His consciousness returned and Lan Yong slowly opened his eyes. Light entered his sight. He found himself under a dilapidated roof with wooden beams and green tiles. The building seemed extremely old and he could not tell its age. In that instant, a sharp pain assaulted him, affecting his every nerve. He nearly fainted from the pain again.
He inhaled two deep breaths and steadied himself. He wanted to clamber up, but the moment he moved his arms, a sharp pain assailed him. Something seemed to have pierced through his arm. He strenuously raised his neck a little, and discovered to his horror that his shoulder had been pierced through by his humerus. The white bone seemed like a spare rib where meat had been eaten!
Then, he saw a large tripod cast out of green copper. It was giving off plumes of green fumes. There was a human face on the tripod, scowling angrily at him. For some strange reason, he felt terrified.
He recalled what had happened
North of the Panjiayuan Market was an extending road. There were rows of courtyard houses on its two sides, all elegantly classical. Everyone who resided in this vicinity was either rich or a grandee. An electric motorbike drove in from the other end of the road. It halted before the gate of a courtyard house. This courtyard house was large and lofty. Stone lions guarded the mansion by both sides of the gate. Above its crimson-lacquered door was a copper board overlaid with gold, bearing the inscription, "Blessed Abode Bestowed by Heaven." This was the house of Liu Jinyin, as mentioned by Zeng Xunlong. "Well, we have arrived," Ning Tao said. Only now did Qing Zhui release her hands clasping Ning Tao's waist. She dismounted the back seat of God's Will. Ning Tao parked his electric motorbike, God's Will. He came to the door, grasped the bronze door knocker, and started to knock. No one re
Every old Beidu native knew where "Heaven on Earth" was. During the Qing Dynasty, it was a high-end brothel. All its courtesans were dainty and charming, well versed in the arts of zither playing, Go, calligraphy and painting. The nobility of the Manchu dynasty, as well as the officials and squires, would fritter their time away in the brothel. Gradually, this place became a symbol of wealth and status. This place was now a club teahouse, but only those with wealth and status could frequent this place for tea and business. Ordinary folks could not visit this teahouse at all, since it was only open to its members. Even its lowest membership cost ¥500,000 a year. Premium members must pay at least ¥1 million annually. Common workers or businessmen engaged in small businesses could not afford the membership dues at all. "Heaven on Earth" was situated next to the imperial gardens. Its edifices were all ancient. Ignorant people might mistake it at a glance for
Of the two familiar faces, one was Tang Zixian and the other, Master Fakong. Tang Zixian was as pretty as ever, although she did not use the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman. She appeared just like she had always looked. Tang Zixian shifted her eyes and stared straight at Ning Tao, as well as Qing Zhui, whose arm was in Ning Tao's, Their eyes met and their expressions were both rather strange. Master Fakong instantly furrowed his brows, chanting Buddha's name. He had advised Ning Tao to break off with this snake demon, and yet here she was, her arm in Ning Tao's! Although he was the disciple of Fahai, this staunchly principled monk had only frowned. Had he subdued her on the spot, everyone would consider it his rightful duty. Ning Tao and Tang Zixian exchanged glances. Then, Ning Tao shifted his eyes away, surveying the hall rapidly. There were dozens of people in the hall—warriors, demons and practit
It was a boisterous sight at the flea market for practitioners. There were practitioners selling broken magic tools, as well as demons selling spiritual materials. There were even paintings and calligraphy by eminent practitioners of the past. A motley assortment of wares was on sale here, dazzling the eyes. Liu Shiba said, "Mr. Ning, you can take out your elixir. See if you could trade it for what you like." Ning Tao smiled blandly. "Let me observe first. You don't need to keep me company, Old Master Liu." "Okay, let's talk later." Liu Shiba turned and left with Reverend Qingsong and Hai Dongfang. Qing Zhui glanced at the three men depart and drew near to Ning Tao's ear. Her cherry lips were almost kissing it. "Brother Ning, that old creature must be getting someone to barter for your elixir." Ning Tao nodded. He, too, could read Liu Shiba's mind. Ning Tao brought Qing Zhui around this flea market f
The real age of the nun selling the Rock Essence could not be ascertained, but she must be just over 20, judging from her looks. She looked very young. Although her hair was shaven, her delicate face and exquisite features still gave one an elegant feeling unique to women. "Reverend, how much does your Rock Essence cost?" Ning Tao asked politely. The young nun answered, "I'm not selling it." Ning Tao startled a little. He wondered why she had lain it out if she would not sell it. The young nun added, "It's only for barter." Ning Tao asked, "What do you want to trade it for?" The young nun answered, "Star Iron." Ning Tao felt greatly disappointed. Star Iron was a metallic spiritual material from outer space, as recorded in the Compendium of Spiritual Materials. It was very rare and a premium spiritual material for forging magic weapons. Right now, he did not even have a meteorite to trad
Good and evil energies were spiraling inside the Sky Clinic. After returning to the Sky Clinic through the convenient door, Ning Tao had instantly gone to retrieve the rotten broken tripod and put the fragments of the nun Cixin's wooden fish inside to repair it. Ning Tao was extremely enthusiastic. As soon as he had gotten this business deal, there would soon be other practitioners who would get him to fix their magic tools. He would be able to get all the money he wanted and all the spiritual materials he wanted. He was on the path to riches! Heaven on Earth, underground flea market... "Little nun, I'm afraid that you've been cheated." That unsightly practitioner walked over. Cixin frowned and did not respond to him. People were talking. "That guy belongs to Daozong, and is named Ma Song, nicknamed Ground-burrowing Rodent. It is said that he has a magic tool that could burrow into the ground, and sp
The flea market closed at 12 midnight. Other than the business he did with the nun Cixin, Ning Tao also accepted three more deals and repaired three magic tools. He earned a heap of spiritual materials as well as 5 million. Among these spiritual materials, three were ingredients required for his Ancestor-seeking Elixir.After exiting the flea market, Qing Zhui drew close to Ning Tao's ear and asked in a gentle whisper, "Brother Ning, there're so many magic tools. Why did you only close three deals?"Ning Tao smiled and said, "How can there be so many magic tools in this world to repair? One mended means one less. We're showing off our best expertise, so I can only accept three deals. In the future, they have to outbid one another for my service. I'm the only person in this world who can repair magic tools, so of course I will price myself accordingly. I will not only mark up the price, I won't also do business with anyone I dislike.""Oh, I see
Liu Shiba must be the only person in this world who was not a practitioner and yet had kept a hoard of spiritual materials. This secret chamber behind the study was not large, but there were many precious spiritual materials and medicinal herbs in it. There was such a large variety that they dazzled the eyes. There were also some rare antiques, not in the least less valuable than those kept in museums. Liu Shiba was said to be the grandmaster of all tomb raiders. Surely, such a man would have in his possession antiques. Those antiques he fancied and had kept here were naturally the cream of the crop and all very valuable.However, these antiques did not interest Ning Tao in the least. After entering Liu Shiba's treasure chamber, he started to select his spiritual materials. All he had picked up were put by Qing Zhui into her large hempen sack.To refine the Immortality Elixir, he must of course take the required spiritual materials away. But he was more con