Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

168: Seven thousand spirit stones”Wh-What?”

Li Duoduo was instantly dumbfounded. She didn’t understand the unfamiliar term, but her intuition told her it was definitely not a compliment.

Especially Lin Jingyu’s undisguised look of mockery beneath his calm expression instantly sent her into a rage.

”You little bastard! What did you just say?”

Her carefully painted face instantly twisted as she took a step forward. The Spiritual Pressure of her Ninth Layer of Qi Refining erupted like a waking beast, carrying intense malice and coercion, surging toward Lin Jingyu.

That powerful pressure was enough to cause ordinary Qi Refining Mid-Stage Cultivators to tremble violently and struggle to breathe.

She pointed at Lin Jingyu’s nose, her voice becoming sharp and grating from extreme anger, like an old hen being strangled:

”Do you know who I am? Do you know the consequences of offending me? Believe it or not, with a single word from me, I can make it impossible for you to take a single step in the Southeast Market Town!”

Under the impact of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Spiritual Pressure, Lin Jingyu’s body swayed slightly, like a small tree in a fierce wind.

But his gaze remained calm, even carrying a hint of amusement, as if watching a clown.

His powerful Mental Energy circulated in his Sea of Consciousness, acting like a solid dam, firmly blocking the impact of the pure Spiritual Pressure.

Since he could even withstand the Sword Intent of Xu Li, an Inner Disciple of Qinglan Sect, let alone this mere Ninth Layer coercion.

Not only was he not frightened away, but he met Li Duoduo’s fiery gaze, and the playful smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the two large Spirit Stone boxes on the counter—which he had placed there during their argument.

”Who are you?”

Lin Jingyu’s voice remained calm, carrying a maddening sense of leisure.

”Even if your biological father is the Heavenly King, what does that have to do with me?”

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming decisive and carrying an undeniable declaration:

”Also, the opportunity for this Formation Master to act has already been reserved by this young master! The thousand Spirit Stone commission has been paid! Do you understand?”

He squinted at Li Duoduo, the meaning perfectly clear: this doesn’t concern you, go mind your own business.

Li Duoduo was completely enraged by Lin Jingyu’s near-total disregard! How dare a small ant at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer be so arrogant in front of her?

”Bullshit! Reserved? Just by you?”

She laughed exaggeratedly, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Ignoring the Attendant, she pointed directly at the counter, extending a finger painted with bright red nail polish, and knocked forcefully on the smooth surface, making a ”thudding” sound. Her tone was overbearing and condescending:

”I offer fifteen hundred Spirit Stones! I’m taking this Formation Master opportunity!”

After speaking, she held her head high, pointing her chin at Lin Jingyu, her eyes filled with the contemptuous challenge: ”Poor fool, dare to compete with this old lady?” In her view, this was already giving him face.

Lin Jingyu sneered inwardly, but maintained a poker face. He even slowly and deliberately adjusted his faded gray robe sleeve before leisurely speaking, his tone as calm as if he were quoting the price of today’s Spiritual Rice:

”Two thousand.”

”What?!”

Li Duoduo was stunned, and then her anger flared even hotter.

”Three thousand!”

”Four thousand.” Lin Jingyu didn’t even lift his eyelids, speaking as if he were saying four hundred.

”Five thousand!”

Li Duoduo practically roared; she felt she had been publicly humiliated.

”Brat! If you have the guts, keep bidding! Watch this old woman not smash you to death with Spirit Stones!”

Her temper was completely ignited; she absolutely had to suppress Lin Jingyu.

The playful smile at the corner of Lin Jingyu’s mouth deepened. As if he hadn’t heard the threat, he softly uttered a number:

”Six thousand.”

The moment this price was announced, even the young Attendant, who had maintained a professional smile, couldn’t help but look up and glance at Lin Jingyu again.

The surrounding Cultivators watching the excitement let out low gasps.

Six thousand Spirit Stones! Just to compete for a chance to hire a Rank One Formation Master? This wasn’t just overpricing; it was being a complete fool.

Li Duoduo was choked by the number, but she was now stuck between a rock and a hard place. Especially in front of Qin Yue and Yun Momo, she absolutely could not lose face.

A fierce look flashed in her eyes, and she almost ground her teeth as she roared, ”Seven thousand! Brat, let’s see if you dare to follow that! If you have the capability, bid again!”

She was certain Lin Jingyu could not produce any more Spirit Stones! How much wealth could a poor, small Cultivator possibly have? These seven thousand Spirit Stones were the final straw that would crush him.

However, just as she waited to see the humiliating sight of Lin Jingyu despairing and admitting defeat, the smile on Lin Jingyu’s face suddenly bloomed, dazzling like the first sunlight after the snow melts.

He spread his hands, his tone as light as if he had shed a thousand pounds of burden:

”Alright! Congratulations! This... Fellow Daoist Li is truly wealthy and powerful! Seven thousand Spirit Stones! This opportunity for the Formation Master to act belongs to you! Please proceed!”

The light, airy voice choked Li Duoduo, leaving her speechless for a long time.

It was the feeling of powerlessness when a full-strength blow lands on cotton.

Soon, she raised her head like a victorious hen.

She said proudly:

”Worthless trash, daring to compete with me!”

She then pulled seven pale red jade cards from her Storage Pouch.

Placing them on the counter, she said contemptuously:

”These are Spirit Stone Cards from the Taiyi Spiritual Bank. Have you bumpkins ever seen them before?”

Truthfully, Lin Jingyu really hadn’t seen them before.

It was also the first time he had heard that the Cultivation World already had this kind of Spirit Stone storage and withdrawal functionality.

He just wondered what the interest rate was like.

Then, in the instant before Li Duoduo and the Attendant could fully react, his right hand swept across the counter like a butterfly flitting through flowers.

The seven thin jade cards felt warm and smooth in his hand, carrying faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations, and were firmly grasped in his palm.

”What are you doing? Robbery!”

Li Duoduo finally woke up from the immense shock and absurdity, instantly exploding in rage! She felt as if she had been slapped hard in public.

Her heavily made-up face completely twisted out of shape from extreme anger and shame, her voice so sharp it could pierce eardrums.

A violent burst of Spiritual Power, belonging to the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining, erupted without reservation, like an invisible tsunami carrying intense killing intent, slamming fiercely toward Lin Jingyu.

”Impudent!”

Almost the exact moment Li Duoduo unleashed her Spiritual Pressure, the countless slowly revolving Formation stars on the dome of the Tianfa Pavilion suddenly burst into brilliant light.

Especially the illusory image of the Formation Flag of the ”Five Elements Roaming Array” at the very top let out a deep hum like a Dragon’s roar.

A terrifying pressure, more than ten times stronger than Li Duoduo’s Spiritual Pressure and resembling heavenly might, instantly descended like an invisible giant millstone! Its target was Li Duoduo.

Li Duoduo gave a muffled groan, her face instantly turning pale. Her violent Spiritual Pressure immediately dissipated like a punctured balloon.

Her entire body was forcefully pinned to the spot by the vast pressure emanating from the Formation itself, unable to move! She felt as if she had been thrown into the abyss of the deep sea, where even breathing became extremely difficult!