Chapter 368 - 162: Marketplace Mayhem, Four Robber Cultivators Emerge!_4
In large marketplaces and Immortal Cities, there are usually one or two people who attempt Foundation Establishment every year, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary for everyone.
But in Red Leaf Valley Market, Foundation Establishment is a rare event. Since it was the first time, naturally many people came to watch.
Some also wanted to see if this person could succeed in their attempt.
If they did succeed, then to congratulate them and become acquainted could be beneficial; perhaps in a good mood, the successful cultivator might even bestow some rewards on them.
"The condensation of the gel has already begun, in another three days, it will be a good time to take action," someone said.
Within the crowd, a tall and burly middle-aged man and a slender woman in a blue robe glanced at each other, nodded slightly, and then walked away.
...
Three days later.
That night.
After the hustle and bustle of the daytime, the Red Leaf Valley Market fell into peace during the late hours.
Apart from the Law Enforcement Cultivators patrolling the airspace above the streets, only a few shops and inns still had their lights on.
After all, cultivators need to rest too.
Most cultivators would sleep at night, or meditate and practice cultivation.
"Creak—"
Inside an inn, three figures wearing grey vestment robes and bamboo hats walked out of their room.
They looked at each other and nodded, then quickly made their way to the first floor.
"Where are the spirit stones of the shop?" the lead burly man asked the shopkeeper, who was keeping vigil at the counter, in a deep voice.
"Spirit stones, what spirit stones?" the shopkeeper asked, baffled and slow to react.
But the next moment, a White Bone Crossbow Bolt, accompanied by a terrifying aura, locked onto him. He jolted in shock, as a chilling fear ran down his spine, instantly realizing what was happening.
Robber Cultivator!
The man before his eyes was a Robber Cultivator, a Foundation Establishment Robber Cultivator!
"Senior, all the spirit stones are here, they’re all here," said the shopkeeper, his legs trembling uncontrollably as he quickly took out a Storage Bag, his face rigidly smiling as he begged for mercy.
Knowing the other party was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and still dared to rob so boldly, he didn’t dare to resist even the slightest bit.
He understood that the slightest dissatisfaction could cost him his life.
"Is there more?" the burly man asked hoarsely after scanning the Storage Bag.
Choosing to start from this inn was also the result of careful observation and planning; this inn did very good business.
"Senior, our inn settles accounts with spirit stones weekly, and the owner comes every week to clear the accounts. All the spirit stones are indeed here," explained the shopkeeper with a mournful face.
After speaking, somewhat painfully, he pulled out his own Storage Bag and said, "Senior, these are my own savings. If the senior fancies them, please take them, I only ask that—"
But before he could finish, a small White Bone Arrow shot out.
"Pfft!"
"Hehehe—"
The arrow pierced through the shopkeeper’s head, making his eyes bulge with indignation as he died, unable to utter the words he wanted to say.
He then fell to the ground with a ’thump,’ his body rapidly drained of blood by the White Bone Arrow, leaving a dried-up corpse.
"The agreed-upon time is almost upon us. You go first to interfere with the Great Formation; I’ll handle matters here," the burly man said to the grey-robed female cultivator and the young man in grey beside him.
"Dad, be careful," the grey-robed young man said with concern.
"Stop dawdling," the burly man replied impatiently, waving his hand dismissively.
Thereupon, the grey-robed woman quickly left, pulling the young man with her.
"Green Wolf," the burly man patted his Spiritual Pet Bag.
A Green Wolf, one zhang tall, with dark green fur, gloomy eyes, and ferocious fangs, appeared at his side.
After the Green Wolf appeared, it opened its huge mouth and devoured the shopkeeper’s dried-up corpse.
It then went to the entrance of the inn, its eyes gleaming with a predatory light.
The burly man then took out a child-sized black gourd.
"Go!" he commanded, unsealing the gourd with hand seals.
Black flames, like Fire Serpents, rolled out of the mouth of the gourd.
Instantly, the inn was engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing towards the sky.
Amidst the roaring black flames and the spreading smoke, cries of pain and screams began to rise from within the inn.
"What’s going on here?"
"It’s on fire!"
"No, this isn’t just a fire, this is evil flames with poison fire!"
Some cultivators inside the inn, realizing the danger, immediately fled through windows or by flying on artifacts.
But the burly man, along with a Green Giant Wolf, holding the black gourd in one hand and a White Bone Crossbow Bolt in the other, lay in ambush outside the inn.
Anyone who escaped from the inn was immediately targeted by him; a White Bone Arrow shot out swiftly, killing the person and snatching their Storage Bag with practiced ease.
"Audacious Robber Cultivator, daring to cause chaos in the marketplace!"
Soon, the Red Leaf Valley Market’s patrol Enforcement Team, upon noticing the situation and the rising black smoke, quickly arrived on the scene.
"Pfft!"
However, the burly man showed no fear facing this group of Law Enforcement Cultivators.
A White Bone Crossbow Bolt was released from his hand, instantly killing a Law Cultivator who was at the Energy Refinement Late Stage.
"Not good! It’s a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!"
"Quick, notify the ancestor!" the other Law Enforcement Cultivators exclaimed in shock as they took out their Transmission Jade Tokens.
At the same time, they activated a formation artifact, hoping to harness the power of the Marketplace’s Great Formation to resist the burly man.
But the burly man was prepared.
His expression was calm and indifferent beneath his bamboo hat as he performed hand seals, causing grey light pillars to surge from the ground.
They caused the black smoke, still billowing from the burning inn, to rapidly roll towards the Law Enforcement Cultivators, like dark clouds descending.
To prevent escapees or reinforcements, he had laid a trap ahead of time.
As the black smoke enveloped the Law Enforcement Cultivators, they felt the fire poison spreading through their bodies, stiffening their movements and slowing down their spiritual power.