Reunion

The slave market.

As the largest slave market among hundreds of surrounding star systems, it covered an area more than 300 kilometers across.

For a colossal city like Qiu Dragon City on Qiu Dragon Planet, it took up only a small portion.

Slave traders from all kinds of factions gathered at the market. The representative slave races in each slave mall represented entire planets that had fallen into slavery.

Li Yilin strode into the market, and the din immediately flooded his ears. The noisy clamor made his relaxed brow furrow slightly, and the atmosphere around him grew a little oppressive.

He had come to the slave market intending to buy a batch of slaves to fill his empty estate.

Having only a few low-level servants around made the place too quiet.

With that in mind, he followed a man who happened to approach him with a sales pitch into one of the slave malls.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw a group of beautiful women standing in neat rows. Some had seductive airs, others were aloof, and still others were haughty. Their appearances were dazzlingly diverse: some had huge, fluffy tails like foxes, some had angel-like wings, and others had delicate, lively, furry ears...

Every one of them had a stunning figure and a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

At least, by Li Yilin's standards.

The moment Li Yilin entered the mall, Manshang, the manager, hurried over with a welcoming smile. He had gray skin and a long, thin tail like a rat's. When he saw Li Yilin looking at the beauties lined up on either side, his smile widened.

"Sir, are you interested in these beauties?" Slave traders who made their living in the slave market might lack many things, but they certainly had sharp eyes.

As soon as Li Yilin walked in, Manshang could tell he was no ordinary man. Even the briefest accidental glance into his eyes was enough to make Manshang feel as if a beast had fixed its gaze on him.

A powerhouse—without a doubt!

At the thought, Manshang's heart trembled, and his smile grew even more obsequious. "Sir, these women are all first-rate beauties. Their strength may be a little low, but just look at them!

"If any of them catch your eye, they're only 5,000 Black Dragon Coins apiece." He held up five fingers and continued, "Buy more, and I can give you a discount."

Li Yilin stood with his hands behind his back, gave them a casual glance, and shook his head. "Too poor."

"Do you have anyone at Universe Level? Any gender is fine, but I don't want anyone ugly."

He didn't need slaves to protect him. He only wanted them around to brighten the place and relieve his boredom. Ugly ones were out of the question.

A glint flashed in Manshang's eyes at his words. "If you're interested in Universe Level goods, sir, I can ask my boss to get some. But Universe Level slaves aren't the same as Star Level ones. Even my boss doesn't have many on hand, so we'd need some time to bring them in..."

"It won't take long. They can be delivered within ten days." Universe Level slaves were easy to find, but finding ones who were also attractive required more care.

Beauty meant different things to different races. Some people liked tails, some liked wings, and others liked little girls... Different tastes created different demands.

Since the man had looked at the beauties on either side as soon as he entered, his preferences were probably similar. Manshang glanced at them from the corner of his eye, considering which of the races under his management might suit the request.

Li Yilin frowned. "Too long."

He had only come to the slave market to pass the time. That didn't mean he was willing to waste a lot of it here.

"Forget it." He waved impatiently. "Do you have any newly acquired slaves? Bring them out for me to look at."

Manshang wasn't disappointed that he'd changed his mind. Universe Level goods were never short of buyers. He pointed to an area farther away and smiled. "The new arrivals from the past few days are over there. You can take a look."

"This batch is pretty promising. There are several at Star Level Eight or Nine. You could buy a few and take them home. If you're lucky, one might break through to Universe Level, and then you'll have struck it rich." He followed Li Yilin as he walked, enthusiastically making his pitch.

Li Yilin's expression remained impassive as his sharp black eyes swept across the slaves. His brow never relaxed.

In just a short while, he had seen slaves from more than ten different races.

Even though he'd long known about it, every time he saw them, he couldn't help but feel shaken. He lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions in them.

"Ah!"

A brief cry pulled Li Yilin's wandering thoughts back. He lifted his eyes and looked toward the sound, his gaze shifting slightly.

Not far ahead, a girl of around eight or nine knelt awkwardly on the ground, turned partly away from him. A tall, three-armed brute stood over her, looking down at her with a cold expression.

"Come here, little one." The brute crooked the fingers of the hand holding his whip. The girl's slender body trembled slightly. She lifted her head, her blue eyes quivering, but still rose obediently and walked toward him.

The brute raised a large hand and gripped her chin, forcing her face upward with a little pressure. Her smooth black hair fell to either side, revealing a delicate face.

Her brows were like distant hills, her eyes like starlight. Though still young, her beauty hinted at a future capable of outshining the world. A dark glint flickered in the brute's eyes, and his grip tightened unconsciously.

"Mm." The girl's brow furrowed slightly. Her beautiful blue eyes, like the starry sky, glistened with tears. The deathly stillness and helplessness in her gaze made anyone who saw her want to hold her close and comfort her.

As if she had given up hope, the girl's white angel wings drooped limply behind her. Her soft body bent backward without meaning to, and her arms hung weakly at her sides. She looked like a broken doll in the brute's grasp.

"Not bad." The brute grinned, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth, then let go.

"Thud!"

The girl slid to the ground and braced herself with both hands, head lowered. This time, she didn't even cry out.

"I'm glad you're satisfied, sir. This slave is only at Planetary Level One, but her bloodline ranks sixth. She'll reach Planetary Level when she comes of age, and she's a Star Feather Race member—a rare find. For your sake, we'll let her go for just 8,000 Black Dragon Coins." The manager in work clothes beside the brute heard his approval and hurried forward to explain.

"She only arrived a few days ago. She was quite unruly before, but once we implanted a Bio-Chip, she learned to obey like the rest..."

Watching the scene in the distance, Li Yilin's gaze flickered, and his thoughts drifted back five years.

A Domain Lord Level Fighter's memory was already so good that he never forgot anything he had seen.

That was why he recognized the girl at a glance.

He could hardly reconcile this girl, filled with death and despair, with the little girl from five years ago—the one who had freely enjoyed soaring through the sky above the streets, her laughter ringing out like silver bells and making passersby stop in their tracks. She had been so carefree and happy.

Wasn't her mother a Planetary Level Fighter?

She should have been granted Universe Citizen status. Why had...

He lifted his eyes, looking once more at the girl in the distance.

Perhaps she sensed someone watching her. The girl sat kneeling on the ground with her head lowered, her expression hidden. Her dry, reddened lips pressed together slightly. Her hand braced on the ground tightened unconsciously, her slender, pale fingers curling as her soft nails scraped against the floor, bending under the pressure...

"I want her."

Li Yilin spoke.

"Hm?" Manshang, who had been introducing the slave in front of him, froze at Li Yilin's abrupt remark.

Want what?

You have to say it!

Li Yilin lifted his chin slightly and pointed toward the girl in the distance. "I want her."

Manshang followed his gaze and saw his coworker helping the girl up. The man's hand darted through the air, tapping away at something so quickly that it blurred. He was definitely processing the sale.

A troubled look appeared on Manshang's face.

No, the way things looked, that customer had already picked her and was about to pay and take her away.

You want to snatch someone else's purchase? That's...

"Is there a problem?" Li Yilin turned to look at Manshang, his eyes narrowing slightly as an invisible pressure spread around them.

A bead of sweat slid down Manshang's forehead and dripped to the ground. Inside, he was shouting frantically:

Danger, danger, danger!!!