Marketplace Conflict

After breakfast, Jia Lie Jun prepared to visit the marketplace and buy some medicinal ingredients. Although he could not refine pills, he had the Ancestral Talisman.

Wutan City's marketplace streets were bustling with activity. Even beneath the blazing sun, the streets remained packed with people. Vendors' cries and the sounds of bargaining rose without end. As he passed a restaurant, the scent of roasted magical beast meat kept drifting into his nostrils. Jia Lie Jun wandered through the marketplace casually, never expecting to run into some familiar faces.

"Young Master Jia Lie Ao, if there is nothing else, please move aside. I have matters to attend to." A pretty, well-proportioned young girl coldly rejected the handsome youth blocking her way. The girl was Xun Er, while the youth was the Jia Lie Family's eldest young master, Jia Lie Ao. Having arrived in the Dou Po Plane so many years ago, Jia Lie Jun had long since met Xun Er and Xiao Yan. However, he had never had much opportunity to interact with Xun Er. As a member of the Jia Lie Family, he could hardly visit the Xiao Family every day.

"Big Brother." Jia Lie Jun stepped forward and greeted Jia Lie Ao. He glanced at Xun Er before looking toward Xiao Yan. When Jia Lie Jun had first arrived on the Dou Qi Continent, he had considered stealing Xiao Yan's Storage Ring, but ultimately gave up because he had no chance at all. First, before Xiao Yan's cultivation had regressed, Jia Lie Jun's cultivation had not even been as high as Xiao Yan's, so he was no match for him. Furthermore, after Xun Er arrived at the Xiao Family, the Dou Emperor Ling Ying, Xun Er's guard, had constantly protected Xiao Yan. That left him with even less of an opportunity.

"Little brother, come meet the famous Xiao Family trash who got his engagement broken off." Over the past few days, news of the Misty Cloud Sect coming to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement had already spread throughout Wutan City.

"Greetings, Miss Xun Er, Brother Xiao Yan." Jia Lie Jun stepped forward to greet them. He had once considered befriending Xiao Yan, but abandoned the thought after considering it further. The Xiao Family and Jia Lie Family were destined to be mortal enemies. Both families sold medicinal pills, yet Wutan City's pill market was only so large. Peaceful coexistence between the two was absolutely impossible. Moreover, he was only a child and held little influence in the Jia Lie Family, unable to interfere in family affairs. He could hardly tell his family that Xiao Yan would become a Dou Emperor and that the Jia Lie Family must never offend the Xiao Family. They would probably only treat him like a fool. Since they could not be friends, they could only be enemies. Xun Er and Xiao Yan both pretended not to notice Jia Lie Jun's greeting.

"Hehe, Miss Xun Er, did you come to the marketplace to buy something? I happen to be free, so why not browse together?"

"Young Master Jia Lie, I already told you that I have things to do. Could you please step aside?" Xun Er's expression was blank, but her pleasant voice was exceptionally cold.

Rejected by Xun Er, Jia Lie Ao was furious, though he maintained a faint smile on his face. He rummaged in his clothes and pulled out a bracelet. The bracelet was forged from Gold-Blue Iron and glimmered with a faint blue radiance. A green Magic Crystal was tied where the pendant connected.

"Hehe, since Miss Xun Er has business to attend to, I shall not disturb you. However, please accept this bracelet of mine." Jia Lie Ao carefully held the bracelet, an attentive smile on his face.

Xun Er felt quite helpless at Jia Lie Ao's shameless behavior. After thinking for a moment, she decided to accept the bracelet because Brother Xiao Yan needed magic cores, and there happened to be one on the bracelet. She thought that she could accept it first, remove the magic core, and then throw the bracelet away. Just as Xun Er was about to take the bracelet, Xiao Yan stopped her.

"Don't you know what kind of person this fellow is? You like bracelets, don't you? Here, take this. In the future, don't accept other people's bracelets so casually. Unsolicited kindness is either treachery or theft."

Hearing Xiao Yan's veiled insult, Jia Lie Ao became furious, anger rising on his face. Yet when he saw the bracelet Xiao Yan had given her, Jia Lie Ao smiled contemptuously. He believed that Xun Er would definitely choose the exquisite necklace in his hand.

Watching the two men fight over a woman, Jia Lie Jun thought to himself, Big Brother is still too young. Xun Er isn't a girl who values material things. Her family's wealth ranks among the best on the entire Dou Qi Continent.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er accepted the bracelet with a radiant smile and placed it around her fair, smooth wrist.

Jia Lie Ao felt utterly humiliated by the rejection. He stared viciously at the calm-faced youth before him, wanting nothing more than to teach Xiao Yan a harsh lesson and vent the anger in his heart. However, the Xiao Family guards were all present. He did not want a minor conflict to trigger a huge clash between their families. Since that was the case, he could only challenge Xiao Yan to a duel.

"Xiao Yan, if you're a man, then duel me." Jia Lie Ao sneered as he provoked him.

"Big Brother, you're twenty-one and I'm fifteen. There's such a large age gap between us. Don't you think your request is extremely shameless?" Xiao Yan retorted, his childish face full of helplessness.

Hearing this, Jia Lie Jun could not help laughing aloud. Probably no one was more shameless than Xiao Yan. Why was an adult pretending to be young? His mental age surpassed Jia Lie Ao's by who knew how much. Wasn't an adult uncle seducing children only a few years old even more shameless?

"As expected, trash is trash. All you know is how to make excuses." After saying that, Jia Lie Ao snorted coldly, waved his hand, and pushed through the crowd with his subordinates as he left laughing loudly.

However, Jia Lie Jun did not leave. He still wanted to follow Xiao Yan and pick up some overlooked treasures. Finding hidden treasures at roadside stalls was an essential skill for a child of destiny. He did not have any high-grade Dou Skills in hand right now.

Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked ahead, while Jia Lie Jun strolled leisurely behind them with his subordinates. Xiao Yan stopped before a roadside stall, holding a Magic Crystal as he bargained with the stall owner.

Jia Lie Jun inwardly rejoiced. The opportunity had arrived. He possessed a copy of Battle Through the Heavens, so he knew exactly what Xiao Yan was after.

"Boss, how much for this Black Iron Piece?" Jia Lie Jun picked up the Black Iron Piece and asked the stall owner.

Seeing Jia Lie Jun wanting to buy the Black Iron Piece, Xiao Yan panicked inwardly. The Magic Crystal was not his target; the Black Iron Piece was his true goal as well. Since that was the case, he could only compete with him for it.

"Hehe, if Young Master Jia Lie wants to buy the Black Iron Piece, then I definitely won't let you have your way." Xiao Yan put on an act as though he did not want it, but since Jia Lie Jun wanted it, he would make him pay dearly.

Jia Lie Jun found Xiao Yan's behavior amusing. He knew Xiao Yan's intentions perfectly well.

"Since both young masters want this Black Iron Piece, it shall go to whoever offers the highest price." Seeing an inconspicuous Black Iron Piece spark a dispute between the two, the stall owner was delighted and hurriedly spoke.

Seeing this, Xun Er was just about to hand Xiao Yan a purple-gold card.

"Ancient Clan." Jia Lie Jun calmly uttered two words.

Xun Er's expression changed drastically upon hearing the words "Ancient Clan." She stared fixedly at Jia Lie Jun as golden flames surged within her eyes.

"What's wrong, Miss Xun Er? Why are you staring at me like that? I may be handsome, but there's no need to look at me that way." Seeing that Xun Er looked ready to make a move, Jia Lie Jun was not afraid in the slightest.

Without Xun Er's help, Xiao Yan naturally could not match Jia Lie Jun in wealth.

"Thank you for yielding, Brother Xiao Yan. I'll be taking this Black Iron Piece." After speaking, Jia Lie Jun gave Xun Er a deep look before laughing as he departed.

Xun Er remained where she was, staring at Jia Lie Jun's retreating back until he vanished from sight. Only then did she come back to her senses. Her pretty face was drawn tight, her expression solemn as she wondered about something. Beside her, Xiao Yan also felt that Jia Lie Jun was unfathomable.

At night, a bright moon slowly rose into the sky. Jia Lie Jun's courtyard was utterly silent, with only the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind.

A figure leaped over the high wall and silently entered the courtyard.