Chapter 38: Chapter 36: Gu Hong

A tall figure, snow-white thighs, long black hair, with a delicate beauty mark on her exquisite features…

The woman in the interspatial ring lay still as a virgin, unconscious, with not a single piece of clothing on her body.

Inside the ring, there was even a jade bed prepared for her, with a simple Spirit Gathering Array placed on it, many Spirit Stones piled next to it, the Spiritual Qi gathered, nurturing this woman.

Could it be the female cultivator who was seeking to purchase the Second Grade Fire Spirit Fruit during the transaction that day?

But Li An quickly realized it wasn’t. Firstly, this woman was taller and larger than the female alchemist from that day, a detail that could not be hidden from Li An, who in his past life had many wives and concubines.

Secondly, this Spirit Gathering Array had clearly been set up for several years!

In other words, this woman must have been imprisoned in the interspatial ring for many years.

“No wonder she has a Yellow Rank Middle Grade Water Spirit Root!”

Li An examined her carefully and instantly understood.

This woman was the furnace cauldron of that demon cultivator!

Moreover, within her body, there was already some Yin Yang Demonic Qi…clearly, she had been dual cultivated by that demon cultivator many times.

Li An hesitated in his heart, pondering how to handle this woman.

If he ignored it and simply threw away the ring, once the Spirit Stones inside were exhausted, the ring would collapse, and the woman would die inside.

Perhaps this was the best course of action.

After all, if Li An saved her, it would bring about more risks. There would be one more person in the world who knew it was Li An who killed the demon cultivator!

Ultimately, Li An put away the ring, choosing not to interfere for the time being.

He planned to gather some information the next day to see if he could identify this woman’s identity.

After all, a Yellow Rank Middle Grade cultivator is an elite, a genius within the sect, and definitely not someone obscure.

“It seems that demon cultivator was quite strong; he must have been close to Life-taking Horse-Faced…”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been taught Mid-Grade Profound Rank cultivation techniques, nor would he have obtained a Yellow Rank Middle Grade furnace cauldron.

Unfortunately, Li An didn’t even know what level of Qi Refining the opponent was…

Killed too fast.

The demon cultivator did not even have the chance to make a move before he died.

…

The next day.

Li An temporarily closed the shop, not doing business, and went out for a stroll.

People who saw him greeted him warmly.

In just one day, Li An’s name spread throughout the marketplace. After all, the story was too dramatic: the greed of a Talisman Master ruined a grand scheme of a Great Demon Dao cultivator, safeguarding a marketplace…

Names like “Black-hearted Talisman Master” and “Demon Dao Nemesis” spread quickly.

Though these titles were not flattering, Li An was quite reassured.

It was best like this, becoming a public joke, causing no harm.

As for business, it would likely be impacted in the short term, with people being more cautious about buying Spirit Talismans to avoid fake ones…but it didn’t matter, the wealth Li An amassed in this wave could not be earned by selling Spirit Talismans for ten years.

Li An was in the center of the marketplace street, around a plaza where many notices were posted, including those seeking certain items, selling special materials, and bounty notices!

Li An specifically looked for those concerning demon cultivators.

There was a lot of information, especially the bounty for Life-taking Horse-Faced, which was quite substantial, reaching up to a thousand Spirit Stones.

Additionally, there were other notorious criminals within the Demon Dao, with very bad reputations.

Eventually, Li An’s gaze fixed on a somewhat yellowed bounty notice!

Issued by, Second-Grade Alchemist, Foundation Establishment cultivator—Gusongxi.

Bounty content:

“My beloved apprentice, Gu Hong, a First-Grade Alchemist, was abducted by a demon cultivator three months ago in the Liuyang River marketplace, whereabouts unknown. The following bounty is offered: If you can provide clues about my apprentice, a reward of one thousand Spirit Stones, and if you can rescue my apprentice, I am willing to do anything within my power for you.”

Below the bounty notice was a portrait of Gu Hong, although with age, the portrait had yellowed and was hard to distinguish, but the beauty mark on the brow…Li An remembered.

He recalled that before leaving the Profound Yang Sect, Xu Qiuhui had gathered him and Tan Qingxue, and at that time, Xu Qiuhui had mentioned that the apprentice of an alchemist had been abducted outside the Liuyang River marketplace…

It seemed to be Gu Hong!

Feigning casualness, Li An looked through the other notices again before leaving.

“Talisman Master Li, don’t be afraid, within the marketplace, it’s safe!”

“Yes, though the demon cultivator put a bounty on you, who would dare touch you, we wouldn’t agree!”

Many people around spoke with cheerful words.

In their view, Li An was keen on gathering news about demon cultivators because he had been targeted and got a bounty placed on him by them, which was perfectly reasonable.

When Li An went out, he also paid attention to the news outside the marketplace; it was said that cultivators going to Liyang Valley were almost entirely wiped out, with very few escaping.

But experts from the Profound Yang Sect had already arrived for support, hunting demon cultivators and rescuing survivors.

Even if Tan Qingxue had, as Li An said, bought treasures like cloud boots, her fate would likely be grim.

…

Night.

In Li An’s room.

After contemplating, Li An activated the magic artifact, and a misty white light flashed as he entered it.

He checked the woman’s body and covered her with a piece of clothing before injecting a strand of spiritual power. The woman coughed and slowly regained consciousness.

She looked a bit confused and, feeling the clothes on her body, was evidently surprised. Raising her eyes, she saw a young man in front of her!

“Who… are you?”

She asked cautiously.

Li An said, “An outer disciple of the Profound Yang Sect, Li An!”

He did not hide his identity and said, “That demon cultivator has been killed by my strategy, and I unintentionally acquired the magic artifact that demon cultivator wore, which led me here… Who might you be? Were you imprisoned here by that demon cultivator?”

Upon hearing this, the woman became excited, “You are from the Profound Yang Sect?!”

“That’s wonderful… hurry, get me out of here!”

She was extremely urgent, and in her excitement, tears appeared in her beautiful eyes.

These years, she had been imprisoned in the magic artifact, essentially becoming the demon cultivator’s captive, suffering endless torment, living worse than death!

Li An said, “Please don’t worry… the villain is dead, and you are safe!”

Gu Hong wanted to say something eagerly, but Li An had already said, “Miss, the outside world I’m in is still very unsafe, and you’ve been under the demon cultivator’s control for many years, severely damaging your cultivation with demonic Qi remaining inside you. Going out would be even more dangerous, and you might fall back into the hands of demon cultivators.”

“Why don’t you recover your cultivation here in the magic artifact before leaving it?”

Li An’s suggestion made Gu Hong immediately agree, and she gratefully nodded, “Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, Daoist Li…”

Li An smiled and took out some food, “I think you haven’t had water and rice for many years while imprisoned here, so I’ve specially prepared some food for you. Please have some first.”

Li An presented a bowl of spirit rice, a bowl of braised meat, and even a small bottle of spirit wine.

Seeing these things, tears welled up in Gu Hong’s eyes, as after so many years, she finally saw hope for survival and escape…

“Tomorrow, I will find a way to get some Clearing Qi Pills to remove the demonic Qi from your body.”

“Additionally, here are fifty spirit stones, which you can use for cultivation and to restore your strength.”

Li An placed down fifty spirit stones and then said, “I won’t disturb your rest anymore. I’ll take my leave first!”

After speaking, he left the magic artifact.

Inside the magic artifact, Gu Hong put on the clothes Li An gave her, picked up the chopsticks, and began to eat the spirit rice, tears streaming down her face…

…

In the room.

Li An felt calm inside.

After learning Gu Hong’s identity, he started planning in his mind.

If he reported directly to the sect, the sect would reward him significantly, and he would earn a lot of contribution points.

But doing so would expose the fact that he saved Gu Hong, which wasn’t advantageous for him in terms of benefits.

Once he reported to the sect, it would become a matter between the sect and that Second Grade Alchemist, Gusongxi; Gusongxi would only remember the favor owed to the Profound Yang Sect!

Li An planned to take his time, first building a relationship with Gu Hong, then finding an opportunity to help her leave.

In this way, he would be the one to earn the favor from Gusongxi and his disciples!

After all, alchemists are worth befriending, especially a Second Grade Alchemist like Gusongxi!

…

The next day.

Li An went directly to the Profound Yang Sect’s pill store and spent a large sum of money to buy a bunch of spirit medicines.

The excuse was simple: After being targeted by a demon cultivator, he panicked and wanted to quickly enhance his cultivation.

Among them were a few First Grade Clearing Qi Pills.

This purchase cost Li An two hundred spirit stones.

However, for the now wealthy Li An, this wasn’t a big deal.

He had received a four hundred spirit stone deposit from the demon cultivator, sold a total of three hundred Breaking Charms, and earned over seven hundred spirit stones.

He later also obtained three hundred more from the demon cultivator’s storage bag.

After accounting for the costs of charm paper and pens, as well as these two hundred spirit stones, he still had a thousand spirit stones left!

Money was not an issue.

“It’s been reported that the disciples of the Profound Yang Sect who went to Liyang Valley have returned. Two of them were rescued!”

At this moment, a message quickly circulated!

“It’s Tan Qingxue from the Spirit Talisman Shop and Wang Song from the Armory Pavilion!”

Li An was surprised that Tan Qingxue was still alive?

And on the street, several cultivators from the Profound Yang Sect were rushing towards the Spirit Pharmacy.

“Is Zhao Gang, the owner of the Spirit Pharmacy, here? Come quickly to save people!”

The leader was an expert at the peak of Qi Refining. He was holding a blood-covered woman, who was clearly Tan Qingxue!

…

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