Li Xuanxuan glanced at him sideways, took his seat at the table, fiddled with his beard, and declared frankly:

"Elder Dao is straightforward, my Secret Technique is a rare Pupil Technique, three hundred Spirit Stones!"

This was a sky-high asking price, an exaggerated figure indeed, but the black-robed cultivator, hating his dilly-dallying and seeing the appointed time nearing, had no patience for bargaining and simply said:

"Done, done! Hurry and hand over the Secret Technique! No dawdling!"

Seeing that he didn't haggle and readily agreed, Li Xuanxuan grew more certain—now ninety percent sure—that this group of cultivators had ill intentions, so he said with a smile:

"Elder Dao is quite generous; let's proceed to the Xiao Family to draft the agreement, complete the transaction, and it will be done..."

The black-robed cultivator was no fool; his expression suddenly changed, his voice cooled, and he demanded sternly:

"What agreement!"

Li Xuanxuan showed a puzzled look and explained:

"Is this the first time the elder has come here? In the market, transactions involving hundreds of Spirit Stones must go through the hands of the People of the Xiao Family to establish an agreement, to avoid disputes over the quality of goods and prevent the elder from suffering losses..."

The black-robed cultivator, impatient, could not allow time for a Xiao Family cultivator to come; he intoned with a deep voice:

"Elder has no need for these troublesome Xiao Family agreements! Just hand over that Secret Technique, and Elder will know if it's genuine!"

Li Xuanxuan nodded with a smile, and said:

"As long as the elder provides sufficient compensation, I'll get someone to fetch the agreement; it won't be a problem, not a problem..."

He then signaled to Li Qiuyang with his eyes, and Li Qiuyang hurried out immediately. The black-robed cultivator snorted coldly and waved his hand across his Storage Bag, causing a clatter as a pile of Magic Artifacts surrounded by Dharma Light fell to the ground.

This pile of Magic Artifacts consisting of swords, axes, and spears either was damaged or of good quality, but all were spattered with blood, fresh and old. Most had dried into brown-black flakes, falling off upon impact and scattering on the ground as dust.

"These Magic Artifacts include Qi Cultivation, Fetal Breathing, count them and see if they are worth the price?"

The man's voice echoed in the air as the brown dust scattered in the sunlight. Li Xuanxuan silently exhaled, calculating with dread in his heart.

He thought to himself:

"This person is likely one of those Devil Cultivators heading north… a group infiltrating Guanyun Peak's market, and those Thunder Fire Beads have tremendous power, definitely not intended for a minor character like me, most likely aimed at destroying Guanyun Peak's market formation..."

His gaze moved over the pile of Magic Artifacts for a moment. The shop was beyond saving; he had already sent Li Qiuyang away, and surely he wasn't foolish enough to miss the signals.

"What's going on! What is wrong with you!"

"Quiet! No fighting in the market!"

The noise from outside was getting louder, with the sounds of mana colliding and Magic Artifacts clashing. As the time for those people to take action drew closer, Li Xuanxuan's heart burned with urgency, and he muttered:

"Elder Dao, this is not up to the count of three hundred!"

"Not enough?!"

The impatient black-robed cultivator gestured as if to continue retrieving items from the Storage Bag, but Li Xuanxuan squeezed out a greedy expression. First, he harshly ordered Li Yuanyun standing to the side:

"Get out!"

Li Yuanyun and several apprentices in the shop quickly retreated. Li Xuanxuan felt slightly relieved and repeated eagerly:

"Elder Dao! Elder Dao! I would also like to see that treasure you showed earlier... I have operated this shop for many years and have never seen such a marvelous item, rare and surely fetching a high price!"

"Oh?"

The black-robed cultivator paused as if he heard something amusing and laughed heartily for a few breaths. Then he pulled out a dark, dull Jade Bead from his sleeve, chided with laughter:

"You have quite the keen eye! Take it!"

He tossed the Technique Thunder Bead into Li Xuanxuan's hands. As he clumsily caught it, the black-robed cultivator's cold voice demanded:

"Now can you give that Secret Method to Gong?"

"Certainly! Certainly!"

Li Xuanxuan greedily eyed the Treasure Bead while reaching into his Storage Bag to pull out a Jade Slip, carelessly extending it toward him.

The black-robed cultivator took the Jade Slip and was about to probe it with his Spiritual Sense when Li Xuanxuan seized the opportunity to act, sweeping the pile of Magic Artifacts off the table with his sleeve. Amid the clattering noise, he bolted out the door.

"Hm?"

The cultivator surnamed Gong immediately flew into a rage upon realizing the Jade Slip in his hand was not a Secret Technique but merely some travel journals of cultivation. He bellowed:

"How dare you!"

Stamping his foot forcefully, a white Qi rose from his body, making the small house shake. Using the force, he grabbed towards Li Xuanxuan, his palm wind forming into a cluster of white flocculent Qi that surged forward.

Li Xuanxuan's face darkened as he clutched a golden Talisman in his hand. A golden light enveloped him, while a dense blood light burst forth, allowing him to retreat like the wind.

"Boom!"

The golden Shield around Li Xuanxuan lasted only a few moments before shattering like an egg against the white Qi. Unable to dodge, his flesh was scraped raw by the Qi, exposing stark white bone.

Biting back a cry of pain, he concentrated his Mana to fiercely resist the black-robed cultivator's assault, stepping back before taking to the air.

All the Talismans Li Xuanxuan had drawn in exchange for Spirit Stones were sent home; he had never prepared anything substantial for himself, thinking he was safe within the market. Even the Talismans he held were only at the Qi Cultivation level, now easily shattered by a single blow, which made him slightly regretful.