The bustling sounds of the city gradually became clearer in Chu Yi's ears as he dragged the packaged remains of the Furious Tooth Rabbit. His steps were a bit heavy. After the tense battle that morning, his body still felt somewhat fatigued, with some soreness in his arms. But the joy of victory and the impending income lifted his spirits, and what excited him even more was the power of the runes. Although the hunt had been dangerous, it hadn't been in vain.
Compared to the modern city he had once lived in, the cities of the Mystery Palace Continent lacked the coldness of machines and had more of a rough, primitive quality. Gone were the cement forests, replaced by thick city walls and ancient buildings, each bearing the marks of time. At the city gates, a continuous stream of merchants and adventurers passed in and out, with spiritualists each carrying their harvested beast materials, ready to sell or trade in the market.
As Chu Yi entered the city, the strong smell of the marketplace hit him. Not far away, a shop that bought beast materials caught his attention. The store wasn't large, and the sign at the entrance read, "High Prices for Beast Remains." It looked a bit shabby, but seemed like a decent place. He quickly walked over and carefully placed the packaged Furious Tooth Rabbit remains on the counter.
The store was a little dimly lit, and from outside the door, Chu Yi couldn't see inside at all. As soon as he placed the remains on the counter outside, he heard a crisp, slightly teasing voice from inside, "Wow, you brought such a big Furious Rabbit here. You don't look like a regular hunter though."
Chu Yi looked up and saw the shopkeeper, a tall woman in her twenties, walking out from inside the store. Her figure was graceful, with a shapely silhouette. Her short, chic hair fell to her shoulders, giving off an impression of both competence and charm. Her brows and eyes carried a hint of mischief and confidence, with a sharp glint in her gaze. She wore a form-fitting cheongsam that accentuated her slender waist and long legs, creating an almost hypnotic allure. Chu Yi stood still for a few seconds, mesmerized by the scene.
She walked over with light but purposeful steps, exuding a confident aura. As she reached him, she slightly bent forward and extended her long, fair fingers to gently inspect the Furious Tooth Rabbit's remains, her expression focused, but with a touch of casual elegance. After carefully examining the wounds and fur, she looked up, her red lips curving into a faint smile.
"A bronze-grade beast, the Furious Tooth Rabbit," she said while inspecting, "You can still smell a hint of burnt flesh, but the fur is almost entirely intact. There are only a few minor scratches on the body, no other fatal wounds." She smiled slightly, "It was probably electrocuted, wasn't it?" Suddenly, her sharp eyes met Chu Yi's, and she added, "Your rune work was pretty good."
Chu Yi was a bit surprised but quickly regained his composure and smiled humbly, "Yes, the runes helped a lot."
The woman gave him a curious look and then smiled meaningfully, "You're quite modest. Alright, 135 spirit coins. The fur and meat of this rabbit are worth that much."
Hearing 135 spirit coins, Chu Yi was a little surprised—it was higher than he had expected. He nodded slightly and said, "Such a high price, it's not because I'm new here, is it?"
The woman laughed heartily, patting his shoulder. "You're pretty sharp! But usually, the market price for bronze-level beast acquisitions is between 70 to 80 spirit coins. However, the fur and meat you brought are well-preserved. Also, I sense a beast soul forming in its head. A bronze-level beast soul is always worth 50 spirit coins. Plus, since you brought good goods, I'm always fair. No need to overthink it."
Beast souls, Chu Yi thought, recalling the knowledge he had seen in the library earlier. Not every beast generates a soul upon death; it's completely random.
Chu Yi smiled, accepting the spirit coins. His respect for this shopkeeper's straightforwardness grew, and he couldn't help but feel a brotherly affection for this "big sister" figure. Although her attitude was teasing, her words held a genuine sincerity.
"Next time you have good goods, don't forget to bring them here." The woman waved her hand casually. "In this line of work, we don't rely on deception."
"Got it." Chu Yi nodded in response and turned to leave the shop.
Next, Chu Yi's goal was clear—investigating the market price for inscription talismans. To earn more spirit coins, he had already decided to make a living by selling talismans. Although making inscription talismans was complex, his understanding of programming gave him a natural talent in this area, and this talent would become the foundation for his standing in the Mystical Palace Continent. The streets were lined with various talisman shops, but the prices varied greatly. Chu Yi entered several shops and carefully observed the types and prices of talismans in the market. The most common were basic defensive and offensive talismans, like the Thunderstorm Talisman and Redfire Talisman. The price for low-level talismans ranged between 2 to 4 spirit coins, while slightly higher-level talismans were more expensive.
"These talisman prices should be based on the materials and the precision of the crafting," Chu Yi silently analyzed. The talismans he held were no worse than the ones on the market, and in some ways, they were even more exquisite. But compared to the time it took to inscribe them, the profits seemed too low. Hunting the plentiful rabbits was far more profitable.
Just as he was deep in thought, a sudden commotion came from the end of the street. A crowd was gathering, and something seemed to be happening. Chu Yi frowned, feeling uneasy, and decided to check it out. As he pushed his way through the crowd, the scene before him took him by surprise—a familiar figure stood in front of several well-dressed young men, clearly in the midst of being surrounded. It was none other than Qing Wan, the cold and aloof girl he had saved earlier in the morning.
Her face was grim, her right hand clenched into a fist, and her left arm, still injured by the poison, was clearly causing her pain. She was obviously angry at the situation. The young men surrounding her were clearly nobles, as evidenced by their luxurious robes and the decorations on their waists. The leader, a young man with an arrogant smile, sneered at her, his gaze lewd, and he was saying something to Qing Wan.
"You think you can escape? In this city, no one dares to refuse my invitation, Xíng Diǎn." The leader's voice was loud, deliberately displaying his power and status to the surrounding crowd. His gaze was venomous, focused on Qing Wan, as if he didn't even see her as a person.
Chu Yi instantly understood the situation. This noble young man, Xíng Diǎn, clearly wanted to forcibly take Qing Wan away, and she was fiercely resisting.
"My little darling, don't you know that seeing you hurt like this breaks my heart? Come with me, and I'll have my father find the most expensive spirit doctor in the city to heal you, I guarantee there won't even be a scar." Xíng Diǎn suddenly softened his tone, but there was still something sleazy about it.
"Get lost!" Qing Wan coldly shouted, her eyes filled with anger and disdain. She clearly wasn't afraid of these noble youths, but in front of so many people, her situation was very dangerous.
Chu Yi's heart tightened. He instinctively wanted to step forward to help, but he realized his spiritual power was too weak to contend with these noble guards. Even so, his steps didn't falter, and he resolutely pushed through the crowd.
"Stop!" Chu Yi stood beside Qing Wan, his eyes firm and his tone unyielding.
Xíng Diǎn was momentarily stunned at Chu Yi's appearance, then let out a derisive laugh. "Who are you? Dare to meddle in my affairs?"
"I don't care who you are, but you shouldn't be forcing someone in broad daylight," Chu Yi stared directly at Xíng Diǎn, unafraid.
Xíng Diǎn's smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark look. He waved his hand, signaling his lackeys to move. "Teach him a lesson. Let him know who rules this city."