The Demonic Peddler’s Lure

“These two pills were actually purchased from different places.”

Li Xingtong recalled slowly, her eyes slightly closed, trying to capture every detail from the depths of her memory.

“I went to the nearest Pill Sect shop to purchase one, and at that time, there happened to be just one Foundation Establishment Pill left.”

Her voice, soft and ethereal, was tinged with the haze of memory, as if she were once again enveloped by the bustling, yet anxiety-inducing, atmosphere of the shop that day.

“The shopkeeper informed me that the next batch of Foundation Establishment Pills from the Pill Sect would likely not arrive for another month.”

“Apparently, the Pill Sect had been preparing for an alchemy competition recently, with many disciples dedicating themselves to its arrangements, leaving them no time to refine pills.”

Lin Xingjian nodded slightly.

He was intimately familiar with this matter.

The Pill Sect would host an alchemy competition every few years, or even every few months.

Its purpose was to select disciples with exceptional talent in the Way of Pills.

Recalling the previous highest-tier Pill Dao competition, a flicker of awe passed through his eyes.

The one who had claimed first place was none other than the current senior disciple of the Pill Sect, Yao Qing’er.

That woman had, by her own prowess, overshadowed a multitude of geniuses.

“Afterward, I visited several other shops, only to find that all their stock had been sold out,” Li Xingtong continued.

“This year, this period coincided with the peak time when the junior disciples who had newly joined last year were entering the Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Then where did you buy your other pill?”

One of the two pills was safe, having been purchased from a legitimate shop, but the other…

“I bought it from a rather peculiar person.”

“I had initially thought that since visiting several shops yielded no results, it wouldn’t matter if I waited a month to establish my foundation.”

“However, a man wearing a bamboo hat called out to me, asking if I wished to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, claiming he had an extra one.”

“At first, I was filled with suspicion. He had appeared right beside the Pill Sect shop, and then he explained that the senior disciple sister he was pursuing had refused his pill today, and the Pill Sect wouldn’t accept returns or exchanges.”

She gnawed lightly on her fingernail.

“Seeing his pathetic appearance, I bought it.”

“He said he could sell it for less, but I still… bought it at the original price.”

Her voice grew increasingly faint, almost inaudible.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xingjian nearly lost his composure.

His hands clenched into fists, and veins bulged on his forehead.

“You foolish girl!”

“How could you fall for such a simple trick?”

He had never noticed this aspect of her before.

While his junior sister possessed extraordinary skill in handling assassinations, in all other respects, she was utterly an innocent, hothouse flower, untouched by the world.

It was bad enough that she bought a demon pill, but to actually pay the original price for it!

‘Never mind.’

‘That person must be a demonic cultivator, lurking between sects, peddling demon pills.’

‘The Shadow Sect had dealt with a similar den before.’

Lin Xingjian still remembered that about a year ago, he had undertaken a mission with his senior disciples to dismantle a hidden stronghold that had been selling demon pills beneath the Xuantian Dao Sect for a long time.

“Junior sister, rest well. Do not cultivate for these next few days.”

“Your senior brother will be back shortly.”

Closing the door, Lin Xingjian, now aware of the exact location where Li Xingtong had purchased the pill from the stranger, immediately resolved to investigate.

Perhaps he could apprehend the villain on the spot.

Before departing, Lin Xingjian, as was customary, reported to his Master, Yao Guang, and retrieved some specially crafted killing implements.

These weapons were far beyond anything mortals could wield.

They were meticulously forged, glinting with a chilling light, each intricate pattern imbued with formidable power.

A strike to a vital point was enough to slay any cultivator below the Golden Core stage.

Before setting off, Lin Xingjian glanced at his communication talisman.

He cursed inwardly, realizing it was yet another barrage of unknown messages.

He frowned in irritation, too bothered even to listen.

He blocked them all.

Lin Xingjian remained unaware.

Among the countless messages he had blacklisted in one sweep, there was a plea for help from the Gu Dao Sect’s client, which he had inadvertently deleted as well.

Lin Xingjian spent less than an hour reaching the Pill Sect shop Li Xingtong had described.

It was dusk, and the evening glow in the sky resembled a burning inferno, painting the entire world in hues of orange and red.

The shop was small and quaint, nestled unobtrusively among the other establishments lining the street.

A sign hung before its door, boldly proclaiming: Foundation Establishment Pills SOLD OUT!!!

The large characters stood out starkly under the lingering rays of the setting sun.

The surrounding streets teemed with pedestrians.

The cries of hawkers rose and fell, creating a lively market scene.

Lin Xingjian had already altered his appearance, his disguise so meticulous that he seemed to be a disciple on the verge of entering the Qi Condensation stage.

His face bore a hint of greenness and youth, yet his eyes betrayed a sharpness that did not belong to this persona.

This was no fabricated identity, but one based on a real person.

An excellent Shadow Sect cultivator, when executing a mission, would always ensure every detail was perfect, leaving no room for flaws.

“Shopkeeper, are you in?”

Lin Xingjian bellowed at the top of his lungs, as if to ensure everyone nearby would hear him.

“Are there truly no Foundation Establishment Pills left?”

“I need one urgently!”

His voice echoed down the street, causing passersby to turn their heads.

No sooner had his words faded than slightly hurried footsteps sounded from behind the inner curtain.

A man with a walrus mustache and a somewhat cunning expression emerged.

“Oh, esteemed customer, our Foundation Establishment Pills are indeed all gone.”

“Even if we had any, they would have been pre-ordered long ago. We hope you can understand.”

His voice was high-pitched and smooth, carrying the distinctive cadence of a merchant.

“Shopkeeper, I truly need it urgently.”

“How about this: you let me have a Foundation Establishment Pill that a customer has reserved. I’m willing to pay fifty percent more, and you can compensate the other party later.”

Lin Xingjian said anxiously, his face etched with urgency.

“That simply won’t do, esteemed customer.”

“Our profits are meager, and integrity is our foundation. When a customer reserves something, it’s as good as bought; they just haven’t come to collect it yet.”

The owner waved his hands repeatedly, a smile still plastered on his face.

“In my humble opinion, esteemed customer, you should either check other shops or wait a bit longer. The Pill Sect is holding a competition soon, and very few disciples are refining Foundation Establishment Pills for sale.”

“Once the competition preparations are complete, Foundation Establishment Pills will be restocked.”

“Aiya!”

Lin Xingjian feigned annoyance.

“You, shopkeeper, truly don’t know how to do business. I’m willing to pay extra, and you’re still unwilling.”

“Fine, fine. If you’re unwilling, then I don’t want it anymore. I’m leaving!”

He shouted loudly, ensuring the surrounding shops could hear him.

Even if no one truly cared, this was precisely the effect he aimed to achieve.

“Please take care, esteemed customer, and welcome back anytime!”

The owner, all smiles, saw Lin Xingjian off.

After leaving the shop, Lin Xingjian deliberately paused for a moment, feigning a troubled expression as he pondered where else Foundation Establishment Pills might be sold.

His head was bowed, his fringe obscuring part of his shadowed eyes.

“Hey, hey.”

“Brother, brother!”

Suddenly, from the mouth of an alley beside the Pill Sect shop, a man softly called out to him.

It was twilight, the sun setting, and fewer disciples were around, lending an air of mystery to the alley.

Lin Xingjian intentionally pretended not to hear, taking two steps forward as if to depart.

Seeing Lin Xingjian about to leave, the other party instantly grew anxious and grabbed his arm.

“Brother, wait!”

Lin Xingjian, his arm seized, sneered inwardly.

‘The prey has taken the bait.’

‘What an easily fooled fellow.’

He slowly turned around, an impatient expression on his face.

“What do you want?”

A man wearing a hood and dressed in what appeared to be Pill Sect disciple robes smiled broadly.

“I’m not a suspicious person. Just now, I saw you enter the shop; you were looking to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill, weren’t you?”

His voice was deep and gentle, carrying a hint of imperceptible flattery.

Lin Xingjian nodded.

“Heh, although this shop is out of stock, I have some right here.”

The man skillfully pulled a pill box from his sleeve, revealing a perfectly round Foundation Establishment Pill inside.

This Foundation Establishment Pill was identical to those sold in the Pill Sect shop, even the box it came in was precisely the same.

No wonder Li Xingtong had been fooled.

“Where did you… get this?”

Lin Xingjian raised an eyebrow. Far from showing delight, his face was clouded with suspicion, his brows tightly furrowed.

“You didn’t steal it, did you?”

“Hmph!”

“What kind of talk is that? How could I do something so underhanded?”

“I had originally intended to buy this Foundation Establishment Pill to give to a young lady, but she didn’t think much of me.”

“And now… I’ve already reached the Foundation Establishment stage myself, so I have no use for it.”

“Hey, brother, what do you say?”

“How about I sell it to you for a bit less, just as a favor?”

His words were flawless, and his facial expressions perfectly matched his narrative.

Most people, if called out by him, would likely find it hard to resist the temptation to buy.

Who would have imagined a demonic cultivator daring to infiltrate the Xuantian Dao Sect and openly peddle demon pills right beside a Pill Sect shop?

Lin Xingjian sneered inwardly, maintaining an impassive facade.

The real confrontation was just beginning.