Bleser City

Bleser City was Chixian's largest trading city. As one of Chixian's four great families, the Liu Clan naturally wielded considerable influence here. The Liu Clan was renowned for hunting, so this Mercenary Street had become Bleser City's largest commercial district for trading savage beasts.

Rather than a street, it was more accurate to call it a marketplace. Beyond the main road lay countless crisscrossing market lanes, bustling with activity. As a former mentally disabled child, Liu Ding had never had the chance to come here before. Seeing the sea of people, he could not help but sigh at the splendid scene.

"Young Master Ding, Miss Zhi'er, what are you doing at the market?" Just as the two were nearly lost amid the maze-like marketplace, a voice came from behind them.

Liu Ding turned around and saw a patrol dressed in matching Liu Clan uniforms. The man at the front frowned and continued, "If Young Master Ding needs anything, you only need to give the word. This place is full of all sorts of people. Be careful not to get fleeced."

"It's fine. I'm just looking around. You are?" Liu Ding asked doubtfully.

"Reporting to Young Master Ding, my name is Cheng Wen. The Clan Head personally assigned me to oversee the safety of Mercenary Street." Liu Chengwen lowered his head slightly, not showing any lack of courtesy just because Liu Ding had once been a foolish child. "Would Young Master Ding like me to bring a few guards? These mercenaries are all desperate men."

"Uncle Cheng Wen? Oh, I remember now. You're Uncle Cheng Wu's brother." Liu Ding slapped the back of his head. Uncle Cheng Wu had treated him rather well when he had still been mentally disabled. "No need, Uncle Cheng Lin. I'm not planning to hunt for treasures anyway. Hehe, go on with your work. Just as you said, this place is full of all sorts of people. Your proper duties come first."

Liu Ding did not want a tail following him even while he was shopping. If those clan elders who loved to stir up trouble found out, they would probably use it as another excuse to impeach his father.

Giving Liu Chengwen a smile, Liu Ding took Zhi'er by the hand and entered the bustling marketplace.

"You lot, follow them. Protect Young Master Ding and Miss Zhi'er in secret." Liu Chengwen did not lower his guard just because Liu Ding had refused, and immediately gave his subordinates their orders.

"He could lift the Soul Forging Cauldron when he was only one year old. I believe Young Master Ding is certainly no ordinary person. He may remain silent for now, but once he speaks, he will astonish the world. What a pity that Nie Zhengxu and his grandson are so narrow-minded and cannot tolerate others. I wonder whether he can safely overcome this crisis." Liu Chenglin sighed, shook his head, and left. He did not know that this very morning, Liu Ding had already caused a small stir within the clan.

"Brother Liu Ding, the smell of blood here is too strong. Whatever you want to buy, hurry up."

Although she had already taken human form, Zhi'er was still a spirit beast by nature. Seeing savage beasts waiting to be sold all along the street naturally made her feel uncomfortable. She gently hooked her arm through Liu Ding's and leaned against him.

Liu Ding was now half a head taller than Zhi'er. With the delicate Zhi'er holding his arm, the two looked perfectly matched, like a pair of jade figures.

"How about you look around here and wait for me?" When they reached a street lined with stalls selling martial techniques, weapons, pills, and the like, Liu Ding said thoughtfully.

"Mm, all right. Hurry back." Zhi'er wrinkled her little nose. She truly did not want to suffer any longer, so she stopped where she was.

After passing several beast stalls, Liu Ding had yet to find a suitable savage beast and was growing irritated. Then a beast's roar sounded ahead. When he went over to look, he saw a snow-white rhinoceros imprisoned at a beast stall around the corner. It was not particularly large, but the fierce aura in its eyes was anything but ordinary.

"It's you, then." Liu Ding smiled. Among earth-element savage beasts, the most expensive was naturally the Four-Clawed Golden Dragon. But in a small place like Chixian, obtaining one would not be easy.

"Young master, looking for a Snow Rhino?" Seeing Liu Ding stop, the two bored mercenaries immediately stood up enthusiastically.

"It's a decent size, but unfortunately, it isn't a particularly ferocious beast." Liu Ding swallowed and deliberately put on a slightly disappointed look, pretending to leave.

"Hey,

Young master, don't go yet! This is a Snow Rhino. Look at its coat—pure white from head to toe. Whether you want beast blood or a Gallstone Crystal, it's top-grade."

"That's right. Snow Rhino blood is rich and long-lasting, the best for nourishing the body. We can sell it to you cheaply. The whole beast is only fifteen hundred gold coins."

The two mercenaries grew anxious and stepped forward together, nearly grabbing Liu Ding to stop him.

"Fifteen hundred? Boss, why don't you just rob me?" Liu Ding cried dramatically, shaking his head. "I only want the beast blood and the Gallstone Crystal. Six hundred gold coins."

Six hundred gold coins? This was a real haggler. The two mercenaries' faces twitched. That was ruthless. But the Snow Rhino had been sitting here all afternoon without anyone even asking about it. With the night market about to end, they gritted their teeth and said, "One thousand gold coins. Not a coin less. My brother and I risked our lives to trap this Snow Rhino!"

"Is that so? Looks like it wasn't easy for you either." Liu Ding looked at the two mercenaries. They wore clothes made of beast hides, and there were still bloodstains on their bodies. "Eight hundred gold coins, then. Don't take me for a fool. My master said that things in this marketplace are worth, at most, half their asking price. In other words, even the entire Snow Rhino is worth only seven or eight hundred gold coins."

"Fine, fine, eight hundred it is." The two mercenaries hurriedly cut Liu Ding off. This was a crazed bargainer. Better make the sale quickly.

With a smile, Liu Ding tossed over a large bottle. "Draw the blood."

"Sure." The two mercenaries moved swiftly, slitting its throat and cutting open its belly.

It was indeed rather bloody, and Liu Ding frowned. But this world was one where the strong preyed on the weak. Moreover, the human race held no prejudice against savage beasts. Many cultivators had been beasts who cultivated into spirits in their previous lives, only to undergo corpse dissolution and be reborn as humans with their beast souls.

Just as the two mercenaries went to cut out the Gallstone Crystal, Liu Ding noticed a small grease-wrapped bundle in the Snow Rhino's entrails. It had burst through the intestines, revealing a tiny corner.

At that moment, Liu Ding felt his soul tremble faintly, as if it resonated with that grease-wrapped bundle.

"Little fellow, it seems you've found a treasure. There's something precious wrapped inside that little bundle."

To Liu Ding's surprise, General Jiang's voice suddenly drifted over, as though whispering in his ear.

He looked all around but could not find General Jiang. This old man was not some ring grandpa, so where was he hiding?

"Young master, here are your beast blood and Gallstone Crystal." One mercenary stood and handed over two bottles, one large and one small, while the other was about to sort out the Snow Rhino's carcass.

"I've never eaten Snow Rhino before. How about you sell me the Snow Rhino too?" Liu Ding suddenly said, looking curiously at the Snow Rhino.

The two mercenaries had been planning to sell the Snow Rhino carcass cheaply to the unscrupulous merchants who squatted in the market running beast-meat stalls. At his words, their mouths twitched. What a true young master. A perfectly good Snow Rhino could have simply been led home and slaughtered, yet he had to make such a mess of it.

"Add another two hundred gold coins, and we'll sell you the whole thing. We won't sell just a few pounds of meat." With the bulk of the gold already in hand, the two mercenaries could not be bothered to indulge this young master any longer.

"Fine, one thousand gold coins. Go exchange it." Liu Ding tossed over his gold card. One mercenary ran off in delight. The guards secretly following Liu Ding could not help shaking their heads. What a young master—was he not afraid those mercenaries, who killed without blinking, would run off? One of them hurriedly followed.

"Young master, here's your gold card." The mercenary did not dare try anything. After withdrawing one thousand gold coins, he returned happily.

Liu Ding frowned and said, "I've suddenly realized something. How am I supposed to bring this bloody Snow Rhino back? I don't want it anymore."

"No, no! The price was agreed upon and the transaction completed. You can't go back on your word!" The two mercenaries hurriedly stuffed the gold card, receipt, and other items into his hands, glaring at Liu Ding with fierce expressions.