Situ Baoqi stared in shock, his heart filled with a profound sense of defeat.
Heâd just expended a great deal of effort haggling with that old shopkeeper, finally managing to earn fifty thousand top-grade Immortal Stones, only for someone to casually produce Magic Treasures and elixirs the size of a small mountain, surpassing both the quantity and quality of his own.
As he watched Li Xiaobai continuously collect Immortal Stones, his prior pride and sense of achievement vanished, and in just a short period of time, the other party had already collected no less than a hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones, hadnât they?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThis Li Xiaobai truly lacks any manners, keeping all these treasures hidden and not offering any to his senior brothers?â
âAnd the ancient swords heâs selling seem to be very fine indeed, all high-quality. Theyâre exactly what we at the Earth Immortal Realm can utilize.â
âAfter all, we are brothers within the same sect, shouldnât we be entitled to a significant discount?â
âWhat need is there for a discount? Our status and position speak for us, anything we desire we simply take, would he even dare to ask us for Immortal Stones?â
Several of them eyed the bountiful stall with covetous glee. Had they known that Li Xiaobai had so many treasures on him, why would they have bothered wandering around? They couldâve just demanded them directly.
Given their cultivation realms and their status within the sect, even lending him a hundred bouts of courage would not embolden him to refuse.
âIndeed, letâs go take a look and also pick some treasures for our junior brothers and sisters to use.â
A complex look crossed Situ Baoqiâs face as he led the others forward at a leisurely pace, starting to pick and choose from the stall.
Suddenly, Li Xiaobai, who had been busy collecting money, stopped his movements and stared intently at a corner of the stall, shouting fiercely, âWho dares to steal my Magic Treasures and elixirs?â
âI run an honest small business here, dealing with integrity, I implore you, brothers, to trade fairly and not cause me undue difficulty!â
Li Xiaobai said calmly.
The crowd looked over to see that Situ Baoqi and his companions had selected a number of treasures and were about to pocket them, clearly with no intention to pay, aiming to sneak away with the Magic Treasures during the confusion, a behavior even more reprehensible than that of the Disciples from the Blade Sect earlier.
âWho are you people, trying to freeload like this?â
âPay with the Immortal Stones honestly, how can you be so young yet learn to steal from others?â
âYour attire suggests you should be respectable, how can you stoop so low? Which family do you belong to, showing no sense of morality at all!â
âJudging by their clean and neat appearance, they must be pretty boys. Letâs deal with him!â
The actions of these few had incited public wrath. They had spent not a small amount of Immortal Stones, with the largest expenditure exceeding a hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones and the least still in the tens of thousands, and now these cultivators suddenly wanted to steal and freeload, which they could not tolerate.
Without needing Li Xiaobai to say more, the cultivators spontaneously resisted such behavior, keeping each other in check.
âJunior Brother Li, itâs us!â
âGentlemen, do not be hasty, itâs all a misunderstanding. We and Junior Brother Li are all Disciples of the Sword Sect, brothers from the same sect taking some Magic Treasures and elixirs for the benefit of the Sect Disciples. Isnât that right, Junior Brother?â
Several cultivators said to Li Xiaobai with smiles.
âHmph, stop spouting nonsense. How could disciples of the Sword Sect have the audacity to default on a payment? I donât know you at all, you are clearly trying to steal my Magic Treasures and elixirs. Hand over the Immortal Stones immediately, otherwise donât blame me for turning my face and not recognizing anyone!â
Li Xiaobaiâs expression hardened as he spoke coldly.
âJunior Brother Li, donât be so stingy. Itâs one thing for you to secretly hoard treasures without reporting to the sect, but now that the sect needs to take some Magic Treasures, it should also count as your contribution. Why must your attitude be so obnoxious?â
âWeâre not asking for much, just ten items per person, and later weâll report to the sect to ensure your contributions are acknowledged.â
Situ Baoqi spoke up, his tone indifferent, and without further discussion, he began directing several accompanying disciples to take away the Magic Treasures, looking as if he had Li Xiaobai completely under control.
Li Xiaobai didnât bother to speak again, but silently took out a Jade Gourd and gently tapped it, âFellow Daoist, please hold on a moment?â
A sweep of emerald green light and, aside from Situ Baoqi, all of the Sword Sect party vanished into thin air, sucked into the gourd.
âDamn it, daring to touch my wealth, youâre really looking for death!â
âThe shamelessness is truly astounding, actually trying to freeload, Iâve never seen such brazen impudence before!â
âIâll dump them all into the manure pit later.â
The ferocious light flickered in Li Xiaobaiâs eyes, cutting off his wealth was no different from slaying his parents. He had always been the one robbing others, never had anyone dared to rob him.
âYou!â
âYou actually dare to take action against your fellow sect brothers? Do you realize what you are doing?â
Situ Baoqiâs complexion changed, speaking with some astonishment. They were here for the benefit of the sect, with several Earth Immortal Realm cultivators suppressed, who would participate in tomorrowâs arena battle?
Doesnât this guy understand the gravity and urgency of the situation?
He clearly lacks any sense of the bigger picture.
âJunior Brother is very aware of what he is doing, Junior Brother is protecting the interest of the masses. For those who try to steal Magic Treasures and elixirs through illicit means, I must administer severe punishment without leniency, especially since they are disciples of the Sword Sect, coming from the same sect merits a strict punishment, to demonstrate the fairness and justice of my stall.â
âBrother Situ, you are a Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivator, and the favored disciple of Sword Sectâs Elder Ouyang, surely you wouldnât stoop to such disgraceful behavior as trying to forcibly take Magic Treasures, right?â
Li Xiaobai put away the gourd, and spoke indifferently, mercilessly exposing him, in front of so many cultivators, Situ Baoqi, no matter how thick-skinned, had to pay with Spirit Stones.
âOf course not, I admit that I hadnât fully considered this matterâI only thought of the sectâs contributions, not of Junior Brotherâs interests. I apologize for that.â
Situ Baoqi suppressed the rage in his heart, with so many eyes watching, even if he felt like exploding inside, he still needed to endure.
âNo need for apologies, we are all disciples of the same sect, just settle the bill, they took five Earth Immortal Realm Magic Treasures just now, Iâve let slide the small change, totalling fifty thousand top-grade Immortal Stones, pay up,â Li Xiaobai said.
âIf Brother canât produced the sum, you can write an IOU, and Iâll go directly to Elder Ouyang to collect.â
âDamn itâ¦â
âI have Immortal Stones, Iâll pay!â
âJunior Brother Li, I will remember todayâs incident, and I will report it truthfully to the Sect Master. If tomorrowâs arena battle goes awry, you will be responsible!â
Situ Baoqi gnashed his teeth, his eyes burning red with fury. If they were in a secluded place, he would have already torn the man before him to shreds.
His wrist trembling a bit, he took out a Storage Bag and threw it to Li Xiaobai, his heart bleeding. The fifty-thousand top-grade Immortal Stones he had worked so hard to earn were now handed over so effortlessly, it was infuriating to the point of trembling.
âThank you, Brother, for looking after my business. If you wish to snitch, please feel free to do so.â
âAdditionally, Brother might not be awareâthe Earth Immortal Realm disciples of the Blade Sect have all been suppressed by me. I hope you can put up a good fight tomorrow, and not be easily defeated.â
âDamn it⦠Iâll remember this.â
Situ Baoqi, pale with anger, turned and left in disgrace.