Bargain Hunting at the Marketplace

Sunlight spilled over the golden dunes, making them shimmer with captivating radiance. The desert city was like a jewel embedded in the yellow sands, giving off a unique glow. Walking through its narrow, winding streets felt like stepping into a dream of Exotic Charm.

The shops lining both sides of the street displayed a dazzling array of goods. There were weapons inlaid with rare gems, gleaming with cold light; exquisitely embroidered silk, soft and comfortable; and fragrant delicacies that made mouths water.

From time to time, they also encountered Exotic Merchants dressed in strange attire. They enthusiastically introduced their wares with simple, honest smiles on their faces, while actually thinking about how to squeeze every last coin from their customers' purses.

While strolling through the streets, one could also admire the beautiful scenery of the desert city. The distant dunes looked especially majestic beneath the sun, while the city's buildings blended cleverly into the desert surroundings, retaining an ancient elegance while carrying an air of mystery.

If one thought Stone Desert City was only like this, one would be gravely mistaken. Located in the desert region, it had fought the Snake People Tribe year-round, and its fantasy-like atmosphere only added to its character. The women here were passionate and bold, wearing leather armor that exposed their navels and combat shorts that reached their hips. Some even had daggers tucked into the sides of their boots. If anyone harbored improper thoughts toward them, they might lose their life before they realized it.

Of course, if one was handsome enough, they would turn into seductive enchantresses. Just like now, faced with Lin Feng, Heaven's Favorite, they openly and secretly displayed their alluring figures, practically desperate to throw themselves into the esteemed Alchemist's arms. This made Little Qinglin beside him furious.

"Hmph, those enchantresses are all bad people. Brother Lin Feng, don't let them bewitch you." Qing Lin wrapped both arms around Lin Feng's arm, her little face puffed up in anger.

"Hahaha, you little girl, I think you're the biggest Little Demon here." Lin Feng scratched Qing Lin's nose.

"Brother Lin Feng, you bad man... I-I'm only doing this for your own good." Qing Lin immediately blushed and buried her face against Lin Feng's arm. Brother Lin Feng is mine. I won't let you enchantresses steal him away. Hmph!

Stone Desert City's Marketplace had only gradually prospered over the past few years. Speaking of which, it was all because of Lin Feng. Ever since he revealed his identity as an Alchemist, perhaps because he had obtained the inheritance left behind by a Fourth-grade Alchemist, he had become wealthy. Lin Feng had also developed an interest in Bargain Hunting.

Thus, he often came to the Marketplace to hunt for treasures. Relying on the Supreme Soul Talent he had gained through transmigration, he had found bargains several times. On one occasion, he had even obtained a Profound-tier low-grade Dou Technique—Adamantine Finger.

As the name implied, it was meant to cultivate fingers as hard as adamantine. By opening up the tiny meridians in the fingers, one could achieve instant casting after mastering it. It was truly essential for staying home, traveling, and killing.

If one could absorb Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, this Dou Technique could even rival the power of a Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Technique. Although Lin Feng had only found ordinary herbs for tempering it, the purity of his Five-elemental Dou Qi had produced an effect comparable to Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Therefore, Lin Feng often came to the Marketplace to hunt for treasures, and he was exceptionally generous with his spending, hoping to find another bargain like Adamantine Finger. He usually exchanged healing pills for anything he liked, while any medicinal herbs, unusual bone fragments, and all sorts of other items that caught his eye were bought without exception.

This attracted more and more people to Stone Desert City's Marketplace to trade. Lin Feng believed that even after he left Stone Desert City, it would not have much of an impact on the place. After all, it had already developed a Brand Effect.

His footsteps moved through the Marketplace, accompanied by Qing Lin's cheerful steps. At the beginning, even after Lin Feng had taken her in and publicly revealed his identity as an Alchemist, the people around them still looked at Qing Lin with disgust.

That was normal in Stone Desert City, which had fought the Snake People Tribe for generations, but it was an enormous injustice to Qing Lin. After all, most people could not choose the circumstances of their birth.

Qing Lin's life before meeting Lin Feng could easily be imagined. Later, a drunken mercenary had even tried to ambush her, but Lin Feng reacted in time and killed him in one strike with Adamantine Finger. Only then did Qing Lin's circumstances improve greatly.

As for why he killed someone, in a world like the Dou Qi Continent, where the strong ran rampant, how could Lin Feng possibly be soft-hearted? As for why he did not wait until his enemies grew stronger before harvesting them, Lin Feng's answer was that there were plenty of enemies. How could he leave enemies alive to secretly plot against his life? After looting the corpse, he had gained several hundred gold coins. Thanks for nature's gift.

After that, Qing Lin became much more cheerful under Lin Feng's guidance. She even secretly regarded herself as Lin Feng's Little Housekeeper. Don't ask how Lin Feng knew.

"Hmm! What's this?" Lin Feng walked over to a small stall and bent down to inspect the items laid out before him. At the stall of a burly man was an apparently unremarkable Black Iron Piece. Just now, it had given him a strange feeling, as if his soul had suddenly trembled.

"Hahaha, esteemed Alchemist, have you taken a liking to something? Hahaha, I have everything here." The broad, burly man hurriedly stood up and began introducing his goods. Though he looked foolish and honest, Lin Feng had many years of trading experience and immediately noticed the crafty gleam that occasionally flashed through the man's eyes.

"Enough. Since you know my name, Lin Feng, you should know my rules. These several herbs, these five Demonic Cores from first-grade Desert Scorpion Tiger Beasts, this Demonic Core from a second-grade Flame Serpent, and all the other miscellaneous items on this stall—pack them all up for me. I'll give you three bottles of first-grade Blood-Stopping Powder, three bottles of first-grade Toxin-Removing Pill, and one bottle of Azure Spirit Pill that can increase a Dou Master's cultivation efficiency by thirty percent. How about it?" Lin Feng waved a hand, stopping the man from continuing his sales pitch.

"Hahaha, esteemed Alchemist, you truly are generous. Good, good, good. We welcome your next visit, esteemed Alchemist." The man rubbed his hands fiercely and swiftly packed up everything on the table. Lin Feng also took out the corresponding pills from his Storage Ring and stored the items inside it.

As he put the items into his Storage Ring, his soul felt that strange sensation again when he touched the Black Iron Piece. This confirmed that he had found another treasure.

Of course, he was in no hurry to return and verify it immediately. As a dignified Third-grade Alchemist and Six-star Great Dou Master, he was not like a certain Huo Huo who had been drained for two and a half years, panicking and rushing about. (Xiao Yan said he had been drained for three years, but it actually seemed to have been only two and a half years. I'm not entirely sure either.)

After continuing around the Marketplace, buying some cultivation supplies and alchemy ingredients, then accompanying Qing Lin to purchase some cosmetics, they returned to the Crimson Fire Mercenary Group's base.