"..."
[Conceal the Host's Aura and Cultivation Until Rebirth, Requires 40 Psionic Stars]
"As I thought... my Psionic Stars are all dried up."
Ling Yan had slightly regretted investing most of his Psionic Stars in cultivation—it seems he had no choice but to settle on concealing his aura for only a few hours. Fortunately, he had thought of this plan before going down.
"..?"
"I'll be extending my stay."
"That cannot be done."
Arriving at the reception desk below, Ling Yan paused, that was not the response he had expected. The fox woman exhaled a smoke cloud, as she sighed at the man in front of him.
"You've gotten abnormally strong sweetheart and while you might hide your aura—I am still sensitive around the air that people give, so you won't be able to fool me. I presume you've practiced demonic arts?" The woman looked at him sternly, as if ready to kick him out at any moment.
"...!"
[Identify Hu Li (Shopkeeper), Requires 5 Psionic Stars]
"I had a good impression of you from the start, it seems I was wrong. Don't worry, I don't breach my customer's confidentiality—but I hope you would leave from my establishment." The woman closed her eyes.
As if replying to the woman's order, a loud outburst came from the pagoda's large double-arched doors. A pompous and fine-dressed-looking young man surges forth, gathering the attention of everyone at the entrance and by the lobby. However, their face and physique did not match the style that they were donning—he was, quite frankly, crude-looking.
"Li'er! Where are you!?" His hoarse voice resounded throughout the first floor.
"..."
"I changed my mind."
"...?"
As this was happening all too fast, Ling Yan was still in a stupor and was even more confused after what the Shopkeeper had said.
"If you can deal with him, you may have the room for the entire day, free of charge." The woman dropped her smoking pipe, her hand on her temple.
"But—isn't he here finding you? Why not deal with him instead?"
"He's the mayor's youngest son, and the most doted upon, I might lose my rights to run this place here if I push him too much." She said with annoyance.
"So... you're saying I should be taking the fall?"
Ling Yan was slightly befuddled, after all, if he were to take 'care' of this mayor's son, he would be executed in front of the whole city. He of course knew this and was about to reject this proposal...
"So? Do you want everyone to hunt you down and cripple you? I'm not saying you should kill him—at worst, you'll just be banished from this city." She intimidatingly said.
"What happened to not breaching the confidentiality of your customers..."
This woman was quite cunning, Ling Yan thought. Truly, he really could not say no—after all, his fate was already sealed when the intuitive fox shopkeeper threatened his life.
"As sly as a fox... literally." Ling Yan grimacingly reflected.
<<----------->>
"...? Get out of the way commoner!"
"I'm afraid not, this is as far as you can go."
Everyone gathered to see the commotion. It seems that somebody was stopping the third young master of Qingyun (青云) City—and although he wasn't particularly strong or remarkable, he had the background to compensate for his mediocrity.
[Warning: the host is facing a Foundation-Establishment(1st Layer)]
"It's good that I can test out the capabilities of having purer Qi." Ling Yan thought.
"Do you not know who I am!? You are only adding fuel to my anger! If I wanted, I could have you dead right now!" The young man said in anger, shooting an exasperated glare at Ling Yan.
"Even so, I cannot step away."
While saying this, Ling Yan had noticed something. Despite the commotion—no one seemed to be surprised... as if it was a daily occurrence.
"...!? Are you also being used by this woman!? Let me enlighten you, that vixen was about to scam me for spirit stones—"
The young master went on. It seems he had lusted over the shopkeeper and had wanted to take her through 'financial' means—only to end up almost fooled by an animated doll that the shopkeeper had created.
"If not for a senior who gifted me a rare-grade artifact, I wouldn't be able to sense it at all!"
"So—are you done?"
"...!"
The young master recoiled in surprise, Ling Yan was unfazed. Even the people who had watched the commotion did not expect such a nonchalant reply.
"Look, I know you have your reasons, and I understand where you're coming from. But so do I—the world is not as simple as black and white."
"Insolent! You're just a Qi Refining cultivator! If I wasn't on a private agenda today, my bodyguards could easily crush you with one hand!"
"Resorting the violence, now that your pride has been wounded? Typical."
As if responding to Ling Yan's provocation, the young master had charged at him. His bloodshot eyes had found his presence annoying and couldn't hold back his anger anymore.
Ling Yan stood there, unmoving and unfazed. He, of course, knew that he had no chance of losing. After all, he had the system just in case something unexpected had happened.
"[Grand Thunder Fist]!"
For a second, everyone saw: the anger that was welling up in the otherwise calm Ling Yan. His eyes, for a moment, had become that of a demonic beast—it was so intimidating that it had put the young master's aura to shame.
"...!?"
A swift movement of his fist was all it took—before it hit head on to the bewildered young master. Just like the last victim, he had no time to react. It seems Ling Yan had progressed his mastery of [Grand Thunder Fist] to Elementary.
A loud bang resonated, as electrifying shocks spread in all directions. Supersonic sounds followed as the young master flew in the direction of whence he came—a large blunt sound followed. The arched doors of the cultivation pagoda recoiled in response, it seemed it was sturdier than Ling Yan thought.
"He's dead."
Everyone collectively thought, not towards the young master—but towards Ling Yan. Although no one expected the young master to win since his cultivation and foundation were shaky, he was still not to be messed around with.
"I hope this is worth it..."
"..." A slight condescending grin could be seen from behind Ling Yan.