Once the Wang Family's Qi Refining cultivator finished speaking, everyone immediately understood what had happened.
They had all been duped by the Wang Family.
Although everyone wore a mask and could not see one another's expressions, they could feel one another's fury.
"Hmph! How dare you trot out these low-tier Qi Refining cultivation methods to fool us!"
One cultivator snorted coldly, immediately sparking an uproar among the others.
"Exactly! You clearly said we were going to the Immortal City's Secret Arts Pavilion. How did that turn into your Wang Family's Secret Arts Pavilion?"
"A hundred spirit stones to pick one low-tier cultivation method? What a fine scheme you've cooked up!"
"You've gone too far!"
"Fuck your mother! Give us our spirit stones back!"
Low-tier cultivation methods like the Golden Sword Art and Eternal Spring Art were a dime a dozen in the cultivation world. One spirit stone could buy several pounds of them.
As long as you had a sweet tongue and were willing to offer a few pleasing words, plenty of cultivators would not mind giving them to you for free.
Li Ping's Golden Sword Art, for instance, had been a free gift from Daoist Ji.
In the cultivators' eyes, the Wang Family's attempt to trade such things for their hundred spirit stones made them beasts among beasts.
The cultivators kept clamoring, demanding an explanation from the Wang Family's Qi Refining cultivator. Li Ping's expression was grim as well. He had considered the risks of this trip, including the possibility that the Immortal City's higher-ups might discover it afterward and launch a sweeping hunt for those involved.
But he had never expected... that the entire affair was a scam laid by the Wang Family. They had never intended to take them to the Immortal City's Secret Arts Pavilion to choose secret arts!
They had coveted a bargain, hoping to save a few spirit stones, but the Wang Family had its sights on their principal!
That Wang Family Foundation Establishment cultivator, a supposedly distinguished cultivator of Azure Dragon Mountain at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, actually threw away all shame for spirit stones! Li Ping seethed.
Had any other cultivator, even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, claimed they could take him into the Immortal City's Secret Arts Pavilion, he would never have believed them.
But the Wang Family's Foundation Establishment cultivator was himself responsible for guarding the Immortal City's Secret Arts Pavilion. With the Immortal City's credibility behind him, he had exploited Li Ping's weakness for a bargain and actually swindled him!
He felt much like "Wu Dalang, after discovering he had been cuckolded, running off to smash Ximen Qing's windows to vent his anger, only for the stone to hit the wall, bounce back, and split his own head open."
The pleasure of secretly undermining someone else was gone. All Li Ping had left was stifled resentment.
This is infuriating! Those fucking Azure Dragon Mountain cultivators-not one of them is any good!
"Where's your Wang Family Ancestor? The elder won't show his face, so he's sending a junior out to take the heat?"
"Tell your patriarch to come out!"
Just as the situation threatened to spiral out of control, suddenly-
"Ahem..."
Several authoritative coughs sounded from the pavilion's second floor. Then the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage spread down from upstairs, instantly blanketing the first floor and enveloping all twelve figures, Li Ping included.
An aged voice drifted down with the sound of footsteps. "Heh heh... From what I hear, you gentlemen intend to steal secret arts from the Secret Arts Pavilion belonging to our Azure Dragon Mountain lineage?"
Everyone's vision blurred for an instant, and a figure was already standing before them.
He was a stern-looking cultivator dressed in golden robes, every strand of his hair neatly combed, his two eyebrows sharp as swords.
He descended the stairs, sweeping his gaze over everyone present like a hawk inspecting its prey. Without another word, relying solely on his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage pressure and his imposing presence, he successfully brought the situation under control.
However, while a Foundation Establishment cultivator could suppress lower-tier cultivators with pressure alone, he could not suppress someone at the same realm.
A wave of pressure slightly weaker than the Wang Family Ancestor's surged from a black-robed cultivator standing among the crowd. He snorted and sneered, "Hmph! Trying to cow us with the Azure Dragon Mountain lineage? Do you think I grew up being frightened into submission? If you have the guts, let's go before Windmist True Person right now and see how he deals with this!"
A peculiar gleam flashed through the Wang Family Ancestor's eyes. He smiled. "So there's a fellow Foundation Establishment cultivator here as well? Please, my friend, remain calm."
In truth, the situation was like striking a wolf with a hemp stalk-both sides were afraid.
Naturally, the Wang Family Ancestor did not dare confront them before Windmist True Person. If Windmist True Person learned that he was doing this sort of thing and tarnishing the Azure Dragon Mountain lineage's reputation, he would never let him off.
And what about Li Ping and the others?
Were they supposed to tell Windmist True Person, "I came to steal from your household, but your servant didn't play fair, so I failed. You have to uphold justice for me!"
Hearing what sounded like a concession from the Wang Family Ancestor, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spoken was also unwilling to stir up further trouble. "Hmph! Enough nonsense. Refund my spirit stones, and we'll leave today's matter at that!"
"Do you no longer want a cultivation method, my friend?" The Wang Family Ancestor shook his head, feigning surprise. "Although my Wang Family's Secret Arts Pavilion cannot compare with the Immortal City's, its collection was painstakingly gathered by generations of our cultivators. For just a hundred spirit stones, each of you may choose any one cultivation method. That is quite a bargain for you."
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had stepped forward made no effort to hide his scorn. "Tch... This pile of trash?"
The Wang Family Ancestor feigned sudden understanding. "Of course not. You must have misunderstood, my friend. The first floor holds low-tier cultivation methods prepared for the juniors. The true essence of our Wang Family's Secret Arts Pavilion is on the second floor. If you wish, you may go upstairs and choose a high-tier cultivation method to take away!"
"If any of you do not wish to go upstairs to choose a cultivation method, I can authorize a refund of your spirit stones right now, and we can treat tonight's affair as though it never happened." Having said that, he swept his gaze over the crowd. "But let me make the unpleasant part clear first: once you have seen the cultivation methods upstairs, you cannot ask for your spirit stones back."
One cultivator asked skeptically, "There are high-tier cultivation methods upstairs?"
The Wang Family Ancestor smiled and nodded. "Of course! The second floor holds more than ten high-tier cultivation methods collected by generations of Wang Family cultivators. If you go up and find no cultivation methods there, I will refund your spirit stones immediately, without another word."
Hearing the Wang Family Ancestor's words, the cultivators immediately hesitated.
If, as the Wang Family Ancestor claimed, the second floor really held more than ten high-tier cultivation methods...
Then being able to choose one for just a hundred spirit stones would certainly be an incredible bargain.
But having already been cheated once, the cultivators now distrusted the Wang Family deep down.
Finally, after a moment's hesitation...
One cultivator took the lead and headed toward the second floor. "Hmph! If there aren't more than ten high-tier cultivation methods, you must refund my spirit stones."
The Wang Family Ancestor smiled and nodded. "Naturally. No problem."
With someone taking the lead, several more cultivators headed upstairs one after another. Soon, only Li Ping and the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had mocked the Wang Family Ancestor remained on the first floor.
"Heh... Let's see what tricks you're playing!" That Foundation Establishment cultivator snorted coldly and headed upstairs as well.
That left only Li Ping downstairs. The Wang Family Ancestor's gaze settled on him. "Won't you go up and take a look, my friend?"
Since I'm already here, I might as well take a look! Curious himself, Li Ping stepped toward the stairs.