DIV Chapter 22: Undercurrents Stirring

Only when both sides have Foundation Establishment cultivators in equal numbers can balance be maintained.

Now the balance has been broken.

The Cao and Wu families will most likely take this opportunity to force the Zheng family to give up interests in the market.

"However, is that Foundation Establishment mid-stage ancestor of the Zheng family truly dead?" Li Chang'an pondered.

He was worried about the peace of the market being disrupted.

Xu Fugui, however, was concerned about another matter.

"Brother Li, if the Zheng family fights with the other two major families, will they forcibly conscript me?" His face turned pale, filled with anxiety.

After all, the spiritual contract between him and the Zheng family was still in effect.

If the situation deteriorated rapidly and the Zheng family suffered too many casualties, then the Zheng family would very likely conscript these rogue cultivators who had signed spiritual contracts to the front lines.

With Xu Fugui's third layer of Qi Refining cultivation, he would be pure cannon fodder on the front lines, with very little chance of survival.

"Don't panic yet, the situation hasn't reached that point," Li Chang'an said calmly.

Of course, Xu Fugui wasn't the only one with such anxieties.

Before long, Chu Daniu organized a gathering.

Quite a few people attended, almost all of them were those who had failed to enter the immortal sects and came to the market together with them.

Although they weren't from the same hometown, they could be considered close friends of many years.

Now, each and every one of them was panicking.

"What should we do now?"

"Everyone, should we just run away?"

"Breaking the spiritual contract won't necessarily kill us. I know a senior who has ways to resist the spiritual contract's backlash!"

Everyone spoke at once, creating chaos.

Chu Daniu still had some prestige among this group, so he quickly spoke up to calm them down.

However, he himself was also filled with unease.

Such was the helplessness of bottom-tier cultivators.

Powerless to change anything, they could only go with the flow, hoping for moments of peace.

This scene made Li Chang'an somewhat emotional.

Wasn't he in the same situation?

"In this life, I must strive to climb upward, step by step to the highest point. As long as my strength is powerful enough, no matter how the world changes, I will remain unmoved."

Li Chang'an's determination on the path of cultivation became even firmer.

Afterward, he went to visit the beast tamer Wang Hu.

This senior had broader connections than him and was more well-informed.

"This matter is somewhat strange. There should be someone secretly fanning the flames, trying to muddy the waters and make the entire market chaotic," Wang Hu said with a frown.

"Foundation Establishment ancestors are incredibly powerful, far beyond what Qi Refining cultivators can compare to. They don't die that easily."

"Thank you for informing me, senior!"

Hearing him say this, Li Chang'an vaguely had some guesses in his heart.

Soon, he rose to take his leave.

He then went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to inquire with Shopkeeper Qian.

After all, Shopkeeper Qian was the Zheng family's son-in-law and knew more about the situation.

But he didn't reveal much, only telling Li Chang'an to go home and wait quietly.

"Fellow Daoist Li, in a few more days, you'll know," he said.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qian."

Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an basically put his mind at ease.

He roughly guessed the respective thoughts of the Zheng family and the Cao and Wu families.

Next, he just needed to wait quietly.

...

Several days later, just as the market was becoming increasingly chaotic, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from the central area of the market.

It made everyone feel extremely oppressed.

"Foundation Establishment ancestor!"

Many people showed expressions of shock and horror, looking toward the very center of the market.

The Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Zheng family had finally appeared!

Moreover, it was precisely the mid-stage Foundation Establishment ancestor who was rumored to have perished.

His complexion was rosy, his spirit full of vigor, his aura incomparably powerful, without even the slightest sign of injury!

"We pay our respects to senior!"

The nearby rogue cultivators bowed one after another, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

Just as everyone was being intimidated by the Foundation Establishment aura, teams of Zheng family cultivators suddenly appeared, heading straight for various areas of the market. They struck with thunderous momentum, immediately capturing quite a few cultivators on the spot.

"Why are you arresting me?"

"Honored seniors, is there a mistake?"

"I only came to the market to do business. I have a wife and children at home..."

Some people showed expressions of panic and loudly begged for mercy.

Others desperately resisted, only to be killed on the spot, blood splattering three feet away!

The smell of blood gradually intensified, spreading throughout Qinghe Market.

After all this ended, the Zheng family issued a notice stating, "All those captured and killed today had connections with the other two major families and attempted to disturb the market's order."

The truth was similar to what Li Chang'an had guessed.

The other two major families had secretly spread rumors, wanting to make Qinghe Market chaotic.

After all, this market was the Zheng family's money tree.

And the Zheng family hadn't immediately refuted the rumors. Instead, they took this opportunity to find the agents the two major families had planted in the market and caught them all in one net!

Learning this news, Xu Fugui and the others felt greatly relieved.

"Wonderful, the Zheng family's Foundation Establishment ancestor is fine!"

The stronger the Zheng family, the more secure they would be.

Li Chang'an was thoughtful.

His eyes flickered as he glanced toward the central area of the market.

"Is that Foundation Establishment ancestor truly unharmed?"

This incident, although it hadn't caused too much damage to the Zheng family, it was obvious that many people had already lost confidence in the Zheng family.

The atmosphere in Qinghe Market had also become somewhat gloomy.

However, that very evening, a piece of news suddenly spread.

"The Zheng family is going to hold an auction!"

"This auction will not only have various treasures that are rarely seen normally, but also cultivation technique inheritances and auxiliary medicines for Foundation Establishment Pills..."

As soon as this news came out, the atmosphere in the market became lively again!

Everyone seemed to forget what had happened in recent days and began discussing the auction.

In a normal auction, the auction items should be kept secret.

But this time, the Zheng family actually made all the auction items public.

Soon, Li Chang'an had a list of auction items in his hands.

Scanning through the contents on the list, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"There really are quite a few good things!"

Just the first-tier low-grade technique inheritances alone numbered over ten kinds!

Beast taming, spirit cultivation, gu insects, mechanical arts, and so on...

In addition, there were also three types of first-tier mid-grade technique inheritances.

Just these technique inheritances alone were enough to drive countless rogue cultivators crazy.

Not to mention, there were also large quantities of treasures, as well as several types of auxiliary medicines for Foundation Establishment Pills!

"Foundation Establishment Pills..."

Li Chang'an pondered slightly.

He already had mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation and should consider future Foundation Establishment matters.

He must prepare early.

"However, this auction will have many people with mixed intentions. It's not suitable to stand out."

Li Chang'an shook his head slightly, not planning to compete.

He would wait a bit longer.

If his cultivation could become stronger, or if he had sophisticated spells for changing his aura, then he could make moves at such auctions.

...

That night, just after midnight, a golden light appeared before Li Chang'an.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today's Divination: Auspicious]

[You participate in the auction and buy a seemingly worthless broken puppet, but discover a first-tier superior-grade puppet technique inheritance within it]

"Huh?"

Li Chang'an was startled, somewhat surprised.

He could actually find a bargain at the auction!

By reason, all auction items should have been carefully examined by the Zheng family.

He hadn't thought at all about finding any bargains.

The appearance of this divination was truly an unexpected delight.

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