"Sigh, I've only got about a hundred Spirit Stones left. Looks like I'll need to sell some things to replenish my funds."
Xu Ping felt an inward sigh at the drastic drop in his wealth.
He had quite a few miscellaneous Magical Artifacts, Pills, and talismans. Selling them all should bring in a good amount of Spirit Stones.
However, given the current market demand, it might take quite some time to clear out these items.
Just then, Xu Ping saw a group of cultivators surrounding a large man coming towards him.
Most of these cultivators were at the early or mid-stages of Qi Cultivation. Although they wore different robes and magical garments, they all had the same symbol on their chests and backs.
The large man they surrounded had a burly physique, with a centipede-like scar across his cheek that stretched to his neck, adding a bit of menace to his appearance.
The mana fluctuations from this person had clearly reached the seventh level of Qi Cultivation!
"Greetings, fellow cultivator. I am Zhou Tong, the Gang Leader of 'Xiongba Gang.' I can see you are quite extraordinary. I wonder if you're interested in joining our 'Xiongba Gang'?" Zhou Tong spoke up, his voice loud and carrying an intimidating air of authority.
"Xiongba Gang?"
Xu Ping frowned.
Yuan Wei had never mentioned this, but having a Late-Stage Qi Cultivation gang leader clearly meant it wasn't a second-rate gang.
But why would such a gang want to recruit him?
Had Yuan Wei exposed him, or was there another reason?
Either way, he had no intention of joining any gang.
"Thank you for Master Zhou's kind offer, but I prefer to be independent and don't plan to join any gang," Xu Ping shook his head and declined.
"Oh? You are indeed a person with strong opinions."
While Zhou Tong's smile remained unchanged, a glint flashed in his eyes, "However, it's not very safe to go solo, especially around here."
Xu Ping frowned tightly. Was Master Zhou hinting at something?
But for someone who veiled threats, he didn't want to engage in courtesy or waste time.
"That won't be your concern!" Xu Ping replied coldly.
"What did you say?"
Zhou Tong's smile stiffened, and the cultivators behind him were filled with righteous indignation.
A mere Qi Cultivation fourth layer cultivator dared to speak like this.
Moreover, since joining the Xiongba Gang, when had they ever suffered such humiliation?
"Fine, since you're so confident, we won't disturb you any longer!" Zhou Tong's expression quickly darkened as he turned to leave.
"Gang Leader, are you really going to let this kid go?" A skinny man rushed over beside him.
"After all, this is the business of the four families. We must show them respect. But that kid won't escape; he's already been marked by Su Hua with a One-Day Incense," Zhou Tong replied in a low, cold voice.
"Indeed, we'll give him a proper beating when the time comes," the skinny man sneered.
"I had planned to recruit him first, then properly exploit this fat sheep, and even spare his life. But since he doesn't know how to appreciate it, he can't blame me," a vicious gleam flashed in Zhou Tong's eyes.
In this precarious market, every Spirit Stone counted. Especially when this man bought herbs and also bought Pills; no matter what, Zhou Tong wouldn't let this opportunity slip.
...
...
Half an hour later.
Xu Ping walked among the shattered ruins, feeling quite unlucky.
Originally, he intended to sell some things at the trading ground but encountered the 'Xiongba Gang.' To avoid further trouble, he had no choice but to leave first.
Anyway, there would be opportunities to sell later, so he wasn't in a hurry.
"Fellow cultivator, want to have some fun? Just two Spirit Stones, and I guarantee you'll feel like heavenly ecstasy."
A female cultivator with a graceful and charming posture, exuding an enchanting aura, leaned against a dilapidated door, licking her luscious red lips.
'Is this the legendary half-cloaked female cultivator who practices wicked Secret Techniques that can drain one's bones and marrow?'
'Indeed, beyond what Earth can offer...'
"Ahem, ahem... unfortunate timing, maybe next time." Xu Ping coughed lightly, quickening his pace.
After walking a short distance.
Suddenly!
Xu Ping sharply turned around, brows tightly furrowed, heart alert.
A moment later, Zhou Tong appeared with a group not far away, bursting with momentum.
"How did you track me?" Xu Ping asked coldly, his voice chillingly sharp.
He had already changed directions several times, yet they still found him, certainly using some unknown method.
"Go to hell and ask!" Zhou Tong sneered, his eyes glinting fiercely.
"You dare reject Brother Zhou's invitation; you're asking for death."
Those behind him sneered one by one, each showing their Magic or spells.
Their numbers, even if each cast a spell, would drown him.
Xu Ping's gaze was icy cold, and with a stomp, his figure vanished!
Boom!
On the ground where he stood, a deep pit appeared, surrounded by countless spreading cracks…
When they first caught up to him, he had already applied the Light Body Technique on himself.
With his current speed aided by a mastery-level Light Body Technique, he nearly reached the limit of the naked eye, leaving only a shadow behind.
"Quick, activate the defensive talismans!"
Zhou Tong's face changed abruptly, sensing danger, He hadn't expected this person's speed to be so fast, even surpassing some second-level Body Refining cultivators.
Could he be a third-level Body Refining cultivator?
As they activated defensive talismans, Xu Ping had already approached them, with the sword in his hand, Qinghe, unsheathed, and the sword light flickered, unpredictable as flowing clouds, charging straight at Zhou Tong's group.
The surrounding air seemed to be torn apart, producing deep resonant murmurs.
In the next instant, the sword light flashed, the defensive shield shattering with a response, and a middle-aged man's head flew high.
"What!"
Panic surged in Zhou Tong's heart, seeing the first rank mid-grade defensive talisman shield shattered in one blow.
Even he couldn't achieve this!
This had to be a third-level Body Refining cultivator, and his swordsmanship was quite profound.
"Don't panic, we outnumber him; we can wear him down!" Zhou Tong gritted his teeth, rallying his group, activating the Magical Artifact, which turned into a stream of light aimed at Xu Ping.
Given the speed demonstrated by the opponent, escaping would surely be a dead end, leaving collaboration as the only chance of survival.
He felt intensely regretful now, wondering how a docile fat sheep became a fearsome beast.
The rest of the Xiongba Gang comprehended the situation, hurriedly casting Magic and wielding Magical Artifacts to besiege Xu Ping.
"Humph!"
Xu Ping coldly chuckled, a flick of his wrist, the sword light weaving together, instantly forming a dazzling sword net in the air, like an invisible cage, blocking all of Zhou Tong's group's attacks.
This was the defensive move from the Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship - the Primordial Sword Net.
With his mastery of Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship, how could they possibly break through?