A Qi Refinement cultivator, appearing to be in his early thirties, stood upon a massive boulder, covered in dust and grime. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

This battle had been filled with unforeseen twists and turns. He would need to discuss it with the others afterward and ask that Golden Core Earth Immortal for more coin. It wasn’t too much to ask, was it? They had taken all the choice treasures from the Earth Taurus – the Golden Core, horns, tendons, bones, everything! All that was left for them were the organs and blood, and they had to fight two more battles for it. If they weren’t willing to cough up a few “Lesser Heat” coins, then they couldn’t blame them for… well, for cursing them behind their backs.

This Qi Refinement cultivator was named Lu Yangzhen. He hailed from the countryside, his family generations of woodcutters. Now, he was a wandering rogue cultivator, with no fixed abode. Just last year, he had finally crossed the first major threshold, becoming a Cave Realm Qi Refinement cultivator. Though he was at the very bottom of the Middle Five Realms, becoming a Cave Realm cultivator was like ascending to the heavens for a rogue cultivator. This one step allowed him to seek employment at a proper Immortal Family estate, to serve as an honored guest for a mortal dynasty’s king, or a respected retainer in the grand halls of powerful ministers and dukes. In other words, a Cave Realm rogue cultivator was finally worth something.

Lu Yangzhen’s dream was to have luck even better than when he’d found the corpse and relics of a cultivator in a mountain cave. He hoped to obtain a Daoist scripture pointing directly to the Earth Immortal Realm. Even if he couldn’t become a lofty Golden Core Earth Immortal in this life, he would be content to merely stand at the gate, to just touch the threshold of a Land Immortal.

And Lu Yangzhen’s deepest desire, or rather, his extravagant hope, was that someday, nearing sixty, he would strike it rich and inexplicably nurture a Natal Flying Sword, becoming a Sword Cultivator. So, when Lu Yangzhen saw the white-robed young Immortal Master land, and two flashes of light return to the crimson wine gourd at his waist, his eyes turned red with emotion. A Flying Sword, it was definitely a Natal Flying Sword!

Wasn’t it said that “A Jiazi-aged Cave Realm cultivator is old, but a century-old Sword Cultivator is still young”?

Could this person before him be a Great Cultivator skilled in preserving his youth?

If he were a Dragon Gate Realm Sword Cultivator, that would be a terrible problem.

If he were a secluded Golden Core Sword Cultivator, then this meticulously planned ambush and treasure hunt would likely end in heavy casualties.

After a brief moment of emotional turmoil, Lu Yangzhen quickly calmed down.

A young Sword Cultivator who had already nurtured a Natal Flying Sword, one who could withstand the harsh winds and baleful auras of the world after its manifestation, was not only terrifying in his own right – for example, possessing astonishing killing power and a penchant for ending fights instantly – but what made them even more feared by rogue cultivators like them was that nearly all Sword Cultivators in Treasure Bottle Continent were the precious darlings of the mountain Immortal Sects. To harm them in the slightest would surely alarm the Ancestral Halls of their respective sects.

Lu Yangzhen glanced around with the corner of his eye.

Apart from that Golden Core Earth Immortal who concealed his true face with a glamour, no one showed any change in expression.

The other rogue cultivators, just like Lu Yangzhen, shared similar sentiments. Some were even more timid, better at reading the wind, and had already sheathed their weapons, offering goodwill to this Sword Cultivator, lest this uninvited guest pick on the weak, kill them with a single sword strike as a warning. Others, however, were not afraid of biting off more than they could chew, hiding their fervent gazes well. But Lu Yangzhen had discerned some subtle movements that betrayed their true intentions: to take the Earth Taurus along with this newcomer, and make a world-shaking deal, enough to make everyone present rich overnight! They could always flee far from the Azure Luan Kingdom afterward. They, the rogue cultivators seen as scavengers by the mountain Immortals, were rootless duckweed, anyway. Where they cultivated didn’t matter.

Besides, if the sky were to fall, there were always taller people to hold it up.

So Lu Yangzhen and the others subconsciously glanced at the Golden Core Earth Immortal. This enigmatic expert had recruited them half a year ago, stating, in essence, that a great demon of the Earth Taurus variety was lurking within an ancient, fragmented Dragon Vein, for over two centuries. It had accumulated cultivation equivalent to a Dragon Gate Realm Qi Refinement cultivator, and once it attempted to break through to the Golden Core Realm, the Azure Luan Kingdom would inevitably face a cataclysmic event, an earth-shattering tragedy. Countless lives would be lost in the surrounding counties and cities within a thousand li. Therefore, it was imperative to suppress and slay it before it formed its Golden Core, lest it bring disaster upon the mountains and rivers of the kingdom…

Lu Yangzhen and two rogue cultivators, whom he had temporarily joined for treasure hunting, had almost laughed out loud when they heard this righteous justification, were it not for their fear of his Golden Core cultivation.

The reason he had formed a temporary alliance with those two siblings was that one of them was a rare Earth Adept.

At this moment, the brother and sister were quietly moving closer to him.

Lu Yangzhen and the female cultivator had made considerable contributions to this scheme, allowing them to partake in the Golden Core cultivator’s bounty. Lu Yangzhen excelled in formations, capable of suppressing the earth tremors caused by the Earth Taurus’s thrashing, to avoid attracting the attention of the orthodox Immortals. In the end, they would be working tirelessly, fighting a beast to the death, only to be making clothes for others.

The female cultivator’s special skill, however, was the key reason why the Golden Core Earth Immortal had recruited the three of them. The Immortal had only roughly pinpointed the Earth Taurus’s hiding place, but its precise location remained elusive. Thus, this female cultivator, unskilled in combat, proved invaluable.

The woman was dressed in bright colors, appearing as a married woman. She was a Fifth Realm Qi Refinement cultivator, not particularly talented, but considered decent among rogue cultivators. She had a favorable impression of Lu Yangzhen. At least she, her brother, and Lu Yangzhen were being honest with each other, as they participated in this scheme orchestrated by a Golden Core Earth Immortal. She asked quietly, using ripples of mental communication, “The newcomer is hostile. He’s clearly a friend of those two. What should we do?”

Lu Yangzhen wiped his face. “Let’s wait and see.”

The woman nodded. In this siege, she was the most detached, even leisurely, after the battle had begun. Perhaps even aimless.

Because she was an Earth Adept from a branch of the Yin-Yang School.

The woman’s brother, an eight-foot-tall brute, wielding a broadaxe, wore a suit of cyan armor etched with numerous talismans, his face smeared with blood, though fortunately, it was only superficial cuts. Through a stroke of fate, he had embarked on the path of a Military cultivator, but only in appearance. He had merely obtained a third-rate Immortal Family lost secret manual for tempering the body and solidifying the spirit. In addition, he had spent all his wealth to purchase this spiritual treasure armor, which greatly enhanced his strength, making him somewhat renowned in the Qing Mountain Kingdom border region.

But the one who truly earned the money was not this heavily armored brute with decent combat power, but his Earth Adept sister.
Cultivators in the mountains, especially those wild, untamed recluses without the backing of established sects, possess a profound understanding of treasure hunting.

Beyond accidental encounters with so-called Great Dao opportunities, they scour local gazetteers for subtle clues, consult secret topographical maps held by government offices, and conduct on-site investigations. They also inquire with local woodcutters and fishermen, those who frequently traverse the mountains and rivers, hoping to discover opportunities for wealth.

This often requires the assistance of physiognomists and earth masters. Physiognomists are rumored to be able to discern the “faces” of heaven and earth, capable of divining the fortunes of individuals and the destinies of nations through astrological means. Earth masters, on the other hand, excel at locating dragon veins and identifying auspicious burial sites, possessing an exceptional sensitivity to subtle anomalies in spiritual energy.

Even with a location pinpointed, challenges remain. The world’s natural treasures are often fiercely guarded by spirits, demons, and monstrous entities.

This is the most perilous obstacle for solitary cultivators. Unlike established sects with immortal abodes on mountain peaks, who can mobilize their entire forces or seek assistance from allied immortal families, solitary cultivators often operate alone. If a solitary cultivator determines that they cannot seize the treasure alone, they must seek partners, otherwise they risk failure.

Why not seek help from established immortal sects, which would seemingly increase the chances of success?

Firstly, the potential rewards would be too small. Despite being the first to discover the heavenly treasure or ancient secret, they would likely be left with only scraps. Worse still, they might be secretly eliminated by the immortal family. Wild cultivators are often despised and loathed by orthodox immortals, considered the isolated spirits and wandering ghosts amongst cultivators, the parasites of spiritual energy, unscrupulous and practitioners of unorthodox methods.

The Yu Pu Realm cultivator from Fengwei Ferry’s history holds high prestige amongst Bao Ping Continent’s wild cultivators. It is because this predecessor once voiced the desires of countless solitary cultivators: “This old man just wants to stand and eat his fill!”

Cultivators whose names are recorded, one copy in the sect’s ancestral hall and another in the imperial court near the mountain gate, are known as registered immortals and are not considered wild cultivators, even if they are solitary.

Neither the imperial court nor local officials favor such solitary cultivators. Their temperament is often unpredictable, prone to causing trouble. Their erratic nature often forces officials to clean up their messes. In particular, solitary cultivators who have reached the middle five realms are almost universally decisive in their killings, ruthless figures who have forged their path through countless storms of blood. They are capricious, detached from worldly affairs, and act with unrestrained freedom. However, to say that all solitary cultivators are murderers who disregard human life would be an exaggeration. It is merely the portrayal propagated by immortal families, the imperial court, and the righteous sects of the Jianghu, year after year, that has turned wild cultivators into pariahs.

Solitary cultivators with some strength will often seek an identity from a dynasty, or obtain a highly dubious position as a retainer in a mountain sect, operating as a wild cultivator under the guise of a registered immortal.

Lu Yangzhen’s group of three could be considered stable due to their composition: an array master unskilled in combat, a rogue military strategist focused on defense, and an earth master who was practically “powerless”.

However, there was another group, seven or eight strong, who regarded the young immortal master with a gaze that held not only cautious observation but also a hint of malice and ruthlessness.

Most of these individuals were already acquainted, unfamiliar faces in the Qingluan Kingdom’s vicinity. They were likely taking advantage of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly and the Grand Rote Heaven Offering to try their luck. They contributed significantly to the earlier siege of the earth bull demon, including military strategists specializing in close combat, Taoists proficient in talismans and puppets, a ghost cultivator wielding a soul-summoning banner, and a burly man whose Natal Treasure consisted of three rattan shields, kite shields, and iron charm shields, responsible for helping allies evade attacks.

An old swordsman, temporarily still in the fifth realm, possessed a flying sword that solidified upon leaving its acupoint. The jet-black blade, a little over two feet long, carried wind and thunder and a potent smell of blood. Because he had not yet entered the Cave Heaven Realm to truly “establish his abode,” his spiritual energy was insufficient to sustain the sword’s manifestation for too long. It would often strike once and then return to its Natal acupoint for nurturing, replenished with snowflake coins. Half of the yellow earth bull’s fatal wounds were inflicted by the old swordsman’s flying sword.

The linchpin of this group was an old man clad in black robes, riding a massive black fox with five tails.

The old man glanced at the hooded Golden Core cultivator, his meaning clear: you are the one who paid with snowflake coins for the earth bull demon’s treasures. We have put in a lot of effort, done what we were supposed to do. Now, an interloping swordsman of unknown origin has appeared. Do we fight or retreat? It’s up to you. If we are to fight to the death and provoke this young swordsman, the reward will be more than just the handful of Lesser Heat coins we agreed upon. If we retreat, the down payment has already been paid, so we can call it quits here.

The Golden Core cultivator hovering in the air, his face obscured by mountain mist, did not communicate his thoughts to the twenty-odd solitary cultivators through telepathy. Instead, the Land Immortal looked at the white-robed young man and said directly, “Are you really going to cut off someone’s livelihood? I can promise you, if you are willing to leave the mountain hollow and not interfere in this matter, I will extract ten percent of the treasures that rightfully belong to me from this yellow earth bull and offer them to you as snowflake coins.”

After Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia’s explanation, Chen Pingan had a general understanding of the situation.

The yellow earth bull lying in a pool of blood behind him, although considered a type of earth bull demon in the world, was by nature gentle and benevolent. The so-called “earth bull turning over” in common parlance had nothing to do with it. It had been hiding here for over two hundred years, wanting to repair the broken ancient dragon vein as a place to establish its own Cave Heaven in the future. For so many years, it had been lying in its true form, its body like a mountain range, accumulated with rocks, and the “mountain” was already lush with vegetation.

The real “earth bull turning over” was caused by soft-shelled turtles, mole crickets, earthworms, and giant frogs hibernating deep underground. These mountain spirits and water monsters prefer stillness to movement, relying on their natural talent to connect their massive bodies to the mountain’s roots and slowly absorb the earth’s spiritual energy, fearing spring thunder. Once they reach the middle five realms of the Cave Heaven stage, or when they form their Golden Cores, they need to devour vast amounts of spiritual energy. Because they hide deep underground for many years, eating away at the mountain’s fortunes, once they break through, involving opportunities of the Great Dao, their nature often erupts, revealing their ferocious side. That is why there is the saying “earth bull turning over” or “soft-shelled turtle flipping,” causing tragic earthquakes.
Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia had previously been targeted for recruitment. However, Zhang Shanfeng, despite his modest cultivation, possessed a deep understanding of the origins of various mountain spirits, water monsters, and ghostly entities. He was particularly familiar with the roots and nature of the Yellow Earth Ox, so he refused their invitation.

The real problem was that Zhang Shanfeng knew that if the Yellow Earth Ox was truly at the Dragon Gate Realm, just a step away from forming its golden core, being surrounded and attacked would provoke even a clay idol to anger, and even a simpleton would lash out. How much more so a demon? Zhang Shanfeng feared that the Earth Ox, in its dying moments, would stir the earth’s veins, resulting in a massive “earth cow overturn” that would affect thousands of miles with earthquakes. The two nearest counties would likely suffer tens of thousands of innocent casualties.

Xu Yuanxia, having traveled extensively, was more experienced. He didn’t make any rash pronouncements, demanding that the rogue cultivators abandon their siege of the Earth Ox. Instead, he carefully explained the potential for an earth cow overturn and its devastating consequences. He hoped that a Cave Mansion Realm cultivator who had recruited them could relay the message to the mastermind, who would spend a little money to hire several formation masters to minimize the impact of the earth cow overturn, at least preventing tens of thousands of families from being destroyed and displaced, as an act of charitable merit. The Cave Mansion Realm cultivator assured them he would pass the message on. Xu Yuanxia then feigned naivety and sincerity, exchanging pleasantries with the cultivator. Afterwards, he and Zhang Shanfeng secretly followed and investigated. When they discovered that the Golden Core Earth Immortal’s camp only had one formation master, they knew this was destined to be a disaster caused by human actions.

Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia conferred and decided to act separately. Xu Yuanxia went to the nearest mountain sect, explaining the situation. He didn’t expect those lineage immortals to intervene and antagonize a Golden Core Earth Immortal. He simply hoped they would exert pressure or prepare early to suppress the perilous situation of earth veins shaking for thousands of miles. Zhang Shanfeng, having a legitimate identity as a distant collateral descendant of the Dragon Tiger Mountain in Middle Earth, went to the government, seeking out a regional governor. He hoped the Azure Luan Kingdom court could take the matter seriously, preferably having the Tang Emperor send royal enshrined immortals to “oversee the formation,” even if it meant reinforcing the Golden Core Earth Immortal as a means of appeasement. The important thing was to set up several grand mountain and water formations around the Yellow Earth Ox’s hiding place as soon as possible.

The regional governor, who held real power, was fairly reasonable. He agreed to immediately report the matter to the court and seek aid from the mountain immortals within his jurisdiction, trying to send a flying sword message to the capital.

However, this powerful minister of the Azure Luan Kingdom was quite pragmatic and shrewd. He demanded that Zhang Shanfeng hand over two valuable items. Otherwise, if it was a false alarm, or if this foreign Taoist was just spouting nonsense, how would he explain it to the mountain immortals and the Emperor?

Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia both found it reasonable, so they each handed over the “True Martial” magic sword and a short knife obtained during the war in the Colorful Clothes Kingdom.

The final result was the current situation.

Reason couldn’t get through.

Seeking profit seemed to be the most natural principle for rogue cultivators. Just like the Golden Core cultivator had bluntly stated, cutting off someone’s financial path was an act that angered both gods and men among mountain and wilderness cultivators.

As for this group of Qi refiners “seeking profit early,” they naturally had their own justification. In this remote, desolate place, they were besieging a demon, not killing or robbing in the city, nor harming civilians with immortal techniques or weapons. Even lineage immortals sought treasures in this way. What else could they do to earn money cleanly? Who were they to be lectured by a beardless young Taoist and a heavily bearded martial artist, saying the Earth Ox would stir the earth’s veins and cause earthquakes for thousands of miles?

After stealthily tailing them, they witnessed the Yellow Earth Ox, shaking off countless rocks and trees from its back. The docile demon, as large as a mountain peak, was facing off against more than twenty Qi refiners. It initially wanted to escape, retreating while fighting, but was still relentlessly pursued and brutally attacked. Only then did it begin to retaliate, and the two sides fought fiercely.

Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia had no choice but to stand before the Yellow Earth Ox. It was severely wounded and forced to reveal its true form, no larger than a water buffalo. If it launched a desperate final attack, there would be no turning back.

But for some reason, the demon lying in a pool of blood, seeing that the two men not only didn’t attack it but were desperately trying to save it, hesitated. After a moment of mental struggle, although it understood their intentions – they were probably afraid that it would cause an earthquake, leading to landslides and destruction for thousands of miles – it didn’t resort to a suicidal action, instead allowing its life to fade away.

Chen Ping’an looked at Zhang Shanfeng and Xu Yuanxia.

The group of Qi refiners seemed confident of victory and didn’t try to kill the two men.

The young Taoist had suffered some external injuries, pierced through the shoulder by a sword cultivator’s flying sword. The bleeding wouldn’t stop, and the effect of the medicine was poor, likely damaging his tendons and bones. After all, it was a life-bound flying sword, far from being simply sharp.

The great-bearded hero’s beard was covered in blood, clotted in several places, looking somewhat comical.

At this moment, the Golden Core cultivator took a step back.

Zhang Shanfeng, fearing Chen Ping’an would agree immediately, grabbed his arm and anxiously said, “We can’t do that.”

The Golden Core cultivator smiled, “Now that the demon is resigned to its fate and shows no signs of desperate struggle, why should the two righteous men and this newly arrived Immortal Master go to such lengths, insisting on fighting us to the death?”

Xu Yuanxia could no longer support himself, his face dark, and he sat heavily on the ground. He used his knife as a support with one hand and wiped his beard with the other. “The reasoning is sound, but it’s frustrating.”

The heavily bearded man glanced at the Yellow Earth Ox. “I still feel sorry for it.”

Zhang Shanfeng sighed, put away his peach wood sword behind his back, and released his grip on Chen Ping’an’s arm, helplessly saying, “It seems like that’s the only way?”

His tone was questioning.

Everyone, including the Golden Core cultivator, had noticed the four retainers of this young sword cultivator long ago.

They were all pure martial artists with astonishing presence.

They believed that this was the real reason why they had been holding back and talking reasonably.

Chen Ping’an patted Zhang Shanfeng on the shoulder. “I’ll take care of it.”

Zhang Shanfeng was stunned for a moment, then grinned. “Whatever you do, we have no objections. We won’t make things difficult for you, really.”
Chen Ping’an nodded and turned to the golden core earth immortal hovering in the air, asking with a smile, “I wonder if you come from which immortal mountain, or from the Azure Luan Kingdom’s Grand Commandant’s mansion?”

Xu Yuanxia, sitting cross-legged, smiled knowingly. “Oh, this Chen Ping’an kid has become much more shrewd now,” she thought, having instantly seen through her own speculations.

“It’s a pity his martial arts realm doesn’t seem to have advanced at all. Still at the third realm?”

“Well, it’s normal. It’s only been a little over two years since we last met. How old is Chen Ping’an now? Seventeen in the lunar calendar? To have such a solid foundation at the third realm is quite impressive. He could earn the title of ‘martial arts genius’ in the pugilistic world without feeling ashamed.”

Beyond the three of them, a circle of tigers, leopards, and wolves surrounded them.

Wei Xian and the four figures in the painting to his right didn’t enter the circle to join Chen Ping’an. Instead, they stood further out, seemingly intending to “surround” the twenty-odd Qi refiners with these four purely martial artists whose depths couldn’t be discerned.

The golden core cultivator smiled. “Who I am has nothing to do with your decision, Little Immortal Master, does it?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “In your opinion, what’s the value of this yellow earth ox in terms of Snowflake Coins?”

The golden core cultivator pondered for a moment and replied seriously, “The market price is about twenty to thirty Lesser Heat Coins, but earth oxen are extremely difficult to find, making them rare even with money. So, the real price is doubled, which would be fair. Based on that calculation, it’s roughly five thousand Snowflake Coins. What, Little Immortal Master, are you trying to calculate how many Snowflake Coins your share is? Or do you think one-tenth is too little, not worthy of your strength, and you want two-tenths, or even more?”

Although the golden core earth immortal’s words were laced with laughter, the underlying sinister intent was clear to all the mountain and swamp rogue cultivators present.

This was the prelude to a complete falling out.

The boundless might emanating from a golden core earth immortal was so overwhelming that even the black-robed elder with the black fox demon mount felt a tightness in his chest.

Once a golden core is formed, one can borrow power from the heavens and earth.

“Although you’re being unreasonable, my two friends are the reason for the current situation. But regardless of the cause, the matter hasn’t reached the worst possible outcome. There hasn’t been a tragedy of the earth ox overturning and causing a thousand miles of earthquake, so we can still discuss this properly now.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Alright, this yellow earth ox that you’re determined to have will be valued at fifty Lesser Heat Coins, as you quoted. Subtracting my one-tenth share, here are forty-five Lesser Heat Coins. Take them.”

Everyone saw the white-robed sword immortal throw a large handful of Lesser Heat Coins towards the distant golden core earth immortal.

The earth immortal frowned and waved his sleeve. The forty-odd Lesser Heat Coins flowed around him like a stream, staying a foot away, preventing them from actually touching him. Then, he carefully examined each one, finding no tricks played with the immortal coins, and confirming that they were genuine Lesser Heat Coins.

Lu Yangzhen and all the rogue cultivators were both envious and suspicious.

“Is there really such a way to do business in the world?”

The golden core cultivator didn’t immediately put away the Lesser Heat Coins, which were equivalent to four million five hundred thousand taels of silver in the secular dynasty. Not to mention the Azure Luan Kingdom, known for its wealth in the southeast of the Treasure Bottle Continent, even the Qing Mountain Kingdom’s annual tax revenue was how much? So, this was a huge fortune, and even he, as an earth immortal, didn’t consider it a trivial income. While continuing to observe the slowly circulating divine coins, the earth immortal asked, “May I ask, good sir, where is your immortal hometown?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “I asked you where you came from earlier, and you didn’t answer either.”

The golden core earth immortal smiled slightly. “Then may I ask, good sir, why are you in such urgent need to spend money to buy this yellow earth ox?”

“These seniors don’t need to worry about it.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and tossed another five Lesser Heat Coins to the earth immortal. “Please distribute these five coins to the other immortal masters, as my apology for ‘coming later but receiving first’.”

With this, the eyes of those mountain and swamp rogue cultivators lit up considerably.

After all, the extra five Lesser Heat Coins were like free money. Among the twenty-odd Qi refiners, there were actually four major and minor strongholds. Lu Yangzhen and his two companions were the smallest, while the group led by the black-robed elder riding the fox was the largest, standing out in terms of both numbers and strength. Therefore, these unexpected five Lesser Heat Coins would likely be directly claimed by them.

The golden core earth immortal smiled. “Good sir, you have such great magnanimity and wealth, to be able to give away Lesser Heat Coins as if they were Snowflake Coins. Even I am ashamed of my inferiority.”

As soon as he said this, some rogue cultivators began to have other thoughts.

The earth immortal’s words really struck a nerve. These rogue cultivators risked their lives to earn money, but how many Lesser Heat Coins could they earn in a year?

“Good words have been spoken, and good deeds have been done. Now, I should talk about something practical.”

Chen Ping’an looked around and said calmly, “No one’s money falls from the sky. I do have some Lesser Heat Coins on me. If you all are tempted, then take them by your own ability. But if you try and fail to take them, then I will have you leave your lives behind.”

The golden core earth immortal suddenly collected the fifty Lesser Heat Coins and asked with a smile, “Aren’t you worried that I’ll just leave? I can’t carry a yellow earth ox around in public, but with fifty Lesser Heat Coins, I can come and go freely, can’t I?”

The golden core earth immortal asked again, “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll use these fifty Lesser Heat Coins that I’ve already obtained to buy your lives? With one exchange, everyone, including myself, would have earned two portions of money. Why not?”

Chen Ping’an extended a hand. “Just leave if you want, buy if you want. Be my guest.”

“I’ve disliked you for a long time. I’m begging you to run away or commit a crime so I can kill you.”

The golden core earth immortal pondered in silence, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

All the mountain and swamp rogue cultivators were also waiting for the golden core’s decision.

Just then, the severely injured yellow earth ox spoke in human language, looking at the back figure in the white robe. “Immortal Master, why do you do this?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t turn around, but reached out to hold the sword-nurturing gourd at his waist, and said softly, “I think you’re more like a person than many others. It’s that simple. From now on, I hope you continue to cultivate well, so that there will be another golden core cultivator who is kind to others in the world.”