The Outer Sect market of the Profound Heaven Sect was easily ten times larger than the small market Lin Feng had frequented before. Streets crisscrossed, shops lined the avenues, and the flow of people was dense and bustling. The air was thick with the mixed scents of pills, talismans, and spirit materials.
Lin Feng wore a clean, grey disciple robe and a wide-brimmed hat that obscured most of his face. His purpose was clear: purchase some special or mutated spirit plant seeds in preparation for the Hundred Herbs Garden trials, while discreetly selling a small amount of his self-produced "Jade Marrow Rice" and high-quality Spirit Gathering Grass for spirit stones.
Inside an old shop named "Spirit Seed Studio," Lin Feng's gaze was drawn to an inconspicuous brown root tuber on a corner shelf. It resembled old ginger, its skin cracked and dry, utterly unremarkable. Yet, the system within him gave a faint tremor.
[Detected faint vitality: Suspected damaged/mutated "Blood Jade Ginseng" seed embryo. Contains trace Blood Qi and Plant Essence.]
Blood Jade Ginseng? Lin Feng's heart jolted. This was the primary ingredient for the top-tier Foundation Establishment pill, the "Blood Jade Pill," extremely rare! He approached casually, pointing at the tuber and asking the old man with a goatee behind the counter: "Shopkeeper, what is the price for this?"
The old man lifted his eyelids lazily. "Oh, that? Dug up in the mountains. Looks a bit like ginseng, but its spirit energy is weak and carries some unclean, baleful qi. Take it as a throw-in for one low-grade spirit stone."
"I'll take it," Lin Feng paid promptly. Just as he picked up the root to leave, a voice tinged with arrogance rang out:
"Hold it! That thing, this young master has taken a fancy to it!"
Lin Feng turned. Three youths dressed in Inner Sect disciple robes blocked the entrance. The leader, around twenty years old, had a haughty face and a condescending gaze. A jade-inlaid sword hung at his waist, and his aura was unmistakably at the peak of Qi Refining Level Seven! The two behind him, at Qi Refining Level Six, stood with arms crossed, smirks on their faces.
The haughty youth, Li Wei, swept his gaze over the brown root in Lin Feng's hand, then over his plain attire. A disdainful curl appeared on his lips. "Kid, be smart. Hand over that rotten tree root you're holding, and whatever's in your storage pouch. Save yourself a beating." He clearly saw Lin Feng as easy prey.
Tension instantly filled the shop. The shopkeeper shrank back, not daring to speak.
Lin Feng's eyes turned cold beneath his hat, his expression unreadable. His voice remained calm. "Forced buying and selling within the market? Are you not afraid of the Enforcement Squad?"
"Enforcement Squad?" Li Wei scoffed as if hearing the world's biggest joke. "My cousin is a squad leader in the Enforcement Squad! Dealing with an ignorant Outer Sect mud-legged trash like you is as easy as crushing an ant! Last chance. Hand it over, or not?" He took a step forward, unleashing his peak Qi Refining Level Seven spiritual pressure without restraint!
Lin Feng's body sank slightly, but he stood straight. He tightened his grip on the root tuber, his internal spiritual energy stirring silently, connecting with several iron-hard mutated pea seeds hidden in his sleeve (Explosive Peas). Fight? They were numerous and stronger. Don't fight? The trouble would be endless.
Just as the standoff reached its peak, a clear, melodious voice, like jade striking jade, came from outside the shop, carrying a subtle, undeniable authority:
"Li Wei. Bullying others with your influence again?"
Everyone turned. Standing in the shop entrance, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere, was a young woman in a moon-white gown patterned with cloud motifs. Her figure was graceful, her face breathtakingly beautiful, her skin like snow, her eyebrows like painted ink. Her eyes were clear and bright, seeming to contain boundless vitality. Her aura was ethereal and aloof, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley. Yet, her mere presence seemed to quiet the noisy market. Most striking was the faint, vital green aura shimmering around her – the unmistakable manifestation of the Wood Spirit Physique, where plant-based spiritual energy reached an extreme concentration!
Li Wei paled upon seeing her. His arrogance vanished instantly, replaced by flustered awe. He hastily bowed, his voice stammering. "S-Su... Senior Sister Su! Y-you... what brings you here?"
Senior Sister Su? Lin Feng's mind stirred. Could she be... Su Muqing?
Su Muqing's gaze swept coolly over Li Wei and his companions, finally settling on Lin Feng. A flicker of surprise, almost imperceptible, passed through her clear eyes – likely at seeing Lin Feng stand so steadily under Li Wei's pressure. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the unremarkable brown root tuber in Lin Feng's hand, her finely drawn brows lifting ever so slightly.
"Scram." The single word left her cherry lips. Soft-spoken, yet carrying unquestionable authority.
Li Wei and his cronies reacted as if pardoned. Sweating profusely, they scrambled out of the shop and vanished into the crowd.
Su Muqing's gaze returned to the root in Lin Feng's hand. Her cool voice held a note of inquiry: "Junior Brother, might I take a look at that item in your hand?"