Zhi Xuan walked calmly on the main street, looking around with peaceful eyes after leaving the shadow market. At his age, he should not be touching such things. Staying away from dangerous places and dark criminals was how he kept his heart from wavering, yet he was now forced to be a shadow walking between evil and good.

  However, his mission to protect the star village continued to strengthen him. He inhaled the night air of Shoutuo, which, though polluted by kitchen smoke and the smell of sweat, still felt more alive than the silence of the death cliff he had left behind. From afar, he looked like a black devil walking among white swans, his long black hair tied with a heart-guarding jade fluttering gently. His robe swayed with the night wind.

  "A-zi! Don't run around, come here, mother will buy you bread." A mother's voice called out to her child, hands on her hips with an annoyed but affectionate gaze.

  "I am coming! I am coming!" A boy shouted, his face colored with thick white powder, enthusiastically carrying a wooden dragon toy that flapped its wings.

  The boy ran happily, his joyful laughter echoing in the air. His eyes were still fixed on the beautiful flying dragon toy. The child, not paying attention to the road, bumped into Zhi Xuan's back.

  THUD!

  Although Zhi Xuan was a Divine Wheel Sanctum cultivator who could easily ignore the collision, he deliberately reduced his strength. He spun slightly to absorb the impact of the collision.

  The boy did not fall but stumbled backward. His wooden dragon toy slipped from his grasp and was tossed into the air.

  "Oh no! My dragon!" the boy exclaimed in a terrible panic, tears immediately welling up in his heavily powdered eyes. Zhi Xuan smiled faintly, then bent down. He knelt on one knee to match the boy's height.

  "Are you alright?" Zhi Xuan held out his hand to the boy. "Don't cry, come, I will give you a replacement."

  Hearing the word 'replacement', the boy, A-zi, stopped sobbing. He looked at Zhi Xuan's peaceful face, and then shifted to Zhi Xuan's pale left eye, full of curiosity.

  "My dragon... I got it after the Sky Puppet show," A-zi whispered, his voice still trembling. He pointed to the dragon toy that had landed in a puddle, its wooden wing broken.

  "Is big brother's left eye... hurting?" The boy asked innocently as he redirected his gaze back toward Zhi Xuan.

  Zhi Xuan was silent for a moment. Mortal life always posed the most honest questions. He looked into the boy's large, powdered eyes, which radiated innocence without judgment.

  "Big brother's eye is not hurting, A-zi," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice gentle. "This eye just sees a little differently than the other eye. Sometimes, it sees things that normal eyes cannot see."

  'You are lying to that little monkey, Zhi Xuan,' Ruo Xianxue hissed.

  'It is not a lie, Ruo. It is a different reality,' Zhi Xuan replied internally, smiling faintly.

  A-zi's mother, a tense woman in simple clothes, rushed over. "Forgive my child, Young Master! He is too careless!" The woman immediately bowed.

  Zhi Xuan stood up straight. "It is no problem, Madam. He is not hurt." He then picked up the broken dragon toy, examining the damage. The dragon's wood had absorbed water, and its wing was beyond saving.

  "Madam, please let me replace it," Zhi Xuan said. He took out two glittering silver coins, which far exceeded the toy's price. "Please buy him a sturdier toy."

  "Oh, Young Master! Please don't!" the woman protested, her face flushed with shame and surprise. "One silver coin is more than enough to cover the damage!"

  Zhi Xuan merely smiled faintly and placed the coins into the woman's hand. "This is for his bread too, Madam. Mortal life is valuable."

  He turned to A-zi, who was now staring at him with wide eyes, confused by the stack of silver his mother had just received.

  "A-zi, this dragon will always be in your heart. But now, you must find a stronger jade dragon. Promise big brother, don't run around in the middle of the road, okay?"

  A-zi nodded quickly, his powdered eyes now shining. "I promise, One-Eyed Big Brother! Thank you!"

  Zhi Xuan chuckled softly. He bowed briefly to A-zi's mother and then continued on his way.

  'Once again you waste silver coins on worthless mortals,' Ruo Xianxue scoffed. 'You should save that money for rare pills at the auction.'

  "I gained more than silver coins, Ruo," Zhi Xuan countered, feeling a warmth spread through his chest and meridians. "I gained a reminder of what I am protecting."

  Zhi Xuan started walking again, his long black hair tied with a heart-guarding jade fluttering gently; from a distance, he looked like a black demon shadow walking among mortals. But this was him, just a mortal child sacrificed to protect the village he loved.

  He decided not to return directly to the inn. The next two days would be spent on intensive cultivation; tonight was his last chance to enjoy the mortal atmosphere before refocusing on the cruel path. Zhi Xuan turned from the dark alley of the Shadow Market toward the brighter city center.

  Here, the main streets were not only wide but also emitted a soft glow from jade lanterns hung on every building. The lanterns were colorful—red for luck, jade green for protection, and gold for wealth—and their blending light created a soothing, warm atmosphere.

  Zhi Xuan walked slowly, adjusting his pace to the relaxed rhythm of the crowd. He saw food vendors hawking candied fruit on skewers, emitting a sweet aroma that reminded him of his childhood.

  Zhi Xuan stopped at a small stall selling sticky candy made from low-grade spiritual honey. He bought a stick, savoring the simple, sticky sweetness on his tongue. It was much more pleasant than the cold, bland Energy Pills.

  "This is your weakness, monkey," Ruo Xianxue muttered, although her tone now sounded slightly softer. "You love mortal things too much."

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  "Why is loving beauty a weakness?" Zhi Xuan replied, enjoying the candy. "The Immortal Realm is too sterile, Ruo. Here, every laugh, every cup of tea, every silver coin exchanged—everything has warmth and a story."

  Zhi Xuan continued his journey, observing. In a small square, several street artists were performing the "Sky Puppet show" that A-zi had just seen. The small jade puppets, moved by low-level spiritual essence, told the stories of ancient heroes fighting demons and achieving immortality.

  He sat on a nearby stone bench, watching the performance. The story told was cliché, but the spirit was real. The laughter of the audience, the children's awe, and the whispers of the elders recalling those stories from their youth—all of it was pure life energy.

  He realized that this was why he chose to be on the difficult path of cultivation—to ensure this simple beauty and life remained. He did not want to see this warm bustle replaced by the cold silence brought by arrogance and power like Young Master Gu's.

  Zhi Xuan sat on the stone bench, letting the traditional music from the Sky Puppet show seep into him. The small jade puppets moved gracefully, narrating the ancient legend of a cultivator who sacrificed his path to immortality to save his village from a demon dragon.

  'I never understood the appeal of these mortal tales,' Ruo Xianxue murmured, though her voice no longer sounded critical. 'That sacrifice was foolish. If he had achieved immortality, he could have protected thousands of villages.'

  'But he chose the village he knew, Ruo,' Zhi Xuan countered, without turning his face from the performance. 'He chose love, not absolute power. And that is what makes his story eternal.'

  As he was immersed in this peaceful contemplation, a small shadow fell beside him.

  A girl with pigtails tied with red ribbons approached Zhi Xuan with wide, innocent eyes. She held a skewer of fresh fruit and exuded a warm innocence. She was about seven years old, neatly dressed, and her eyes were full of curiosity.

  The little girl stood still for a moment, observing Zhi Xuan. She was not afraid of his black-and-red robe or his pale left eye. She was only intrigued.

  "Handsome big brother," the girl whispered, her voice like a small ringing bell. "Why aren't you laughing? The story is funny when the dragon trips over the jade stone."

  Zhi Xuan snapped softly out of his reverie. He turned to the little girl, his facial expression changing into a rare, gentle smile.

  "Big brother is laughing inside, Little Sister," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice as soft as possible. "Big brother is thinking. What is the name of the candied fruit you are eating?"

  The little girl grinned, showing her small, neat teeth. She held up her skewer of shiny red fruits, coated in honey syrup. "This is Star Night Fruit, Big Brother! My father says this fruit can only be harvested during the full moon. Want some?"

  Without waiting for an answer, the girl pushed her fruit skewer in front of Zhi Xuan. Zhi Xuan was stunned. Taking food from a stranger, especially in the cultivation world, was a careless act. But the girl's eyes radiated pure trust.

  'Do not, monkey! It could be poisoned!' Ruo Xianxue's warning sounded sharp.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the warning. Low-level poison would not work on him, and high-level poison would not be used by a little girl on the street. This was a sweet little test from the universe.

  Zhi Xuan smiled. "Thank you very much, Little Sister." He carefully bit off a piece of fruit. The sweetness of the honey and a slight tartness of the fruit immediately flooded his tongue. It tasted delicious and refreshing.

  The little girl giggled with satisfaction. "You are welcome! One-Eyed Big Brother has a nice smile!"

  Zhi Xuan chuckled softly. He touched his pale eye. Even children could not resist commenting on his flaw.

  "Does Little Sister know who made those toys?" Zhi Xuan asked, pointing to the jade puppets on the stage.

  "That is Uncle Fu! He is good at carving. He sells other dolls in his shop near the Stone Temple," the little girl answered proudly. "But the dragon toy moved by magic is only available during the show."

  "I see," Zhi Xuan said. Simple information, but possibly valuable for filling his spare time tomorrow.

  Zhi Xuan stood up. "I must go now, Little Sister. Take good care of yourself, and do not eat too much candied fruit."

  "Byee, Handsome Big Brother!" the little girl exclaimed, waving cheerfully.

  Zhi Xuan walked away from the square, toward his inn. His steps were now filled with deeper tranquility. The brief encounters, the simple warmth from A-zi and the little girl on the bench, were the healing he most needed after diving into the grime of the Shadow Market.

  On the main street, he saw a crowd of mortal youths looking at a notice board.

  "What is that?" Zhi Xuan whispered; he stepped closer to the crowd.

  Zhi Xuan approached the crowd, stopping right behind them. He could hear their excited conversation, dominated by awe and fear.

  "Ten thousand spiritual jade coins! Damn! This must be crazy!" exclaimed one youth, his voice shrill.

  "Shhh! Quiet down, Tu Ming! Do you want to attract the guards' attention?" another youth hissed, pulling his friend's shoulder. "But yes, it's crazy! This is the biggest prize ever offered in Shoutuo for a mortal tournament."

  "What kind of tournament is this?" asked a girl nearby, her tone doubtful. "I heard it is a non-stop duel at the Dragon Fang Arena?"

  "That is right! Mortal Duel to the Death!" the first youth exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "Look at the rules. Bare hands only. No spiritual weapons, no jade essence, no formations! Only pure mortal strength and speed."

  The third youth, an older, muscular man, sneered. "This is clearly Young Master Gu's doing. He enjoys watching poor people kill each other for fun. I heard he is the one providing the ten thousand spiritual jade coin prize."

  "I don't care who provided the prize!" The first youth slammed his fist on the notice board. "Ten thousand spiritual jade coins! With that much money, I could buy a real Golden Core Pill, or at least purchase a place in a low-level sect and start my cultivation properly!"

  "But the risk is dying, idiot! A bare-handed duel without spiritual essence means every blow to the head could be your last!" the muscular man retorted seriously.

  Zhi Xuan listened to it all. His heart sank. Mortal duel to the death? Just for a cruel spectacle. He felt a wave of disgust. This was the other dark side of the mortal world—not the violence of cultivation, but the exploitation driven by greed and power. He quietly retreated from the crowd, heading back toward the quieter streets.

  'Ten thousand spiritual jade coins, monkey,' Ruo Xianxue hissed in Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, her voice sharp, leaving no room for negotiation. 'You sold your precious spiritual pouch, and now you have practically nothing but silver. You need at least two thousand spiritual jade coins to compete in the Silver Moon Auction, let alone if the genuine Five-Element Scroll appears.'

  Zhi Xuan clenched his teeth. He knew Ruo Xianxue was right. The spiritual pouch he traded was valuable, but the money was not in his hand. He was poor.

  'I will not take part in that cruelty, Ruo,' Zhi Xuan retorted coldly. 'This is mortal blood. This is what we are trying to protect!'

  'Protect?' Ruo Xianxue laughed dryly. 'Oh, you poor child, don't mention that word protect with me. Here, only you are protecting; me? I am only guiding you to become strong.'

  Ruo Xianxue's voice sounded like a devil's temptation, but her tone was filled with cruel logic.

  'This is the fastest and easiest way to secure funds for the Silver Moon Auction, Zhi Xuan. You have two days. Use the pure mortal strength you possess to gain the war chest. Take the money, and then use it to protect your disgusting mortal village!'

  Zhi Xuan stopped walking. He stared at his reflection in a puddle on the dark street. His black-and-red robe, his pale left eye. A high-level cultivator forced to fight in a mortal arena. He hated the idea, but the need for the Flame of Sunrose Flower or a similar herb to reach First Ember—a realm that would narrow the distance between him and Young Master Gu—was a burning urgency.

  He took a deep breath, his right eye staring into the distance. Ten thousand spiritual jade coins. A challenging destiny.

  'Alright, Ruo,' Zhi Xuan decided, his voice low and filled with cold determination. 'I will do it. But I will not kill. I will win, and then I will buy what is needed. Give me one night for cultivation, and tomorrow afternoon, we will sign up.'

  'A wise decision, monkey,' Ruo Xianxue replied, her tone returning to satisfaction. 'Now, return to your Cloud Jade room. Tonight, you will stabilize your foundation. Tomorrow, you will steal the fire right under Young Master Gu's nose.'

  Zhi Xuan quickened his pace, the aura of tranquility he had just gained from the mortal children now replaced by sharp focus and deliberate darkness.