Although this copper piece only recorded techniques for the Qi Refinement stage, it was more than sufficient for Qin Wang at the moment.
The Next Day, Afternoon
"Finally, it's done."
Qin Wang slowly opened his eyes, feeling the Qi Refinement Stage Two cultivation hidden within him. His eyes showed satisfaction.
From yesterday afternoon until this afternoon, Qin Wang had been using the Lock Spirit Concealment Method to conceal his Qi Refinement Stage Four cultivation, hiding it at the peak of Qi Refinement Stage Two. This way, returning would pose no problem.
At the same time, he went to the place where Zhao Xuanting's storage bag was hidden, retrieved it, and placed his magic sword and trident inside.
Since Zhao Xuanting was dead, the spiritual mark on the storage bag had dissipated. Qin Wang quickly opened the bag with his own spiritual sense.
"My goodness! Zhao Xuanting was a beast!"
"So wealthy!"
"How many low-level rogue cultivators must he have killed to amass such wealth?"
Qin Wang opened Zhao Xuanting's storage bag, revealing a shocked expression.
The space was the same size as the one belonging to Qingyao Shangren, but it was packed full.
There were more than ten bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills, Body Tempering Pills, and Qi Supplementing Pills alone.
A rough count showed about three to four hundred spirit stones.
More than ten Wind Blade Talismans and Defense Talismans.
Beast materials, low-level spiritual herbs, and several jade slips.
This recovery more than made up for the forty spirit stones Zhao Xuanting had extorted from him, with interest.
"Fortunately, Zhao Xuanting underestimated me initially. Moreover, the paralysis effect of the Bewitching Incense was fast and powerful, rendering Zhao Xuanting completely incapacitated. Otherwise, my belongings would have ended up in his storage bag too!"
Qin Wang looked at Zhao Xuanting's storage bag, feeling very fortunate.
At the same time, he reminded himself silently that the path of cultivation was as precarious as walking on thin ice. He needed to be vigilant and ensure multiple safeguards. Never act without absolute certainty! One wrong step could lead to death and the disappearance of one's Dao!
Qin Wang packed everything and headed straight for Xiaodan Mountain.
Xiaodan Mountain, Shantytown for Rogue CultivatorsHut No. 88
"Chiyang Divine Art? Martial Arts Technique? Dacang Territory Map? A pile of silver notes? Damn it! What a poor wretch!"
A tall, pot-bellied middle-aged cultivator was rummaging through Qin Wang's belongings, complaining as he did so.
From a few meters away, Qin Wang saw his neighbor, Gao Yuan, skinning a rabbit demon at his door. Gao Yuan stood up in surprise when he saw Qin Wang.
"Huh? Little Qin! You're safe... That's great!"
"Uncle Gao, I was trapped in a cave for the past few days and just got out today. Thank you for your concern!"
Qin Wang smiled at Gao Yuan.
Gao Yuan's daughter, Gao Wenjing, also came out upon hearing Qin Wang's return. She smiled at Qin Wang and indicated towards Qin Wang's hut.
"Huh?"
Following Gao Wenjing's gesture, Qin Wang noticed someone inside his hut. According to the intel, Zhao Haifeng was supposed to come yesterday to loot his room but got delayed until today. And now, he had caught him red-handed.
"Well, well! I thought you were dead, eaten by demons after going missing for days. But it seems you're back!"
"I am Zhao Haifeng, from the Outer Affairs Hall of Xiaodan Mountain Market. According to the market's regulations, if a cultivator is missing for more than half a month, we from the Outer Affairs Hall have the right to reclaim the rented shantytown huts and re-rent them to others!"
"We heard you were missing for seven or eight days, so we came to check."
"Since you're back, the rental agreement continues."
Seeing Qin Wang at the door, Zhao Haifeng, who was rummaging through Qin Wang's belongings, looked embarrassed but quickly composed himself, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Junior Qin Wang, thank you for your concern, Senior."
Qin Wang spoke respectfully to Zhao Haifeng, not making a scene.
Zhao Haifeng was backed by his clan member Zhao Yulong, who was at the peak of Qi Refinement Stage Nine. It was unwise to provoke them now, but Qin Wang would find an opportunity to deal with him.
"Hmm."
Zhao Haifeng nodded arrogantly, hands behind his back, then said, "Also, I must inform you that the rent for the shantytown huts has increased by half. Moreover, due to your prolonged absence, your spirit field has been rented to someone else. You need to go to the Outer Affairs Hall to re-register and rent a new one."
"What?"
"Rented to someone else? Re-register? Senior Zhao, what about my spiritual grain?"
Qin Wang's heart sank. According to the intel, Zhao Haifeng intended to rent his spirit field at half price and take the spiritual grain he had already planted. He hadn't expected this scoundrel to act so quickly!
"You can only blame yourself for being missing for so long. You have to rent a new spirit field and buy new spiritual grain seeds to replant."
Zhao Haifeng left those words and turned to leave.
"..."
Qin Wang watched Zhao Haifeng's back, speechless.
"Little Qin, let it go. Zhao Haifeng is the kin of the Outer Affairs Hall manager, Zhao Yulong. He has always been overbearing in Xiaodan Mountain. Just bear with it. Previously, an old man named Zhang opposed him, and within three days, he encountered robbers and..."
Gao Yuan came over, patting Qin Wang's shoulder, fearing the hot-headed youth might provoke Zhao Haifeng, leading to disaster.
"Uncle Gao, I understand."
Qin Wang smiled gratefully at Gao Yuan. In his heart, he had already marked Zhao Haifeng as a dead man. As soon as there was an opportunity, he would ensure Zhao Haifeng's demise!
Gao Yuan nodded and went back to handling the rabbit demon meat.
Qin Wang returned to his hut, finding everything Zhao Haifeng had touched in disarray. His anger surged!
Fortunately, he always carried his treasures like the precious bowl, the Soul Gathering Bowl, and the mysterious fragments with him.
The left-behind items were mundane, like the Chiyang Divine Art manual, the Eagle Flight manual, silver notes, and gold jewelry, which Zhao Haifeng found unworthy.
After tidying up, Qin Wang decided to review his recent gains.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Little Qin, open the door."
"Gao Wenjing?"
Qin Wang opened the door, finding Gao Wenjing standing there with a large bowl of rabbit meat soup, emitting a rich aroma.
"Little Qin, the cultivation world is like this. Just rent a new spirit field tomorrow."
"Drink this while it's hot!"
Gao Wenjing walked in, placed the soup on the table, and quickly left.
Qin Wang felt a wave of warmth as he looked at the bowl of soup.
Though Zhao Haifeng was vile, Gao Yuan and his daughter were good people.
"Time to review my gains!"
After drinking the soup, Qin Wang locked the door and went to the inner room to take out all the spirit stones from his storage bag.