Chapter 699

Chapter 699: If You Can Act, Don’t Just Complain

At this moment, the dark expression on Shadow Spike’s face seemed to brighten as if he saw light in the darkness.

“Brother, no, Han Brother, this time my chances of breaking even depend entirely on you.”

Shadow Spike’s heart ached, knowing that 40 million spirit stones were the pocket money he had painstakingly saved over the years. Although it wasn’t a lot, it was enough for him to live comfortably for decades.

The shopkeeper beside them flashed a hint of mockery in his eyes.

The good items had long been picked clean; there were only a few space rings that had not been explored. Even if you got lucky and picked something valuable, it didn’t matter.

You might make a small profit, but I would never lose.

“Han Brother sounds nice. If I uncover something good, you can call me that,” Han Feiyu said with a smile as he looked at Shadow Spike.

He recalled a vow he had made with Jian Wujie long ago, which was to make Shadow Spike kneel and call him big brother.

In their early days in the sect, Shadow Spike had really pushed him to his limits.

“Sure! As long as I get something good, no, even if I just break even, you’ll be my big brother,” Shadow Spike exclaimed, as if he had grabbed onto a lifeline.

In the Hidden Spirit Sect, most people would obtain an artifact after reaching the Core Formation stage, as long as they worked diligently.

Once they had an artifact, they would start accumulating points and spirit stones, hoping that after several thousand years, they could exchange them for a celestial tool. Shadow Spike had been gathering spirit stones to exchange for a celestial tool for hundreds of years.

Han Feiyu nodded, gently unsealing the space ring in his hand, and his eyes instantly lit up.

“Shopkeeper, I didn’t expect your space rings to really contain good items!” Han Feiyu said excitedly.

The last short sword, glowing with artifact-level brilliance, appeared in Han Feiyu’s hand.

His initial look of confusion turned into surprise.

“Han Brother!” Shadow Spike shouted in excitement.

“Not yet; this surprised expression of mine isn’t something an artifact can match.”

Han Feiyu slightly raised his lips and pulled out a pile of celestial tool-level spirit ore.

“Avoiding Light Divine Iron, Heavenly Magnetic Black Stone!” The shopkeeper was astonished, his eyes showing a hint of regret, but he also reluctantly accepted the batch of items.

“#@&%$”

Shadow Spike was so excited he became speechless, calculating that the time it would take to exchange for a celestial tool had been reduced by at least 1,000 years.

“Congratulations to both taoist friends on obtaining an artifact and spirit ore for celestial tools. Please promote our shop when you go out,” the shopkeeper said with a forced smile.

“Don’t congratulate us too early; it’s not over yet.”

As Han Feiyu spoke, he slowly took out a celestial tool.

Suddenly, a burst of celestial light shot up to the sky, startling the entire Qianling Immortal City.

When the shopkeeper saw the celestial tool appear, his expression changed from regret to determination.

At that moment, a soft-featured Great Ascension Master walked down from the upper floor.

“Dear young friends, I’m sorry. This space ring accidentally fell among this batch of space rings. I was planning to take it back when I noticed you two had chosen it,” the Great Ascension Master said politely, with a distinct threat in his eyes.

Shadow Spike was instantly displeased and boldly looked at the Great Ascension Master, having figured out what was happening.

“Elder, do you want to go back on your word?”

A powerful aura pressed down on Han Feiyu and Shadow Spike.

“I accidentally dropped this space ring. It’s only fair that you two return it. As compensation, how about I let you keep that artifact?” the Great Ascension Master said with a calm expression.

For a Great Ascension Master, dealing with two Core Formation stage cultivators was as easy as snapping his fingers.

Judging by his attire and aura, it was obvious he wasn’t from the Qianling Sect. As for the smaller sects, they were nothing to him.

So, he felt confident that he had these two Core Formation stage disciples right where he wanted them.

At that moment, all the Hidden Spirit Sect Disciples enjoying their time in Qianling Immortal City received a message from Shadow Spike.

“Brothers, I’m at the XX Commerce. Anyone nearby, come help me deal with this Great Ascension Master. The idiot’s trying to back out of his word.”

Just then, Xiong Li, who happened to be shopping on the same street, saw the message, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

“Shopkeeper, where’s the XX Commerce?” Xiong Li asked as he took a bag of spirit seeds from the waiter.

“Right over there,” the waiter pointed to a building a hundred meters away.

Xiong Li nodded and headed in that direction.

“Our Bihai Commerce is one of the most renowned in the entire cultivation world, with three respected elders stationed at headquarters,” the shopkeeper said, eyeing the two who remained calm under the Great Ascension Master’s pressure. He hoped to avoid any trouble in the fairy city.

“Do you have an invincible respected elder here?”

Hearing the shopkeeper’s words, the two not only didn’t feel intimidated but nearly burst out laughing.

If the shopkeeper knew their sect had two Invincible Beast King specimens, he’d probably drop dead from fear.

“It seems you two are determined to resist. Are you ready to face the consequences?” the Great Ascension Master said, noticing their lack of fear.

Just then, the door sealed by the Great Ascension Master was suddenly shattered by a tremendous force.

A towering figure strode in.

“Our elders taught us that before picking a fight, you should know who you’re dealing with.”

Xiong Li’s deep voice echoed through the hall.

His aura was like that of a prehistoric giant beast, clashing head-on with the Great Ascension Master’s presence.

“Another fool who doesn’t fear death. Who are you?” the Great Ascension Master asked, glancing at Xiong Li.

“Hidden Spirit Sect, Xiong Li.”

Xiong Li’s gaze was like a predator sizing up its prey, making the Great Ascension Master uneasy.

“What’s your connection to the Hidden Spirit Commerce?” the Great Ascension Master asked, frowning, a hint of wariness in his eyes.

“Don’t worry about that. If you’re after the celestial tool in my junior brother’s hands today, you’re out of luck,” Xiong Li stated firmly.

By now, Han Feiyu and Shadow Spike had already moved behind Xiong Li, their expressions clearly saying, “Our big brother’s here.”

“No matter what, I just want what’s in my space ring. Even if your elders show up, it won’t change a thing,” the Great Ascension Master said, his voice laced with killing intent.

“Enough with the talk. Let’s settle this outside the city. Do you dare?”

“Three of us in the Core Formation stage against you, a life-and-death battle. If you win, everything we have is yours, including this celestial tool.”

“If we win, everything in this commerce and everything on you is ours. Do you have the guts to fight?”

Xiong Li’s motto was simple: actions speak louder than words.

Hearing this, the Great Ascension Master was instantly furious, feeling thoroughly insulted.

While Core Formation stage cultivators weren’t exactly insects to him—more like ants he could crush with a bit of effort—taking on three of them, even if they were Genius Disciples from a sect, was still well within his capabilities.

“You three brats, don’t think you can just call your elders to bail you out later,” the Great Ascension Master said with a dark expression.

“Cut the chatter. If you want the celestial tool, let’s fight. If not, we’re leaving.”

With that, Xiong Li turned to leave with the other two.