Mutual Scheming

"Two Lightning Spirit Talismans, and show me all your other Spirit Talismans, both offensive and defensive," Lu Xiaotian said.

The white-haired old man complied, taking out all the Spirit Talismans in his shop and displaying them before Lu Xiaotian.

Earth Shield Talisman, Rocket Talisman, Golden Cone Talisman, Wind Blade Talisman.

Lu Xiaotian selected some of each, totaling one hundred and ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"That's all. Give me a price, and if it's agreeable, I'll pay the Spirit Stones immediately. If not, I'll move on to the next shop," Lu Xiaotian said, taking out a heavy bag of Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag.

"How about this: one hundred and five Spirit Stones. Consider it a gesture of friendship," the white-haired old man's eyes lit up. Due to his age, he had been unable to break through to the late Qi Refining Stage and had no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. This was why he had come to manage his family's Spirit Talisman shop. He had been here for over a decade, and customers like this were few and far between. Even cultivators at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage rarely had over a hundred Spirit Stones to spend at once. Someone who spent all their Spirit Stones on consumable Spirit Talismans was either from an extremely wealthy family or a complete fool.

To venture out of the city into the Moon Gazing Mountain Range to find Spiritual Materials, acquire healing Pills, or cultivation Pills, to repair Spiritual Artifacts after perilous journeys in the Moon Gazing Mountain Range, and to improve Spell proficiency – all of it required Spirit Stones.

"Let's be direct. Forget the tail, one hundred Spirit Stones," Lu Xiaotian said.

"This is too little. Our shop doesn't make much profit on individual Spirit Talismans. One hundred Spirit Stones is really not feasible. Young friend, please add a little more," the white-haired old man said with a pained expression.

"Although I've conceded some profit, the large quantity makes this my final offer. Consider it," Lu Xiaotian said firmly.

"Very well. Young friend, please be sure to visit our shop next time you buy Spirit Talismans." After much back and forth, the white-haired old man finally relented. Although he had conceded some profit, the shop would still net over twenty Spirit Stones from this transaction, which was more than they usually made in several days. It was a good deal.

Lu Xiaotian was pleasantly surprised that it had actually worked out. He had originally prepared to spend a few more Spirit Stones. Being able to save them now was thanks to Luo Qing's reminder; otherwise, he would have needlessly spent more Spirit Stones, which would have been painful.

As Lu Xiaotian walked out of the Spirit Talisman shop, the sky over Moon Gazing City had already darkened. However, the streets were brightly lit, and the crowds of people coming and going were still numerous.

Perhaps, like many people in the city tonight, he would have to endure a sleepless night. A sharp glint flashed in Lu Xiaotian's eyes as he hurried back to the inn.

He closed the door and sat on the wooden bed. Lu Xiaotian hesitated for a moment before taking out a Jade Box and consuming the Purple Spirit Grass within. The potent Spiritual Power surged through his meridians like before. However, now that he was at the second level of Qi Refining, his meridians and Dantian could accommodate much more Spiritual Power than before, and the pain was significantly less than when he was at the first level.

"Spiritual Power, haha, it's finally here! I've waited so long," the Black Robe Old Man's Primordial Spirit roared with joy from within the Green Fruit Barrier. Although this Spiritual Power was extremely weak for an Old Monster at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, it was still better than nothing.

"Good Disciple, come out quickly, or I'll consume all the Spiritual Power myself."

"You wouldn't dare! If you eat any more, don't expect to get even a shred of Spiritual Power next time," Lu Xiaotian shouted angrily through the barrier.

"I just want you to come out and talk. I've been stuck in this wretched place for a year; it's so boring," the Black Robe Old Man chuckled.

"What is there to talk about? Hurry up, I'll leave after I absorb the Spiritual Power," Lu Xiaotian said, sounding as impatient as ever towards the Black Robe Old Man. Although the mist barrier protected him, Lu Xiaotian didn't fully understand it. Every time he traded with the Black Robe Old Man, Lu Xiaotian would make him consume the Spiritual Power and then move far away, to avoid the annoyance of watching him.

The Black Robe Old Man didn't mind and greedily devoured the wisps of ethereal energy drifting in the air. The Purple Spirit Grass had produced twelve wisps of ethereal energy. The Black Robe Old Man consumed six and licked his lips, still unsatisfied. "Alright, I'm leaving. Your turn."

With that, the Black Robe Old Man's Primordial Spirit flew away into the distance. Although there was mist within the barrier, the Black Robe Old Man's gloomy Primordial Spirit was quite clear. Each time, he would carefully observe his surroundings first. After confirming that the Black Robe Old Man had flown far away, Lu Xiaotian would consume the Spiritual Power.

As usual, after repeatedly observing his surroundings, Lu Xiaotian entered the barrier. However, not long after passing through the barrier, Lu Xiaotian's pupils constricted. The patches of disturbed soil on the ground seemed unusual; several lines looked like freshly turned earth. If he hadn't been extremely wary of the Black Robe Old Man and taken numerous precautions, he wouldn't have noticed. Lu Xiaotian sneered inwardly. Perhaps the Black Robe Old Man was harboring ill intentions, but he wasn't entirely unprepared.

He swallowed the ethereal energy as usual. When he reached the third wisp, a whoosh suddenly sounded from beneath the ground. Lu Xiaotian's heart tightened. As expected, there was something fishy.

Whoosh! Several curtains of fire erupted from the ground simultaneously, lunging towards Lu Xiaotian's Primordial Spirit. Lu Xiaotian was startled and, not daring to let the fire curtains engulf him, quickly retreated to evade. He had only flown a few feet when a sinister cackle rang out. The Black Robe Old Man's Primordial Spirit emerged from underground, and another curtain of fire, like a blazing wall of fire, rose from the ground, connecting with the previous ones to form an enclosed space. Surrounded by raging flames, Lu Xiaotian was trapped and felt an unbearable heat.

"Kid, you didn't expect this, did you? I've spent over a year meticulously setting up this trap. I've seen your mist barrier; it requires drawing in the surrounding mist to form. Now that it's blocked by my Spirit Fire, let's see what else you can do," the Black Robe Old Man said menacingly, his face contorted with malice. "You've trapped me here for over a year, and you think you're so clever. Either you hand over the method to get out now, or I'll extract your soul and strip your essence, making you wish you were dead!"

"You... it's a dead end anyway. Even if you kill me, you won't get the method to escape!" Lu Xiaotian's will moved, and the defensive mist barrier that always appeared previously could not form. The mist was blocked by the Spirit Fire and held back outside.

"Even if I don't kill you, you won't tell me the way out. My Lifespan is limited, and if I can't get out soon, I'll have no hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. This is more terrifying to me than death. Therefore, I have no choice. You'd best not test my patience. Reveal the method to get out, and I promise to let you live. Otherwise, even if I can never get out, I will kill you," the Black Robe Old Man said fiercely, his tone resolute.

Escape! Without a word, Lu Xiaotian fled into the distance.

"It seems you've chosen to suffer first before dying. You can't escape." The Black Robe Old Man became enraged, furious that Lu Xiaotian was being so stubborn. This only forced him to use his final resort. After meticulously planning for over a year, how could he let Lu Xiaotian escape?

"Water Ball Technique!"

A water ball flew from behind him. Lu Xiaotian was surprised why the Black Robe Old Man would use such a non-lethal spell. The water ball would explode into water, not burn the Primordial Spirit like a small fireball. However, the cunning Black Robe Old Man, having schemed for so long, would surely not do anything meaningless. Since he used the Water Ball Technique, it must have a purpose.

Now in a desperate situation, it was time to confront this old fellow. Lu Xiaotian sneered. The Black Robe Old Man had schemed for so long, and he had even thought of digging a tunnel underground to attack him from below. How insidious!

"Earth Shield Talisman!"

"Lightning Spirit Talisman!"

"Fireball Talisman!"

Suddenly, an Earth Shield appeared in front of Lu Xiaotian.

Bang! The Water Ball Technique exploded, scattering into countless tiny droplets. Most of them hit the Earth Shield, while a few occasionally flew over the top and fell onto Lu Xiaotian's Primordial Spirit.

A faint electric current made Lu Xiaotian's Primordial Spirit tremble, and a slight numbness spread throughout his body.

As expected, there was something amiss. The Black Robe Old Man had mixed a trace of Lightning Spell into the Water Ball Technique. Although cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage could cast all basic spells, and he could use Lightning Element spells, the ability to fuse two spells so skillfully, the mental fortitude and control displayed, sent a chill down Lu Xiaotian's spine.

If he hadn't brought Spirit Talismans this time and had the Earth Shield to block, even with his utmost caution, he would have fallen into the Black Robe Old Man's trap. Fortunately, only one or two drops had hit his Primordial Spirit, causing a slight numbness but not affecting his movements. If a large amount of water had hit him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

While Lu Xiaotian was astonished by the Black Robe Old Man's cunning, the Black Robe Old Man could only describe his mood as utterly shocked.

As soon as Lu Xiaotian summoned the Earth Shield Talisman, he sensed something was wrong, followed by a wave of Lightning Spell aura washing over him. The Black Robe Old Man was startled. The two spells were almost seamless, but his cultivation and reaction capabilities were still no match for Lu Xiaotian, a novice cultivator who had only recently begun cultivating.

"Earth Wall Technique!" Out of fear of the Lightning Element spells, the Black Robe Old Man directly condensed a thick Earth Wall with his Method Power to block in front of him.

Chik chik! A lightning pillar as thick as a wrist struck the Earth Wall, sending shards of earth flying. The Earth Wall was quickly broken by the powerful lightning pillar. The Black Robe Old Man's body went numb. If he had been prepared, with his current cultivation at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, the Earth Wall he condensed would not have been so easily broken by a basic Lightning Spirit Talisman. This kid Lu Xiaotian had hidden his true strength too deeply; he had been completely deceived. He had initially thought Lu Xiaotian was simply relying on his own cultivation, perhaps having a Spirit Beast like a leopard and obtaining his Shadow Ants, but was incapable of casting spells, and his Spirit Beasts couldn't be brought into this mysterious space.

However, the Black Robe Old Man never imagined that Lu Xiaotian had not only learned spells but also prepared over a hundred Spirit Talismans for him.

Activating a Spirit Talisman only required a trace of Spiritual Power, with no need for extensive preparation. This was why the Black Robe Old Man had been caught off guard.

The Black Robe Old Man's Primordial Spirit was also numbed by the residual lightning power. Although not fatal, it had significantly slowed his movements.

Boom! A Fireball Technique exploded not far away. The Black Robe Old Man's Earth Shield had only been half-formed when it was blown apart. His Primordial Spirit let out a scream and was sent flying several yards back.

"Water Arrow Talisman!"

"Golden Spear Talisman!"

"Earth Spear Talisman!"

Seeing his sneak attack succeed, Lu Xiaotian immediately pressed his advantage, unleashing Spirit Talismans one after another.

Under the barrage of numerous Low-grade Spirit Talismans, the Black Robe Old Man struggled to cope, desperately defending himself while feeling incredibly frustrated. If he had his Magic Tool Flying Sword in hand, he could have dealt with Lu Xiaotian with a single strike. Alternatively, with that defensive umbrella Spiritual Artifact, he could have remained safe and sound. What angered the Black Robe Old Man even more was that Lu Xiaotian not only attacked him with Spirit Talismans but also occasionally hurled a few Spirit Talismans at the fire curtain. The Black Robe Old Man was instantly startled. If his Spirit Fire cage were breached and the mist were to enter, forming an endless defensive mist shield, then all hope would be lost for him.