Chapter 203: The Robber in the Guise of a Rogue Merchant
“Hiss…”
Zhou Tong suddenly gasped, unable to suppress his footsteps.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhang Chuqiao asked with concern.
“Someone is cursing me,” he replied with a strange expression.
“Who!”
The Senior Apprentice Sister was instantly enraged, her killing intent swelling as she scanned the surroundings.
“Don’t look for them. The other party is well-hidden, and you won’t find them. Moreover…”
Zhou Tong’s expression became playful, unable to suppress a chuckle, “The other person is currently kneeling and worshiping me devoutly.”
Upon hearing this, the Senior Apprentice Sister burst into laughter.
This was truly amusing.
Though the curse was supposed to ruin one’s vitality, Zhou Tong wielded the Laws of the Deity of Rules. As soon as the adversary knelt in worship, they would offer their vitality and belief to Zhou Tong, and they would be bound to him.
It was akin to cursing oneself while providing Zhou Tong with the Power of Belief.
Offering three farts and knocking their heads six times, they could not change their fate of mischief!
“Don’t mind them.”
Zhou Tong remained composed, a mocking smile on his lips.
Soon, everyone arrived at the nearest market, the Bloodline Market.
As they entered, the people behind turned red-eyed, bursting with intense gazes.
For martial artists, comprehension and aptitude were the most crucial elements. Most would be unable to reach higher realms due to restrictions in their aptitude.
If an ordinary person could obtain a fine bloodline, it would greatly enhance their aptitude, easily breaking their original limits.
As the market doors swung open, the crowd surged in, creating a chaotic scene.
“Queue up! If you annoy me, you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
A high and mighty voice rang out, calming the crowd.
Looking ahead, a thin middle-aged man with rat-like eyes appeared. He was short in stature but exuded a color of greed and cunning in his gaze.
“Welcome, everyone. I can already smell the stench of your poverty. It’s truly disgusting!”
At this declaration, the crowd fell silent.
This man was clearly the shopkeeper of the Bloodline Market; why would he treat customers so poorly?
“I detest the poor. Anyone without at least ten thousand Spirit Coins should roll out of here immediately. Don’t stain my precious floors with your pathetic aura.”
At this, the crowd erupted in outrage.
“How unreasonable! You’re so arrogant!”
“Don’t you know that good relations bring wealth? Without us buying your goods, what are you?”
Hearing this, the shopkeeper laughed even more arrogantly.
“There are plenty of people who would buy, so get lost!”
The shopkeeper displayed his aura, revealing he was a powerhouse of the Seventh Layer realm. With a slap, he struck the speaker across the face.
“You’re dead!”
The individual immediately grew furious, preparing to retaliate.
At that moment, the overwhelming force of the Laws descended, causing him to spit blood, horror plastered on his face!
“Hahaha…”
The shopkeeper’s mocking laughter rang out. As a native of this secret realm, he was not restricted by the Laws, allowing him to act as he pleased.
“You lowly outsider dare to strike at me? You’ve committed a crime deserving of death!”
As the words fell, a large group of native guards rushed out, instantly killing that person.
Watching the bloodstains on the ground, everyone broke out in a cold sweat.
It seemed this so-called safe zone was not safe at all, as the natives could oppress outsiders at will.
“Alright, the troublemaker has been dealt with. Now we can conduct transactions. Who’s first?”
“I…”
Just as the words were uttered, someone rushed forward eagerly.
“It’s Elder Qian Yi from the Tai Xuan Sect.”
Chu Ran recognized this person’s identity. The Tai Xuan Sect was also one of the five major sects, and in terms of strength, they surpassed the Blood God Sect.
“I want a strand of Ancestral Dragon Bloodline.”
Qian Yi said excitedly. His main cultivation technique was the Divine Dragon Technique; if he obtained the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, he would surely advance further.
“Here!”
The shopkeeper waved his hand, and a red ball of light plummeted into Qian Yi’s palm.
“Haha… it really is Ancestral Dragon Bloodline!”
After verifying its authenticity, Qian Yi couldn’t help but call out.
“Thank you for your patronage, thirty thousand Spirit Coins!”
The shopkeeper said with a sly grin, causing Qian Yi to stare blankly.
“So expensive!”
“What? Can’t you afford it?”
The shopkeeper’s expression turned fierce.
“Wait a moment, I’ll gather it!”
Saying this, Qian Yi turned to the Tai Xuan Sect disciples behind him.
“Hand over all your Spirit Coins!”
At those words, the Tai Xuan Sect disciples could only simmer with anger, complying obediently.
“My lord, look, I’ve managed to gather enough!”
Moments later, Qian Yi held a multitude of glowing points and respectfully presented them to the shopkeeper.
“Hmph! At least you know your place!”
The shopkeeper wore a pleased smile, but after a glance, his expression darkened again.
“You’re seeking death; you’re still five hundred Spirit Coins short! How dare you deceive me!”
At this, Qian Yi’s face turned slightly unnatural as he muttered, “Just five hundred short; let’s call it a rounding issue!”
“Slap!”
Before he could finish, another slap landed heavily on his face.
“What are you? You think I would take a loss? Go look in the mirror and see your own worth!”
“You!!”
Humiliated, Qian Yi erupted with anger. He was an elder of a major sect; how could he endure such treatment?
“We’re not buying anymore!”
“Not buying? Your dirty hands have already touched my merchandise; the stench of your poverty has seeped in. Whether you want to buy or not, you must today!”
Immediately, the native guards charged again, surrounding the Tai Xuan Sect members.
In no time, Qian Yi turned pale, glancing fearfully at the opposing side.
“We really don’t have any Spirit Coins left! What do you want from us?” he roared in despair.
“Simple. We can also accept bloodlines here!”
The shopkeeper’s gaze scanned, landing on one of the Tai Xuan Sect disciples.
“Sword Spirit Bloodline… what a fine item.”
Greed sparked in his eyes as he said, “Hand over his bloodline, and it could just make up for five hundred Spirit Coins!”
At this, everyone was astonished.
This shopkeeper was truly opportunistic. Although the Sword Spirit Bloodline was not as potent as the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, it was still a formidable bloodline. He was clearly attempting to extort them.
“What’s wrong? Are you unwilling?”
Seeing the difficulty on Qian Yi’s face, the natives began to stir again.
“I’m willing, I’m willing!”
“Elder… how could you?”
The disciple turned pale, desperately trying to resist.
“Less talk. The sect has supported your family, and you should contribute to the sect as well. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your parents’ safety!”
With that, the disciple relented.
“Haha… that’s more like it; I’ll take the Sword Spirit Bloodline!”
The shopkeeper waved his hand, forcibly extracting the disciple’s bloodline, causing him to immediately collapse to the ground in despair.
“Waste!”
Qian Yi cursed, not even looking at him, cheerfully accepting the Ancestral Dragon Blood, then leading the team out of the market.
“Next!”
The shopkeeper said lazily, completely ignoring the crowd’s shock.
“I… I want that Sword Spirit Bloodline; how about one thousand Spirit Coins?”
A sword cultivator tentatively asked.
“Get lost! This is a top-grade bloodline; don’t dream of it for less than twenty thousand!”
“You’ve gone too far!”
The Senior Apprentice Sister gritted her teeth, drawing the shopkeeper’s attention.
The shopkeeper instinctively looked over, and when he saw the Senior Apprentice Sister, his eyes suddenly filled with incredible light!
