Soaring Dragon Sword

"Oh?" Su Bai's gaze sharpened slightly, and a trace of caution crossed his mind.

Market Master Liu's attitude was rather too attentive and generous.

He would simply give away treasures of considerable value?

His expression remained unchanged as he asked calmly, "What do you mean, Market Master...?"

Seeing that the sudden gift had not gone to Su Bai's head, and that he instead remained all the more composed, Liu Jun's eyes filled with greater appreciation.

He set down his teacup. The merchant's smile on his face faded somewhat, giving way to greater candor.

"To tell you the truth, Elder Su."

Liu Jun said slowly, "I recognized you the moment you entered the market."

"The brightest rising star of this generation in the Jade Mist Sect, Su Bai, Deputy Academy Master of the Sword Academy, whose combat power stands above all his contemporaries... living here in the market, I am reasonably well informed. Those titles have long thundered in my ears."

He paused, looking toward the faint clamor of the market beyond the window, his voice dropping slightly. "Cultivators like us, who have left the shelter of our sects' wings and struggle to survive in this place where fish and dragons mingle, have seen more than enough of the strong devouring the weak-the cultivation world's naked law of the jungle."

"Background, the quality of one's spirit root, standing within a sect-before a true struggle to the death, these things are sometimes far less reliable or awe-inspiring than solid personal combat power."

He turned back to Su Bai, his gaze burning. "From the talent and potential Elder Su has displayed, I believe you are not merely the future of the Jade Mist Sect, but also someone highly likely to stand at the summit of the Qingzhou cultivation world within the next few