Chapter Twenty-Seven: Mastering the Art of Arrays

The arrangement on the second floor was exceptionally elegant, with a screen placed before the entrance, intricately carved with images of flowers, birds, fish, and beasts. Inside, there were none of the counters or goods found below, only a large Eight Immortals table standing at the center, flanked by two serving maidens.

Su Fan swept his spiritual sense across the room, pausing with a sigh. “The servants on the second floor are at the early Foundation Establishment stage. I can hardly imagine the cultivation level of the shop’s owner.”

After a moment, a young man emerged from the inner hall. His appearance was unremarkable, but he exuded a sense of warmth and kindness.

“I am Mo He. Please, fellow cultivator, have a seat,” the youth said, approaching the Eight Immortals table and taking his place.

Su Fan maintained his composure and sat opposite him. He could not discern Mo He’s cultivation, but sensed a dangerous aura.

Casually, Su Fan drew out a dagger and placed it on the table. “I wonder how much this is worth?”

Mo He’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile lingering on his lips. “A pseudo-high grade mortal weapon—five hundred low-grade spirit stones, or five mid-grade spirit stones.”

Su Fan frowned, picked up the dagger, and prepared to leave. The price was somewhat unfair; though the dagger had not reached the level of a true high-grade mortal weapon, it was certainly not ordinary.

Mo He hurriedly rose to intercept him, smiling. “Fellow cultivator, let us discuss the price further.”

Su Fan waved his sleeve lightly. “One thousand spirit stones.”

Mo He laughed. “Since you say ten thousand, then ten thousand it is.”

With that, Mo He handed Su Fan a storage pouch.

Su Fan probed it with his spiritual sense and asked, “Does your shop have any high-grade spirit beast skulls?”

Mo He paused, then replied, “Such items are exceedingly rare. At present, we truly have none in stock.”

Su Fan cupped his hands and rose to leave.

“In three days, our shop will host an auction of rare and extraordinary items. Perhaps you might find what you seek there. Would you be interested in attending?”

Mo He tossed Su Fan a token. “If you are interested, infuse your spiritual sense into this token in three days’ time, and you will be transported to the auction venue.”

Su Fan turned and smiled. “I will consider it.”

One of Mo He's attendants whispered in his ear; after listening, Mo He’s eyes flashed coldly. “Fellow cultivator, it seems you’ve been targeted. Be careful when you leave the pawnshop.”

Su Fan remained calm, cupping his hands in thanks. In truth, Blue Yi Feng had already sent him a spiritual message about this when he entered the shop.

Just as Su Fan left the pawnshop, two young men in purple robes approached. While upstairs, Mo He had sent Su Fan a spiritual message, informing him that these two were Ren Ping and Ren Da, elders of the Ran Suo Sect, both at the peak of the mid Foundation Establishment stage.

The pair had long been engaged in murdering and robbing cultivators for treasures, earning the hatred of many in Luo City. Yet, because of the Ran Suo Sect’s power, many could only swallow their resentment.

One of them moved behind Su Fan, forming a pincer with the other to block his escape.

Su Fan’s expression was impassive. “What business do you have with me?”

The youth named Ren Ping smirked. “Fellow cultivator, you just pawned some treasures. Why not share some spirit stones with us brothers?”

“No need for idle chatter—just kill him. With his mere ninth layer Qi Refining cultivation, it’ll take only three breaths,” Ren Da sneered.

Su Fan chuckled softly, glancing at Ren Ping. “So you intend to forcibly take my belongings?”

Ren Ping straightened his clothes nonchalantly. “Since you know, hand over your storage pouch. Perhaps, if we’re in good spirits, we won’t kill you.”

Su Fan slapped his storage pouch, and the Mountain Soul Fan appeared in his hand. His tone was cold. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

Behind him, Ren Da’s eyes gleamed. “A high-grade mortal weapon! Heh, you’re staying here today.”

Without another word, Ren Ping formed a spell seal, and his flying sword shot toward Su Fan. Ren Da, behind, gripped his black saber, preparing to strike.

Suddenly, a stream of white energy crashed into the flying sword, sending it hurtling backward. Ren Da’s saber halted in midair, as if bound by an invisible force.

“You two have three breaths to get ten miles away from my Qingyuan Pawnshop. This is not your Ran Suo Sect’s territory.” A sharp voice thundered from within the pawnshop.

Ren Ping and Ren Da exchanged a glance, fear flickering in their eyes, though unwillingness lingered. “Young Master Mo, this man has a history with us. Please forgive us.”

Another furious shout came from the shop.

The two’s expressions darkened. Ren Ping gave Su Fan a cold look. “Fellow Su, next time you won’t be so fortunate.”

Su Fan’s face remained calm as he watched their retreating figures, then turned to the pawnshop and cupped his hands. “Thank you, Mo.”

Upstairs, a young man played with a jade fan, standing by the window and watching Su Fan depart. A woman in a blue gauze dress approached, gazing at Su Fan vanishing into the distance, and spoke softly, “Is it worth offending the Ran Suo Sect for a stranger?”

The youth gently closed his fan, smiling. “This man faced powerful enemies without a hint of fear, never losing his composure. I suspect he has a formidable background. Besides, one who can pawn a pseudo-high grade mortal weapon is no ordinary figure. He even possesses a true high-grade mortal weapon—surely a favored disciple of some senior.”

The woman sighed, leaning by the window, silent. The young man regarded her thoughtfully, a shaft of sunlight casting an air of melancholy over her jade-like face.

He smiled. “Xin Meng, Father has agreed. In three days, at the auction, he will announce our marriage.”

Xin Meng’s eyes lit with surprise as she gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How did you persuade your father?”

Mo He toyed with the jade fan pendant, replying casually, “I told him I found a way for you to cultivate.”

Xin Meng frowned, looking out the window. “Mo He, how can you deceive your father? I am born unable to cultivate. It is fate. He will discover the truth sooner or later.”

Mo He’s expression changed. He strode toward the inner hall, leaving only his words behind. “I will marry you. No one can stop me. If Father refuses to let me marry a mortal, then I will marry you regardless.”

Xin Meng watched his departing figure, slowly sitting by the window, resting her head on her knees. Strands of blue-black hair veiled her face as droplets of tears fell, splashing upon the floor.

Meanwhile, Su Fan visited several shops along his way, searching for beast bones, but always received the same answer—such rare items were exceedingly scarce.

Su Fan could only accept this with resignation. He returned to the inn, replenished his recovery pills, and acquired a low-grade defensive inner armor.

Other items were either too expensive or currently useless.

It was midday, and the inn was bustling with guests seeking meals. Luo Yuan and the other three were busy welcoming customers.

Su Fan made his way toward the rear courtyard. He drew a symbol in the air, tapping the void to create a vortex, then stepped inside.

“For now, my cultivation cannot be improved. I might as well study formations—they’ll be useful for my future closed-door training.”

Su Fan took out a scroll, seated himself cross-legged on a stone platform, and focused intently on the strange symbols inscribed upon it, a glimmer of excitement occasionally flashing in his eyes.

“These formations are truly wondrous. With enough time, one can kill enemies unseen. Mastering some, with sufficient materials, allows them to be set up at will for attack.”

He set the scroll aside, channeling spiritual energy as he formed seals with his hands. Soon, a Taiji pattern appeared beside him, sometimes exuding an aura of immortal grace, sometimes radiating waves of bloodlust.

Su Fan’s eyes brightened with joy. He stopped his seals, and the Taiji pattern gradually faded.

“This Taiji Blood Array is excellent—no materials needed. Just control spiritual energy, and it can be used defensively or offensively. It suits my current cultivation well.”

He practiced several more formations that required no materials, smiled, and put the scroll back into his storage pouch, then walked out of his cave dwelling.

Night had fallen, and the inn had long since closed its doors. Luo Yuan and the others were cleaning the shop, nodding to Su Fan as he passed.

The guests had all retired early to their rooms for cultivation.

A few days prior, Su Fan had instructed Luo Yuan to give some silver to the other staff and dismiss them. The world of cultivation was perilous; Su Fan did not wish to implicate mortals on his account. Thus, he left the cleaning to the four of them.

At this moment, a young woman in pink lay slumped over a table by the window, her eyes half-closed as if asleep.

Su Fan touched his nose and smiled faintly, approaching her.

“Miss Fan, the shop has closed. You should head home.”

Hearing Su Fan’s voice, the woman suddenly raised her head, rubbed her face, and said, “In three days, there’ll be an auction. Want to go?”

Su Fan sat across from Fan Ruo Yu. “Does the lady wish to accompany me?” he asked, teasingly.

Fan Ruo Yu didn’t mind, laughing lightly. “Old Ku said to find you and go together; only then did he give me a token.”

Su Fan’s gaze sharpened. He poured tea, pushing a cup toward Fan Ruo Yu, then poured himself one. “Three days from now, come to the inn. We’ll go together.”

Fan Ruo Yu showed surprise. “Why don’t you ask who Old Ku is, or why he wants us to go together?”

Su Fan raised his cup, drank, and gazed out the window at the deepening night, smiling softly. “It’s not good to pry into others’ affairs. I can tell you mean me no harm.”

Fan Ruo Yu’s eyes brightened with joy. She drained her cup, stood, and walked toward the door, leaving behind a parting remark. “It’s more than no harm.”

Su Fan pondered her words. After a while, he glanced at the four in the shop, who had finished their chores and now sat chatting at a table.

He approached, sitting with them, and smiled. “These past days, have you encountered any problems in your cultivation?”

Luo Xun spoke up excitedly. “Boss, I’m about to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining!”

Su Fan showed approval. “If you’re close to breaking through, go cultivate peacefully in the cave dwelling. The other three can manage here.”

Luo Tong and Luo Yong looked at Luo Xun with envy. Su Fan said mildly, “Luo Tong, Luo Yong, your aptitudes are decent, but your foundations aren’t deep enough. Here are a hundred low-grade spirit stones—split them between you to absorb.”

He handed them two storage pouches. The pair accepted them, gratitude shining in their eyes.

Luo Yuan, standing nearby, smiled. “You two should cultivate well. When the old boss returns and sees all four of us on the path of cultivation, he’ll be delighted.”

Su Fan said nothing, only nodded and went toward the rear courtyard cave dwelling.