Chapter 18 Deterrence

To Tian Jie's eyes, the aura emanating from Lin Xuan was not overwhelming, which was why he dared to be so arrogant.

His arm glowed with a murky yellow light as he reached for Lin Xuan.

"Hmph, wearing a black robe and pretending to be a highbrow? Brother Tian Jie is at the Fifth Level of Pulse Condensing!" the group of youngsters sneered.

"Daring to rob us of our items, you're simply seeking death!"

The stall owner with a yellow face was so frightened that he turned pale and curled up to one side, not daring to witness the bloody scene.

Lin Xuan's eyebrows slightly knit together as he grabbed the brown stone in his hand to meet the yellow-glowing fist.

Seeing Lin Xuan use the brown stone to block his attack, Tian Jie felt stifled but did not dare to strike hard, fearing he might damage the brown stone. He changed his punch to a claw mid-strike, aiming for Lin Xuan's shoulder.

Lin Xuan still swiftly maneuvered his arms to block the attack with the stone. He said leisurely, "I offer sixty spirit stones."

"Damn it, don't be too presumptuous! You've interrupted our affairs; even death won't be easy for you!" Tian Jie felt depressed inside, having tremendous strength but unable to unleash it, which was tremendously frustrating.

"I'll count to three. If you don't raise the offer, I'll crush this stone right here and now," Lin Xuan sneered, "One."

Witnessing the scuffle, the martial artists on the commercial street assumed a treasure had emerged and flocked around.

"Damn, who's so lucky to have found something good?"

"Alas, even with a good item, one must have the life to take it. To run into a Fifth-Order Spirit Warrior!"

"Two!" Lin Xuan shouted, "If we attract a master in a while, don't blame me."

Tian Jie's palm continuously shifted, executing moves with utmost finesse, but Lin Xuan consistently used the brown stone to block his assault paths.

"I'll give seventy!" Tian Jie said through gritted teeth, having resolved that once he acquired the stone, the first thing he would do was to tear apart this black-robed man.

"What? Seventy, did I hear that right?" the bystanders exclaimed, "A treasure only selling for seventy spirit stones!"

"I offer eighty, can I buy it?" someone asked.

"The highest bidder takes it!" Lin Xuan laughed loudly.

I offer one hundred!

"Damn it, all of you get lost!" Tian Jie roared in anger, the spiritual power surging from within him, the yellow currents leaping like flames.

Some people still wanted to make an offer, but they were intimidated by Tian Jie's aura.

"Hmph, we are from the Xuantian Sect's Divine Power Group, and we won't let anyone who causes trouble off the hook after this!" the young disciples shouted coldly.

Many people gave up competing for it. While treasures are tempting, one's own life is even more precious.

"Oh, such big talk. I bid one hundred and fifty spirit stones!" A mocking voice sounded.

Many people turned back, wanting to see who dared to challenge people from the Xuantian Sect. Even Tian Jie ceased his attack, looking coldly at the one who made the bid.

Lin Xuan also quickly glanced over and realized he recognized the bidding person.

"Luo Yi!" Tian Jie said through clenched teeth, "Does your Battle Group also want to meddle in this?"

"I didn't want to get involved, but I just can't stand you folks from the Divine Power Group!" Luo Yi said with a chuckle.

"Two hundred spirit stones!" Tian Jie did not continue to haggle with Luo Yi; their strengths and statuses were comparable, and if they were to insist on contending, they couldn't determine a winner in a short time.

"Two hundred and twenty spirit stones!" Luo Yi crossed his arms, looking quite content.

"Die!" Tian Jie did not bid any further; instead, he suddenly launched an attack. His fist shot out like a fierce tiger, making even the air buzz and tremble.

It was all too sudden. Luo Yi and the others had no time to anticipate it, let alone come to the rescue. All they could do was hope that the Black Robed Man could dodge the attack.

Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, the yellow fist wrapped in Spiritual Power emitted a low tiger's roar as it struck directly at Lin Xuan's face.

"It's the Yellow Rank Intermediate Martial Arts, Tiger Roar Fist! That man in black is as good as dead!"

"Brother Tian Jie is truly formidable, I fear there's nobody in the same rank who could withstand that punch!"

Lin Xuan's left hand formed a sword with his fingers, as azure Spiritual Power surged forth to create a sword light. With a flick of his finger as if wielding a sword, it shot out like an Outer Heaven Flying Star.

Hiss!

This was the move, Outer Heaven Flying Star, although Lin Xuan executed it with his finger, its power was not diminished in the slightest. The sword light flickered, soaring like a startled swan, and instantly shattered Tian Jie's Tiger Roar Fist.

Pfft!

Tian Jie's arm ached, and he staggered backward, his eyes filled with terror. The disciples following him still wore smiles on their faces, but their muscles were as stiff as stone.

"How, how is this possible!" The youths nearly bit their own tongues in shock. This was Brother Tian Jie, an elite in the Divine Power Group, a mighty Fifth-Order Spirit Warrior!

Luo Yi's pupils were also constricted. He thought carefully and realized that, had he been in the same situation, he probably wouldn't have been able to evade that sword strike either.

"Who is this Black Robed Man?" His heart was filled with apprehension.

"Trying to ambush?" Lin Xuan's voice was icy cold, "I've changed my mind. If you don't hand over five hundred Spirit Stones, you can forget about getting this stone!"

Tian Jie was still in a state of shock, that sword strike had completely shattered his confidence. He now firmly believed Lin Xuan to be a mysterious expert. He had never seen anyone wield a sword so swiftly!

"Senior, please forgive my insolence; I was blind and offended you," Tian Jie panicked, "Here are five one hundred spirit tickets, redeemable at the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower in the city. I hope senior can return that stone..."

Tian Jie's demeanor had completely changed from just moments ago. But there was no choice; this was a world where strength was everything, only the powerful could make others submit.

"Take it!" Lin Xuan took the spirit tickets and said firmly, "Let's consider this matter settled. If there's a next time, there will be no mercy!"

He tossed the brown stone to Tian Jie. After all, the spirit branch within the stone had already been retrieved by Lord of Wine, so the stone was of no use to him now.

"Senior's lesson is well taken!" Tian Jie spoke respectfully. He got the stone and quickly left with a group of disciples. It seemed he was genuinely frightened.

Lin Xuan then took out a spirit ticket and handed it to the stall owner, asking, "Where did you get that stone from?"

The yellow-faced stall owner took the spirit ticket with trembling hands and said softly, "To answer senior, I found that stone on the outskirts of the Taihang Mountain. A storm blew through the forest that day, bringing many things with it, including that brown stone."

"A storm?" Lin Xuan immediately thought of the enormous bird from that day, "It seems that the stone was originally deep in the forest, and was accidentally carried out by that bird."

"Are there many stones like this?" Lin Xuan asked further.

"I only found one. The rest fell into a deep pit, and I did not dare to collect them," the stall owner said cautiously, "It's a Demon Pit. Any living thing that approaches it gets lost and then dies, turning into a pile of bones. Senior better not go there."

"You better not set up your stall for a while, take care those people don't come looking for trouble," Lin Xuan cautioned, and then he left without looking back.

He had heard of this Demon Pit, it was a Forbidden Land in the Taihang Mountain Range. People were seen entering, but no one had ever come out alive.

"So it's in such a dangerous place." Lin Xuan had wanted to collect more brown stones, but now he had to give up the idea. He found a secluded spot, quickly took off his black robe, and reverted to his original appearance.

"First, I'll return to the sect. When Lord of Wine has brewed the Spiritual Wine, I can start cultivating the Thunder Move Sword Technique," Lin Xuan was filled with anticipation.

...

Tian Jie and the others brought the brown stone to an inn, gathered around a table, curiously looking at the stone on the table.

"Brother, is this really a stone from the depths of the Taihang Mountain Range? It doesn't look special at all!" A disciple remarked.

"I don't know either. But an Inner Sect brother asked for it, so we from the Outer Door could only collect it," Tian Jie said gravely, "Brother once instructed that we must not damage the stone, as it seems to contain something special inside, but exactly what, I'm unclear about."