Chapter 206: 206. Chapter 203: Purchasing Slaves Again

206. Chapter 203: Purchasing Slaves Again

Three days later, Li Xuan and his party finally arrived outside the Star Dou Great Forest.

Because they feared Zhu Zhuyun might block the road and rob them, Li Xuan and Bang Chui explored another route, so it took three days to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.

With Bang Chui's protection, they not only avoided any of Zhu Zhuyun's men along the way, but didn't encounter a single soul beast either.

Looking back at the endless forest, Li Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, having finally emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest; he thought that, in this case, the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm shouldn't be able to locate him via spiritual coordinates.

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, the group set up a temporary camp, prepared some hot food, and sat down to eat together.

"Xiao Yan, thank you for leading us out of the Star Dou Great Forest. It's also time for us to part. We must quickly get in touch with our family members, otherwise it will affect the Second Miss," Han Shu said, putting down his bowl, clasping his fists toward Li Xuan, and smiling.

The danger has passed; indeed it is time to separate.

"That's natural. We have our own tasks as well. I hope we can meet again in the future. By the way, here's a carriage for you; both of you have limited mobility, so a carriage should make travel easier," Li Xuan said, clasping his fists and nodding at Han Shu.

Then Li Xuan took a carriage from the Small Cave Heaven, fetched two ordinary horses, and handed them to Han Shu.

"Thanks, little brother Xiao Yan," Han Shu said brightly to Li Xuan, grateful, since both he and Zhu Zhuqing were still injured, and a carriage could solve many problems.

"Farewell!" Han Shu said, then left this place with Zhu Zhuqing.

"Xiao Yan! If I get a chance in the future, I will definitely repay your kindness!" Zhu Zhuqing said loudly from the carriage, addressing Li Xuan.

Li Xuan gave no reply, merely waving his hand toward the carriage.

"Xiao Yan, little brother, the mountains are high and the roads long; may we meet again if fate allows!" Han Shu said to Li Xuan, then drove the carriage away.

Watching Han Shu's carriage recede, Li Xuan lowered his gaze, began packing up the camp, and prepared to leave.

"Brother, where are we heading next?" Bang Chui whispered softly to Li Xuan.

"We... right, we should set off. The Alchemy Pill trade can't be done in the short term, so I'll take you to stroll around the capital of the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City." Li Xuan said with a smile to Bang Chui, then took two soul beast horses and a large carriage from the Small Cave Heaven and the Palm Sky Bottle.

At this time, there was no auction in Star Luo City, and the crowd wasn't large. Although there were Title Douluo present, Li Xuan's chance of encountering a Title Douluo was low.

Moreover, Bang Chui carries the bones of a hundred‑thousand‑year blood‑red nine‑headed bat, which can conceal his identity. Once Bang Chui's safety is assured, Li Xuan can take him to Star Luo City.

Otherwise, it would truly be like throwing a meat bun at a dog.

"Why are we going to Star Luo City? Brother, didn't you say that place was dangerous last time?" Bang Chui asked curiously.

"We'll buy some guards, some exceptionally gifted children, and restock medicinal herbs. Our domain needs more than farmers; we also need high‑level combat power. As for danger, it was dangerous before, but now there are fewer people, so it's relatively safer. What, you don't want to go?" Li Xuan said, smiling and shaking his head at Bang Chui, then asked him.

"Oh... I understand, brother! I want to go, I want to see the world outside," Bang Chui nodded heavily, his young face full of seriousness.

Li Xuan had long intended to cultivate his own team, but Ladi Canyon had never been completed, so he never launched the plan.

Now the territory inside Ladi Canyon is about to be finished, making it time to train his own team, since on the Douluo Continent, a single person cannot stand against the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

When purchasing children, Li Xuan thought that the ones he raised himself would be the most loyal to him now.

As for strength, there's no worry; Li Xuan has a massive stock of Alchemy Pills. Given enough time, he can produce a legion of soul masters, and even if these children have poorer talents, he can still make them top‑tier soul masters.

When buying child slaves, he also needs to purchase regular guards for routine security of the subsidiary territory.

Soon, Li Xuan and Bang Chui cleaned the camp spotless.

"Let's go, Bang Chui, we set off now!" Li Xuan waved his hand and said to Bang Chui.

"Depart!" Bang Chui also waved his hand with a happy face.

Having thought of this, Li Xuan and Bang Chui got onto the carriage and headed toward Star Luo City.

Bang Chui had rested well during this time, so Li Xuan gave him a map and then returned to the carriage to rest.

During the time in the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Xuan had to endure the torment of the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm each day, never getting proper rest.

Now that he's left the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Xuan can finally escape the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm's harassment and get a good sleep.

………

Five days later, Li Xuan drove an ordinary carriage to the outskirts of Star Luo City.

The soul master horses were so eye‑catching that Li Xuan didn't want to attract curiosity.

"Brother, this city is huge! I never imagined such a magnificent city existed in this world!" Bang Chui said to Li Xuan, eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Star Luo City.

"It must be the largest city on the Douluo Continent besides Spirit City. I've never been to Spirit City, but Tian Dou City certainly can't compare to Star Luo City," Li Xuan muttered, rubbing his chin.

"Brother, let's go in quickly; I want to see what it's like inside," Bang Chui stuck his small head out of the carriage, his face curious, and said to Li Xuan.

"What's there to be curious about? There's nothing special—just shops and residences," Li Xuan said with a sour smile, then drove the carriage into Star Luo City.

As the carriage slowly entered Star Luo City, Bang Chui opened the window curtain of the carriage and peered curiously at the surroundings.

Seeing the luxurious, radiant buildings of Star Luo City, Bang Chui's eyes were filled with longing and anticipation.

"Brother, look, there's a grocery shop!"

"Brother, look, there's a street performer!"

"Brother, look, why is that young lady dressed so scantily?"

………

Bang Chui turned into ten thousand "whys"; ever since entering Star Luo City, the ever‑curious Bang Chui asks two questions about everything.

Li Xuan patiently explained the names and details of these things to Bang Chui.

Thus, Li Xuan and Bang Chui spent a carefree day touring Star Luo City, buying countless delicacies and local specialties. The last time Li Xuan visited Star Luo City, he was attending an auction, so he hadn't had a proper tour.

When the sunset arrived, Li Xuan finally returned with Bang Chui to the inn; after all that trouble, he thought it was time to relax.

As for purchasing slaves, there's no rush; we'll deal with it tomorrow.

Back at the inn, Li Xuan and Bang Chui each returned to their own rooms; after enduring so much hardship in the Star Dou Great Forest, they finally fell onto the soft big beds and soon fell asleep.

………

Early the next morning, Li Xuan got up early, woke from the big bed, feeling refreshed.

After a quick wash, Li Xuan found Bang Chui, who had also finished washing.

"Brother, are we going to the Slave Market today to purchase slaves?" Bang Chui asked, his expression a bit dim.

"Yes," Li Xuan said without hesitation, nodding.

"Oh…" Bang Chui replied, then followed Li Xuan out of the inn.

Li Xuan also sensed Bang Chui's low spirits, but didn't know the reason, so he would ask him later when there was time.

After leaving the inn, Li Xuan took Bang Chui to another Slave Market in Star Luo City.

This time Li Xuan didn't want to go to the Black Market for buying slaves; he wanted to go to an ordinary slave shop and just purchase some slaves.

Mostly they are children; the talent doesn't need to be high, as long as they have soul power, that's enough; buying from the Black Market would require reporting, which is too troublesome.

Li Xuan brought Bang Chui to another Slave Market in Star Luo City.

As the capital of the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City has more than one Slave Market, so Li Xuan found another one.

This Slave Market is also sizable, but it hasn't grown to the scale of a Black Market; relatively, it's much smaller.

Standing outside the Slave Market, Li Xuan sensed Bang Chui was a bit nervous; Li Xuan then remembered that Bang Chui had also been taken out of a Slave Market by himself.

"Bang Chui, are you scared?" Li Xuan asked Bang Chui with a gentle tone, smiling.

"Um… bro… I'm a bit," Bang Chui said, hiding behind Li Xuan.

"Come with me inside, see what it feels like to stand outside a cage; do you want to break your nightmare?" Li Xuan said, smiling, patting Bang Chui's hair.

Bang Chui still looked at Li Xuan nervously, but after a moment of hesitation, nodded firmly.

Although Bang Chui was very afraid of this place, he had to face it; even though scared, Bang Chui still nodded resolutely, and more importantly, Li Xuan was right by his side.

"Haha, that's the spirit," Li Xuan said, nodding with satisfaction as he looked at Bang Chui.

If Bang Chui had just refused Li Xuan, Li Xuan wouldn't have said anything; after all, everyone has something they fear, and Bang Chui's fear of the Slave Market is understandable.

In that case, Li Xuan would go to the Slave Market alone to purchase slaves.

Seeing Bang Chui's current choice, Li Xuan felt Bang Chui could go farther in the future than he imagined.

"Come on, I'll take you for a look!" Li Xuan said boldly, pointing at the Slave Market ahead, then led Bang Chui inside.

Li Xuan could feel that the closer they got to the Slave Market, the more nervous Bang Chui became; Li Xuan could only smile and soothe Bang Chui, letting him gradually adapt to the surroundings.

The Slave Market Li Xuan chose is relatively large, so the streets are comparatively clean, but iron cages filled with slaves are everywhere.

As they went deeper into the Slave Market, Bang Chui relaxed more and soon the two arrived at the entrance of the largest shop in the biggest Slave Market.

"Young gentlemen, may I ask what kind of slaves you'd like to buy?" a plump shopkeeper stepped out of the shop, his friendly smile directed at Li Xuan and Bang Chui.

"We'd like to purchase some children who haven't awakened their martial soul, as well as some lower‑rank soul masters," Li Xuan said after thinking, stating his criteria to the plump shopkeeper.

Li Xuan's purchase this time would be either children to be trained as his core team, or low‑rank soul masters ready for immediate use.

"I do have a batch of children without awakened martial souls, and as for low‑rank soul masters, their level isn't low at all. How about this, young gentlemen, it's crowded here, let's go inside to talk," the plump shopkeeper said with a smile.

Li Xuan didn't hesitate, nodded, and then led Bang Chui into the Slave Market.

From the outside the shop looked enormous, but after Li Xuan entered, he discovered the interior was even more lavish and bustling.

What met the eye was a golden‑and‑jade splendid hall, filled with nobles of all kinds, with drinks and food.

It looked less like a place to buy slaves and more like a noble banquet hall.

"Young gentlemen, please follow me; let's find a quiet spot to talk," the plump shopkeeper smiled at Li Xuan and gestured invitingly.

Li Xuan nodded, followed the plump shopkeeper to a hidden door at the edge of the hall, pushed it open, and the shopkeeper led the two of them inside.

Inside the hidden passage, the decor was relatively plain.

"Young gentleman, we still have about five hundred children without awakened martial souls; shall I bring them over in batches?" the plump shopkeeper asked Li Xuan with a smile.

Then the plump shopkeeper picked up the juice pitcher on the coffee table and poured two glasses of juice for Li Xuan and Bang Chui.

"How much does it cost? I want them all," Li Xuan thought and said to the plump shopkeeper.

"Young gentleman, these children have been carefully selected; about eighty percent can possess soul power, so the price is higher than ordinary children—one golden Soul Coin per person," the plump shopkeeper said, smiling and holding up a finger.

"Fine, all five hundred children, I'll take them all; bring them over now," Li Xuan said, pulling out a bag, taking out five hundred golden Soul Coins, handing them to the plump shopkeeper, and smiling.

"Young gentleman, how generous! I'll arrange for these children to be delivered to you right away," the plump shopkeeper said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the golden Soul Coins, and his respect for Li Xuan increasing greatly.

(End of chapter)