Chapter 417: 418: Young People Lacking in Martial Virtue
“Oh dear, young friend, wait, the old beggar remembered wrong. This is an ancestral jade pendant of the old beggar’s. True, it has been around for a long time, but indeed, it has no special features. It’s the old beggar who remembered wrong.”
“How about this, I have a Space Ring here. If you let me out, I will give you this ring with both hands.”
From behind the rock, the old beggar continued his shrill, surprised screams. He hadn’t expected to be seen through by someone at the first meeting and was somewhat embarrassed. At this point, he could only offer something genuine in hopes of exchanging it for his freedom.
But at the same time, a sliver of doubt flashed through his heart. The other party seemed to be quite familiar with these tactics as well, instantly seeing through his schemes. Could it be another veteran trickster?
The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it was at the moment.
“That won’t do, show me your ring first.”
Li Xiaobai didn’t yield an inch; he knew, dealing with people like the old beggar, if he gave way even slightly, the other party would take a mile. He was the epitome of ‘give them an inch and they’ll take a yard’; he absolutely could not relent.
“Alright, the old beggar will show the young friend!”
Having concluded, the old beggar threw out the Space Ring he was holding.
Li Xiaobai glanced over it, a stockpile of about tens of thousands of top-grade Spirit Stones and some elixirs. However, compared to the old beggar’s status, it seemed rather meager; this was definitely skimping on the material, intending to fob him off.
The real bulk of it hadn’t even budged!
“Senior, this is where you’re wrong. I truly and sincerely want to save you, but this little amount of money makes it difficult for me to do your bidding!”
“How about adding a bit more? A few more Space Rings perhaps?”
Li Xiaobai said cheerfully.
There was a moment of silence from the other side of the rock. Li Xiaobai deliberately made some footsteps, pretending to walk away.
The other side spoke up.
“Kid, let’s not beat around the bush. We’re both just talking air here, neither of us can trust the other. Just name your price, and swear on your cultivator’s heart, you won’t take the money and run.”
The old beggar’s voice suddenly grew heavy.
“I, Li Xiaobai, swear on my cultivator’s heart that having taken the senior’s Spirit Stones, I will definitely set the senior free. If possible, junior would like one billion.”
Li Xiaobai took the oath very straightforwardly; this kind of deal was not his first, and he was very adept at it.
“One billion? Lower Grade Spirit Stones?”
The old beggar asked.
“Top-grade Spirit Stones.”
Li Xiaobai said earnestly.
“One billion top-grade Spirit Stones, why don’t you just rob someone!”
The old beggar exploded in rage, feeling like he was being played.
“Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”
“Senior couldn’t possibly be unable to come up with a mere billion, could he?”
Li Xiaobai asked with a frown, considering how those big shots at the auctions would casually throw tens of millions of top-grade Spirit Stones around; a billion seemed like a trifle to them.
“The old beggar doesn’t have it; the old beggar only has one more Space Ring left, which I can give to you, provided that you must release the old beggar.”
“No problem; I’ve already sworn on my cultivator’s heart,” Li Xiaobai said with bright eyes.
“Here you go!”
From within the rock, another Space Ring was thrown out, and Li Xiaobai took a quick glance, his heart suddenly beginning to thump wildly.
“Damn it, all prime stuff, this old guy really was hiding a trick up his sleeve!”
Inside the ring, there were not many Spirit Stones, but there were as many Magic Treasures and elixirs as one could want, and just a glance at the appearance told you they were definitely high-quality goods.
Selling them for Spirit Stones at the auction house was absolutely a great harvest.
“Young friend, this old beggar has given you all his possessions; now it’s time for you to fulfill your promise.”
Behind the rocks, the old beggar said.
“How do I proceed?”
Li Xiaobai asked.
“Within this cluster of rocks lies a powerful Slaughter Formation which I have already decoded. All you need to do is walk into the Formation according to the old beggar’s instructions, destroy the talisman at its center, and you will be able to release the old beggar,”
the voice from behind the rocks explained.
“However, you must be very careful. This is a Slaughter Formation, and even Great Crossing Realm Cultivators who stray into it could be gravely injured. One wrong step could lead to doom.”
“I see.”
Li Xiaobai nodded, without a second thought, walked directly into the Formation.
In an instant, the nearby rocks began to shake violently, and blood-red Blood Qi quickly enveloped the entire area. At the same time, a dangerous presence burst forth, scattering in all directions.
Metal Slaughter’s Qi erupted, and the clanging of metal pierced through ear drums.
[Attribute Point +50000…]
[Attribute Point +50000…]
The increase in Attribute Points is pretty good, akin to taking an attack from a Sea Clan boss. No wonder it could trap the old beggar.
“Kid, didn’t we agree that you would act strictly according to my instructions? Why did you act on your own? Now that you have triggered the Formation, do you realize you’re in a tight spot?”
“This Formation is built using Flesh Mountain. Those who stray into it will not only face the attack from the Formation but will also be subjected to the corrosion of Flesh Mountain. Even for Great Crossing Realm Cultivators, this means certain death!”
“It’s sheer folly!”
From behind the rock formation, the old beggar’s voice was filled with frustration and despair, thinking his long-awaited chance had vanished, along with all his worldly goods.
But the next second, he was stunned into silence as a figure darted forward, suddenly appearing right before him.
“Elder, long time no see, I’ve missed you terribly!”
Li Xiaobai said with a smiling grin.
“It’s you!”
“You’ve actually come to the border!”
“And you’ve tricked the old beggar out of his Space Ring!”
In just a moment, the old beggar grasped the situation. If it was Li Xiaobai, then none of this was surprising. No wonder he found his opponent’s actions to be those of an old hand; it turned out to be this youngster.
He was actually tricked by him!
“Heh, elder, how can it be called a deception when it’s done with mutual consent?”
Li Xiaobai said with an easy smile, looking at the elder before him, who appeared just as unkempt as the last time they parted, yet still full of vigor.
“Quickly give back the old beggar’s Space Ring!”
The old beggar’s face was full of indignation; he had been duped by someone he knew.
“Alas, I’ve already sworn an oath of Dao heart; how can I go back on my word?”
“Besides, such a small sum of money isn’t worth getting upset over, elder. We’re practically family. I’ll let you out right now,”
Li Xiaobai said, waving his hand dismissively.
The frustration on the old beggar’s face intensified.
“The old beggar has been trapped here by that damned City Lord, living a life not fit for humans. Finally, I come across living souls, thinking I could finally be free.”
“To think you, rascal, would come here to deceive and ambush. A man of hundreds of years falling victim to a young man without martial integrity—I hope you take a good look at yourself!”