Chapter 372 - 367: You’re Begging to Pay Me, and I Might Not Even Accept

"Not good, it’s an Array!"

"Weren’t all the Arrays here inactive?"

"They were inactive before, but who knew they would activate now."

"Enough with the nonsense, what do we do now?"

In just a moment, the ten or so Cultivators present were all trapped.

Most were entangled by rapidly growing vines, so tough that even Treasures could not harm them.

The few who dodged the vines had it even worse. They were either surrounded by a highly corrosive liquid or targeted by countless Bone-Piercing Nails, leaving them too afraid to move.

There was also a Kun Cultivator in a short skirt, bound by the vines into a strange shape that accentuated every curve of her body—a posture even the lowliest prostitute would refuse to assume.

This also resolved a question lingering in some people’s minds.

The answer was no.

A trapped Cultivator spoke up, "Don’t panic. This Array seems to only trap people, with no intent to harm. Legend says Fairy Su Miao is kind and benevolent, she wouldn’t..."

Before he could finish, a ball of True Fire appeared from nowhere and engulfed him from foot to head.

In just an instant, his hair and beard were burned clean off, his Treasure-Level Dharma Robe was half-destroyed, and his entire body was cooked medium-rare.

If not for the powerful Gang Qi protecting his body, he might have lost half his life.

Now, the surrounding trapped Cultivators all knew that this Array had powerful offensive capabilities; it was just holding back.

And, clearly, someone was controlling this Array.

"Which fellow Daoist is playing a joke on us? Would you be willing to show yourself?" someone shouted.

Du Youqian had arrived nearby by this point. He pretended to peek around, then unhurriedly walked over. Under the fiery gazes of the ten or so Core Formation Cultivators, he leisurely picked up the Treasure shaped like a small jade sword, examined it from left to right, and then stuffed it into his Storage Treasure Pouch.

Only then did he turn to size up the Cultivators, smiling. "So, Cultivators from the Eastern and Southern Domains have such hobbies? Enjoying being hung from vines? When I return to the Western Domain, I must discuss this matter with the country folk there. Oh, right, everyone hold on. Hold that pose, don’t move."

As he spoke, he took out a Memory Crystal and recorded everyone’s humiliated and indignant expressions. Only then did he chuckle and say, "I just happened to be passing by. Do you fellow Daoists need any help?"

The Kun Cultivator who had insulted Du Youqian earlier glared at him like daggers. If looks could kill, Du Youqian would probably have been sliced to pieces by now. "Country bumpkin, hurry up and let us down!"

Du Youqian smiled faintly. "Alright!"

As soon as he spoke, the vines binding the Kun Cultivator all loosened. Caught off guard, she nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, a Core Formation Master’s powerful body saved her from embarrassment, and she adjusted her posture an instant before landing.

She rubbed her wrists, looking at Du Youqian in astonishment.

A Flying Sword appeared in Du Youqian’s hand—the Jinhuan Sword.

"Fellow Daoist, I have a sword strike for you to appreciate." As he spoke, he raised his hand, and the Jinhuan Sword floated above his head.

"What are you doing?" the Kun Cultivator asked warily.

"Outside the cave mansion earlier, you insulted me. If you can withstand this one strike, I will see you off with courtesy and even gift you a Treasure. If you cannot... then I’m afraid you’ll have to take a trip into my Hundred Ghosts Banner!"

The Kun Cultivator’s expression changed drastically, and she hastily brought out a Treasure.

But the Jinhuan Sword was faster. Most people didn’t even see the flash of the sword; they only saw Du Youqian lift his hand before the Kun Cultivator’s eyes dimmed. It didn’t seem like Swordsmanship, but more like an Evil Art.

The expressions of all the trapped Cultivators changed.

Of course, they weren’t so unperceptive as to truly believe it was an Evil Art.

"Such powerful Sword Intent!"

"I wonder what kind of Sword Intent it is?"

"It looks a bit like the Blood Slaughter Sword Intent, but I can’t be sure. Inheritors of the Blood Slaughter Sword Intent are rare, and even if one did exist, they wouldn’t come to a godforsaken place like this, would they?"

"This person is difficult to deal with! We can’t take him on with brute force!"

Before the Kun Cultivator’s body even hit the ground, in that split second, the trapped Cultivators had already exchanged several rounds of communication using their Divine Sense.

Du Youqian maintained his leisurely demeanor. He put away the Jinhuan Sword and took out a Treasure-Level Hundred Ghosts Banner that was close to Tier Four.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the Kun Cultivator’s soul was involuntarily drawn into it.

With another wave of his hand, all the Treasures and the Storage Treasure Pouch on the Kun Cultivator’s body flew into his hand. Her corpse also fell into his Storage Treasure Pouch, nothing wasted.

Only then did Du Youqian return to his chuckling demeanor. "Fellow Daoists, is there anything I can help you with?"

With the Kun Cultivator’s fate as a grim precedent, the remaining Core Formation Cultivators didn’t dare to make a sound.

They had all secretly tried to break free, but suffice to say, a Tier Four Array was not something they could escape from just because they wanted to.

Even a Tier Three Array Master like Du Youqian wouldn’t fare well if trapped inside.

Du Youqian wasn’t in a hurry either, just watching them with a beaming smile.

After a long moment, a Core Formation Cultivator tentatively asked, "Fellow Daoist, I wonder if you could let me down?"

Du Youqian said, looking troubled, "Well, I’d like to, but I don’t know who’s controlling this Array. I can’t let you down either."

’Who are you trying to fool? Aren’t you the one controlling the Array? Didn’t you just let that Kun Cultivator down a moment ago?’ everyone cursed in their minds.

But they only dared to curse him internally, while their faces had to wear ingratiating smiles.

They were all Core Formation Cultivators; who among them didn’t understand the principle of knowing when to yield and when to stand firm?

As long as they could escape the binds of this Array, the vast seas would be theirs to leap in, the high heavens theirs to fly through, and they could go back to being revered masters of their own sects.

But if they remained trapped here, facing this smiling tiger’s sharp Sword Intent, they figured none of them could withstand a single strike.

A Core Formation Master’s lifespan is long. Why fight over a fleeting moment of pride?

A clever one spoke up: "Fellow Daoist, I have thirty thousand Spiritual Jade here, and one Defensive Treasure. I wonder if you could find the person controlling the Array, pass on this Spiritual Jade and Defensive Treasure for me, and ask that esteemed expert to let me off?"

Du Youqian accepted the Storage Treasure Pouch containing the Treasure and Spiritual Jade with a beaming smile and weighed it in his hand.

The clever fellow was about to speak again when he found the vines binding him had all loosened.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist!" he said joyfully.

Du Youqian waved his hand. "No need to thank me. I was just passing your things along to the fellow Daoist controlling the Array."

The clever fellow naturally didn’t dare to linger.

Although his eyes were red with envy for that Tier Four Treasure, he was keenly aware that he was no match for Du Youqian.

Besides, if Du Youqian could release him now, he could surely bind him again at any time.

So he just gave a bow and fled as if escaping.

Seeing that he wasn’t given a hard time, the other Core Formation Cultivators chimed in one after another: "Fellow Daoist, I’m also willing to offer thirty thousand Spiritual Jade plus a Defensive Treasure!"

"I don’t have that much Spiritual Jade. How about three Attack Treasures and one Defensive Treasure?"

"I spent all my Spiritual Jade at the auction earlier. Can I trade an Inheritance to get away?"

One Kun Cultivator even batted her eyelashes at Du Youqian. "This humble servant has no worldly possessions, only this body..."

Du Youqian said flatly, "Oh, the complete Essence Blood and bones of a Core Formation Cultivator can be exchanged for 10,000 Spiritual Jade."

That Kun Cultivator was instantly scared into silence.

At this point, all ten Cultivators present were willing to pay to save their lives.

Du Youqian took the money from a few people, let them down, and they left, thanking him profusely.

But for the remaining three, Du Youqian didn’t take their money. He just said coolly, "Outside the cave mansion earlier, you three seemed to mock me quite a bit, didn’t you?"

Two of the Cultivators immediately admitted their mistake: "I was blind and foolish, please forgive me, fellow Daoist! I am willing to pay a higher price..."

One of them was more stubborn, sneering, "I am a disciple of Frost Heaven Valley. If you have the guts, kill me. Someone will avenge me."

Du Youqian was just as direct. "If you make a mistake, you must pay the price. Since you are willing to pay the price, it shows your remorse is sincere. In that case, I will accept your apology."

With that, he accepted their doubled payment of Spiritual Jade and Treasures and let the two of them leave.

As for the last one, Du Youqian casually lopped off his head with a single sword strike. The Hundred Ghosts Banner gained another Fierce Ghost, and his Storage Treasure Pouch gained more Core Formation Level corpse materials.

In just that short while, Du Youqian had gained several hundred thousand Spiritual Jade, a dozen or so Treasures, and several Inheritances.

What a profitable venture!

’Was this robbery? Of course not!’

’Du Youqian doesn’t need to stoop to robbery.’

’Robbery lacks finesse.’

’And it doesn’t even pay that well.’

’The risks are high, too.’

’If he ran into someone who fought to the death, he might have to pay a price himself.’

’This method of making money was much faster than robbery!’

Having gotten a taste of this sweetness, Du Youqian ran the same scheme a few more times in the cave mansion.

A total of forty-three Cultivators entered. Aside from those who had fallen, almost everyone paid him a protection fee. A few even paid twice.

Of course, there were also a few who begged to give him money, but he refused to take it.

When Du Youqian finally left the cave mansion, laden with spoils, no one dared to ambush him.

He considered attending the Qingxu Commerce Association’s auction again. This time, he was rich and could bid openly and confidently.

~~~~~~~

After returning to the Zouma Gang’s base in the Western Domain, Du Youqian gave the Inheritance related to the evolution of the Split-Ear Sand Fox bloodline to Sha You.

Sha You was decisive, immediately taking Du Youqian to find the Tier Three Demon King of the Ghost Belly Cat clan. It was this Demon King who would pay the price—a promise to find Du Youqian’s reincarnated self three times.

However, during a private conversation, Du Youqian told the Ghost Belly Cat, "To be precise, you won’t be looking for my reincarnation. Rather, my reincarnation will come looking for you. At that time, you are to find the reincarnations of three other people for me."

The Ghost Belly Cat was a bit stunned. "That’s not what we agreed on."

Du Youqian retorted, "Does it make a difference to you?"

The Ghost Belly Cat thought for a moment, then shook its head. "No difference."

"Then it’s settled."

After finalizing things with the Ghost Belly Cat, Du Youqian rushed off without stopping to see Xi Mengran and Meng Xiao.