Amidst the tension of the three individuals, Lu Xuan retrieved a spirit stone from his sleeve and warmly handed it to the mid-level Qi cultivator.
"Fellow Daoists, it's been quite a journey. Here's a bit of a spirit stone as a token of appreciation. Please, indulge in so spirit tea."
Lu Xuan's face lit up with genuine warmth.
The leading mid-level Qi cultivator hesitated but accepted it gracefully, gauging the approximate value of the stone with his experienced eye and smiling in satisfaction.
Seeing him take the stone, Lu Xuan eased a bit.
He didn't want these three to enter his spiritual field and spot the rare and precious spirit plants like Sword Grass or Dark Marrow Fungus, lest it invite trouble.
If he rejected them with force, he was confident in his cultivation at the fifth Qi level along with his prized special-grade artifacts, but dealing with the aftermath among so many witnesses was sothing he couldn't bear.
With that path closed, bribery seed the only option. Twenty spirit stones to quell a potential conflict seed acceptable.
Wearing a fake smile, he made a ntal note of these three cultivators, especially the leader, planning to regain it with interest if the chance arose.
The mid-level cultivator discreetly stashed away the twenty stones, while the two at the third Qi level beside him remained nonchalant, as if they hadn't noticed.
"I see potential in you, honest and forthright. I'm sure you have no connection with malevolent forces. How about a re formality of my n casually inspecting your yard?"
The mid-level cultivator grinned at Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan paused, understanding the undertone in his words, feeling an unnad anger rise within.
"You've already taken twenty stones from . Feeding your two n on top of thataren't you afraid of overfeeding?"
What had initially been an attempt to salvage the situation turned into a strong urge to eliminate the three after the mid-level cultivator's words.
Taking his two third-level cultivators into the courtyard, Lu Xuan handed them each five stones. After a cursory glance, they left content.
"My spirit stones aren't earned that easily."
Lu Xuan followed them out, watching their backs and sneering inwardly.
As they were about to enter another courtyard, Wang Shan suddenly erged from his ho.
Spotting the mid-level cultivator, Wang Shan's eyes sparkled.
"Senior Brother Tang, what brings you here? Why not step inside and visit ?"
Wang Shan, with a flushed face, walked over, grinning.
"There are tasks assigned from above, busy with official matters. Malevolent entities have been rampant in the market, so I have to check."
"Wang Shan, it's been a while. Your cultivation has greatly improved."
The mid-level cultivator responded with a smile.
"Ah, this is Lu Xuan, my neighbor. He's devoted to nurturing spirit plants, honest and straightforward. Senior Brother Tang, you haven't troubled him, have you?"
"Why would I? Lu Xiaoxiong is obviously a person of integrity, unlikely to be associated with malevolent forces."
The mid-level cultivator with the surna Tang spoke, conveniently omitting Lu Xuan's earlier offering of twenty stones.
"Good then. Let introduce you."
"This is Lu Xuan, a third-level Qi cultivator and a plant cultivator."
"This is Tang Xiaodong, responsible for security in the market, a senior brother who's been at the fifth Qi level for years."
Wang Shan introduced both parties.
"Honored to et you. Tang Daoist is impartial and dedicated, safeguarding the market. Many cultivators benefit from his expertise."
Lu Xuan said ambiguously.
"Wang Shan, why didn't you co out earlier? Had you shown up, I might have saved dozens of stones, and your Senior Brother's life might have been spared."
He lanted internally, deeply regretting the loss of thirty stones.
"Roar!"
From within the courtyard, upon Wang Shan's entry, the Cloud-Stepping Lynx, previously silent in the corner, suddenly growled.
"Quiet!"
Lu Xuan gently patted its pointed ears covered in gray-white fur.
The lynx's cub, with its erald eyes, stared coldly at Wang Shan and others, no longer roaring but baring its teeth.
After a brief conversation, Wang Shan and Tang Xiaodong left together.
Once their figures vanished, the lynx cub cald down, regaining its elegant deanor. It leapt lightly and landed on Lu Xuan's shoulder, four white clouds forming around it.
"Don't roar without reason again, understood?"
Lu Xuan picked it up, placed it on the ground, and tugged at the fur on its pointed ears.
"Roar~"
The lynx cub pinched its throat, attempting a peculiar sound.
"Hmm?"
Lu Xuan noticed sothing amiss.
He distinctly rembered the lynx cub's roar when Wang Shan arrived. It was different from this current contrived sound, which sounded forced and artificial.
Besides the first roar it made in front of him, this type of sound only occurred three tis before.
Twice when Wang Shan entered his courtyard, and once when he encountered an abnormal cultivator at the market.
His expression turned stern. The incident at the market where the lynx cub sensed sothing abnormaldid it detect sothing during the encounters with Wang Shan as well?
"Did you notice sothing from that neighbor?"
Lu Xuan inquired, considering the lynx cub's strange erald eyes.
As an exotic beast with intellect, the lynx cub blinked its round eyes, nodding.
"Similar to the abnormal cultivator at the market?"
Lu Xuan continued questioning.
At first, the cub nodded, then shook its head.
"What's the aning of nodding and shaking?"
"Right, the incident at the market occurred after many cultivators returned from exploring the secret realm, and that's when the malevolence erupted. But the lynx cub had warned when Wang Shan arrived."
"Nodding ans Wang Shan harbors malevolence or sothing abnormal within, and shaking ans it's different from the aberrant cultivator at the market?"
Lu Xuan inferred.
"Having a potential threat nearby, how should I handle it? Wait and watch, take defensive asures, or strike first?"
"Being passive seems too risky. It's better to prevent than to defend indefinitely."
"But attacking first might not guarantee success."
"If Wang Shan's cultivation were solely at the fifth level, there would be a chance, but with the unknown malevolence within, it's unpredictable."
"Plus, he's a deputy leader in the market with official backing, likely involving more complexities."
"Most importantly, I don't know what sinister force might be behind him."
Lu Xuan found himself in a dilemma. Not resolving it ant living in fear near Wang Shan, while moving out wasn't feasible after paying so much rent for this courtyard.
But resolving it could put him at risk.
"Is there a safe and effective approach?"
Lu Xuan pondered silently.
"Ah, there is. Lin Yangfang Market has been heavily purging malevolence recently. Using this opportunity, let them handle it internally."
"If I can't beat them, I can report them!"
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