When Meng Hao spoke these words, the big man instantly froze. Not only him, but everyone nearby also took several steps back upon hearing it, their gazes at Meng Hao filled with even greater fear.
"Buy... buy a little more..."
Cao Yang stammered, his voice weak. If Meng Hao hadn't been supporting him, he likely would have collapsed to the ground.
"One pill, one spirit stone. Fair prices for young and old alike. Brother, rest assured, I won't take advantage of the situation to inflate prices. You can ask the senior brothers around here; my Yang Dan Fang branch has an excellent reputation."
With a friendly expression, Meng Hao took out over ten Huo Yu Dan from his storage bag.
Seeing so many pills, Cao Yang's face grew even paler. Looking at Meng Hao's overly friendly expression, he felt a chill run down his spine and a shiver in his heart. He gritted his teeth and made the purchase.
"Brother, you truly have an eye for quality. All of these are genuine products from Yang Dan Fang."
Having said that, Meng Hao once again took out several Zhi Xue Dan from his storage bag and displayed them in his hand.
Cao Yang was startled to see Meng Hao taking out more pills. He looked at Meng Hao's storage bag with a heart full of anguish, only to find Meng Hao gazing at him with an expression of deep concern.
Cao Yang wasn't foolish; he naturally understood Meng Hao's intentions. His heart was bleeding, but life was more important. He reluctantly took spirit stones from his storage bag, his face showing his unwillingness as he handed them to Meng Hao.
Meng Hao took the spirit stones, smiling as he placed the pills into Cao Yang's hand. After several such exchanges, the spirit stones in Cao Yang's storage bag had transformed into a pile of pills.
Cao Yang's heart bled even more, the pain so intense that the muscles on his face trembled.
But when he looked at Meng Hao, he saw him taking out five more pills. His heart seized, and his face filled with despair.
"The pills from just now will help you recover from your injuries. These five Yang Qi Dan are for you to use for recuperation after your condition has improved."
Meng Hao continued to smile warmly at Cao Yang.
"It's all gone, truly all gone!"
Cao Yang looked at Meng Hao, who was still supporting him, and was on the verge of tears.
Meng Hao said nothing, maintaining that friendly expression, which made Cao Yang's scalp tingle. He forced himself to grit his teeth and take out several magic artifacts: a flying sword, a magic staff, and a few Ning Ling Dan.
"I truly have no more spirit stones left. These are all I have."
Cao Yang said with extreme sorrow.
"Magic artifacts are fine too."
Meng Hao promptly took everything Cao Yang had offered and placed it into his storage bag.
A moment later, Cao Yang, holding a pile of miscellaneous pills and unable to shed tears, was supported by someone as he hastily departed.
Meng Hao patted his storage bag with satisfaction. It was only noon, and he had already made a considerable profit. He mused that in business, one shouldn't push things too far. So, he put away his banner, greeted the surrounding cultivators, and with a "see you tomorrow" that sent shivers down their spines, he departed from Mount Pingding.
Another half month passed. During this time, Meng Hao's name among the low-level disciples shone like the midday sun. Most of them knew him, and the Yang Dan Fang branch's miscellaneous goods stall had become a fixture on Mount Pingding.
This stall offered all sorts of miscellaneous pills, and its owner's cultivation was astonishing. He was practically regarded as being in the same league as Lu Hong, one of the top cultivators on Pingding Mountain.
It was also rumored that this shopkeeper, though appearing to be a frail scholar at first glance, was actually extremely hot-tempered. Such rumors had spread far and wide.
One afternoon, a pale-faced Cao Yang walked out of his room. Although his complexion was still a bit wan, his injuries had fully healed. This only made Cao Yang resent Meng Hao even more for selling him those expensive pills, which, just as Meng Hao had claimed, were exactly enough for his recovery.
He had been bedridden for half a month, and only in the last few days had he been able to move about freely. At this moment, his face showed hesitation, as if he could not make up his mind. After a long while, he gritted his teeth, cast caution to the wind, and slowly began to walk. He did not walk far within the outer sect before reaching an area with few buildings, heading straight for the outermost room.
"Cao Yang requests an audience with Senior Brother Lu."
Outside the door, Cao Yang cupped his fists and bowed.
Inside the room, a man in his thirties sat cross-legged. He wore green robes, and while he was not particularly handsome, he possessed an air of arrogance. At this moment, his closed eyes slowly opened, revealing a piercing gaze.
"What is it?"
Senior Brother Lu asked indifferently.
"Senior Brother Lu, this junior brother... this junior brother... was robbed a few days ago."
Cao Yang spoke quickly, his heart filled with unease. Outsiders rumored that he and Senior Brother Lu were relatives, but he knew that while they were indeed related, the other party had no familial affection for him whatsoever, often entering long periods of secluded cultivation and paying him no mind at all.
He truly could not bear it any longer, which was why he had come.
Hearing this, Senior Brother Lu’s face showed impatience, and he spoke indifferently.
"Who robbed you?"
"It's an outer sect disciple named Meng Hao."
Cao Yang quickly replied.
"Meng Hao?"
Senior Brother Lu pondered, the image of the person who had given a Spirit Condensation Pill to Senior Sister Xu a month ago appearing in his mind.
"That's the one! Now, instead of cultivating, he's opened a shop on Pingding Mountain, selling miscellaneous pills and items to fellow disciples who are fighting each other, earning enormous profits."
Cao Yang said resentfully.
"Selling pills?"
Senior Brother Lu frowned, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"That's right, this person is now very well-known among the low-level disciples. He opened a shop on Pingding Mountain, selling miscellaneous pills and items, forcing people to buy them. Even though they are fellow disciples, his methods have caused widespread resentment; he has no shame, and everyone is indignant. I respectfully ask Senior Brother Lu to uphold justice."
Cao Yang's face was filled with indignation, as he recalled his own miserable situation from that day.
Senior Brother Lu paid no attention to Cao Yang's words. At this moment, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"With my cultivation level, constantly snatching things from low-level disciples would diminish my status. After so many years in the Reliance Sect, why didn't I think of this method of opening a shop to sell pills...?"
Senior Brother Lu took a deep breath, slapped his thigh with a sharp smack, and thought to himself.
Cao Yang was startled. He thought he heard a slapping sound from inside the room, but he didn't know what it was and didn't dare to ask. Afterward, Senior Brother Lu dismissed him, without even mentioning taking revenge on his behalf.
Early the next morning, Meng Hao cheerfully carried his banner, with seven or eight storage bags hanging from his waist, and set off up Pingding Mountain. For over half a month, this path had become his daily routine; he walked incredibly fast, and before long, he reached the summit, sitting down on the very same rock as before.
Upon his appearance, all the cultivators on Mount Pingding turned pale. For over half a month now, Meng Hao had tormented them to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. However, cultivation here demanded plundering, and unless they avoided the mountain entirely, they had no choice. The areas outside did not permit life-and-death duels and offered no such pressure, so they simply had to endure and stay. Fortunately, they were all on guard, and the moment Meng Hao arrived, they immediately stopped fighting.
But there were always those who fought with bloodshot eyes, as well as those who harbored deep, deadly grudges against one another. As a result, although Meng Hao's 'business' had slowed down a bit, it was still quite lucrative.