“Outrageous! A Profound Core Realm expert is not someone you can insult!”
The attendant slammed the table and laughed in anger. “Looking at you, I doubt you’ve ever even seen a Profound Core Realm expert, have you?”
“Well, that makes sense… Even the most ordinary Profound Core Realm expert is an Elder in Qingyun City. How could you have ever seen one?”
“I don’t have time to waste on you. Myriad Treasures Pavilion doesn’t welcome poor people like you. Get out!”
Li Qingxuan remained calm and called toward the upper floor, “What is this? Does Myriad Treasures Pavilion not have a single person who has seen the world?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Just as the attendant was about to curse, a faint, cold fragrance drifted down.
From upstairs, a woman in a bright red dress descended slowly.
Her features were as delicate as a painting, yet her expression was icy. A hairpin shaped like an ice phoenix trembled slightly with each step.
Shen Bingning.
“Pavilion Master!” The attendant hurriedly bowed.
Shen Bingning glanced at Li Qingxuan indifferently. “I am Shen Bingning, Pavilion Master of Myriad Treasures Pavilion. May I ask how you are addressed?”
“Li Qingxuan.”
“Daoist Friend Li, I appreciate your goodwill,” Shen Bingning said with a faint smile. “However, Myriad Treasures Pavilion is not yet in need of outside help…”
Before she could finish speaking, the ground of Myriad Treasures Pavilion suddenly shook violently.
At the same time, a furious shout came from outside. “Shen Bingning, hand over the Profound Jade Pill Scripture, or I will wash Myriad Treasures Pavilion in blood today!”
“It’s people from the Blood Fiend Sect!”
“Hiss… Even the sect master Xue Dao has come personally!”
“The Blood Fiend Sect is ruthless. If they start fighting, we’ll be caught in it. Run!”
“…”
The customers scattered like frightened birds, fleeing in panic.
“Xue Dao, the Profound Jade Pill Scripture was something I obtained from a powerful cultivator’s cave. According to the rules of the cultivation world, treasures belong to the capable.”
Shen Bingning pressed her jade hand against the sword at her waist, her eyes flashing with cold light. “Back then, your Blood Fiend Sect lost due to lack of skill. And now you still dare to come and steal?”
The three experts of the Blood Fiend Sect laughed viciously. The red-robed elder leading them, Xue Dao, said darkly, “Pavilion Master Shen is right. The capable obtain treasures. So now, it belongs to us!”
As he spoke, he suddenly attacked. Twelve blood-colored throwing blades shot out from his sleeve, each aimed at vital points.
“Impudent!”
From the second floor, a man and a woman, both Profound Core Realm enforcers of Myriad Treasures Pavilion, leaped out.
The old man in a purple robe roared, his black iron spear thrusting forward like a dragon emerging from the sea.
Seven points of cold light burst from the spear tip, each precisely striking a flying blade. The metallic collisions shattered the porcelain on the counters.
The woman in green wielded a nine-section whip, its shadow transforming into a green dragon, sealing off the space ahead.
The clash of spiritual energy and flying blades instantly turned the bluestone street into powder.
Xue Dao sneered and drew a nine-ring Xue Dao from his back, crimson killing aura coiling around it. “Two ants at the 7th stage Profound Core Realm dare block me?”
He casually slashed.
Boom!
The old man in purple was shocked and hurried to defend, but the terrifying force knocked the spear from his hands. He was sent flying, crashing through three walls before stopping.
The woman’s whip snapped apart, and a deep, bone-revealing wound was carved across her chest. She slammed to the ground, coughing up blood.
“Elder Cangming! Elder Chiyue!”
Shen Bingning’s pupils shrank. “Xue Dao, you’ve broken through?”
Her face turned pale, her fingers trembling slightly.
They had both been at the 9th stage Profound Core Realm. Now that Xue Dao had suddenly broken through to the 10th stage, the situation was extremely unfavorable.
“If I hadn’t broken through, how would I dare cause trouble here?”
Xue Dao laughed wickedly, shaking his blade as the copper rings clanged sharply. “Shen Bingning, I’ll ask one last time. Will you hand over the Profound Jade Pill Scripture or not?”
“Never!” Shen Bingning shouted through clenched teeth.
“Then you want to die!”
Xue Dao turned into a streak of crimson light.
Shen Bingning hurriedly drew her sword, but the moment their blades collided, a terrifying force struck her. Her grip split open.
Pfft!
She spat out blood and was sent flying like a broken kite, landing heavily at Li Qingxuan’s feet.
She struggled to stand but found her meridians already corroded by the blood fiend energy. She no longer even had the strength to hold her sword.
Xue Dao slowly approached, his blade scraping against the ground with a harsh sound.
Cold sweat dripped from Shen Bingning’s forehead.
Though it was only one level of difference, the gap was enormous.
At this rate, she would die.
“Beauty, need help?”
At that moment, Li Qingxuan suddenly spoke with a smile. “Just one Fortune Pill will do.”
The entire hall fell silent.
Only then did Xue Dao notice the man in green sitting in the corner, calmly brewing tea.
Amid the wreckage, only his table remained intact. Not even a ripple disturbed the tea in his cup.
“Where did this trash come from!”
A vice sect master beside Xue Dao shouted and flung three poisoned funeral nails at Li Qingxuan.
Li Qingxuan didn’t even raise his head. He simply blew gently at the tea leaves floating on the surface.
The three poisoned nails instantly lost all power upon nearing him and fell harmlessly to the ground.
“How is this possible?”
The vice sect master’s heart shook, cold sweat pouring down his back.
This man was no ordinary person.
“Need help?”
Seeing Shen Bingning still silent, Li Qingxuan smiled. “My offer still stands. Agree, and I’ll solve your problem. How about it?”
“You…”
Shen Bingning stared at him, then gritted her teeth. “Fine! As long as you help me out of this, you may take any medicinal pill from Myriad Treasures Pavilion!”
At this point, she had no other choice.
“Straightforward!”
Li Qingxuan grinned, set down his teacup, and looked at the three from the Blood Fiend Sect. “You heard her. I’ve reached an agreement with Pavilion Master Shen. Myriad Treasures Pavilion is under my protection now.”
“You can leave.”
Xue Dao’s face darkened. The copper rings on his blade began to shake violently, producing sharp clashing sounds. “Are you really going to interfere and make an enemy of the Blood Fiend Sect?”
“Let me correct you.”
Li Qingxuan raised a finger and waved it. “She’s paying me. So this isn’t interference.”
“Good. Very good.”
Xue Dao laughed in rage, the scar on his face twisting like a centipede. “Since you insist on seeking death, I’ll grant your wish!”
Before his words even finished, he became a streak of crimson light, his blade slicing through the air toward Li Qingxuan’s face.
Where the blade passed, the air itself split apart, leaving behind a black trail.
“Be careful!”
Shen Bingning cried out instinctively.
But in the next moment, everyone’s eyes widened.
Li Qingxuan remained seated, casually raising his right hand and lightly pinching with three fingers.
Clang!
The unstoppable Xue Dao was caught firmly between his thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
Xue Dao’s expression froze.
He poured all his spiritual energy into the blade, yet it felt as if it had been welded in place, unmoving.
The nine copper rings trembled violently, emitting a shrill wail.
“This… this is impossible!”
Sweat poured from Xue Dao’s forehead.
He was a 10th stage Profound Core Realm expert. That strike could have split Myriad Treasures Pavilion in half. Yet now…
Li Qingxuan smiled faintly. “Is that all the strength you have?”
With a slight flick of his fingers—
Crack!
A fine crack appeared on the nine-ring Xue Dao.