Chapter 340: Chaos in Guanyun Peak Market

Li Xuanxuan cast a sidelong glance at him, then sat down at the table, rolling up his sleeves. Stroking his beard, he stated bluntly, "You're a straightforward man, Daoist. This secret technique of mine is a rare eye art, and I'm asking for three hundred spirit stones!"

This was an exorbitant price, a truly exaggerated figure. However, the black-robed cultivator was annoyed by Li Xuanxuan's dawdling. With the agreed time approaching, he had no patience for haggling and simply declared, "Fine, fine! Hand over the secret technique at once! Stop wasting time!"

Li Xuanxuan saw that the man agreed without any negotiation. His initial seventy percent certainty about the cultivators' ill intentions increased by another twenty percent, almost confirming his suspicion. He then smiled and said, "Daoist is truly generous. Then, please come with me to the Xiao family to sign a contract, and we can complete the transaction..."

The black-robed cultivator was no fool. His expression instantly changed, and his voice turned cold as he sternly asked, "What contract are you talking about?"

Li Xuanxuan feigned confusion and explained, "Is this your first time visiting, Senior? Any transaction in the market involving hundreds of spirit stones must be handled by the Xiao family, and a contract must be signed to prevent any discrepancies and ensure you don't suffer losses..."

The black-robed cultivator grew impatient; there was no way he could let Li Xuanxuan summon the Xiao family cultivators. He simply stated grimly, "I don't need your troublesome Xiao family contract! Just hand over the secret technique, and I'll figure it out myself!"

Li Xuanxuan nodded with an ingratiating smile and said, "Senior, just provide the full payment, and I'll send my subordinate to fetch the contract. It won't be a problem, not at all..." He then subtly winked at Li Qiuyang, who quickly left. The black-robed cultivator scoffed, swept his hand across his storage bag, and immediately, a pile of artifacts glowing with spiritual light clattered onto the floor.

The pile of artifacts included swords, blades, axes, and halberds. Some were badly damaged, others in decent condition, but all were stained with blood, both fresh and old. Most of the blood had dried into brownish-black flakes that crumbled into dust upon impact. "These artifacts cover both the Qi Condensation and Embryonic Breath realms," the man said. "Calculate if they're enough to cover the price." His voice echoed in the air as brown dust drifted down in the sunlight. Li Xuanxuan silently exhaled, feigning calculation with a pounding heart.

He calculated inwardly, "This person is most likely one of those northern demonic cultivators... a group has infiltrated Guan Yun Peak Market. That technique thunder bead is immensely powerful; it's definitely not for dealing with a minor character like me. It's probably meant to destroy the array points of Guan Yun Peak Market..." His gaze lingered on the pile of artifacts for a moment. He knew his shop couldn't be saved. He had already signaled Li Qiuyang to leave, trusting he wasn't foolish enough to miss the hint.

"What's going on! How can you be like this!" "Quiet! No fighting in the market!" The commotion outside was growing louder, with the roar of spiritual power collisions and the clang of clashing artifacts. Seeing that the time for this group to make their move was rapidly approaching, Li Xuanxuan's heart was ablaze. He whispered, "Daoist, this isn't enough for three hundred!" "Not enough?!"

The black-robed cultivator grew increasingly impatient, waving his hand to retrieve more items from his storage bag. However, Li Xuanxuan put on a greedy expression and first barked at Li Yuanyun nearby, "Get out!" Li Yuanyun quickly retreated with several apprentices from the shop. Li Xuanxuan felt a slight sense of relief and quickly said, "Daoist! Daoist! I'd like to see that item you appraised earlier... I've managed this shop for many years, and I've never seen such a fine treasure. That item is rare and should fetch a high price!" "Oh?"

The black-robed cultivator was slightly taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter as if he had heard something amusing. After several breaths, he stopped, pulled a dark jade bead from his sleeve, and chuckled mockingly, "You actually have some discerning eyes! Take it!" He tossed the technique thunder bead into Li Xuanxuan's hands, watching him clumsily catch it. The black-robed cultivator then said coldly, "Now you can give me, Gong, that secret technique, can't you?" "Of course! Of course!"

Li Xuanxuan squinted greedily at the treasure bead, then casually pulled out a jade slip from his waist storage bag and handed it to him. The black-robed cultivator took the jade slip and was just about to probe it with his spiritual sense when Li Xuanxuan seized the opportunity to act decisively. With a sweep of his sleeve, he overturned the pile of artifacts in front of him, and amidst the clatter, burst through the door and rushed outside.

"Hmm?" The cultivator surnamed Gong was instantly enraged. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed that the jade slip was no secret technique, but merely some miscellaneous travel notes. He cursed loudly, "How dare you!" Then he stamped his foot hard, causing a white mist to rise from his body and shake the small room. He used the momentum to lunge at Li Xuanxuan, his palm wind transforming into wisps of white, cotton-like air currents that surged forward.

Li Xuanxuan's expression was grim. He already held a gleaming golden talisman, which released a golden light that enveloped him. A thick bloody light erupted from his body, and he retreated like the wind.

"Boom!" The golden shield on Li Xuanxuan's body only lasted for a few breaths against the air currents, shattering like an egg. Unable to dodge in time, the flesh on his hand was scraped away by the white energy, revealing stark white bone. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a cry of pain in his throat. All his spiritual power converged, and he forcefully resisted the black-robed cultivator's attack, retreating several steps before rising into the air.

All the talismans Li Xuanxuan had drawn were exchanged for spirit stones and sent to his family; he had never prepared anything good for himself, believing he was safe in the market. Even the talismans he carried were only at the Qi Condensation level. Now, one was shattered by a single palm strike, and he felt a tinge of regret.

"Ahhh!" Everything happened in an instant. The apprentice by the door, only at the Embryonic Breath realm, couldn't react in time. Along with several apprentices chatting in front of the shop, he was caught by the white energy, letting out inhuman screams. The upper body of the apprentice guarding the door was instantly vaporized, and the flesh on his lower body disappeared, leaving only two stark white thigh bones standing alone on the ground. The other apprentices nearby suffered various tragic fates: those grazed on the head died instantly, while those who could still cry out a couple of times also fell down with a thud.

Li Yuanyun, who had been watching the commotion from the street, was untouched by the white wind but was drenched in a cold sweat, crying out in alarm. Seeing an apprentice who had lost his lower body wailing and crawling towards him with bloody hands, leaving a trail of blood on the ground, he broke into a sweat, jumped up from the ground, and turned to flee.

Li Xuanxuan had no time to tend to his injuries. The cultivator surnamed Gong had already closed the distance, his conical hat lifting high to reveal a scarred face and venomous, fierce eyes. He cursed from the air, "How dare you deceive me?!"

Li Xuanxuan cursed inwardly. His hand was already raised high, and the dark jade bead he had been given shot out like lightning, heading straight for the face of the cultivator surnamed Gong. Meanwhile, he activated his Blood Escape technique, disappearing like a streak of bloody light.

"Ridiculous!" This technique thunder bead could only be detonated with corresponding spells and incantations. This was why the cultivator surnamed Gong dared to confidently hand it to Li Xuanxuan. Seeing Li Xuanxuan thoughtlessly throw it over, he merely scoffed and continued forward.

"Boom!" The dark bead, however, exploded with a burst of crimson sparks in mid-air, casting a golden glow on the face of the cultivator surnamed Gong. He froze, exclaiming in disbelief, "Impossible!"

He almost reflexively clutched the talisman in his sleeve, his two fingers tightening slightly. He was about to activate the talisman but forcefully restrained the impulse, retreating a few steps to watch the dark jade bead fall from the small burst of sparks. "Whew..."

The cultivator surnamed Gong broke into a cold sweat. He reached out and snatched the jade bead, then sneered as he watched the distant streak of bloody light. Estimating that such a delay would make pursuit take an unknown amount of time, he muttered, "Clever, indeed. He even stuck a talisman onto this technique thunder bead, almost tricking me... Good thing I'm battle-hardened, or I would have wasted a protective treasure." He added, "Too bad I still need to go to the array point, so I'll have to let this person go for now... The Li family! I heard they're a sword immortal family. Since Li Tongya is dead, I can lead my people through there..." He deeply gazed at the retreating Li Xuanxuan, then suddenly turned back. Li Yuanyun had already gotten up and had only managed to run a dozen feet in a few breaths. The black-robed cultivator sneered and flicked his finger.

"Ah!" A streak of white light, like a meteor, caught up to his sweat-soaked back. Li Yuanyun only had time to cry out in pain before the flesh on his body vanished, transforming into a pile of white bones that clattered across the ground.

The market was already in chaos, with traces of fighting visible everywhere. The great white array in the sky flickered erratically. The cultivator surnamed Gong, showing no sign of anger, laughed heartily and flew towards the pre-calculated array point.

Li Xuanxuan, using his Blood Escape technique, sped away and crashed into the Xiao family's great array. This array flickered erratically, its aura fluctuating like water waves, clearly indicating it was besieged from within and without, on the verge of collapse.

He looked closely and saw that although it was clearly midday, it was pitch black outside, with demonic smoke billowing. He paused for two breaths, not daring to go out. "Who knows how many demonic cultivators are waiting outside," he thought, "just waiting for this great array to break before swarming in to feast... Rushing out now would likely lead to a poisoned hand and make me an appetizer for these demonic cultivators." However, the surging blood qi and spiritual power within him were overwhelming like a gushing river, and Li Xuanxuan couldn't withstand it. The escape light was too bright and crimson, making him conspicuous, so he dared not maintain it.

Looking back and seeing that the cultivator surnamed Gong had not pursued him, Li Xuanxuan quickly stopped his spell and landed on the street. He coughed twice, his entire body aching. Upon examining himself with his spiritual sense, he felt gaunt and his face repulsive. "Good, good," Li Xuanxuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This Blood Escape technique was formidable; he had forcefully escaped a fatal situation relying on this spell. He had expected to be gravely injured and not have long to live, but unexpectedly, it only reduced his lifespan and altered his appearance. He was instantly delighted.

"Hiss!" The wound on his hand was bone-deep and bleeding profusely. Li Xuanxuan used spiritual power to seal the wound, cast several healing spells, and took two pills, thinking, "I can't go out now. Qiuyang should still be in the market, but I don't know where... Yuanyun, that child, couldn't be saved..."

Li Xuanxuan felt a suffocating sensation in his heart. Li Xuanling, of the Xuan generation of the Central lineage, had only recently died, and Li Tongya had already passed away. Now, Li Xuanling's son had also died in the market, leaving him feeling ashamed and guilty... If it weren't for Li Qinghong, now one of the two most highly cultivated members of the family, and the brothers Xi Cheng and Xi Jun, who possessed spiritual apertures and decent talent, the Central lineage would have almost collapsed and faded into obscurity. Thinking of this, Li Xuanxuan felt deeply saddened, considering his own shortened lifespan to be nothing in comparison.

Looking at the sky, he knew he could only wait for the demonic cultivators who had infiltrated to break the great array. Once the external demonic cultivators swarmed in and dispersed throughout the market, that would be his chance to escape. Resting on the spot for a moment, Li Xuanxuan got a chance to catch his breath and adjust the energy flow within his body. His mind began to race: "This happened so suddenly. They said demonic cultivators were still active in Lin County...! How did they cross the vast Mushroom Forest Plain and appear in Lixia County as if nobody was there..." "Does Xiao Chuting know about this?!"

He silently huddled in a corner, avoiding detection, unable to stop himself from making connections... "Xiao Yongling has always been stationed in the market, but five years ago, the Foundation Establishment cultivator Xiao Yongling was transferred, leaving only the Qi Condensation Xiao Ruyu... No, perhaps Xiao Ruyu isn't even on the mountain anymore!" Li Xuanxuan looked up at Guan Yun Peak beneath the heavy black clouds, a sense of unease filling his heart. Even a peak Qi Condensation cultivator like Gong had been sent into the market as an inside agent. The black-robed cultivators surrounding Guan Yun Peak could only be at the Foundation Establishment realm! "Four of them..."

Li Xuanxuan observed carefully, remaining silent. After Xiao Yongling was transferred, only one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators remained stationed by the Xiao family in Guan Yun Peak Market. They must have been unable to resist, thus they retreated and did not come out. "It takes an incense stick's time to reach Xianyou Peak from here. A quarter of that time has already passed." Li Xuanxuan's face was grim. His cultivation was not high, only at the third level of Qi Condensation, and he was not skilled in combat. If chaos broke out later, he would likely fare poorly.

"Boom!" The pavilion in front of him exploded with a bang, and scorching flames rushed towards him. Li Qiuyang's hurried steps came to an abrupt halt. Looking at the streaks of light filling the sky, he was in a mental struggle: "That black-robed cultivator is most likely a demonic cultivator... Brother Xuan probably sent me out to seek help from the Xiao family... But now, the Xiao family can barely protect themselves; how can they possibly lend a hand!"

Guan Yun Peak Market was built around Guan Yun Peak, with the great array on Guan Yun Peak serving as the main array and numerous nodes set up throughout the market, covering the entire area. Now, Guan Yun Peak was covered in dark clouds, and a few black-robed cultivators could faintly be seen standing in mid-air, making it impossible for Li Qiuyang to go up the mountain for help. Black-robed cultivators were already fighting and plundering everywhere, with angry shouts rising and falling. An ominous premonition secretly arose in Li Qiuyang's heart. Hiding under the eaves in a corner, he anxiously thought, "Brother Xuan must have already started fighting that man. That man is at the peak of Qi Condensation; how can Brother Xuan be his opponent..."

Thinking of this, Li Qiuyang wanted to move his legs, but he remained rooted to the spot, not daring to move: "But I'm just a miscellaneous Qi cultivator. Let alone fighting back to save Brother Xuan, I'd be killed by the demonic cultivators in two blows if I stepped outside. How could I possibly help him!" Outside, flesh and blood flew, and screams echoed. He gritted his teeth, realizing that if he stayed there, the demonic cultivators would eventually find him. He formed a hand seal to conceal his aura and cautiously moved out.

The demonic cultivator before him wore a black robe, was in the early Qi Condensation stage, and wielded a large axe that glowed with bloody light. He was chopping with overwhelming force, occasionally letting out bursts of laughter and curses. The several cultivators opposite him stood in an array; they appeared to be Xiao family members. The leader had just advanced to Qi Condensation. Li Qiuyang had been in the market for many years and recognized this person, having had a brief acquaintance. Behind him were five cultivators at the third or fourth level of Embryonic Breath, forming a small array with their hands, conjuring sparkling white spiritual light that surged forth, swaying precariously under the man's relentless chopping.

Li Qiuyang felt a secret chill in his heart. He had seen Xiao family cultivators mediate disputes several times in the market, always decisively apprehending the troublemaking cultivators. This was the first time he had witnessed such a large-scale confrontation, and he thought, "The Xiao family's cultivation techniques are profound, and they have always been considered powerful among their peers. Yet, they need to form an array just to barely resist this demonic cultivator!" He touched his sleeve, fumbling out two talismans: one for early Qi Condensation and one for mid Qi Condensation. He had originally planned to sell them in the shop, but now he silently took them out and clenched them in his hand.

The Xiao family cultivator was frantic, drenched in sweat. He inadvertently glanced up and clearly saw Li Qiuyang hiding under the eaves in the distance. Overjoyed, he feigned even greater anxiety, while secretly accumulating power in his hand, waiting to coordinate with Li Qiuyang's move. Li Qiuyang understood the hint from that glance. He slowly infused spiritual power into the talismans in his hand, causing streaks of red light to flare up. He then roared, "By decree!"