Chapter 105: The Zhang Siblings

“Fairy, this slender sword of yours is of average quality. At most, I can offer you two hundred and sixty lower-grade spirit stones. The storage pouch is also quite ordinary. I will give you...”

“Alright, who asked me to be in urgent need of money?”

Faced with the shop assistant’s low offer, Chu Xin’er appeared somewhat helpless, but in the end, she accepted the terms and sold the old man Hua’s slender sword and storage pouch for spirit stones.

Everyone has moments of difficulty; it is common for cultivators to sell items cheaply when short on funds. Thus, although there were others in the shop, no one paid much attention.

After putting away the spirit stones, Chu Xin’er hurriedly left. Only after she was far from the shop that sold magical tools and treasures did a faint smile appear on her face.

The cultivation market in Pingyang City was vast, with streets intersecting and shops everywhere. After walking some distance and noticing no one was paying attention, Chu Xin’er entered another shop.

In this careful and low-profile manner, she visited several stores before selling all the items she no longer needed, acquiring a considerable amount of spirit stones.

To avoid complications, she headed straight for the central square where the teleportation array stood after leaving the market.

Pingyang City had teleportation arrays leading to several other cities, a significant source of income for the city. Naturally, soldiers guarded the arrays, and an elder of half Foundation Establishment stage was stationed there.

Of course, these soldiers were cultivators, though their levels varied.

Chu Xin’er’s cultivation was average, and she had no right to cause trouble. Although it was somewhat surprising to see her approach the teleportation array alone, the soldiers did not stop her.

“Senior, I intend to go to Danxia City. May I ask the fee?”

Bowing slightly before the gray-robed elder seated on a jade cushion, Chu Xin’er inquired politely.

“Danxia City? Your luck is quite good, young lady. One hundred spirit stones. After payment, the teleportation will commence immediately.”

Danxia City was the closest city to the Lingyao Sect’s mountain gate. Given that it was only tens of thousands of miles from Pingyang City, it was not a particularly long-distance teleport, so the fee was reasonable.

Though a hundred spirit stones was not much for Chu Xin’er now, it was worth remembering that two years ago, her entire fortune was barely that amount. No wonder there were no cultivators below the thirteenth level of Qi Refining stage present at the array.

Glancing at the eight or nine individuals standing or sitting nearby, Chu Xin’er’s heart skipped a beat.

Among those who intended to teleport together, six were Foundation Establishment stage seniors, and the other three were also Qi Refining stage, like herself, but at the pinnacle.

Fortunately, the Foundation Establishment cultivators paid no attention to her. From the elder’s tone, the teleportation array operated in groups of ten, and once the fee was paid, teleportation began immediately.

Chu Xin’er secretly breathed a sigh of relief, handed the hundred spirit stones to the gray-robed elder, and stepped onto the teleportation array.

As soon as she stood there, the cultivator beside the array placed the spirit stones into a recessed slot. A white light flared, enveloping all ten people, including Chu Xin’er.

The world spun wildly, and a drowsy sensation overwhelmed her. After several breaths, her consciousness cleared.

She found herself in a spacious stone hall, with the complex patterns of the teleportation array carved beneath her feet.

Only four remained inside the array: herself and three young men and women who appeared to be from the same family or sect, all Qi Refining stage at the pinnacle. The Foundation Establishment cultivators were nowhere to be seen.

Clearly, with their superior spiritual awareness, they had long since recovered and left.

“Fellow cultivator, I am Zhang Yingli, with my sister Zhang Xia and younger brother Zhang Lingfan. Are you headed to the Lingyao Sect to seek pills? Perhaps we could travel together?”

As Chu Xin’er observed them, the eldest among the three regarded her attentively and smiled with cupped fists.

“Since you’ve recovered, quickly depart. Don’t occupy the teleportation array any longer!”

Before Chu Xin’er could reply, a cold voice came from outside the hall, accompanied by an overwhelming spiritual pressure.

“Yes, senior!”

As the saying goes, it is difficult to discern a person’s true nature by appearance alone. Zhang Yingli’s open and sincere smile did not guarantee he harbored no ill intent.

Chu Xin’er, who had no desire to get involved with these newly encountered siblings, took the opportunity to agree quietly, swiftly exited the teleportation array, and moved toward the hall’s exit.

“Big brother, aside from her alluring figure and decent cultivation, she can hardly be called beautiful. Are you interested in her?”

Seeing her brother ignored by the young woman, the sister whispered teasingly.

Hearing this, Zhang Lingfan chuckled quietly.

Indeed, Chu Xin’er had deliberately disguised herself as an ordinary-looking woman for convenience during travel. She was by no means ugly, but certainly not beautiful.

“Nonsense! How could I be interested in such a woman?” Zhang Yingli retorted, eyes wide.

Then, he spoke quietly through spiritual transmission: “Stop joking. Think about it. She’s merely a Qi Refining cultivator but can afford the teleportation fee. If she shares our objective, she might also carry materials for forging Foundation Establishment pills. If we kill her and seize them, our family might all have the chance to break through to Foundation Establishment...”

“Oh, I see. Big brother is always so thoughtful.”

The Zhang siblings came from a declining cultivation family. With no Foundation Establishment elders remaining, they collected materials to seek pill refinement from the Lingyao Sect, hoping to breakthrough and restore their strength.

However, after many hardships over the years, the three siblings had only secured one set of materials for forging Foundation Establishment pills.

According to Lingyao Sect’s rules, applicants must prepare at least two sets of materials; if the pills failed to refine, only the refining fee would be refunded, not the spirit herbs.

If they were lucky and the materials were not flawed, each might receive a Foundation Establishment pill. But if not, facing inexperienced pill masters, their efforts would be in vain.

If, as big brother suspected, the young woman carried such materials, it would be a blessing for their family.

Hence, Zhang Lingfan and Zhang Xia could hardly conceal their excitement.

From Danxia City to Lingyao Peak, where the Lingyao Sect was located, was only a few hundred miles.

After leaving Danxia City, Chu Xin’er flew toward Lingyao Peak.

As a renowned and prestigious sect, once inside their reception hall, she would be relatively safe for the time being, regardless of the three trailing behind her.

“It’s truly fate. It seems, fellow cultivator, you are indeed headed to the Lingyao Sect for pill refinement. Why not wait for us siblings and travel together for mutual support...”

Before she arrived, Zhang Yingli’s hearty laughter already reached her ears.

Chu Xin’er frowned slightly but stopped her light-speed flight as requested, knowing well that there was still some distance to the Lingyao Sect. If they pursued her relentlessly, escape would be impossible.