9ooo Chapter 225 Close Combat! Storage Bag! First Update

"What are these magical artifacts and crystals?" Zhang Guodong suddenly heard this and his eyes lit up, completely disregarding the dangerous situation he was in.

Just from the name, he knew it was a good thing, just like the green and white jade-like branch in Xuan Qingji's hand, which should be a magic weapon.

Zhang Guodong's guess was correct. However, the foot-long green and white branch in Xuan Qingwen's hand was no ordinary magic weapon, but a rare flying magic weapon among top-tier magic weapons.

The branch that Bodhidharma used to cross the river on a single leaf possessed this function. Under the manipulation of the life force of the demon, the foot-long flying artifact could grow to a thousand times its original size, enough for more than ten people to stand on and fly at high altitudes. Under the effect of the defensive formation refined within the artifact, the people inside were protected from external wind blades and certain attacks.

Such flying magical artifacts are extremely rare. In Fengdu City, apart from the elders, only Xuan Qinghui and the sect leader's junior brother each possess one. Even Zhao Jun, the grandson of the second elder, did not receive one as a reward.

Because magical artifacts are extremely rare. The refining of magical artifacts requires mastering extremely complex formations, which are then fused into the artifact's embryo; the failure rate is very high. Therefore, the already scarce artifact refiners spend their entire lives learning and mastering formations, and they practically never become top-tier cultivators.

This shows the importance of magical artifacts, and it is even more difficult to become a high-level artifact refiner.

Upon hearing about magical artifacts, Zhang Guodong, who knew nothing about them, was intrigued, because he thought of the celestial artifacts in his imagination. After all, their functions were similar, right? In reality, plant cultivators mainly attack with their natal demonic vines, but since the natal demonic vines are fused with their souls, if they suffer fatal damage, it will also harm the cultivators themselves. Therefore, magical artifacts have become an important supplement to the external support of plant cultivators.

Plant cultivators only use their natal demonic vines to attack at the last moment. Magical artifacts, on the other hand, are quite powerful, and even if lost, they won't harm the cultivator; therefore, their existence is very important.

These white-robed disciples are only fifth-generation outer disciples. Magic artifacts? If they are lucky, it's good if someone occasionally possesses a low-level magic artifact. Many fifth-generation disciples, even inner disciples, cannot afford low-level magic artifacts, and sixth-generation disciples are even less likely to possess them.

This bluff was just talk; the three people's real purpose was simply to obtain crystals or some precious medicinal herbs. Mortals might possess these two things, especially the latter.

Risking their lives, they left the city. With a bit of luck in the wasteland, they might find a century-old medicinal herb. Even an ordinary century-old herb is worth twenty low-grade crystals. That's a considerable sum. If it's a rare century-old herb, it might be worth thirty to fifty low-grade crystals. [Advertisement break!]

Plant cultivators generally possess strong recovery abilities, but this "strong" only applies to ordinary injuries. For fatal wounds, or injuries inflicted by another plant cultivator, their self-recovery is insufficient, requiring the use of elixirs from a pharmacist. Therefore, for every plant cultivator, crystals are the primary resource, indispensable for cultivation. Elixirs, especially healing elixirs, are the secondary priority, particularly for lower-level plant cultivators. Those below level 20 require them even more.

The three people before them were dressed in white, indicating they were fifth-generation outer disciples. Inner disciples typically wore formal gold ribbons to tie their hair; don't underestimate those ribbons, as they were crafted by the elders and were the mark of inner disciples. Their aura was unique. Their function was to keep the wearer's clothing clean, dust-free, and cool and warm.

Zhang Guodong's curious question annoyed the three of them, but made them even more depressed.

Could it be that this kid really doesn't know about magic artifacts and crystals? How come Uncle Yu said this kid might have something good on him? The three of them looked at the long object on Zhang Guodong's body and became even more suspicious. Could it be that Uncle Yu had misjudged him?

They were dressed in strange clothes, and there wasn't a single storage bag in sight; they looked like they were poor.

"Senior Brother Cheng, is this kid pretending to be stupid?" The skinny disciple in white robes was getting impatient and whispered among himself. But Zhang Guodong looked serious, so it didn't seem like he was faking it.

Brother Cheng was the fattest of the three, with a fat head and a pig-like face, and he looked very wealthy.

"Damn it, we have to finish what Uncle Yu asked us to do! If this kid doesn't have anything good on him, then we're out of luck. But Uncle Yu will definitely remember our kindness and teach this kid a lesson!" Senior Brother Cheng snorted and said.

When the skinny man and the other disciple heard Senior Brother Cheng mention Uncle Yu, their eyes immediately hardened, and they looked at Zhang Guodong with even more sinister smiles.

"Brother Cheng is right, I just can't stand this kid!" the two flattered.

The three spoke in very low voices. To Zhi Xiu, even the lowest voices were clear enough for them to communicate at such close range, but to ordinary people, they were inaudible.

But Zhang Guodong was an exception. Within a radius of two hundred meters, he could detect even the smallest hair falling from someone's body.

"Hey kid, never seen crystals or magic artifacts before? I'll show you today!" Senior Brother Cheng patted his waist, and a small black bag, about the size of a palm, appeared in his hand.

Then, without Brother Cheng making a move, three green, crystalline stones the size of pigeon eggs, radiating strong life force, appeared in his hand, followed by a foot-long red sword.

The three green stones with their intense life force fluctuations were one thing, but when the small red sword appeared, the skinny man and the other disciple gasped, their eyes flashing with greed.

Clearly, the small sword is the real treasure! A magical artifact!

"Senior Brother Cheng, Crimson Iron is an offensive magic weapon! With it, Senior Brother Cheng will be more than capable of handling even level 20 opponents!" the skinny man said enviously.

Senior Brother Cheng's eyes narrowed into slits with a smile, his face full of arrogance, as if he could truly challenge a level 20 expert. In reality, of the three, only he possessed high cultivation; he was a level 12, a "lean ox." The other junior brother was level 10, a recently graduated fifth-generation outer disciple.

A level 14 plant cultivator is a low-level disciple. To challenge a level 20 plant cultivator is utter nonsense! A level 20 plant cultivator is already a white-robed inner disciple, and one of the best at that level. Even if Senior Brother Cheng is using the low-level attack magic weapon, Crimson Iron, being able to fight against an level 18 plant cultivator, four levels higher, is already quite good.

The premise is that the other party does not have any magical artifacts.

"Haha, don't worry. You'll have yours in the future!" Senior Brother Cheng said proudly.

Seeing Zhang Guodong's eyes fixed intently on his hand, Senior Brother Cheng sneered, "Kid, you've learned something new, haven't you?"

Zhang Guodong nodded. He swallowed hard and said, "Yes, it's really good stuff! What's that bag? This sword is so long, how can it fit in there?"

Senior Brother Cheng was taken aback. Seeing Zhang Guodong staring at the small black bag with a country bumpkin look, he snorted coldly and said, "Let me make you understand, this is a storage bag, understand? Let you know, you idiot, that these things are not something you are qualified to have!"

His expression suddenly changed, and Senior Brother Cheng said, "Kid, enough talk, hand over everything you have!"

The situation suddenly changed. Senior Brother Cheng had clearly lost his patience, and the skinny man and his companion also looked impatient, grinning maliciously at Zhang Guodong.

Bullying a mortal. They would normally disdain doing such a thing, but it was at the behest of their Uncle-Master Yu. This task had to be completed, to teach this mortal brat the consequences of offending Uncle-Master Yu.

Zhang Guodong chuckled sheepishly, turned over his pockets, finding them empty, and said, "Brothers, I really don't have anything good on me. Think about it, where would a mortal like me get anything good?"

"This kid really doesn't have anything on him! Could he have hidden it?" The skinny guy patted Zhang Guodong a couple of times, but found nothing, and said somewhat unwillingly.

They hid. Where did they hide? The guest room department? They dared not go there, otherwise, if someone saw them, they would be in deep trouble.

"Damn it. Give the kid a good beating, just don't kill him, that's bad luck!" Senior Brother Cheng was furious, he hadn't gotten anything. But letting Zhang Guodong get away with it so easily was obviously not an option either.

He had lost all interest in Zhang Guodong. There was no more profit to be made, so he lacked motivation.

The two skinny men gave Zhang Guodong a sinister smile, intending to go out and teach.

Knowing the matter was about to end, Zhang Guodong's expression changed instantly. He smiled and said, "You're leaving already? Did I agree to let you go?"

"Robbery! Hand over the storage bag!"

The two skinny men were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. These people actually wanted to rob them? These weak mortals? They actually dared to rob three plant cultivators, and white-robed disciples at that? This was truly the most ridiculous thing in the world!

"Haha! You're courting death! Let me loosen your muscles! Damn it. You want to rob me? I'll cripple you first!" The skinny man laughed, and all three of them were amused by Zhang Guodong.

Without needing to attack with demonic vines, even unarmed, a plant cultivator's physical strength far surpasses that of a mortal, making teaching a mortal a breeze!

Zhang Guodong was overjoyed. It was best if they underestimated him. He decided to fight them to the death. He had to get their storage bags! These three were clearly here to cause him trouble. There was no one around. If he told anyone that he, a mere mortal, had robbed three plant cultivators, probably no one would believe him.

To catch a thief red-handed, one must catch them in the act. Zhang Guodong has a secret haven; he can throw his storage bag inside, and even the Grand Elder won't be able to find it.

Zhang Guodong chuckled, pushed off with his foot, and flashed past the two skinny men, moving so fast he left no trace. Two powerful punches later, before the two men could react, they were struck on the head and knocked unconscious. Their last thought before losing consciousness was, "How can this mortal be so fast?" At the same time, they knew they were doomed.

Those who spend all day hunting geese end up being pecked by them.

Zhang Guodong dared not use too much force, only using a fraction of his strength, and punched the other man's temples twice. However, this force was still a bit too much. Although these people's physical strength was much stronger than that of ordinary people, it was still an overestimation of them. Zhang Guodong's physical strength was now quite abnormal.

Senior Brother Cheng didn't react immediately, but he was, after all, a cut above the other two, and he sensed it.

Danger!

Boom!

Zhang Guodong appeared in front of him, cracked his fist, and said, "**You're really weak!"

Senior Brother Cheng's head spun, and he collapsed to the ground. He'd taken a heavy punch. Before he could even use his magical weapon, Zhang Guodong had knocked him unconscious.

Zhang Guodong's fist is an incredibly powerful weapon! Moreover, the speed of his punches far surpasses the speed of these lower-level disciples' magical artifacts and innate attacks, making him the king of close combat! (Ad break)

Naturally, due to the great distance, Zhang Guodong would be at a disadvantage when facing attacks from the plant cultivators.

He had witnessed the demonic vine's attacks before. Now that the demonic vine had merged with a human's soul, it was more flexible to manipulate and its power was naturally even greater. Zhang Guodong had to admit that he would have a hard time dealing with it if he encountered a ranged attack.

A mortal was able to defeat three cultivators in an instant. Zhang Guodong tore off the storage bags of Senior Brother Cheng, the skinny guy, and the little junior brother. Without even opening them to check, he quickly searched their bodies to make sure nothing was left behind, and then decided to leave.

"Phew! Finally out!" Half an hour later, Zhang Guodong left Songtao Villa and stepped onto the street, only to be stunned by the grandeur of Fengdu City. "So big! So prosperous!" Zhang Guodong felt as if he had stepped onto an ancient street, and a surge of excitement filled his chest.

Note: Next update to follow.