The man behind the stall slowly reached beneath the counter and drew out a sleek, pitch-black sword. Its blade shimmered like flowing shadows, forged from Obsidian Starsteel. Jagged edges near the hilt resembled the fangs of a fierce beast. Faint black runes pulsed along the metal, absorbing the light around it. The hilt, wrapped in dark serpent leather, ended in a polished onyx gem embedded at the pommel.
"It's an Earth Grade – High Tier sword," the vendor said with pride.
Gao Tian's eyes lit up.
I didn't expect to find an Earth Grade artifact in a city like this.
"How much?" he asked.
The vendor didn't hesitate. "Eighty mid-grade spiritual stones."
Gao Tian stood silent for a breath before his voice rose.
"Are you mad? That price is outrageous!"
I only have twenty mid-grade and fifty low-grade spiritual stones...
Without a word, the vendor began placing the sword back beneath the counter.
"This price is fixed," he said calmly. "Take it or leave it."
Gao Tian clenched his jaw, his mind racing.
I can't afford to rely on Shu Yu's sword every time… I need my own weapon.
"Wait here. I'll be back to buy it," Gao Tian said and turned quickly, scanning the area.
Across from the inn, he noticed a small shop with a wooden sign hanging crookedly. Without delay, he walked over and stepped inside.
The scent of incense lingered in the air. A woman sat in the center of the shop, elegantly poised on a chair, her presence commanding. Dressed in white and yellow robes, her every movement exuded quiet authority. The shopkeeper stood beside her, speaking in hushed, respectful tones.
Gao Tian walked up to the counter. "I want to sell a beast corpse."
He frowned slightly. Why is she sitting in the center like she owns the place…
The shopkeeper turned toward the woman, clearly waiting for her permission. She gave a subtle nod.
The shopkeeper approached Gao Tian. "Sir, which beast corpse would you like to sell?"
Gao Tian glanced at the woman once more, then waved his hand across the air. A flash of spiritual light shimmered as he summoned the white tiger's massive body onto the floor.
The room went silent.
The woman's gaze sharpened. That's a Rank Three High-Tier beast. Did he kill it himself?
The shopkeeper quickly knelt beside the corpse, running his hands over the thick fur, inspecting the wounds.
"Sir, I can offer you fifty mid-grade spiritual stones."
Gao Tian raised an eyebrow. "Only fifty? Can't you go at least sixty?"
The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. That's the best I can do."
Gao Tian sighed heavily. Damn. I'm still ten short…
"Fine, give me the spiritual stones," he said.
Just then, a soft voice echoed behind him.
"I'll buy it for a hundred mid-grade spiritual stones."
Gao Tian turned. The woman in white and yellow stood up, her expression calm and confident as she approached him. The shopkeeper stepped aside immediately.
She stopped in front of Gao Tian, her gaze steady.
"I'm Sen Shu, daughter of Sen City's lord," she said.
Gao Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. City lord's daughter? Why would she want the corpse?
But he said nothing—only waited to hear her reason.
Sen Shu smiled gently.
"So, will you sell it to me?"
Gao Tian returned the smile with a calm nod.
"Yes, but may I ask—why are you offering such a high price, Miss Sen?"
Sen Shu laughed softly, her voice light.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just wanted to know—did you kill this beast alone?"
Without a moment's pause, Gao Tian replied,
"No. A friend of mine helped me."
"I see," Sen Shu said simply.
She reached into her robe and pulled out a small pouch filled with spiritual stones. She stepped forward and handed it to Gao Tian.
He accepted the pouch and stored it in his spiritual ring with a slight bow of his head.
"Miss Sen, I appreciate your kindness."
Sen Shu didn't say another word.
Gao Tian turned away and began walking toward the door.
As he left, Sen Shu's expression changed slightly.
"I want to know everything about this man."
At her words, a woman appeared silently behind her like a shadow.
"Yes, young miss," the woman said and vanished again into the air. She was Sen Ren, leader of the city's elite escort team.
---
Sen City — Inside Roasted Inn
Shu Yu stirred on the bed and slowly opened her eyes. Her head throbbed slightly as she sat up, scanning the room.
Where am I… The last thing I remember, I collapsed in Gao Tian's arms…
Beside her, Ruler Dog was curled up, fast asleep. She reached out and gently patted his head.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Gao Tian stepped inside, holding a sleek black sword in his hand. He looked down at it thoughtfully.
"Did that man fool me…?" he muttered to himself.
Shu Yu's gaze turned toward him. Her expression was cold, her voice emotionless.
"Where are we? What is this place?"
Gao Tian looked up in surprise, then smiled.
"Oh, you're awake! Did you sleep well?"
Shu Yu repeated, her tone unchanged.
"Where are we?"
Gao Tian walked to the bed and sat down beside it, still inspecting the sword in his hand.
"We're in Sen City," he said casually.
Shu Yu blinked, the news catching her off guard. But she remained calm.
"So, this is Sen City…"
"Yeah," Gao Tian said, placing the sword into his spiritual ring. "And don't you want to enter the competition? Registration ends in about an hour."
Shu Yu raised her eyes slightly.
"So, you knew about that."
Gao Tian nodded. He reached into his ring and pulled out her sword, holding it with care.
He looked at her and extended it toward her.
"This is your sword. Take it."
Shu Yu looked at the sword in his hand, her expression unreadable.
Shu Yu took her sword and placed it into her spiritual ring.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Gao Tian looked at her with curiosity.
"It's fine… but can I ask what kind of pill you're looking for?"
Shu Yu glanced at the sleeping Ruler Dog beside her and said calmly,
"I just want a pill that can remove the seal from my body."
Gao Tian's brows furrowed.
A seal? Then why can't I sense anything unusual?
"What kind of seal is it? And who placed it on you?"
Shu Yu replied without hesitation,
"It seals my cultivation. It was the Ao Clan… they're the ones who did it."
On the outside, Gao Tian remained composed, but inside, rage boiled.
Those bastards…
He looked at her seriously.
"Can I check your condition?"
Shu Yu nodded and raised her wrist toward him. Gao Tian gently held it and closed his eyes to examine her body with his spiritual sense.
After a moment, he found it—an intricate seal coiled tightly around her dantian.
So that's it… her dantian is locked. That's why she seems like a Body Tempering cultivator. Her real cultivation must be far beyond that.
He released her wrist and said quietly,
"The seal is on your dantian. I might be able to break it, but my cultivation is still too low."
Shu Yu resumed patting Ruler Dog.
"Yeah… I know."
Then she stood from the bed and smoothed her clothes.
"I'm going to register for the competition. Will you come with me?"
Gao Tian got up with a grin, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Of course."
Behind them, Ruler Dog stretched and opened his eyes.
They didn't even ask me…
He barked once in protest.
Gao Tian turned and looked at the dog with a mock glare.
"Why are you barking?"
Ruler Dog leapt onto Shu Yu's shoulder and gave Gao Tian a sharp look.
You bastard.
Shu Yu chuckled softly.
"Let's take him with us too."
"Okay," Gao Tian agreed.
The three of them stepped out of the inn and onto the streets of Sen City. As they passed the empty stall where Gao Tian had bought the sword, he frowned.
"That man fooled me…"
They continued walking until they reached the City Lord's mansion. In front of the grand gates, a small line had formed—cultivators waiting to register for the pill-making competition.
A man sat behind a table, taking down names one by one.
Gao Tian glanced at Shu Yu.
"So it's a line. Let's join."
Shu Yu nodded.
They waited their turn. One by one, cultivators stepped forward and registered. Minutes later, it was finally their turn.
The man at the table looked up at Shu Yu.
"You here to register for the pill-making competition?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Name and cultivation level?"
"Shu Yu. Body Tempering—Sixth Layer."
"Done. Next."
Shu Yu stepped aside, and Gao Tian took her place.
Shu Yu glanced at him.
"You're going to compete too?"
Gao Tian smiled.
"Yeah."
The registrar looked at him.
"Name and cultivation level?"
"Gao Tian. Foundation Establishment Realm—First Layer."
The man nodded and wrote it down.
With both of them now registered, they stepped away from the table.