Struggle

In the end, the rune before Lin Dong still wasn't completed, because halfway through forming it, a sharp pain shot through his mind.

Lin Dong snapped back to reality, drenched in sweat and utterly horrified, clearly unable to understand what had just happened.

Meanwhile, a gray-robed old man dozing in a corner of the hall suddenly jolted awake, his tightly shut eyes flying open.

His gaze shifted and locked onto Lin Dong, and he muttered in shock, "Such strong spiritual talent!"

Lin Dong looked at the Cosmic Bag in his hand, his heart still pounding. Fortunately, Spiritual Power was formless and colorless, so the rune he'd been sketching hadn't been seen by anyone else.

"Are you the one who sold these pills?"

Just as Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief and was about to stow the Cosmic Bag and leave, a woman's voice suddenly came from beside him.

Hearing this, Lin Changqiang snorted inwardly and followed Lin Dong's gaze toward the source.

By the counter, a girl in a light red dress held up a bottle toward Lin Dong.

She had rosy lips and white teeth; though not as beautiful as Qing Tan, she was still quite lovely, drawing many heated glances from the men in the building. However, the air of wealth and status in her every move kept the crowd at a distance.

Behind the girl followed a stern-faced middle-aged man. Though silent, he exuded a faint pressure, clearly acting as her guard.

"It's me. Something wrong?" Lin Dong asked helplessly, not expecting to be approached just after standing there for a moment.

"These pills have a very gentle medicinal effect, perfect for someone in the Body Tempering Stage. My younger sister could use them too. If you have any left, sir, I'd be happy to buy them all. The price won't disappoint you."

The girl glanced at Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang, finding them unremarkable and likely not from any major force in Flame City, which boosted her confidence.

"Sorry, I just got lucky and found these pills. There's nothing left." Lin Dong spread his hands. These pills were refined from Subordinate Third Rank Spiritual Medicine, and he barely had enough for his own training—why would he give away more?

Besides, an innocent man with a treasure invites trouble. If he pulled out another batch of pills, he'd be practically announcing he was rich. He probably wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.

The girl furrowed her brows slightly, clearly thinking Lin Dong was brushing her off. How could anyone just stumble upon pills like that?

"Qing Xu, if you want pills, just tell Brother Liu. Why bother buying from someone else?" Just as the girl grew displeased, a hearty laugh rang out, and everyone saw a man in brocade robes approach, fanning himself leisurely.

Lin Dong shook his head and turned to leave. But as he turned, a figure suddenly blocked his path. Looking closely, it was the girl's guard.

"A good dog doesn't block the way!" Lin Changqiang raised an eyebrow, quickly swapped in three Thunderclap Blades, then stepped forward with a sharp shout, extending his right arm to shield Lin Dong behind him.

"Miss, what's the meaning of this?" Lin Dong's face darkened as he glared at the girl.

"You should have more of those pills I want." The girl looked at him calmly, her tone certain.

"So what if I do? So what if I don't? Are you planning to force a sale?" Lin Dong sneered. Though her guard looked formidable, against Lin Changqiang, who had already broken through to the Late Heavenly Origin Stage, unless the guard was also at that level, he stood no chance.

"I told you, price isn't an issue. You won't lose out." The girl frowned, puzzled why Lin Dong refused to sell.

"Heh, friend, since Qing Xu has her eye on something, you'd better sell it to her. Ever heard of the Liu Family of Flame City?" The brocade-clad man sauntered over with a confident smile, seeing the girl's insistence.

"I found those pills by chance. I don't have any more." Lin Dong shook his head, then ignored the trio and headed for the door.

"Stop right there!" The man's face darkened at Lin Dong's disregard. He shouted and reached for Lin Dong's shoulder.

"Get lost!" Even a clay figurine has some temper, let alone Lin Dong. Feeling the wind behind him, he grew angry. Surging Yuan Power gathered in his right hand, and he spun around, throwing a punch that met the man's claw.

"Bam!" The wind gusted. Lin Dong's shoulder trembled slightly, absorbing the force, while his opponent staggered back several steps.

"What a weak Earthly Yuan Stage." Lin Changqiang sneered at the brocade-clad man. "Spending all your time chasing skirts—your cultivation must be all from draining yin to nourish yang, right?"

Just then, the guard beside the girl suddenly activated his Yuan Power, his hand shooting out like an eagle's claw toward Lin Dong. The fluctuation marked him as a Heavenly Yuan Stage expert!

"I've been waiting for you!" Knowing the steward would arrive soon to stop the fight, Lin Changqiang didn't hesitate and unleashed his strongest move, "Fire Cloud Art!"

Don't ask why he didn't shout Jetting Flames—the name was just too lame.

Under the guard's horrified gaze, Lin Changqiang brought his hands to his waist in a Turtle Style Ki Blast stance. A dazzling red light bloomed from his palms, and the next instant, a thick pillar of flame blasted forth!

Catching the guard off guard, before he could even use a Martial Arts technique to defend, a shockwave about half a meter in diameter slammed straight into his face!

"Boom—thump, thump, thump, thump—"

Several explosions rang out. To the crowd's shock, the guard was sent flying backward, pinned against the wall of the Curio Building by the fiery pillar.

Not only that, but the flame kept its momentum, blasting through the wall and carrying the guard nearly twenty meters before dissipating! Fortunately, no one else was caught in it.

Just then, a figure finally arrived belatedly: "Fighting is forbidden in the Curio Building. Don't you know the rules...?!" The sight before him left the newcomer stunned. Staring at the gaping hole in the wall and the unconscious Liu Family guard outside, he was at a loss for words.

The figure was a gray-robed old man. Seeing him, the brocade-clad man, who had been trembling in terror, and the red-dressed girl, whose face had lost all color, both seemed to find their anchor.

They hurried over respectfully and bowed to the old man.

"Greetings, Master Yan!" "Master Yan, Qing Xu was out of line just now. Please forgive me!"

The gray-robed old man glanced at the two with their respectful faces, then casually waved his hand, dismissing them. His gaze fixed firmly on Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang, then settled on Lin Dong. After a moment, he suddenly extended a withered finger and pointed it at Lin Dong's brow!