Chapter 248: Road to Calamity

Ling Shuai made this decision because he had carefully considered his options.

Although leaving Wang Hong now wouldn't put Ling Xue in any danger, he could find another Spirit Meal Master and Alchemist elsewhere. However, finding someone with both skills and expertise like Wang Hong would be a challenge. Ling Shuai wouldn't risk his precious daughter's safety by experimenting with someone new, so he decided to stick with Wang Hong for a more secure path.

"Ling Daoist Friend, in Azure Void City, I have two establishments. How about you join one of my stores?" Wang Hong suggested. After collaborating for so long, having Ling Shuai oversee one of his stores in Azure Void City and potentially attracting another Foundation Building expert would be beneficial.

"As long as Wang Daoist Friend doesn't mind, that would be the best option," Ling Shuai replied, realizing that Wang Hong had more assets than he initially thought.

Ling Shuai was more than willing to accept this arrangement. It would provide him with a stable income and, most importantly, create a safe environment for Ling Xue to grow up in. Guarding a shop was a relatively secure occupation compared to their previous life of constant danger and battles.

So, Ling Shuai readily agreed. After bidding farewell to Wang Hong, he informed Wen Lan of the decision and left.

Ten days later, a group of ten cultivators departed from Boundary City and headed toward the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.

Since Jin'an City had fallen, their journey required them to traverse an area occupied by Demonic Beasts. As a result, most of the cultivators opted to travel in groups for safety.

Wang Hong was part of this group of ten, with two of them belonging to Qingxu Sect as disciples, while the remaining eight consisted of sect disciples and loose cultivators.

Wang Hong had known the two Qingxu Sect disciples for several years in Boundary City, although they weren't particularly close. Among the other eight, a few were familiar with Wang Hong because they had either requested pills from him or heard about his reputation.

As they ventured through the Demonic Beast-infested region, several cultivators enthusiastically helped Wang Hong eliminate Demonic Beasts. They were more than willing to establish a friendly relationship with a second-tier Alchemist.

Consequently, Wang Hong hardly had to lift a finger during their journey through the Demonic Beast territory.

Once they successfully passed through this dangerous area, they were almost back in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.

"Wang Daoist Friend, we will part ways in another thirty to forty miles. If you ever need anything in the future, just send word," a jovial loose cultivator said.

"I'll be leaving in fifty miles as well. Wang Daoist Friend, it was a pleasure meeting you. If you ever require assistance, don't hesitate to ask," another cultivator added.

Throughout the journey, several cultivators engaged in friendly conversations with Wang Hong, forging connections.

Suddenly, above their heads, a long streak of light shot across the sky. It resembled a shooting star, radiating a sandy yellow glow and swiftly passing overhead.

Seeing this type of flight, the group recognized it as a Golden Core cultivator's transportation technique—an entity they dared not offend. Everyone became cautious, and their breathing slowed.

Just as the streak of light was about to disappear from their sight, it unexpectedly halted and, after a few breaths, turned back. It returned to the front of the group and came to a stop once more.

The streak of light dissipated, revealing the figure within.

The stranger was clad in a python-patterned robe, tall and slender, and wore a mask that concealed their face.

"Heh heh! You must be Wang Hong, right?" the man in the python robe pointed at Wang Hong and asked.

"That's correct, may I know what brings you here, senior?" Wang Hong took a few steps forward and respectfully inquired.

"Well, I heard you came across some Jade Marrow Mushrooms. How about you show them to me for appraisal?" The man in the python robe chuckled, but his gaze remained chilling, sending shivers down Wang Hong's spine.

Wang Hong knew that, facing a Golden Core cultivator, his modest strength was utterly insufficient.

The other nine Foundation Building cultivators discreetly moved back, maintaining a certain distance from Wang Hong. They didn't want to risk getting involved in this situation, preferring to keep a low profile. Offending a Golden Core senior could lead to dire consequences.

Reluctantly, Wang Hong retrieved a flowerpot from his storage bag. Inside it, a vibrant Jade Marrow Mushroom was flourishing.

Before Wang Hong could react, the man in the python robe used his Spiritual Power to take the flowerpot from him.

"Indeed, it's only around five hundred years old," the Golden Core cultivator remarked. He had heard about the Jade Marrow Mushroom when he was in Boundary City. Whether there were older specimens or not, he wanted to examine it personally.

Back in Boundary City, with over a dozen Golden Core cultivators around, he couldn't act openly. In this stroke of luck, he encountered this group on his way back from an errand and realized that Wang Hong was among them.

The man in the python robe carefully examined the flowerpot before casually stashing it into his own Storage Bag.

Though it was only a five-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom, in the hands of a Golden Core cultivator, it held some value. Moreover, it was already well-cultivated, and with a few hundred more years, it could become a healing treasure.

After securing the Jade Marrow Mushroom, the Golden Core cultivator extended his hand towards Wang Hong, who suddenly felt a tremendous force. Before he could react, his own Storage Bag hanging from his waist flew out and landed in the man's hand.

The Golden Core cultivator thoroughly searched Wang Hong's Storage Bag but found no trace of the eight-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom he desired. He concluded that Wang Hong didn't possess it, as he knew that Wang Hong had come from Boundary City and would have carried valuable items if he had them.

The man in the python robe seemed somewhat disappointed as he collected Wang Hong's Storage Bag. Then, he reached out to the others and collected their Storage Bags as well.

Since he had already committed to this robbery while concealing his identity, he decided to go all the way. Although it was somewhat embarrassing for a Golden Core cultivator to rob younger Foundation Building cultivators, he maintained his anonymity.

The Foundation Building cultivators, now stripped of their entire wealth, felt deeply disheartened. They hung their heads low and suppressed their dissatisfaction, not daring to show even a hint of resentment.

This Golden Core cultivator, despite resorting to robbery, refrained from taking lives. After collecting all the Storage Bags, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay