As he stepped through the Marketplace gate, a chilling wind rushed toward him. The surrounding temperature seemed to plummet by more than ten degrees.

TAP...

Zhu Ju paused for a moment before slowly resuming his pace.

An Array?

Ever since igniting his Profound Light, his senses had become exceptionally sharp, allowing him to perceive changes in the very air around him.

Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was everywhere, but the air here was bone-chillingly cold, a malevolent chill that seeped into the marrow. This was clearly an Acquired, artificial phenomenon.

It immediately made him think of the legendary Arrays.

The power of a single person was ultimately limited; it couldn’t affect the atmosphere of heaven and earth for long. Only an Array could achieve such a feat.

’No wonder the Marketplace forbids Mortals from entering. It seems it’s not just for secrecy, but also a form of protection.’

’Even a Magician would be affected by staying in a place like this for too long. If a Mortal stayed for any length of time, they would fall gravely ill at best, or die outright at worst. Perhaps only a Mage could remain unaffected.’

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Zhu Ju truly entered the Marketplace.

Though it was called a Marketplace,

it would have been more fitting to call it a Ghost Market!

Gravestones were scattered all around, serving as stalls. Skeletal Ghost Fires flickered, and the surrounding sounds were ethereal and erratic.

From time to time, a cold gust of wind would sweep through, kicking up joss paper someone had scattered on the ground.

The joss paper danced and swirled in the air.

Vendors occupied the more "presentable" graves, planting white banners atop them. With text written above and shadowy figures seated below, they beckoned to passing customers with a ghoulish air.

"Painted Skins! Talisman Making! Soul walking..."

"Ten-year-old infant ghosts! Only needs one drop of essence blood a day! Selling for eight Spirit Jades! Step right up, don’t miss out!"

A portly woman squatted on a grave, surrounded by black jars. She shouted loudly:

"Friend, care to raise a ghost?"

"I have mother-child ghosts, life-stealing ghosts... the price is negotiable! If you don’t like those, I also have beautiful female ghosts."

"In life, this one was the star of a certain brothel. She was as beautiful as a flower, and a master at... pleasing a man."

"Don’t go!"

"Talismans for sale!" a bald, burly man yelled in a gruff voice.

"Vajra Talismans, Divine Movement Talismans, Exorcism Talismans, three for one Spirit Jade! I also have Celestial Capital Five Thunder Talismans for sale."

"Bald Lei, can you stop bringing up those mythical Celestial Capital Five Thunder Talismans?" someone shouted.

"If you could really craft a Spirit Talisman like that, you wouldn’t be hawking your wares here. You’d have been a Mage long ago."

"I may not be able to draw them, but my master could when he was alive," the bald man said calmly, not taking offense.

"I still have a few he left behind. If the price is right, I might just be willing to sell."

"Oh, give me a break!" the other person scoffed.

"You’ve been saying that for years. Even if you had any, they’d be long gone by now."

"Sir, why not take a look at my Magic Altar? Whether you’re casting Magic or in Cultivation, sitting cross-legged on it will increase your power."

...

Transactions in the Marketplace were primarily conducted with Spirit Jade, though gold and silver were also accepted.

However, using gold and silver was not very cost-effective.

Spirit Jade was a type of cut gemstone rich with Spiritual Qi, which could be used to aid in Cultivation.

As he walked, Zhu Ju saw several transactions being made with Spirit Jade.

He observed as he walked, careful not to move too slowly and arouse suspicion, but it was an eye-opening experience nonetheless.

In this world, Martial Arts were not prevalent, but Magic flourished.

If a single place like Yidu had a Marketplace where so many Magicians gathered, there were likely countless masters throughout the world.

Besides the itinerant vendors who used graves as their stalls, there were also a few proper buildings in the Marketplace selling all sorts of items.

The main ones were the Hundred Treasures Pavilion run by the Celestial Capital Sect, the Divine Weapon Residence run by the Government Office, and the Demon Den, organized by Demon Catchers.

Relatively speaking,

the wares of the itinerant vendors were cheaper, but the quality from the three shops was more reliable. Each had its pros and cons.

"Demon Beast Flesh?"

The Magician at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was a beautiful woman. Hearing Zhu Ju’s question, she shook her head with regret.

"We don’t have any Demon Beast Flesh this month. We might get a new shipment next month. Sir, perhaps you’d like to look at something else?"

"I have Elixirs, Spirit Talismans, Weapons, Puppets..."

"Never mind." Zhu Ju shook his head. As he turned to leave, he asked, "If you did have Demon Beast Flesh, how would you sell it?"

"I’d be buying with gold and silver."

"With gold and silver..." the woman said. "The price varies depending on the Demon Beast. Generally speaking, it’s one tael of gold for one tael of Demon Beast Flesh."

"Thanks."

Zhu Ju thanked her and left with a cupped-fist salute.

The Demon Den.

This was the designated sales point for the Demon Catcher organization. The shop’s walls were adorned with various Demon Beast Hides.

The tabletops were covered with all kinds of bones.

Beast Hides and bones were essential materials for crafting certain items, and they were also for sale.

"Demon Beast Flesh?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The round-bellied Shopkeeper nodded and said,

"Demon Beasts have been hard to hunt recently. Even when they are caught, the people below keep them for themselves. Very little makes it here."

"If I’m not mistaken, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Divine Weapon Residence should be out of stock, right?"

He didn’t know about the Divine Weapon Residence, but the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was indeed sold out.

THUD!

A large, unidentifiable slab of meat was thrown onto the counter. The pink muscle fibers indicated it had been well-preserved.

"One tael of gold for one tael. How much do you want?"

?

Zhu Ju pursed his lips, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"You sell it just like this?"

"How else?" The Shopkeeper raised an eyebrow.

"Demon Beast Flesh has always been sold this way. If you want the pure Essence meat, that’s a different price."

A demon—

is what a beast becomes when it gains spirituality.

A Demon Beast has treasures on its body where its essence gathers, like a snake’s gallbladder or a Bezoar Stone. But not all of a Demon Beast’s flesh is valuable.

Take the giant rat Zhu Ju had encountered before; only the part at the back of its head was useful. The rest was just ordinary flesh.

And this piece before him was a mix of Demon Flesh and mortal flesh. The true Demon Beast Flesh probably accounted for less than a tenth of it.

One tael of gold for one tael of Demon Beast Flesh?

No!

If he were to buy this, he’d probably be spending ten taels of gold for a single tael of actual Demon Beast Flesh.

"Demon Beast Flesh contains Evil Qi. If an ordinary person consumes it, the Evil Qi Entering the Body will shorten their lifespan. If a Cultivator consumes it, it will contaminate their Divine Soul and hinder their Cultivation."

Zhu Ju asked, confused,

"If that’s the case, why is it so expensive?"

"Heh..." The Shopkeeper chuckled at his words.

"That may be true, but Demon Beast Flesh can also grant a massive boost in strength. Many factions are fighting to get their hands on it."

"Look outside!"

He gestured with his head.

"Where do you think these Evil Guards come from?"

Zhu Ju looked back, lost in thought.

The environment of the Marketplace was strange. Ordinary people couldn’t stay here for long, not even Magicians.

But the patrolling Evil Guards could!

The Evil Guards were just ordinary people, but they possessed a strange Evil Qi that could even suppress Magic.

So...

"The Demon Beast Flesh?"

"That’s right." The Shopkeeper shrugged.

"Consuming Demon Beast Flesh might kill you, or it might turn you into an Evil Guard. Many people are desperate for such an opportunity."

"A few taels of Demon Beast Flesh can create an Evil Guard capable of fighting a Magician. Do you still think the price is too high?"

"It’s not." Zhu Ju sighed.

"How much for the pure Demon Beast Flesh?"

"Ten taels of gold for one tael."

"Give me six catties."

THUD!

A heavy sack full of gold left his hand and landed on the tabletop, making the whole table tremble.

*

*

*

Leaving the Marketplace, Zhu Ju touched the pouch of Demon Beast Flesh hanging from his waist, a smile appearing on his face.

Money?

’It’s something you can always earn back if you lose it.’

Besides, as an Unparalleled Grandmaster from the Qi Blood Martial Arts World, he was certainly not lacking in mundane things like gold and silver.

’As long as it can increase my strength, no price is too high!’

Night had fallen.

Zhu Ju quickened his pace toward the city. After navigating a few twists and turns, he entered an alleyway and came to a sudden halt.

"You’ve been following me since I entered the Marketplace. What exactly do you want?"

At the far end of the alley, a Black-Clothed Man had appeared at some point.

"Heh heh..." The Black-Clothed Man sneered.

"I heard an unidentified Noble Young Master has come to Yidu City. I’ve been a bit short on funds lately, so I was hoping you could help me out."

"Seeing you come out of the Demon Catcher’s shop, you must have made quite a haul. Why don’t you just leave your things behind?"

"You know about me?" Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

"But to think you could rob me all by yourself... Aren’t you afraid of losing your life?"

"Of course, I’m not alone." The Black-Clothed Man chuckled darkly.

"There’s also her!"

At the entrance to the alley, an old woman holding a cane stepped out. From a distance, she pointed a finger at Zhu Ju.

"Freeze!"

Soul-Suppressing Technique!

This was a form of Magic that suppressed the Divine Soul. If it hit, even one’s thoughts would grind to a halt.

Zhu Ju was a veteran of countless battles, but he had never fought a Magician before. Targeted by her finger, he found himself truly unable to move.

At the same time.

SWOOSH!

A black light shot out from the sleeve of the Black-Clothed Man at the end of the alley. It flew at an astonishing speed straight for Zhu Ju’s forehead, aiming right between his eyes.

A direct hit!

A flash of joy appeared on both their faces.

CLINK...

With a crisp metallic sound, Zhu Ju’s body shuddered, and he broke free from the influence of the Soul-Suppressing Technique.

But the black light had struck him without causing any damage whatsoever.

"Granny Niu, it’s you!"

The old woman with the cane at the alley’s entrance was none other than Granny Niu, the one who had taught Zhu Ju the Object Controlling Technique.

With a low shout, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

"Trying to get in close?"

A dark figure descended from above.

"Try me instead!"

Divine Summoning Skill!

The newcomer’s eyes focused. With a low roar, his already burly frame swelled, growing even larger.

He crossed his arms to block Zhu Ju’s advance.

BANG!

Powerful Qi erupted.

"It’s you!"

Zhu Ju’s eyes narrowed, killing intent surging within him.

"Huo Yan!"

This was another familiar face: Huo Yan, the Magician who, along with Granny Niu, had taught him the Divine Summoning Skill.

"That’s right." Huo Yan grinned, his usually steady and honest face twisting into a cunning expression.

"Young Master Zhu, we meet again!"

"Hmph!" Granny Niu snorted coldly.

"You made us wait long enough. Good thing the little trick we left on you that day still works, or we never would have found you."

"Enough chitchat," the Black-Clothed Man snapped.

"We’re not far from the Marketplace. If we make too much noise, we’ll attract the Evil Guards. Let’s make this quick."

Granny Niu, Huo Yan, and the Black-Clothed Man—of the group from that day, everyone except Feng Hongda had shown up.

"Attack!"

The Black-Clothed Man flicked his wrists, and dozens of black lights shot out from his sleeves, accompanied by a buzzing sound.

Gu Insects!

Flying Mantis Gu!

These fingernail-sized Gu Insects had a pair of extremely sharp Sword Feet capable of shredding metal.

Huo Yan roared, using his Divine Summoning Skill to its full extent, suppressing Zhu Ju with immense power.

Granny Niu took a deep breath. A piercing light flashed in her murky eyes as she once again pointed forward.

Soul-Suppressing Technique!

"Freeze!"

Zhu Ju’s body stiffened.

The Sword Feet of the Flying Mantis Gu and Huo Yan’s fists all landed on his body at once.

BOOM!

Powerful Qi exploded outwards.

The black robe on Zhu Ju’s body was torn to shreds, the fragments fluttering away to reveal the black armor underneath.

Breaking Army Armor!