The Strange Woman (1/3)

"The task of the Book-holding woman is finally coming to an end!" Upon hearing the system notification, Ma Feifei breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Feifei had received this task when the branch was first established, and more than half a year had passed since then. If this task hadn't been so important, Ma Feifei would have almost given up on it.

Fortunately, the Book-holding woman quest is finally coming to an end. Just one last step is needed for Ma Feifei to receive the Book-holding woman reward: nine Tianshu Fragment.

The mission to Path of Imperial Examination, which is linked to the Book-holding woman, will also be completed, at which time Ma Feifei will be able to successfully enter the Immortal Realm.

"Now that I've entered the Immortal Realm, shouldn't I go and meet that so-called Book Battle Continent?" Ma Feifei thought to himself. He felt that this was just the beginning, because it had only been a little over a year since Ma Feifei came to this world. In this short year, Ma Feifei had transformed from an ordinary person into the most powerful figure on the Azure Dragon Continent.

During this time, Ma Feifei did not encounter any setbacks or hardships. The only time he felt threatened was when he was ambushed by Puzhi and the Phantom Organization on Changjie Street last year, and he was saved by the healing effect of the "Thousand Gold Formulas".

Later on, danger became a distant concern for Ma Feifei, because he was always accompanied by a Frost Giant Dragon.

In addition, his cultivation level is also increasing rapidly. In just one year, he reached the Spirit Saint Third Stage realm. Once he completes the Path of Imperial Examination, he will be able to step into the Immortal Realm and become the most outstanding existence on the continent.

With the staff and bodyguards at the Mysterious Bookstore, there was truly no one on the Azure Dragon Continent who could pose any threat to him anymore.

"From now on, on the Azure Dragon Continent, only I, the shop owner, can kill this shop owner!" Ma Feifei was a little cocky. He strode into the Bookstore with his Erlang crossed, looked around, and found that all the cultivators reading books in the Bookstore were so familiar.

"Ultimately, it's a place only the wealthy can enter. It seems we should expedite the library's procedures." Bookstore only benefit a small number of people, but libraries are different. If Ma Feifei can unite the five nations to establish Azure Dragon Library in major towns, then more and more cultivators will benefit from books.

"The glory of the Mysterious Bookstore will eventually bless the entire Azure Dragon Continent!" Ma Feifei thought to himself.

"Shopkeeper, you're blocking the way." Zhang Yunji's voice pulled Ma Feifei back from her reverie. When she came to her senses, Ma Feifei found herself standing at the entrance of the Bookstore, having become a human-shaped barrier.

"It's my shop, what's wrong with me standing here?" Ma Feifei was unhappy, glared at Zhang Yunji, and said, "You're out of pay this month."

After saying that, Ma Feifei stepped over the threshold and walked directly towards the Wantong Trading Market across the street.

Zhang Yunji stood at the Bookstore entrance, watching Ma Feifei's retreating figure, his eyes filled with doubt. He asked the Sky-reaching Ape Monkey guarding the door, "Monkey, do we get a fixed salary?"

The Sky-reaching Ape Monkey, then replied, "I don't think so."

"..."

Ma Feifei hasn't been to Wantong Trading Market for a while; I remember the last time he came was three days ago.

Yes, give Zhou Zhuling the Book-holding Woman Badge.

"Sigh! Time flies..." Ma Feifei sighed, not in a hurry to go up to the third floor, and strolled leisurely in the lobby on the first floor.

In just over a year, the Wantong Trading Market, which grew alongside the Mysterious Bookstore, has undergone a dramatic transformation, its area now several times larger than before.

This was a spatial array that Zhou Zhuling specially commissioned Ninth-tier formation master to set up within the Wantong Trading Market. In fact, Zhou Zhuling's approach was quite effective, not only attracting more sellers but also bringing in more foot traffic. Currently, the Wantong Trading Market accounts for two-thirds of the foot traffic in the entire Dubian Town.

Whenever people want to buy something, they instinctively head to the Wantong Trading Market.

Today, the Wantong Trading Market has become a super-large shopping mall that encompasses all kinds of goods, with a dazzling array of items.

It's a bit like the large shopping mall in Ma Feifei's world.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Ma Feifei arrived at the stairs leading to the second floor. Just as he was about to step onto the stairs, a sudden commotion reached his ears.

"Young lady, it's such a waste to use such a nice stall to sell pastries. Why don't you sell it to me?" An old man said to the stall facing Ma Feifei, his back to him.

Looking through the gap in the old man's shoulder, Ma Feifei saw a woman at the stall opposite him. However, because she was looking down, he couldn't see her face clearly, but judging from her figure and long, black hair, she must be a beautiful girl.

"Sir, the stall doesn't sell these, but I do have pastries. Would you like to buy some? They're very cheap." The woman's voice was a little hoarse, as if she had been crying.

"Silly girl, how much are your pastries? Even if I bought them all, it wouldn't be worth a day's rent for your stall," the old man said, his face full of confusion. In all his years, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

The conversation between the two piqued Ma Feifei's interest. He turned and walked to the old man's side. With his gaze sweeping over the old man, Ma Feifei noticed the delicate little pastries displayed on the ground. They were all arranged in exquisite porcelain bowls, with arrays engraved around them and a circular light shield. Ma Feifei recognized this array; it was Dust-avoiding formation, a low-level first-level array. It had no practical use; it could only isolate dust and prevent the pastries from getting dirty.

The woman did not reply to the old man. She sat on her stall, legs together, forehead against them, her gaze fixed on the exquisite pastries on the stall. Her eyes were deep and sorrowful, as if they held endless stories.

The woman wasn't particularly beautiful; at least not compared to someone like Ma Feifei who was surrounded by beautiful women. However, she possessed a unique charm that Ma Feifei had only ever sensed in Zhou Zhuling.

This quality is called gentleness.

"Enough, enough." Seeing that the woman wouldn't listen to his advice, the old man shook his head and left.

Only Ma Feifei remained in front of the stall, along with the occasional glances from the crowd behind Ma Feifei.

Ma Feifei didn't mind these things. Instead, she squatted down and looked at the pastries on the stall, asking, "Stadium owner, how much are these pastries?"

Upon hearing this, the woman looked up at Ma Feifei, a hint of surprise in her eyes, as if she hadn't expected anyone to actually come and buy her pastries.

"I don't want gold or silver, I don't want spirit stones," the woman said slowly, her tone filled with anticipation.

"Oh?" Ma Feifei was slightly surprised and asked, "Then what do you want?"

The woman sighed and shook her head, "I'm not selling it."