Chapter 184: 184. Chapter 183: Purchasing Slaves

184. Chapter 183: Purchasing Slaves

The tiny fish inside the egg is only finger‑thick, entirely snow‑white, wobbling as if just awakened, and a pair of sesame‑sized eyes stare blankly at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan, also curious, leaned close to the egg, observing the little fish inside.

Li Xuan's gaze met the little fish's.

"Puff!"

The little fish thrashed violently, wildly swimming inside the egg, trying to escape.

Watching the desperate flailing Little White Dragon Fish, Li Xuan helplessly shook his head, and forcefully pressed the egg with both hands, trying to help the Little White Dragon Fish get out.

But Li Xuan underestimated the hardness of the White Dragon Fish egg; his over‑thirty‑level soul power could not even squeeze the egg.

Then Li Xuan took out the Iron‑Cutting Dagger, yet still could not leave any mark on the egg; it seemed that opening the egg would be a laborious task.

Li Xuan sheathed the Iron‑Cutting Dagger and carefully examined the Little White Dragon Fish; the little creature had just woken up yet was surprisingly spry. He glanced at the egg in his hand and then at the Hot Spring.

The White Dragon Fish is a freshwater species, and the hot spring is also fresh water, so the conditions are compatible.

Although the hot spring water is a bit hotter, the White Dragon Fish is a soul beast and should be able to withstand the temperature.

Since the egg cannot be opened, let's set it aside and raise it; perhaps when the Little White Dragon Fish's cultivation improves, it can break the egg itself.

"Whether it lives now depends on your fate," Li Xuan shrugged at the little white fish, saying softly.

Then Li Xuan placed the egg into the Hot Spring.

The moment the egg touched the hot spring water, the hard shell instantly melted! The little white fish darted into the spring.

"The fish mother really went to great lengths for her fry, even evolving such an egg," Li Xuan exclaimed, amazed as he watched the Little White Dragon Fish.

To let the Little White Dragon Fish survive, this egg evolved to be extremely hard, but to prevent the fish from being unable to break it, it also developed a water‑soluble ability.

Li Xuan couldn't help but nod; the fish mother really went to great lengths for her baby.

"Looks lively enough, seems fate has brought us together; you can stay here from now on," Li Xuan said, smiling as he watched the Little White Dragon Fish hopping about in the spring, then shook his head and left it be.

Li Xuan then went to the White Dragon Fish's remains; the flesh, skin, and organs had been mostly cleared away, leaving only a stark white skeleton.

"A, 000-Year Soul Beast's bones, if used as beams, should last several hundred years," Li Xuan muttered, rubbing his chin as he stared at the massive fish skeleton.

Li Xuan truly makes full use of everything; then he placed the remaining White Dragon Fish bones into another Void Pearl, and after leaving, he headed back to Ladi Canyon to ask the Yellow Turban Warrior if they were useful.

After dealing with the White Dragon Fish, Li Xuan sat by the hot spring and began cultivating; he planned to stay here the whole day, passing idle time with cultivation.

……

After two hours of cultivation, Li Xuan slowly ceased his practice and opened his eyes.

The moment he opened his eyes, Li Xuan saw the little white fish turned pale.

The Little White Dragon Fish floated silently in the spring, motionless as if already dead.

"The hot spring really isn't suitable for raising fish," Li Xuan said helplessly, covering his head, but he quickly scooped the Little White Dragon Fish out of the spring.

Holding the pale Little White Dragon Fish in his hand, he examined the creature; it seemed to still be breathing, its gills opening and closing vigorously, not looking injured.

"What's happening? Could it be too much Spiritual Energy… intoxicated?" Li Xuan frowned and muttered.

The Spiritual Energy density inside the Palm Sky Bottle's space is already extremely high, and the hot spring, being the center of that space, raises it even further; the newly awakened Little White Dragon Fish, after absorbing a massive amount of Spiritual Energy, became intoxicated…

Li Xuan stared at the Little White Dragon Fish in his hand, pondering for a moment, realizing after all that he hadn't left the fish in the spring.

Li Xuan retrieved a large water tank from a Void Pearl, filled it with fresh water, and carefully placed the Little White Dragon Fish inside.

The Little White Dragon Fish's gills opened and closed as it floated pale in the pool, but at this point Li Xuan could do nothing; he wasn't skilled in fish rescue.

After dealing with the Little White Dragon Fish, Li Xuan returned to his bed; after a day of toil, he was thoroughly exhausted, slipped into the warm blankets, and soon fell into deep sleep.

……

Early the next morning, Li Xuan woke up promptly, freshened up, and stepped out of the Palm Sky Bottle's space.

Lou Gao told him that Si Long would scout the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's whereabouts, and after all its members left, Si Yu would come find him; it seemed the time was nearly right to set out.

Otherwise, Si Yu would easily end up empty‑handed.

Lou Gao guessed the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect would leave Star Luo City this morning; after all, its base lies within the Tian Dou Empire, and the Star Luo Empire, with a stronger royal house, suppresses sects more heavily, so Ning Fengzhi is unlikely to stay in Star Luo City for long.

Sure enough, two hours later, Si Yu pushed open the suite's door and found Li Xuan.

"Xuan Ge'er, good news, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect has packed up; in half an hour they'll be leaving Star Luo City," Si Yu said, pushing the door wide, strolling in, and sitting bluntly on the sofa facing Li Xuan.

"Finally they're gone; now I can relax and even stroll around Star Luo City normally," Li Xuan agreed, nodding.

Ning Fengzhi and Jian Douluo have both seen him; despite his great changes lately, those two should recognize him at a glance, whereas other members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect might not identify him even if they saw the wanted notice.

Although Li Xuan is still on the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's wanted list, the notice is half a year old; in that time he's grown considerably, and his demeanor has become even more aloof, looking almost the same age as an eleven‑ or twelve‑year‑old child.

The wanted notice no longer holds much sway over Li Xuan.

Moreover, Li Xuan performed a simple disguise on himself, stuffing a few insoles into his shoes, making him appear several years older than his true age.

"Xuan Ge'er, what are you planning next, heading straight back to Ladi Canyon?" Si Yu took a wine pouch from the Soul Guide Device, sipping as he spoke to Li Xuan. "I can't go back yet; I still need to buy some slaves… Ladi Canyon is huge, I only have eight hundred men; developing the whole canyon would take years, so I need a batch of laborers," Li Xuan said helplessly to Si Yu.

Si Yu nodded after hearing Li Xuan's words; he had seen Ladi Canyon—vast yet barren, having been desolate for many years. He couldn't understand why Li Xuan wanted to develop such a wasteland, but he said no more, treating Li Xuan as a wealthy young master venturing into business.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect just set out; in half an hour they should leave Star Luo City. Let's wait before we depart, so we don't run into them—if we do, it'll be troublesome," Si Yu said, drinking.

Li Xuan agreed, nodding; he had nothing urgent, so waiting a bit for stability seemed safest.

Thus Li Xuan and Si Yu sat in the suite for an hour, feeling the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect members had mostly departed; Si Yu then led Li Xuan out of the suite, leaving the White Tiger Auction.

After exiting through the back door, Li Xuan darted into the carriage's cabin, Si Yu immediately leapt aboard, and they drove the carriage away from the White Tiger Auction.

At that moment, an ordinary‑looking man approached the side of Si Yu's carriage.

"Brother Si Yu, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's convoy has completely left Star Luo City, leaving no scouts," the man whispered to Si Yu.

From the content, it seemed to be a Blacksmith Guild scout in Star Luo City.

"Got it, you all go rest. You've worked hard these days; in a few days someone will deliver the reward money to you," Si Yu said, nodding.

The man nodded and turned to walk away in the opposite direction.

After watching the scout leave, Si Yu lightly knocked on the carriage door.

"Xuan Ge'er, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect members have already withdrawn; the carriage is too cramped, let's get off and wander around," Si Yu asked Li Xuan.

"Better be cautious, Si Yu big brother, let's go straight to the Slave Market; I think the Slave Market in Star Luo City must be the largest in the entire Star Luo Empire," Li Xuan said to Si Yu.

"That's right, this truly is the largest Slave Market in the Star Luo Empire; here you can find any type of slave you desire," Si Yu said after hearing Li Xuan, introducing the Slave Market of Star Luo City.

Si Yu then turned the carriage around, heading toward the largest Slave Market in Star Luo City.

At this moment Star Luo City was much quieter than the past few days; although people still came and went, it lacked the earlier hustle, and after the auction ended, the city returned to normal.

Soon, Si Yu drove the carriage with Li Xuan to the entrance of the Slave Market and gently brought the carriage to a halt.

"Xuan Ge'er, we can't drive a carriage inside the Slave Market; let's get off," Si Yu lightly knocked on the carriage door and said to Li Xuan.

"Fine, I'm getting off right now," Li Xuan said, then leapt down from the carriage.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect members had all left, so Li Xuan's appearance wouldn't pose a big problem.

Si Yu followed suit, leapt down, and waved to a nearby attendant; the attendant instantly took the carriage from Si Yu's hands and led it to a nearby Stable for temporary storage.

Li Xuan looked up at a several-hundred‑meter long street ahead; both sides were lined with modest shops, unremarkable, white bricks and black tiles, looking like ordinary homes, yet at each shop entrance iron cages containing slaves were stacked everywhere.

Though the street was clean, a lingering foul stench of decay—presumably from the slaves—pervaded; the surroundings were still very tidy.

"Si Yu big brother, this Slave Market is a bit crude…" Li Xuan scratched his head and said to Si Yu; indeed, the Slave Market of Star Luo City was somewhat underwhelming.

"Xuan Ge'er, this is the Star Luo Empire's largest Slave Market; it may look ordinary, but there's a hidden wonder," Si Yu pointed at the street ahead, smiling as he introduced it to Li Xuan.

"A hidden wonder?" Li Xuan was momentarily stunned, then examined the street closely, truly unable to picture what sort of hidden wonder could be here.

"Come, I'll take you to see it; there's a hidden wonder inside," Si Yu said, seeing Li Xuan's puzzled look, gave a bright laugh, then led Li Xuan straight into the Slave Market.

The two walked all the way to the center of the street, and Si Yu only then halted.

The two stopped at the doorway of a modest, unremarkable shop; like the surrounding shops, it had white bricks and black tiles with no irregularities, but whereas the neighboring shops kept their doors open, this shop kept its door closed.

A plaque hung above the shop.

"Star Luo Slave Market."

"The shop itself isn't much, but the name is pretty imposing! How dare they use the nation's name?" Li Xuan said, looking at the plaque with some surprise.

Si Yu ignored Li Xuan's expression, stepped forward, and lightly tapped the main door with his finger.

After knocking the main door, Si Yu stood quietly at the entrance, waiting.

"Visitors are guests; may I ask how many distinguished guests you are?" an elderly woman's voice echoed from the shop, sounding rather chilling.

"Shopkeeper, presenting our favor, two people," Si Yu said, waved his hand, and tossed two gold Soul Coins into a small box beside them.

"Two distinguished guests, please come in," the old woman's voice sounded again, and the shop's main door slowly opened.

As the door opened, the shop's interior was pitch black, with black cloth draped everywhere; Li Xuan glanced at Si Yu in puzzlement.

Si Yu said nothing, merely nodded, then led Li Xuan into the shop.

As Si Yu and Li Xuan reached the center of the shop, Li Xuan suddenly felt his feet lift, and the room slowly descended—it was actually an elevator.

Si Yu patted Li Xuan's shoulder, still silent, and Li Xuan could only continue to stay by Si Yu's side, watching what would happen next.

Two minutes later, with a thud as it struck the ground, the room finally ceased descending.

What unfolded was an immense underground chamber, brightly lit, gilded and resplendent, exuding an atmosphere of luxury; nobles in elegant attire came and went, making it seem less a Slave Market and more a gathering place for Star Luo aristocracy.

"This is the Star Luo Empire's largest slave trading market; whatever you wish to purchase, you can find it here," Si Long said with a smile to Li Xuan.

(End of Chapter)