There was the art and cultural district, a historical district, an industrial district, a district reserved for the airport, hoverport and other transportations from other cities, and a commercial district. Needless to say, there was also a shopping district.

Right now I found myself in the shopping district, tagging along with Tang Qi Hong in her shopping trip.

On the border of Tushan City, at the edge of that shopping district, there were branches from the other sects who set up their shops, such as those from the Divine Shadow Sect, the Dark Asura Sect, the Kun Lun Sect, the Snow Valley Sect, the Heavenly Way Sect, and even the four Celestial Creature Sects. As Tushan City was known as the city of blacksmiths and Spirit Engravers, many of the sects took the opportunity to set up shops in here, selling Spirit Materials they did not need. They would then use the profits to buy whatever resources they required, such as Spirit Medicine and Spirit Pills. It was a win-win situation.

I did the same in my previous timeline, selling off the Warhammer 40,000 miniatures I didn"t need in order to buy new models that I wanted. It encouraged the flow of an otherwise sluggish economy, and helped capitalism. Supposedly.

Anyway, that was exactly why the Blood Blades couldn"t act yet. Even though the Water Margin Town was within their jurisdiction, without any evidence, they couldn"t just attack a suspected Divine Shadow Sect base. While they might hold suspicions as to the nefarious intentions of the Divine Shadow Sect members gathered inside the secluded house, without any evidence that proved beyond a doubt that they were plotting against the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, the Blood Blades couldn"t find any justification to attack them. After all, many sects had branches conducting businesses in Tushan City. If they were to attack each and every one of them on vague grounds of suspicion, they would damage the reputation and thriving business environment of the city, which would affect the lives of many normal residents living and working there.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Sect was not a group of tyrants. It was precisely because of their benevolence and their willingness to embrace free trade and a market economy that Tushan City was able to prosper today. Thanks to that, the shopping district flourished as many sects set up branches of their shops there, which in turn provided ample opportunities of employment for the residents in Tushan City and improved their standard of living.

The shopping district comprised of an agglomeration of such shops. It was possible to buy almost anything you needed from here, the shops ranging from those selling a vast variety of Spirit Materials of all qualities to those selling Spirit Pills and Medicine. Of course, there wwas also fashion shops that sold fancy clothing, and several modern cafes and restaurants for youngsters to hang out in. Those Spirit Materials or products that the shops lacked, they could order them almost immediately. There was where missions and requests for aspiring young martial artists or experienced veterans came in – like that time with the Void Whale. If they required a specific Spirit Material that they did not have, they would put in a request to the martial arts sects to obtain them in return for high rewards. In Tushan City"s case, they would request martial artists from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect"s Blood Blades to obtain the Spirit Materials for them.

I roughly recalled Zhao Shi and Da Ge helping me hunt the Ice Soul Python a year ago.

As part of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect who owned Tushan City, Tang Qi Hong was clearly familiar with the various shops in the shopping district, moving through it like a fish in water as she guided me by hand. It didn"t take her long to find the shop with the Spirit Materials she wanted. Or at least the shop that sold them at the best prices.

"This is the place?"

I stopped and stared when Tang Qi Hong abruptly halted in front of one of the shops. It was a small building with the logo, "Great Nature"s Heart" stenciled across its front. When the employees inside spotted Tang Qi Hong, they reacted in shock.

Even though we were wearing the Wu Ling Academy uniforms, we did pin a small insignia of our sect to our collars. While I was missing the Heaven and Earth Sect (Heaven forbid that people found out about my direct relation to it), I had acquired the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect badge, which was a cute nine-tailed fox, and like all other disciples of the sect, was required to pin it to my collar. Even though it was tiny, it was flashy and eye-catching, and the staff"s eyes immediately fell upon it. The nine-tailed fox mascot was unique to the inner sect disciples of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, but while I wasn"t an inner sect disciple, I was a member of the Blood Blades, which granted me equal status. Consequently, the nine-tailed fox pin on my collar was sporting a crimson-red sword, something that was missing from Tang Qi Hong"s nine-tailed fox pin.

"You are the inner sect disciples from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect!" one of the staff approached, bowing his head respectfully. He wasn"t entirely accurate, but I was too lazy to correct him over such a trivial mistake. "Please wait. I will ask the owner to tend to you."

"Thanks," Tang Qi Hong responded with a bright smile.

The male employees inside the shop immediately came to life, their expressions glowing in delight. The person who had come to greet us personally flushed a deep crimson, and he shook his head frantically.

"No, no. You"re too polite."

Mumbling, he bowed and hastily retreated to the back of the shop, presumably to where the owner resided.

I looked around curiously, studying the expensive wares that lined the shelves of the shop. Noticing my curiosity, Tang Qi Hong smiled mischievously.

"This store is a branch belonging to the Cloud Sky Mounain Sect. that place is an excellent producer of Earth-type Spirit Materials. We will definitely be able to find the Earth Magnets that we need here."

Tang Qi Hong paid no attention to the burning gazes of the male employees around her, probably having gotten used to it long ago. She sat down in a chair and relaxed, before gesturing for me to do the same in a nearby chair.

I demurred, preferring to stand and look around. Tang Qi Hong shrugged, as if to say, "suit yourself."

She gazed around, a tinge of nostalgia taking over her eyes.

"Junior Pang Yun grew up in Cloud Sky Mountain and is very skilled in forging earth-type Spirit Artifacts. Much like how you have an affinity in forging ice-type Spirit Armaments."

"That doesn"t change the fact that I still suck at forging ice-type Spirit Armaments…at least the permanent ones."

I shook my head and scowled. Tang Qi Hong"s delicate brow creased a little, but she continued as if I hadn"t spoken.

"Oh, right. Pang Feng is Pang Yun"s brother. You seem to be very good friends with him." Tang Qi Hong nodded. "He also lived in Cloud Sky Mountain in the past."

"Yeah, I know. He told me."

Pang Feng and I were good friends because we were both members of Blood Blades. Tong Xue too, for that matter, and the three of us usually hung out during Blood Blades gatherings. Funnily enough, we hadn"t taken many missions together.

Meanwhile, several of the employees in the store seemed to be overawed as they listened to us mention Pang Yun and Pang Feng.

Pang Yun and Pang Feng had quite the reputation back in Cloud Sky Mountain, and even before they joined the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, Pang Feng was known as one of the strongest and most talented in his generation. That was why almost all of the youths in Cloud Sky Mountain knew of his power.

"Mss Tang Qi Hong! You have arrived!" A few minutes later, a slightly plumped man in his forties ran out of the back, fl.u.s.tered. He stopped and smiled when he caught sight of her, bowing politely. "The Earth Magnets that you have already ordered are ready. I"ve already sent the order, and one of our staff from the main Cloud Sky Mountain Sect will be arriving here shortly to deliver it. I hope you don"t mind waiting. It shouldn"t be more than thirty minutes."

"Thanks." Tang Qi Hong returned the smile and nodded. Evidently she had placed the order online last night, and perhaps selected the Express Delivery function. Since the sect was paying the expenses, there was no reason for her to skimp on the delivery charges. Right now, time was of the essence.

"Our pleasure." The shop owner beamed, and then he glanced at the staff from earlier, who nodded and retreated to the back. "Would you like some tea or wine as you wait?"

"Uh…you do realize that we are underage, right? Why are you offering us wine? We"re not even eighteen yet."

If I wasn"t mistaken, we could only drink when we were twenty. Or was it when we were eighteen? I couldn"t remember.

The plump shop owner"s vein twitched in his temple, but he maintained his façade of politeness. Cpughing politely, he cleared his throat.

"My, is that so? I apologize. The both of you look a lot more mature than your age suggests." He glanced at the backroom where his employee had disappeared into. "Then I suppose you would have to make do with tea, if you don"t mind?"

"That won"t be necessary," Tang Qi Hong a.s.sured him gently. "We will be leaving immediately after we get the Earth Magnets."

"Oh, I see. I understand. Don"t worry, they will be here soon." The shop owner took out his smart phone and clicked on the app, using the Tracking Order function. "Very good! How coincidental! They"re just a few blocks away!"

A few minutes later, the deliveryman came in and dropped off a package. A couple of employees quickly brought the package to the counter and opened it, before presenting Tang Qi Hong its contents. I caught a glimpse of what looked like copper-colored rocks, but the fact that the surrounding metal artifacts began vibrating violently the moment they were unsealed was testament to their magnetic strength. Without the protective seals in the surrounding shelves, the metal artifacts would all have been drawn to the powerful magnets.

"That"s great!" Tang Qi Hong looked pleased. Standing up, she hurried over to inspect the Earth Magnets, and then nodded in satisfaction. "I"ll take them."

"Would you like a bag?" one of the employees who was unwrapping the Earth Magnets asked. Tang Qi Hong shook her head.

"That won"t be necessary. I"ll take them with me."

I half-expected her to ask me to carry them, but instead Tang Qi Hong merely picked up the Earth Magnets and placed them inside her spatial device. Resembling a ring, Tang Qi Hong"s spatial device glowed softly as it devoured the shrinking Earth Magnets, the latter disappearing from sight as they were sucked into the gemstone.

Yeah, of course Tang Qi Hong would have a spatial device of her own, being one of the two inner sect head disciples who were candidates to be the future sect leader.

"You have received the payment online, I believe? There are no problems with the electronic transaction, I hope?"

Tang Qi Hong had evidently made an electronic payment online yesterday, using Paypal or her debit card. The shop owner nodded.

"Yes, there is no problem. The funds have been transferred to our account."

"Great. Thank you!"

"No, no. we"re the ones who should be thanking you!"

The shop owner bowed deeply as he saw us out. I bowed back politely, and then hurried to catch up with Tang Qi Hong.

"Let"s go visit some place more fun!" she suggested happily as she practically skipped on the street, humming to herself.

"Where?" I asked, confused. Tang Qi Hong turned back and smiled mischievously.

"You"ll see," she replied mischievously.

Even though I didn"t enjoy being kept in suspense, I knew that it was useless probing her for more details so I just sighed and followed her obediently. Glancing back at the Cloud Sky Mountain shop, I recalled their flattery and overawed behavior.

"Oh, most people outside the sect treat us like that," Tang Qi Hong explained when she caught the direction I was staring in. "We are inner sect disciples…well, you"re one of the Blood Blades. They kind of think we are some sort of legends or something." She giggled. "That"s not far from the truth. Every inner sect disciple will become a master blacksmith and Spirit Engraver in future, and the Blood Blades are a force to be feared. You"ll eventually find out just how respected our Nine-Tailed Fox Sect is in the Great Zhou Empire."

"I think I already did," I muttered dryly.

As we conversed, we stepped into another busy street. Unlike the main shopping district from before, this new street was surprisingly narrow, especially when compared to the roads we had just come from.

"Oh…?"

I glanced around, amazed. The shophouses and buildings from the shopping district were gone, disappeared by what looked like shabbily built stalls that wouldn"t look out of place in a marketplace. Many vendors sat in front of their stalls, having laid out huge rugs upon which they placed their wares. They were in various states of dress, some of them wearing tattered rags while others seemed pretty well-off despite the dilapidated stalls behind them. A lot of them were enthusiastically shouting to pa.s.sers-by, trying to hawk their wares and sell their products, but there was also a sizeable number of them who maintained indifference expressions and sat quietly.

Each stall contained various products, which ranged from Spirit Artifacts to enchanted stones, arcane crystals and bottles of Spirit Potions.

Surprisingly enough, the pa.s.sers-by mostly comprised of martial artists. They roamed this commercial street, some of them stopping to choose Spirit Materials while others stopped by specific stalls to sell whatever spoils they obtained from a mission or otherwise.

"This is why I wanted to visit the city today!" Tang Qi Hong said brightly, her eyes dancing with delight. "I want to drop by here for a bit. Sometimes, if I"m lucky, I"ll be able to unearth something good here."

"I see," I replied, half-distracted by the various martial artists roaming about. There was something about this situation that put me on high alert, and I was keeping my eye out for that stalker I detected earlier. "That"s cool."

"Yeah!"

Tang Qi Hong had also become alert upon entering this loud and bustling street, but for different reasons. She was excitedly scanning the street for any Spirit Materials that would catch her fancy, a hungry gaze taking over her normally elegant expression.

I suddenly remembered the old adage about women and shopping, and felt a chill. Maybe it was a bad idea to accompany my crush on a shopping trip…

"I"m guessing this is Free Trade Street?" I asked casually, even as I searched the crowd for that person.

"That"s right! You know about Free Trade Street?" Tang Qi Hong looked at me, pleasantly surprised.

"Well, Tong Xue told me about it once before. He said I should check it out when I have the chance."

Obviously I was too busy or unwilling to take his advice, so this was the first time I had been here despite having lived in Tushan City for over a year.

From what I remembered, Tong Xue told me that the Free Trade Street was located between the shopping district and the industrial district, which was many of the poorer population lived in. As such, the street wasn"t exactly a shining representation of the prosperous city, but more like a shadowy facet most of the population was ashamed of. Despite that, anyone could set up a stall here, even if they didn"t have a license, and having a tacit understanding with the authorities, as long as they didn"t cause trouble, the Blood Blades and police would look the other way whenever they pa.s.s by here.

In other words, this was an underground market of sorts.

As such, the prices of Spirit Materials here could be purchased for about ten to twenty percent cheaper than what you would normally find in legitimate and licensed stores not too far away. However, thanks to the dubious nature of the underground market, there was no guarantee that the quality would be good, and often the Spirit Pills sold here were…dangerous.

Even if one ended up buying a defective product here, because these were not licensed vendors and they tended to be on the unscrupulous side, it was impossible to get a refund or exchange. Hence, not many people were willing to take the risk and would shop from licensed stores instead, where it was a lot safer.

However, martial artists such as Tang Qi Hong were confident of their skills, that they would be able to distinguish a defective product from the real thing. They also knew that if they were lucky, they could come across a rare treasure for an unrivaled price.

While Tang Qi Hong looked for whatever she was looking for, I allowed my curiosity to get the better of me and glanced around. A cage filled with flapping wings caught my attention.

"Whoa…how cruel…"

I grimaced when I saw the Birds of Paradise captured in the cage. Despite my disapproval, I couldn"t help but be impressed when I saw the long, heavenly feathers trailing out of the cage and sparkling in many colors, shrouded by a potent shroud of qi. They were supposed to be extremely rare, found only in the southern archipelago of islands.

"I can"t believe they were able to capture Birds of Paradise," Tang Qi Hong whispered, more amazed than repulsed. "Do you know how rare and valuable they are?"

"Yeah, apparently they can produce qi." I nodded thoughtfully. "They are among one of the most expensive non-combat magical beasts. I heard the academy did a lot of research on them to produce artificial qi."

Even so, the amount of qi the Birds of Paradise produced was not a lot. Probably enough to move a car, but not enough for actual combat. Certainly not enough to synthesize s.e.xagenaries of qi that were being provided to the students.

"But it"s pretty cruel to keep them locked up…"

"That"s hypocritical." Tang Qi Hong stared at me. "Do you feel sorry for the chicken you eat? The fish cooked for meals?"

"…"

Point taken. Just because they looked beautiful didn"t make them any more important and ent.i.tled to a life than poultry, livestock and seafood.

"Anyway, let"s go over there!" Tang Qi Hong grew excited when she saw a Spirit Material that caught her attention. I followed her as she hurried over, but when I did that, my intuition screamed a warning.

"!!"

Whirling around, I finally caught sight of the man who had been stalking us ever since we left the main sect grounds. There was nothing suspicious about him at first glance – he looked like an extremely ordinary martial artist with no remarkable features – but my Heaven and Earth senses detected a surge of aggression in his qi.

The middle-aged martial artist was paying no attention to me. He was striding forward, raising his hand to slam it into Tang Qi Hong"s back while she was still unaware of his presence. There was a spike in his qi as he gathered it into a deadly thrust that would have pierced Tang Qi Hong"s heart and tear her apart from within if it struck.

If it struck.

Reacting immediately, I reached out and knocked his hand to the side, deflecting his strike. The sharp burst of qi blasted out of his palm and reduced a nearby stall into splinters, causing the vendor to dive for cover with a panicked yell.

"You…!"

The middle-aged martial artist turned to glare at me, his expression filled with disbelief and shock. I met his gaze evenly, realizing that this guy was targeting Tang Qi Hong. That could only mean one thing…

He was an a.s.sa.s.sin.