With Su Qi gone, Jiang Zuo was free.

So, the first thing he did was take out the last Array Stone and carve a Concealing Array. After that, he wanted to try and find the exact location of the Immortal Spirit Spring.

By his calculations, the time was about right.

Afterward, Jiang Zuo contacted Chi Xue Child. When Chi Xue Child answered the call, his hand started trembling involuntarily.

’Has my tribulation finally arrived?’

But when he answered, he found it was completely different from what he’d expected.

Jiang Zuo: "Is Blade Master Hai Bian with you?"

Chi Xue Child said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Po Xiao, I have joined the Buddhist Sect."

"..."

’What does that have to do with me?’

Then, Chi Xue Child spoke into the phone, "It’s good that Fellow Daoist Po Xiao knows I’ve joined the Buddhist Sect. Oh, and yes, Blade Master Hai Bian is here."

"...Ask him if he’ll go back to the place with the spatial disruption."

"He says that’s fine." Then, Chi Xue Child added, "Can we come too? We heard the Ghost Cultivator has already left, so it shouldn’t be as dangerous there anymore."

Jiang Zuo nodded without hesitation. "You can."

Jiang Zuo then arranged a meeting spot with them.

When Jiang Zuo arrived at the meeting spot, he was stunned—but not because two extra people had shown up.

It was because Chi Xue Child was now actually bald. He had even brought a Wooden Fish with him; all he was missing was a kasaya.

Then again, this group had never been particularly normal, so Jiang Zuo wasn’t too bothered.

As for the two additions, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator and Witch Dan Xue, Jiang Zuo cared even less.

As long as they didn’t get in his way, he couldn’t care less who came along.

Mo Yan was still in a daze, constantly hiding behind Chi Xue Child and Liuyue Xue.

Liuyue Xue, on the other hand, looked haggard. It seemed Mo Yan’s condition was taking the biggest toll on her.

Then, Jiang Zuo said, "Let’s go."

Just then, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator spoke up. "Walking there will take a while. I can transport everyone over quickly."

Jiang Zuo glanced at the Black-robed Demon Cultivator but said nothing.

Neither did Blade Master Hai Bian or the others.

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator, unfazed, continued, "It’s not much. Just one First-Grade Spirit Stone per person. A real bargain."

It was indeed a bargain. To the now-wealthy Jiang Zuo, a First-Grade stone was practically worthless.

But without the slightest hesitation, he simply started walking.

’He didn’t even bother to speed up. Why?’

’Because he had time to spare.’

Since Jiang Zuo was walking, Chi Xue Child and the others naturally followed suit. They had already seen through the Black-robed Demon Cultivator’s shtick.

’That guy can’t say a word without mentioning Spirit Stones. Doesn’t he know we’re all broke?’

Then Witch Dan Xue shot the Black-robed Demon Cultivator a look of disgust. "Just quit. Stop calling yourself a Demon Cultivator, you’re an embarrassment. What kind of Demon Cultivator does business like this? You’ve even started a transportation service.

"If you want Spirit Stones, you should just rob someone. That’s the right way to do it."

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator: "..."

’Shouldn’t you be the one to quit, Junior Sister?’

Hearing Witch Dan Xue, a chill ran down the spines of Chi Xue Child and the others. "What if that black-robed guy actually decides to rob us?"

Liuyue Xue clutched the Spirit Stones on her person. They were hers.

Blade Master Hai Bian said nonchalantly, "Let him. I don’t have any."

Chi Xue Child and Liuyue Xue: "..."

Jiang Zuo couldn’t afford to underestimate the Black-robed Demon Cultivator, either.

A Tier One was simply too insignificant against a Tier Four.

Fortunately, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator showed no intention of attacking.

As for Demon Cultivator Mo Yan, she was the most carefree of all. She feared nothing, and if trouble arose, she would simply hide behind Liuyue Xue and the others.

She would only consider what to do after they were all gone.

Soon, Jiang Zuo and his group arrived at the clearing from before. There were faint traces of a battle—or rather, a duel that had ended in a single exchange.

Jiang Zuo paid these no mind. He scanned the area and found that the traces of distortion were gone. Even the spatial fluctuations had vanished.

’Has the Ghost Cultivator really left?’ Jiang Zuo wondered.

"Hey, I’ve found something over here!" the Black-robed Demon Cultivator suddenly called out.

Chi Xue Child and the others immediately gathered around. Jiang Zuo went over as well. Since he hadn’t found anything himself, it was only natural to go and have a look.

But when he got there, Jiang Zuo didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

Blade Master Hai Bian then asked, "Fellow Daoist, is something amiss here?"

Chi Xue Child added, "I don’t see anything wrong, either."

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator gave a mysterious smile. "That’s because your Cultivation is insufficient. Only a Tier Four like myself can spot it. Of course, I have a way to let you see it, too."

Blade Master Hai Bian frowned and looked toward Jiang Zuo. With Jiang Zuo’s profound insight, he might be able to see something.

But Jiang Zuo only looked for a moment before saying, "Name your price."

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Po Xiao always knows the deal. It’s not expensive—just one Sixth-Grade Spirit Stone."

Chi Xue Child yelled, "That’s highway robbery!"

"A business opportunity is sometimes more valuable than money," the Black-robed Demon Cultivator said with a laugh.

Finally, Jiang Zuo asked, "Do you guys have any spare?"

Liuyue Xue clutched her Spirit Stones again, refusing to take them out no matter what. They were her only comfort these past few exhausting days; she was mentally and physically drained.

Blade Master Hai Bian’s sleeves were empty; he had nothing at all.

Chi Xue Child looked left and right and realized he was the last resort. The Spirit Stone he’d just obtained hadn’t even warmed his pocket yet.

Then Jiang Zuo said, "I’ll pay you back later."

With that promise, Chi Xue Child was relieved and handed his only Sixth-Grade stone to the Black-robed Demon Cultivator.

After receiving the Spirit Stone, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator beamed.

Chi Xue Child said, "Alright, you can tell us now."

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator nodded. "Come over and look closely. Is the Spiritual Qi here a little thinner than in the surrounding area?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"And?" Jiang Zuo asked.

"That’s it," the Black-robed Demon Cultivator replied.

"..."

Blade Master Hai Bian immediately demanded, "What do you mean by that?"

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator shrugged. "As a merchant, I’m just doing business. Haven’t you heard that there’s no business without a little trickery? It was a willing transaction on both sides. I certainly didn’t force any of you."

"You...!"

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator didn’t think he’d done anything wrong. He was genuinely trying to get along peacefully with this group.

He’d wanted to do some business earlier but was worried about that moron’s attack. Later, he discovered that the moron had actually used a Nightmare Fruit as a base material, and the target had been limited to those with a Nightmare Specialization.

He had even consulted a Demon Cultivator senior on how to resist it.

So, since he was safe, it was naturally time to do business.

Jiang Zuo’s expression was placid, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever. He simply raised a finger, pointed behind the Black-robed Demon Cultivator, and said, "Look, an airplane."

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Po Xiao, calm down. Don’t—"

Before the Black-robed Demon Cultivator could finish, Witch Dan Xue cried out, "Senior Brother, look out behind you!"

At that moment, a massive stone stele plummeted from the sky, crashing down directly onto the Black-robed Demon Cultivator.

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator was startled for a moment, then laughed. "It’s no use. This thing can’t hurt me."

Jiang Zuo said coldly, "Mm, I know."

Then, Jiang Zuo laid a hand on the Black-robed Demon Cultivator.

The instant he was touched, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator cried out in shock, "How is this possible? How can you touch me?"

’My black robe isn’t just for show—it’s a life-saving treasure!’

Jiang Zuo didn’t answer. The Black-robed Demon Cultivator immediately unleashed his aura, forcing Jiang Zuo to retreat as a Shield manifested in front of him to block the attack.

BOOM!

If the Battle Spirit Stele hadn’t landed in time, Jiang Zuo felt his hand would have been crippled. As it was, his hand was already injured.

Of course, the Battle Spirit Stele posed no threat to the Black-robed Demon Cultivator; it had only served to block the attack.

After that, there was no need to do anything else.

Just then, everyone heard the Black-robed Demon Cultivator cry out, "What is this thing?!?"

After that, he went completely silent.

Witch Dan Xue, however, had seen it with her own eyes: her senior brother had been dragged underground by something.

Witch Dan Xue drew her sword and pointed it at Jiang Zuo. "What did you do to my senior brother?"

"I just sent him off to have some fun. It’ll probably be the death of him," Jiang Zuo said nonchalantly as he tended to his wound.