Though several months still remain until the official convening, although they have not yet entered the Nine Immortals Mountain, numerous self-formed markets and towns have already emerged in the surrounding areas. Countless mid-to-high level cultivators frequent these markets, where rare materials and elixirs are regularly appearing and being actively traded. In these markets, the long-standing divide between humans and immortals elsewhere is absent. While the number of immortals entering these markets remains significantly smaller than that of humans, the immortals who do appear are almost invariably high-level beasts capable of transforming most of their bodies into humanoid forms. Thus, in terms of actual strength, the immortals in these markets are no less capable than the humans, allowing the two groups to coexist peacefully without frequent instances of one group dominating or oppressing the other. Of course, this is only a general picture. These markets, not being the official venues of the Universal Treasures Gathering, and merely temporary setups, naturally lack a strict and formal order. Though guards from Jiuxian Mountain patrol these markets, they can only maintain a superficial peace. Instances of stronger individuals overpowering the weaker, forcing equal exchanges, naturally occur in hidden corners. On this day, such a scene unfolds deep within a remote, rugged mountain far from Jiuxian Mountain. A middle-aged cultivator, gaunt and emaciated, and a young girl of no more than eleven or twelve, are being surrounded from three sides by three black-robed figures radiating fierce intensity. The middle-aged cultivator has only reached the mid-stage of the Foundation Period, while the girl herself is barely at the early to mid-levels of the Qi Cultivation Period. The three surrounding figures, however, all possess the late Foundation Period cultivation level, each displaying a threatening demeanor. "White Hua Ji, it's time to hand over the thousand-year-old ginseng on your body. If you're wise, we'll not only allow you and your daughter to depart, but also provide you with some spiritual stones. Otherwise, don't expect us to be anything but unyielding." "Among the three cloaked figures, the taller, more aged man spoke with a grave demeanor. "Shi Lun, I must admit I've misjudged you and ended up here—so I'll just accept my fate. But if you wish to have the blood root, my daughter must leave this place first. Otherwise, I'd rather destroy the blood root myself than hand it over to you." The middle-aged, thin man looked weary but not overly distressed. With a swift motion of his hand, he suddenly drew out a silk box from his sleeve. With a flick of his other hand, he pressed gently upon the box, his expression tinged with anger. "No way," the other cloaked man replied without hesitation, "until you deliver the blood root, no one will be allowed to leave." "Hmph," the middle-aged cultivator said coldly, his tone resolute. "How can I know that after receiving the blood root, you three won't turn suddenly and strike my father and daughter down? Don't tell me about oaths or incantations. I won't believe a single word of your promises." "Then you'll have no such luck..." "Agreed, Shi will abide by your request!" The black-robed monk who had been about to deliver further threats was cut off mid-sentence by Shi Lun's stern expression, and promptly agreed. "The middle-aged cultivator sighed, easing his expression. "No, Father! Guo'er won't leave alone!" The young girl was so delicate and fair, like a fairy from a painting, yet now she clutched at the cultivator's robe, shaking her head vigorously. "You're silly, child. Only by leaving can you go to the market to find your grandmother. Only then can you return to save your father..." The middle-aged cultivator's face tightened, his lips moving several times as he quickly transmitted a few words to the girl. The girl was first startled, then nodded vigorously, as if understanding the urgency. "Now then, hurry up! If you don't move soon, Shi Len will have to change his mind," Shi Lun said, growing increasingly impatient, his tone sharp and firm. Upon hearing this, the girl paused, though young, instantly grasping the significance of the situation. After lingering one last glance at the middle-aged monk, she gave a slight gesture and suddenly found a white scroll materializing in her hands. She pressed it against her body, and immediately a layer of white light shimmered across her surface. Then, drifting gently to one side, she intended to vanish into the distance. "Don't you dare destroy the blood root right now!" The middle-aged cultivator, seeing this development, was both startled and furious. With a sudden, powerful press of his hands, his spiritual light flashing rapidly, he roared. "If you destroy it, then I'll snap this little girl's neck! Stop wasting words—hand me the box over immediately. I'll count to three. If you don't move, I will! One, two…" Stone Lun paid no attention to the middle-aged cultivator's threats. Instead, he tightened his grip on the girl, pressing so hard that her face turned crimson with blood, and began counting coldly, giving him no chance to react. The other two black-robed cultivators, witnessing this, smiled with growing satisfaction. They now realized that their companion had never intended to release the girl from the beginning—his plan had simply been to secure a hostage and use her as leverage against the others. Even though the middle-aged cultivator showed flashes of quick thinking, he was so agitated that his entire body trembled, his mind in complete disarray. As soon as Stone Lun reached his third count, he instinctively hurled the silk box from his hands in a state of panic. A black-robed monk chuckled and stepped forward, extending his hand. With a sudden "whoosh," the silk box was instantly drawn toward him. "Check it over and confirm whether it truly contains that root of blood ginseng!" Stone Lun ordered without hesitation. "Of course, Brother Stone!" The monk holding the box replied promptly, then waved his hand, and the box opened immediately. Inside, a vibrant crimson glow shimmered—there lay a ginseng root, about a foot long, pulsing with blood-like radiance, resting quietly within the box. "Brother Stone, yes, it's truly the blood ginseng!" the black-robed monk beamed, eyes bright with delight. Stone Lun and the other black-robed monk both smiled with equal excitement. "Alright, you've secured the blood ginseng now—it's time to let the young lady go," the middle-aged monk said, his face pale, biting his lip as he asked coldly. "Hmph. Let her go. Then go find your 'Mountainside Fairy' and bring her troubles upon us!" "Shi Lun heard this and snorted, his face growing fiercely stern. 'Do you really think my mother-in-law, after all this, still dares to strike again?' The middle-aged cultivator, hearing this, felt his heart sink even further. 'Hah! You think we didn't thoroughly investigate your background before launching this attack? Though we don't particularly wish to trouble a Jiadian cultivator, you've got the Blood-Root herb, haven't you? With that, our own Jiadian energies are only a matter of time. What need have we for a mere Yue Hua immortal daughter? Moreover, both your father and daughter have perished here—how could anyone know this attack was carried out by my three brothers? Well, I've had enough of your excuses. Let's get down to business!' After laughing a few times, Shi Lun roared, pressing his fingers against the girl's palm, a surge of black light flashing, and immediately launched his attack. The middle-aged cultivator's eyes widened, his voice low and strained. With a sudden roar, he shook his sleeve, and a small yellow sword materialized in his hand, aiming straight for Shi Kun. Yet it was clearly too late to save the girl. Stone Lun snarled, tightened his fingers, and was about to snap the girl's neck right off. But just as everything hung in the balance, an astonishing sight unfolded. Stone Lun suddenly felt an odd ripple of disturbance nearby. The girl's slender neck, which should have been firmly held, now felt unnaturally cold, and at the same time, unbearable pain surged through his fingertips. He gasped in shock and quickly turned his head to look at his hands. There, instead of the girl, Bai Guo'er, stood a dark, sturdy iron automaton. This automaton was far from rough—its entire body was covered with fine blue spines, each about an inch long. The palms now pressing against the automaton's neck were streaked with blood, as the sharp spines had sliced through the skin. This indeed proved quite bold of Shi Lun's cultivator. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the iron automaton hard against the ground nearby, and roared, "Who has plotted against me? Come out and face me now!" As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly flipped his palm, and a stack of black magical banners materialized in his hands. The middle-aged cultivator looked utterly bewildered. At that moment, the other two black-robed cultivators also suddenly realized what was happening, each drawing out a pair of silver short spears, and one raising a black, spiked shield, then extending their spiritual awareness to sweep the surroundings. "A moment, I can't stand it anymore," a cold voice suddenly emerged from behind a nearby tree. "This situation will surely require a fight." Shi Lun and his two companions immediately stiffened, their alertness heightened, and turned toward that direction. "Hmph. I don't need you to say it. My sea-son, I've always been deeply displeased with such incidents." The robbers are just robbers—how dare they even target women and children! I’ll make sure they all end up with a beating worthy of the name! Though, I’m not sure if we two will be able to hold our own against these three.” Another man’s voice, sharp with irritation, rose from behind the tree, yet it carried a note of concern. “Hah! What’s there to fear? Isn’t there still Han brother with us? Three against three—even if we can’t win, we’ll certainly be safe!” Suddenly, the first voice shifted from cold to warm, full of laughter.