The handle of the Qilin Horn Blade was short, with a handguard design on one side. The blade had a significant curve and a forked edge, resembling the horn of a qilin, hence its name. Due to its unique design, the Qilin Horn Blade could both stab and slash, making it easy to attack and difficult to defend against.
Before cultivators reached the level of a Mysterious King, where battles often devolved into energy clashes, weapons still played a crucial role—especially in fights between peers. A weapon that countered the opponent's could make a huge difference.
After examining the Qilin Horn Blade repeatedly, Feng Yingcai finally looked up at Jiang Beiran and asked, "Brother Laowu, what is this weapon called?"
"The Golden-Armed Qilin Horn Blade. It's an exotic weapon I happened to acquire. It excels in stabbing, slashing, chopping, and sweeping, delivering immense power in each strike. Additionally, its blade is forged from Star-Patterned Steel. If you channel your Profound Energy into it, its power will double."
"Indeed, it is Star-Patterned Steel, and the craftsmanship is exceptional. I've spent my life with blades and have seen all kinds of blacksmiths and fine weapons. But Brother Laowu, this one of yours... is undoubtedly a superior-grade treasure."
Brother Feng truly understands blades. Below the Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow grades, weapons were categorized into Common, Fine, High, Superior, and Peerless grades—these were what most cultivators without influential backgrounds used.
A superior-grade weapon could last until one reached the Great Mysterious Master level, and if no better weapon was found, it could even serve until the Mysterious Spirit stage without issue. Seeing Feng Yingcai's infatuation with the blade, Jiang Beiran took out another Qilin Horn Blade from his Universe Ring and said, "These blades are originally a pair.
Since Brother Feng likes them so much, I'll trade them for that mansion of yours. How does that sound?" The sight of an identical second blade delighted Feng Yingcai even more, but he didn't immediately take it.
Instead, he seemed lost in thought. Though trading a pair of blades for a mansion might sound absurd, to cultivators, mansions themselves held little value. What was truly valuable was the ten-foot-square area rich in spiritual energy.
And Jiang Beiran's pair of superior-grade Qilin Horn Blades was more than enough to match its worth.
"Brother Feng, are you unsatisfied?"
Jiang Beiran prompted when he noticed Feng Yingcai hesitating.
"No, no, I'm satisfied. I'm just worried that Brother Laowu might find my spiritual energy spot lacking and regret the trade later."
"Brother Feng, you jest. As long as that land can indeed draw more spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, no matter how thin, this deal is done."
"Good! Since Brother Laowu is so straightforward, I'll take you to my mansion right now."
As he spoke, Feng Yingcai returned the pair of Qilin Horn Blades to Jiang Beiran. Taking the blades back, Jiang Beiran stood and gestured politely.
"Then please lead the way, Brother Feng."
After traversing most of Golden Jade Town with Feng Yingcai, Jiang Beiran finally laid eyes on the mansion.
"The facade is truly impressive," Jiang Beiran remarked, admiring the stone lions at the entrance.
"Brother Laowu flatters me. As the saying goes, the harder you try to hide, the easier you are to discover. A mansion like this—" "I understand, I understand."
Jiang Beiran nodded before Feng Yingcai could finish. In truth, many mansions with spiritually rich areas adopted the strategy of "hiding in plain sight," disguising themselves as the residences of wealthy merchants or prominent families.
Of course, to avoid detection by other cultivators, such mansions were always fortified with grand formations to make them appear as ordinary as any other estate. Feng Yingcai's mansion was no exception, situated in a corner of Golden Jade Town, surrounded by other grand residences.
"Please, this way."
Feng Yingcai stood at the entrance, ushering them inside. Crossing the threshold, Jiang Beiran first spread his spiritual sense to survey the entire mansion. 'A Three Spirit Perception Formation...
Not bad.
It seems someone skilled guided its setup.' Looking at the courtyard strewn with fallen leaves, Feng Yingcai said apologetically, "I dismissed all the servants and stewards earlier, so the place hasn't been cleaned in a while. I hope Brother Laowu doesn't mind."
"Of course not. I'll hire someone to clean it up later."
"Good. If you need reliable servants, I can introduce you to some brokers."
"Sure, thank you in advance, Brother Feng."
"Please, follow me."
Leading Jiang Beiran through the dust-covered main hall, the three arrived at the mansion's rear courtyard.
"Brother Laowu, this is where the spiritual energy converges," Feng Yingcai introduced, standing beside a flower bed.
Jiang Beiran had already detected the spot with his spiritual sense earlier, but he still feigned astonishment.
"Brother Feng, you're too modest. A place with such dense spiritual energy—I'm the one taking advantage here."
"It seems Brother Laowu is quite satisfied."
"Extremely satisfied."
"Then this deal is settled?"
"Absolutely."
Jiang Beiran then retrieved the pair of Qilin Horn Blades from his Universe Ring and handed them to Feng Yingcai.
"Brother Laowu is truly decisive."
Feng Yingcai reached out—but instead of taking the blades, he struck Jiang Beiran's chest with a palm strike. A strange silence followed as both men blinked at each other.
"Brother Feng, what's the meaning of this?"
Jiang Beiran asked, watching Feng Yingcai's expression shift from shock to disbelief. Feng Yingcai snapped back to reality and hastily retreated several steps before exclaiming, "Incredible! To conceal your cultivation so thoroughly!
I underestimated you!" Jiang Beiran was genuinely disappointed. Throughout their journey, the System hadn't triggered a single prompt, making him think his luck had finally turned.
But the truth was that his opponent was not only weak but also unprepared, rendering the System uninterested in offering any options.
'Sigh...
To think he was both wicked and foolish. What a waste of my excitement.' Hearing Jiang Beiran sigh, Feng Yingcai drew the Cold Moon Treasure Blade from his waist and sneered, "Still pretending?
After taking my full-power Soft Palm strike, your organs must be twisted into knots by now."
"Sigh..."
Jiang Beiran shook his head and sighed again.
"Why? Why couldn't we just do business properly? Must we resort to violence? If you thought my offer was insufficient, you could've said so. I could've added some spirit stones. Was this really necessary?"
"Still putting on an act!"
Feng Yingcai roared as purple Profound Energy erupted from his body. Black streaks resembling lightning arcs slowly coiled around the blade of the Cold Moon Treasure Blade.
'So strong!'
Gu Qinghuan couldn't help but marvel inwardly. He had seen many Mysterious Master-level senior brothers in the sect and felt their auras, but even compared to the strongest ninth-rank Mysterious Master in their hall, Feng Yingcai's aura was not only on par—it was even slightly superior! 'Is he on the verge of breaking through to Great Mysterious Master!?'
While Gu Qinghuan was still reeling, Feng Yingcai had already lunged at Jiang Beiran. At the moment of his strike, all the purple Profound Energy he had unleashed earlier surged into the Cold Moon Treasure Blade.
BOOM!
As the blade descended, a black lightning bolt crashed onto Jiang Beiran.
"H-How is this possible!?"
Feng Yingcai's face twisted in horror when he realized his blade couldn't advance another inch after striking Jiang Beiran's neck—as if it had hit the hardest substance in the world.
"Ah, my hat..."
Jiang Beiran removed his straw hat, now sporting a large hole from the Nether Lightning, and lamented pitifully.
"Y-You... What kind of monster are you!?"
Seeing his full-power strike fail to leave even a scratch, Feng Yingcai finally felt true fear. His entire body tensed like a bowstring drawn to its limit.
'Impossible! Impossible!!'
Feng Yingcai had cultivated a technique that allowed him to gauge an opponent's cultivation level even if they didn't actively release their Profound Energy.
After traveling far and wide for so many years, he had encountered experts who could conceal their cultivation, but most could only suppress it within the same major realm—for example, a ninth-rank Mysterious Master disguising as a first-rank. However, he had heard rumors of rare individuals who could suppress their cultivation by two entire realms.
That was why he had assumed "Wang Laowu" was merely a Mysterious Master putting on a front to intimidate him. But the reality proved that "Wang Laowu's" strength had to be at least at the Great Mysterious Master level—or even higher! Feng Yingcai desperately wanted to flee, but his legs refused to obey.
He knew there was only one outcome if he tried.
Death.
(End of Chapter)