Conflict (Please Recommend)

Following the path, Lin Qingyun kept running into boys and girls along the way, all of them looking at him with a hint of curiosity.

Lin Qingyun was quite carefree, occasionally returning their looks with a smile.

Before long, he stepped onto the main street.

The medicinal herbs needed for the Qi Nourishing Pill totaled four items: ten-year Spirit Gathering Grass, ten-year Purple You Orchid, fifteen-year Jade Lotus Fruit, and a Water Attribute magic beast core.

The first three were easy enough to find, but the fourth stumped him.

A magic beast core was a kind of energy crystal inside a magic beast's body, filled with extremely violent energy. Even a Dou Wang would not dare risk his life to forcibly absorb that savage energy.

Though magic beast cores were not of much use to cultivators, to alchemists they were often indispensable main ingredients. In an alchemist's hands, a magic beast core could turn rot into wonder, transforming into all sorts of spirit pills and miracle medicines countless people drooled over, instantly sending its value soaring!

Moreover, magic beast cores could also be embedded into weapons. In the hands of certain master forgers, tools enhanced with magic beast cores often had even greater destructive power or defensive strength.

It was precisely because of these two points that magic beast cores were sought after by the people of Dou Qi Continent. Driven by this trend, they had practically reached a point where supply never met demand year-round.

However, not every magic beast produced a magic beast core. Luck was an important factor.

More importantly, obtaining one was extremely difficult. The powerful strength of magic beasts themselves stopped many people in their tracks.

There were even cases where a mercenary group paid the price of half its members killed or wounded to slay a magic beast, only to end up empty-handed in the end. Such things were common on Dou Qi Continent, nothing unusual at all.

Because of this, Lin Qingyun did not hold out much hope of finding the Water Attribute magic beast core he wanted.

Lin Qingyun walked neither quickly nor slowly, yet strangely enough, he vanished into the bustling street in an instant.

Although Lin Qingyun did not know how much time had passed while he was refining the Chaotic Fire, the Fighting Skills he had cultivated in his past memories had become increasingly profound.

For example, the Flowing Wind Steps he was using right now had already reached a consummate level.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, Lin Qingyun arrived at a medium-sized Marketplace located slightly south of Wutan City.

A so-called Marketplace was like the markets in his memory, except what was sold here was not vegetables, but far higher-grade goods.

There were seven or eight medium-sized Marketplaces like this in Wutan City, but most of them were controlled by the Xiao Family.

Calling it control, in truth, only meant maintaining order and safety. As compensation, the mercenaries or merchants who set up stalls and traded in the Marketplace had to pay the Xiao Family some commission. This rule had continued for many years, and it was rare to see anyone come here and make trouble.

Entering through the Marketplace gate, he saw two guards at the entrance wearing Xiao Family badges on their chests. They clearly recognized Lin Qingyun as well. Seeing Lin Qingyun arrive, both were slightly stunned, then bowed a little.

Lin Qingyun nodded faintly and walked straight in, but before he had gone far, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Young Master Qingyun, are you here to inspect?"

The respectful voice came from behind. Lin Qingyun turned back and saw seven or eight Burly Men dressed in the Xiao Family's uniform attire. The one at their head who had spoken was a fatty wearing luxurious clothes.

Lin Qingyun knew this fatty. His name was Xiao Hun, and he was the manager of this Marketplace. Back when Lin Qingyun had managed most of the Xiao Family's businesses, they had had some contact.

"Nothing important. Just taking a stroll. Go on with your work," Lin Qingyun said.

"Then this subordinate won't disturb you!" Xiao Hun said with his big belly jutting out, nodding and bowing.

Lin Qingyun nodded politely, slipped into the crowd, and then disappeared...

"Pali, take two men and follow Young Master Qingyun. Warn those Golden Fingers in the Marketplace—if anyone dares set their sights on Young Master Qingyun, they can forget about making a living here in the future!" Watching the young man disappear, the greasy smile on Xiao Hun's face slowly faded, instantly turning sharp and capable.

As a minor higher-up of the Xiao Family, he naturally knew some things about Lin Qingyun. Perhaps he would not have been this respectful before. After all, this world revered strength above all. But when word spread that Lin Qingyun could cultivate, and that his strength was not low, he knew the future position of Fourth Elder would belong to him and no one else.

Fourth Elder—that was a position far beyond his reach!

Lin Qingyun strolled lazily through the crowd with both hands clasped behind his head. However, under his soul perception, he could naturally sense two guards following unhurriedly behind him.

Lin Qingyun did not mind this. Sometimes, it could also spare him unnecessary trouble.

In the Marketplace, most of the shops sold medicinal herbs, followed by some that sold weapons.

Although there were many shops selling medicinal herbs, Lin Qingyun did not stop. Most of the medicinal herbs were only five or six years old, falling completely short of his requirements.

As he went deeper, after walking for who knew how long, Lin Qingyun finally stopped in front of a relatively large shop.

There were very few people in this shop, making it seem rather deserted, but Lin Qingyun knew the goods here were absolutely genuine.

As soon as he entered, the shop's people recognized Lin Qingyun. They immediately came forward with smiles. "Young Master Yun, what an honor to have you here. Forgive us for not welcoming you from afar!"

"Fatty Jin, go on, go on!"

Lin Qingyun dodged the fatty, who was throwing himself at him with an enthusiastic hug, with a look of disgust, then said, "Fatty Jin, I want some medicinal herbs: Spirit Gathering Grass, Purple You Orchid, and Jade Lotus Fruit. The first two must be ten years old, and the last fifteen years old. Ten portions of each."

"Heh heh, I'll handle it right away!" Fatty Jin straightened his clothes, smiled, and then gave the shop assistant beside him a look.

Once it seemed the irrelevant people had left, the man could not help asking curiously, "Young Master Yun, what are you buying so many medicinal herbs for?"

"If I said I was taking them back to refine medicine, would you believe me?" Lin Qingyun glanced at him and said coolly.

"Tch, even ghosts wouldn't believe that if you told them!" Fatty Jin shot him a disdainful look.

But just then, the shop assistant who had left earlier returned, carrying a brocade bag in his hand.

"It's all here. That will be twenty thousand gold coins." In that instant, Fatty Jin seemed to have changed into a different person, becoming extremely efficient and capable.

"Mm!" Lin Qingyun merely nodded. This price was within his tolerance. Although it might be several hundred gold coins more expensive than some other shops, he could not deny that this shop's goods were genuine.

He took out a Jade Card and handed it to Fatty Jin, while also taking back the brocade bag.

After sensing the Jade Card briefly, Fatty Jin immediately revealed a satisfied smile and said, "Young Master Yun, next time you need to buy anything, you can still come find me!"

"Next time, then!"

After putting the items into his Storage Ring, he walked out of the shop.

Afterward, he made a round through a few larger shops as well, but he did not find the Water Attribute magic beast core he wanted.

There was no helping it.

"Looks like I can only go to Ya Fei's place and take a look." After muttering to himself, Lin Qingyun headed toward the Marketplace entrance.

But before he had gone far, his brows suddenly furrowed.

A dozen or so steps ahead, over a dozen people had gathered together, clamoring noisily. He could even hear some curses.

Logically speaking, this kind of commotion was all too normal in a Marketplace. But unfortunately, not only were Xiao Family guards involved, there were also several very unfriendly people there.

Lin Qingyun slowly approached. Through the gaps in the crowd, he saw the two people in the dispute. He knew both of them. One was Xiao Long of the Xiao Family, the Third Elder's grandson. The other was the Jia Lie Family's young master, Jia Lie'ao.

From the voices he heard alone, he could tell the reason.

"Jia Lie'ao, don't go too far! It wasn't even yours, so what price are you opening your mouth for?"

Xiao Long's face was full of anger. If not for the young girl beside him holding his hand, he probably would have been unable to hold back and charged up already.

"So what? You broke my bracelet, so you have to pay for it." Jia Lie'ao was perfectly composed, sneering.

"How is it yours? You clearly never paid for it." The one who spoke was the young girl standing beside Xiao Long. Her delicate face also carried a trace of anger.

"Oh, that was my oversight!" Jia Lie'ao suddenly smiled, and the guard beside him instantly understood. He directly took out a small cloth pouch and tossed it in front of the stall.

"All right, now the item is mine. You broke my Amethyst Bracelet, so you need to pay one thousand gold coins." Jia Lie'ao's face was full of smiles, his gaze sweeping over the delicate young girl from time to time.

"One thousand gold coins? Jia Lie'ao, are you robbing us?" Xiao Long instantly flew into a rage, but when his gaze swept over the gold star on the former's chest, he immediately lost steam.

One gold star represented the strength of a One-Star Dou Zhe, while he was currently only at Qi Stage Seven. The strength of the two was simply not on the same level.

"Of course, you can also avoid paying the one thousand gold coins." Jia Lie'ao suddenly changed his tone, smiling broadly as he looked toward the young woman standing beside Xiao Long. He smiled and said, "Beautiful miss, please allow me to extend an invitation. I would be willing to gift you another Amethyst Bracelet."

"Jia Lie'ao, what do you mean?" Xiao Long stepped forward and blocked the young girl, shouting angrily.

Jia Lie'ao's character was plain for all to see. He spent year after year wandering among women, and no one knew how many young girls he had ruined.

"I am inviting this young lady. What does that have to do with you, Xiao Long?" Jia Lie'ao frowned slightly and said with some impatience.

"You..." Xiao Long was furious, yet he did not know how to refute him. He could only glare angrily at Jia Lie'ao.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyun could not stand watching anymore. In any case, he counted as a member of the Xiao Family too.

"Hey, Jia Lie'ao, we haven't seen each other in so long, and you actually haven't died on a woman's belly yet. Not bad!"

Lin Qingyun walked out and stood in front of Xiao Long.

"It's you? Lin Qingyun!" Jia Lie'ao frowned slightly, but soon smoothed it out again. A faint, eerie smile appeared on his pale face.

"Brother Qingyun, sorry for dragging you into this!"

Looking at the young man standing in front of him, Xiao Long scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly.

"We're all Xiao Family." Lin Qingyun smiled faintly.