As dawn broke, the Spirit Creek Village market was already bustling like a sizzling frying pan. For Dare Drake Tran, once accustomed to celestial maidens serving tea and celestial attendants pouring wine, the experience of squeezing through a sea of people smelling of fish, pickles, and sweat was… unique.
"Oof, dear heavens!"
BAM!
An elderly vegetable seller with a heavy basket barreled straight into him. Carrots flew like arrows, and a potato rolled across the ground as if performing a circus act. He instinctively reached out to catch them with telekinesis… then remembered he was now just a powerless mortal.
"Young man, where do you think you're walking?" The old woman scowled. "Like… like some god fallen from the heavens!"
[TinyFairy2k: "Is she psychic or what? LOL"]
[Guest1810: "She's 100% spot-on!"]
Ahem. Dare cleared his throat and bent down to gather the scattered vegetables. A thousand years as a Celestial Master, and this was the first time he'd ever… picked up vegetables for someone. "I'm just… not used to markets."
"Not used to them?" The old woman gawked at him. "What, you live on the clouds or something?"
[System: "That's… her second correct guess!"]
"Well, actually…" He wanted to explain, but how could he tell her—yes, he literally did live on the clouds, complete with his own palace?
The morning market was an entirely new world for him. The haggling housewives ("Come on, just give me a better price!"), the fish vendor's cry ("Fresh fish, caught this morning!"), and the butcher's bellow ("Anyone buying meat? If not, don't block the sunlight!") all created a lively scene.
[TinyFairy2k: "He looks like a kid in a market for the first time!"]
[Guest1810: "The 'Immortal lost at the market' content is too cute!"]
[Viewers: 3000+]
"All right…" he muttered. "What should I be doing here?"
**[System: Good morning! Would you like to:
Explore the market (Reward: 50 Credits)
Search for clues about demonic forces (Difficulty: 200 Credits)
Help someone in need (Reward varies)
Note: "Stop standing there like a clueless duck!"]**
"Hey!" He glared at the screen. "Why are you always…"
BANG!
A loud noise interrupted his complaints. Not far off, a skinny young man had been shoved to the ground by three burly men. His goods—cakes, candies, and other treats—scattered around him like a colorful rain of snacks.
"P-please… have mercy…" The boy stammered, his limbs trembling like a reed in the wind.
"Mercy?" The leader sneered, his high-pitched voice slicing the air like a razor. "Selling on our turf without paying your dues, and you're asking for mercy?"
[TinyFairy2k: "Ooh, drama incoming!"]
[Guest1810: "Step in and be a hero, dude!"]
[Viewers: 5000+]
**[System: Special Quest activated!
"Righteous Hero Against Evil"
Objective: Protect the young vendor from the thugsReward: 300 Credits + "Demonic Energy Detection Level 1" SkillTime Limit: 2 hours
Note: "Your first heroic act with weak cultivation—this should be fun!"]**
"Perfect!" Dare grinned. "This is no time for hesitation…"
[System: "Wait! What exactly do you plan to do with only basic Qi Refining powers?"]
"Hey, you guys!" Dare stepped forward, attempting to strike the dignified pose he used in the Celestial Court. The result was… slipping on a banana peel and almost falling flat.
[TinyFairy2k: "Epic entrance! LOL"]
[Guest1810: "Immortal hero from the discount bin?"]
[Viewers: 8000+]
"And who are you?" The leader turned, then paled. "I-it's… you! The Immortal from last night!"
Dare flashed a triumphant smile. "Yes! It's me, the…"