My path to immortality began with my posting to guard Dawancun.

Chapter 67 Conspiracy
Within the town,

Inside a secluded house.

Several shadows gathered here.

"Brother, the kid you asked me to keep an eye on has left Wujiaji with his men!"

"What's next? Should we go and take that kid out?"

A figure rushed in from outside the door and spoke directly.

"Oh? Isn't the market day still going on? Why did he leave early?"

Among the crowd, the one-eyed, bald giant who was in the lead flashed a fierce light in his remaining eyeball and spoke in a low voice.

"How would I know?"

"I was originally sent to monitor the city gate and gather information as you instructed, but I discovered that the brat you told me to keep an eye on had left the city gate along with his team."

"Now, that kid is probably already on his way back!"

Having said that,

The man couldn't help but ask:

"Boss, I think that kid is just an ordinary person. His cultivation level is only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. Why should we spend our energy to take special care of him?"

"With this level of strength, we probably don't have much to offer. In comparison, the reward for completing that important figure's mission is much greater."

"If we mess up that important person's business because of this, wouldn't we be in trouble?"

As he spoke,
The people around him nodded and all looked at the one-eyed bald man.

They shared the same doubts.

You should know that in the past few days, they have also been asked by the one-eyed bald man to secretly inquire about the kid named Shen Changchuan in the market and to gather information about the people who came with him.

Based on their years of experience,
This kind of thing was naturally a piece of cake.

They now roughly know that the brat named Shen Changchuan is only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

The rural cultivators who came with him were all at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining.

Their strength was quite weak, and it was fortunate that they were able to reach Wujiaji without being robbed.

Why should we make them pay attention to such weak and vulnerable people?
It's really strange.

"You are unaware of this matter."

A glint flashed in the eyes of the one-eyed, scarred man, and he said in a deep voice:
"A month ago, that important figure held a gathering. It is said that those who could attend were all senior figures like us who were at least in the late stage of Qi Refining. He said he wanted to accomplish something big."

"We don't know the specifics of what happened, but a rumor has been circulating from the gathering that the Four Fiends of Heshan have been caught off guard and have fallen into the hands of that brat named Shen Changchuan."

"Now that brat has inherited the entire legacy of the Four Fiends of Heshan, including the Soul-Capturing Bell that made them so infamous in the past!"

Between words,
The one-eyed bald man's ferocious face also revealed a visible greed.

"The Soul-Capturing Bell?! Is that the Soul-Capturing Bell that the Four Fiends of Heshan relied on to fight against the seventh level of Qi Refining, and whose reputation was so great?!"

Exclamations came from all around.

The disbelief in the gazes quickly turned into greedy covetousness.

Soul-capturing bell,
That magical artifact was renowned among the low- to mid-level cultivators.

The Four Fiends of Heshan initially established their formidable reputation precisely because of that magical artifact.

With the power of the Soul-Capturing Bell and the seamless teamwork of the four of them, they possessed the strength to contend with those in the late stage of Qi Refining!
Once, a Qi Refining Stage 7 expert from Wujiaji personally pursued them, but after several battles, he still couldn't defeat them and eventually had to give up.

The reason the Four Fiends of Heshan left this area was simply because they were wary of the Wu family's reputation.

It wasn't because of the Wu family members at the seventh level of Qi Refining who were chasing after them.

After they left Wujiaji's sphere of influence,

He still forged a formidable reputation outside, thriving in the world through those means.

In the eyes of these low- to mid-level cultivators, the Four Fiends of Heshan were undoubtedly among the most prestigious and influential figures!
Right now,

Upon suddenly learning that the Four Fiends of Heshan had been wiped out,

They also learned that the powerful magical artifact they used to commit atrocities, the Soul-Capturing Bell, had fallen into the hands of a mere Qi Refining Stage 4 demon.

It was as if they had seen a child carrying a gold brick walk right past them.
How could they not be tempted by that?
"Big brother, let's do it!"

"If we seize that Soul-Capturing Bell, with your Qi Refining Level 6 strength, we'll be the next Four Fiends of Heshan!"

"That's right. With that thing, even if we give up our profession of robbing cultivators, it wouldn't be bad to find a place to sit and experience the feeling of being a 'ground tiger'!"

"Absolutely! Treasures belong to those with virtue. That brat, merely at the fourth level of Qi Refining, is not qualified to possess such a precious item!"

"Hmph! His virtue is unworthy of his position; this boy is already courting death!"

The group looked at the one-eyed, bald man and exclaimed excitedly, their eyes filled with eagerness.

They couldn't help but be excited.

Although there is only one realm difference between the sixth and seventh levels of Qi Refining, their strength and status are completely different!
That's the dividing line between the mid-stage and late-stage Qi Refining realms, and also the dividing line between experts and ordinary cultivators!
Take the Tribulation Cultivators as an example. Those below the seventh level of Qi Refining belong to the low to middle level and will not leave much of a reputation.

But above the seventh level of Qi Refining
Yet he had already made a name for himself in the area, his reputation was so great that it intimidated the region, and he was a figure who could make people tremble with fear!
If we could obtain that Soul-Capturing Bell,

With the combined strength of these individuals, they would possess the power to contend with a seventh-level Qi Refining expert, just like the Four Fiends of Heshan back then.
Then their strength will be dramatically enhanced!

"Of course I wanted to take action, otherwise I wouldn't have sent you to investigate that brat."

"But I have some doubts, because this news comes from a gathering of that important person."

"Those who were able to participate in that gathering were all old ghosts who had been around for many years and were above the late stage of Qi Refining. They were all cunning and treacherous. Why would they spread that news out of nowhere instead of going there themselves to take action and seize the Soul-Capturing Bell?"

"After all, the Soul-Capturing Bell is a powerful weapon in their possession."

"Why didn't they go get it themselves, instead of sending word for us to get it?"

The one-eyed, bald man raised his palm and gestured downwards in mid-air, signaling the surrounding crowd to quiet down.
He spoke his doubts in a low voice.

"A pie falling from the sky isn't always so delicious."

"I suspect that those old devils want us to go through the danger so they can hide behind and reap the benefits."

With this remark,
The initial excitement of the crowd subsided somewhat.

The boss's suspicions were not without reason.

Do not,
It could very well be true!

Since you've already embarked on the path of tribulation cultivation...
Where would they find the opportunity to do good deeds for others?

Since those old devils have already spread the news, it's obvious that they're sending them to test the waters!
It's like there's a gold nugget on the road, but instead of picking it up, someone spreads the word about it everywhere.

Something's definitely fishy here!
just,

I'm still a little unwilling to accept it!

Everyone wore expressions of inner conflict.

"Big brother! Who cares about any schemes or tricks? As long as we can get the Soul-Capturing Bell, it'll all be worth it!"

After a long while, the first person finally couldn't resist the temptation of the Soul-Capturing Bell. He excitedly slammed his hand on the table and said fiercely.

"Yes, brother, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we hesitate any longer, someone else might beat us to it!"

"Whatever those old Deng's schemes are, let's grab the loot and fly far away! As long as we have strength comparable to the seventh level of Qi Refining, we can make a living even in the Southern Yue Kingdom!"

Everyone else chimed in.

The one-eyed, bald, burly man frowned and pondered for a moment.

"Fifth Brother, are you sure that kid doesn't have any other guards around him? Is their strength really that low?"

"Brother, I'm absolutely certain of that!"

“The whole team, just a few people, had already been found out several days ago.”

"That kid seems to be from the Shen family. He's been doing some business with the manager of the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce these past few days. The clerks at the Chamber are all shrewd; they can easily figure out who we are, so I didn't dare get close. But he's nothing special, I can't be wrong!"

Hearing this,

A ruthless glint finally flashed in the one-eyed bald man's eyes:
"Alright! If that's the case, let's do it! Fortune favors the bold, who cares about traps!"

"At worst, before we make a move, Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother, you two should scout the surrounding area. Don't let those old ghosts catch you like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

"Let's set off immediately, catch that kid, steal his things, and run!"

Everyone responded in unison,

A blood-red, excited glint flashed in his eyes.

It was as if they could already see how, after obtaining the Soul-Capturing Bell, their strength would skyrocket, and they would leap to the late stage of Qi Refining!
of course,

All of this is based on the premise that

It's because their arms are fast enough.

Before some cunning old foxes could react, the established fact was created.

They even fled in advance.
Let those old Dengs not be able to catch them.

As for that brat named Shen Changchuan and the other team members?

Nobody paid any attention to it.

These weaklings at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining are easy prey for them to handle once they make a move.

They're nothing more than fat pigs waiting to be slaughtered.

Soon,
Several figures quickly left the house.

Silence fell over the area.

It was as if nothing had happened.

(End of this chapter)