Chapter 153: Finally Acquires the Spirit Artifact – Qiankun Yiqi Dai

“This youth… is actually from the Wei Family Residence?”

As Lu Qing vanished into the distance, everyone present wore expressions of shock.

None had expected his background to be so formidable.

After the initial surprise, their gazes turned toward the unconscious Eight-character Beard Man with nothing short of gleeful satisfaction.

Chen Cai Lang had long been a thug on Market Street—ruthless, deceitful, preying on the weak.

His only protection? His younger brother-in-law, a minor official in the County Magistrate’s Residence.

But now, he’d provoked someone from the Wei Family Residence.

Just how long would his arrogance last?

Most families and factions in the city held the County Magistrate’s Residence in cautious respect.

But one exception existed—the Wei Family Residence.

Not only did they not fear the Magistrate’s authority, they were the ones to whom the Magistrate’s Residence deferred.

In front of the Wei Family, even the Magistrate himself would treat them with courtesy.

What was a petty clerk like Chen Cai Lang’s brother-in-law compared to that?

“Hey! What’s going on here? County Magistrate’s men are on duty—move aside!”

Just as the onlookers relished their moment of justice, a shout rang out.

A group of uniformed officials, led by the two shop assistants who had vanished earlier, hurried toward the scene.

They’d gone to fetch reinforcements.

Among them, everyone recognized Wang Yi—the brother-in-law of the fallen Chen Cai Lang.

Despite their disdain, the crowd stepped aside.

“Brother-in-law!”

When Wang Yi laid eyes on his brother-in-law’s grotesque condition—half his face swollen like a pig’s head—he nearly collapsed in disbelief.

“Who dared to attack someone on Market Street? This is a direct insult to the County Magistrate’s laws! Step forward now!”

Fueled by grief and fury, Wang Yi roared.

Silence.

No one spoke.

“Fine. No one will speak? Then I’ll take them all in for questioning. I’ll find someone who will talk, even if I have to break every one of them!”

Wang Yi bellowed.

His companions flinched, rushing to calm him.

“Brother Wang, stay calm. Dragging all these people in will bring trouble. If it goes to higher authorities, we’ll both be ruined.”

The crowd, hearing this mad proposal, felt both fear and outrage.

One voice rose above the rest:

“Why should we be involved? The man who beat your brother-in-law gave his name—he said he was Lu Qing, from the Wei Family Residence. If you’ve got a grudge, go after him. But harassing us? What kind of coward are you?”

“Wait—what? Lu Qing from the Wei Family Residence?!”

Wang Yi’s heart dropped like ice water.

His entire body trembled.

Even his companions were shocked.

“Are you serious? He really said he was from the Wei Family?”

“I’m not lying! That youth was dressed in fine silks, carried himself with noble bearing—clearly no commoner. Even if he’s not from the Wei Family, he’s from a high-ranking family. If you don’t believe me, go check it yourself at the Wei Residence. Don’t waste time accusing innocent people!”

The shopkeeper spoke with cold sarcasm, daring to challenge the official’s authority.

Wang Yi’s face turned ashen. His fists clenched. He had no words.

One of his companions stepped in, sensing the danger:

“Brother Wang, this involves the Wei Family. We can’t handle this. Right now, the priority is getting your brother-in-law to a clinic. Once he’s stable, we can find out what happened.”

Wang Yi took a deep breath. His fists slowly unclenched.

“Fine. Do as you say. Brothers, please help me carry him to the clinic.”

“No trouble at all,” one replied. “But since this involves the Wei Family, it’s beyond our jurisdiction. We’ll have to report back to our superiors.”

The Wei Family Residence held unparalleled status in the county. Even the Magistrate’s Residence showed them deference.

They couldn’t afford to ignore this.

Watching Wang Yi and his men storm in with bravado—only to slink away in defeat—the merchants of Market Street clapped and cheered.

These officials had long extorted them.

Now, seeing them humiliated? It felt like justice at last.

Lu Qing had no idea what had unfolded after he left.

At this moment, he was seated in a private room of a high-end tavern.

“Old Man, here—drink a little wine, calm your nerves,” Lu Qing said, pouring a cup for the elderly man after ordering a lavish feast.

“Master,” the old man stammered, visibly uneasy. “What’s the matter? Why are you being so kind? You’ll make me feel like I’m unworthy.”

He hadn’t eaten in a place like this in his life.

The dishes were exquisite—each one worth more than his entire family’s monthly income.

He didn’t dare touch them.

Only because Lu Qing wore fine clothes and had saved his life—returning his stolen silver—would he have dared enter such a place.

“Don’t worry, Old Man,” Lu Qing said, gently placing a piece of chicken on Xiao Yan’s plate before smiling.

“I’ll be honest with you. I’ve something I need your help with.”

“Need my help?” The old man blinked, stunned. “Me? A poor man like me? How could I possibly help someone of your status?”

“Old Man… may I see your money pouch?” Lu Qing asked.

“The… money pouch?”

The old man paused, then realized what he meant—the small cloth bag he used to carry his coins.

Though he didn’t know why Lu Qing wanted to see it, he reached into his pocket and handed it over.

He wasn’t worried.

What was there to steal?

That bag held only a few scraps of silver—worth less than a single cup of wine.

Sure enough, Lu Qing took the pouch, emptied the coins onto the table, and barely glanced at them.

Instead, he stared intently at the pouch itself.

Up close, he noticed something strange.

Though old and worn, the pouch was remarkably sturdy—no tears, no fraying.

And its material… it wasn’t cloth.

It looked more like animal hide—some kind of beast’s skin—etched with faint, natural patterns, barely visible unless you looked closely.

He flipped it over, then activated his abilities.

A soft purple light shimmered from the pouch.

> Qiankun Yiqi Dai: Lower-grade Spirit Artifact

> Forged by a great adept with divine powers, using the hide of a Kongjian Yun Shou as the primary material.

>

> Contains a vast inner space—capable of storing items. Possesses the power to swallow clouds and exhale mist, absorb air, and even refine living beings.

>

> The Kongjian Yun Shou naturally possesses spatial abilities. Its hide bears faint traces of spatial law, imprinted in its natural texture.

>

> Due to the depletion of spiritual energy, its soul has weakened. The artifact is now nearly powerless—its original strength reduced to less than one percent.

Lu Qing’s eyes widened with delight.

It was real.

A Spirit Artifact—Qiankun Yiqi Dai, a legendary spatial item.

He was surprised it lacked a Heritage mark—unlike the Lihuo Ding.

But even so, this was more than enough to stir his excitement.

The old man watched in confusion as Lu Qing examined the old pouch like a priceless relic.

“It’s just a simple bag,” he muttered. “What’s so special about it?”

“Old Man,” Lu Qing asked gently, “where did you get this pouch?”

After confirming the artifact’s authenticity, he masked his joy and inquired.

“This pouch… I found it years ago while clearing wasteland on my farm. It was buried in the soil. I saw it was old but intact, so I cleaned it and started using it. Oddly… even after all this time, it’s never worn out. It’s always looked the same.”

The old man paused, a dawning realization crossing his face.

“Could it… be something special?”

Lu Qing saw it in his expression—he suspected something.

So he spoke plainly:

“Old Man, I’ll be frank. The material of this pouch is unique. It’s of great value to me. I’d like to buy it from you. How much would you ask?”

“Wait—this bag… is a treasure?” The old man stared, wide-eyed.

“To a cultivator like me, yes. But to someone like you? It’s just a bag for coins. Nothing more.”

The old man understood instantly.

This was something only warriors and cultivators valued.

Common folk like him had no use for it.

He waved his hand. “If you like it, take it. It’s useless to me. And if not for you, I’d have died today. This pouch… is my thanks for saving my life.”

He wasn’t foolish.

If this was a treasure even warriors wanted, it was never meant for someone like him.

If it had been anyone else—any other warrior—they would’ve taken it by force.

Some might even have killed him for it.

“Fair’s fair,” Lu Qing said, pulling out a small gold ingot.

“This gold is for the pouch. I’m buying it from you.”

The golden gleam flashed across the table.

The old man’s eyes nearly popped out.

He’d never seen such a large piece of gold in his life.

But he immediately shook his head. “No, no! I can’t take this! You saved my life! How can I take your money?”

“Don’t refuse,” Lu Qing insisted, pressing the gold into the old man’s hand.

“It’s settled. I’ve bought the pouch.”

The old man tried to protest—but the gold was in his palm.

And suddenly, he couldn’t let go.

He thought: With this much gold, I could solve so many problems. My granddaughter’s dowry… my wife’s medicine… even build two new houses. No more crowding in that tiny shack. No more struggling to find a place to sit.

The excuses died in his throat.

Lu Qing smiled.

“Don’t worry, Old Man. To me, this is nothing. Take it. You’ve earned it.”

Seeing the sincerity in Lu Qing’s eyes, the old man finally accepted.

“Are you hungry, Old Man? We ordered so much food. It’d be a waste if we didn’t eat it.”

Now that he’d accepted the gold, the old man relaxed.

He ate with Lu Qing, enjoying the feast.

After they finished, Lu Qing personally escorted the old man out of the city.

He walked a short distance beyond the gates, ensuring no one followed, before returning.

He’d seen too many good deeds ruined by betrayal.

He wouldn’t let this one end in tragedy.

Just as he re-entered the city, Lu Qing froze.

His expression sharpened.

Straight ahead, a man approached—slow, deliberate, a serene smile on his face.

A handsome middle-aged man.

His Dan Feng Yan eyes stood out—sharp, elegant, and impossible to ignore.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end