Luoshan City (Seeking Collections, Recommendation Tickets, and Investments!)

Chapter 28: Luoshan City (Seeking Collection + Recommendation Tickets + Investment!)

Pei Ling agreed without much hesitation. He had just killed Li Siguan and two others yesterday, one of whom was a Qi Cultivation level five cultivator, so he wasn't particularly afraid of Zhang Zhongqin. The latter's desire to spar with him now was a perfect opportunity to test the strength of this group.

The others made some space. Zhang Zhongqin stretched his limbs and gestured for Pei Ling to attack with all his might.

"Senior Brother Zhang, please forgive me!" Pei Ling clasped his fists in a salute before slumping his shoulders and straightening his waist, throwing a punch at him.

Seeing that his punch was unadorned, clearly meant for testing, Zhang Zhongqin chuckled slightly. He neither dodged nor parried, instead puffing out his chest to receive it.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud echoed. Zhang Zhongqin's face paled then flushed red. He suddenly lifted his leg and kicked towards Pei Ling's knee.

Pei Ling didn't dare to take the hit head-on like Zhang Zhongqin. He quickly sidestepped to evade, but halfway through his dodge, Zhang Zhongqin abruptly changed direction. Pei Ling watched helplessly as he seemed to have walked right into the kick. Unable to continue dodging, he could only raise his right arm to block.

Boom!

Pei Ling felt an immense force surge from his right arm, involuntarily staggering back three steps.

Gaining the upper hand, Zhang Zhongqin pressed his attack, lunging forward and striking towards his chest with an open palm. In his haste, Pei Ling couldn't stabilize himself and hastily crossed his arms to protect his vital points. Unexpectedly, Zhang Zhongqin merely feinted, lightly tapping his arm with no force. Instead, he used the momentum to pivot, his footwork as agile as a swimming fish, and suddenly appeared behind him.

Pei Ling inwardly cursed his misfortune and quickly turned around, but it was too late. His back was struck by a punch! For a moment, he felt a tremor throughout his internal organs, a suffocating pressure in his chest, almost making him spit out a mouthful of blood.

His heart was filled with dread, but he remained calm despite his shock. Instead of retreating, he advanced, throwing a backhand punch towards Zhang Zhongqin's shoulder...

Neither of them used their full strength, and the space on the Yin Corpse Cloud was limited. They exchanged blows for a while, the sounds of ping pong ping pong filling the air. Pei Ling's lack of combat experience with cultivators was exposed without reservation, and he soon fell into a disadvantage. After enduring three or four direct hits, Zhang Zhongqin suddenly stopped and turned his face away.

Seeing this, Chen Huan called out in a low voice, "Let's stop here."

Pei Ling quickly bowed and thanked him, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Zhang!"

His heart felt a slight chill. Even in this brief exchange, where both sides held back, he could tell that although Zhang Zhongqin was also at Qi Cultivation level five like Miao Chengan, his strength was far greater than Miao Chengan's.

If one of the three yesterday had been Zhang Zhongqin, he would never have survived to be here.

Zhang Zhongqin turned his head and waved at Pei Ling without speaking. Chen Huan's mind stirred, and he gave Chen Mei a look. Chen Mei quickly stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother Pei, you were carrying a saber on your back, why didn't you use it just now?"

"It was just a spar, and Senior Brother Zhang didn't use any weapons either, so naturally, I couldn't," Pei Ling shook his head, carefully recalling the fight. His strength was actually comparable to Zhang Zhongqin's, but in the actual fight, he was completely disorganized and full of openings. Even if he had used his saber, he might not have truly won against him. This was the gap in combat experience.

"Senior Brother Zhang's cultivation is higher than yours, so of course, he doesn't need a weapon. My brother actually used a saber too. If we have time later, perhaps he can give you some pointers..." Chen Mei said with a smile.

While they were talking, Chen Huan quietly asked Zhang Zhongqin, "What's wrong?"

"..." Zhang Zhongqin didn't reply at first. He shifted his feet, using his body to block Pei Ling's view, and then quietly wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, muttering, "That kid's physique is a bit strange, much stronger than an ordinary Qi Cultivation level four! I wasn't careful just now and almost made a fool of myself."

Chen Huan was taken aback. Beside him, Huang Xian's face broke into a smile as he said, "Senior Brother Chen, congratulations, congratulations!"

"The same to you. If the Soul Summoning Banner is successfully refined, we'll be able to take on higher-paying missions in the future," Chen Huan was also overjoyed. He suppressed his excitement and promised in a low voice, "Then, it will be even more likely to enter the Inner Sect... Oh, right, I'll have to trouble Tasha to do it personally later."

Xiao Tasha looked at him with gentle eyes, "It is my duty to do my best for Senior Brother Chen."

After they finished their discussion, Chen Huan became even more enthusiastic towards Pei Ling, fussing over him and showing concern that he might be injured. He even gave him a Qi and Blood Pill for his recovery.

Pei Ling accepted it with immense gratitude but had no intention of taking it. Instead, he carefully stored it in his storage pouch.

This made Zhang Zhongqin feel a little suspicious, "Is this kid wary of us?"

"Let him be wary," Xiao Tasha sneered. "We're already here, does he think he can escape our grasp?"

Chen Huan said nothing, only instructing Chen Mei, "From now on, you talk to him more. You're both at Qi Cultivation level four, and you'll be doing missions together. It's only natural to get closer."

And so, from that day on, Chen Mei became exceptionally proactive towards Pei Ling, sharing almost everything she knew and recounting many interesting sect stories and experiences from missions.

However, although Pei Ling seemed grateful towards her, he showed no romantic interest.

It couldn't be helped. With such a huge debt of Spirit Stones weighing on him, how could Pei Ling have the mind to pay attention to Chen Mei's subtle advances?

Besides, with Fairy Li setting such a high standard, Chen Mei was simply not up to par...

In short, after confirming that Chen Mei and the others couldn't provide any ideas or value that would allow him to repay his fine within three months, Pei Ling was too busy racking his brains for solutions to even consider other trivial matters.

Her constant visits and chatter were simply hindering his efforts to find ways to earn Spirit Stones.

Pei Ling endured for several days. Finally, one day, the Yin Corpse Cloud slowly descended from the clouds. Moments later, they saw a city nestled among mountains beneath the thin mist.

"This is Luoshan City," Chen Mei followed Pei Ling as usual, introducing him softly. "The City Lord of Luoshan City was a disciple sent out twenty years ago. The three missions we've accepted this time are all related to him..."

"Senior Sister Chen, what is the cultivation level of the Flower Demon outside Luoshan City?" Pei Ling suddenly asked. Chen Huan taking this mission was mainly for his sister Chen Mei to practice, so it definitely wouldn't be too difficult. He asked this now just to be safe.

Chen Mei pursed her lips and smiled, "Don't worry, Junior Brother Pei. That Flower Demon is at Enlightenment level four, which corresponds to our Qi Cultivation level four. Although demonic beasts are generally stronger than cultivators of the same level before Foundation Establishment, we'll be fine working together."

To further reassure Pei Ling, she added, "You don't need to worry, Junior Brother Pei. My brother just wants us to gain some experience on this trip, so he won't accept overly difficult missions."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Chen," Pei Ling said. "When we deal with the Flower Demon, please take care of me, Senior Sister Chen."

Chen Mei looked at him with a smile, "You're too kind, Junior Brother Pei. Working together, there will be no problem at all!"

She gazed down at Luoshan City below and introduced a few more details about the local customs and culture, clearly having done her homework before arriving. At this moment, the Yin Corpse Cloud landed on a specially made high platform within the city and then quickly dissipated.