Xiao Yan's Excitement

The stall owner saw that Zhu Zhuqing was dressed unusually well and hurried to introduce his wares with enthusiasm.

"My lady, take a look at these Magic Cores. They're all in perfect condition, without a scratch. Whether you use them to refine medicine or give them as gifts, they're an excellent choice."

Zhu Zhuqing rummaged through them and finally chose a green Magic Core of relatively good quality.

"How much?"

The stall owner held up three fingers.

"That'll be three hundred Gold Coins, thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing paused. She had no idea what Gold Coins were worth on the Dou Qi Continent, but three hundred sounded far from cheap. She instinctively turned to Lu Chuan beside her.

Lu Chuan's mouth twitched. Why are you looking at me? It's my first time here too!

He cleared his throat and delivered a line that worked for any haggle.

"Three hundred? For an ordinary first-rank Magic Core? You're charging a stranger too much. What, you think you can take advantage of us because we just got here?"

The stall owner's expression did not change. He smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"Young master, this Magic Core is brimming with energy. It was just brought back from the Magical Beast Mountain Range. The price is already very fair."

"So what? You're not the only one selling Magic Cores. I'll give you a chance to name a new price. If I don't like it, we're leaving."

As he spoke, Lu Chuan took the Magic Core from Zhu Zhuqing's hand and put it back on the stall. Then he caught her by the wrist and made as if to lead her to another stall.

"Wait, wait! Two eighty, two sixty, two twenty! I can't go any lower, or I'll take a loss."

The stall owner reached out, looking pained.

"Fine, then we'll take..."

Lu Chuan's eyes flicked aside. He suddenly spotted a small iron piece. Hiss... Could that be the Dou Technique Xiao Yan picked up for a steal? That's startup capital too. I'm taking it first!

"Throw in a few little things."

Lu Chuan lifted his chin, his gaze sweeping over a pile of odds and ends in the corner of the stall that nobody wanted. A dark iron piece lay mixed in among them, utterly inconspicuous.

The stall owner's heart ached, but the Magic Core was already down to two hundred Gold Coins. If he let this sale slip away, he might not make a single sale today. He could only grit his teeth.

"Deal! Take all those odds and ends!"

Lu Chuan reached out and put the Black Iron Piece, along with a heap of battered junk, into his Soul Tool.

Then he pressed the smooth, faintly glowing green Wood-Attribute Magic Core into Zhu Zhuqing's hand.

Zhu Zhuqing reached for her Gold Card to pay, only to remember with a jolt that this was not the Douluo Continent.

She could only stand there and look helplessly at Lu Chuan.

"Senior, could you lend me some cash? I'll pay you back when we return."

"Sure. No need to stand on ceremony with me."

Lu Chuan counted out 220 Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and placed them on the stall. They were stolen anyway, so spending them did not hurt.

Seeing how readily Lu Chuan paid, Zhu Zhuqing felt warmth spread through her chest.

The stall owner had been delighted to make a sale, but once the coins were in his hands, confusion filled his face. He picked one up and examined it closely, then put it in his mouth and bit it.

"My lord, what country are you from? How come I've never seen Gold Coins like these?"

Obviously. It'd be bizarre if you had.

"I'm asking you, are they gold coins or not?"

"They are, but the patterns on them..."

"If they're gold coins, that's all that matters."

With that, Lu Chuan impatiently pulled Zhu Zhuqing away from the stall.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the hand wrapped firmly around her wrist. She could clearly feel its warmth.

They walked far down the bustling street. The stalls and crowds around them changed several times, but Lu Chuan showed no sign of letting go.

After hesitating a moment, she quietly reminded him.

"Senior, we've gone far enough."

"Mm, I know." Lu Chuan looked perfectly composed and did not even break stride.

Zhu Zhuqing felt a little helpless. She spoke softly again.

"Then could you let go? A lot of people are watching us."

Lu Chuan glanced at her and answered as though it were only natural.

"No. This street is crowded, and you don't know your way around. What if you get lost?"

Zhu Zhuqing sighed. She made no attempt to pull away and could only let him lead her, quietly following at his side.

Lu Chuan was asking for directions to the Xiao Family and the Mittel Auction House with Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

A young man and woman noticed them.

"Brother Xiao Yan, look at those two. Their clothes are so strange. They don't seem to be from the Jia Ma Empire. And it looks like they're asking where the Xiao Family is."

Xun'er stared curiously at the girl in cat-style leather clothes.

(Young miss, that girl is only at the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi, but there's a special power in her body. It's neither Dou Qi nor Soul Force.)

Hearing Elder Ling's telepathic message, Xiao Xun'er kept her expression calm, though she grew wary inside.

(Elder Ling, those two are dressed strangely and harbor a great secret, yet they've come to this remote little city of Wutan City and are asking about the Xiao Clan. Could they be from the Hun Clan?)

(It doesn't seem likely. People from the Hun Clan wouldn't make such a spectacle of themselves. Shall I investigate?)

(Yes. Find out where they came from. If they are from the Hun Clan, don't act rashly.)

"Brother Xiao Yan, let's go eat."

Xun'er looked away and suppressed her curiosity, intending to take Xiao Yan with her.

Until she knew who those two were, it was best not to approach them and invite unnecessary trouble.

But no matter how gently Xun'er tugged at him, Xiao Yan stood as though his feet had been nailed to the ground. He did not budge.

"Brother Xiao Yan?"

Xun'er called to him, her face full of confusion.

Xiao Yan's eyes were faintly red. He looked extraordinarily agitated, his heart pounding as though he had seen something unbelievable.

"Xun'er, wait for me a moment. There's something I need to confirm."

With that, he wasted no more time and hurried toward Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Hey, brother up ahead! Hold on a second!"

He called out as he ran.

Xun'er could not understand why Brother Xiao Yan had suddenly lost his composure. After a brief hesitation, she hurried after him.

Lu Chuan stopped at the shout and turned toward the young man running up to him. A flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.

Ding! Eligible customers detected.

Customer: Xiao Yan

World: Battle Through the Heavens

Current Dou Qi level: Third Stage of Dou Qi

Customer: Gu Xun'er

World: Battle Through the Heavens

Current Dou Qi level: Ninth Stage of Dou Qi (true level: Four-Star Dou Zhe)

Transaction options:

1. Limited-time travel to the Douluo Continent. (Transaction conditions pending review)

2. Commissioned transaction (conditions vary according to the customer's request)

It really is those two. But why is Xiao Yan calling out to us?

Lu Chuan was puzzled, but he immediately pulled Zhu Zhuqing behind him.

He looked at Xiao Yan as the young man ran up and asked,

"Were you calling us?"

Xiao Yan nodded emphatically. His voice was thick with urgency, and his eyes were fixed on Lu Chuan's clothes.

"Yes! Brother, are those clothes yours, or did you buy them from someone else?"

Lu Chuan glanced down at what he was wearing, baffled.

It's just an ordinary casual outfit.

Then it clicked.

Everyone on the Dou Qi Continent wore old-fashioned robes or fitted martial clothes.

But his outfit was modern clothing he had brought with him when he crossed over from Blue Star.

Xiao Yan must have seen clothes so out of place and assumed Lu Chuan had crossed over from Blue Star too, just like him.

Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly behind Lu Chuan. She watched Xiao Yan's obvious excitement, confusion in her eyes.

Xun'er hurried to Xiao Yan's side as well. She studied Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing warily, secretly putting herself on guard.