Chapter 345: Sun Yong'an

Blackwater City, located in Korea, is one of the three major market towns in the region. It's a bustling commercial center where many cultivators from other countries come to conduct business.

The Sun family of Bailong Mountain has a legacy spanning nearly a thousand years and possesses formidable strength. They have consistently served as a vassal family to the Spirit Control Sect.

The Sun family breeds a large number of Silver-thread Pythons. Their meat is delicious, their hides can be used to refine inner armor and blank talismans, and their blood is suitable for preparing spiritual meals. Frankly speaking, every part of a Silver-thread Python is a treasure.

Sun Yong'an, seventy-two years old and at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, is ranked seventh within his 'Yong' generation. His primary duty is to escort goods.

The Sun family's business has expanded significantly. A few years ago, their caravan ventured into Korea to conduct business with the local cultivation forces.

The Sun family transports their Silver-thread Pythons to Korea for sale, then purchases local Korean specialties, which they transport back to Wei for resale.

To ensure the safety of their goods, the Sun family dispatches three Foundation Establishment cultivators, with Sun Yong'an being the most powerful, along with ten Qi Condensation cultivators.

With one cultivator at Foundation Establishment Fourth Level and two at Foundation Establishment Third Level, the goods' safety is well assured.

Sun Yong'an and his group do not follow a fixed route; they change it every time. Even the accompanying Sun family members are unaware of the exact itinerary.

After nightfall, Blackwater City becomes brightly lit.

Sun Yong'an is strolling through the streets. Blackwater City is very lively at night, with crowds of people bustling about.

Soon after, Sun Yong'an arrives at a spacious square filled with numerous small stalls. The goods on display are varied, with many being counterfeit or inferior, but genuine treasures can also be found, provided one has a discerning eye.

Whenever Sun Yong'an visits Blackwater City, he enjoys browsing here, hoping to find a hidden gem.

As he walks forward, his gaze quickly scans the goods displayed on the stalls.

Suddenly, Sun Yong'an stops in front of a small stall.

The stall owner is an old man in a green robe, over fifty years old. His stall displays several spirit artifacts, among which is an exquisitely crafted white wine pot, covered by a faint white glow.

The wine pot is entirely crafted from a type of white spirit jade, its surface engraved with a lifelike miniature flood dragon whose head forms the spout.

"How much for this spirit artifact?"

Sun Yong'an squats down, picks up the golden wine pot, and casually asks.

"Senior, you have excellent discernment," the old man began, "This Jade Flood Dragon Pot is a top-grade spirit artifact, once a beloved possession of a high-level cultivator..."

Before the old man in the green robe could finish speaking, Sun Yong'an interrupted him: "Don't beat around the bush. I asked you how many spirit stones."

"One hundred and fifty," the old man replied. "This Jade Flood Dragon Pot was originally intended to be refined into a magic tool, but unfortunately, a mishap during the refining process caused it to become a spirit artifact instead. It's made of White Twilight Spirit Jade and can even glow at night!"

"My final offer is one hundred and twenty."

The old man in the green robe naturally refused, but after Sun Yong'an haggled, he eventually purchased the wine pot for one hundred and thirty-two spirit stones.

After buying the wine pot, Sun Yong'an circled the square and purchased an exquisite wine cup from another stall before finally leaving.

Returning to his lodging, Sun Yong'an thoroughly cleaned the wine pot and cup before pouring spiritual wine into them.

The spiritual wine was light green. The wine pot, entirely white, was covered by a faint white glow.

Sun Yong'an, with a joyful expression, took out the dishes he had bought and enjoyed a couple of drinks.

In a secret room, two men were reporting something to Wang Changsheng.

"You have done very well," Wang Changsheng said. "Return to Chu after a while. Not a single word of what happened today must be leaked. Violators will be severely punished without leniency."

Wang Changsheng earnestly admonished them, then took out two mid-grade spirit stones and gave one to each of them.

Both men were members of the Wang family, though they had long been working in Chu and were under the purview of Wang Changhai.

The two men agreed and turned to leave.

Officially, the Sun family had no relation with the Qin family. However, a past dispute existed between them, stemming from a rumor that a Sun family member had wronged and abandoned a Qin family member. Qin family members sought justice for their kin, and one young Qin family member, while drunk, spoke recklessly about taking revenge on the Sun family. Many heard this, but no one took it seriously.

If the Qin family were to be destroyed, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of Huangsheng Palace, which would then investigate. Wang Changsheng certainly did not want the Wang family to get involved, making the Sun family the perfect scapegoat.

Many people were aware of the private feud between the Sun and Qin families.

After choosing the Sun family as a scapegoat, the Wang family and the Wang (汪) family secretly gathered information on the Sun family's connections. They discovered that the Chen family, a relative by marriage to the Sun family, had a member within Huangsheng Palace. Six months prior, the Wang (汪) family had managed to get this Chen family member assigned to the Deacon Hall, where they were responsible for assigning tasks to Qi Condensation cultivators.

Three days later, Sun Yong'an and his group left Blackwater City, heading directly for Wei.

The Green Ox Mountain Range, densely vegetated, is situated at the border between Wei and Korea. When viewed from above, the entire range resembles a massive, clumsy green ox lying on the ground.

That evening at dusk, a streak of green light flew from a distance. Before long, it soared deep into the mountain range and landed in a dense forest. It was Sun Yong'an and his group.

They had been traveling for over half a month and had finally returned to Wei.

Sun Yong'an's expression was grim. A day earlier, he had suddenly noticed someone following him. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, perhaps the other party was simply going the same way. However, when he changed direction, he discovered the follower persisted.

Sun Yong'an understood he was being targeted.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

A sharp whistling sound echoed as several streaks of green light flew from the distant horizon, heading directly towards Sun Yong'an and his group.

Sun Yong'an hastily conjured a yellow shield, which expanded as it met the wind, blocking their path.

With several muffled clangs, the green lights were blocked by the yellow shield. They turned out to be three green arrows.

Sun Yong'an quickly put away his flying magic tool, took out a yellow command flag, and infused it with spiritual power. The flag immediately glowed brightly. With a gentle wave, a large expanse of yellow light materialized, enveloping everyone in his group, and they vanished into the ground.

Not long after, a streak of white light flew from a distance. The white light was actually a huge white cloud mass, making it impossible to discern what was inside.

Inside the white cloud mass were Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Qingshan.

Wang Changsheng had originally intended to ambush Sun Yong'an en route, but Sun Yong'an was quite alert. He suddenly sped up and escaped by burrowing into the ground.

When cultivators are underground, their divine sense is somewhat restricted, so Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't recklessly pursue them.

Sun Yong'an might return to the Sun family, head to White Dragon Valley, or remain hidden underground.

After repeated consideration, Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the three green arrows flew back to him. The white cloud mass then flew back the way it came.

Over a month later, Sun Yong'an returned to the Sun family and recounted the entire incident to the family head.

Sun Yongzhi, the Sun family head, listened to Sun Yong'an's report, his brows furrowed deeply. He quickly gathered his people to discuss countermeasures.

The Sun family had developed quite well over the years. They had also resorted to coercion and temptation, thereby offending quite a few people.

Too many people were suspect, and without concrete evidence, it was difficult for them to identify the true culprit.

The cultivators who tracked Sun Yong'an were clearly aiming to kill his group and seize their treasures.