Black Astral Demonic Flame

Upon hearing this, the Ning Family's Foundation Establishment cultivator let out a long sigh.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators present were not surprised.

Although Bamboo Leaf Mountain's Second-Order Spiritual Vein was not small in scale, it had to support the Second-Order Defensive Array, as well as the cultivators in the shops, inns, and Cave Abodes.

Only a small area atop the mountain enjoyed the benefits of the Second-Order Spiritual Vein.

Even with a Spirit Gathering Array assisting it, the Second-Order Spiritual Vein bore no small burden each day.

If someone attempted Foundation Establishment and absorbed a vast amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy, it would indeed affect the Second-Order Defensive Array.

Moreover, a dozen or twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators had come to this auction. Some were known inside and out, while others concealed their true appearances and had unknown identities.

If the Ning Family underwent Foundation Establishment here and caused a weak point in the array, should any trouble arise, the Huang Family might not be able to suppress it.

Tragedies caused by a single Foundation Establishment Pill had occurred before in marketplaces throughout the Cultivation World.

"Quite a few lineages can smash their pots and sell their iron to afford the spirit stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill. But keeping that pill safe requires exhausting the lineage's reserves and paying an even greater price."

Lan Chang'an sighed inwardly.

In his Previous Life, he had toiled heart and soul for his lineage. He understood those hardships all too well.

"Fellow Daoist Ning, wait a moment."

After exchanging a few words with the heavily armored middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator beside him, Huang Changling suddenly called out to the three members of the Ning Family.

"If you are worried that the journey will be unsafe, this Bodyguard Pang from Heaven Guard Tower can provide you with protection, though you will need to pay a sum of spirit stones."

Huang Changling introduced him.

As the organizer of the auction, the Huang Family did not want the buyer of the Foundation Establishment Pill to suffer misfortune on the road either. It would be bad for the Marketplace's reputation.

"Could this be Heaven Guard Tower of Yellow Dragon Immortal City?"

The red-faced elder of the Ning Family looked at Bodyguard Pang in heavy armor and could not help but beam with delight.

Heaven Guard Tower was a fairly renowned escort organization in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, with a solid reputation and reliable conduct.

This organization specialized in protecting cultivators and had deep backing.

For instance, the Maple Leaf Huang Family had hired Heaven Guard Tower's bodyguards for safety when holding this auction.

With the auction over, Huang Changling simply introduced them to the Ning Family.

"Pay fifteen hundred spirit stones, Fellow Daoist Ning, and I will lead eight Qi Refining Late-Stage escort guards to escort you back to your lineage."

Bodyguard Pang was more than happy to pick up another job along the way, and his price was fair enough.

"Good, good! This old man will pay three hundred spirit stones first. The remainder will be given to Fellow Daoist when we return to the lineage."

The Ning Family's Old Ancestor, the middle-aged burly man behind him, and the beautiful woman in green all revealed delighted expressions.

With two Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, plus the prestige of Heaven Guard Tower, the journey back to their lineage would be much safer.

After reaching an agreement, the three Ning Family members swiftly flew out of Bamboo Leaf Mountain under the escort of Heaven Guard Tower's escort team.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

At the auction venue, the many cultivators scattered like birds and beasts, taking the opportunity to leave Bamboo Leaf Mountain.

"Changling, you have worked hard for this auction."

A plainly dressed man with a weathered air appeared behind Huang Changling. He looked to be in his thirties or forties, with several strands of gray mixed into his hair.

The plainly dressed man's cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"Uncle Tan, managing the Marketplace is my duty."

Huang Changling, who bore the appearance of a man in his seventies, answered respectfully.

The Huang Family had three Foundation Establishment cultivators. The strongest in both power and seniority was Huang Tankong, who was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

At this moment, Huang Tankong and Huang Changling stood atop a pavilion, watching the crowd depart from the auction.

"Given time..."

Overlooking the prosperous Marketplace below, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators felt a long-lost surge of ambition rise within them.

Just then, several miles beyond Bamboo Leaf Mountain.

"Bold robber cultivator—"

A sharp shout rang out, followed by the fluctuations of spell combat.

The powerful aura from clashing magical power had clearly reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Someone is fighting outside the Marketplace!"

"Could someone be trying to seize a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

The expressions of the two Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators sank, turning incomparably ugly.

So close to the Marketplace, and they were already impatient to murder for treasure. They simply did not regard the Huang Family at all.

If they wanted to fight, they could at least do it farther away.

On a plain five or six miles from the Marketplace.

The three Ning Family members were riding a Flying Boat, rapidly withdrawing under the escort of Bodyguard Pang and the others from Heaven Guard Tower.

Suddenly.

They sensed a powerful, baleful yin wind.

In the distant sky, dark clouds roiled.

A long-haired man emanating sinister energy stood upon Black Cloud Light, blocking a Flying Boat controlled by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Leave behind the Cold Moon Blade and Blood Spirit Pill, and Liang will spare your life!"

His icy voice carried an unquestionable tone.

"Bold robber cultivator! You dare intercept my Beast Taming Zhou Family?"

On the Flying Boat, a Foundation Establishment Middle-aged Scholar felt the Sha Qi and demonic might rushing at him head-on and could not help shouting furiously.

He was Zhou Jingxuan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Zhou Family.

"Uncle Jingxuan, this man is Liang Shaotian!"

The yellow-robed girl at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer behind him cried out in alarm.

The long-haired man wore a black robe patterned with clouds. His face was somewhat pale, his sword-like brows handsome and valiant, his nose high and straight. His narrow, sharp black eyes resembled a deep Cold Pool.

The moment her eyes met his black pupils, Zhou Qingxuan's mind shuddered, and she nearly collapsed.

"A mere Beast Taming Zhou Family, yet you do not know what is good for you!"

Liang Shaotian's black hair fluttered as his figure blurred.

In the next instant, two or three black wind shadows struck at the Middle-aged Scholar simultaneously.

Boom! Splat, splat!

Several enormous Black Astral Wind Blades, accompanied by the sizzling crackle of electric arcs, smashed violently against the space before the Middle-aged Scholar.

"Qingxuan, be careful!"

The Middle-aged Scholar was both shocked and enraged. He produced a black Inkstone, which swelled to several zhang in size as dark radiance burst forth, resembling a miniature mountain peak.

Yet beneath the ravages of the Black Wind Qi and electric arcs, this High-Grade Magic Item lasted only one or two breaths before its spiritual light dimmed and it shrank.

"Not good!"

The Middle-aged Scholar retreated in haste, condensed a layer of magical power shielding, then spat out a mouthful of blood essence onto the black Inkstone. Its aura rose by another measure, barely withstanding the first wave of attacks.

Under the gale-force shockwaves from the clash between Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Zhou Qingxuan's graceful body spun through the air. The Talisman barrier around her body shattered several times in succession, and she barely managed to evade the battle zone.

"Foundation Establishment seniors nearby, we are from the Beast Taming Zhou Family! Please save us!"

Pale-faced, Zhou Qingxuan anxiously called out for help.

"The Zhou Family is actually under attack!"

"It is that devil, Liang Shaotian!"

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had left the Marketplace were greatly startled.

Under the sweep of their divine senses, Zhou Jingxuan of the Zhou Family had been beaten until he was severely wounded and vomiting blood, on the verge of death at any moment.

"We are not the target! Retreat quickly—"

Bodyguard Pang of Heaven Guard Tower's expression turned stern.

"Yes, yes, go quickly!"

The Ning Family's Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor could not have wished for more.

They were carrying a Foundation Establishment Pill, a hot potato in their hands. How could they dare stir up further trouble?

The nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators avoided the scene as though it were a plague.

They feared that after Liang Shaotian killed Zhou Jingxuan, he would pursue and kill them next.

With a bang.

The Middle-aged Scholar Zhou Jingxuan fell from midair, dropping to his knees on the ground, barely clinging to life.

"Senior Liang, my uncle has offended you in many ways. Please show mercy. We are willing to offer the Cold Moon Blade and Blood Spirit Pill."

Zhou Qingxuan supported her uncle. Recalling certain rumors about Liang Shaotian, she pleaded sorrowfully and with utmost respect.

"Qingxuan, how can you yield to such a... Urgh!"

Before Zhou Jingxuan could finish, Zhou Qingxuan covered his mouth.

She removed one of Zhou Jingxuan's Storage Bags. With a lift of her slender hand, it drifted before Liang Shaotian.

"It is already too late to beg for mercy!"

Liang Shaotian accepted the Storage Bag, swept it with his divine sense, then coldly glanced at the severely wounded and weakened Zhou Jingxuan.

"Senior Liang, you are a great giant of the Demonic Path, magnanimous and generous."

Two trails of clear tears fell down Zhou Qingxuan's face. She was so pitiful that even the sight of her stirred sympathy.

"Sever one arm."

Liang Shaotian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression indifferent.

Squelch!

Without waiting for her uncle's consent, Zhou Qingxuan took out a Snow-Bright Silver Blade. With a raised hand and falling blade, she chopped off one of Zhou Jingxuan's arms.

"Ah..."

The Middle-aged Scholar fainted.

"Senior Liang, are you satisfied?"

Blood splashed across the girl's exquisite jade-like face, lending a touch of bewitching charm to her purity.

"Not bad, little girl!"

Liang Shaotian nodded and cast her an approving look.

With his hands behind his back, he stepped upon Black Cloud Light and prepared to leave.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At that moment, two Foundation Establishment auras rushed over from Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.

"Bold evil cultivator! You dare plunder near the Marketplace."

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Huang Tankong and Huang Changling, arrived by tearing through the air.

They might not necessarily intervene if other cultivators were attacked, but the Beast Taming Zhou Family was a force the Huang Family wished to curry favor with.

Still, they had arrived a little too late.

Liang Shaotian's strength exceeded their expectations, and he had ended the battle with ease.

This left the two who had rushed over feeling somewhat regretful.

"Seeking death! You dare meddle in Liang's affairs."

Liang Shaotian's black pupils contracted. He glanced at Huang Tankong, who was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and frowned slightly.

He took a deep breath and slowly spread open his palm.

Puff!

A ball of dark, ghostly demonic flame with twisted cold gleams sprang up in his palm, emanating a dangerous aura that could shock gods and ghosts.

"That is..."

The hearts of the two Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators pounded wildly as they sensed a fatal threat.

"Black Astral Demonic Flame!"

Huang Tankong cried out in horror.

"One of the ten True Fire Demonic Flames of the Great Qing Cultivation World!"

The nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators who were watching could not help but feel their scalps go numb.

"Changling, run!"

Huang Tankong shouted in panic, using an escape technique to flee at top speed toward the Marketplace.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had arrived so aggressively, retreated to Bamboo Leaf Mountain in a thoroughly miserable state.

They immediately activated the Second-Order Defensive Array.

"Hmph, hmph!"

Liang Shaotian's arrogance grew ever more rampant. Holding the Black Astral Demonic Flame in his hand, he pursued them to the array before Bamboo Leaf Mountain.

He stood proudly before the Marketplace as demonic qi and dark clouds churned.

The pressure alone left all the cultivators in the Marketplace struggling to breathe.

"Uncle Tan, can the array hold him off?"

"If the Black Astral Demonic Flame truly possesses the power spoken of in legend..."

Huang Tankong's voice was low, and his expression solemn.

From above, Liang Shaotian swept his gaze across the many cultivators in the Marketplace.

No one dared meet his eyes. They all lowered their heads.

During this time, he saw Lan Chang'an.

Lan Chang'an met his gaze, expressionless.

After looking at that ball of demonic flame, he even felt like laughing inside.

The entire Marketplace remained silent for a long while beneath the oppressive atmosphere.

Liang Shaotian suddenly put away the demonic flame. With his hands behind his back, he stepped on Black Cloud Light, his long hair flying as he headed toward the distant horizon.

"Senior Yan, today Liang will spare Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market from a bloodbath for your sake!"