Chapter 1252: Robbery and Murder

This time, Li Zhen released a gigantic golden crow, while Wang Qingling deployed a giant blue eagle. This third-tier spirit bird was also acquired from the black market, though not through Wang Mingren’s connections.

Both manipulated their spirit birds, attacking each other's.

As Wang Qingling hadn't raised it herself, controlling the blue eagle felt somewhat awkward. Its rank was also inferior to the golden crow's, and it was soon at a disadvantage.

Li Zhen seized an opening from the blue eagle, commanding his golden crow to defeat it.

The outcome didn't matter. Wang Qingling's objective was achieved once True Human Golden Crow made an appearance.

"Fellow Daoist Li, stop. I admit defeat. Your Golden Flame Crow is quite powerful; it has a high chance of advancing to the fourth tier in the future."

Wang Qingling spoke with an envious tone. The Golden Flame Crow was a top-grade third-tier spirit beast, just a step away from the fourth tier. Her own Black Sparrow, however, was only a low-grade third-tier beast, requiring a long time and vast cultivation resources to reach top-grade.

The cultivation resources needed for spirit beasts to advance were no less than those for cultivators themselves.

"Hehe, it's not that easy for a third-tier spirit bird to advance to the fourth tier. Madam Li, perhaps we could speak privately and discuss our experiences in raising spirit beasts?" Li Zhen chuckled, speaking with enthusiasm.

Wang Qingling didn't refuse, nodding in agreement.

Half an hour later, they were in a private room at a teahouse, exchanging insights on raising spirit beasts and birds.

Over the years, Wang Qingling had frequently communicated with other spirit masters, so she had endless things to say about raising spirit beasts and birds.

"Madam Li is truly knowledgeable and has many ingenious ideas; this old man has never heard of them before." Li Zhen exclaimed.

Wang Qingling humbly replied, "Fellow Daoist Li, you flatter me. Your knowledge is also excellent."

A low chirping sound came, and Wang Qingling took out a silver magic plate, sending a spell into it.

Wang Qingling frowned and said, "Apologies, Fellow Daoist Li, I have an urgent matter to attend to. I must take my leave."

True Human Golden Crow had appeared, so her mission was complete. She could withdraw, leaving the rest to Wang Qiuming.

Li Zhen was slightly surprised, then nodded with a smile.

As soon as Wang Qingling left, the smile on Li Zhen's face solidified. He had naturally noticed that the spirit beasts and birds the other party controlled had not been tamed for long, which was suspicious.

He took out a black magic plate, sent a spell into it, and ordered, "Junior Niece Zhao, send someone to watch Madam Li. See where she goes and whom she contacts. Be careful not to be discovered."

"Yes, Senior Uncle Li."

The middle-aged Daoist nun walked in, smiling, "Oh? Do you also think this person is suspicious?"

"The spirit beasts she controls are certainly not ones she raised herself. However, she is indeed proficient in spirit manipulation. I hope she wasn't sent by an enemy force!"

As Li Zhen finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Over the years, at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, cultivators had died by his hand. He had once led a team to wipe out two cultivating families, his hands stained with enemy blood. This was also his capital for climbing higher.

After Shangguan Wei succeeded as Sect Master, she led the Nine Nether Sect disciples in expanding their territory. Most forces that opposed the Nine Nether Sect met a bad end. To obtain more cultivation resources, one had to earn merits, and the quickest way to do so was to slay enemies.

He had encountered five attacks, but fortunately, he had killed all his assailants.

"It's better to be careful. According to news from the Enforcement Hall, our last operation wasn't clean enough and left behind trouble. As long as we don't leave the market, we are safe. Let Senior Brother Liu take the new disciples back! We should lay low here for a while. I always feel that Madam Li's appearance was too sudden." The middle-aged Daoist nun kindly reminded him. Tall trees catch the wind; the Nine Nether Sect acted domineeringly, and every high-ranking member had enemy blood on their hands.

Li Zhen nodded and said, "I thought so too. With Senior Uncle Yang guarding, I doubt they'd dare cause trouble in the market."

Time flew by quickly; a year passed in the blink of an eye.

In a quaint courtyard, Wang Ruyan was still playing her zither, and Wang Changsheng was still reading. Neither spoke a word, appearing calm and unconcerned.

Patience was essential for any endeavor, especially when dealing with the Nine Nether Sect. They had to be extremely cautious.

Wang Changsheng suddenly took out a communication plate and sent a spell into it. Wang Qiuming's somewhat excited voice abruptly sounded: "Grandfather, they've left the market, but they departed with a Nascent Soul cultivator. They seem to be heading somewhere."

"A Nascent Soul cultivator? Perfect timing. You and Qingling don't follow them out yet. Remain in the market. We'll go out and see."

"Yes, Grandfather."

Wang Ruyan's expression turned cold, and her zither playing grew frantic. The calm lake surface suddenly burst open, sending splashes tens of feet high.

"My lady, let's go! We intended to catch small fish, but it seems a big one jumped out on its own."

Their original target was True Human Golden Crow, but if the opportunity arose, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Nether Sect was also acceptable.

Outside Black Crow Valley, Li Zhen followed a middle-aged man in a purple robe. Their steps were hurried, as if they were rushing somewhere.

The middle-aged man conjured a purple jade shuttle about a foot long, sending a spell into it. The shuttle glowed brightly.

"Everyone get on, don't dawdle." The middle-aged man ordered with a cold expression, jumping on first. Li Zhen and five other Core Formation cultivators followed suit.

With a flash of purple light, the jade shuttle transformed into a streak of purple escape light and vanished into the sky.

Three days later, Li Zhen and his group appeared above a somewhat desolate plain. Vegetation on the ground was sparse, black stones were ubiquitous, and the soil itself was black.

The middle-aged man standing at the front suddenly frowned, forming a hand seal, and the purple jade shuttle stopped.

"I wonder which fellow Daoist has arrived. Since you're here, please show yourselves! Why hide?" The middle-aged man turned his head to look behind him, his expression indifferent.

As soon as he finished speaking, a black light suddenly illuminated the void several miles away, revealing a flying boat enveloped in shifting black light. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stood on it, naturally not using their true appearances.

They didn't know what had happened, but a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Nether Sect had actually led people out of the market. If they didn't pursue immediately, the other party would reach another market town.

"You two fellow Daoists look somewhat unfamiliar, and you're not using your true appearances, are you?" The middle-aged man said with a cold face. The other party had silently followed them; he wouldn't believe they had no ill intentions.

"Debts must be paid, and lives for lives. We were entrusted by someone to take your heads." Wang Ruyan said, radiating killing intent. With a flick of her delicate hand, a light golden pipa appeared in her grasp.

The sound of the pipa filled the air, and dozens of light golden blades of light shot out, heading directly towards the opposite side.

Wang Changsheng conjured a palm-sized white jade bottle, sending a spell into it. A stream of faint black liquid flew out, then spun, transforming into black arrows about a foot long. They rained down like a meteor shower, plunging towards the opposing group.

These black arrows were not ordinary liquid; they contained the Heavenly Moon Divine Water, making them highly corrosive.