MTLNOVEL Chapter 172 Foundation Establishment Against Golden Core, The Advantage is Mine
Supreme Star.
"What's going on?"
Master Ouyang's brows furrowed, her phoenix eyes almost vertical in anger.
A month had passed, yet Meng Yu's counterattack had not come.
With the help of a few enthusiastic friends, she had even staged a vulnerability: a First-Order Minor World with a plethora of the Ouyang Family's industries. As long as Meng Yu went there, the prearranged Formation would not only block spatial shifting (or so she thought) but also force Meng Yu to start over. There was even a Golden Core Master with a deep grudge against Meng Yu who had suppressed his Cultivation and was hiding there, ready to deliver a fatal blow to Meng Yu.
But, Meng Yu never showed up!
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She believed she was upholding justice, but who didn't know of her past actions?
The Heavenly Delicate Lady had always had it easy, fawning over important people and fiercely competing for benefits. Her reputation was even worse than that of Hall Master Zhao—at least Hall Master Zhao sent his daughter to the front lines.
More than a month had passed, and Meng Yu had not returned to Changdong Minor World. Yet, his presence loomed over the Ouyang Family like a sharp knife. The partners of the First-Order Minor World all suggested, "This isn't a breach of contract on our part. Could you please resolve your own issues first?" And in the Second- and Third-Order Minor Worlds, many businesses were ruined because they also had substantial industries in the First-Order Minor World.
Those families and such didn't care about financial losses, but being attacked by Meng Yu was a huge humiliation. Many even asked in bewilderment, "What are you fussing with Meng Yu for? He's not even afraid of giants like Star Industrial Company; who are you to pick a fight with him?"
And after an entire month, you still think you've done nothing wrong?
Right, you think that by holding up the Son of Heavenly Way's plans, he will have to come begging to you, or take the risk out of necessity?
But have you considered who Meng Yu is?
If he cared about his own future, he would never have defected from the Immortal Sect!
Master Ouyang was extremely irritated yet felt immensely troubled.
...
The flowers and plants in the villa had been rearranged, bursting with life, but what delighted Bai Qianqian even more were the various items she had bought from the marketplace.
Although she hadn't bought any Third-Grade weapons.
All the Third- and even Fourth-Rank weapons she saw were historic collections, not merchandise a single shop would have such an abundance of.
The Immortal Sect's Free Shopping events happened sporadically, and the merchants were very cautious.
Typically, Second-Order Minor Worlds sold First-Order Weapons, and Third-Order Minor Worlds catered mainly to Foundation Building and Golden Core Stage weapons and Magical Treasures. "Sorry, perhaps you could make a reservation or why not visit us at Supreme Star or our headquarters?" they suggested.
Her notion that she could just bring some Spirit Stones and get a Golden Core weapon for each of her sisters, and buy two more for herself, was impossible.
However, securing several Second-Order Weapons made her ecstatic.
The Golden Light Bamboo Staff, nurtured in the cold pools of the Southern Sea, unusually durable with an offensive and defensive golden glow.
The Thick Earth Wall, blocking out the sky and sun, solid and heavy, unmatched in defense.
The Nine Nether True Water Ring, worn on the body, accelerates the cultivation speed for Cold System Techniques, or can be placed in water to create a spring.
The weapons Bai Qianqian chose were not for aggression but auxiliary Magical Treasures that could strengthen the Mountain Protection Array of the Moon-Watching Sect.
"Do you think they will trade the Four Seas Glazed Vase with us?"
Bai Qianqian asked this question.
The Four Seas Glazed Vase was a very special Third-Grade Magical Treasure. It wasn't particularly effective in combat, but it could store a large amount of Spiritual Spring to aid the cultivation of martial skills, making it a trash product among Third-Grade Magical Treasures. However, Bai Qianqian knew an obscure use—to employ the vase as the focal point of a Formation. In doing so, the defense capability of the Moon-Watching Sect's Nine Curves Black Water Formation could increase by thirty percent, significantly reducing the consumption of Spirit Stones.
"No, they won't, because your acting...is simply too good,"
Meng Yu spread his hands helplessly.
There's an old saying: watching a tree stump waiting for rabbits. On their shopping expedition, the girl's innocence, clarity, naivety, and love for him, coupled with her cautious and non-confrontational demeanor, made it clear she was not from a major family.
Alright then...
"They're not delivering?"
"We've already paid a fifty percent deposit; of course they will... swallow the deposit, and then come after us. Even if they bring the Four Seas Glazed Vase for the exchange, they're prepared to commit murder and theft, but what exactly they're planning..."
As they were discussing, suddenly someone came to the villa and knocked on the door.
Through the Water Mirror Technique, Meng Yu saw who it was and frowned.
Two people came in, a man and a woman. The man was Mid-Level Foundation Building, and the young girl, with a face like an apricot blossom, was thirty-seven years old. Meng Yu knew she had achieved Foundation Establishment four years ago and was from the same generation as Zhuge Caihua.
On paper, they could easily overpower both Meng Yu and Bai Qianqian.
After all, these two youngsters were still at Qi Refinement.
"May I ask what brings you here?"
Meng Yu and Bai Qianqian's identities, unverified by customs, could not withstand scrutiny, let alone the large amount of items they had secretly acquired.
"We're from the Inspection Office, and we'd like to discuss some matters with you two,"
Their demeanor was courteous, even towards two young Qi Refinement cultivators.
They then presented some cases of deception and surprise attacks during transactions, cautioning that the two were potentially in danger and it would be best to hire a security company or stay out of sight for a while.
"You two, you've sneaked in here without registration. It's best to complete the registration, okay?"
The male cultivator spoke very calmly.
By sheer chance, they discovered an issue and reported it to Master Taohua. After viewing the video footage of the young man and woman, particularly the girl who looked timid and scared, hiding behind the boy, yet with an expression that was infinitely complex, Master Taohua sighed deeply.
The man looked like a bad seed at a glance, but the woman truly evoked pity.
Let's help them out.
"You see, Master Taohua is actually very good. She's strict yet fair with her subordinates and ensures they abide by laws. If we were on another planet, we might encounter corruption and collusion with officials. They would've already taken us down, and then we would just disappear without a trace."
Meng Yu laughed. It was the first time he took Bai Qianqian on a business trip, so naturally, he chose a planet with the lowest difficulty. However, they failed despite following the approach Bai Qianqian had devised.
"You two..."
The expressions of the man and woman changed slightly. Was this man discussing their ancestor with such calm and composure?
"Thank you for the reminder, but this is a legitimate transaction. Would you mind not interfering? We really don't want to hurt anyone," Meng Yu said, seeming somewhat embarrassed.
"We're just passing through Peach Blossom Star and wanted to buy some stuff. Now that you're here, please help us with the purchase," Bai Qianqian added, tossing a bag of spirit stones in front of the couple, along with a list and a wine bottle.
The list included the names of six second-order weapons and armors, and the bag of spirit stones was more than enough to procure them. Inside the jade bottle was a fine wine brewed by a flower demon, just perfect for Master Taohua to taste.
"Right, I have medium-grade spirit stones here, but I just wonder whether or not Madam Taohua has any third-grade magical treasures?" Bai Qianqian asked calmly, this time referring to Master Taohua as Madam Taohua.
This immediately made the male and female cultivators' attitude even more submissive.
It's disgraceful to insult a Golden Core. Even for someone as open-minded as Master Taohua, such direct naming was not to be taken lightly.
The only people who could refer to her in such a manner were either her very close friends or other female Golden Core masters.
And yet this young girl dared to call Master Taohua in such a way?
"Please keep this a secret and report directly to Madam Taohua that we're just passing through with no ill intentions," Bai Qianqian's voice wasn't very loud, perhaps even a bit weak, but the two, who had some arrogance when they entered, were now extremely respectful. They had tried to probe the cultivation of the other party but found it as unfathomable as a tall mountain or the deep sea.
"Go ahead."
Bai Qianqian dropped her disguise, revealing the oppressive aura of a Golden Core.
The two again bowed deeply to Meng Yu, full of reverence. Although they didn't know how advanced Meng Yu's cultivation was, the fact that he could captivate a Golden Core female cultivator was like Master Taohua guiding someone...
Their hearts went out to the Ouyang Family's shop, feeling that they were about to face misfortune. What was the purpose of these two Golden Core masters pretending to be pigs to eat tigers?
Could it be...
The two shook their heads, not daring to think further.
Of course, they hadn't considered Meng Yu because everyone outside believed that his Void Shifting couldn't carry others.
...
"We checked, there's no record of their entry."
"They're both at the Qi Refinement stage, the man at the sixth layer and the girl at the ninth layer."
"They have quite a few spirit stones on them, and they might even have medium-grade spirit stones."
On the other side, the three Foundation Building cultivators from Baisheng Lodge had already made up their minds.
Whether antique shops, pawnshops, or magical treasure stores, those in charge often engaged in underhanded dealings, and it was common for them to kill and wipe out witnesses when encountering some precious treasures.
This time, they had come across a man and woman using a large number of spirit stones to purchase magical treasures, even offering half of the stones upfront to buy the Four Seas Glazed Vase. What did this indicate?
They were either a couple eloping or, if lucky, had stumbled upon an inheritance left by a predecessor.
Such a ripe target, it would be a sin not to take advantage!
All three of them were at the Foundation Building High Stage, accumulating resources for Core Formation. So they were tempted, and the young girl was indeed very enticing.
Moreover, everyone was pleased that Master Taohua, that disagreeable woman, had no inkling of this matter!
"Let's do it today, the sooner the better," they agreed as they inspected the villa's surroundings and confirmed there was no ambush. On a night with a dark moon and howling wind, three Foundation Building experts carefully brought various weapons and magical treasures and charged into the villa.
These weapons and magical treasures were not intended for the two at the Qi Refinement stage but to guard against betrayal by comrades.
The three Foundation Builders versus two at the Qi Refinement stage—the advantage was theirs, with zero doubts about success. They even refrained from leaving a lookout, fearing that others might take all for themselves.