Outside Shangyun City's Wind Bell, Lin Feng glared at the low-grade Imperial-level Corpse Beast, as if warning it that if it took another step, neither of them would live under the same sky.
"Strange, Corpse Beasts are usually as cunning as ghosts, so why is this one as stupid as a pig today?" Normally, Lin Feng would have been delighted, as he was the one who had placed a pig's carcass here to lure the Corpse Beast. But today, an uninvited guest had arrived.
Nearly a mile away was a Three-Colored Demonic Serpent, a genuine low-grade Profound-level Demonic Beast; just one glance from it was enough to scare Lin Feng to death.
The Three-Colored Demonic Serpent seemed not to have noticed him, only briefly glancing at the Corpse Beast. Its gaze was hesitant, unsure if there was any meat.
"Big Brother Corpse, there's a demonic serpent watching from behind."
Lin Feng whispered a reminder, but it had no effect, because demonic beasts and humans didn't share a common language. Having no other choice, he had to change his approach.
"Woof... woof... What's that? So cold."
Suddenly, a surge of chilling energy flew over Lin Feng's head, shooting straight towards the demonic serpent. In the blink of an eye, the demonic serpent was frozen solid into a block of ice, probably shriveled up completely.
A white shadow glided towards the Three-Colored Demonic Serpent, then glided away, disappearing with the serpent as if it had never been there.
"Flight on spiritual energy... at least a fourth-level cultivator."
Lin Feng was stunned for a moment, then grabbed his saber and rushed towards the dying Corpse Beast.
"Take a saber strike from your old man!"
Shangyun City was one of countless small cities under the jurisdiction of the Boundless Holy Palace, governed by the Iron Mountain Sect. The city always housed over ten thousand cultivators and several hundred thousand ordinary citizens.
After killing the Corpse Beast, Lin Feng was no longer in the mood to hunt. He went to the free trade zone in the city, exchanged the Corpse Beast for 4 low-grade spirit stones, and then returned to his dwelling.
Just as he passed an antique shop, he saw an ancient black ring. Lin Feng's heart burned with excitement; this feeling only ever appeared when he saw a treasure.
"Boss, how much for this?" The old man looked at the broken sword and replied.
"50 low-grade spirit stones, no bargaining."
"That expensive?" Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the ring next to it again.
"What about this one?" The old man looked at the young man's appearance, immediately knowing he had encountered a poor devil. He thought for a moment, then replied.
"30 low-grade spirit stones."
"20 low-grade spirit stones, and I'll take this."
After some bargaining, Lin Feng used 30 low-grade spirit stones to buy the ancient ring. What a truly disastrous day.
Lin Feng's room was a standard type for cultivators, costing only 10 low-grade spirit stones per month. Just as he reached his door, he saw two guys from the neighboring room stepping out.
"Lin Thief, why are you back so early today?"
"Don't even talk about it. My luck today is terrible. Do you believe I'd rob you guys?"
"Heh heh... we don't have money, but we still have our chastity. Do you want it? Hahaha..."
"You guys are something else."
Lin Feng grumbled as he entered his room. He took out the ancient ring, admired it for a moment, then channeled spiritual energy into it.
"Could it be that it requires a drop of blood to recognize its master?"
If it were an ordinary magic artifact, channeling spiritual energy into it would be enough, but some require a drop of blood to recognize their master.
Lin Feng tried dripping a drop of blood onto the ancient ring, then watched intently from the side. Half an hour later.
"Oh, for crying out loud! Even my sixth sense is failing me. Today is truly unlucky."
He looked at the ancient ring on the table. So, 30 low-grade spirit stones, three months' rent, and three visits to the Red Sleeve Brothel were all gone, just like that. The more he thought about it, the angrier Lin Feng got. He threw the ancient ring to the ground, stomped on it a few more times, and cursed a few more times to vent his frustration.
"You stinky brat, watch out or you'll be struck by lightning!"
The ring vibrated slightly, and a wisp of white mist flew out from within, transforming into an old man floating before Lin Feng.
He looked up at the white mist, a surprised expression on his face. It had manifested with such ease.
"I never thought there'd be a magic treasure that accepts its master like this. If I had known, I wouldn't have needed to waste a drop of this old man's blood."
The old man, as if in a deep sleep, heard him speak and immediately snapped awake.
"Stinky brat, are you asking for trouble?" "Huh? What does that have to do with me?"
"You..." The old man let out a cold snort and burrowed back inside. The ring still lay silently on the ground as if nothing had ever happened.
Lin Feng picked up the ring and examined it, his eyes shining brightly. Although he didn't know its grade, it was definitely a treasure. Selling it would surely fetch a good amount of spirit stones.
Weapons on the Tianluo Continent are divided into four grades and twelve ranks. The four grades are Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, with each grade further divided into supreme, high, mid, and low ranks.
In theory, any weapon grade can give birth to a spirit, but it must be of the supreme rank. As long as it has enough time to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, once a spirit is formed, it can nourish the weapon, helping its main body advance in grade over time.
"I wonder if it'll fetch ten thousand low-grade spirit stones?" "You... you accursed brat, do you know who this old man is?" "Aren't you just a spirit?" "This old man..."
The ring was silent for a moment, then the white-robed old man reappeared before Lin Feng, looking at him with disdain.
"This old man has decided to take you, brat, as his disciple, but you must obey this old man's words."
The old man looked at Lin Feng's surprised expression, filled with satisfaction. Even peerless geniuses would have to bow their heads before him.
"First, kneel down and perform the disciple's bow."
"Huh?" "What 'huh'? This old man doesn't repeat himself."
Lin Feng felt that today was truly his unlucky day. If people knew about such a ridiculous spirit, its price would plummet.
"Hey, old man, listen to me. Don't think that just because you're old, you can act superior. For now, you'll stay quietly in the storage ring. Tomorrow, I'll take you to Wanbao Pavilion."
"Where?" "Wanbao Pavilion. I hear it's the largest merchant guild on the continent. The auction house there is huge, with thousands of people. Then you can take anyone you want as a disciple."
"You... I..." The white-robed old man felt like he was about to disintegrate. He, a dignified figure, was one of the most renowned individuals on the continent. Once word got out that he was put on the auction block, he probably wouldn't dare show his face outside for the rest of his life.
The feeling of standing before thousands of people, introducing himself, and then waiting for people to bid was no different from a prostitute selling herself.
"No way, this old man would rather die than go."
"Your objection is invalid. I'm going to sleep now. If you say another word, I'll immediately take you to Wanbao Pavilion."
The white-robed old man snorted coldly and entered the storage ring. For him to beg a brat who was hundreds of thousands of years younger than him was a pipe dream.
The next morning, Lin Feng left his room and took a few strolls around the city. Inside Shangyun City, Wanbao Pavilion was the largest merchant store, but outside, there were even more places to trade. Mostly rogue cultivators gathered there to buy, sell, and exchange items, and each month, they had to pay a portion of their profits to the Iron Mountain Sect.
Lin Feng was leisurely strolling when he saw several black horses galloping quickly down the road. Behind them, a large sedan chair was being pulled along.