Chapter 41

"Stop stinking up the place! If I were your age, I could beat you up with one slap!"

Meng Jing, baring her little tiger teeth, shouted in the direction Zhang Lingmin had left.

She was very unhappy, having been robbed of a Foundation Establishment Pill, which was worth ten thousand spirit stones!

Jiang Ping'an asked, "How does this woman rank compared to other geniuses?"

Meng Jing let out a long breath, put away her knife, and replied,

"In the last competition, she ranked third, but that was because her cultivation level was relatively low."

"If her strength reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, she would definitely be first."

"However, many true geniuses don't need to participate in that competition. Princess has already selected the most talented group for separate cultivation."

"That means, for her to secure a spot in the final Genius Competition, it won't be easy."

Hearing Meng Jing's introduction, Jiang Ping'an suddenly clenched his fists.

There were actually many geniuses even stronger than this woman!

For some reason, hearing these words, Jiang Ping'an's body suddenly trembled.

It wasn't fear or anxiety, but... excitement.

Yes, it was excitement!

The reason he chose to participate in this competition was to obtain the supreme secret technique of the Great Xia, a chance to approach immortality.

With his horizons broadened and seeing so many geniuses, his blood flowed faster, and a surge of passion welled up in his heart.

He now really wanted to battle these geniuses.

Of course, he definitely couldn't win, but it wouldn't stop him from following in their footsteps.

Seeing Jiang Ping'an's trembling body, Meng Jing patted his shoulder.

"Relax, we'll just go through the motions and try to secure some cultivation resources. The final spots definitely won't be ours."

Meng Jing was very open-minded.

Jiang Ping'an wouldn't relax; he would only work harder. He had to obtain the supreme secret technique of the Great Xia.

Approaching Xu Tao, Jiang Ping'an skillfully searched the corpse.

This was his favorite thing to do, not knowing what good things he might find.

The result was disappointing.

Apart from the black pendant amulet around Xu Tao's neck and this large saber, there was nothing else of value, only two bottles of Blood Qi Pills.

Selling all these items might be worth one Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Tch, a Martial Artist, and a poor one at that!"

Meng Jing was very disappointed and kicked Xu Tao's corpse to the side.

"Wood, be careful. Although you dealt with Xu Tao, you've offended the Lingtai Kingdom. They will definitely have a bounty on you."

"Princess said that every year, a large number of geniuses die from assassinations, both from enemy countries and opposing forces."

Meng Jing seriously warned.

Jiang Ping'an nodded and called out to the distance, "Xiao Bai."

With his call, a white figure quickly appeared.

Meng Jing pouted in dissatisfaction, "When we were in danger just now, this beast was the first to run away."

"I let it. It's my last trump card."

Jiang Ping'an mounted the horse and stroked Xiao Bai's soft fur, "When I've used all my trump cards and still haven't dealt with Xu Tao, it will come out with all its might and kick Xu Tao."

"Even if it can't kill him, it can kick him away, giving us a chance to escape. Its speed already surpasses that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Meng Jing's eyes widened; she didn't expect Jiang Ping'an to have another ace up his sleeve!

Perhaps besides the array flags, this man had more trump cards.

What a guy, others might have one or two trump cards, but this guy has a bunch. Is this even called a trump card?

"Yah!"

Jiang Ping'an, with Meng Jing, headed to the largest city in Blackwind County, Blackwind City, the most prosperous city in the county.

This time, Xiao Bai ran at full speed, dashing through the snow. In less than half a day, they arrived at Blackwind City.

The towering city walls, hundreds of meters high, were built from a special material that shimmered with starlight, emitting a mysterious glow.

The carvings on the city walls were exquisitely detailed, depicting various mysterious runes and images.

The moat wound around the city, the clear river water shimmering with a silver glow in the sunlight, like a ribbon encircling the entire city.

Jiang Ping'an stood at the foot of the city, looking up at the city, feeling a great shock.

It was magnificent.

Countless caravans and cultivators came and went, various strange beasts were everywhere, and cultivators flew about.

Jiang Ping'an activated the power of his right eye, surveying the streets, his heart pounding again.

Almost everyone had cultivation, Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere, and he could even see Golden Core cultivators!

The Golden Cores in their bodies were like suns, making Jiang Ping'an dare not look directly at them.

Suddenly, Jiang Ping'an saw a strange man, who had a small infant-like thing in his dantian.

Suddenly, the infant opened its eyes.

Jiang Ping'an was startled and quickly averted his gaze.

The cultivator quickly looked at Jiang Ping'an and then looked away.

"How strange, just a kid, but I felt like I was being watched by a powerful cultivator."

The cultivator muttered and left.

Jiang Ping'an was drenched in sweat.

Could this be the Nascent Soul cultivator that Old Li mentioned?

The other party didn't use any techniques; just a glance made his body unable to move.

Many shops emitted a spiritual glow, colorful and dazzling. Any weapon was a magical treasure.

Many shops were built on high towers, and cultivators who couldn't fly had no right to enter.

Jiang Ping'an was stunned. This was the cultivation world?

Even though Meng Jing had been to Blackwind City once, she was still amazed on her second visit.

Any prosperous courtyard was taller and grander than the buildings in Lianshan County.

Jiang Ping'an found a shop and sold the useless items he had.

For example, the green amulet replicated by the Treasure Accumulating Basin was no longer useful, as it could only block a full-strength attack from a Ninth Layer Qi Practitioner.

He planned to replicate some of Xu Tao's amulets, which were more advanced.

"Twenty-one!!"

Meng Jing was stunned when she saw Jiang Ping'an take out twenty-one identical amulets to sell.

She had suspected that this man had other aces up his sleeve during the battle with Xu Tao, and this scene confirmed her suspicions.

Where did this man get so many amulets?

"The path of cultivation is fraught with danger. Having some aces up your sleeve is normal," Jiang Ping'an explained calmly.

Meng Jing rolled her eyes at the man. "A few" aces?

But to be honest, following this man did give her a sense of security.

Jiang Ping'an also sold a Breakthrough Pill and a Foundation Establishment Pill, exchanging them for Spirit Gathering Pills and Blood Spirit Pills.

These two types of pills were used by Foundation Establishment and Martial Artist cultivators for cultivation. He exchanged for some to make future cultivation easier.

He exchanged for a hundred Blood Spirit Pills and gave half to Meng Jing.

Meng Jing wanted to refuse, but with so many pills, she couldn't bear to give them up. She tilted her head and said softly,

"These... these are a loan from you. I'll pay you back in the future."

"Sure."

Jiang Ping'an casually replied, with no intention of making her pay back.

Her father had saved him and given him a mysterious technique called the "Earth Piling Technique."

Even if he gave her five hundred Foundation Establishment Pills, Jiang Ping'an would still consider it a good deal.