DIV Chapter 56: The Ancestor's Defeat

Li Chang'an's outwardly displayed strength wasn't particularly high.

Fourth layer of Qi Refining and a first-tier mid-grade talisman master.

This level of strength was decent enough in normal times.

But now, robber cultivators were everywhere.

After killing batch after batch, there was simply no end to them.

The accumulated talismans would eventually be consumed completely, ultimately forcing reliance on one's own cultivation to kill enemies.

"His cultivation is even inferior to this old man's, I'm afraid he won't last long," Luo Kun sighed.

He was severely injured and couldn't help Li Chang'an at all.

Those robber cultivators had already spotted Li Chang'an, their eyes lighting up with greed.

"Hehehe, there's actually an unexpected bonus. This boy can afford to live in such a place, he's definitely a fat sheep!"

"Attack together, kill him!"

Several robber cultivators wore savage grins, their eyes cruel.

As if they could already see Li Chang'an dying at their hands but the next instant, an invisible blade swept across.

"Szzzt!"

One person's head immediately flew off, blood gushing from his neck like a fountain.

That headless corpse rushed forward several more steps before collapsing to the ground.

"Not good!" The others' faces changed drastically as they hastily retreated.

But before they could exit the courtyard, countless invisible blades emerged from the surrounding void, like a deadly net covering the sky, instantly penetrating their bodies.

A moment later, these people became a pile of minced flesh.

"With such meager cultivation, you dare play at being robber cultivators?" Li Chang'an's tone was cold as he casually collected these people's storage bags.

Nearby, Luo Kun watched in stunned amazement.

The entire development completely exceeded his expectations.

He had originally thought Li Chang'an was surely doomed to die.

Yet in just the blink of an eye, those powerful robber cultivators were thoroughly dead!

"This... this is a formation array?" Luo Kun asked incredulously.

Li Chang'an glanced at him but didn't answer, instead asking in return, "Senior Luo, you've been a talisman master for so many years, your wealth should be considerable. Why didn't you think to buy a residence-protecting formation array?"

"I..." Luo Kun felt somewhat ashamed.

Having lived for decades, his sense of crisis wasn't as good as this young man Li Chang'an's.

After all, Qinghe Market had Foundation Establishment ancestors presiding over it and had always been relatively safe.

Even when there had been several incidents with robber cultivators, those who died were all bottom-tier rogue cultivators.

"Sigh, I originally thought Qinghe Market couldn't descend into chaos," Luo Kun swallowed several healing pills and sighed.

He struggled to stand up and cupped his hands toward Li Chang'an.

"Fellow Daoist Li's life-saving grace, this Luo will never forget!"

In the past, he had relied on his status and seniority, liking to put on the airs of a senior.

But he was very clear that the current Li Chang'an had long since outgrown the "young friend" identity.

He must be addressed as "Fellow Daoist."

Li Chang'an himself didn't particularly care about titles.

"Senior Luo, do you plan to stay here or return to your own residence?"

"This..." Luo Kun glanced at his own ruined residence.

"If Fellow Daoist Li doesn't mind, I'll shamelessly remain here."

Staying here with formation protection was much safer than his own residence.

After a moment, Luo Kun gradually stabilized his injuries.

He thanked Li Chang'an again, then said with some embarrassment, "Fellow Daoist Li, I was previously disrespectful in speech, speaking without restraint and making presumptuous comments about you. Please don't take it to heart."

"No matter," Li Chang'an was very calm, not caring about such things at all.

This attitude made Luo Kun even more ashamed.

Then he began explaining why he liked hearing flattery from juniors.

"When I was young, I was also a rogue cultivator. To obtain talisman inheritance, I served an old talisman master like an ox or horse, constantly flattering and bowing obsequiously, enduring his abuse for over ten years..."

Luo Kun sighed. He had finally obtained the talisman inheritance with great difficulty, managing to make something of himself.

Therefore, he also wanted to experience being flattered by others.

"Sigh, I ultimately fell into conventional patterns, unable to compare with Fellow Daoist Li," Luo Kun said sincerely.

"In the future, if Fellow Daoist Li needs help, just say the word, and I will certainly do my utmost to assist!"

"Mm, I need help right now," Li Chang'an nodded slightly.

Luo Kun was stunned upon hearing this.

What could he possibly help Li Chang'an with in his current state?

"Senior Luo, I need some materials. They're quite rare and not easy to purchase," Li Chang'an said, handing over a materials list.

On it were recorded some of the materials needed for cultivating the "Demon Blood Body Tempering Art."

Among them were some rare spiritual medicines and demon beast essence blood, very difficult to gather in a short time.

"You have broader connections than me. Do you have a way to obtain these materials?"

"Let me see..." Luo Kun's expression became serious as he accepted the materials list.

After just a few glances, shock appeared on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Li, these materials are all extremely precious and valuable."

"I know," Li Chang'an was somewhat helpless.

The path of body refining was truly difficult.

Not only were the techniques hard to obtain, even the required materials were difficult to procure.

No wonder there were so few body refining cultivators.

He had only given Luo Kun a small portion.

If he had given everything, Luo Kun would probably be too shocked to speak.

"If you want to gather all these materials at once, perhaps only the Zheng family's treasury could satisfy this need," Luo Kun replied after long contemplation.

Li Chang'an remained silent.

The Zheng family treasury was not to be thought of, outsiders simply couldn't enter.

"Besides that, you can only slowly find people to trade with," Luo Kun offered another method.

"The 'Wind-Winged Tiger' essence blood on this list can be obtained from beast tamer Wang Hu."

"As for the spiritual medicine 'Clear Heart Lotus,' spiritual plant master Chu Mu should have it."

"And this 'Exquisite Fruit'..."

Luo Kun explained in detail, mentioning methods to obtain over ten different materials.

It must be said, his network was indeed extensive.

Whether ordinary rogue cultivators or craftsmen with various skills, he knew quite a few.

"Fellow Daoist Li, if you're not in a hurry, I can help connect you and facilitate trades."

"Then I'll trouble Senior Luo," Li Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief. Being able to obtain materials was good enough.

A somewhat troublesome process didn't matter.

He had plenty of time anyway.

At this moment, over ten robber cultivators suddenly came killing from outside the courtyard.

"More are coming?" Li Chang'an's eyes turned cold.

He discovered that these dozen-plus robber cultivators were different from previous ones, seeming to have planned ahead, each holding prohibition-breaking talismans.

At the same time, another puppet body he had hidden in the shadows discovered a familiar figure.

"Zheng Lingfeng!"

At this moment, Zheng Lingfeng was hiding nearby, his eyes full of killing intent, staring fixedly at Li Chang'an's residence.

The dozen-plus robber cultivators now attacking Li Chang'an's residence were precisely arranged by him!

"Zheng family people really do love colluding with robber cultivators!" Li Chang'an snorted coldly, activating the formation and using talismans.

In just a moment, those dozen-plus robber cultivators became minced flesh on the ground.

Not far away, Zheng Lingfeng showed unwillingness and hastily retreated.

"I'll spare your life for now!" Li Chang'an suppressed his killing intent and didn't pursue to attack.

Qinghe Market was ultimately still Zheng family territory.

Moreover, as the second-ranked of the younger generation publicly, Zheng Lingfeng certainly had many life-saving treasures.

Attacking him within the market was truly unwise.

Just then, an earth-shaking explosion suddenly came from the distant horizon.

"Boom!"

Two extremely terrifying auras collided with each other, the force they erupted causing heart-stopping fear.

Just watching from afar made many people deeply frightened.

After a moment, everything returned to calm.

The entire market quieted down, many people looking up in that direction.

"Has the Foundation Establishment battle ended? Who won?"

The next instant, a delighted laugh rang out in the night sky.

"Hahaha, Old Ghost Zheng, you're old!"

The one laughing heartily was precisely the Cao family ancestor, Cao Zhengxiong!

Hearing this voice, many Zheng family disciples showed anxious expressions.

Could it be that their family ancestor had been defeated?

Before long, two figures, one in front and one behind, crossed the night sky heading straight for the market.

The foremost person was precisely the Zheng family ancestor, Zheng Yuandao.

His face was pale at this moment, his aura chaotic, with multiple tears in his robes.

Behind him, Cao Zhengxiong pursued relentlessly.

This scene made everyone understand.

The Zheng family ancestor had been defeated!

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