Spirit Robes were a specific category of magical artifacts.

They were crafted by Artificers, the second most lucrative profession in the cultivation world, forged through the techniques of refinement.

Magical artifacts could broadly be categorized into offensive weapons, flying artifacts, Spirit Robes, array tools, and everyday implements. They truly encompassed every aspect of a cultivator’s life.

There were nine tiers in total, with Tier 1 being the lowest and Tier 9 the highest. Within each tier, they were further divided into three grades: High, Middle, and Low.

The two robes Qin Lu purchased today happened to be Middle-Grade Tier 1 artifacts.

Though their grade wasn’t particularly high, each still cost ninety Spirit Stones, which spoke volumes about just how precious these artifacts truly were.

Inside the room.

“Excellent! It fits perfectly!”

Gazing at Zhang Meng, who was now clad in her brand-new pale-white Spirit Robe, Qin Lu couldn’t help but clap his hands in admiration, his eyes brimming with tenderness.

Zhang Meng blushed deeply, walking with a slightly awkward gait as she tugged nervously at the hem of her robe, murmuring, “D-does this robe stand out too much?”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Lu chuckled. “Middle-Grade Spirit Robes usually look like this.”

“Middle-Grade Spirit Robes?!” Zhang Meng’s face registered utter shock, and she couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke the fabric. “This must be incredibly expensive! How could you spend money so recklessly…?”

“Hehe, it’s not worth much.”

Qin Lu rose and approached Zhang Meng, pointing to a small pattern on the sleeve. “This here is a miniature array formation. Inject your spiritual energy into it, and you’ll unlock the robe’s additional functions.”

Under Qin Lu’s guidance, Zhang Meng quickly grasped how to use the robe.

This robe bore two miniature functional arrays: “Gentle Breeze” and “Constant Temperature.”

“Gentle Breeze” transformed fierce headwinds into a soft draft, significantly reducing wind resistance during sprints and runs.

“Constant Temperature” maintained a stable, comfortable climate for the wearer, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer.

Wearing Spirit Robes for the first time, the two felt utterly amazed. They carefully examined the garments within the room, their laughter occasionally ringing out.

But not long after, the rhythmic creaking of the bed frame began to echo through the room.

Afterward.

Zhang Meng left the room with sultry, languid eyes, heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Meanwhile, Qin Lu, feeling thoroughly refreshed, sat before a rosewood table. With a light wave of his hand, he emptied all the Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag onto the surface.

“Tsk tsk, who would’ve thought I’d saved up so many Spirit Stones without even realizing it…”

Gazing at the silvery pile spread across the table, a flicker of joy flashed in Qin Lu’s eyes.

These were his hard-earned savings, accumulated over a long period. Truly no small feat.

Lost in thought for a moment, Qin Lu felt rather pleased with himself and began counting the stones one by one.

After a while, he leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, a broad grin spreading across his face.

“A total of five hundred and six Spirit Stones!”

“And there are also the talisman-making materials—worth at least three hundred more Spirit Stones if turned into finished talismans and sold!”

“What on earth should I do with all this money?!”

“Should I buy a new magical artifact to replace my Shangqing Sword? Or perhaps a flying artifact to take to the skies? Or maybe some pills to accelerate my cultivation?”

“There are simply too many choices!”

Qin Lu happily pondered how best to spend his wealth.

Just then, a knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

Knock knock knock!

Someone was here?

Qin Lu waved his hand, stowing all the Spirit Stones back into his Storage Bag, then rose and headed toward the courtyard.

“Who’s there?” he called out cautiously.

“It’s me, Nie Feng.”

A look of confusion crossed Qin Lu’s face—the visitor was none other than his neighbor.

Though Qin Lu had lived here for over three months, he rarely encountered Nie Feng, and their interactions could be counted on one hand. Moreover, Nie Feng was notoriously aloof and reserved.

All Qin Lu knew about him was that he worked as a guard for the Wei Family, one of the five major powers; beyond that, he remained a complete mystery.

What could Nie Feng possibly want today?

With these questions swirling in his mind, Qin Lu cautiously opened the gate.

Standing outside was Nie Feng, tall and imposing, his expression stern and unyielding.

“Fellow Daoist Nie,” Qin Lu asked, “what brings you here today?”

“I have something to discuss with you. Do we have a private place?” Nie Feng glanced behind him.

“No,” Qin Lu replied bluntly.

This answer caused Nie Feng’s brows to furrow slightly. He immediately reached into his pocket, pulled out a talisman, and activated it casually.

Instantly, a thin layer of light enveloped the two of them.

A Silence Talisman.

It confined their conversation within the sphere, preventing eavesdropping.

Having spent days drawing talismans himself, Qin Lu naturally recognized it. Seeing Nie Feng’s extreme caution, he couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist Nie, what exactly is it that you wish to discuss?”

“I’ve come today to invite you to join the Wei Family’s guard force,” Nie Feng said seriously.

“To join the Wei Family?”

Hearing this, Qin Lu’s heart skipped a beat—Nie Feng was actually inviting him to join one of the five major powers?

Those who lived most comfortably in the Wuji Market were the cultivators affiliated with these five powers. They enjoyed robust backing and never worried about food or shelter. If they managed to gain the favor of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they could practically rule the market with impunity.

Groups like the Blue Wolf Gang, the White Eyebrow Gang, and the Fierce Tiger Gang would all have to step aside.

“Well…”

Suppressing the excitement welling up inside him, Qin Lu asked softly, “Why would you choose me to join the Wei Family?”

Nie Feng replied calmly, “Are you aware of the current situation in the market?”

“You mean the Sun Jing affair?”

“That’s right. Sun Jing hasn’t been seen for months, and now the market is in chaos—even the major Foundation Establishment powers aren’t immune. The Wei Family is recruiting soldiers and mercenaries, preparing ourselves for whatever may come, to avoid getting caught up in conflict.”

“So today, I’ve come to invite you to join us, to bolster our fighting strength.”

Qin Lu’s face turned slightly pale. After a pause, he asked in astonishment, “But why me? I’m merely a fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivator.”

Hearing this, Nie Feng’s gaze grew peculiar. He fixed his eyes on Qin Lu and spoke slowly.

“I saw it that night…”

“Which night?” Qin Lu’s heart suddenly raced.

“The night you killed those five men in black.”

“That night, I happened to see those men attempting to sneak into your courtyard, yet you managed to kill all five of them in the span of ten breaths.”

“I could tell that one of them had already reached the seventh level of Qi Condensation, yet he fell to your hand in a single exchange.”

“You… your strength is beyond imagination.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Lu’s face turned ashen.

He had assumed no one had noticed that night, but now he realized Nie Feng had witnessed the entire scene. This indirectly revealed that his actions hadn’t been meticulous enough!

“You actually saw everything…” Qin Lu muttered lowly.

Nie Feng continued deliberately, “Yes, and don’t blame me for not warning you that night. After all, who would willingly stir up trouble?”

Qin Lu remained silent.

Nie Feng was right. In a situation involving a home invasion, intervening to warn him could have easily landed Nie Feng in dire straits, or even cost him his life.

Seeing that Qin Lu didn’t respond, Nie Feng paused for a moment before adding, “Oh, I almost forgot to mention—joining us comes with three hundred Spirit Stones, two pills, twenty talismans, and one magical artifact. And if you perform exceptionally well, there are even more rewards.”

Nie Feng slowly listed the incentives, confident that no Loose Cultivator could resist such generous compensation. Especially someone like Qin Lu, a low-level Loose Cultivator who earned meager profits selling talismans.

He paused again, then asked, “So, what do you say? Will you join us?”

But what Nie Feng hadn’t anticipated was Qin Lu’s almost immediate reply.

“No, I decline.”