Chapter 228 - 183: Fish Take the Bait, Waiting for the Hare (Extended - )

Several other traders also nodded, all hoping to retain Li An.

"By the way, I still wish to purchase something."

Li An continued, "I am raising a Spirit Spider, and it is currently at a critical moment. It urgently needs Spiritual Blood from Spirit Insects such as the Spirit Butterfly and Darkfall Centipede. If any fellow cultivator can provide them, I can exchange Purifying Evil Pills."

No one answered, but two True Core cultivators exchanged a glance!

－－These two True Core cultivators are indeed from Mountain Master Bai’s subordinates!

Li An had loitered in Celestial Evil City for more than ten days before encountering these two and subsequently entering this trade meeting with them.

The cultivator who had just sold materials to Li An seized the opportunity to say, "Here’s the plan. After we leave, we’ll ask around. By the next meeting, how about giving you a response?"

This way, Li An will return next time, benefiting everyone.

"Alright, much appreciated to all of you."

...

The trade meeting dispersed.

Returning to Spirit Charm Mountain, Lingdong Peak remained tightly sealed by formations.

At night, Li An concealed his presence and carefully snuck into Hundred Flowers Valley once again.

He selected two rose bushes anew, which were located within a mountain stream where Evil Qi accumulated, making it very dangerous. The rose bushes grew solitary in the place, already exhibiting some traces of Evil Qi.

Even if Han Diao and his peers return, they will not find this location.

Li An similarly buried the Life Seed aura within them.

It won’t take long for these two extraordinary rose bushes to form!

Then, he set a large formation around them.

This formation was meticulously crafted by Li An, painstakingly and passionately, representing the strongest he currently possesses!

Its power is immense, truly second only to a Rank Four formation.

Afterwards, Li An quietly withdrew, catching a Spirit Butterfly from the valley along the way.

...

On the third day, the formation on Lingdong Peak finally opened.

Because two True Core cultivators visited－－precisely the ones Li An met at the trade meeting.

But a quarrel erupted between both parties.

Li An quietly controlled a Spirit Butterfly from Hundred Flowers Valley, which had undergone partial transformation, letting it stealthily fly to the foot of Lingdong Peak.

On Lingdong Peak, the two parties parted discontentedly. Zhou Libai didn’t even show the Spirit Butterfly to the two True Core cultivators.

The two True Core cultivators descended the mountain with discontent.

"Hmm?"

One of the True Core cultivators’ eyes flickered when he spotted a dying butterfly at the foot of the mountain and promptly collected it without drawing attention.

The two exchanged a glance and departed directly.

Watching the two cultivators leave with the dying butterfly, Li An curiously asked in front of Lingdong Peak:

"Han Daoist, what happened? Why the quarrel?"

"Nothing much, just a minor issue."

Han Diao replied indifferently, though his eyes were puffy and he had dark circles, looking extremely weary.

As for Zhou Libai, she coldly glanced at Li An and abruptly shut the formation on Lingdong Peak.

Li An: "..."

After the formation closed.

"Didn’t you say this person was quite appreciated by Mountain Master Bai? Best not to tear faces for now..."

Han Diao couldn’t help but frown.

"That was in the past."

Zhou Libai sneered coldly, "The Spirit Butterfly has already consumed the entire Spirit Flower. The Spirit Butterfly even has the prospect of walking the path of demonic transformation. What worth is a mere Lin An?"

More importantly, Lin An’s refusal and humiliation to her... unforgettable!

Now that she has obtained the extremely precious treasure and the Spirit Butterfly’s demonic transformation is promising, she naturally holds Li An in contempt.

...

On the day the two True Core cultivators left, yet another uninvited guest visited Spirit Charm Mountain－－Jiang Ribai!

"I, Bai, have come specifically to visit Daoist Zhou－－"

He stood at the front of Lingdong Peak and spoke loudly.

Inside Lingdong Peak.

"Why has he come?"

Zhou Libai furrowed her brows, visibly troubled.

This Jiang Ribai is not easy to deal with. Last time he came, she lost her Spirit Butterfly’s blood; this time, what’s his purpose?

Suddenly, she remembered the two True Core cultivators from yesterday who sought Spirit Butterfly’s blood... Could it be related to this?

But there’s no choice but to meet; thus, she and her spouse reluctantly opened the formation and welcomed Jiang Ribai inside.

As soon as Jiang Ribai arrived, he unleashed his Divine Sense, scanning the cave dwelling.

"What does Your Excellency mean by this?"

Han Diao couldn’t resist speaking in a lowered voice. Jiang Ribai’s actions were indeed too much.

Zhou Libai’s expression turned unpleasant, as the Spirit Butterfly was secluded in the cave dwelling, now it can’t be hidden any longer!

Jiang Ribai glanced at Han Diao and suddenly said, "Your name is Han Diao, and you’re a Rank Three Artifact Refiner, right?"

Han Diao replied, "That’s me."

"According to records, you should be cultivating at Purple Peak. Why are you here?"

Jiang Ribai’s eyes gleamed coldly, "Without the Mountain Master’s permission, who allowed you to change your cultivation site privately? Will you leave on your own, or shall I summon the Law Enforcement Spirit Beast to consume you?!"

He had already taken out a Jade Talisman in his hand, which is a token distributed by the Mountain Master to their subordinates, capable of mobilizing Spirit Beasts.

Because Jiang Ribai had previously overseen the demonic transformation of the Great Lizard, he had the privilege of receiving one.

Han Diao was instantly speechless upon hearing this, his face also becoming extremely unpleasant.

By the rules, anyone in Mountain Master Bai’s jurisdiction who wishes to change their cultivation site must get permission.

However, if they become Dao companions, they can generally cultivate at either party’s location without interference, thus Han Diao dared to come directly.

Now Jiang Ribai was pursuing it, bringing it to light, and Han Diao indeed violated the rules.

"You!..."

Han Diao glared at Jiang Ribai, his expression fluctuating, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Daoist Bai, my spouse Liba and I are Dao companions, this... isn’t necessary, is it?"

When under the eaves, one has no choice but to bow.