Although the official opening was still several months away, Mount Jiuxian had already gathered countless cultivators and demonic practitioners from the Three Realms and the Seven Demon Lands.
Though they couldn’t yet enter the heart of Mount Jiuxian, over a dozen spontaneous marketplaces of varying sizes had already formed in the surrounding mountains.
Numerous mid-to-high-level cultivators frequented these markets, where rare materials and spiritual medicines frequently appeared, sparking fervent early transactions.
Unlike other places where humans and demons were strictly segregated, these markets saw no such division.
Even though the number of demonic beings entering these markets was far fewer compared to humans, those who dared to appear were almost all high-level demonic beasts capable of transforming most of their bodies into human form.
Thus, in terms of actual strength, the demonic beings in these markets were no weaker than their human counterparts, allowing the two races to coexist peacefully without one easily oppressing the other.
Of course, this was only the general situation.
These markets were not the official venue for the Myriad Treasures Convention and were merely temporary gathering spots, so there was no strict order.
Though Mount Jiuxian dispatched some guards to patrol the markets, they could only maintain a superficial peace.
Acts of bullying the weak and forced transactions still occurred in hidden corners.
On this day, in a desolate mountain far from Mount Jiuxian, such a scene was unfolding.
A gaunt middle-aged cultivator and a young girl no older than eleven or twelve were surrounded from three sides by three menacing figures clad in black.
The middle-aged cultivator was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, while the girl was merely at the Qi Condensation stage, around the third or fourth layer. In contrast, their assailants were all at the late Foundation Establishment stage, their faces filled with malice.
“Bai Huaji, hand over the thousand-year Blood Ginseng. If you’re smart, my brothers and I will not only let you and your daughter leave but also compensate you with some spirit stones. Otherwise, don’t blame me for turning ruthless,” said the oldest-looking of the three black-clad men, his voice icy.
“Shi Kun, I admit I was blind to trust you and ended up trapped here. But if you want the Blood Ginseng, you must let my daughter leave first. Otherwise, I’d rather destroy it than hand it over,” the gaunt middle-aged man replied, his face weary but not panicked. With a flick of his hand, he produced an ornate box from his sleeve, pressing his other glowing palm against it, his expression laced with anger.
The three black-clad men’s expressions darkened at this.
“No. Until you hand over the Blood Ginseng, no one leaves,” another black-clad man retorted without hesitation.
“Hmph, how do I know you won’t kill us both after getting the ginseng? Don’t bother with oaths or promises—I won’t trust a word from any of you,” the middle-aged cultivator said coldly, his resolve unshaken.
“Then you can forget about—”
“Fine, I agree!”
The black-clad cultivator who had refused was about to issue another threat when Shi Kun cut him off with a dark expression, immediately agreeing to the condition.
“Brother Shi, you—”
“What, are you disobeying me now?” Shi Kun shot the other two a chilling glare.
“No, of course not. We’ll follow your lead and let the girl go,” the two black-clad cultivators exchanged glances, clearly intimidated, and reluctantly agreed.
The middle-aged cultivator’s face brightened with relief.
“You heard us. The girl can leave. But if you try anything afterward, you know the consequences,” Shi Kun added menacingly.
“Don’t worry. I only care for my daughter’s safety. As long as she’s unharmed, a Blood Ginseng means nothing to me,” the middle-aged cultivator said, relaxing slightly.
“No, Father! Guo’er won’t leave you!” The fair-skinned girl, who looked like a celestial child from a painting, clutched her father’s sleeve, shaking her head frantically.
“Foolish girl. Only by leaving can you find your grandmother in the market and bring help for me,” the middle-aged cultivator whispered urgently to her.
The girl froze for a moment before nodding vigorously.
“Enough! Leave now, or I’ll change my mind,” Shi Kun snapped impatiently.
Realizing the urgency, the girl cast one last reluctant glance at her father before pulling out a white talisman and slapping it onto herself. A white glow enveloped her as she floated away, preparing to flee.
The middle-aged cultivator gripped the box tightly, watching his daughter’s every move.
As the three black-clad men remained still, allowing the girl—Guo’er—to slip past Shi Kun, he exhaled in relief.
But then—
A sudden change!
The moment Guo’er flew past Shi Kun, his eyes flashed with malice. His arm shot out like a shadow, snatching her back effortlessly.
With a yank, the girl was dragged into his grasp, his black-glowing hand clamping around her delicate neck.
“Shi Kun! What are you doing? Don’t think I won’t destroy the ginseng!” the middle-aged cultivator roared, his hands glowing as he pressed down on the box.
“Destroy it, and I’ll snap her neck! Enough talk—throw the box over now! I’ll count to three. One… two…” Shi Kun ignored the threat, tightening his grip until the girl’s face turned crimson, his voice cold and unyielding.
The other two black-clad men grinned, realizing their companion had never intended to let the girl go—only to use her as leverage.
The middle-aged cultivator trembled with rage, his mind in chaos.
As Shi Kun reached “three,” the man instinctively hurled the box forward.
A black-clad cultivator chuckled, stepping forward to catch it.
With a whoosh, the box flew into his hand.
“Check it. Make sure it’s the real thing,” Shi Kun ordered.
The cultivator opened the box, revealing a foot-long ginseng glowing with a bloody light.
“Brother Shi, it’s genuine!” he confirmed gleefully.
Shi Kun and the third man erupted into triumphant grins.
“You have the ginseng. Now let my daughter go,” the middle-aged cultivator demanded through gritted teeth, his face pale.
“Let you go? So you can send your mother-in-law, the ‘Fairy Yuehua,’ after us?” Shi Kun sneered, his expression turning vicious.
“You knew about my mother-in-law and still dared to do this?” The middle-aged cultivator’s heart sank further.
“Hah! Did you think we’d act without researching you? Normally, we’d avoid provoking a Core Formation cultivator, but with this Blood Ginseng, reaching Core Formation ourselves is within reach. Why fear Fairy Yuehua? And once you and your daughter vanish without a trace, who’ll know it was us? Enough talk—finish them!” Shi Kun laughed maniacally before tightening his grip, black light flaring around his hand.
The middle-aged cultivator’s eyes widened in horror. With a roar, he flicked his sleeve, summoning a small yellow sword to hurl at Shi Kun—but it was too late to save his daughter.
Just as Shi Kun’s fingers were about to snap the girl’s neck—
A miraculous turn!
Shi Kun suddenly felt an odd ripple in the air. The slender neck in his grasp turned icy cold, and unbearable pain shot through his fingertips.
He screamed, jerking his hand back to see—
Not the girl, but a crude iron puppet covered in inch-long blue spikes, its neck now piercing his palm, blood dripping freely.
With a furious growl, he flung the puppet aside and bellowed, “Who dares ambush me? Show yourself!”
As he spoke, he flipped his hand, summoning a set of black banners.
The middle-aged cultivator stood frozen in confusion.
The other two black-clad men snapped to attention, one brandishing a pair of silver halberds, the other summoning a spiked black shield, their spiritual senses sweeping the surroundings.
“Big Bro, I can’t take this anymore. We’re definitely fighting now,” a cold voice rang out from behind a nearby tree.
The three black-clad men tensed, their gazes snapping toward the sound.
“Hmph, no need to say it. I, Hai Dashao, can’t stand this either. Robbery is one thing, but harming women and children? I’ll beat them till their faces bloom! Though… two against three might be tough,” a second, indignant voice chimed in from the same tree.
“Hah! What’s there to fear? We’ve got Brother Han with us! Three against three—even if we can’t win, we’re not in danger!” The first voice shifted from cold to playful.
(Note: The college entrance exams have begun. Wishing all “Mortal” readers taking the exam the best of luck!)
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