NOVPUB
Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Night Hunt!
"Now that’s more like it! From now on, just obediently follow me!"
Luo Cheng smiled as he patted the Flame Jade Lion. In an instant, he landed steadily on the horse’s back and tugged at the reins.
"Hyah!"
Roar!
The Flame Jade Lion reared up with a long neigh, its sturdy legs kicking off forcefully. Like an arrow shot from a bow, its figure surged forward, crossing several hundred meters in mere moments.
"What a horse!"
Feeling the fierce wind hitting his face, Luo Cheng couldn’t help but praise.
The speed of this Flame Jade Lion was three times faster than his previous green-maned horse.
At such a pace, if he pushed hard to travel, it would take only a few days for him to return to Xuanyuan Sect!
Neigh!
Luo Cheng tugged on the reins and brought the horse to a halt.
After patting the Flame Jade Lion, Luo Cheng turned his head toward the green-maned horse standing by the rock-strewn path.
"A green-maned horse is worth twenty or thirty thousand taels. Bringing these green-maned horses to Chengxuan Town, they could easily sell for three to four million taels!"
Luo Cheng mused to himself.
Although he possessed tens of millions of taels, Luo Cheng didn’t feel particularly wealthy.
As his cultivation advanced, the resources he required would only become increasingly demanding.
A single ordinary Four-star Spirit Pill was worth several million taels.
Tens of millions of taels could only purchase about a dozen Four-star Spirit Pills—not to mention the even more expensive High-star Treasures or Martial Arts techniques.
In martial cultivation, both resources and innate talent were equally crucial.
Children of major families or powers, even if they possessed mediocre talent, could still achieve great accomplishments through consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and training with Advanced Martial Arts Skills.
Luo Cheng could only rely on himself, so he couldn’t afford to overlook any resource.
Gathering all the green-maned horses together, Luo Cheng held the reins and rode toward Chengxuan Town.
By the time he arrived in Chengxuan Town, it was already evening.
In the distant skyline, a waning sun hovered above the mountain peaks, casting golden light.
When Luo Cheng entered the small town, he instantly drew considerable attention.
Over twenty green-maned horses and an imposing Flame Jade Lion—such a sight in this remote town couldn’t help but stand out.
Luo Cheng distinctly sensed greedy gazes bearing down on him. Pondering briefly, he lightly patted the Flame Jade Lion.
Roar!
The Flame Jade Lion roared ferociously, its fierce aura sweeping through the entire street, causing the green-maned horses to tremble uncontrollably.
Feeling the intimidating force of the Flame Jade Lion, those covetous gazes quickly restrained themselves.
Wealth may be tempting, but one must risk life to enjoy it!
After inquiring briefly, Luo Cheng led the horses to the Lingyun Pavilion branch in town.
The shopkeeper of Lingyun Pavilion was a skinny elder.
Seeing Luo Cheng’s youthful face, the shopkeeper initially considered pressuring him to lower his price.
However, upon Luo Cheng presenting his Lingxiao Jade Token, the shopkeeper’s attitude transformed immediately, his face breaking into an overly gracious smile as he bent over in respect.
In the end, each green-maned horse was sold for twenty-two thousand taels.
Nineteen green-maned horses amounted to a total of four million and eighteen thousand taels!
After collecting the Gold Notes, Luo Cheng was preparing to leave.
The shopkeeper suddenly offered, "Mr. Luo, would you like me to arrange for someone to escort you?"
Luo Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
The shopkeeper replied, "’An innocent man harbors a treasure; his guilt warrants punishment.’ You’re carrying such a substantial fortune and riding the Flame Jade Lion. It might attract trouble."
"Thank you, but I’ll be leaving Chengxuan Town shortly."
Luo Cheng declined the shopkeeper’s kindness.
He was no longer someone to be toyed with.
If anyone dared provoke him, they could only blame themselves for his ruthlessness!
Mounting the Flame Jade Lion, Luo Cheng became a swift gale and sped away.
The sky gradually darkened, and a pale crescent moon hung high above.
Several dozen miles outside Chengxuan Town lay a sparse forest where the moonlight dappled through the trees.
Luo Cheng was riding leisurely along the leaf-cluttered woodland path, slowing the Flame Jade Lion’s pace. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he murmured:
"Here they come! One Transcendence Realm Sixth Layer Martial Artist, and four Transcendence Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artists. Truly, riches stir the hearts of men!"
By devouring Li Yun’s Martial Soul, Luo Cheng’s perception had once again enhanced.
Even in the dim environment, with focused sensing, he could ascertain movements within a hundred-meter radius, entirely without needing to rely on eyesight.
"Quick! Don’t let that kid escape!"
"Heh, I can’t tell which rich brat this is, flaunting so recklessly. Tonight, let’s educate him about the ways of the martial world!"
Outside the wooded area, five riders charged forward at full speed.
Neigh!
As they rushed into the woods, the five mounts suddenly stopped.
Ahead, under the fragmented moonlight, a strikingly handsome youth dressed in a pale white robe, with a sword at his waist, calmly sat astride the Flame Jade Lion.
The scene struck them as eerie, rendering the five momentarily dumbfounded.
"Huh? It’s you!"
Spotting the youth’s features clearly, a burly man with a thick beard shouted in surprise.
Luo Cheng also recognized the man.
Previously at the tavern in Chengxuan Town, the man had advised him against chasing horse bandits. Luo Cheng replied indifferently:
"I’ll give you one chance—leave now, and I’ll spare your life."
As his voice fell, silence enveloped the woods.
Soon after—
"Haha, Old Fei, you’ve really sunk low to be looked down upon by this wet-behind-the-ears brat!"
"Did you hear that? He said he’d spare your life!"
The five men burst into laughter, as though they’d heard the most absurd joke of their lives.
The burly man’s eyes darkened with rage as he locked his murderous gaze on Luo Cheng:
"Kid, I’ll grant you one chance too! Hand over the Flame Jade Lion and your fortune, cripple your cultivation, and scram immediately... huh!"
Before the burly man could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed that the Flame Jade Lion was now devoid of its rider.
Meanwhile—
A gentle breeze drifted through the woods.
Swish!
With a flash of sword light, the loudest, lankiest man froze in place, a thin bloodline traced across his neck. His head slid off, blood gushing forth.
"Be careful! He’s no ordinary Transcendence Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artist!"
The burly man cried out in shock, his body tense with alertness, shouting warnings.
But no one responded to him anymore.
Behind him, all four had become lifeless corpses, falling from their saddles.
"What!"
Panic clutched the burly man’s heart as his eyelids twitched rapidly.
Instantly killing four Transcendence Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artists—even he couldn’t achieve such a feat!
Luo Cheng emerged from the shadowy foliage, his expression amused but chilly as he spoke leisurely:
"My Flame Jade Lion’s speed rivals that of Tongxuan Realm experts. Ditching you would’ve been child’s play for me..."
Boom!
The words struck the burly man’s mind like thunder.
Only then did he realize—
Luo Cheng wasn’t caught up to by them; he had been lying in wait for them!
The roles of prey and predator had entirely reversed from the start!
Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, the burly man forced himself to remain calm as he said:
"Young master, I failed to recognize your greatness! I’ll leave! I’ll leave this instant!"
"Too late."
Luo Cheng shook his head dismissively.
Run!
Feeling the killing intent radiating from Luo Cheng, the burly man wasted no time, he clamped his legs around the horse and bolted.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, a sword light slashed through the night like lightning.
The burly man’s freshly turned form froze, his upper body propelled forward by inertia before crashing into the ground far ahead, spilling blood and entrails across the dirt."
"Opportunities exist only once! Pity—you failed to seize yours."
Luo Cheng shook his head, sheathing his sword with a fluid motion.
