"Wait a moment," Zhi Xuan said abruptly, which was met with a slight, surprised whirring from Xiao Die at Zhi Xuan’s sudden halt.

  Zhi Xuan stopped in the middle of the road, receiving strange looks from the passing cultivators and city residents. His long black hair flowed down his back, his face, as smooth as pure jade, creased as if he was contemplating something.

  "Hey, you! Don't block the road!" shouted a muscular man from behind him. The man was a Body Transformation cultivator—early Blood Transformation level, with a rough aura, carrying a large basket of Fire Bone Flowers—low-level herbs known for their hot properties.

  Zhi Xuan moved to the side of the stone wall, stepping with a grace that strongly contrasted with the seemingly hurried man. However, in just a flash, Zhi Xuan quickly stepped closer to the man.

  "Wait, Sir." Zhi Xuan called out to the man in a rush.

  The muscular man, whose face was adorned with sweat and irritation, snorted. "What? You're a Blood Transformation cultivator, why are you wasting my time, Kid? These Fire Bone Flowers need to get to Apothecary Ling immediately!"

  Zhi Xuan put on a serious frown, an expression he should have used when facing a Devil Emperor. "Sir, I have a very important question. A question that has been troubling my Dao Heart—"

  "I don't care about your Dao Heart! Hurry up and say it!" the man interrupted, swinging his herb basket which emitted faint heat.

  Zhi Xuan sighed, stabilized his essence, and spoke in a very straightforward tone, as if he were asking for the recipe for the Supreme Enlightenment Pill. However, the expression he gave was too serious, making him look like a ridiculous drunk man.

  "Forgive me, Sir. I am a new wanderer. Could you tell me, is there an Arena that can earn money?"

  Silence fell. Not only the muscular man, but also three Organ Transformation cultivators who were walking past them. All of them stared at Zhi Xuan, from his beautiful hair, his porcelain-like face, to his red silk robe which looked majestic and made him seem like a man of high cultivation.

  The muscular man—who had just prepared to curse—froze. His angry expression slowly changed into a mixture of astonishment, disgust, and a slight respect tinged with foolishness.

  "Are... are you serious?" the man asked, his voice choked. He glanced at Zhi Xuan's red silk robe and the jade-gold bead in his hair. "You look like a Young Master from a great sect, yet you're asking about an underground fighting arena to find money—no, spiritual stones?"

  Xiao Die, sitting calmly on Zhi Xuan's shoulder, let out a very disapproving rainbow hum, as if annoyed by its master's change of mind.

  Zhi Xuan nodded once, maintaining his serious expression. "Yes, Sir. The Blood Transformation realm has consumed most of my savings for a perfect foundation. I only have three low-level Spiritual Stones left."

  He took out three dull Spiritual Stones, holding them as if they were invaluable treasures.

  The Organ Transformation cultivators behind him nearly choked on their Essence. A Blood Transformation cultivator, wearing expensive silk, only had three Spiritual Stones?

  The muscular man, named Hu Feng, swallowed. His respect tinged with foolishness deepened. Could this young man be an insane genius who was expelled from his sect after spending all his inheritance to improve his foundation?

  "You... you spent all your money on the Blood Transformation realm?" Hu Feng asked.

  "Of course," Zhi Xuan replied, as if it were the inevitable logic of the Dao. "A bad foundation is poison to the Dao. Now that my Spiritual Blood foundation is complete, I only need a suitable Attack Technique. And for a good Attack Technique, I need Spiritual Stones. I heard the shops near the Qinglong Stairs sell very expensive scrolls."

  Hu Feng sighed, swinging his basket to the ground with mixed frustration. He felt he had to help this poor, intelligent genius.

  "Alright, poor Young Master," Hu Feng said, his face now looking sympathetic. "There are two places. One, the Spiritual Blood Arena in the West District. They only accept fights from the Blood Transformation realm downwards. The pay is decent, but the rules are very strict, and you must not kill."

  "And the second?" Zhi Xuan asked, his sapphire eyes shining with interest.

  Hu Feng leaned closer, lowering his voice as if afraid of being heard by the Imperial soldiers. "The second... the Devil's Bite Chain Arena. It's illegal. Completely illegal. The location is hidden beneath the Jade Dragon Ridge Mountains. They accept all realms, and the stakes are enormous. No rules. You either walk out with many Spiritual Stones, or you don't walk out at all."

  Zhi Xuan let the silence hang, processing the information at lightning speed. The Spiritual Blood Arena sounded safe, but slow. The Devil's Bite Chain Arena sounded like pure chaos—the perfect place to test his new Spiritual Blood and harvest wealth quickly.

  ‘The Devil's Bite Chain Arena... The name is pleasing. If you want an expensive technique, take the greatest risk, Monkey. Where the Devil rules, wealth flows,’ Ruo Xianxue echoed, her voice filled with dark enthusiasm.

  Zhi Xuan nodded inwardly, agreeing with the Sacred Devil. He had no time for small games.

  "Sir Hu Feng," Zhi Xuan said, putting his last three Spiritual Stones into his pocket. "Where is the location of the Devil's Bite Chain Arena? And do they accept wagers with artifacts?"

  Zhi Xuan's seriousness and rapid questioning about the illegal arena made Hu Feng take a step back. Hu Feng looked at the young man with a combination of pity, fear, and admiration.

  "Kid, you just completed Blood Transformation. Don't kill yourself," Hu Feng whispered. "They accept anything of value. I don't know the exact location, but just ask the black market thugs near the East Lower District—they'll surely know the way."

  Hu Feng hastily picked up his basket. "Now, I must go. May your Dao... not end there!"

  Zhi Xuan merely gave a formal nod of thanks. He stood amidst the crowd, the newly born Spiritual Blood within his body feeling turbulent.

  Illegal arena? High stakes? No rules? It was the perfect stage for a Devil seeking Spiritual Stones to buy a Heavenly Attack Technique. Xiao Die trembled on Zhi Xuan's shoulder, clearly disapproving of the path he had just chosen.

  "Don't worry, Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan whispered, his eyes radiating a cold sapphire light. "Only in the darkest places can we harvest the brightest light. I will get that technique."

  Zhi Xuan turned his steps, moving away from the luxurious streets towards the gloomy East Lower District, chasing the trail of blood-stained wealth.

  With every step, his feet felt cold despite his leather shoes; he could not hide his awe and appreciation for the luxury of Green Cloud City, how the clouds clustered like dancing dragons and phoenixes, the sun shone brightly and displayed a new, cool air.

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  "Handsome Brother!"

  A loud and cheerful voice pierced through the murmuring crowd, making Zhi Xuan flinch slightly—a rare reaction for him. He turned around, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. In the middle of a sea of tired and hurried faces, he saw a small girl, no more than five years old, with big round eyes and chubby cheeks.

  The girl, wearing a dirty blue coarse cloth dress and holding a shabby rag doll, was staring at him with a wide smile, her baby teeth clearly visible. She approached Zhi Xuan hurriedly and stood before him.

  Her hands were clasped behind her, presenting an adorable and innocent view. She looked like a fragile little angel, not with her mother or father.

  Zhi Xuan froze. The encounter with Yan Shen did not confuse him, the threat of the Devil did not frighten him, but this unexpected mortal interaction completely bewildered him.

  Zhi Xuan's newly condensed aura suddenly wavered; he did not know how to react to such pure innocence.

  ‘Monkey, this is strange. A mortal. Is this a trap? Scan! If there's a realm hiding—’ Ruo Xianxue interrupted suspiciously.

  Zhi Xuan ignored Ruo Xianxue. He had scanned with his Divine Sense; this girl was just a mortal, with absolutely no spiritual Essence fluctuations. She was just a child.

  "Yes?" Zhi Xuan asked, his voice sounding awkward. He had to force himself to soften his serious expression, which only made him look like a jade statue that had just learned to speak.

  The little girl grinned. "Handsome Brother! May I ask you a question?"

  Zhi Xuan nodded.

  "My rag doll," the girl said, raising the shabby rag doll in her left hand, "He's hungry. He says his tummy hurts."

  Zhi Xuan stared at the rag doll, then at the little girl in front of him. He had to process the sentence. The logic of the Sacred Devil and Ancient Dao did not cover requests for food for a rag doll.

  "Your doll... is hungry?" Zhi Xuan repeated, his slender eyebrows slightly raised.

  "Yes! He says he wants to eat Fire Flower Candy! Mommy says, only rich and handsome people can buy it for my doll," the girl said, her round eyes shining with hope, and she pointed to a small stall across the street selling bright red spiritual candies.

  Zhi Xuan sighed. His last three Spiritual Stones had been used for the bargaining earlier. He could not refuse such pure beauty, but he was genuinely poor right now.

  ‘You don't have Spiritual Stones, Monkey. Those three Spiritual Stones were the price of your life in Green Cloud City. Don't waste time on a stupid mortal!’ Ruo Xianxue scolded, annoyed.

  Zhi Xuan remembered Hu Feng's shocked face when he showed the three spiritual stones. He took a deep breath. However, he could not ignore those innocent eyes.

  "Wait a moment," Zhi Xuan said. He rummaged through his Storage Pouch, looking for anything that might be useful for a mortal. He had no mortal food, and spiritual herbs would kill the girl.

  Zhi Xuan calmed himself for a moment, glancing at the spiritual candy stall. Then, with a faint nod, he smiled slightly at the little girl.

  "Alright, come with big brother."

  Zhi Xuan forced a faint smile that, instead of being reassuring, looked more like a dangerous sneer from a Devil plotting mischief. However, to the little girl, it was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. Her round eyes sparkled.

  "Yay! Best handsome brother!" the girl exclaimed, releasing her clasped hands from behind her back and grabbing the edge of Zhi Xuan's silk robe with her tiny, dirty hand. Without hesitation, she began to pull Zhi Xuan towards the candy stall.

  Zhi Xuan, unprepared for such intimate physical contact from a mortal, tensed for a moment. He was used to threats, suspicious glances, and oppressive power.

  This innocent touch felt like a completely different force, capable of shaking his Dao Heart in the most unexpected way.

  ‘Monkey, let go of her! Your Spiritual Blood must not be tainted by mortal filth!’ Ruo Xianxue’s roar sounded panicked, but Zhi Xuan ignored it. The newly born Spiritual Blood actually felt... warm at the point of contact.

  Zhi Xuan allowed the little girl to drag him across the crowd. His graceful steps now slightly stumbled, trying to adjust to the hurried little feet. The people around them looked on with amusement, entertained to see the serious-faced cultivator being pulled by a small child.

  "Brother, my doll is named Lulu," the girl said, looking up with a wide smile. "Lulu likes Fire Flower Candy because it tastes like the sun!"

  Zhi Xuan looked at the shabby rag doll in the girl's hand, which now seemed to be staring at him with non-existent button eyes. He nodded. "I see. Fire Flower Candy."

  Arriving at the candy stall, a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile greeted them. "Ah, A-Hua! Back to bothering people, you naughty child!" The woman looked at Zhi Xuan, slightly surprised by his cultivator aura. "Welcome, Young Master. Is Mei Hua causing trouble?"

  Zhi Xuan paused for a moment, as if processing the little girl's name. “Mei Hua?” Zhi Xuan repeated, glancing at the girl. The girl, now known as Mei Hua, nodded proudly.

  "Yes, Auntie! This handsome brother is going to buy Fire Flower Candy for Lulu!" Mei Hua exclaimed, raising her shabby rag doll high.

  The middle-aged woman laughed. "It's true, Young Master looks like someone who can afford it. Fire Flower Candy costs only one silver coin. But this child, she always asks for it for her doll."

  Zhi Xuan, without releasing Mei Hua's grip on the edge of his robe, reached into his Storage Pouch. He rummaged through it, looking for a silver coin—the lowest mortal currency. Inside his pouch, there were Blood Bone Pills, the Ancient Devil Purification Scroll, and a pile of high-level Spiritual Stones that he saved from the spoils of the Mist Chasing Village—but he had no silver coins left.

  He only had high-level Spiritual Stones and a few gold coins; he tried to check the silver coin he found at the weaver master’s house, but he couldn't use it because it was too ancient.

  ‘Damn it. I'm truly poor in mortal currency,’ Zhi Xuan muttered to himself, the frown on his forehead reappearing, much deeper than when he faced Yan Shen's aura pressure.

  Zhi Xuan sighed deeply, realizing the absurdity of the situation: a Blood Transformation cultivator, with newly born Spiritual Blood, hampered by one silver coin.

  “Forgive me,” Zhi Xuan said to the middle-aged woman, his voice returning to its flat and rigid tone. “I, as a new wanderer, do not carry the appropriate mortal currency. I only have gold coins, or Spiritual Stones—”

  Mei Hua pouted, her round eyes instantly welling up. “Handsome Brother can’t buy for Lulu?”

  Seeing Mei Hua's tears beginning to pool in the corners of her eyes, Zhi Xuan's Heart wavered slightly. He could not let this little angel cry just because of one silver coin.

  Zhi Xuan immediately pulled out one gold coin, which looked very shiny and valuable, and handed it to the woman. “Here. Take the rest for your candies, and buy her as many as she wants.”

  The middle-aged woman's eyes widened, staring at the shining gold coin in her palm. One gold coin was equivalent to one hundred silver coins—a ridiculous price for a one-silver Fire Flower Candy.

  “Young Master! This is too much!” the woman exclaimed, trying to return the gold coin.

  “I do not accept refusal,” Zhi Xuan replied, his tone cold and absolute, as if he were establishing a Heaven Protection Formation.

  Mei Hua paid no attention to the financial transaction. Her eyes were fixated on the bright red spiritual candy in the display case.

  The woman, seeing the young cultivator's strange firmness, finally nodded. She quickly took one Fire Flower Candy shaped like a small flower bud and handed it to Mei Hua.

  "Here, you naughty child. But don't touch the Young Master's silk robe again!"

  Mei Hua did not listen. She took the candy and immediately held it in front of her shabby rag doll.

  “Lulu, eat quickly! This is Fire Flower Candy!” Mei Hua exclaimed happily. She leaned the candy towards the rag doll's mouth, which of course could not eat it.

  Zhi Xuan watched the scene. It was a mortal foolishness and innocence he did not understand, but it warmed a spot in his new Spiritual Blood.

  "Young Master," the candy vendor called, her voice whispering. "I have something to say about that little girl."

  Zhi Xuan shifted his sharp sapphire gaze from Mei Hua, who was still busy ‘feeding’ her doll, to the candy vendor's face. The woman looked anxious.

  "What is it, Auntie?" Zhi Xuan asked, his tone flat again. He had completed his transaction, and he should have returned to focusing on the Devil's Bite Chain Arena, but his Dao Heart restrained him.

  The woman glanced at Mei Hua, then lowered her voice further. "Mei Hua, she... she is very strange. I don't know when this girl came here, to Green Cloud City. It's been years, yet she hasn't seemed to grow."

  ‘The little girl hasn't seemed to grow?’ Zhi Xuan repeated the words in his mind, and the frown on his forehead deepened, much deeper this time than when he was concocting the exploding pill. He looked back at Mei Hua, who was still preoccupied with her doll.

  It was true. Mei Hua looked like a five-year-old child, but if she had been in Green Cloud City for "years," she should at least show some growth. In the cultivation world, even mortals grew quickly.

  "What do you mean, auntie?" Zhi Xuan said, his voice now lowered and his face serious for information.

  The candy vendor sighed deeply, her gaze implying profound concern. “She has no parents. She never did. She just appeared on the southern mountain slope one day, playing with her shabby doll and was found by the herbal gatherers. We, the small merchants here, feed her. We tried to ask, but she always only talks about her doll, Lulu, and Fire Flower Candy.”

  Zhi Xuan narrowed his sapphire eyes. A mortal who had not grown for years in a world dense with Spiritual Essence? That was impossible.

  Even mortals who did not cultivate would react to the density of Green Cloud City's Essence; they would grow slowly or, if the Essence was too dense, they would fall ill. But Mei Hua looked healthy, just... small.

  And moreover, she just suddenly appeared on the southern mountain slope? How could such a small child just suddenly appear there without any explanation? The mountain slope was so steep; it was not terrain that a child that small could navigate.