On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

After clarifying the prices, Zhao Fan reopened his business.

Although Zhao Fan didn't sell many high-quality items, there was a large market for consumables like pills and talismans. He quickly sold out all the pills and talismans he didn't need by offering them at prices slightly lower than the market average.

He also had more than twenty spirit stones on him.

Unfortunately, he still had a few low-level magical artifacts, which remained unclaimed due to their worn-out condition.

By evening, Zhao Fan had only managed to sell one low-level magic weapon at a discounted price; the rest remained unsold, with not even a single person inquiring about the price.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhao Fan was about to pack up his stall when he ran into the young cultivator from before.

This time, the middle-aged cultivator was also there, and the two seemed to have made good gains, their faces showing joy.

Upon seeing Zhao Fan, the young cultivator even took the initiative to clasp his hands in greeting.

"Fellow Daoist, how was today's harvest? Did it offset the losses?"

Hearing the young man's teasing tone, the middle-aged man in front of him immediately turned his head and glanced at the young man.

Seeing the middle-aged man's gaze, the young man immediately shut up and dared not say another word.

"My little nephew can't speak, so I hope you won't mind."

The middle-aged cultivator clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Fan, and spoke softly with a hint of apology.

At the same time, a faint aura of profound cultivation emanated from him.

Zhao Fan didn't know what realm this middle-aged man was at, but he could sense that his aura was heavy and his cultivation was profound, at least at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

His master was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, which was far inferior to his own.

Zhao Fan didn't care about the young cultivator's teasing. Although it was unpleasant to be tricked, what the cultivator surnamed Lu said was quite right.

If others can deceive you, it's because you lack ability yourself, and you can't blame others.

"This... senior, there's no need to apologize. I should thank this fellow Daoist. If it weren't for him, I'm afraid I would have been tricked by others several more times."

Zhao Fan's tone was sincere, without a trace of resentment.

This surprised the middle-aged cultivator. He looked into Zhao Fan's eyes, which were so clear that not a trace of impurity could be seen.

"How can someone who has not yet entered the path be worthy of the title of senior?"

"I am a disciple of the Su family of Mount Fuling. You may address me as Fellow Daoist Su."

"I see that you, young friend, have already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining at such a young age. May I ask who your master is?"

Zhao Fan thought for a moment, then spoke honestly.

"My master is the Taoist Qianyan."

The middle-aged cultivator had only intended to offer a casual compliment, but upon hearing the name Thousand Cliff Daoist, he couldn't help but frown.

He didn't say anything, but simply looked Zhao Fan up and down.

After a while, the middle-aged man withdrew his gaze, but the expression on his face was quite complicated.

He didn't talk about it anymore, but instead looked at the three low-level magical artifacts remaining on the stall.

"How many spirit stones do these three magical artifacts cost?"

Zhao Fan scratched his head and chuckled.

"If you want them, fellow Daoist, the three items will cost a total of twenty spirit stones."

The middle-aged man nodded slightly, and with a gentle wave of his right hand, he put the three magical artifacts into his storage bag. Then, twenty spirit stones flew out of the storage bag and were neatly placed in front of Zhao Fan.

"The market here is open for three days a month. You can stay for a couple more days and take this opportunity to broaden your horizons. You don't have to go back too early."

The middle-aged cultivator glanced at a distant mountain valley, then quickly looked away and casually spoke.

After saying that, he left with the young cultivator without waiting for Zhao Fan's response.

The young cultivator was a little puzzled as to why his uncle was saying such nonsensical things, but he quickly bowed and followed in his uncle's footsteps.

After walking a distance, the young cultivator finally spoke up to ask.

"Third Uncle, do you know him?"

The middle-aged cultivator nodded, then shook his head.

"I've heard of it, but from what others have said, it's not a master-disciple relationship..."

……

The moon hangs high in the sky at night.

The bright moonlight shone on the mountains and forests, as if veiled by a layer of white gauze.

In the dim forest, a figure moved forward cautiously.

This person was Zhao Fan, who had come down from the mountain.

To avoid danger, he deliberately stayed on the mountain until night before leaving.

Thinking to myself, it's so late, and with the cover of night, it must be much safer.

However, he did not notice that two people were secretly following him.

The two were very cleverly concealed. They were covered with a light veil, on which inscriptions flowed, making them indistinguishable from the surrounding scenery.

They used some kind of magic to follow Zhao Fan without making a sound.

These two were the same two who had previously deceived Zhao Fan.

"Brother Lu, when are we going to make our move?"

Zhang Tie secretly asked via telepathy.

"No rush. Let's talk about it after we've gone about ten miles from Yulin Mountain. Otherwise, if he manages to escape back to Yulin Mountain, it will be troublesome."

The cultivator surnamed Lu spoke, and his voice naturally reached Zhang Tie's ears.

Zhang Tie nodded silently, suppressing the impulse in his heart.

As they continued forward, the surroundings were incredibly peaceful, and Zhao Fan finally felt relieved.

However, not long after, a golden stream of light suddenly shot out from behind Zhao Fan.

Zhao Fan didn't even have time to react before he was sent flying several meters away and crashed into a large tree.

The tree was struck so violently that it shook several times, and leaves fell down, covering Zhao Fan who had slid to the ground.

"I won!"

Seeing that the attack had hit its mark, the two finally broke free from their hiding state.

"My Golden Scale Spear, when struck with full force, is usually too powerful for an unprepared sixth-level cultivator to withstand. This kid is doomed."

The cultivator surnamed Lu stepped forward slowly, a satisfied smile on his lips.

However, before they could take two steps forward, a strange movement suddenly came from among the fallen leaves.

Zhao Fan managed to get up unharmed.

His clothes had a large hole in the back, revealing a dark tortoise shell underneath.

Although he didn't know when the tortoise shell had covered his entire body, he was grateful for it, otherwise he would probably be dead.

Recalling the sudden attack, Zhao Fan was terrified. His master was right; the cultivation world was indeed fraught with danger. One wrong move and he would be eaten alive, leaving not even bones behind.

However, this is not the time to think about that.

After Zhao Fan got up, he immediately looked up and saw two familiar faces.

"It's you guys!"

"It was bad enough that you lied to me before, but now you're trying to kill me!"

Zhao Fan was met with a sharp sword light.

Zhang Tie, wielding a light blue longsword, lunged forward, the sword pointing directly at Zhao Fan's brow.

Zhao Fan had never fought anyone before, and now, facing two cultivators at the fifth level of Qi Refining, he had completely lost his will to fight.

He rolled over, using the tortoise shell on his back to block the sword strike, then turned and ran wildly into the dense forest.

These two attacks also made the two realize that Zhao Fan possessed a very powerful defensive magic artifact.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing greed in each other's eyes.

The Golden Scale Spear is a mid-grade magic weapon. Even if someone is caught off guard, they still cannot break through the defense. It is at least a high-grade magic weapon.

It might even be a top-grade magical artifact!

A top-grade magic weapon, if sold, could fetch at least four or five hundred spirit stones. With that many spirit stones, they could cultivate for at least five years!

They might even be able to raise their cultivation level to the late stage of Qi Refining.