Chapter 36: Aren't you here to rob us?

  Zhang Heng would certainly not reveal the secrets on himself, and with a stir in his heart, he smiled and said: "Zhao Shidi, have you heard of some body-refining techniques from the mundane world?"

  "Secular world?" Zhao Rui was taken aback, then smiled and said: "I've never been to the secular world, I don't know if my hometown counts..."

  Zhang Heng said with a tone of admiration: "The martial skills of this mundane world are not completely without their redeeming qualities. My physical body is stronger than that of an average cultivator because I have practiced several techniques from the mundane world, such as Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt, Thirteen Taibao Cross-Practice, etc. I have taken in the strengths of these techniques and improved them with the unique spiritual energy of the immortal family. At this moment, my physical body has become very powerful and can withstand a hard collision with ordinary magical instruments..."

  Zhang Heng was speaking passionately about the origin of his physical strength, and Zhao Rui listened with a dazed expression, saying in a tone of admiration and reverence:

  "Senior brother, you're too strong! Just now, you used your fist to forcefully collide with Li Kuangzi's spiritual artifact. Did you use some sort of secret technique? This secret technique is also very powerful, and it actually allowed you to forcefully collide with the spiritual artifact in a short period of time."

  "This secret technique was passed down by my ancestors and is a unique skill..."

  "Oh, my master also taught me many extraordinary skills." Zhao Rui couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.

  Zhang Heng secretly delighted in his heart, he felt that Zhao Rui was more gullible than Wu Ling. If it were Wu Ling, he might not have believed this explanation of his own.

  The two chatted as they flew, their speed didn't decrease at all, and in about an hour or so, they had flown out several hundred miles.

  It's estimated that after flying for half a stick of incense more time, we'll arrive at Duguang Fortress.

  Dutianbao and other Fang cities are different, not in the midst of the mortal world, but standing on a steep mountain peak, that mountain is called Duan Ya Mountain.

  This mountain is quite steep, with a height of 5-6 thousand meters, and the surrounding area is filled with heart-pounding deep valleys. Ordinary people can't climb to the top of this mountain at all, only cultivators can easily enter the castle for transactions.

  It is said that over ten thousand years ago, this mountain peak had a famous Gate Sect of the Three Star Domain. Later on, for unknown reasons, it was exterminated. Until over a thousand years ago, a Yuan Ying period cultivator established a castle here.

  In the present day, the prenatal sage who originally built the castle has passed away, but his followers have taken root here and formed a large trading market - Dutiange Fortress.

  Before long, the two flew to a treacherous mountain range, where the peaks were steep and towering into the clouds, magnificent and majestic.

  During the flight, you can also see some mountain peaks covered with snow and lush ancient trees growing on the mountains.

  Above were various shapes of white clouds, in front was the cold wind, and beside was the majestic and rapid movement of mountains.

  Zhang Heng's heart was slightly excited, this is the path of immortality, climbing mountains and rivers, exploring mysterious valleys, competing in magical techniques, subduing spiritual beasts, experiencing worldly dust, going through strange dangers, seeking eternal life, and participating in the heavenly way.

  Just as Zhang Heng was feeling sentimental and pleasant, several unfamiliar cultivators flew over from the distant mountains, about seven or eight people, and rushed towards this side.

  Zhang Heng furrowed his brow, what were these people doing? Zhang Heng felt that they had ill intentions.

  He cast a few glances at several people, and Zhang Heng's heart calmed down.

  Zhang Heng estimated that these people were some scattered cultivators, and from the flying swords under their feet, one could tell a thing or two. The leader was driving a low-grade spiritual sword.

  With a sudden movement, these seven or eight people dispersed and surrounded Zhang Heng and his companion.

  Zhao Rui wondered: "Could they be the legendary bandits?"

  Zhang Heng rolled his eyes, what's with this "legendary" bandit?

  In the world of cultivating immortals, it's not uncommon for rogue cultivators like this to rob others.

  They are usually a few scattered people who gather together, blocking the road and robbing on the way. If they have enough confidence to take down their opponents, of course, they will not show mercy. If they don't have much confidence, they will collect part of the "toll".

  "En, our luck isn't bad, we've encountered a group of bandit cultivators."

  Zhao Rui's face lit up with excitement: "Great, we've encountered robbers! Let's eliminate the evil for the people right here!"

  Zhang Heng shook his head, disagreeing with the view. These scattered cultivators generally wouldn't go around oppressing commoners, so there's no need to talk about benefiting the people by eliminating harm. However, these few people should have some valuable things on them, right? At the very least, they should have a low-grade spiritual artifact. Squeezing their teeth was still acceptable.

  Originally, Zhang Heng and the other could have easily escaped from the encirclement with their spiritual tools, but unfortunately, both of them were attracting the attention of this group of bandits, so they wouldn't be able to escape that easily.

  One of them has a great ideal of benefiting the people and eliminating harm, while the other is harboring an "anti-rape" strategic thought.

  As a result, a strange scene formed: the robbers surrounded the predetermined "fat sheep" with momentum, while the two "fat sheep" walked into each other's encirclement group in an extremely "coordinated" manner.

  The party that ambushed was very pleased. This time the siege plan went very smoothly, and the prey had been trapped, ready to proceed with the next step of the plan.

  However, the yellow-faced old Taoist who was in charge felt that something was not quite right and looked suspicious, secretly observing the two prey that had already been surrounded.

  Taking a look at the cultivation of these two people, he let out a slight sigh of relief. One was in the early stage of Qi Refining and the other was in the late stage of Qi Refining, they shouldn't be worth worrying about.

  But when his gaze fell on the spiritual instruments under their feet, he was shocked to find that they were all spiritual instruments! And one of them was even a mid-grade spiritual instrument.

  Soon, the other seven people around also discovered the spiritual instrument under their feet, and one by one revealed a greedy expression, as if they couldn't wait to rush over and snatch the opponent's spiritual instrument.

  A spiritual artifact is like a moon in the sky for these ordinary loose cultivators, it can be admired from afar but cannot be reached. Without coincidence and opportunity, it is impossible for a low-ranking loose cultivator to possess a spiritual artifact.

  Although the eight robbers had surrounded Zhang Heng and Zhao Rui, they did not make a move easily.

  Are you kidding? Those Qi-refining cultivators in the early or middle stages can't even withstand a single blow from their opponent's spiritual artifact.

  It can be said that except for the yellow-faced old Taoist, everyone else couldn't withstand the spiritual artifact's one round of attack. Their only advantage was their sheer numbers. If the opponent fought with all their might, even if they managed to kill these two people, they would probably suffer heavy casualties as well.

  So, none of the eight people present dared to make a move easily.

  Zhao Rui asked in confusion: "Aren't you here to rob us? Why haven't you made a move?"

  As soon as this was said, all eight scattered cultivators present were stunned. In their minds, what kind of logic is it that the person being robbed would urge the robber to hurry up and make a move?

  The atmosphere on the scene suddenly became awkward and tense.

  The leading yellow-faced Taoist secretly cursed in his heart, feeling that the two people in front of him were not as easy to deal with as he had imagined. Both of them had spiritual instruments in their hands and were traveling together, likely being fellow disciples from the same sect. If one of them escaped, it would offend the entire Xianmen sect they belonged to, making it impossible for these scattered cultivators to survive here.

  "May I ask, which sect are you two from around here?" The yellow-faced Taoist forced out a few smiles on his face, making his originally ugly appearance even more disgusting.

  Zhao Ruigang was about to speak, but Zhang Heng preempted him, saying with a smile: "We are loose cultivators from the state of Chu, having traveled tens of thousands of miles, and have finally arrived at this place. We plan to go to Dutiange Fortress to buy two top-grade spiritual instruments."

  As soon as this was said, the eight scattered cultivators around him couldn't help but reveal their naked greed, each and every one of them itching to move, without noticing the flaw in Zhang Heng's words. Which low-ranking scattered cultivator would be stupid enough to travel tens of thousands of miles to a strange place just to buy some spiritual instrument?

  Buying two high-grade spiritual artifacts? How many spirit stones is that going to cost?! These scattered cultivators can only dream of owning a single ordinary spiritual artifact, let alone even dare think about high-grade ones.

  And yet, at this moment, the two of them actually plan to buy top-grade spiritual equipment? Just how high will their prices be?

  "Heh heh, if you all don't have anything else to do, let's head to Dugu Fortress now..." A hint of teasing flashed across Zhang Heng's eyes.

  Zhao Rui is not a fool either, and he also has an air of wanting to leave.

  Seeing the two wanting to leave, the eight robbers suddenly became anxious. If they let this fat meat run away, they might regret it for the rest of their lives!

  "Make your move!" The yellow-faced old Taoist shouted, his hands flying as he chanted, "Whoosh!" A small whirlwind suddenly appeared in the air, growing larger and more intense with each passing moment. In just two breaths' time, it had expanded to the size of a small house.

  "Go!" The huge tornado, as if it had a spirit, carried an astonishing storm and rushed towards Zhang Heng and the others.