Chapter 140: The Soul Banner Stirs, the Wind and Clouds Change

"Two thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!"

Li Chang’an ignored Luo Baitong’s warnings and placed another bid.

As his voice fell, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Many people turned to look at him, their eyes filled with confusion.

They simply couldn’t understand.

Where did a mere Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator like Li Chang’an get the nerve to compete with the Blood and Fire Three Brothers for a Treasure?

Those three brothers.

Even the weakest among them was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and could kill him with ease!

"Li Fan, are you tired of living, kid?"

"Treasures are nice, but you have to be alive to enjoy them. Stop competing with those three!"

A few people who knew him as Li Fan spoke up, trying to dissuade him.

But Li Chang’an was unmoved.

Not far away, the gazes of the Blood and Fire Three Brothers were terrifying, as if they wanted to eat him alive.

But the Black Market had its rules. No fighting was allowed here. Otherwise, both parties would be punished by the Black Market, and severe violations could result in being killed on the spot.

"Two thousand eight hundred!"

The leader of the Blood and Fire Three Brothers bid again, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage.

Li Chang’an, however, calmly stated his price.

"Two thousand nine hundred!"

Seeing his demeanor, the people who had been trying to warn him gave up.

Instead, they all moved a little farther away from him.

Although the rules forbade fighting, they were afraid the three brothers would lose their tempers.

"Let’s go, let’s go, get some distance. I don’t want to get splattered with this kid’s blood."

A moment later, only Luo Baitong remained by Li Chang’an’s side.

He looked anxious as he glanced at the Blood and Fire Three Brothers, seemingly sending them a Sound Transmission.

He had some reputation in this Black Market, and most Tribulation Cultivators would give him some face.

But the trio’s anger did not subside.

His reputation wasn’t enough to quell their intense killing intent.

In the end, Luo Baitong could only sigh in resignation.

"Sigh... Daoist Li, once this is over, you should try to leave as quickly as possible. Whatever you do, don’t let those three corner you."

"Don’t worry, Daoist Luo. I know what I’m doing."

Li Chang’an was very calm, his expression unchanging from start to finish.

At this point, no one else was bidding.

That piece of Blood Fire Stone.

And so, it fell into Li Chang’an’s hands.

"Not bad. The weight is sufficient!"

Li Chang’an weighed it in his hand, a look of satisfaction on his face.

With this, he had collected enough Blood Tempering Stone to meet his needs.

’I’m just short some Bone Tempering Grass, and then I’ll have everything I need for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining!’

After arriving in Yellow Crane Immortal City, his speed of collecting Treasures had been quite fast.

It far exceeded Li Chang’an’s expectations.

Of course, this was inseparable from his substantial wealth.

Before long, the small trade fair concluded.

None of the subsequent Treasures that appeared caught Li Chang’an’s eye.

He wasn’t disappointed. He simply asked Luo Baitong to keep an eye out for news about Bone Tempering Grass, then returned to the Black Market’s interior through a secret door.

However, the Blood and Fire Three Brothers followed him out.

Wherever Li Chang’an went, they followed.

’Interesting,’ Li Chang’an thought, privately amused.

But the onlookers all believed his life was in grave danger.

"This kid probably won’t live to see the end of the day."

"Serves him right! Why did he have to compete with the Blood and Fire Three Brothers? I gave him some friendly advice, but he wouldn’t listen at all!"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, none of them optimistic about Li Chang’an’s chances.

Luo Baitong’s brow was tightly furrowed.

Although he wanted to protect Li Chang’an, he was powerless to do so.

Unless Li Chang’an could stay in the Black Market for the rest of his life, otherwise, the day he left the Black Market would be the day he died.

"Daoist Li, why did you insist on competing? Could it be you obtained some life-saving Treasure in the Secret Realm?"

Luo Baitong really couldn’t figure it out, so he asked via Sound Transmission.

Li Chang’an replied calmly.

"Daoist Luo guessed correctly. I did indeed have some gains in the Secret Realm."

"So that’s how it is."

Luo Baitong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

’As long as he can save his life, there’s no problem.’

’At worst, he can just wear a mask and change his identity next time so he won’t be recognized.’

About a quarter of an hour later, Li Chang’an lingered no longer and walked straight out of the Black Market.

Behind him, the Blood and Fire Three Brothers followed in unison.

Each of them wore a vicious expression, no longer suppressing the rage in their chests. Their killing intent was astonishingly thick.

"Kid, I should thank you for saving me over two thousand Spirit Stones!"

"No need to thank me."

Li Chang’an replied casually, his tone light.

The moment his words fell, the three men behind him erupted with astonishing momentum and immediately surrounded him.

"Kid, do you have any last words?"

Seeing this, everyone in the Black Market understood that Li Chang’an’s death was certain.

However, in the next instant, the situation suddenly reversed.

Li Chang’an flicked his wrist, and a sinister, ice-cold Soul Banner appeared in his hand.

"The Venerable Soul Banner!"

Many people cried out in alarm.

Even Tribulation Cultivators were mostly terrified of this kind of Evil Artifact.

After all, no one wanted their Soul to be reaped!

They had never imagined that Li Chang’an would possess such a malevolent object.

The Blood and Fire Three Brothers’ faces changed as well. They all cursed their luck and tried to distance themselves from Li Chang’an.

But it was too late!

WHOOSH—

A gust of sinister wind suddenly blew, causing the Soul Banner to flutter.

A strange black mist surged from the Soul Banner, instantly engulfing the three brothers’ bodies. It seemed as if countless wraiths were wailing mournfully within it.

The world itself seemed to change color as a sinister, bone-chilling aura filled the air.

The next instant, a bloodcurdling scream came from within the black mist.

"AH—!"

It was followed by the horrifying sounds of flesh being torn and devoured.

Hearing this, many people in the Black Market turned pale and subconsciously took a few steps back.

They simply couldn’t imagine what the three brothers were enduring inside the black mist.

Just then, a voice filled with terror cried out for mercy.

"Daoist Li, spare me! I’m willing to be your slave, to do your bidding! As long as you spare my life, I’ll do anything!"

It was the voice of the leader of the Blood and Fire Three Brothers.

At this moment, he stared at the churning black mist around him, his face a mask of terror and regret.

’If I had known Li Chang’an was this ruthless... I never should have offended him!’

"Daoist Li, I’m willing to— AH..."

He was about to continue begging for his life when he suddenly let out a sharp cry.

A shadow flashed through the black mist, instantly piercing his chest.

It was the Soul-Chasing Shuttle!

This was the first time Li Chang’an had used this Treasure since obtaining it, and he found it remarkably easy to handle.

’As expected of a Tier Two Treasure. It certainly kills quickly.’

With a single thought, the Soul-Chasing Shuttle struck again, shattering the head of the last of the Blood and Fire Three Brothers.

And with that, the notoriously vicious Blood and Fire Three Brothers were all dead.

They hadn’t even been able to put up any effective resistance, and not even their Souls escaped. Li Chang’an had collected them all in his Venerable Soul Banner.

’One Qi Refining Eighth Layer Soul and two Qi Refining Seventh Layer Souls. Not bad!’

The power of an ordinary Soul wasn’t very strong.

But after being enhanced by the power of the Venerable Soul Banner, its strength would increase dramatically, enough to even contend with a Cultivator of the same realm for a time.

Li Chang’an waved his hand, collecting the three corpses into his Storage Pouch. He planned to search them for Treasures after he returned.

Then, with another thought, he commanded, "Disperse!"

The surrounding black mist roiled and returned to the Venerable Soul Banner.

In just a few moments, the area returned to normal.

Except now, the Blood and Fire Three Brothers were gone.

Only Li Chang’an remained.