CHAPTER 248: CHAPTER 0248 ARRAY PLATE_1

"Brother-in-law, why are they targeting you? You’re just a humble, kind-hearted farmer. You’ve never done anything wrong," Liu Ruomei demanded, having woken up in a fury.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Ruolan and Xiao Fang arrived breathlessly on the mountain. They were both furious, having learned what had happened. It was Liu Ruolan who answered Liu Ruomei’s question. "Because your brother-in-law is too much of a genius. Some people are jealous, some want to control him, and others want to take his treasures and wealth."

Yes, he’s too much of a genius, too dazzling, Liu Ruomei thought. He’s the smartest person in the world, which has made so many people envious and covetous.

"Brother Bin, I will always support you," Xiao Fang said with deep affection. "I believe you can overcome any difficulty."

Liu Ruomei added, "Brother-in-law, so what if they took your Flying Sword and some Spiritual Medicine? It’s not that big of a deal. Just participate in the Hero Auction and get more Spiritual Medicine. Once you break through to the Liquid State, you’ll be much stronger. You might even be able to defeat a Golden Core Realm expert! Who would dare to act so arrogantly in front of you then? Who would dare to bully you?"

Liu Ruolan also spoke gently, "Husband, I’m sorry. This whole mess started because of Ruomei, and you got dragged into it."

"Don’t you worry. I can handle this. I can overcome any challenge." The tender concern from the three women managed to quell the rage in Zhang Bin’s heart. He calmed down and said softly, "Besides, this has nothing to do with Ruomei. If someone wants to target me and force my submission, they will always find an excuse. If you’re determined to condemn someone, you’ll never be short of a pretext."

With that, he sent Liu Ruolan and Xiao Fang back to work. Liu Ruomei also went to cultivate immediately. She was resentful and furious, vowing to grow stronger as quickly as possible. She wanted to stand with her brother-in-law against their powerful enemies and share his burden. She knew all too well that Zhang Bin was under immense pressure; it was a difficult and exhausting struggle. Although he had a sect backing him, it seemed to have very few disciples and couldn’t offer much help. Therefore, she had to seize every second to cultivate and become stronger.

Zhang Bin sat cross-legged where the Spiritual Medicine was planted, a cold, icy smile on his face. Xiao Qian, Da Huang, Big Fatty, Second Fatty, Xiao Jin, Hong Ya, and Xiao Xuanzi gathered protectively around him. They were all diligently cultivating the Savage Overbearing Body Art, their bodies exuding a formidable aura and a strange, oppressive force. They were furious because their master had been bullied. However, they were still too weak to help, so they too had to grow strong quickly.

In truth, even Xiao Xuanzi, the last to start cultivating, was already quite powerful. Its body had grown to the size of a large, round dining table, and it usually hid in the murky pond where outsiders rarely saw it. With its current strength, it could take on a Rushing Pulse Realm Cultivator, provided they had only opened one or two meridians. Xiao Jin was slightly more powerful than Xiao Xuanzi, and the other pets were stronger still. Xiao Qian was the mightiest of them all, capable of fighting an Initial Stage Qi Sea Realm Cultivator.

The pets’ strength was already impressive. Unfortunately, even if they joined forces with Zhang Bin and fought with all their might, they stood no chance against an Initial Stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator. Golden Core Realm Cultivators were simply too powerful. They had mastered Daoist Magic and, with a mere thought, could unleash terrifying killing moves with heaven-destroying, earth-extinguishing power.

Zhang Bin wasn’t cultivating. Instead, he was on the phone with Gao Si. "Gao Si, I’m in a huge crisis... I need an Array Plate that can withstand an attack from a Golden Core Realm Expert to defend both Sanchahe Village and Mantou Ridge. I also need a Flying Sword to boost my combat power. On top of that, I need a Medicine Testing Instrument."

He believed his greatest weakness, the reason he was being watched by so many hungry wolves and coveted by the ambitious, was that he had a home to protect. As the saying goes, the monk can run away, but the temple cannot. He had to remedy this weakness. With a powerful Array Plate making Sanchahe Village impregnable, he would have nothing to fear. He could advance and attack or retreat and defend. The Flying Sword was also a must-have; otherwise, he would be doomed if he encountered an enemy in the Liquid State or a powerful Supernatural Expert. After all, he was about to attend the Hero Auction in the Island Nation, a place sure to be teeming with masters. He couldn’t afford to be careless.

The Medicine Testing Instrument was also essential. Although he had nearly finished studying the alien data, developing such an instrument himself would still take time—time he didn’t have to waste. Besides, any instrument he could build wouldn’t be as effective as one from Xuanwu Star. Of course, this didn’t mean his recent studies were useless. The wealth of technological and medicinal knowledge he’d gained was an intangible asset, one of the cornerstones for his future rise to power.

"Brother, of course I’m willing to help, but this still has to be a trade," Gao Si said. "I need to turn a profit and make some money to get the things you’re asking for."

"That’s only fair. Name your price," Zhang Bin said.

Gao Si pondered for a moment. "This time, I don’t want Spirit Stones. I’ll trade for Elixirs—Evergreen Pills. Let’s say one hundred for the Array Plate, eighty for the Flying Sword, and thirty for the Medicine Testing Instrument. A total of two hundred and ten Evergreen Pills. What do you think?"

The Evergreen Pill was an Elixir from Xuanwu Star. Its effects were similar to the True Essence Pill, allowing cultivators who practiced the Qingmu Longevity Technique to rapidly accumulate True Yuan. It also had a special effect: granting thirty additional years of youth. This meant that while a normal person wouldn’t gain True Yuan from it, they would still gain those thirty years. Such a treasure was naturally of immense value. Presumably, Gao Si planned to use some for his own cultivation and sell the rest for a huge fortune. With the Medicine Testing Instrument, it would become possible for Zhang Bin to refine Evergreen Pills himself.

"A total of two hundred," Zhang Bin countered.

Gao Si hesitated for a moment but agreed. After all, he would still make a substantial profit.

"Brother, same rules as always," Zhang Bin said. "You send me the three items first—preferably today, tomorrow at the latest. After that, I’ll transfer the pills to you. I promise I’ll get them to you as fast as possible."

"I’ll start preparing now. I’ll do my best to get them to you by tomorrow," Gao Si promised.

After hanging up, a cold, mocking sneer spread across Zhang Bin’s face. Hanbing Yun, you want to threaten me? Force me to be your workhorse? What a pipe dream. Just wait until I’m powerful enough. We’ll see how I crush you then!

He was unaware that another powerful enemy was sneering in the shadows. Zhang Bin, now that you’re without your Flying Sword, tonight will be the night you die!