The Marketplace

Wanchao City was bustling with immense crowds on its streets. Although Li Yi had seen international metropolises in his past life, he couldn't help but marvel at Wanchao City in the Fighting God Continent, reminiscent of Earth's medieval period. The fact that such a vast city was built solely by manual labor was in itself quite remarkable.

However, what caught Li Yi's attention the most were the various peculiar races populating the streets. He knew from the memories of his younger self, Li Yi, that besides humans, the Fighting God Continent was home to bizarre races like demonic beasts and dark demons. But seeing them in person was a completely different experience.

After observing for a while, Li Yi remembered his purpose for coming out and, furrowing his brow, headed towards a marketplace specializing in weapons. Being the largest city in the western part of the Tianfeng Empire, Wanchao City's trade was highly developed. Li Yi knew that three major families - the Li, Mo, and Long families - controlled most of the city's trade. Their dominance in trade was what elevated their families' statuses even higher.

In this world, where the strong ruled, simply sweet-talking a powerful being into serving you was not enough. Due to his status, Li Yi preferred not to visit the markets controlled by the Li family, as his every move there would be monitored, leaving no room for secrets.

Thus, he made his way towards a marketplace under the control of the city lord. But after a few steps, he stopped and frowned slightly. Perhaps due to his professional habits, Li Yi would instinctively make several rounds in the same area. During his walk, he noticed at least three or four people tailing him. If he was not mistaken, they likely belonged to different powers, as they seemed to be subtly sabotaging each other rather than cooperating.

The waters of Wanchao City ran deep, Li Yi thought, shaking his head slightly. He wasn't particularly concerned about these followers. As for which forces they represented, knowing wouldn't be beneficial at the moment, so he decided to feign ignorance and carry on.

In the bustling marketplace, the clamor of various hawkers reached Li Yi's ears, sparking his interest. Apart from Li Yi, most of those wandering here were robust men and women, dressed in either fine or shabby armor, each carrying their own weapons. Li Yi surmised these individuals were likely mercenaries of the Fighting God Continent, known for undertaking any task if the price was right, making them a favorite tool of various powers. Yet, they also formed the largest base of fighters on the continent.

Not every individual was born into a prominent family, nor could everyone smoothly embark on the path of a warrior. Becoming a mercenary was a relatively viable option for many. However, at this moment, Li Yi's attention wasn't on the mercenaries themselves, but rather on their weapons.

Perhaps due to the integration of souls, Li Yi's senses were even sharper than in his previous life. Along with practicing the enigmatic Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations, he could feel the aura of bloodlust emanating from these sheathed weapons. This aura stirred the Yuanqi within his body, hinting at a potential breakthrough.

While Li Yi was intrigued by the weapons, he had no intention of stealing them, as each weapon was as vital as life itself to a mercenary. His gaze casually scanned the various stalls, which displayed an array of odd items ranging from weapons to monster bones, furs, cores, herbs, and scrolls.

The scrolls caught his particular interest. Though incomplete, they contained records of unique techniques and skills that had been circulating in the Fighting God Continent for ages. However, their abundance made it nearly impossible for even major powers to piece together a complete technique or skill, leading to their eventual neglect.

As Li Yi continued browsing, he finally squatted down at a stall filled with used weapons and assorted items. Unlike other stalls with pristine weapons, this one's used items were exactly what he needed, as only bloodstained weapons possessed the bloodlust aura he sought.

After rummaging for a while, he picked up a dagger and casually asked, "Why are all these weapons used?"

The stall owner's response was cold and brisk: "Buy if you want, otherwise don't bother. No need for so many questions."

Li Yi was taken aback and looked at the stall owner, a slender figure with overly pale skin, sitting in the shadows. Despite the concealment, Li Yi caught a whiff of a jasmine-like fragrance mixed with a hint of blood – the owner was a woman. However, Li Yi was more interested in her merchandise than her gender.

Touching his nose, Li Yi finally asked, "How much for these weapons?"

The woman seemed to take a closer look at Li Yi before replying, "Five gold coins each, pick any."

The pricing seemed fair for used weapons, and Li Yi began contemplating buying the entire lot. However, he suddenly realized with a self-mocking smile – he had no money. In his past life, Li Yi never carried cash, as everything was arranged by his manager prior to completing assignments.

Noticing Li Yi's odd smile, the woman hesitated before offering, "Too expensive? How about four... no, three gold coins each..."

Her tone remained cold but now carried an undertone of urgency. Li Yi smiled slightly, finding her less of a merchant and more like someone in desperate need of money.

Thinking about this, Li Yi let out a sigh and began, "Miss, this..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he froze in place because, as he uttered the words "Miss," the woman in front of him had already moved at an astonishing speed and appeared right in front of him. A dagger with a blue sheen was now pressed against Li Yi's chest.

Li Yi sighed and slowly raised his hands, whispering, "Miss, I think you've misunderstood... I'm just an ordinary person, as ordinary as it gets. Could you please stop shaking that poisoned dagger? If you accidentally pierce my skin, I might lose my life..."

The woman placed one hand on Li Yi's shoulder, while the other hand holding the dagger trembled slightly. However, she seemed quite familiar with this situation, and her natural movements made it appear as if the two were discussing business intimately.

Such incidents were not uncommon in the marketplace, so they didn't draw any attention.

Li Yi took a deep breath, and amidst the faint fragrance in the air, he could also detect a subtle hint of blood.