Chapter 28: Taking Stock of the Harvest

What appeared before Li Chang’an was a skeleton sitting in a meditative pose.

In front of the skeleton was a stone table, and on it lay a Storage Pouch.

’That Storage Pouch must be the fated opportunity.’

Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he stared at the Storage Pouch.

He remained cautious and didn’t act immediately. After all, the gruesome fate of Xu Fugui and his group was still fresh in his mind.

To be on the safe side, he sent the Puppet forward to retrieve the Storage Pouch.

The entire process went smoothly, without any mishaps.

Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your gift, Senior."

He cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute toward the skeleton.

"Senior, your inheritance would only gather dust here. I am taking it to ensure it is carried on and glorified."

With that said, he had the Puppet erase the restriction on the Storage Pouch.

Upon opening the pouch and looking inside, a smile spread across Li Chang’an’s face.

’This Senior’s fortune is truly immense.’

There were over a thousand Spirit Stones in the pouch!

There were also plenty of Elixir Pills.

They included Tier One Low Grade, Middle Grade, and even Top Grade Elixir Pills.

’Something’s not right. Why are there so many Poison Pills?’

Li Chang’an was a little surprised.

With a flick of his will, he took out a bottle of Elixir Pills.

This was the "Bone-Eroding Pill," a Tier One Top Grade Poison Pill. It was extremely toxic and incredibly expensive.

There were quite a few similar pills in the Storage Pouch.

’A normal Cultivator would typically only buy Elixir Pills that aid their cultivation, restore Magical Power, or are for Healing. They would never spend Spirit Stones on so many Poison Pills.’

Li Chang’an glanced at the skeleton, a strange look in his eyes.

He already had a good idea about the senior’s identity.

He continued to search through the Storage Pouch.

Before long, he discovered a Jade Scroll.

Li Chang’an took it out and gave it a quick scan.

’A Tier One Top Grade Talismanic Inheritance!’

A look of delight appeared on Li Chang’an’s face.

He had obtained the inheritance!

For now, he wouldn’t have to worry about the future of his Talisman Art.

Then, he discovered a second Jade Scroll in the Storage Pouch.

This Jade Scroll didn’t contain an inheritance, but rather, a final message.

Holding the Jade Scroll, Li Chang’an listened to the entire message.

’This senior really was a Tribulation Cultivator.’

The contents of the message confirmed his earlier suspicions.

The master of this grotto-heaven was publicly a Tier One Top Grade talisman master, but secretly, he was a Tribulation Cultivator.

’A bit like Wu Yun, being both a Talisman Master and a Tribulation Cultivator to earn double the money,’ Li Chang’an thought to himself.

With such an identity, he should have left behind more resources in his Storage Pouch.

But...

The grotto-heaven’s master had traded most of his resources for Treasures needed to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm.

He failed.

He suffered a backlash and was severely wounded.

He had used the last of his strength to come here and leave behind his inheritance and final message.

The message clearly stated that he hoped a Tribulation Cultivator would be the one to obtain his inheritance.

’He hoped a Tribulation Cultivator would obtain his inheritance?’

Li Chang’an glanced at the skeleton again, an even stranger look in his eyes.

This fated opportunity was truly meant for Wang Da and Wang Er.

However, Li Chang’an had intercepted it halfway!

’This just proves their fate wasn’t strong enough.’

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, fate ultimately depends on strength.

The stronger you are, the stronger your fate.

Li Chang’an put down the Jade Scroll and continued to look through the other Treasures in the Storage Pouch.

There were two Magical Artifacts.

Both were Tier One Top Grade Magical Artifacts.

They were the "Shadowless Net" and the "Ghost Soul Needle."

Both Magical Artifacts were suited for sneak attacks—one to trap an enemy, and the other to kill them.

There were also over a dozen books on Cultivation Techniques and Magic.

One of them, in particular, caught Li Chang’an’s interest.

’This "Thousand Faces Divine Skill" is interesting. Once learned, I can change my aura at will. No one can detect it unless they are a Major Realm higher than me.’

This kind of Magic was exactly what Li Chang’an needed most right now.

Once he mastered it, he could disguise himself as someone else.

He carefully looked through the Thousand Faces Divine Skill, resolving to master it no matter what.

Afterward, Li Chang’an continued to inspect the Storage Pouch.

The remaining items were mostly miscellaneous junk of little value.

’This time, my greatest gains are the Talismanic Inheritance and the Thousand Faces Divine Skill.’

Having finished taking inventory, Li Chang’an was very satisfied and put the Storage Pouch away.

With a casual wave of his hand, he tossed the two brothers, Wang Da and Wang Er, out of his Spirit Beast Bag.

He had already taken their Storage Pouches.

The fated opportunity was also his.

They were basically worthless to him now.

Wang Da glanced at the scene inside the grotto-heaven, and his face instantly turned ashen.

"Li Chang’an, you’ve already obtained the fated opportunity?"

"Yes."

Li Chang’an replied nonchalantly.

Wang Da and Wang Er exchanged a look. Their eyes held indignation, but more than that, anxiety.

The shadow of death now loomed over them.

"Li Chang’an, if you promise not to kill us, I’m willing to offer you a priceless Treasure!" Wang Da said, gritting his teeth.

Li Chang’an was slightly puzzled.

"I have both of your Storage Pouches. What other Treasure could you possibly have?"

"That Treasure is too valuable! We hid it in a secret location!"

"Besides the two of us, no one else in the world knows where it is," Wang Er chimed in hurriedly, as if grasping at a final straw.

"Oh? Tell me more."

Li Chang’an’s interest was piqued.

"No! You must swear an oath first!"

Wang Da insisted, refusing to back down.

He stared at Li Chang’an and said, word by word, "You must swear on your Dao Heart that you won’t kill me!"

"And after I swear the oath, you’ll tell me where this Treasure is?"

"That’s right!"

Wang Da nodded and added, "Otherwise, even if you kill me, I’ll never..."

SHING!

A cold light suddenly flashed.

Wang Da’s body shuddered. Before he could finish his sentence, he froze completely.

A thin bloodline appeared on his neck.

"You... Why did you..."

Wang Da’s mouth hung open, his face filled with disbelief.

He had thought he’d piqued Li Chang’an’s interest and could trade the Treasure for a chance to live.

But he never expected Li Chang’an to be so decisive.

He had disregarded the Treasure entirely and killed him on the spot!

THUD!

Wang Da died with his eyes wide open, his head tumbling to the ground.

It rolled a few times before coming to a stop at the feet of his younger brother, Wang Er.

Wang Er’s face turned deathly pale.

"Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!"

He shrieked, his heart filled with absolute terror.

If even a Treasure couldn’t sway Li Chang’an, what hope did he have of survival?

At this moment, despair filled his heart.

But then, Li Chang’an put away his Cyan Wood Sword and smiled at him.

"I’m not a fan of killing. Just tell me where the Treasure is, and I can promise to let you live."

"R-Really?"

Wang Er was stunned for a moment, thinking he must have misheard.

Li Chang’an nodded.

"Don’t worry. I’m not a Tribulation Cultivator. I’m a man of my word."

Hearing this, Wang Er was overcome with surprise and joy.

He felt as if he had just been pulled back from the brink of death.

Fearing that Li Chang’an would change his mind, he said hurriedly,

"We hid the Treasure underground in a manor. The manor isn’t far from here."

"Good. Lead the way!"