Chapter 122: First Encounter with Ziyan

"The Inner Court really is lively!" Xiao Xie walked along the bustling street of the Inner Court. The so-called market was, in truth, a place where disciples of the Inner Court conducted private transactions. Within the court, students could consign items to the Academy’s official shops. The benefit was that no one could force a sale or buy fake goods. The downside, however, was the handling fee required.

So, to avoid these fees, some students conducted private trades among themselves. Such trades weren’t protected, of course; yet no one dared to outright rob another. The risk lay in the possibility of counterfeit goods—such as medicinal pills that appeared genuine on the outside but were utterly useless, or even harmful, once ingested.

But if you had the skill, you could avoid fakes and even come across rare treasures. If the seller didn't know the value of an item, it was possible to obtain something precious at a bargain price. For instance, half a year ago, someone bought an unknown pill for a hundred Fire Points in the market. After taking it, their cultivation broke through from the third star Great Fighter to the third star Spirit Master, instantly leaping from an ordinary student to the elite.

Such stories of finding treasures for a pittance happened almost daily in the market. That was why, even with the risk of fakes, so many people were willing to buy there.

"Hmm?" As Xiao Xie strolled through the market, his gaze flickering from stall to stall, he suddenly sensed the strange flame within him tremble. He immediately turned toward the source of the reaction.

He saw a crowd gathered around a small stall. Pushing his way through, Xiao Xie saw a table draped in cloth, displaying about twenty items. Though few in number, each was valuable: several fourth-rank magic cores, some Earth-grade medicinal herbs, three advanced Mysterious-grade martial skill scrolls, and various odds and ends.

One glance at the stall owner explained the crowd: a young woman in a silver dress, tall and slender. Though her cheeks were slightly pale, her beauty was rare. Her skin was as white as snow, her features as delicate as a painting. Most striking of all was her long, waist-length hair—a rare silver hue—matching her attire perfectly and lending her an aloof, unapproachable air, as if she were a goddess beyond mortal reach.

The male students around her gazed with the admiration men reserve for great beauties, tinged with a hint of wariness. Clearly, this woman commanded both strength and reputation in the Inner Court. Here, where power ruled, beauty alone was never enough to inspire such respect.

"Sister Han Yue, how much for this martial skill scroll?" a student asked, holding up a scroll.

"Three hundred Fire Points, or a fifth-rank pill that increases cultivation," Han Yue replied in her cool, clear voice after glancing at him.

"Alright." Though the student winced at the price, he dared not haggle before Han Yue. He produced his crystal card and transferred three hundred Fire Points to her.

"Sister Han Yue, how much for this Snow Spirit Grass?"

"Two hundred Fire Points."

...

After glancing at the beautiful stall owner, Xiao Xie turned his attention to the items. What had stirred the strange flame within him was a jade-green token. He picked it up and felt a wave of warmth from it.

"Miss, how much for this?" he asked Han Yue.

...

"Is he flirting with Sister Han Yue?"

"Who is this guy? Doesn't he know Han Yue is in the top ten of the Strong List? Is he seeking death?"

"Probably a new student. Otherwise, he’d definitely know who she is."

...

Han Yue was taken aback for a moment. After studying Xiao Xie, she replied, "One thousand Fire Points, or three fifth-rank pills that increase cultivation."

"What? This little jade token for so much?" Xiao Xie looked at her as if to say, "Don’t take me for a fool."

Han Yue smiled softly, sending the nearby male students into a daze. Her cold voice echoed, "I don’t know what this token is either. But I can’t see through you, so it’s likely a treasure. Plus, I doubt you can’t afford a thousand Fire Points."

"You win," Xiao Xie shook his head, taking out a jade bottle. "Here are three fifth-rank Elevation Pills."

Han Yue accepted the bottle and checked it. "No problem. A fair trade."

"Farewell." Xiao Xie put away the token and departed. He knew he could have bargained for a better price, but in front of such a beauty, he couldn’t quite bear to do so.

"A useless token swapped for three fifth-rank pills—quite the profit. Still, if I hadn’t seen him consigning fifth- and sixth-rank pills last time by chance, I’d never have asked such a high price," Han Yue thought as she watched him leave. Reluctant as she was to admit it, in her eyes, Xiao Xie was the perfect mark.

"What are you?" As Xiao Xie walked away, a voice called from behind, making him twitch. Who was this now, he wondered.

He turned, irritation shifting to surprise. Before him stood a little girl in white, only as tall as his waist, seemingly twelve or thirteen years old. Her light purple hair fell to her waist, framing a face of exquisite, porcelain loveliness. Her large, luminous eyes blinked at him, almost as though enchanted.

"What are you?" the girl asked again, tilting her head.

Xiao Xie forced a smile. "I’m not a thing—wait, I am a thing—no, I’m a person. My name is Xiao Xie."

"Hmm..." The girl circled him, suspicion written all over her young face.

"I really am a person," Xiao Xie insisted. This was the first time he had ever had to so seriously explain his humanity.

"But you feel so familiar," the girl said, puzzled.

"What’s your name, little one?" Xiao Xie’s expression shifted as he asked.

"I’m not ‘little one.’ My name is Zi Yan." Though she was displeased with his address, something familiar about Xiao Xie kept her from refusing to answer.

"So, you’re Zi Yan!" Xiao Xie’s eyes lit with understanding. He could guess why she felt a connection to him: after consuming an entire Dragon Essence, his body carried traces of dragon aura. Zi Yan, being a Taixu Ancient Dragon in truth, was sensitive to such things.

"You know me?" she asked, looking up.

"In a manner of speaking. Here, have this ice cream." Xiao Xie handed her an ice cream.

Zi Yan stuck out her pink tongue and licked it tentatively. The cold, sweet taste made her eyes crinkle in delight. In a flash, she finished the treat, then looked up at Xiao Xie with a trace of regret. "Xiao Xie, you really are a good person! This thing called ice cream is delicious, but it has almost no energy."

Seeing her disappointment, Xiao Xie took out an Earth-grade medicinal herb and some candy, then summoned a ball of Hellfire in his right hand. He wrapped the herb and candy together, and two minutes later, he produced twenty pills. These were only half-finished, containing wild energy unsuitable for humans but perfect for a shape-shifting magical beast like Zi Yan.

"Try one," he offered, handing her a pill.