Slave Market, Heaven-Grade Slave!

"Come on, accompany me out of the city for a stroll. Let's take in the sights of Spirit City."

Qian Xunzong tucked his little hands into his sleeves and leisurely led the three of them out of Spirit Hall's imperial city and onto the bustling streets of Spirit City proper.

As the number one city on the continent, Spirit City's prosperity surpassed all others. Its streets were broad and clean, shops lined both sides, and crowds flowed endlessly through them. Soul Masters and commoners passed back and forth amid cries of vendors and bursts of laughter, creating an exceptionally lively scene.

Qian Xunzong strolled along the way, browsing shops and sampling street food. The three behind him guarded him closely throughout, their chilling presence forcefully clearing an open space through the crowded streets. No one dared approach casually, and passersby respectfully stepped aside, not daring to disturb them.

After wandering and stopping along the way, they unknowingly arrived at Spirit City's most unusual district—the slave market.

The place was full of noisy voices and carried an oppressive atmosphere, entirely different from the bustling prosperity outside.

Countless cages stood neatly arranged along both sides of the street, holding slaves of every kind: defeated Soul Masters, fallen disciples of sects, convicted criminals, their cultivation levels varying greatly. This was Spirit City's officially established slave-trading grounds and one of the largest slave markets on the continent.

"Young Master, this place is filled with all sorts of people and has a rather foul atmosphere. How about we go somewhere else?" Yue Guan frowned slightly and softly tried to persuade him.

Qian Xunzong shook his head, curiosity flashing through his eyes. "It's fine. Since we're already here, let's go in and have a look."

Having lived two lives, this was still his first time seeing a slave market on Douluo Continent. Intrigued, he simply stepped inside. Shen Ye, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan immediately followed, firmly guarding all sides and blocking out the chaotic air around them.

The slave market's manager saw the visitors and sensed the imposing aura of those beside them. Realizing they were no ordinary people, he hurried forward, bowing deeply with the utmost respect. "This humble one greets you, Young Master!"

"No need for formalities. I'm just looking around." Qian Xunzong casually waved a hand, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding cages.

The manager hurriedly led the way with eager attentiveness, constantly introducing the talents and cultivation levels of the various slaves while strongly recommending those with the best value.

Qian Xunzong had originally only been strolling around, but then he thought of Cloud-Treading Villa and the newly built Martial Soul Academy, both of which would need people to manage them in the future. Buying a few more loyal slaves would save him time and effort, so he nodded and decided to select some people to take back.

"Take me to see the best slaves you have here."

"Yes! Young Master, please follow me!" The manager was overjoyed and quickly led the way toward the deepest part of the slave market, toward a special area guarded with the strictest security.

Those imprisoned there were all Heaven-grade slaves, the most gifted and well-established slaves in the entire market. Even the weakest among them had once been Soul Emperors or stronger, capable figures wherever they went, only to fall here after committing offenses.

There were only a handful of people in this area. All stood tall and possessed extraordinary bearing, though they now wore shackles all over their bodies, their Soul Power sealed, leaving them in a somewhat bedraggled state.

"Young Master, these Heaven-grade slaves were all once top experts, but they have all been reduced to useless men. Their Soul Power is sealed, and they can no longer cultivate," the manager promptly explained.

"Especially that one in the far corner. His background is extraordinary. He is a fallen criminal who violated the Hall's rules decades ago, and he was once a top expert!"

"According to the records, he was a fallen criminal from Slaughter City. Not long after appearing, he became bloodthirsty and murderous. In the end, His Holiness the Pope personally crippled his cultivation, sealed his martial soul, and demoted him to a slave. Because His Holiness personally dealt with him, his status is unusual. All these years, no one has dared buy him, nor has anyone dared recruit him."

"The others were all people who caused trouble alongside him back then. They were implicated and demoted to slaves as well. Their cultivation was likewise completely destroyed, and they can never escape for the rest of their lives."

Following the manager's gaze, Qian Xunzong saw a man in black curled up in the corner of a cage.

The man's figure was tall and lean. Even curled up on the ground, he could not hide the upright bearing he once possessed. His long black hair hung in disarray, covering most of his face and concealing his expression. There was not the slightest fluctuation of aura around him. He seemed like an ordinary mortal, utterly unremarkable, silent and desolate.

"Oh? Dad personally crippled him? That's rather interesting."

In contrast, the other slaves imprisoned nearby seemed to have grasped their final lifeline upon seeing the newcomers. Extreme longing burst from their eyes as they scrambled toward the cages, shouting frantically.

"Young Master! Please take me in! Though my cultivation has been crippled, my experience remains! I can serve you faithfully!"

"Choose me! This humble one is utterly loyal and swears to serve you unto death for the rest of my life! I will never betray you!"

"Young Master! We know our mistakes! We are willing to remain slaves for life and repay the grace of your acceptance!"

"..."

Their expressions were crazed, their eyes filled with the desire to survive. Their longing for freedom and power was laid bare. When they looked toward the black-clothed man in the corner, their gazes carried deep resentment and hatred. If not for him, they would not have suffered the destruction of their families and become slaves.

The clamorous pleas rose one after another, yet the black-clothed man in the corner remained unmoved. He stayed curled up where he was, his back slightly bent, showing neither struggle nor flattery. It was as if everything outside had nothing to do with him—numb and despairing.

Qian Xunzong's brow creased slightly at the sight.

He had seen people afraid of death and those who fawned over the powerful, but he had rarely seen someone so utterly lifeless.

He slowly stepped forward and raised a hand. A wisp of golden holy light parted the messy black hair over the man's forehead, revealing his eyes.

They were eyes filled with the weariness of time and brimming with desolation. Decades of imprisonment and humiliation had long ago ground away all his sharp edges, yet deep within those deadened eyes hid a trace of unyielding pride, so faint it was nearly imperceptible, but never extinguished.

Even in despair, his pride remained unbroken.

A hint of amused interest flashed through Qian Xunzong's eyes, and he was instantly intrigued.

These slaves who begged and competed for favor were opportunistic and fickle by nature. Even if he took them in, they would be of little use.

This man, however, whose cultivation had been crippled and who had endured imprisonment for decades without breaking his pride, was worth recruiting instead.

Seeing Qian Xunzong focusing on the man in the corner, the nearby slaves immediately grew anxious and hurriedly slandered him.

"Young Master! This man is a traitorous criminal! He harbors the heart of a wolf and cannot be taken in! Please choose us instead!"

The noisy voices were irritating.

Shen Ye's gaze turned cold as the terrifying pressure of a nine-ringed Titled Douluo suddenly erupted from him, instantly enveloping the entire cage area.

Boom—!!

The crushing pressure descended with a roar. Those slaves who had been pleading frantically were instantly suppressed to the ground. Their bones creaked as they could not even remain standing, collapsing in heaps with faces white as paper. They no longer dared make the slightest sound, their eyes filled with utter terror.

The entire area fell silent at once.

Ignoring the collapsed slaves, Qian Xunzong fixed his eyes on the man in black. His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable command.

"I am Qian Xunzong, son of the Pope. Across the entire continent, I'm afraid I'm the only one who would dare take you in. I'll give you one chance."

"If you are willing to leave with me and pledge loyalty to me, then kill these noisy fools with your own hands. Do that, and I'll take you away."

After speaking, he quietly waited for the other man's response.

The deadness in the black-clothed man's eyes finally stirred slightly. Deep within them, a faint glimmer of the will to live and fighting spirit quietly lit up. The unyielding resolve that had lain dormant for decades seemed to waver at this moment.

Yet he still did not speak. Not a word.

Seeing this, Qian Xunzong did not say more. He smiled faintly, turned, and waved a hand. "Forget it. Let's go."

Shen Ye, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan immediately followed. The group turned and slowly headed toward the slave market's entrance.

Just as they were about to step out of the gates—

Whoosh!!!

An incomparably swift black shadow suddenly shot out from the cage, moving so quickly that only an afterimage remained. Its movements were clean, decisive, and vicious, without the slightest hesitation.

The slaves who had been sprawled on the ground in trembling silence did not even have time to scream before their necks were all precisely snapped, their breaths cut off in an instant as they died on the spot.

The entire sequence flowed smoothly, decisive and clean!

One strike, one kill—leaving no future trouble!

After doing all this, the black-clothed man landed steadily and continued to stand there in silence. A faint killing aura belonging to a top expert still lingered around him. Even with his cultivation crippled, his foundations remained.

Shen Ye's eyes narrowed sharply, shock filling them as he spoke in a low voice.

"What ruthless killing techniques, what exquisite movement skills! Even with his cultivation completely crippled, his physical foundation and combat instincts remain terrifying. At his peak, this man was absolutely a Titled Douluo-level expert—and one among the strongest in combat!"

Even after decades of crippled cultivation, imprisonment, and torment, he still possessed such killing instincts. That alone showed how terrifying his former foundations had been.

Qian Xunzong slowly turned back and looked at the tall, silent man in black. A satisfied smile curled across his lips.

Patient, decisive, ruthless, proud, and aware of when to advance and retreat.

A talent like this was far more worthy of cultivation than those opportunists.

"Well done."

Qian Xunzong slowly walked before him and asked softly, "Tell me your name."

The man in black raised his eyes. All the deadness within them had faded, leaving only calmness. After a long silence, his hoarse voice slowly rang out, dry from decades without speech. "...Ma Jinyan."

"From today onward, you will stay by my side and enter my service. I can heal your injuries," Qian Xunzong said calmly, his tone certain.

Ma Jinyan's body trembled slightly. For the first time, true light ignited in his eyes after decades of silence. He heavily dropped to one knee and bowed, his voice sincere and firm. "Your subordinate... Ma Jinyan, swears to serve Master unto death for this life and never betray you!"

Qian Xunzong looked down at the black-clothed man kneeling in submission. His gaze was calm, yet carried the authority to settle all matters with a single word.

Qian Xunzong smiled, then thought, System, check in!

[Ding! Detected that the host is at Spirit City's slave market. Check-in successful. Reward: Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill. This location cannot be used to check in again!]

[Reward details: Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill. It can repair all foundational injuries, restore a Soul Master to their peak, permanently increase their strength by thirty percent, and extend their lifespan by half a century, with no side effects.]