Heaven Dou City truly lived up to its reputation as the imperial capital. Just the street where Mo Li and Jiang Zhu were walking was bustling enough to leave anyone astonished.
The street stretched farther than the eye could see, wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side. The shops lining both sides of it were so varied they were almost overwhelming.
As for Mo Li and Jiang Zhu supposedly strolling together, in truth, Jiang Zhu was the only one who was thoroughly enjoying herself. Mo Li had little interest in the shops, but he would chime in now and then so the conversation wouldn't fall flat.
"Little Brother Li, look!"
Mo Li smiled wryly and looked over at Jiang Zhu, who was excitedly browsing nearby.
She gently picked up a necklace made of gemstones. Her eyes sparkled as she happily asked Mo Li, "What do you think? Is it pretty? The shopkeeper said it's made of gemstones!"
Mo Li leaned closer for a look and pursed his lips. "You can tell at a glance it's fake."
Even without activating Peering at Heaven and Earth, he could see the impurities in it at a glance. The necklace was nothing more than an ornament made from ordinary materials.
At his words, the shopkeeper, who had been wearing a fawning expression, immediately scowled, looking as if he couldn't believe Mo Li had said the quiet part out loud.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhu hurriedly put the necklace back where it had been, apologized to the shopkeeper, then took Mo Li by the wrist and led him to the next shop. As they walked, she chided him, "Little Brother Li, I'm not trying to lecture you, but the shopkeeper's right there. You can't say that to his face. And how can you tell at a glance whether something's real or fake?"
Mo Li smiled. Come on, even without circulating my cultivation technique, my spiritual power is on par with that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor. Of course I can see right through ordinary mineral materials.
"You don't know the half of it. I have an incredibly sharp eye."
"If you're that good, wouldn't taking you along to gamble on stones make us a fortune?"
Jiang Zhu covered her mouth and giggled, assuming Mo Li was just bragging.
Mo Li shook his head with a smile. Jiang Zhu's suggestion actually made some sense.
He just wasn't sure how gambling on stones in this world differed from the way it had worked in his previous life. If he ever got the chance, he could give it a try.
As they walked along chatting, a figure wrapped in a loose robe casually brushed past Jiang Zhu.
When no one seemed to be watching, a hand quietly slipped out of the wide sleeve and reached for the pouch at Jiang Zhu's waist.
The street was crowded, so naturally, few people noticed this petty theft.
Just as the thief was about to succeed, Mo Li, who had been chatting and laughing with Jiang Zhu, furrowed his brows and turned his gaze toward the flustered figure.
He was a middle-aged man with a lean, ordinary-looking face, dressed in a loose robe. At that moment, he looked panicked, his eyes lowered to where Mo Li's hand had clamped around his wrist like an iron pincer.
"Why are there so many people asking for trouble today?"
Mo Li was at a loss for words. Even pickpockets were trying their luck on him now?
Curious gazes immediately turned toward them from all around. Most people understood what was going on and hurriedly checked their belongings.
"Hey, where's my purse?!"
"Mine's gone too!"
More and more people realized their belongings were missing. The man Mo Li had caught went pale and struggled desperately to break free.
Jiang Zhu had already stepped aside when Mo Li called out, giving him plenty of room.
When the man had made his move, Mo Li had keenly sensed a trace of Soul Power. At such close range, there was no way the man's actions could escape his notice.
Just then, a White Soul Ring rose from beneath the man's feet.
His already sinister-looking face sprouted several whiskers, making his expression even more crafty.
Mo Li glanced at him. It looked like his Martial Soul was some kind of rodent. Choosing to steal did seem to have something to do with his Martial Soul.
After releasing his Martial Soul, the man swiftly reached for Mo Li's chest with one hand.
Mo Li glanced at his Soul Ring, then gave his arm a sharp jerk and flung the man away. His arm bent at the elbow, and he drove it into the man's chest with a swift, powerful strike.
"Thud!"
"Ah!"
As the man flew, Mo Li reached out and pulled. Several bundles and purses, along with all sorts of other odds and ends, fell from the man's clothes. He clutched his chest and landed on the ground some distance away.
The crowd immediately scattered to search for their belongings. Seeing this, Mo Li stepped back and casually caught a pale-purple purse.
It had only been a reflex. Just as he was about to toss it aside, a sharp cry rang out.
"Little thief, give that back!"
A surge of green Soul Power came with the voice. Mo Li frowned and raised his other hand, using his Soul Power to block the attack.
At that moment, the owner of the voice pushed through the crowd and came to stand before him.
A short-haired girl with purple hair glared furiously at the purple pouch in his hand, her unusual eyes brimming with coldness.
"No, you've got it wrong."
Once Mo Li got a good look at her, he realized the girl before him was quite pretty. Her pair of unusual green eyes, in particular, had an alluring beauty.
Just as he was about to explain, Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes, their long, slender shape curving into a dangerous arc.
"Are you going to say you picked that up?"
Mo Li thought, You already know, don't you? He was about to point out the real culprit, but when he turned around, the man had vanished.
The thief had used the moment Dugu Yan attacked to escape.
At least plenty of people nearby could vouch for him.
"Yeah. If you don't believe me, you can—"
Before Mo Li could finish, Dugu Yan attacked in a burst of anger.
"You think I'm stupid? You've got the pouch in your hand! I'm going to teach you a proper lesson, you filthy little thief!"
A more ferocious surge of green Soul Power rushed toward Mo Li, carrying a faint, foul odor.
Mo Li furrowed his brows. This purple-haired girl was completely unreasonable. She'd attacked without a word and wouldn't even listen to an explanation?
He first pulled Jiang Zhu back a little. Dugu Yan's sudden attack sent the onlookers retreating, clearing a wide space around them. After all, this was a battle between Soul Masters, and ordinary people wanted nothing to do with it.
Once they had some distance, Mo Li decisively raised his left hand. A similarly powerful Black Flame shot toward the green Soul Power. The two currents intertwined, then vanished into the air.
"So you do have some skill."
After her attack was deflected, Dugu Yan had to reassess the boy before her, who looked even younger than she was.
She had meant to teach him a lesson with her first attack. She would never actually kill Mo Li, but it had still been no easy attack to block.
Yet Mo Li had dispelled it with ease. That stirred Dugu Yan's competitive spirit, and for a moment, she forgot all about her pouch.
Two bright Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet. The second Soul Ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill, Jade Scale Blue Poison!"
Hearing the purple-haired girl name her Soul Skill, the furrow between Mo Li's brows smoothed out. He could barely hold back a smile.