Purchasing Dharma Artifacts

"Senior Brother Lin?"

Seeing Lin Zihao suddenly block his path, Zhao Huaian could not help frowning.

He had never felt much goodwill toward Lin Zihao. If anything, he found him somewhat repulsive.

Back when this man had dragged him to Chen Feiyu to borrow money, he had never made it clear that failing to repay the debt would get him sent off to test medicine.

And testing medicine was absolutely a nine-deaths-and-one-life affair.

For the sake of earning that paltry referral fee, Lin Zihao had harbored such vicious intentions. How could Zhao Huaian possibly like him?

But considering that Lin Zihao possessed Qi Refining Layer Six cultivation, Zhao Huaian was not in a position to offend him too deeply. He merely nodded and said, "I sold some high-year medicinal herbs from the mortal world, then borrowed bits and pieces from others. Little by little, I paid off the debt."

"So that's how it was... Junior Brother Zhao truly is lucky!"

Upon hearing Zhao Huaian's words, Lin Zihao's teeth itched with hatred, though his face wore a smile that did not reach his eyes.

He had originally thought he could borrow Chen Feiyu's knife to kill someone, yet Zhao Huaian had somehow been lucky enough to repay a loan of two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones within three months.

Damn it!

Absolutely damn it!

"Indeed, I was lucky! If Senior Brother Lin has nothing else, then this junior brother will be leaving first!"

Zhao Huaian gave a false laugh.

Without waiting for Lin Zihao's reply, he strode away.

"To hell with attacking strategies!"

"Since I can't kill with a borrowed knife, I'll just have to do it myself!"

"Otherwise, if I let you keep growing, I'm afraid I'll never have another chance to avenge my hatred."

Watching Zhao Huaian's departing back, murderous light flickered in Lin Zihao's eyes, and the false smile on his face turned cold.

He had not expected Zhao Huaian's talent to be so good that, in merely a year, he had risen to Qi Refining Layer Four.

If he were allowed to continue cultivating, his strength would only grow greater and greater.

Besides, Zhao Huaian had probably already understood the sinister intentions behind his luring him into taking out that loan.

That being the case, this boy could not be allowed to live.

He had to be eliminated quickly—not only to avenge his hatred, but also to uproot future trouble once and for all.

"A year has passed, and you've appeared at the Mission Hall again. You must have accepted a mission and be preparing to head out, right?"

A cold smile curled across Lin Zihao's lips.

He had carefully calculated the time. It had now been exactly a year since Zhao Huaian entered the Greenwood Sect.

Since Zhao Huaian had appeared at the Mission Hall now, he must have accepted a mission and been preparing to leave.

And this was precisely the opportunity he needed.

Though mutual killing was forbidden within the Greenwood Sect, once outside...

Hehe...

After all, during missions, it was hardly uncommon for one or two disciples to die.

With that thought, a fierce glint flashed through Lin Zihao's eyes as he strode into the Mission Hall.

Greenwood Market, West Street.

Zhao Huaian wandered among the stalls, preparing to buy items that could increase his strength.

Though these three missions were all fairly simple, Zhao Huaian naturally did not dare let down his guard.

Therefore, he had to arm himself to the teeth, greatly ensuring his own safety and preventing any accidents.

What was more, Lin Zihao's attitude today had sounded a warning bell for Zhao Huaian.

He and Lin Zihao had merely met by chance.

Yet when they suddenly encountered each other today, Zhao Huaian was perfectly fine, while Lin Zihao had appeared extremely shocked—almost unable to believe it.

His words had even, at one point, suggested that he thought Zhao Huaian was already dead?

Was that simply because he had never believed Zhao Huaian could repay two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones?

Perhaps that was part of it, but it was not the whole reason!

Because beyond the surprise, Zhao Huaian had keenly sensed a trace of killing intent and resentment in Lin Zihao's expression.

That was rather abnormal.

Zhao Huaian remembered that he had never offended Lin Zihao. They had only met once by chance before, when they went to borrow money from Chen Feiyu.

"What exactly made him develop killing intent toward me..."

Zhao Huaian furrowed his brow tightly, pondering as he continued browsing the stalls.

Suddenly, Zhao Huaian could not help recalling the warning Liu Bohu had given him more than half a year ago.

Back then, he had gone to Chen Feiyu at the Alchemy Hall to borrow Spirit Stones on Lin Zihao's recommendation.

Then, almost immediately afterward, Liu Bohu had told him that someone was specifically inquiring about his whereabouts and information.

He had not thought much of it at the time, but now that he connected everything together, Zhao Huaian suddenly understood.

At last, he knew where that trace of killing intent had come from. From the very beginning, Lin Zihao had set his sights on him.

Starting with the loan, Lin Zihao had wanted to borrow a knife to kill, to send him to his death.

It was only that Lin Zihao had never expected him to be capable of repaying the loan within three months—and to still be living so freely to this day.

Now that Lin Zihao knew he was still alive, he surely would not let the matter rest. He would find some other way to make another move against him.

Most likely during this trip outside to carry out a mission. Perhaps Lin Zihao was even following him from the shadows right now.

As for the reason...

Zhao Huaian did not know, and it was no longer important.

All he knew was that Lin Zihao wanted to kill him.

Those who kill shall be killed!

Since Lin Zihao wanted to make a move against him, he would not sit still and wait for death.

Perhaps he could take this opportunity to completely remove Lin Zihao, this hidden threat.

"Come, then. Let's see how my current strength compares to yours!"

Thinking of his Qi Refining Layer Five cultivation, his many Grandmaster-level spells, and the large number of Spirit Talismans in his Storage Bag, a sense of security rose within Zhao Huaian.

But this still was not enough!

Zhao Huaian's thoughtful gaze swiftly swept across the stalls.

He still had several hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones on hand and intended to use this opportunity to buy a Dharma Artifact.

If he possessed a Dharma Artifact, his combat strength would surely rise greatly, giving him a few more chances of victory against Lin Zihao, who could strike at him at any moment.

With that in mind, Zhao Huaian browsed the stalls one by one.

There were quite a few stalls selling Dharma Artifacts on West Street, but most of them were damaged or incomplete artifacts.

Such artifacts were not particularly expensive for him.

However, Zhao Huaian was in no hurry.

He still had time. If he could not find a suitable Dharma Artifact among the stalls on West Street, he would go to East Street.

After all, East Street had many businesses, including three or four pavilions that sold Dharma Artifacts.

The prices there might be a little higher, but there would definitely be Dharma Artifacts suited to him—and powerful ones at that.

As he browsed through stall after stall, Zhao Huaian suddenly came to a stop before one of them.

This stall was filled with Dharma Artifacts.

What drew Zhao Huaian's attention most was a set of Silver Needles laid inside a Wooden Box.

The Silver Needles in the Wooden Box emanated a faint trace of Spiritual Energy. They were clearly a Dharma Artifact, and their grade was not low either.

"Junior Brother, have you seen anything you like?"

Seemingly noticing Zhao Huaian's gaze, the brawny stall owner smiled and warmly called out to him.

Zhao Huaian nodded and crouched down, carefully examining the various Dharma Artifacts at the stall.

Rather than directly picking up the Silver Needles in the Wooden Box to ask about them, he deliberately inquired about the features and prices of several other Dharma Artifacts first.

"Senior Brother, how much is this low-grade Dharma Artifact Flying Sword?"

After asking about the prices several times in succession, Zhao Huaian picked up a low-grade Dharma Artifact Flying Sword and asked.

This low-grade Dharma Artifact Flying Sword was quite intact and of good quality, and Zhao Huaian was somewhat tempted.

If the price was right, he might as well buy it together with that box of Silver Needles, further strengthening his own power.