"Hm? You two also want to trade for this bloodline?" Chu Lian's gaze was fixed on the petite figure in a black robe, while she paid little attention to the tall man beside her.
"Yes, I need that bloodline very much. I'll pay something that will satisfy you in exchange." Chu Lian's question was directed at both of them, but in truth, it was meant for the petite figure. However, the first to respond was the tall man.
"This item isn't cheap, you know. I hope both of you have something of equal value before we start discussing the deal," Chu Lian said as she sat cross-legged on the ground. Her head tilted slightly upward as she glanced at the towering man—nearly three meters tall—who stood out among the bizarre crowd of merchants.
"Of course, I've prepared something of equal worth. I promise it'll satisfy you." The man's deep voice carried a strange wildness to it—suggesting he wasn't entirely human.
"Oh? Then show me what you've brought." Chu Lian had already seen what the previous merchant offered—and it was tempting. Now, only these two remained.
The petite merchant seemed unhurried, quietly standing there and waiting for Chu Lian to decide. The tall man, however, was clearly anxious—his eagerness revealed just how much he desired the bloodline.
"This item... I wonder if it'll suit your taste." He stretched out a hand—clearly not human—with only four fingers, green skin, and sharp claws resembling those of a crocodile.
But Chu Lian's attention wasn't on his hand—it was on the glowing orb resting in his palm.
Devourer's Soul Orb: This orb can absorb the enemy's essence to strengthen the user. When dealing damage, it restores lost vitality and spiritual power. Warning: this orb contains dark magic. If you cannot suppress your desire to consume others' life force to grow stronger, you will fall into corruption. Equipable item. Upon equipping, grants S-rank skills: Deception Orb, Demonic Foxfire, Bewitching Sorcery, and SS-rank skill Soul Assault.
"Where did you get this orb?" Chu Lian's tone sharpened. She immediately recognized the familiar skills—it was obvious whose relic this was.
"I found it in a cave deep within the jungles of Ionia. Does it satisfy you?" he replied after a brief hesitation, deciding to reveal the orb's origin truthfully.
Nodding thoughtfully, Chu Lian turned her gaze toward the petite figure, curious what she would offer.
"Would this please you?" The small figure, realizing it was finally her turn, stepped forward and extended a delicate hand. In her palm rested a brilliant blue, heart-shaped crystal.
Heart of Aquarius: Legend says this treasure was formed from the first drop of water shed by the constellation Aquarius. Said to possess world-altering power. When fused with one's heart, it grants the ultimate water affinity talent—Dream Sea—and mastery over all water-element magic. Once one's strength reaches the required level, all water spells become usable. However, due to its extremely strict compatibility requirements, it's said that in a span of ten thousand years, not one person has successfully merged with it. Some even believe it to be nothing more than myth.
"So this is what they mean by 'sign a contract and become a magical girl,' huh?" Chu Lian muttered dryly. Despite its incredible power, the item was practically useless—an unintentional joke.
"This is the only thing I have that matches the value of your bloodline. I'm sorry," the petite girl said softly. Though she didn't want to trade it, she knew its worth. Anyone could tell that the Heart of Aquarius far surpassed the Dragon Bloodline in raw potential.
Unfortunately, its usability was abysmally low compared to the Dragon Bloodline. Without the right host, it was completely inert—a decoration that could sit for millennia and still never awaken. That was precisely why its market value had fallen so far.
"I understand. But I can't trade for it right now, since I have no use for it. I'm sorry." Chu Lian said with a trace of regret. She had actually wanted to trade with the girl—perhaps because, for reasons she couldn't explain, she felt a faint sense of pity toward her.
But trade was trade—she couldn't let a fleeting sense of pity make her abandon her own interests. After all, she and that girl had barely spoken a few words, never even seen each other's face. That wasn't enough reason to make such a sacrifice.
"It's fine. Even if we can't trade, 5733, it's still nice to have met you... cough, cough..." The petite girl's frail cough echoed softly, making Chu Lian frown. Only then did she realize why the girl wanted the bloodline so badly.
Still, even understanding that didn't change the fact—there was only one vial.
Turning away, Chu Lian stopped looking at the girl. The young merchant quietly held the Heart of Aquarius close to her chest, watching as Chu Lian examined the other two offers.
"So... it really won't work, huh? This thing might be precious, but it's useless to me. I can only keep it in my hands, helplessly. If I had that Dragon Bloodline... with the dragon's vitality and power, even if I couldn't lift the curse, I could at least live much longer—not like this, weak and sick all the time..." The girl bit her lip beneath her hood, silent yet wistful.
Meanwhile, another merchant—the man from before—produced a gleaming white crystal.
Jade Snow Crystal: A miraculous gem said to grant life to any object and bestow upon it the ability to grow. This item has no fixed rank, but is classified by the amount of energy it contains. This particular crystal is Heaven-grade.
The moment Chu Lian saw it, she nearly agreed to the trade on the spot.
If it weren't for the two other offers, she might have already accepted it. But now, she was caught in a dilemma—should she choose the Jade Snow Crystal or the Devourer's Soul Orb? Both were tempting in their own ways.
"Lian'er, do you know what the Jade Snow Crystal really is?" Ayase's voice rang softly in her mind. "It's said to grant life to anything and give it growth potential, yes—but you need to understand what that means. The life it creates doesn't belong to you, but to the world itself."
"If you use it on a powerful object, most of what you bring to life will see you as an enemy. Some might remain neutral, but only a very small number would ever treat you kindly."
"So using this crystal might not earn you a strong ally—it might create an uncontrollable foe. One you forged yourself, wasting two valuable items in the process."
"Otherwise, why do you think such a creation-defying item is so cheap compared to its supposed power?" Ayase's calm explanation cut through her thoughts.
Thankfully, Chu Lian had Ayase—her most reliable source of guidance. The system's records might have gaps when it came to mysterious beings or legendary figures, but when it came to items—especially those below SS-rank—it had never once been wrong.
So Chu Lian trusted Ayase's reasoning completely. She decided that the Jade Snow Crystal would be a waste in her hands. She had no reason to use a Heaven-grade item on anything below that tier.
And if the life it created was born at Earth-grade or even Heaven-grade strength... how could she possibly subdue it? Better to pass on the offer.
Having made up her mind, Chu Lian pretended to think for a moment longer before standing up. "Alright, I've made my decision."
"You chose me, didn't you?" said the merchant holding the Jade Snow Crystal, brimming with confidence.
It wasn't his fault—he had seen her reaction earlier when she first laid eyes on the crystal. Her excitement had been unmistakable.
And since the other offers hadn't drawn the same response, it was natural for him to assume that his item had won her over.
Though the Jade Snow Crystal was indeed more valuable, the man preferred control above all else. To him, anything that couldn't be tamed was worthless—no matter how powerful.
It was his creed, and the reason for his reputation among the merchants of the Origin Land.
"I choose this gentleman's Devourer's Soul Orb. I'm sorry, but I won't be trading for your Jade Snow Crystal right now." Chu Lian, who had been facing the confident man, turned instead toward the tall figure as she spoke.
The sudden turn of events left not only the two involved but even the onlookers stunned. How had this girl's thought process flipped so quickly?
Clenching the Jade Snow Crystal tightly, the man's expression darkened. He noted down Chu Lian's merchant number. "5733... good, very good. We'll meet again."
Rejected so bluntly, even humiliated in public, the man's calm demeanor vanished, replaced by cold fury.
"Safe travels," Chu Lian said casually, unconcerned. So what if he remembered her number? As long as she held the title of Spacetime Traveling Merchant, no one could harm her here.
As for revenge outside this place—well, that depended on whether he even had the ability to find her.
She couldn't just change her decision because of someone's attitude. That would make her look weak and timid—an easy target. She refused to earn such a reputation.
"That one's not simple, Lian'er. Be careful around him," Ayase warned quietly. She had noticed something off about the man but didn't dwell on it much.
There were plenty of two-faced people in the world. So what if he was dangerous? If it came to it, she could just eliminate him.
Ayase's pride ran deep, and she feared no retaliation. Chu Lian, having spent nearly a year with her, had inherited a bit of that boldness. Though gentle in nature, she wasn't one to back down when it mattered.
"Please take it—this is what you wanted," Chu Lian said as she accepted the Devourer's Soul Orb and handed the vial of Dragon Bloodline to the tall merchant, who still seemed momentarily dazed.
"O-oh! Thank you! If fate allows, 5733, I'll repay this kindness one day!" The towering figure quickly stored away the vial that now belonged to him, bowing his head in gratitude.
"It's just a fair trade. We both got what we needed," Chu Lian replied with a smile. That vial had been useless to her—and even to everyone around her. Leaving it idle would've been a waste.
Trading it for something she could actually use was the best outcome. She liked such exchanges—both parties satisfied, no one at a loss. What could be better than that?
The surrounding merchants sighed as they watched the vial being sold. Such a treasure, right before their eyes, now belonged to someone else—it was hard not to feel regret.
The petite girl in the black robe also fell silent. No matter how much she wished otherwise, the tall man who had obtained the vial would never trade it away. She could only give up.
Turning away, she began walking toward her own shop, already thinking about how to find another item that could slow her curse and prevent her life from fading away.
But before she had taken more than a few steps, Chu Lian called out, "Hey—you might be able to use something I have. Would you like to make another trade?"
The girl paused. Her small frame, frail and delicate, evoked pity without effort. Chu Lian couldn't help it—something about her stirred a strange compassion. If she could help, she wanted to.
"Other than that Dragon Bloodline, I don't think you have anything I could use," the girl said with an air of habitual pride, perhaps from living long as a superior among others.
Chu Lian didn't mind. She could tell the girl wasn't difficult to get along with. If anything, that little hint of arrogance was... cute. A frail, noble loli with an attitude.
"Now, now, don't say that. I really do have something that could help you. You're cursed, right? Your life force is constantly draining. I can't lift the curse for now, but I can strengthen your vitality." Chu Lian smiled faintly as she reached out, and a small vial of shimmering green liquid appeared in her hand, glowing faintly with the color of life.
Life Elixir Type III: A powerful potion that restores lost vitality. Especially effective for those suffering from life-force depletion. Can replenish up to one year of lifespan. Usable by individuals below Earth Rank or with Constitution not exceeding 50 points. Exchange cost: 3,000 Dream Points.
"This... I'll pay 100,000 crystal coins for it." Even though most of her face was hidden beneath her hood, Chu Lian could clearly sense the girl's longing. The price was fair—generous, even.
A hundred thousand crystal coins. Not cheap at all. An A-rank item typically maxed out around that price. Considering she'd only spent 3,000 Dream Points on it, the profit was excellent.
"Thank you, 5733. If you ever obtain more of this, please sell it to me again," the girl said earnestly, transferring the coins before carefully accepting the Life Elixir Type III. Her voice carried a rare note of joy.
Chu Lian nodded. "Of course, 4321. My stall's in the outer ring—this very spot. If you come by again and I'm here, I'll sell it to you."
"Thank you..." The girl bowed deeply several times before leaving. Chu Lian didn't stop her, simply watching her go. When the black-robed figure disappeared into the crowd, she finally exhaled softly.
"Being a good person... isn't so bad after all."
"Oh really? Maybe that's why you're still single—too many 'good person' cards handed your way?" Ayase's teasing voice came from within the space, her lips curling into a sly smile as she half-covered them with her fan.
"Yes, yes, fine. Good people end up single. I get it, alright?" Chu Lian rolled her eyes, choosing not to argue. Instead, she checked her inventory and remaining points. Finding nothing else worth selling or trading, she stood up and closed her stall.
Maybe she'd wander around a bit—who knew, she might stumble upon something truly useful.