Chapter 159: Lingyun's Wrath

"Shopkeeper, do not be impatient. Can you give me a quotation for equipment? I would like to purchase a batch of defensive gear."

Hearing this, Duan Fu's eyes burned with enthusiasm as he looked at Yao Ye. "Young master, please wait a moment. I will fetch the price list for you right away!"

Yao Ye took the price list from Duan Fu. The more he read, the more startled he became, and the more he marveled at the formidable strength of the Artifact Sect. Yuan Chen and the others quickly crowded around, unable to hold back their comments as they looked at the list.

"My goodness! This is outright robbery! Look at this defensive gear that can block a Heaven-Reaching expert—it actually costs four hundred thousand primordial Qi pills per piece!"

"Hey! You cannot put it that way. Everyone knows that the Spirit-Connecting realm allows one to materialize Qi into clothing, but such materialized Qi not only consumes massive amounts of energy, it is also of little use when facing someone of a higher realm. Our defensive gear is completely different!"

Hearing Duan Fu's words, Yao Ye and the others nodded in agreement. Seeing that Yao Ye was somewhat tempted, Duan Fu continued, "Although we charge four hundred thousand per piece, once you possess this equipment, it can withstand a full-strike from a Heaven-Reaching expert without injury. At a critical moment, this can turn the tide of battle. Besides, wealth is merely an external possession; of what use is retaining wealth if you lose your life?"

Yao Ye slammed the price list shut. "I dare not look at it any longer, or I will be tempted to buy every fine item here!"

Handing back the price list, Yao Ye said, "Give me five hundred pieces of the equipment that can withstand a Heaven-Reaching realm strike, and four pieces for the Void-Taixu realm!"

Upon hearing Yao Ye's order, Yuan Chen, Hu Lie, and the others bolted over and exclaimed anxiously, "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how much these items cost? A single Taixu-grade piece costs five hundred cubes alone, and you want four of them!"

Yao Ye smiled faintly. "My brothers need not worry. Are primordial Qi pills not meant to be spent?"

"That is no reason to squander them like this. Listen to your older brother—forget about the Taixu equipment. Cultivating one's own strength is what matters most!"

"My brothers, do not try to persuade me further. I, Yao Ye, have a pure land that I must protect. Even if it costs me my life, I will not let those people suffer the slightest grievance. These four pieces of equipment are prepared for them!"

Though the four of them had known each other for only a short time, Yuan Chen and the others knew that Yao Ye was a man of utmost loyalty. The three of them opened their mouths several times to advise him otherwise, but no words came out.

"Shopkeeper, please go ahead and process this. We will wait here for you!"

Duan Fu muttered a brief "just a moment" and scurried off. After Yao Ye and his companions had grown somewhat impatient, Duan Fu finally made a belated return.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting so long! The truth is, I did not have enough Taixu equipment in stock, so I had to make a trip back to the sect. Forgive me, forgive me!"

"Shopkeeper, it is no matter. Is all the equipment ready?"

Duan Fu produced a small cauldron once more and handed it to Yao Ye. "It is all inside. Have a look and verify it!"

Yao Ye nodded, took the cauldron, and probed it with his spiritual sense. Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at Duan Fu.

"Shopkeeper, this is not right, is it?"

Yuan Chen and the others quickly stepped forward and glared at Duan Fu. "What is the meaning of this, shopkeeper? Are you trying to palm off inferior goods as superior ones? Or is the count incorrect?"

Yao Ye hastily stopped Yuan Chen. "Big brother, it is not like that. It is just that the price inside is less than what was quoted!"

Duan Fu looked at Yao Ye with a smile. "This is what you deserve. To possess such cultivation at a young age and yet remain so righteous—consider this surplus a gift from me, purely to make a friend. How about it?"

"Many thanks, shopkeeper. This kindness is engraved in my heart, Yao Ye. If you ever need anything, come find me in the Xiaoyao City of the Eastern War Zone. As long as you present this token, I, Yao Ye, will do everything in my power!"

Duan Fu accepted the token handed over by Yao Ye, nodded with satisfaction, and said softly, "Four pieces of Taixu equipment for two thousand cubes of primordial Qi pills, and five hundred pieces of Heaven-Reaching equipment for six hundred and twelve cubes. A total of two thousand six hundred cubes of primordial Qi pills will suffice."

Yao Ye nodded, feeling a pang of heartache as he produced two thousand six hundred cubes of primordial Qi pills and placed them into Duan Fu's hands. He could not help sighing, "In the span of a single moment, a quarter of my wealth is gone!"

With the business concluded, Yao Ye remained constantly preoccupied with the people of the Heavenly Mansion, pressing forward single-mindedly along the journey and driving Yuan Chen and Hu Lie half-mad with exhaustion. What Yao Ye did not know was that right at this moment, an inescapable net was waiting for him in Xiaoyao City!

Back at the Cloud Firmament Sect, Ling Yun looked down at the elder kneeling on the hall floor and asked with deep displeasure, "What is the meaning of this? Do the rest of you have nothing better to do?"

The leading elder stammered nervously, "Sect Master, shortly after your departure, I received a report from our covert agent left behind in Xiaoyao City. The agent reported..."

The leading elder cast a stealthy glance at Ling Yun. "Elder Xue, I am in no mood for you to play games and withhold the details."

Hearing Ling Yun's voice grow increasingly frigid, Elder Xue broke into a cold sweat and quickly wiped his brow. "The covert agent reported that Elder Limou and the disciples accompanying him have all been killed in the forest!"

Ling Yun whirled around abruptly, unleashing a powerful wave of pressure and killing intent that swept across the entire grand hall. The kneeling elders could not help trembling involuntarily.

"Pass down my order: recall all disciples currently outside, and have them return within a single day. Anyone who fails to return will be dealt with as a traitor to the sect! Xue Long, you shall remain to guard the sect. The rest of the elders will accompany me to raze Xiaoyao City to the ground! We depart at dawn tomorrow!"

"Understood!"

Granted a reprieve, all the elders scrambled in a panic to exit the hall. Ling Yun clenched his fists tightly. "My Cloud Firmament Sect has never suffered such a heavy loss. I am eager to see what kind of sacred being you truly are!"

Meanwhile, Yao Ye had left Penghui City not long ago, racing toward Xiaoyao City without stopping, his mind consumed by worry over the matters at the Stone Pavilion.

"Tell me, little brother, what on earth has you in such a rush? We are about to reach Xiaoyao City; can we finally catch our breath now?"

Looking at Xiaoyao City, which was now clearly visible in the distance, Yao Ye nodded. He knew that the Cloud Firmament Sect would eventually discover the deaths of Limou and the others, so he released his divine sense to scan Xiaoyao City ahead.

As soon as he probed the area, Yao Ye's brow furrowed. The entire sprawling city of Xiaoyao was plunged into a deathly stillness. He quickly called out to the three men behind him.

"Three brothers, something is wrong. Xiaoyao City seems to be in trouble!"

Yuan Chen waved his hand dismissively. "There is trouble somewhere every single day. Besides, whatever happens in Xiaoyao City has nothing to do with us. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill!"

"Big brother, something is amiss. The situation is not that simple. The entire city is lifeless and deserted; even corpses are nowhere to be found!"

"Oh?"

Yuan Chen and the other two quickly swept their divine senses outward to investigate. A moment later, they opened their eyes, exchanged glances, and shook their heads.

"That is truly bizarre. Not a single soul is about in broad daylight. Even if the demons had attacked, there should at least be bodies!"

"My brothers, we must part ways here. I am going in to see what is happening!"

"Very well, little brother, take care of yourself. We will meet at the Tiger Heaven Palace; we will wait for you to return so we can share a drink!"

Yao Ye nodded and flew toward Xiaoyao City. What Yao Ye did not know was that Ling Yun was waiting for his arrival at that very moment.