of the Tianxia Merchant Guild, who has mastered many high-level martial arts techniques and his cultivation has reached the sixth level of the Condensation Realm. His strength should not be so weak.

Lu Feng never expected that with just a casual punch, and using less than 50% of his strength, he would cripple Jia Chao on the spot. The opponent's weakness was beyond his imagination, even weaker than ordinary martial artists of the same level!

"Could it be that my strength has increased again?"

Thinking of this, Lu Feng couldn't help but stroke his chin, pondering silently.

He completely ignored Jia Chao, who was coughing up blood and lying on the ground, and his shocked and furious bodyguard Zheng Qiudong.