The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 598 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

The last item auctioned on the black market was a divine-level armor.

Chen Ping'an had no interest in this.

Firstly, the armor's grade was ordinary, and it wasn't particularly outstanding among ordinary divine weapons.

Secondly, with his current cultivation level, his defensive capabilities when using the Myriad Demon True Body far surpass those of such divine weapons, not to mention the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique that he will cultivate later.

Ordinary divine-level defensive armor offered him almost no benefit.

Even the most powerful divine weapons were of little use to him.

Only top-tier divine weapons, or the finest among the most powerful divine weapons, can be of significant help to him.

After all, no matter how strong one's physical body is, there is still a risk of injury if one gets into a fierce battle. On this basis, if one can also protect oneself with a precious armor, that would be extremely beneficial.

When the last item was being auctioned, Chen Ping'an descended from the stone pillar platform and went backstage to complete the transaction.

"You know you can run now, huh!?"

The blood centipede's eyes flickered as it watched Chen Ping'an's movements.

"late!"

A mocking smile appeared on the face of the blood centipede.

He's roamed the Thunder Mountain Range for so many years; if he were to be so easily outmaneuvered, he might as well give up.

Behind the grotto, Chen Ping'an was dismantling the remains of the Xuanjia Beast.

"Please check, senior."

Several deacons of the Black Spirit Sect stood respectfully before Chen Ping'an.

Although this black market auction was nominally organized by several major shops, its biggest backer was actually the Black Spirit Sect, one of the top powers in the Thunder Mountain Range.

The Xuanjia Beast is not known for its physique and is not as strong as most other demonic beasts of the same level. However, even so, its bloodline level is only about half the size of the Earth-Splitting Rock Bear.

Chen Ping'an used his spiritual sense to examine the matter and quickly confirmed the diagnosis.

The auction item was handed over in front of several people.

The payment of 2,700 yuan was made in person, and the transaction was completed.

During the process, Chen Ping'an felt several gazes watching him, all of whom were at the Grandmaster level.

Clearly, the Black Spirit Sect was not as confident about the handover as it appeared on the surface.

They are all ruthless criminals who live on the edge and have lives on their hands. If there were no strategic deterrence, who would be willing to spend money to buy their services?
Chen Ping'an didn't care.

He has always been a man of principle.

After completing the transaction, Chen Ping'an left the auction grotto without waiting for the auction to end.

"Is that the unfamiliar Grandmaster that the Third Elder mentioned?"

In a dark, winding passageway above the grotto stood a man wearing a mink coat, with a delicate face and a pale complexion.

"Young Master, it is indeed this person."

The person who answered was an elderly man wearing a floral print with a high nose bridge.

"The initial stage of Jade Balance is perfected, not bad at all!"

The man tightened his coat, as if he felt a bit cold.

This person was none other than Yu Xihai, the young master of the Black Spirit Sect.

The Black Spirit Sect's power center is somewhat unique; in addition to the regular Elders' Hall, it also has a system of major and minor sect leaders.

Yu Xihai is called the Young Master, not because he is young, but because he is the junior among the senior and junior masters.

In terms of seniority, he is more senior than the average elder. He is also the head of the Black Spirit Sect and the future designated successor. His cultivation has already reached the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm.

Their combat prowess is outstanding among senior grandmasters in the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm, making them among the strongest combatants below the top grandmasters.

"We've already auctioned off the divine weapon, and we still have the resources to bid on the remains of the Xuanjia Beast." The man's expression was somewhat eerie. "Tell the Third Elder to leave this man at Black Spirit Mountain. I, the sect leader, will join forces with him!"

"Yes, young sect leader," the old man in floral cloth replied respectfully.

Black Spirit Pavilion.

"Senior, the auction has just ended, and the details of the amount have not yet been finalized. Please wait a moment until the news is confirmed before settling the remaining payment."

The short, stout old man from the Black Spirit Pavilion smiled and said to Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an had anticipated this and was not in a hurry.

"In that case, I will wait a little longer."

"Thank you for your understanding, senior. Please wait a moment while I go and urge them again." The short, stout old man smiled and took his leave.

Chen Ping'an didn't look up, but quietly savored the spirit wine arranged by the Black Spirit Pavilion.

"It's still not quite as good as the autumn dew."

"Old Ma, that person is coming."

The short, stout old man stood respectfully before the Third Elder of the Black Spirit Sect, Yin Fengtui Ma San.

"No need to make things difficult. Just pay the remaining balance and let him leave," said Ma Santou, who was weaving hemp, with his hands behind his back.

"What does Master Ma mean?" the short, stout old man asked cautiously.

“The young sect leader has already sent word, instructing this person,” Ma San turned his head, revealing a wrinkled face, “to stay at Black Spirit Mountain.”

"Senior, here are the remaining Yuan Crystals. Please take a look." The short, stout old man stood in front of Chen Ping'an with a warm smile.

The divine weapon longsword that Chen Ping'an consigned for auction cost a total of 2,550 yuan crystals. After deducting the 10% handling fee required by the Black Spirit Pavilion, plus the 1,800 yuan crystals he had already withdrawn, there were still 495 yuan crystals remaining.

Chen Ping'an used his spiritual sense to check and confirmed that the amount was correct, then directly put it into the Thousand Machine Bag.

With the matter settled, Chen Ping'an didn't linger and left the Black Spirit Pavilion directly.

"Take care, senior." The short, stout old man smiled and respectfully saw him off.

After Chen Ping'an walked away, the smile on his face gradually faded until it disappeared completely. His expression turned cold, and he turned and walked into the shop.

Time to get started!

"The demon beast carvings, the remains of the Xuanjia Beast, the auction of divine weapons, and the cleanup of resources have made this trip quite fulfilling and fruitful."

Chen Ping'an was in a good mood as he left the Black Spirit Pavilion.

The monster carving was an accident, and the Xuanjia beast's remains were a stroke of luck.

Regardless of whether we can find suitable monster blood later, at least we have a safety net.

Although this Xuanjia Beast was not fully grown, the amount of blood extracted beforehand was not small. It was more than enough to satisfy Chen Ping'an's cultivation for a considerable period of time.

With everything settled, Chen Ping'an decided not to return to the inn but instead headed straight for the entrance to the black market.

I've taken care of most of the things that needed to be taken care of, so it's time for me to leave.

If he doesn't leave
How did this fish even get hooked?!

With a smile on his lips, Chen Ping'an walked out of the gate of the Black Spirit Mountain Black Market.

Whoosh!
"You're really fast!" The blood centipede's aura was barely perceptible as it darted and shifted through the mountains. "Too bad... you've run into me. No matter how fast you are, you can't escape!"

He had once had some good fortune and mastered a tracking technique, so few people in the same realm could escape from him.

"A perfect early stage of Jade Balance. Daring to compete with me, you must have some confidence! When you make your move later, don't hold back! And..." A pill appeared in the Blood Centipede's hand, its entire body blood-red, as if soaked in blood, faintly exuding a burning aura: "Blood Burning Pill! Take the pill, unleash your full power, and as long as you can kill that opponent, you'll have gained everything!"

The blood centipede was making plans in his mind.

His head is on the bounty list, yet he's still alive and well. Besides the unique geographical advantage of the Thunder Mountains, his cultivation level and combat strength are also crucial factors.

Besides his profound cultivation, his combat skills were extremely shrewd. With his evil arts, he once slowly wore down a senior grandmaster to death.

"Ok?"

The blood centipede frowned, suddenly sensing something was wrong.

With a swift movement, he leaped into the rocks on one side, then held his breath and suppressed all traces of his presence.

A dozen or so breaths later, a figure appeared with a swift movement. Following the original path, they hadn't gone far when they suddenly sensed something was wrong. Looking around, they seemed to be searching for the direction the figure had gone.

"Blue-faced fangs, what are you doing here!?" The blood centipede flashed and suddenly appeared, looking at the figure not far away.

The blue-faced, fanged man was a tall, thin man with an iron-blue complexion. With each breath, it seemed as if countless poisonous insects were wriggling beneath his skin, trembling slightly, cold and eerie.

A master of unorthodox methods, with a blue face and fangs, possessing the perfected early stage of the Jade Balance cultivation.

"The Blood Centipede is quite cautious!" The blue-faced, fanged man possessed many external techniques and wasn't particularly afraid of the Blood Centipede. As a master of unorthodox methods, his greatest strength lay in his diverse and varied survival abilities.

As long as he doesn't encounter a top-tier master, he can protect himself.

"What are you doing here?" the Blood Centipede coldly questioned.

"What else could I be here for? Of course, to do the same things as you," the blue-faced, fanged man sneered.

"What? Following behind me, are you trying to be the one who suffers the consequences?"

"The Blood Centipede is ferocious and powerful. I dare not show off my meager skills before an expert."

"I see you're quite bold!" the Blood Centipede said in an unfriendly tone.

If it weren't for his keen senses, he might have actually been taken advantage of.

These unorthodox masters are truly impossible to guard against; their methods are incredibly varied and bizarre. If you're not careful, you'll fall into their trap.

"Blood Centipede, now that you've discovered it, how about we cooperate? As for the spoils afterward, that's up to us each to decide!"

They are all evil heretics, vicious thugs who bleed from the edge of a knife. The idea of ​​a 50/50 split is laughable.

"Alright." After a moment's thought, the Blood Centipede agreed to the Blue-faced Fang's suggestion.

More allies mean more help. Although that person's cultivation is inferior to his, there's no guarantee he doesn't have some hidden tricks up his sleeve. With the Blue-Faced Fang joining the fray, the outcome is practically a foregone conclusion.

Most importantly, since the Blue-Faced Fang has already intervened, there's no point in him disagreeing with joining forces. Rather than letting the Blue-Faced Fang cause trouble, it's better to agree first and work together to deal with the key figures.

After dealing with that person, the two of them would have a showdown of skill.

He truly refused to believe that, with his superior martial arts prowess, he couldn't defeat this unorthodox master!

The two reached an agreement and soon began to act together.

However, mutual wariness is still essential. They are all temporary allies; there's not much trust between them.

What others don't know is that the two of them know each other inside and out, and they're really ruthless when they do it!
"When we make our move, you first entangle him with your methods, making sure he can't escape. Then I'll try to unleash my secret technique and finish him off with one blow!"

"If he has any other tricks up his sleeve, then don't hold back, unleash them immediately, and prioritize speed!"

"The Black Spirit Sect is nearby. If we attract attention, there will be even more people vying for the spoils!"

The two moved around while secretly discussing their strategy via telepathy.

With his numerous tricks up his sleeve, the Blue-Faced, Fanged Man is perfectly suited to be the one to restrain him. While the Blood Centipede is renowned for his endurance, that doesn't mean he lacks offensive capabilities!
boom!
Just as the two were discussing, a huge boom came from afar.

"who is it?"

The two exchanged a glance, becoming wary, and then quickly moved away into the distance.

"So that's why you dared to bid on this amazing weapon all by yourself, showing off your wealth! Turns out you've got some skills!"

A pale-faced man stood on a boulder in the mountains, wearing a fur coat and speaking in a soft tone, but with an indescribable ruthlessness hidden within.

Yu Xihai, the young master of the Black Spirit Sect.

On either side of him stood two people, one with a hairpin woven with hemp whip, and the other with a high nose bridge dressed in floral cloth.

Both of them exuded an extremely fierce aura, their martial will spreading out unrestrainedly.

The three men formed a pincer movement, completely blocking Chen Ping'an's path. A short, stout old man, a pseudo-grandmaster, stood guard in the distance.

This place is quite mysterious. If Chen Ping'an tries to escape backwards, he will find it difficult to maneuver and his speed will slow down. He will only expose his back and fall into a disadvantageous situation.

No matter which way you go—left, right, or forward—you'll only find yourself surrounded by the three.

"Two mid-stage Jade Balance cultivators, one early-stage Jade Balance cultivator, and a pseudo-Grandmaster in the wings—they really think highly of me!" Chen Ping'an, dressed in a blue robe with a long sword at his waist, looked like a middle-aged scholar and elegant swordsman.

"When it comes to prey, the Black Spirit Sect has always overestimated its value and gone to great lengths!" The old man with the hemp whip had a cold expression, and a cold wind swirled around him.

"Let me introduce myself, I am Yu Xihai, the young master of the Black Spirit Sect." The pale-faced man introduced himself gently, "Now I'm sending you on your way!"

The martial will of the group erupted simultaneously, swirling around them. Through verbal communication, they exerted pressure on Chen Ping'an, gaining a psychological advantage.

A battle between grandmasters is no small matter. Even if you have an absolute advantage, you must ensure that your opponent fights to the death and makes a desperate move.

If you can break the opponent's belief, that would be a great asset to the battle.

"People from the Black Spirit Sect!" The blue-faced, fanged man hid behind a rock, his face turning increasingly ashen.

The Blood Centipede's face was contorted with rage, its expression malevolent: "Those old bastards from the Black Spirit Sect are truly cunning!"

"Talk of fair trade and exchanging goods is all empty talk. When they see an easy target, they're the first to be tempted to strike!"

"The law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, is simply the way of the world!"

The two hid in the distance, neither of them in a good mood.

They were confident of securing a piece of the pie, but the Black Spirit Sect beat them to the punch and struck first.

"Even Yu Xihai is here, the Black Spirit Sect really takes this seriously!" Blood Centipede looked at the young sect leader of the Black Spirit Sect in the distance, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

His strength is considered good among Grandmasters in the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm, but it is still far inferior to Yu Xihai.

In a direct confrontation, if the two of them fought, he wouldn't die, but he definitely wouldn't come out unscathed either.

"This guy is always like this; when he hears about any benefits, he runs faster than a dog," the blue-faced, fanged man said coldly.

"It's tricky."

If it were just Yu Xihai alone, it wouldn't be so bad, but the problem is that there's also Yin Fengtui Ma San on the side. Ma San's fighting strength is no less than his, and in a one-on-one fight, the outcome is uncertain. In addition, there's that Huabudou guy getting in the way.

"What do you mean?" The blue-faced, fanged creature glanced at the blood centipede beside it.

"What else can we say? Of course we'll continue! It's not like we're fighting them, we can't find a loophole!"

“That suits me perfectly. They’re like the mantis stalking the cicada, while you and I will join forces and be the oriole unaware of their prey!” The man with the blue face and fangs spoke in a sinister tone, revealing two blue teeth that looked like fangs.

At this moment, the energy in the field was chaotic. They concealed their auras and were far apart, so they were not worried about being discovered.

They stood by, quietly waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

Hopefully, this swordsman in green is stronger and can wear down Yu Xihai and the others' abilities.

In this way, they can be like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

(End of this chapter)