Chapter 15: What Realm Are You Actually In?

The shop was not large, but it was well-stocked.

The shopkeeper was a round-faced, middle-aged man. When he saw Chen Ping enter, he froze for a moment before squeezing out a smile.

“Peak Master Chen, what wind blows you here?”

His tone carried a clear sense of distance and wariness.

Chen Ping did not mind. “I’m here to buy some artifacts and pills,” he said directly.

“Artifacts are over there,” the shopkeeper said, pointing to the shelves on the left.

“Pills are on the right. Please help yourself, Peak Master Chen.”

His attitude was cold.

Chen Ping did not waste words either. He led Lin Xiaoyu to the artifact section.

The shelves were lined with various flying swords, robes, and defensive artifacts. None of them were of high quality, at best low-grade artifacts.

“See if there is anything you like,” Chen Ping told Lin Xiaoyu.

Lin Xiaoyu looked around somewhat timidly, finally pointing to a pale green flying sword. “Master, this…”

“Good eye,” Chen Ping said with a nod.

“This is the Qingfeng Sword. It’s a fine piece among low-grade artifacts, suitable for the Qi Refining Stage.”

He also picked out a defensive robe, a pair of speed-boosting boots, and several protective jade talismans.

“Shopkeeper, how many spirit stones for these?” Chen Ping asked.

The shopkeeper walked over, swept his eyes over the items, and quoted a price.

“Three hundred low-grade spirit stones.”

Chen Ping frowned.

This price was clearly inflated.

At normal market price, these would add up to two hundred spirit stones at most.

“Shopkeeper, are you trying to rip me off?” Chen Ping asked calmly.

“You jest, Peak Master Chen,” the shopkeeper said with a hollow smile.

“Our shop has clearly marked prices, fair to all. If you think it’s too expensive, you can try elsewhere.”

The implication was clear: buy it or leave it.

A cold light flashed in Chen Ping’s eyes.

The man was deliberately making things difficult because he saw that Luoxia Peak was weak.

Just as he was about to speak, a sudden commotion arose outside the shop.

“Chen Ping! Get the hell out here!”

The voice was deep and booming, laced with fury.

Chen Ping turned to look. Seven or eight people stood outside the shop. Leading them was a middle-aged man in fine silk robes whose face bore a slight resemblance to Song Tou. He was currently glaring at Chen Ping.

The Song Family had arrived quickly.

The shopkeeper’s expression changed, and he quickly retreated to the side, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.

The other customers in the shop also scrambled out of the way, standing at a distance to watch the spectacle.

“Chen Ping!” The silk-robed man strode into the shop, radiating murderous intent.

“You let your disciple kill my nephew, Song Tou. If you don’t give me an explanation today, don’t even think about leaving Qingyun City alive!”

The people behind him all possessed powerful auras, the weakest among them being at the Golden Core stage, while the leading silk-robed man was at the mid Nascent Soul stage.

Lin Xiaoyu turned pale and instinctively stepped in front of Chen Ping.

“Master, I caused this trouble. I will take responsibility…”

“Step back.” Chen Ping pulled her behind him and looked at the silk-robed man.

“Are you from the Song Family?”

“Indeed!” Song Ming barked.

“Chen Ping, you must give the Song Family an explanation today! Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Chen Ping interrupted him, his tone calm.

“Your nephew publicly insulted my disciple and me. He brought death upon himself. Who else is there to blame?”

“You!” Song Ming trembled with rage.

“Fine! What a sharp tongue! Today, I’ll show you the consequences of killing a member of my Song Family!”

He waved his hand. “Take him down! Dead or alive!”

The men behind him immediately rushed forward.

Lin Xiaoyu wanted to fight, but Chen Ping held her back.

“Just watch.”

Chen Ping took a step forward to meet them.

He did not use any spells, delivering only a few simple punches.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The early Golden Core cultivator rushing at the front flew backward like a sandbag, crashing onto the street. He coughed up blood, unable to even crawl back up.

The faces of the remaining men fell, and they stopped dead in their tracks.

“You… you aren’t at half-step Qi Refining!”

A mid Golden Core Song Family cultivator gasped in shock and disbelief.

When Chen Ping struck just now, they had not even been able to see his movements.

That speed and power could never belong to a Qi Refining cultivator!

Song Ming’s pupils contracted as well.

The information he received stated that Chen Ping was merely a trash Peak Master at the half-layer of Qi Refining. Yet the strength before him…

“Concealing your cultivation?” A flash of wariness crossed Song Ming’s eyes.

“Chen Ping, what realm are you actually in?”

Chen Ping did not answer, saying flatly:

“Take your men and get out. If you dare bother me again, it won’t be as simple as getting injured.”

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

Song Ming’s expression shifted rapidly.

If they fought, he might not win.

If they retreated, he could not swallow this insult.

Just then, another voice echoed from the distance:

“Calm your anger, Patriarch Song.”

An elder dressed in the uniform of the Hall of Discipline arrived riding a flying sword, landing in front of the shop.

It was Lu Ya.

His gaze swept over the scene, finally landing on Chen Ping, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

“Elder Lu!” Song Ming cried, as if seeing a savior.

“You’ve come at the perfect time! Chen Ping let his disciple commit murder and even injured my Song Family cultivators. Please, let the Hall of Discipline uphold justice!”

Lu Ya looked at Chen Ping and said in a deep voice, “Peak Master Chen, is the death of Song Tou true?”

“It is,” Chen Ping nodded.

“But there was a reason. Song Tou publicly insulted my disciple and me. He brought death upon himself.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t have resorted to lethal force,” Lu Ya’s tone turned cold.

“According to sect rules, those who slaughter their fellow disciples shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect. Peak Master Chen, please come with me to the Hall of Discipline for investigation.”

Behind him, several more disciples from the Hall of Discipline arrived, completely surrounding the shop.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Lin Xiaoyu was so anxious that tears were on the verge of falling.

“Elder Lu, I was the one who did it! It has nothing to do with my master! If you want to punish someone, punish me!”

Lu Ya glanced at her, a flash of greed crossing his eyes, though he quickly concealed it.

“Lin Xiaoyu, you will also be taken in,” he said coldly.

“Take them.”

Several disciples from the Hall of Discipline stepped forward, preparing to seize them.

Chen Ping suddenly laughed.

“Elder Lu, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Peak Master Chen, the sect rules cannot be defied,” Lu Ya said righteously.

“If you resist, your crime will only be compounded.”

Chen Ping shook his head, too lazy to waste any more words.

He looked at Song Ming. “Song Ming, your nephew was indeed killed by my disciple. If you want revenge, fine. But not today.”

Then he looked back at Lu Ya:

“Elder Lu, if the Hall of Discipline wants to investigate, tell Li Yuanyi to come himself. You aren’t qualified.”

With that, he took Lin Xiaoyu by the hand and turned to leave.

“Stop him!” Lu Ya barked.

Several Hall of Discipline disciples struck immediately, the light of various spells flashing.

Chen Ping did not even look back, simply waving his hand.

An invisible force rippled outward, instantly shattering all the spells.

The Hall of Discipline disciples felt as if they had been hit by a battering ram, coughing up blood as they flew backward.

Lu Ya’s expression changed dramatically as he finally realized something was wrong.

This Chen Ping was definitely hiding his true strength!

Just as he was about to make a move himself, Chen Ping had already led Lin Xiaoyu out of the shop and into the crowd.

“Master…” Lin Xiaoyu said anxiously, looking back at the crowd pursuing them.

“Don’t panic,” Chen Ping said calmly.

“Keep close.”

His footwork shifted as he executed the 《Grand Dao Evasion Technique》.

Though he seemed to move slowly, he threaded through the crowd like a ghost, disappearing at the end of the street in the blink of an eye.

Lu Ya and Song Ming led their men in pursuit, but they could not even catch a glimpse of their shadows.

“Damn it!” Song Ming spat, gritting his teeth.

“Elder Lu, what on earth is this Chen Ping’s background?”

Lu Ya’s face was dark, the Blood Fiend Demonic Seal on his chest burning slightly warm.

He had not expected Chen Ping to be this powerful either.

That casual wave of his hand just now carried the power of at least a Golden Core cultivator!

“It seems we must plan this carefully…” A cold light flashed in Lu Ya’s eyes.

“But I will have that Heavenly Dao Divine Physique!”

He stared in the direction Chen Ping had disappeared, a ruthless determination settling in his heart.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping had already led Lin Xiaoyu to a secluded alley in Qingyun City.

“Master, we…” Lin Xiaoyu looked deeply apologetic.

“I’ve caused trouble for you again.”

“It’s not your fault,” Chen Ping said, patting her head.

“Some people will try to kill you even if you leave them alone. That is the way of the cultivation world-the strong prey on the weak.”

He paused, then added, “But the Song Family and the Hall of Discipline won’t let this go. We must be careful from now on.”

“I understand,” Lin Xiaoyu said, nodding firmly.

Chen Ping watched the searching crowds on the distant street, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

If trouble wanted to find him, so be it.

He wanted to see who in this Qingyun Sect could possibly stand in his way.