Chapter 136: A Professional Master Thief

Qin Chuan had brazenly slaughtered the outer disciples of Black Wind Cliff. This act sent a chilling tremor through the hearts of every guest at the Black Forest Inn. The innkeeper, meanwhile, was suffering in agony but dared not even utter a sound.

At this moment, even Xi Ruo, the Lord of the Spirit Realm, was deeply shocked. Qin Chuan’s style of conduct was both bold and ruthless, characteristic of one who feared nothing under heaven. Long Ao, however, felt a profound sense of admiration for Qin Chuan, unable to refrain from praising him: "My master is decisive in killing; he is surely a dragon among men and destined for great things." Long Ao’s own temperament was exceptionally fierce, and Qin Chuan’s approach suited him perfectly.

Qin Chuan responded indifferently, "Kind people are bullied, and gentle horses are ridden." From the Sunset Forest to the Black Forest Inn, Qin Chuan’s personality had undergone a drastic transformation. Having emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, he had become introverted, composed, and domineering.

"Ding! Devouring successful. Gained 31 points of Vitality."

...

In this wave, Qin Chuan had killed 21 outer disciples of Black Wind Cliff.

Merit Points: 2988
Vitality: 696/1000

"Chuan, let's go. Come back to the Purple Spirit Manor with me." Zi Zi rushed out, her face filled with anxiety.

Yet, Qin Chuan remained unmoved, stating calmly, "No, this is only the beginning. If you do not wish to put yourself in danger, you may return to the Purple Spirit Manor and wait for me. One day, I will surely come to find you there."

"Chuan, why must you take such risks? The Purple Spirit Manor has plenty of elixirs. Wouldn't it be better to wait until you are stronger before coming here?"

"No, there are plenty of elixirs here as well."

"Chuan!"

Zi Zi was so distressed she was on the verge of tears; she could not understand why Qin Chuan had to be so stubborn. Qin Chuan did not want to rely on Zi Zi; he wanted to change his fate with his own two hands. The atmosphere grew tense, and even Sleepybug did not know how to console her.

"Sister Zi Zi, Qin Chuan is a man of ambition. Only in danger can he grow rapidly. If you bind him to the Purple Spirit Manor, you will only strip him of his drive to forge ahead. Besides, he does not wish to rely on a woman." Xi Ruo, having lived for countless ages, naturally understood Qin Chuan’s mind.

"Indeed, a great man should walk through fire and water; comfort only breeds complacency." Even the usually taciturn Long Ao expressed his clear support for Qin Chuan.

Facing this situation, Qin Chuan stepped forward and gently embraced Zi Zi, saying softly, "Zi Zi, trust me. Just wait for me at the Purple Spirit Manor."

These gentle words touched Zi Zi’s heart, and she could not help but bury herself in his arms, weeping uncontrollably. Partings are always sorrowful, and eventually, Zi Zi left, tearful and filled with reluctance, accompanied by Sleepybug and Xi Ruo.

"Master, I am beginning to look forward to the battles ahead. It has been a long time since I felt this way."

When it came to being warlike, Long Ao was second to none. As a former Dragon God, the desire for battle was carved into his very marrow. Qin Chuan was also expectant; his Spirit Core flickered incessantly. "Good. Then I shall turn Black Wind Cliff upside down!"

At this moment, the two outer disciples of Black Wind Cliff who had remained in the basement were waiting anxiously for Liu Suifeng to return.

"Senior Brother, they have been gone for so long. Why haven't they returned yet?"

"Indeed. Why don't we go and take a look?"

"Agreed."

As soon as these two fellows emerged, they ran straight into Qin Chuan, who was just leaving the town. To showcase their status, members of Black Wind Cliff all wore uniform attire, making them very easy to identify. The moment Qin Chuan saw them, he sent them on their way without a second word.

"Strange, why did they crawl out from a pile of grass?"

"Master, there must be something fishy here. Why not go down and take a look?"

"Good idea."

Qin Chuan entered the grass, found an opening, and jumped down. After walking for a while, he discovered a stockpile of supplies.

"I see, these are strategic resources. It seems Black Wind Cliff and the Purple Spirit Manor are preparing for a long war."

"Indeed. According to that girl Zi Zi, both sides are evenly matched. It looks like it will be a long fight."

"Very well, I shall devour all of this. It serves two purposes at once."

With a thought, Qin Chuan activated his Devour ability. All the resources were converted into experience and essence, allowing Qin Chuan to steadily level up by more than half a grade. As for the Merit Points, Qin Chuan decided not to use them yet; they might prove to have miraculous effects in the future.

Black Wind Cliff, busy with the war, could never have guessed that their own backyard was on fire, resulting in the loss of a strategic supply outpost. After finishing his consumption, Qin Chuan discussed the map in detail with Long Ao, then set off for Blackwater Town.

Blackwater Town was another strategic point for Black Wind Cliff, and it also housed a batch of important supplies. According to the judgment of Qin Chuan and Long Ao, there would almost certainly be a harvest to be had in Blackwater Town.

By now, Qin Chuan had transformed from a petty bandit into a professional master thief, acting with great focus and purpose. Blackwater Town was similar to Black Forest Town, a rather bustling place. Qin Chuan strolled through the streets, searching for people from Black Wind Cliff.

"Good news! Good news! The Treasure Pavilion has just received a batch of rare treasures and wild spirit items. We welcome everyone to come to the auction house to bid. First come, first served!"

A clerk from the Treasure Pavilion was spreading the news on the street, which piqued Qin Chuan’s interest.

"The auction house will have a large crowd; perhaps I can find them there. At the same time, I can see if there is anything I need."

Qin Chuan headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion. It was a two-story building, not only opulent but also possessing an ancient, elegant charm—though it was merely a small branch of the larger Treasure Pavilion. At this moment, the pavilion was teeming with people, numbering in the thousands, all of them cultivators.

"Dear guest, my name is Yiyi. Are you here to bid or to sell?"

A beautifully dressed girl with a pleasant smile approached him; she was quite delicate and pretty.

Qin Chuan said indifferently, "To sell."

Upon hearing "sell," Yiyi’s eyes lit up. She gave a sweet smile and said, "Please follow me, dear guest. Items for auction need to be appraised beforehand."

Yiyi was sharp-eyed; she had noticed Qin Chuan the moment he entered, and his temperament had left her quite captivated. She also surmised that Qin Chuan must be a person of wealth and status, perhaps even a major seller. As it turned out, her intuition was spot on.

Within the territories controlled by Black Wind Cliff, not everyone was of the Ghost Race; in fact, a portion were human. The ancestors of the humans had come from lower planes and multiplied across the realms, though their status remained relatively low. The members of Black Wind Cliff were all from the Ghost Realm and held positions of supreme power. Qin Chuan, having received a notification from the system, felt a sense of affinity toward Yiyi, as he himself had once been human.

"Very well, please lead the way."

Qin Chuan’s tone remained flat, yet it lacked its usual coldness. Led by Yiyi, Qin Chuan arrived at the appraisal room, where an old man with a white beard sat, head bowed, fiddling with some objects. Though he looked frail and worn, he was clearly a cultivator of no low standing.

"Yiyi, another guest?" The old man smiled warmly, his face radiating kindness.

"Yes, Grandfather. This time, our guest is very young."

The old man looked up at Qin Chuan with curiosity, also struck by the young man's temperament. "Dear guest, this old man is Mo Zhuiwen. May I ask your name?"

The old man’s name was quite intriguing—his name literally meant "Don't Ask"—yet he was the one asking for Qin Chuan’s name.

"Qin Chuan."

"Young Master Qin, please have a seat. What items do you wish to auction?"

Qin Chuan took a Five-Colored Fruit from the storage bag Zi Zi had left him. The storage bag itself was exquisite, clearly a high-end item. As soon as it appeared, Yiyi couldn't help but smile sweetly, feeling her judgment had been confirmed once more.

Mo Zhuiwen took the Five-Colored Fruit and examined it carefully. A flash of brilliance crossed his eyes, and he exclaimed excitedly, "This... could this be a top-grade Five-Colored Fruit? Though it is only a fourth-tier spirit fruit, its value far exceeds that of ordinary fifth or sixth-tier spirit fruits."

"Indeed, it is a Five-Colored Fruit."

"Yiyi, immediately get a premium VIP pass for Young Master Qin!"

At this moment, Mo Zhuiwen was beyond excited, feeling as if he had stumbled upon a great treasure.