Before long, it was the dead of night.
Li Chang'an's door suddenly opened.
A figure in a black robe and a wide-brimmed bamboo hat emerged from the room and hurried out of the Marketplace.
'Huh? The old coward actually came out?'
From the shadows, Wang Er, who was on stakeout, jolted. A look of delight appeared in his eyes.
He was even more overjoyed to see the figure leave the Marketplace.
'Perfect! My long wait hasn't been in vain. Tonight is the night you die!'
Although Wang Da wasn't around, Wang Er was still full of confidence.
'Once this job is done, I'll take a break. It's been a long time since I had a proper night's sleep.'
Watching the figure recede into the distance, he sneered inwardly, blurring into an afterimage as he gave chase.
But he failed to notice that another figure was tailing him.
...
Farther back.
Li Chang'an had a serious expression, following closely with Dahuang.
As for the figure at the very front, it was, of course, the Tier One Low Grade Puppet he had created.
'The plan is going smoothly. I've successfully lured him out of the Marketplace.'
Li Chang'an had no intention of making a move inside the Marketplace.
After all, there were too many prying eyes.
He feared that a large commotion would attract the attention of the Foundation Establishment Ancestor.
Before long, they were a considerable distance from the Marketplace.
"Dahuang, go!"
Li Chang'an's tone was decisive.
Upon receiving the command, Dahuang's speed surged as it shot straight toward Wang Er.
At that moment, Wang Er was still puzzled.
'How is that old coward so fast? Did he use a Talisman? Sneaking out in the dead of night... what on earth is he up to?'
Before he could figure it out, a ferocious wave of Demon Qi suddenly washed over him, making every hair on his body stand on end.
'This is bad!'
Horror filled Wang Er's face.
The Demon Beast's aura was simply too terrifying.
'A Tier One Late Stage Demon Beast!'
He glanced back to see a ferocious-looking Demon Dog lunging at him, and his face instantly paled.
Any other Demon Beast might have been manageable, but canine-type Demon Beasts were experts at tracking.
Once it locked onto his aura, there would be no escape!
WHOOSH—
In the blink of an eye, he was completely enveloped in a storm of howling yellow sand.
The terrifying aura, hidden within the sand, seemed to be everywhere at once, sending a chill down his spine.
'No, I can't die here! I still have to reach Foundation Establishment! I want to achieve immortality!'
Terrified, Wang Er frantically tried every trick he knew.
But it was all in vain.
The battle was over in a matter of breaths.
Just like Wu Feng before him, he was trapped by Dahuang's Rock Armor, completely immobilized. His fate was no longer in his hands.
'Why isn't this Yellow Sand Dog killing me? Why is it just trapping me?'
Panic and confusion flooded his mind.
'Could it be... could it be that...'
An unbelievable, almost absurd thought flashed through his mind.
Just then, Li Chang'an's figure appeared in his line of sight.
He instantly realized that his absurd thought was correct!
"Li Chang'an, you... how can you have such a powerful Spirit Beast?"
Wang Er's eyes widened.
'Who would have thought a mere Loose Cultivator in the Early Stage of Qi Refining would possess a Tier One Late Stage Spirit Beast?'
Generally speaking, this was something only seen among the descendants of Noble Families!
And they had to be extremely favored Core Disciples at that!
"It's no wonder I lost. For a mere Early Stage of Qi Refining cultivator, you... No, wait. You're already in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining?"
Wang Er was dumbfounded as he sensed the Qi Refining Fourth Layer aura from Li Chang'an.
At that moment, despite his panic, he felt an overwhelming urge to curse.
'If you're this strong, why hide it?'
'Were you just baiting me?'
Li Chang'an had no time to waste on pleasantries and immediately began the interrogation.
"Talk. Why have you been watching me?"
Wang Er was no tough guy.
Before long, he had confessed everything.
"It was Zheng Jinbao! That bastard lied to us! He said your Cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Third Layer!"
"What did he offer you as payment?"
Li Chang'an asked again.
"New identities!"
Wang Er answered honestly.
The two brothers were Tribulation Cultivators, after all, and wanted by all the major families in the region. They couldn't afford to be seen in public.
Zheng Jinbao had promised them.
If they could kill Li Chang'an, he would help them forge new identities.
As a Steward of the Qinghe Marketplace, Zheng Jinbao indeed had the ability to do this.
"And as for Wu Yun and Wu Feng, we never coerced them! They came to us looking to cooperate! And we've given them a sizable cut of the Spirit Stones we've earned over the years!"
Wang Er seethed with resentment at the mention of the two.
In his eyes, it was the two brothers' impulsiveness that had exposed their operation. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in this mess today.
Li Chang'an asked again,
"Where is the other Tribulation Cultivator?"
"My brother found a cave abode left behind by a predecessor. It most likely holds some kind of opportunity, so he's been spending all his time trying to break through its Guardian Array..."
Wang Er didn't dare hide anything and confessed every last detail.
Hearing this, Li Chang'an fell silent for a moment, pondering.
That cave abode was probably the opportunity hinted at in his Divination.
'I really don't want to go exploring some random cave, but it was an Auspicious Trigram, so it shouldn't be too dangerous.'
'I'll go check it out first,' Li Chang'an decided.
He didn't kill Wang Er, but instead threw him into his Spirit Beast Bag.
He would only kill him after confirming that the opportunity was legitimate.
...
It wasn't long before Li Chang'an arrived at the location Wang Er had described.
The cave abode was behind a waterfall, very well hidden.
"Dahuang, go!"
Once again, it was Dahuang who attacked.
With little effort, it subdued Wang Da inside the cave abode.
"Li Chang'an! It's you!"
Wang Da was stunned, his face a mask of disbelief.
The prey in his eyes had now become the hunter!
Li Chang'an didn't waste time on nonsense.
He immediately began his interrogation.
Like his brother, Wang Da was no tough guy. To save his own skin, he spilled everything he knew.
His confession was almost identical to Wang Er's.
"I discovered this cave abode a short while ago. Its guardian Array is already damaged, with several openings. If I just wear it down a little more, it should collapse completely."
Wang Da was filled with bitter resentment. He had gone through so much trouble to find this opportunity.
He had been on the verge of breaking the Array.
But then Li Chang'an suddenly appeared.
Now, forget the opportunity; he wasn't even sure if he could save his own life!
At this thought, Wang Da gritted his teeth and said, "Li Chang'an, if you spare my life, I'm willing to sign a Spirit Contract and become your servant, to do your bidding!"
He had admitted defeat.
Although he would lose his freedom after signing the Spirit Contract, as long as he was alive, there was still hope!
"A Spirit Contract?"
Li Chang'an's expression was cold as he shook his head slightly.
'I have no desire to take a Tribulation Cultivator as my servant.'
'This man is resentful, not sincerely subservient. He could cause me huge trouble at any moment.'
THUD!
Li Chang'an knocked him unconscious with a single palm strike and casually tossed him into the Spirit Beast Bag.
「For the next few days.」
He remained in the cave abode, trying to break the crumbling Array.
Finally, with a soft VMMMM, the cave's Guardian Array shattered completely, revealing the entire interior to Li Chang'an.
His eyes instantly lit up.
'It really is an opportunity!'