Running along the familiar country path, Mike Sullivan could clearly feel that after he started running, his speed was much faster than before. He didn’t even need to exert much effort—just by lifting his legs and stepping forward, a stream of spiritual energy would naturally flow out from the qi sea within his body, circulating throughout his entire being.

In just a short while, Mike Sullivan had already reached his own appraisal room.

In front of the appraisal room, the martial artist who had been driven away yesterday was now standing with two others who were clearly also martial artists, swaggering and glaring menacingly at a few elderly farmers nearby.

Since all the able-bodied men in the village had gone up the mountain to gather herbs, only four or five old farmers remained.

Facing these four or five old farmers, the three martial artists laughed loudly and took a step forward. Instantly, the old farmers, whose hands were trembling as they held their hoes, shuddered and retreated several steps.

“Hahaha, weren’t you all so arrogant yesterday? Now you’re this scared—what a bunch of spineless cowards.” The martial artist who had been robbed laughed loudly, then turned his head and caught sight of Mike Sullivan.

“You little brat, you finally came out.” The robbed martial artist raised his hand and pointed at Mike Sullivan, saying to the other two beside him, “It’s him, he’s the one who took my treasure and my silver.”

“It’s him!” The other two turned to look at Mike Sullivan.

Mike Sullivan’s eyes narrowed instantly. Normally, martial artists couldn’t discern the strength of others at the same level, let alone those at a higher level.

But perhaps because his spiritual power was especially high, he could actually see the strength of martial artists who were slightly stronger than himself.

These two martial artists who had come along were also at the Spirit Induction stage, and one of them was even at the late Spirit Induction stage. Three Spirit Induction stage martial artists—these people clearly didn’t come with good intentions.

After spotting Mike Sullivan, the three quickly walked over.

“Kid, you’re the one who beat up our man and took our stuff and money. You really aren’t afraid of death!” The expert at the late Spirit Induction stage looked down at Mike Sullivan from his taller height, speaking condescendingly.

“I didn’t take his money. He came here for an appraisal, and paying is only natural.” Mike Sullivan replied calmly, not caring at all about the other’s overbearing tone.

“Pay? What could we possibly be appraising that would cost a hundred taels of silver? And what about the treasure that was appraised? You took that too!”

When Mike Sullivan heard them mention the treasure, his heart tightened. He didn’t care about the Water Avoidance Pearl, but the key was that mysterious little knife. That knife absolutely couldn’t be handed over. It was a treasure that could cut open space and allow one to absorb immortal spiritual energy! Even those legendary experts of the Thousand Realms would go mad if they saw it—this was a treasure that could drive anyone crazy!

Immortal spiritual energy was something that ordinary spiritual energy in the mortal world simply couldn’t compare to.

Only after shattering the void could one absorb immortal energy, and even then, the immortal energy one absorbed oneself was far purer.

Besides, shattering the void was incredibly difficult.

In this very town, or even the entire big city, no one had ever heard of anyone shattering the void.

Now that he could absorb immortal energy to cultivate, this little knife absolutely could not be given up.

As long as he could keep the knife, it didn’t matter if he had to give them some money.

Thinking of this, Mike Sullivan bared his white teeth in a smile at them and said, “You want money? Fine, I can return the money to you, but you can’t cause any more trouble in our village!”

“Return the money? You think just returning the money is enough?” The other man clenched his fist tightly, making cracking sounds, and waved his fist in front of Mike Sullivan threateningly. “My brother was injured by you people—how are you going to settle that? If you don’t pay three or four hundred taels of silver, don’t even think about getting away with this!”

“You big bully, we’re not giving you any money!”

As soon as the martial artist finished speaking, an angry child’s voice rang out. An eight- or nine-year-old child suddenly rushed out from the side, opened his mouth, and charged straight at the martial artist.

“You little brat, looking for death.” The mid-stage Spirit Induction martial artist roared, raising his hand to grab at the child.

“Careful!” Mike Sullivan was startled and quickly reached out to block him.

“Pa…”

Mike Sullivan’s hand met the other’s, making a light sound, and he managed to stop him.

“Kid, you dare to resist!”

The martial artist who had been beaten up by the villagers yesterday saw Mike Sullivan make a move and immediately shouted, rushing at Mike Sullivan from the side. He was a martial artist, yet he’d been beaten up by a bunch of farmers—how humiliating! Now that he had a chance to fight back, how could he let it go? He was determined to teach Mike Sullivan a lesson and get revenge for yesterday.

Mike Sullivan hadn’t wanted to clash with them directly. After all, there were three martial artists, one of whom was at mid-stage Spirit Induction, while he was only at the early stage. If he could avoid fighting, he would.

But now that they’d already started, he had no choice.

Standing firmly with his feet shoulder-width apart, Mike Sullivan bent his arms in front of his chest, assuming a textbook martial arts stance.