Chapter 42

Qinglin Marketplace.

“I never expected this revenge to go so smoothly…”

Fang Xing gazed at the silver-white laser gun in his hand, a faint smile crossing his face: “If I hadn’t found them, I was ready to use a ‘Seeking Qi Talisman’ or similar methods…”

It must be said that these cultivation realm talismans, while less purely destructive than ordinary weapons from the interstellar age, are extremely useful in other aspects.

For example, this ‘Seeking Qi Talisman’ can locate a person within a certain range as long as you have their qi signature!

And last time, the Concealment Talisman saved Fang Xing’s life.

Otherwise, he might have been found and killed by Lance’s little creatures…

But if it had come to that, he would have preferred to expose his cross-world secret and flee to another world.

Fang Xing stepped out the door and stretched lazily.

At that moment, the former residence of Widow Shen opened, and a black-clad burly man stepped out.

He froze upon seeing Fang Xing, then bowed respectfully: “Greetings, fellow cultivator. I am Yu Xia, a ‘Demon Hunter,’ just moved in. We’ll be neighbors henceforth.”

“So you’re Brother Yu…”

Fang Xing returned the bow and smiled: “I’ve been in seclusion; I only heard the Sect sent forces to clear the beast surge. How did the battle go?”

“So you’ve been in seclusion these past days…” Yu Xia grinned. “With Foundation Establishment elders acting, of course we won decisively. The Sect’s Foundation Establishment elders and the Zheng family’s patriarch wiped out several second-rank beasts. Without leaders, the remaining first-rank beasts were slaughtered in droves—the beast surge is over.”

“So the beast surge is over?” Fang Xing felt dazed, silently marveling that in this cultivation world, victory always belonged to the high-rank powerhouses.

“Yes, prices for daily necessities can finally drop. Damn it… I just wish there weren’t so many beast materials—prices crashed, and my livelihood’s suffering…” Yu Xia, calling himself a Demon Hunter, naturally made his living hunting beasts.

Yet when he said it now, there was no despair—only pride.

“Haha, the Sect must’ve rewarded handsomely after clearing the surge. Should be enough to live on for a while. Later, beast material prices will rise again.” Fang Xing smiled.

“Exactly. You missed joining the hunt—what a pity. But two days from now, the Zheng family is holding an auction to celebrate the end of the beast surge. You absolutely must go.”

Yu Xia said.

“An auction? Thank you for the heads-up.”

Fang Xing bowed and walked toward the marketplace streets.

…

“Beast meat… beast meat on sale!”

“Top-grade ‘Black Spirit Fruit’—only one spirit sand per piece…”

“Beast hides, tendons, bones—all heavily discounted!”

The marketplace remained as bustling as ever.

Fang Xing even noticed many new stalls, piled high with all kinds of beast materials—so abundant it was dizzying.

“Hmm, I should buy extra beast meat—stockpile it. Prices have crashed; this is rare.”

Fang Xing wandered the market, nodding thoughtfully.

“I should find an agent—someone to sell my spirit herbs or gather market rumors. I’ve been too isolated, training alone. Even the auction—I only heard about it from others.”

With the laser gun for protection, his actions had grown bolder.

Only with sufficient power could he recruit others to serve him without fear of backlash—because he could crush any betrayal in the blink of an eye.

But this wasn’t urgent. He could plan and consider slowly.

“At least, not before school starts…”

Once school begins, Fang Xing’s time here will shrink drastically. Every minute must be spent cultivating. Having someone he can command would be very convenient.

Fang Xing approached a stall selling beast meat: “How much for your beast meat?”

The vendor, a burly man, swung a cleaver—blade flashed, a bone was cleanly stripped, no trace of meat left. He didn’t look up: “One spirit stone for fifteen catties.”

“Cheaper. One spirit stone for thirty catties?”

Fang Xing began haggling.

After staying long in Qinglin Marketplace, he’d grown accustomed to its ways: if you didn’t haggle, you’d be robbed.

“You’re joking! Maximum eighteen catties!” The vendor glared, radiating aggression.

His cultivation level? Possibly late Qi Refinement!

Too bad—it didn’t scare Fang Xing, who carried a laser gun: “Twenty-five catties!”

After much bargaining, they settled at twenty catties.

“Fine. Give me a hundred catties.”

Fang Xing pulled out five low-grade spirit stones, silently deciding to cure the meat: “This is pig demon, right? Give me the hind legs—only hind legs!”

“So many demands…”

The vendor sighed but obediently cut as instructed.

After all, too many stalls now sold beast materials. Meat spoiled fast—sell more while you can.

“Good hind leg meat. I can make ham from this.”

As a martial artist, Fang Xing carried a hundred catties as if weightless. After two more laps, he headed back to his shack to eat, cultivate, and wait for the auction.

On the way, he passed through the Yi District of the shack area.

As Fang Xing walked by, he often saw heavily made-up women leaning against their doorframes, eyes like hooks, staring fixedly at every passerby.

Occasionally, a martial artist would approach, negotiate a price, then enter and slam the door shut.

“Damn. All these daytime debaucheries…”

Fang Xing spat, touching his money pouch: “Here it’s one spirit sand—much cheaper than the Yuting Pavilion’s one low-grade spirit stone. But wait—Yuting Pavilion has real immortals who cultivate seduction arts. These are just martial artists… How often do we martial artists get to pin down real cultivators?”

As he walked, sudden noise erupted ahead.

Thwack!

A figure was thrown out, landing clumsily on the ground.

Fortunately, the attacker didn’t mean to injure—he rolled like a donkey, stood up, and brushed off dust: “Bitch… you don’t want to sell? Why hit me?”

“Hmph… look at yourself. You think you’re good enough to taste me? Go drink your mother’s foot-washing water!”

Hua Feiyue leaned lazily against her door, laughing and scolding with irresistible charm.

She wore a lotus-leaf skirt, revealing a vast expanse of snowy, plump flesh—her skin like congealed fat, stunningly beautiful.

In this place, no wonder people misunderstood.

After scolding the man who mistook her for a brothel keeper, her eyes flicked to Fang Xing. She giggled: “If you looked as handsome as this young man, I might consider it—and even throw in half a spirit stone for free!”

The client’s face wasn’t ugly, just plain. He glared fiercely at Fang Xing, clearly hating him too—leaving Fang Xing speechless.

Was this just bad luck?

He mentally groaned, then smiled: “Sister Hua, you’re mistaken…”

“Oh? How so?” Hua Feiyue giggled.

“I am elegant, graceful, charming… I deserve at least one spirit stone just to be with me.” Fang Xing answered naturally.

“Good, good! One spirit stone it is!” Hua Feiyue beckoned with a finger.

Fang Xing stepped inside and slammed the door shut with a leopard-tail kick.

The client could only curse “adulterer and whore” as he left, met with scornful and mocking glances.

…

“So… little brother, you really want to support Sister’s business?”

Hua Feiyue, seeing Fang Xing kick the door shut, flickered a strange light in her eyes and giggled.

“How did you end up like this?”

Fang Xing glanced around and saw a blue-and-white porcelain bowl on the stove—still holding some rice. Just ordinary rice.

“Sigh… I angered the Black Tiger Gang and broke with my boss. How dare I leave the marketplace? I can only stay put for self-preservation… My savings are mostly gone, the rest spent on healing pills. What else can I do but live frugally?” Hua Feiyue’s voice turned wistful, her eyes fixed on Fang Xing’s pork: “Little brother, you live well—eating beast meat every meal!”

“I just do small business. Things have improved lately.”

Fang Xing had only planned to chat briefly.

But seeing Hua Feiyue’s state, he felt a thought stir.

She was a Primordial Martial Artist, once foolish enough to call herself a cultivator’s brother—and lost everything.

Now she was reduced to eyeing his… meat.

“Having a livelihood in the marketplace—how many cultivators and martial artists dream of that… but…”

Hua Feiyue, lost in thought, seemed genuinely listless.

Perhaps she should leave this painful place, like her fifth sister?

Otherwise, if she kept going like this, she might truly end up selling her body.

“Sister Hua, don’t lose heart. Here—ten catties of beast meat. Take it.”

Fang Xing thought a moment, deciding to offer a sweet gesture first.

After all, first visits require gifts. This Sister Hua, now alone and skilled at networking, might make a good shopkeeper someday?

Even if they never trade later, giving beast meat now means nothing—it’s worthless.

“Little brother…”

Hua Feiyue was truly moved. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she giggled: “You… like me? Too bad I have no spirit stones…”