There were two choices laid out in front of him.
One was to collaborate with the Liuu Family to mine the Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein.
But the Liuu Family was clearly an ungrateful wolf; once informed, they'd probably leave his family with nothing more than scraps.
He immediately dismissed the idea:
"Looks like I need to make a trip to Anyang County."
Report it to the Shangguan Family.
This was his second choice.
As for how much the Shangguan Family would ultimately share with him, that was uncertain.
In any case, it was better than letting the Li Family and Liuu Family swallow it whole.
As he headed out the door.
Suddenly, a rapid buzzing sound came from his waist.
Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up with joy as he struck the Communication Jade Talisman with a technique, and Liuu Meizhen's voice came through: "Brother Changsheng, I'm on my way to the Nanyang Marketplace, see you soon."
It had been a long time since they last met.
Even though it was just hearing her voice.
Fu Changsheng felt an overwhelming happiness, thinking about soon seeing the person he had been longing for day and night, his steps quickened, reaching Nanyang Marketplace by the afternoon.
Upon arriving at the marketplace.
He headed straight to the back street stalls.
Acquiring the Ancient Cultivator Talisman Brush was of utmost importance.
Upon reaching the back street.
He could hear cursing from ahead:
"You old thing, it's your good fortune that this Young Master has taken a liking to your junk, don't push your luck. If it weren't for this Young Master feeling a connection with this Talisman Brush, who else would be willing to give you sixty Spirit Stones?"
"Young Master Li, this Talisman Brush has been passed down through generations in my family, and now it's in the hundred and eighth generation. If my daughter wasn't urgently needing a Barrier-Breaking Pill, I would never sell this ancestral treasure. My asking price stands firm at one hundred Spirit Stones, not a single one less."
"Hey, you old bastard, are you seriously not selling?!"
Liu Cangtou, the stall owner, shook his head, taking back the Talisman Brush from Li Wentai's hand. If it wasn't for the fact that the other party was the grandson of the Peak of Qi Cultivation Elder Li, he would have driven him away long ago.
"Just you wait!"
Li Wentai was instantly enraged.
He rarely found something to his liking.
This old bastard even hiked the price sky-high and refused to sell.
He immediately began scheming, planning to have his cousin ambush Liu Cangtou on his way home, and then take the Talisman Brush without spending a single Spirit Stone.
Moreover,
he had heard Liu Cangtou's granddaughter was quite attractive, planning to take her back to the Li Family as his third concubine.
Thinking thus.
Li Wentai's mood improved in an instant.
However.
Suddenly a piercing voice came from behind:
"Fellow Daoist, here are one hundred Spirit Stones, I'll take the Talisman Brush."
Li Wentai whirled around.
What met his eyes was Fu Changsheng.
Without a trace of delay, Fu Changsheng handed over one hundred Spirit Stones to Liu Cangtou and tucked the Talisman Brush into his coat, as if he didn't even see Li Wentai, walking past him.
"Stop right there!"
Li Wentai was beyond furious.
The item that Young Master Li had set his eyes on, yet Fu Changsheng, this wastrel, dared to contest him for it:
"I was the first to see the Talisman Brush, who do you think you are to claim the treasure this Young Master desires."
Fu Changsheng's steps didn't falter.
As if he didn't hear the other speak.
Li Wentai had never been so insulted before; with lightning speed, his right claw reached for Fu Changsheng's shoulder, but Fu Changsheng, as if he had eyes on his back, evaded and struck a powerful palm against Li Wentai's chest.
"Puff!"
Li Wentai spat a mouthful of blood.
He staggered, nearly falling.
Only then did he realize Fu Changsheng had already broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, when just a few months ago, they were both at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer.
Their fight.
Attracted the law enforcement team in the marketplace.
Li Wentai immediately played the victim:
"Captain Chen, you must seek justice for me. Fu Changsheng not only snatched the treasure that I saw first but also assaulted me!"
Fu Changsheng hadn't spoken yet.
But Liu Cangtou, seeing that Fu Changsheng was of the same age as his grandson, couldn't help stepping forward, saying, "Captain Chen, it was Young Master Li who first refused the Talisman Brush, and it was also Young Master Li who first attacked this Fellow Daoist."
"Old man, are you blind? If I attacked first, how could I be hit! Captain Chen, don't listen to this old man's nonsense."
Li Wentai discreetly handed a box to Captain Chen from his sleeve.
However.
Captain Chen, who usually claimed brotherhood with him, stepped back a pace, waving a hand to order:
"Men, Li Wentai broke the marketplace rules, expel him immediately, and place him on the blacklist, banning him from setting foot in the marketplace for three years!"
"Captain Chen, you...you must be joking?"
They were just drinking together the night before.
Why did he suddenly turn on him?
Captain Chen didn't even spare a glance at Li Wentai, but instead apologized to Fu Changsheng:
"Fu Clan Leader, I'm truly sorry for being late and having you alarmed."
The onlookers were pointing at Li Wentai, murmuring among themselves:
"It's well known throughout Anyang County that Fu Changsheng is Shangguan Hongyu's savior, and Shangguan Feng has even proclaimed that whoever dares to harm Fu Changsheng is opposing him. Shangguan Feng is a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator, is Li Wentai out of his mind to attack Fu Changsheng publicly?"
"He must be used to throwing his weight around in Li Family territory, thinking this Nanyang Marketplace belongs to the Li Family, what a joke."
Hearing the chatter around him,
Li Wentai's face alternated between shades of red and white. As he was being dragged out, he glared at Fu Changsheng with a murderous gaze.
"Wait."
However.
In the next moment.
A gentle voice sounded.
The crowd turned to see Shangguan Hongyu emerge, and Li Wentai's face turned as white as a sheet.
He never imagined.
That Shangguan Hongyu would appear in Nanyang Marketplace.
Shangguan Hongyu said to Fu Changsheng:
"Fellow Daoist Fu, did he attack you with his right hand just now?"
Fu Changsheng, not understanding why, nodded slightly.
Shangguan Hongyu's sword finger flicked, and a sword aura shot out from her fingertip, swiftly slicing through Li Wentai's right arm.
In the next moment.
Li Wentai let out a miserable cry.
His right arm was cleanly severed from his body, falling to the ground.
Shangguan Hongyu coldly said:
"When my great-grandfather established Nanyang Marketplace, he set a rule that no one is to harm others within it. I hope that this arm will remind you of today's lesson."
No one dared utter a word.
Captain Chen feared that Li Wentai, in his rage, might utter something that would offend the Shangguan Family and incriminate himself, swiftly stepped forward and struck the back of Li Wentai's neck, knocking him unconscious before personally dragging him out of the marketplace.
Watching Li Wentai being dragged away.
Fu Changsheng sighed inwardly:
"Things have escalated."
As a result.
The Li Family would hate the Fu Family even more.
However.
The two families had always been arch-enemies.
With Shangguan Hongyu's personal intervention today, those in the vicinity who harbored thoughts against the Fu Family would think twice.