Chapter 205: Inside and Outside
Zhao Tai’an stood in front of Li Yuanqing and sized him up. “Young Master, why do I feel that you’re different from before?”
“How am I different?”
Zhao Tai’an smiled honestly and said, “I can’t say for sure. It’s just that I feel like it’s a little different. Perhaps it’s because we haven’t seen each other for a while and are unfamiliar with each other?”
Li Yuanqing restrained his aura a little. He was already at the third-grade Formation Arrangement Realm and the energy in his body was already overflowing. He was about to break through. The energy in his body was not very stable now. With his strength, it was easy for others to notice a little energy.
Zhao Tai’an smiled and returned the storage bag he had taken from Li Yuanqing. “Young Master, look at the spirit stones inside. Business has been really good recently. On one hand, everyone is anxious to buy some materials to increase their strength because war is imminent. On the other hand, the circulation between humans is becoming much more frequent, so the exchange of goods is even more lively than before.”
Li Yuanqing took the bag and casually looked inside. He could see the mountain of spirit stones. It seemed that his business had been doing well recently. “It’s been hard on you.”
“Young Master, what are you saying? I, Zhao Tai’an, am where I am today because of your guidance.” Zhao Tai’an was grateful to Li Yuanqing from the bottom of his heart.
Li Yuanqing had agreed with him that he, Zhao Tai’an, would be able to get a one percent commission for anything sold in their shop. This commission was a very large sum. The remaining 99% of the profits would be given to Li Yuanqing. However, even this 1% was enough for Zhao Tai’an to earn a lot.
There was even less to say these days. There were many humans coming and going, and it should be because something had happened in Rong City. Therefore, many people from Rong City came here. It was so crowded that one could feel it in Ping City.
This was good news. In any case, everyone was united against the outside world. They hoped that they could withstand this crisis.
“Young Master, have you heard?” Zhao Tai’an looked at Li Yuanqing happily. “I heard that Rong City has repelled the three leaders of the demons. This is big news.”
“Is that so?”
Li Yuanqing was busy packing up more things in the domain and handing them to Zhao Tai’an to sell. Since there were many people in Ping City now, it was a good opportunity to sell goods. He was a little absent-minded when he replied, but Zhao Tai’an was waiting for his reply. When Zhao Tai’an heard Li Yuanqing’s answer, he hurriedly said happily, “You didn’t hear about this?”
Li Yuanqing knew this very well, but he still pretended not to know and replied casually.
Zhao Tai’an told Li Yuanqing excitedly, “Young Master, you don’t know. Originally, the people in Rong City thought that they couldn’t hold on anymore. Most of them had fled, and many of them came to Ping City. But who knew that such a powerful person would suddenly appear and deal with the three lords? Don’t you think this is strange?”
“There’s such a powerful person. The people of Rong City really escaped a calamity.”
Li Yuanqing followed Zhao Tai’an and chatted.
Zhao Tai’an said happily, “I heard from them that that lord is very powerful. He casually dealt with those three lords. Some even said that he is even more powerful than the Sword Immortal of Ping City.”
Li Yuanqing smiled awkwardly. He did not expect someone to think of such a comparison.
Zhao Tai’an hurriedly said, “But I don’t think so. I think the Sword Immortal is definitely the most powerful person in the world. As long as the Sword Immortal attacks, these four lords will definitely be reduced to ashes in an instant!”
The people in Ping City were quite confident in the defense of Ping City. Although they knew that the four lords had rushed over, there was no chaos here for the time being. They were basically able to maintain normal order, unlike Rong City, which was already in chaos when the news came.
Most of them were naturally like Zhao Tai’an, coming from their trust in this legendary Sword Immortal. Since the Sword Immortal could save them so many times in the past, he would definitely be able to save them this time.
“The four lords are here this time. These four are not to be underestimated.”
Zhao Tai’an said proudly, “What’s there to be afraid of? There are many people who are saying that there is more than one Sword Immortal. They say that the Sword Immortal is an organization that hides all kinds of experts. These experts usually hide in the dark and will jump out to save the human race when needed!”
Zhao Tai’an was getting more and more enthusiastic.
The shop had earned a lot of money now and had hired a few people. The shop had also expanded a lot. It had already become a slightly famous shop in Ping City.
Most importantly, most of the things they sold were very rare items, so their reputation spread in a very high-end circle. Ordinary people could not afford such a high price to buy such a treasure. So the shopkeeper, Zhao Tai’an, had more free time. He had been reporting the situation to Li Yuanqing for a long time.
Li Yuanqing casually took out a storage bag and handed it to Zhao Tai’an. “These are the goods this time. Take them and sell them.”
Zhao Tai’an respectfully took the storage bag. However, everyone was stunned on the spot. “Young Master, are… are we going to sell these?” He was dumbfounded.
“It can be sold, right?” Li Yuanqing looked at him and asked.
Zhao Tai’an was in a difficult position. He scratched his head. “Young Master, the goods you took out are a little too expensive. How much is the price for the fur of this Formation Arrangement Realm demon beast? How can anyone afford it?”
“Release the news or organize an auction. I believe it can still be sold.”
Zhao Tai’an gulped and instantly felt that the mission on his shoulder was very heavy. Originally, he thought that the goods that Li Yuanqing took out this time would not be much different from before, that he could still handle it. However, the things that Li Yuanqing brought back this time were getting more and more strange. No one could understand them.
“Young Master…”
“Is it difficult?”
Zhao Tai’an looked up at Li Yuanqing and said, “I might need to organize a new security team.”
The news that the demon army was about to arrive at the city naturally spread slowly in Ping City. These people had no intention of escaping because they had heard that the outside world had been surrounded by the demons. They might not be able to gain anything by escaping now, so it was not worth it.
In addition, a Sword Immortal had once appeared in Ping City. The Sword Immortal would definitely be able to save them this time. Although the people of Ping City were also confident, they still prepared materials in secret. All kinds of crazy purchases caused the entire market to be very active.
The underground world that had been dug out by the demons was now under the jurisdiction of the City Lord Manor. This place was divided into four very large markets. The middle area was completely forbidden to pa.s.s through.
At this moment, in the East City of the underground market. In a dark corner, a few demons crawled into a small alley and disappeared.
“Boss, this is it.”
The person walking in front was the shortest person. He held a formation disc in his hand. The further he walked, the brighter it became. In the end, they stopped at the end of the alley. This was a place that had yet to be developed. There were all kinds of walls and roads built in the underground world.
However, because they had to surround the middle area, many small alleys stopped abruptly. Clearly, behind this wall was the path to the central array.
The few of them stopped. Two of them stood guard at the mouth of the alley behind them while the other three went straight to the thick wall and took out some strange stones. They drew strange symbols on the wall.
Not long after, the symbol on the wall slowly took shape.
It was a circular, strange pattern. In the middle of the circle were dense winding lines. These lines finally gathered at a point in the middle. There were also five points on the edge of the circle.
After they set up the main text, they were finally relieved.
“Boss, the explosion array has been set up.”
After the report, the leader standing in the middle suddenly took out a small crystal ball. It was a world of ice and snow inside the crystal ball. It was actually snowing quietly, looking very harmonious. He held the crystal ball in his palm and slowly pushed it up. The small crystal ball slowly expanded.
In just two breaths, the circular membrane of the crystal ball expanded into a small domain with a diameter of ten meters. The moment this domain was formed, all the sounds inside were isolated. The domain enveloped the wall and the demons.
From the outside, it sounded quiet. Nothing was happening.
“Boss.”
The leader nodded slightly and his subordinates immediately leaned against the wall.
The two of them stood in front of the wall. There were a few medium-grade spirit stones embedded in the pattern on the wall. Countless threads appeared in their hands and slowly gathered into a powerful energy pillar that was injected into the array.
The array formation on the wall slowly distorted. After a short movement, the array formation vaguely emitted the smell of smoke.
With a m.u.f.fled sound, countless cracks appeared on the thick wall.
The array formation was like a spider web that was firmly locked to the wall. The cracks on the wall actually vaguely matched the patterns of the array formation.
“Break!”
With this cry, the patterns on the wall suddenly expanded. The entire wall instantly shattered inch by inch like gla.s.s. A brand new s.p.a.ce appeared in front of everyone. There was a wide road ahead, and there was a faint light there.
“Boss, it’s done!”
The six-man team looked at the pa.s.sageway in front of them happily. The leader of the team calmed down and instructed his team members. “Don’t be anxious. You have to calm down. Don’t let out a sound later!”
“Don’t worry, Boss!”
The six-man team slowly advanced along the hole. It was quiet here. They followed the path. Every turn was towards the center. They definitely did not stay any longer. It didn’t take long for them to approach the center.
A strong light soared into the sky there, forming a pillar of light that shot into the sky and connected to the top of the sky.
“Boss, that’s it. This is their Great City Protection Formation. It’s so powerful!”
The six-man team was about to win. There was only one last wall left. As long as they pa.s.sed through this wall, that would be the key to their trip.
The leader took out a ball from his pocket. This ball was completely different from the crystal ball earlier. It seemed to be burning with flames, and a huge flame was constantly darting left and right inside. It seemed to be looking for an opportunity to rush out.
Although there were two sealed talismans stuck on it, there was still powerful spiritual energy dissipating from it.
Without hesitation, he tore off the seal on the fireball. A majestic energy instantly erupted. The six-man team couldn’t care less and used all their strength to charge at the wall in front of them.
With a bang, the wall collapsed. In front of them was the vast central array. The entire central array occupied a huge area. The patterns on it were shining like a ditch with energy flowing through it.
There were six of them, two in front, two in the back, and two in the middle. Their distribution was very reasonable. The leader was in the center of the team, holding the fireball in his arms that had already expanded to a diameter of half a meter.
An incomparably majestic power kept pouring out from it. All of this was worth it, even if it meant giving up their lives.
All six of them smiled cruelly. Victory was ahead. However, at this moment, they seemed to have fallen into a strange swamp and their footsteps slowed down.
The first to discover it was the leader. Initially, the place in the middle was only so far away. With their speed, they would definitely arrive in a while. However, it had been too long. How long had he been waiting? Why did he feel that he was still so far from the center of the array?
“Something’s wrong!”
Everyone also noticed that something was wrong. They were like ants in a swamp as they ran forward crazily. However, the path under their feet did not change at all. It was as if they were walking on the spot and even vaguely retreating.
“Boss?”
Seeing that the situation was not right, the leader made a prompt decision and hurriedly threw the huge fireball in his arms towards the center of the array.
A huge fireball formed in midair, emitting an intense and hot light. It kept spitting out flames, and the energy inside was about to be released.