"Since you've stepped into our Baibao Pavilion, there's absolutely no reason for us not to do business!"
Zhou Lili ignored her completely. "I heard everything you told Shopkeeper Sun just now. You refused to sell for fifty spirit stones, but what about ten thousand spirit stones plus the status of an inner disciple of Biliu Sect? Would you sell then?"
"What?" Jiang Shengxiang's jaw dropped.
A tiny demon bat worth ten thousand spirit stones? Impossible!
Not to mention, Biliu Sect was the largest sect in Shiyan City. Back in the day, even after Grandma Zhang tried every possible trick, she still couldn't get him in as an outer disciple—his aptitude was simply too poor.
And now Yao Ranran was just selling a demon bat, and the sect master's daughter was not only offering money but also throwing in an inner disciple identity. Comparing people really was a way to make yourself miserable. Jiang Shengxiang's eyes filled with tears.
Yao Ranran blinked in surprise.
She wasn't the heroine. How could such a good thing just fall into her lap?
"Not selling! Not selling! Boss Ranran, let's go!" Xiao Shu was secretly delighted.
He leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Boss, let's go. They'll definitely raise the offer later!" Heh heh heh, he'd already seen through these people's tactics.
So spirit stones were this easy to earn?
A sudden sense of unease crept into Yao Ranran's heart.
Would they really increase the price?
Behind her, Zhou Lili's expression darkened. "If you won't take the soft approach, you're forcing me to use the hard one!"
Xiao Shu's fur bristled as he stared at the large, burly men blocking their way.
"Boss, I don't think they're planning to raise the price anymore…"
Jiang Shengxiang trembled. "Yeah… actually, ten thousand spirit stones sounds pretty good. Let's just sell it!"
"Right, right! I was thinking the same thing!" Xiao Shu forced an awkward laugh and clapped his hands.
"Too late! Take them all down!" Zhou Lili's voice rang out with imperious authority.
This was the end. Total disaster.
Jiang Shengxiang and Xiao Shu scrambled closer to Yao Ranran in fear.
Yao Ranran silently drew the Nine Lotus Rings and said toward Zhou Lili, "Ten thousand spirit stones. I'm willing to join Biliu Sect!"
Zhou Lili idly dug at her ear with her pinky. "What was that? I can't hear you~"
"This woman!" Xiao Shu clenched his tiny fists, his cheeks puffing in anger.
"Oh, I get it now—she doesn't plan on paying at all!" Jiang Shengxiang finally understood.
She wanted to rope in a genius for free.
Several male cultivators closed in, grinning strangely. They swaggered toward the three, pulling gleaming blades from their belts. The flash of steel made Jiang Shengxiang and Xiao Shu squeeze their eyes shut.
"Boss, save us!"
Bang, bang, bang!
Centered on Yao Ranran, a great white lotus bloomed into existence.
"What a blinding light!" Zhou Lili turned her face away and raised a hand to block the glare.
Pfft, pfft, pfft!
Several impacts followed. As the light began to fade, Zhou Lili turned back—and her jaw dropped wide open.
"How… how are they all on the ground?!"
She glanced at Shopkeeper Sun for answers, only to see that the man's lower robes were soaked through. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed where he stood.
Xiao Shu and Jiang Shengxiang slowly opened their eyes when the noise died down. They were met with a radiance so pure and holy it stirred reverence deep in their hearts. They couldn't help but want to worship and follow that light forever.
"Boss, you are my god!!!" they both cried in unison, dropping to their knees.
Yao Ranran looked at the now-empty battleground, only herself and Zhou Lili still standing. She scratched her head in puzzlement.
Was she really that powerful?
She had only taken out the Nine Lotus Rings…
Zhou Lili's instincts screamed at her to run. She swallowed her fear and asked in a trembling voice, "Which sect are you from? State your name!"
Yao Ranran blinked her wide, confused eyes. "Wandering cultivator Yao Ranran, from Guling Mountain."
Zhou Lili froze. "What kind of sect is Guling Mountain? I've never heard of it!
Fine! You just wait! I will definitely come back for you!"
Slapping on a movement talisman, she lashed out her whip, coiling it around a few male cultivators, and fled with them in tow.
Jiang Shengxiang was stunned. Just what kind of massive backer had he latched onto?
Xiao Shu straightened up, putting on a solemn face. "Turns out she's just a coward. Nothing to be afraid of."
Yao Ranran didn't mock him. She only looked with regret at the unconscious Shopkeeper Sun and sighed. "I only wanted to sell something. Why is it so hard?"
"Boss, don't worry. I'll go wake him up!" The mention of money instantly reignited Xiao Shu's enthusiasm.
"Rong-yé, I'll help you!" Jiang Shengxiang hurried after him.
In no time, Shopkeeper Sun was beaten back to consciousness. He cracked his eyes open, spotting three blurry figures in front of him—two tall, one short. The memories of what had happened before he fainted came rushing back, and he shrank into the corner in terror.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me!"
Yao Ranran put on her mask, carrying the bag with the demon bat inside, and stepped up to him.
"We won't kill you. Those customers are gone. We just want to discuss a deal."
Shopkeeper Sun's trembling froze for a second. He tugged at his swollen cheeks. "What kind of deal?"
Yao Ranran smiled. "Look at these new demon bats. How many spirit stones are they worth?"
"…"
With a shaky hand, Shopkeeper Sun raised five fingers. "Market price… five hundred and twenty spirit stones…"
Yao Ranran shoved the bag into his hands.
"Deal!"
The ox cart rattled along, carrying her home.
"Fairy Ranran, this ox can only go this far," Jiang Shengxiang said as he hopped down.
Yao Ranran and Xiao Shu also jumped off.
"Thank you. This is fine."
She looked ahead at the dark, cloud-covered mountains. The big yellow ox took a few nervous steps back.
"You head back. We can manage the rest of the way," she said gently.
Jiang Shengxiang nodded and slowly led the ox away.
After a while, he shook his head and muttered, "Is Fairy just putting on an act? No one can live on Guling Mountain."
He turned to glance back—and almost lost his soul.
Yao Ranran, dressed in white, was floating in midair, flying straight toward the peak of Guling Mountain.
"How… how can she fly up there?"
If she wasn't a ghost, then she had to be a god!
Yes, she must be a fairy descended from the Ninth Heaven!
Xiao Shu retracted his vines. In the dimming light, the deep green wasn't very visible from afar.
To Jiang Shengxiang, it looked as though they had floated into the mountain without touching the ground.
Xiao Shu drooped as he saw the dilapidated Taoist temple.
"Boss, why must we live here?"
From up ahead, Yao Ranran replied, "Have you forgotten? I was punished by the first Zhēnjūn of Wuxiang Sect to stay here. If I don't live here and they find out, there will be serious consequences."
More importantly, this was where the original owner of her body had succumbed to darkness.
According to the novel's plot, the Demon Lord who loved the heroine already knew she had been punished to stay here. If nothing went wrong, in a few days someone from the demonic path would come looking for her.