Ninth In the World

For the average Qi cultivator, if used frugally, 400 to 500 Spirit Stones would last several years.

Di Jiu, Geng Jihua, and the Tiny Treant used up more than half of it in just five days.

Di Jiu had attained the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm before, so his cultivation level was restored to the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm in just five days. By the time Di Jiu attained the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm, Geng Jihua had already attained the second-stage Qi Refinement realm. The Tiny Treant was the slowest at cultivating.

It was not good at absorbing Spirit Stones, so its cultivation could not be compared to Di Jiu’s or Geng Jihua’s. Without the abundant Spirit Qi, its cultivation speed would have been even slower.

Bang! The defensive restriction outside Di Jiu’s door was attacked. Shocked, Di Jiu woke up and stood up suddenly, making too many abrupt movements. Geng Jihua and the Tiny Treant stopped practising as well.

“Brother Jiu, what happened?” Geng Ji had been very engrossed in cultivating. If it had not been for this incident, he would have kept practising until there was no Spirit Qi left or his hunger became unbearable.

“Someone attacked our defensive restriction,” Di Jiu said with a frown.

“Ah...” Geng Jihua was also shocked. He actually seemed to have very little confidence. After three days of classes, he had basically understood the truth about cultivation.

What cultivators hated the most was when their cultivation was suddenly disrupted by someone. This made them feel the same kind of hatred that they’d feel if someone murdered their parents. If it was done for no reason, then it would definitely result in bloodshed.

Boom! A direct attack crushed against Di Jiu’s Defense Array.

Bang! The Defense Array broke open and two people appeared at the door to Di Jiu’s room. Di Jiu realized that the second attack had hit the core of his Defense Array. It seemed like the guy who had attacked was also proficient in array formation.

“I am here to rest and practise. I hold no grudges against you two. What is the meaning of this?” Di Jiu held Ouyang Tao’s long saber in his hand.

Geng Jihua, who was only at the second-stage Qi Refinement realm, had not cultivated any techniques, so Di Jiu did not expect him to help.

“My name is Qi Shao and I come from the Qi Family’s Commercial Building in Marsh Ocean Town. I think you must know why I attacked your Defense Array. I knocked on the restriction several times, yet you did not respond.” Before Qi Shao had attacked Di Jiu’s Defense Array, he had already inquired about the situation.

Two outer sect cultivators had just arrived, one who was at the fourth-stage Qi Refinement realm and one with no cultivation experience. It seemed like Di Jiu had attained the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm, while Geng Jihua had attained the second-stage Qi Refinement realm. The latter’s realm was still somewhat unstable.

“Hey, tree spirit...” Although Di Jiu did not speak, when Qi Shao saw the Tiny Treant behind him, his eyes immediately filled with a fiery glow.

An ancient tree spirit, even one with a master, was invaluable.

“Ha ha! You stole it. I was wondering where the tree spirit that the Qi Family’s Commercial Building put in the Marsh Ocean Forest had gone. It was stolen by you two!” Although Qi Shao laughed, the surprise in his eyes couldn’t be erased.

The fellow from the Itinerant Cultivator Guild, who noticed that a lot of onlookers had gathered around, quickly said loudly, “These two guests have been using a Spirit Gathering Array that has affected other people in this building. All I wanted was to warn them. I never expected that they would dare steal the tree spirit of the Qi Family’s Commercial Building. Mister Qi found his way here and knocked on the restriction on the door, but to no avail... In the end, he had to attack the restriction. The tree spirit is here indeed.”

Di Jiu had arranged the Defense Array and blocked the building so that if someone knocked from outside, he wouldn’t hear it.

Breaking his Defense Array was a serious offense and a big reason to hold a grudge.

“You’d better come with me to the Qi Family’s Commercial Building now and make things clear. Otherwise, I will attack you now.” As Qi Shao spoke, he released an aura. The Tiny Treant was fine, as this was not the first time it encountered such a situation. Geng Jihua, however, took several steps back.

“Your family has a commercial building?” Di Jiu suddenly asked an irrelevant question.

Yan Shao laughed again. “You are right. My family’s business is a commercial building...”

As he laughed loudly, Yan Shao opened his palms to reveal the axe in his hand. The axe blade exuded a murderous killing intent that made one’s skin crawl.

Qi Shao was really proud of the fact that he was not like the rest of his family, who only cultivated from the comforts of their homes. However, most of his strength came from fighting in the Marsh Ocean Forest. Although he had guards, when he was not in danger, he did most of the killings himself.

He didn’t need an axe to deal with Di Jiu, who was only at the mid-stage Qi Refinement realm. He just took out the axe to threaten him.

Di Jiu, who seemed to be scared of Qi Shao’s axe, quickly reached out and stopped Qi Shao. “Don’t start a fight here. We will go to the commercial building with you.”

Yan Shao nodded in satisfaction. “That’s not a bad idea. Let’s get acquainted with each other.”

Di Jiu smiled. “What are you waiting for then? Lead the way.”

When he heard his words, Qi Shao looked at Di Jiu in surprise. He was convinced that Di Jiu had only attained the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm, so there was no danger. Thus, he just snorted and turned away.

The cultivator behind Qi Shao stared at Di Jiu and Geng Jihua until they took the Tiny Treant and followed him. The cultivator was the last to start walking.

Suddenly, there was a hush in the crowd. Everyone knew that Di Jiu would disappear if he went there. Some cultivators who fought often in the Marsh Ocean Town shook their heads. In their opinion, Di Jiu did not know that he would be facing his impending death.

The Qi Family’s Commercial Building had a strong influence in the Marsh Ocean Town. As long as one didn’t offend them or expose their dharma treasure, the Qi Family’s Commercial Building would normally not come after them.

...

As Di Jiu led Geng Jihua and the Tiny Treant into the commercial building, his eyes lit up.

Although he did not care about the board outside the Qi Family’s Commercial Building, the inside of the building was like a treasure vault.

There were elixirs, cultivation techniques, dharma treasures, medicinal herbs, spiritual herbs...

When Di Jiu’s mental power swept the second floor, he found out that the items on that floor were even better. However, there were no experts there, not even a foundational expert. The person with the highest cultivation level was Qi Shao, who was walking in front of him. Di Jiu believed that Qi Shao had to be at the Peak Qi Refinement Realm. If he did not practise the Galaxy Manual, Di Jiu was not sure whether he would have been a worthy opponent of Qi Shao. However, he now instinctively felt that Qi Shao was no match for him.

“Let’s go to the third floor and talk about this.” As Qi Shao turned back and smiled at Di Jiu, his tone softened.

“I need to talk to the person in charge of the Foundation Establishment or some other senior,” Di Jiu said indifferently.

He knew that Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation were two different concepts. Even though he cultivated the Galaxy Manual and his body formed a galaxy during cultivation, compared to a foundational expert, his cultivation level was nothing to boast about.

“Ha ha ha...” Qi Shao laughed again. “Don’t even mention the Foundation Establishment. If you wish to speak to an Elixir expert, I have a few here...”

Di Jiu’s heart sank. Before he could speak, Qi Shao added, “You just have to wait here for a while. I have two experts that can talk to you.”

When he heard that the Foundation expert was not there, Di Jiu felt inexplicably relieved. He was sure that the Elixir experts were not there either. If they had been, his mental strength would have already sensed them.

“Come on.” When he realized that Di Jiu was not about to move, Yan Shao rushed forward once again.

“All the guests must leave the commercial building immediately,” Di Jiu said suddenly. “Mister Qi says that it will be closed soon. Anyone who does not go out will be killed...”

While Di Jiu was talking, the long saber in his hand slashed out. He suddenly missed his kitchen knife immensely. If it had been in his hands, his strength would have been at least one level higher.

When the cultivators in the commercial building heard his threat and saw Di Jiu and Qi Shao, they did not dare stay there any longer. They all rushed out of the business building in a flash. When some cultivators rushing to the door saw Di Jiu actually attack Qi Shao, they sped out.

Everyone knew about the Qi Family’s Commercial Building in the Marsh Ocean Town.

“Do you have a death wish?” Yan Shao reacted. How dare Di Jiu actually chase people out of the Qi Family’s Commercial Building?

Before he could even attack him, he felt a deadly threat.

Qi Shao had completed a cycle of Qi Refinement, so he knew instantly that Di Jiu was planning a sly attack. He was suddenly really angry at him. He had just attained the fifth-stage Qi Refinement realm, yet he had actually dared sneak an attack on him inside the Qi Family’s Commercial Building.

Di Jiu did not wait for Qi Shao to take out his axe. His Saber Qi immediately turned into a terrifying saber that slashed down. Di Jiu’s first strike was the fourth saber move, which was also called the Wind-Rustling Move.

Bang! Even though Qi Shao’s reaction was fast, the two Saber Qi that evolved from the saber flare pierced his waist, causing a spray of blood to spurt out.

Di Jiu’s heart filled with shock. The other man’s reaction had been fast enough that he was not killed by the sneak attack.

“If I don’t destroy you completely, I shall ask the Qi Family to disown me.” Qi Shao whipped out his huge axe. Ignoring his own injuries, he stared at Di Jiu as he pronounced each word clearly.