"So many people in Yancheng!" Mu Lingsha exclaimed, looking at the bustling streets.
Mu Zi silently nodded. Compared to Yancheng, Qingyang seemed but a shadow of a giant.
After the caravan completed its delivery, Mu Zi said her goodbyes:
"I'm going to wander around Yancheng. I'll meet up with Uncle and the others in the evening."
Lingsha nodded helplessly. Her little sister's strength already surpassed her own—there was nothing to worry about.
Leaving the caravan, Mu Zi headed for her destination. After walking a few streets, she stopped in front of a majestic building.
"The Hall of Treasures."
Entering, she found herself in a spacious hall. Counters lined the walls, laden with a variety of goods.
Elixirs, pills, weapons, demon crystals, martial arts scrolls...
In a secluded corner, Mu Zi unexpectedly noticed women's clothing for sale.
"The Hall of Treasures sells clothes?" she wondered.
Out of curiosity, she went closer, but after seeing the strange style, she blushed, huffed, and quickly walked away.
Her gaze slowly scanned the counters until it settled on the purpose of her journey.
On a counter lay a small green pouch the size of a palm. Its surface shimmered with an unusual light.
"A Qiankun bag," Mu Zi whispered.
Noticing her interest, a young man in green clothes approached her with a smile.
"A low-grade Qiankun bag, the price is forty-eight Yang Yuan stones," the young man announced.
His gaze lingered on the girl, and in his heart, he couldn't help but be impressed: what a beautiful young lady!
In his years of working at the Hall of Treasures, he had seen many daughters of influential families, but none could compare to this young beauty.
Hearing the price, Mu Zi remained outwardly calm, but in her heart, she felt a pang of frustration.
Including her recent trophies, she had only a hundred Yang Yuan stones. One bag cost almost half of her savings.
However, she had anticipated this. Even before the trip to Yancheng, she had prepared to earn money quickly if necessary.
After the attack in Qingyang, Mu Zi understood the importance of a Qiankun bag. Forty-eight stones—she'd grit her teeth and pay it.
However, that was her old plan. Now, she saw a way to save money.
Having accidentally awakened spiritual power, Mu Zi decided to try to create a Qiankun bag herself.
Steal the secret!
But this had to be kept a secret.
After all, in the original story, Lin Dong came under the scrutiny of the fourth-seal master Yan Xuan because of it.
Fortunately, while wandering through the Hall of Treasures, Mu Zi was convinced: there was no gray-haired old man napping in the corner.
Since Master Yan wasn't here, her worries dissipated.
Having made her decision, Mu Zi pretended to be indifferent, but subtly directed her spiritual power towards the Qiankun bag on the counter.
Soon, she caught sight of a strange, barely visible rune on the left side of the bag.
Mu Zi concentrated her spiritual power, carefully studying the rune. As she focused, the hidden symbol became clearer and clearer.
After a brief thought, she began her experiment.
Invisible threads of spiritual power flowed from her consciousness, gathering in front of her and slowly forming an outline.
Thanks to her astonishing control, the rune in the void gradually became complete. With time, the symbol became whole.
If anyone could have seen this, they would have been stunned: the rune Mu Zi created was an exact copy of the one on the bag!
Gazing at her creation with her spiritual sight, Mu Zi was surprised.
"Is this... that simple?"
She hadn't expected to succeed on the first try; she was just experimenting, but the rune came out perfectly.
The process turned out to be surprisingly easy! Too simple for such a technique.
The creation of the rune barely depleted her spiritual power.
"A Qiankun bag, and is that all?" she murmured.
But, remembering Lin Dong's path in the original story, she calmed down.
Lin Dong had accidentally managed to create half of the rune. Her spiritual power was much stronger than his was back then, and her control was exceptional. Of course, she succeeded.
"Guest?" the young man called out to her.
The young man looked at Mu Zi strangely. After stating the price of the Qiankun bag, he noticed that the girl became lost in thought and was still standing there, deep in her musings.
"Does she not have enough money?" he thought.
The smile slid from his face. How can he work without money? How can he meet his sales goals without money? No matter how beautiful you are, you have to pay!
Mu Zi snapped out of it and, noticing the change in his face, felt awkward. Their eyes met, and an awkward silence hung in the air.
Suddenly, a frivolous voice rang out:
"Beautiful lady, have you taken a liking to this Qiankun bag?"
Mu Zi turned around in surprise. A young man in a luxurious robe was approaching her.
He was about twenty-five, his manners were polite, but his eyes held a frivolous and greasy glint that made her uncomfortable.
Seeing the young master, the sales youth broke into a respectful smile, his tone becoming obsequious:
"Young Master Zhao! What can I do for you this time?"
Zhao did not answer but walked directly to Mu Zi.
"Allow me to present this Qiankun bag to you as a token of my respect," he said. "Would the lady be willing to take a stroll with me through Yancheng?"
Mu Zi frowned, feeling annoyed, but replied politely:
"Thank you, but no."
Hearing Mu Zi's refusal, Young Master Zhao's face darkened, but he still forced a smile:
"Don't you want to reconsider? My father is an elder of the Zhao clan of Yancheng!"
Mu Zi replied coldly:
"Stay away from me!"
Zhao dropped his mask of courtesy, revealing his coarse nature:
"Don't make me lose face!" he roared, reaching out to grab her wrist.
Mu Zi scoffed. Her spiritual power surged outward, forming an invisible palm in the air that slapped the young man across the face.
Slap!
After the invisible blow, Zhao collapsed to the floor, clutching his head and wailing in pain.
"Ah!"
The sales youth froze, stunned. What happened to Young Master Zhao? How did he manage to fall on his own?
Was such an important young master feigning it?
Suddenly, a middle-aged man walked briskly from the back of the hall. A subtle hint of anxiety flashed across his face.
Ignoring the groaning Zhao, he turned to Mu Zi and, with caution and a hint of a test, asked:
"Lady, are you a rune master?"