The Golden Autumn Festival's competition format is simple. First, each academy registers, and then matches between them are determined by drawing lots. Participating disciples are determined independently by each academy, based entirely on their own strength. If they feel they have the ability to challenge, they enter; if they don't, they choose not to. It's a simple process.
After the first round of matches, the winners will participate in another round of random drawing to select their opponents.
This cycle continues until all the spots on the Talent List are decided.
Ming Qi and the others had come to the trading zone before the Golden Autumn Festival, naturally hoping to find equipment that could temporarily boost their combat power. The Golden Autumn Festival's competitions don't prohibit the use of talismans and elixirs, as they are considered a component of combat strength and experience.
The Dongling Chifu specializes in talismans, and the Chifu master is known as the "Heavenly Talisman." This demonstrates the power of talismans in combat, which cannot be underestimated. They can play a crucial role in determining the outcome of a single talisman.
However, neither lethal talismans nor elixirs capable of instantly repairing damaged organs and meridians appear in large quantities on the market. For cultivators, these items are essentially life-saving tools, so who would easily resell them?
The reason is simple: a cultivator's own strength is fundamental. Both alchemy and talisman crafting require a significant investment of time. If one's cultivation level is compromised early on due to researching elixirs and talismans, they will later find that even if they have gained unique insights and understanding in a particular area, they simply lack the strength to apply them.
This is undoubtedly a tragedy for any cultivator researching elixirs or talismans.
Would they be giving away the fruits of their labor? What a joke! The world of immortal cultivation is a world of the survival of the fittest!
However, compared to elixirs and talismans, more common defensive equipment is still plentiful. As Ming Qiwu and his companions wandered around, they saw a dazzling array of equipment suitable for post-natal cultivators.
From boldly styled heavy armor to soft robes and dresses, to bracelets, earrings, and rings, each piece wasn't exactly stunning, but it served a specific purpose, far more than just decorative items for warmth and protection.
Besides the considerable quantity of equipment, spiritual-grade equipment was also available, though in limited supply. Another huge market was for materials, including alchemy herbs, refining herbs, and talisman-making materials. The variety was so diverse that Ming Qi and the others had no idea what many of them were used for.
"This is..."
At this point, Ming Qi stopped in front of a stall.
The stall was small, a small room less than twenty square meters. A counter at the doorway took up most of the space. The owner was a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion and a sickly look.
"Yes, this is the Beast Taming Cube, specifically designed to seal demonic beasts."
The boss glanced around and saw Ming Qi's gaze fixed on the Cube. He had assumed he was a cultivator skilled in the art of command, but it seemed he didn't know much about beast taming.
Sure enough, after the boss briefly explained, Ming Qi decisively proved himself a complete idiot at beast taming.
"How do you use this thing?"
...
Hearing such a blunt statement, the boss's face darkened even further.
"To use the Cube, you must master a beast taming technique."
At last, he didn't just ignore him and gave Ming Qi the answer he wanted.
The boss was no longer interested in doing business. How could someone who didn't even know a beast taming technique buy a Beast Taming Cube?
"Boss, how much is this thing? I want a high-level one."
Ming Qi was no novice; he was direct. It seems I could ask Yue Dongqing for a Beast Taming Technique. As for buying this Cube, it was largely to satisfy my curiosity.
"High-level?"
The boss, still caught up in his thoughts, subconsciously asked again.
"Yes, high-level."
This time, the boss heard clearly. Although puzzled, he moved quickly and nimbly, pulling out a fist-sized, crystal-clear Beast Taming Cube from behind.
"High-level, main-stage Beast Taming Cube, one hundred low-grade Yuan Crystals."
As he handed the Beast Taming Cube over, the boss tactfully quoted a price.
"Boss, one hundred low-grade Yuan Crystals, isn't that a bit pricey?"
Tang Qi, on the other side, spoke up at this moment.
"It's not expensive at all. You know, this is a genuine beast-taming cube. It's incomparable to those side-door cubes with only a single attribute. I can tell you're a connoisseur."
The shopkeeper looked sickly, but his eyes were surprisingly sharp. He could tell at a glance that Tang Qi was the one who truly understood beast taming. As for this guy who was asking to buy something, he was just a fool.
Tang Qi pondered for a moment and asked, "The price isn't too outrageous for a genuine cube. Who made it?"
"A genuine genuine cube like this must be made by Yaoshan Haizhilan." The shopkeeper grew increasingly excited, especially when mentioning Yaoshan Haizhilan, his pride overflowing as if he were part of their family.
Ming Qi paid little attention to the back-and-forth between the two men. He simply shook out a hundred low-grade Yuan Crystals from his ring and put the cube away.
The shop owner was comfortably tucked Yuan Jing into his pocket when Ming Qi reached over the table and casually grabbed another ordinary beginner Rubik's Cube. He flipped it twice and turned to leave.
"Hey..."
The shop owner had just opened his mouth when Ming Qi spoke up: "I know the owner of your shop. She told me it's buy one, get one free."
"Owner?"
The Rubik's Cube owner was just beginning to wonder when three or five people from the front also approached. Their target wasn't the shop itself, but Ming Qi and his group, who had just turned away.
"Hey, I like these girls. Take them."
The shop owner glanced over, then immediately shrank back, swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Ming Qi turned around just in time to hear the irritating words and narrowed his eyes as he looked over.
There were five of them, three burly, one thin, and one fat. It was a complete mix, all looking like thugs. Ming Qi could tell at a glance that they were looking for trouble.
"Lihuo Sect?"
Ming Qi had initially disdained such people, but then he noticed one of them was wearing a shirt embroidered with a flame pattern, the Lihuo Sect's symbol.
Ming Qi already had a beef with the Lihuo Sect, and now that these idiots were actually from the sect, he immediately took a grudge.
"How dare you insult a Biyou Sect disciple? Are you tired of living?"
Tang Qi, standing nearby, had already spoken first, stepping forward to block the girls.
"Biyou Sect? I just like the women there and want to take a few back for some fun. What do you want?"
Of the five, the leader was clearly the square-faced young man in the middle. Seeing Tang Qi step forward, he showed no sign of retreating and actually took a step forward as well.
Tang Qi's strength wasn't outstanding, to be honest. Although Ming Qi hadn't been able to discern his true level, judging by their aura, while Tang Qi was absolutely in the right, he clearly lacked the upper hand in terms of momentum.
Because Tang Qi leaned slightly backwards as the square-faced young man took a step forward.
Ming Qi, a keen observer, naturally saw that Tang Qi alone couldn't intimidate the five men facing him.
"Depending on the number of people?"
At this moment, Ming Qi, standing behind, also took a step, and this one was even further ahead of Tang Qi's.
He idly toyed with the beginner-level Beast Taming Cube, completely oblivious to the other party's obvious pressure.
Momentum?
What a joke! Ming Qi was a top-tier assassin who had stood at gunpoint countless times with impeccable composure. This kind of situation was child's play for him.
The best way to deal with small-time thugs is to be even more aggressive than they are.
"Who are you?"
Ming Qi's sudden appearance clearly startled the square-faced young man, who instinctively asked.
"Haha, I'm here to take care of you onions!"
Without another word, Ming Qi threw a punch.
Yes, a direct punch, a direct attack from the Wolf Fist.
Only then, seeing the explosive fist whistling in his face, did the square-faced young man finally come to his senses.
Damn it!
I'm here to steal a girl. Why would I care about your onion?
Swish!
Ming Qi's Wolf Fist was swift and fierce, but the square-faced youth also possessed considerable skill. Seeing his fist about to strike his face, he instantly shrank and leaned, half his body dodging to the side.
The first punch barely grazed the square-faced youth's ear.
"Brothers, beat him up!"
The square-faced youth finally revealed his true thug-like nature. With a shout, the four men behind him shouted and rushed forward without a word.
Whoosh!
Ming Qi threw another punch, his fist, rooted in fear, radiating boundless power as it roared towards him.
Puff!
Without a doubt, Ming Qi's second left punch pierced the square-faced youth's left shoulder.
Ming Qi's previous right punch had aimed for the left side of his face, and the square-faced youth instinctively dodged to the right. What he hadn't expected, however, was how fast Ming Qi's punches would move, and how quickly they would change.
From left to right, it seemed simple, but the square-faced youth couldn't control the swinging of his body back and forth with such ease.
This was close combat, completely different from hand-to-hand combat. Even the slightest distance could be a vulnerability.
Thus, the second punch landed incredibly hard on the square-faced youth.
However, the square-faced youth seemed unfazed by the blow. He swayed twice but didn't even take a single step back. He clasped his arms and pressed forward again.
"Haha, your fists are as useless as a woman's."
"Oh? Really? Then look at this..."
Ming Qi marched methodically, his fists thrust out once more.