Star Sky Professional

Qinglin Square Market.

A somewhat chubby young man with an unremarkable face strode in.

This was none other than Fang Xing!

Ever since he had broken through to the Sinew and Bone Realm, Fang Xing found that he could even 'fine-tune' his physique, his weight fluctuating at will. He was sure that as his Sinews and Bones cultivation deepened, he would be able to change even his height and bone structure at will.

Therefore, he altered his appearance and stepped into the cultivator's market once again.

"Golden Spirit Fruits! Delicious Golden Spirit Fruits, only one Dan Sand each!"

"Selling talismans, all kinds of talismans, 30% cheaper than in shops!"

"Magic artifacts, they actually have magic artifacts!"

The market was bustling as always.

Fang Xing even saw a group of people gathered around a stall, eyeing the stall owner who exuded a fierce aura, clearly not someone to provoke easily.

Or rather, they were intently looking at a flying sword, a magic artifact, on his stall, their faces eager.

"Is this... a magic artifact?"

Fang Xing glanced over and saw a dark iron sword, only the length of a palm, with some traces of damage on its surface.

"Second-hand low-grade magic artifact 'Black Feather Sword'... only twenty spirit stones!"

The stall owner crossed his arms with a flicker of impatience on his face: "Beggars need not approach!"

Perhaps because of his advanced cultivation, people nearby sheepishly made space for him, not daring to make a fuss.

"Alas, what a pity, it's not a 'Blood Refining Magical Artifact'."

An Innate Martial Artist gazed at the black flying sword with a sigh.

Compared to talismans, magic artifacts required higher mastery to wield!

Even Innate Martial Artists weren't able to use low-grade magic artifacts.

Unless... it was a specially crafted 'Blood Refining Magical Artifact' that allowed warriors to activate it with their own True Qi or even Essence Blood.

"Although Blood Refining Magical Artifacts aren't very powerful, comparable only to ordinary low-grade magic artifacts, they are tricky to make and require rare materials... At least a hundred low-grade spirit stones to start, so stop dreaming."

Another cultivator sneered nearby.

Fang Xing watched the commotion for a while before going his own way.

After all, he couldn't afford it...

Green Pill Workshop.

The maid from last time was not there; this time, there was a woman in her twenties instead.

She was wearing a peach-colored daoist robe, cut just right, radiating a bright aura. Seeing Fang Xing, she smiled before speaking, "What can I do for you, sir?"

"Selling herbs!"

Fang Xing cut to the chase, presenting a white fruit.

This fruit was the size of a baby's fist, with a skin pattern akin to snake scales, and a faint fishy smell.

"Is this... Snake Orchid Fruit? This spiritual medicine is somewhat rare; I can offer two spirit stones for it."

The daoist-robed woman's eyes brightened, "May I ask how many you have?"

"Just two. They were obtained with a slim chance of survival..."

Fang Xing produced another Snake Orchid Fruit, speaking somewhat regretfully.

In reality, he had a whole box of them!

The place where they were picked was indeed dangerous, the dwelling of a giant serpent in the river, where several simulated birds had been swallowed!

From various signs, the giant serpent was stronger than the hog demon beast, seemingly more dangerous, and the herbs near its lair were likely rarer and more valuable.

His hunch was correct this time!

After obtaining four low-grade spirit stones, Fang Xing bought a bottle of 'Qi Blood Pills' and walked out of the Green Pill Workshop. Upon seeing the sign for the small talisman shop, he unconsciously entered: "Give me a Spirit Testing Talisman!"

"Perhaps... the talismans from this small talisman shop have issues."

"An isolated case is no proof; without trying several times, it's not safe!"

After leaving the small talisman shop, Fang Xing browsed around, planning to purchase another 'Spirit Testing Talisman' from a stall.

If the results were the same all three times, then he would have to resign himself to fate.

"Sir, would you like some Spirit Rice?"

As Fang Xing was searching for a talisman stall, a timid voice suddenly interjected nearby.

He turned his head and saw a Spirit Rice stall.

A young girl in red looked at him nervously, expectantly.

"Is this low-grade Spirit Rice?"

Fang Xing stepped forward, touched a handful of Spirit Rice, and asked casually.

This Spirit Rice was much larger than ordinary rice, carrying a scent of lotus leaves, its mere aroma inducing appetite.

"Yes, it's one Dan Sand per catty!"

The girl hurriedly put on a pleasing smile, "Many cultivators eat this regularly! It's said that if commoners eat it often, it may even help produce offspring with Spirit Roots."

"Oh? Then if I eat a lot of it, can I develop a Spirit Root myself?" Fang Xing showed interest.

"That's impossible! There has never been a case in the Cultivation World of someone developing Spirit Roots postnatally!" The girl shook her head repeatedly, as if it were common knowledge.

Fang Xing felt a bit disheartened, "Then I'm not buying, I'm not a cultivator, it's of no use to me!"

"Who says it's of no use? Powerful warriors also buy Spirit Rice to eat... it helps to increase Qi and blood, and since Spirit Rice is purely natural, it has no pill toxins!" The girl quickly explained.

"Pill toxins?"

Fang Xing stopped in his tracks.

"Yes, constant consumption of elixirs can lead to pill toxins. If they accumulate, they could harm the body, even affect potential, making cultivators stuck at bottlenecks, unable to make any progress... That's why those cultivators consume Spirit Rice for cultivation daily, and only at critical moments of a breakthrough, they take elixirs."

The girl added another point, "That's what my grandpa said."

Fang Xing found it interesting, feeling that the girl was somewhat naïve. He chatted with her for a few more sentences.

Only then did he learn that, although elixirs contained pill toxins, they were not a big issue for cultivators.

After all, many Loose Cultivators had already died stuck at their current realms.

Moreover, with the advancement of Cultivation Techniques and breakthroughs of Great Realms, there would be a process of transforming their sinews and purging their marrows, expelling some bodily toxins.

Additionally, the human body has its own purification function, and as long as the accumulation of pill toxins doesn't exceed a certain threshold, it's not a big deal.

"Thank you, young lady. I will buy... ten catties of Spirit Rice. By the way, what's your name?"

Fang Xing felt a bit embarrassed for taking advantage of her innocence and proactively took out spirit stones to pay.

"My name is Ding Hongxiu, and our Lotus Fragrance Spirit Rice is the best among the low-grade Spirit Rice!" Ding Hongxiu said, puffing out her little chest with pride.

"Heh, I'll remember that."

Fang Xing, with the bag of rice slung over his shoulder, waved goodbye and blended into the crowd.

Moments later.

"Hmm?"

After shopping around, Fang Xing managed to buy a "Spirit Testing Talisman" at a cheaper price and then noticed a medicinal herb stall. His eyes immediately focused.

The man running the stall was none other than the old man with the smoking pipe who had been following him before!

However, the old man clearly didn't recognize Fang Xing in his disguise.

"Just perfect, my power has broken through; it's time for revenge!"

Fang Xing thought for a moment, turned into a corner, and swiftly touched his face.

As his flesh writhed, his appearance changed back to the honest visage with pronounced facial features that he had used before!

"There's no need to confront that old man directly. Just letting him see me unintentionally will do..."

Fang Xing quickly devised a plan: "Martial Artists of this world only reach the peak at Innate. That old man is not a Cultivator, at most Innate... He might have some tricks up his sleeve, so I need to prepare a bit."

...

Several hours later.

Fang Xing casually left Qinglin Square and plunged into the wilderness.

Behind him, the old man with the smoking pipe squinted his eyes and followed closely.

"Hmm? He really followed me?"

Fang Xing kept a steady pace, leading the old man on, running for more than ten miles.

He activated his wristwatch and instantly saw surveillance from the bird-like drone in the sky.

"And... there's no one else nearby, no external assistance."

"Judging by his movement technique and speed, he's as he claimed, merely a Martial Artist... no deception..."

"With that being the case..."

Fang Xing pressed on his chest, and a silver-white Nano Protective Suit instantly enveloped his body, with an electric shock baton falling into his right hand.

"Hmm? Where is he? Did I let the prey slip away again?"

The old man broke into a thick forest and didn't find Fang Xing, a tinge of annoyance appearing on his face.

As a lowly participant in Qinglin Square, he had limited targets for robbery and murder.

It was rare to find such a suitable target, only to have them slip away twice; it was indeed somewhat...

At that moment, he twitched his ear, suddenly looked up.

He saw a sparrow-like bird perched on a tree branch, staring unblinkingly at him.

"Have I gotten old? Why do I feel threatened by a mere ordinary little bird?"

The old man lamented.

Back in his youth, he was an unmatched figure in the local martial arts world, almost like the Martial Arts Supreme.

If he hadn't foolishly followed an Immortal Master in pursuit of the Immortal Cultivation Method for mortals, he wouldn't have ended up in this godforsaken place, and even the Immortal Master he followed died, leaving him struggling to survive...

Pfft!

While the old man was lost in thought, the sparrow fluttered its wings and flew down.

It appeared to be clutching a talisman in its claws, with striking vermillion Dan Sand ink on it, emitting a dangerous aura.

"No, that's... a Fireball Talisman?!"

A Fireball Talisman!

One of the few talismans that ordinary people could activate simply by tearing them open.

But without the direction and pull of a Cultivator's mana, it was easy to harm oneself, so it didn't fetch a high price in the market—only one Low Grade Spirit Stone!

The next moment!

Boom!

A blaze of fire suddenly appeared, swallowing both the sparrow and the old man.

From a distance, Fang Xing watched the scene unfold, the corners of his mouth revealing a slight smile: "Non-contact combat, take note..."

With just one drone equipped with weapons, he could transform it into a terrifying harvester of lives!

Of course, the Blue Star Federation has strict weapons control.

But the Otherworld was different.

Here, Spirit Stones could buy anything! And they worried if the power wasn't threatening enough!

Fang Xing sold Snake Orchid Fruits and got four Low Grade Spirit Stones. He spent one on a Qi Blood Pill, one on a Spirit Testing Talisman, one on Lotus Fragrance Spirit Rice, and the last on a 'Fireball Talisman'!

Of course, he had two Spirit Testing Talismans on him, but he haggled the stall owner down to only seven grains of Dan Sand, covered by his previous savings.

"A drone plus a Fireball Talisman equals a flying bomb, without the risk of harming oneself... Hmm?"

Fang Xing took another glance and suddenly his gaze sharpened.

On the screen, as the flames dissipated, the disheveled figure of the old man appeared.

His hair and beard were somewhat scorched, yet his body was enveloped in a faint golden light.

The golden glow was extremely faint and after a second, it completely vanished...

"A First Rank Low Grade Defense Talisman—Golden Light Talisman? Inferior in defense power to the 'Golden Bell Shield Talisman'; is this your trump card?"

Fang Xing remotely commanded more drones to appear, as several birds carrying talismans flew towards the old man.

Seeing this, the old man was scared out of his wits and turned to run!

"It seems that was the only Defense Talisman he had..."

Fang Xing made his judgment and with a flash, darted into the dense forest.

The drones that appeared later were real, but the talismans were fake, merely crafted from yellow paper and red ink, but the old man didn't dare to look closely.

That he could bluff so much was already a good result.

"Damn it, I'm done for this time!"

The old man moved back rapidly, his face twisted with viciousness.

Then, he saw a silver-white figure emerge in front, with a black rod jabbing towards him.

"Ha!"

He raised his tobacco pipe in his hand to block the black rod's attack.

Crackle!

The next moment, a burst of silver-white lightning suddenly shot out from the tip of the rod, striking towards his face!

"Ah, let's die together!"

The old man's face conveyed acceptance of his fate as he pressed a mechanism on his tobacco pipe, from which a Poison Needle shot out, swift as a snake's tongue, sinisterly deadly!

This was a Hidden Weapon he had inadvertently acquired in the secular martial arts world, named 'Absolute Heaven Needle', ranked first among the martial arts world's hidden weapons!

Ding!

A pitch-black Poison Needle was blocked by the Nano Suit, falling to the ground, and the surrounding vegetation quickly began to wither.

Subsequently, the old man's charred corpse was flung out and landed on the ground...