Translator: CinderTL
Zuoqiu Hui silently took a step back, subtly tugging on Zuoqiu Zhen's sleeve. If things turned sour, she planned to bolt immediately.
Junior Sister Zhao lowered her head, her eyes darting around furtively as she edged closer to Xu Sanyan.
Xu Sanyan glanced up at the counter. The voice had come from within, but no one was visible.
Thump!
Ouch!
A cry of pain echoed from behind the counter. A young woman emerged, rubbing her forehead with a grimace that was almost comical, though no one dared to laugh.
"What can I get for you all?"
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes still drowsy, and she wore a loose, deep purple robe that revealed generous stretches of snow-white skin with every movement.
Xu Sanyan's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her. His eyes swept across her chest, and his brow furrowed slightly. How can she be so flat? Is there really nothing there at all?
The woman stepped out from behind the counter and vigorously rubbed her face to appear more alert.
"What's the use of these items?" Xu Sanyan asked tentatively.
The woman glided forward, her dainty feet moving with graceful steps. Her small, delicate feet were exquisitely shaped, the snow-white arches forming perfect curves. Her toenails were painted a vibrant red, further accentuating their pristine whiteness, making one yearn to caress them.
Xu Sanyan glanced at the scene and quickly lost interest. Though intrigued, he knew this wasn't the time for such distractions.
Zuoqiu Hui's nerves were on edge. Beside her, Zuoqiu Zhen looked confused. She found the woman before them quite friendly and couldn't understand why her Third Sister was reacting so strongly.
The young woman tilted her head slightly, her round eyes scanning Xu Sanyan from head to toe. Her gaze lingered briefly in certain areas, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
"You've got quite the presence, young man..."
Xu Sanyan's cheek twitched involuntarily. "You can tell that through my pants?"
"Eee~ What are you talking about?"
The woman feigned offense, but her eyes sparkled with genuine delight at the teasing.
"I meant your divine soul, of course. What were you thinking?" She covered her mouth with a delicate hand, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"I-I meant my divine soul too," Xu Sanyan stammered, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He was used to teasing others, but this was the first time he'd been teased himself.
Zuoqiu Zhen tilted her head again, sensing that their conversation wasn't quite about divine souls.
"Hehe~ It's been ages since I met such a cute young man! Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll give you a 10% discount on anything you buy!"
The young woman was overjoyed, her feet tapping lightly with excitement, betraying her inner delight.
Xu Sanyan's tone was surprised. "Sister? Has this young lady even reached her coming-of-age ceremony this year?"
He scrutinized her for a moment. "Judging by your appearance, you can't be more than seventeen or eighteen. How can you call yourself 'sister'?"
"Giggle~ You have such a sweet tongue..."
The young woman covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably.
Behind her, Zuoqiu Hui shivered involuntarily, unable to comprehend how Xu Sanyan could utter such words.
Junior Sister Zhao secretly curled the corner of her lips.
"Sister likes you. I'll take a little less today and give you a 20% discount."
Xu Sanyan gazed earnestly at the young woman. "Aiyo, I couldn't possibly allow that! How could this younger brother rest easy if Sister were to lose money? Our hearts are connected; I would never take advantage of you."
"Then it's simple. Why doesn't this younger brother let Sister take advantage of him a little too?"
The young woman flicked her small tongue across her red lips, lowered her head slightly, and wore a sly smile.
Xu Sanyan's heart skipped a beat. Though he was capable of murder, arson, forcing others to submit, and using any means necessary to achieve his goals—selfish, ruthless, and violent as he was—he still considered himself a good boy. He couldn't possibly take up with a woman of such dubious origins.
"This..."
Xu Sanyan's mind raced. He was tempted, but fear held him back, terrified the woman might drain his vital essence.
"Alright, enough teasing. Hurry up and see what you want to buy," the young woman said, wiggling her toes and taking two steps forward.
Zuoqiu Hui silently retreated two steps.
Noticing her subtle movement, the woman glanced at her, a warning in her eyes. "You can't leave without buying something, you know..."
"Forced sales?" Zuoqiu Zhen blurted out, startled.
The woman frowned, clearly displeased. "What nonsense! Did I force you in here? You came seeking refuge from danger, didn't you? Since you're here, you must buy something. That's the rule here."
"Heh... you're right, Sister. Since we've taken shelter in your esteemed place to escape the calamity, how could we not show our gratitude?"
The woman finally smiled, gliding closer to Xu Sanyan and smoothing his clothes. "That's more like it. You're the reasonable one, little brother."
As she spoke, she shot a haughty glance at Zuoqiu Zhen. "Hmph, unlike some people..."
Zuoqiu Zhen lowered her head, too embarrassed to argue.
"Sister, could you tell me what these things are for?" Xu Sanyan asked, subtly scratching the back of the young woman's hand with his finger, eliciting a soft hum from her.
"There are many treasures here," she replied, tugging at Xu Sanyan's sleeve. Her slender, jade-like fingers pointed to a slender arm lying on the table. "This is the arm of the Five Directions Sage. If you refine it, you can comprehend a trace of the Sage's Dao and use it to defend against enemies."
Xu Sanyan's pupils constricted sharply, his mind reeling as if caught in a towering tidal wave. Only those words echoed in his ears:
The arm of the Five Directions Sage.
"A sage's... arm?!" Xu Sanyan's voice was low and strained as he slowly turned to the young woman, as if he hadn't heard correctly. "Did you say this is a sage's arm?"
A smile curved the woman's lips. "Yes, the arm of a sage."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the group, a hint of satisfaction flickering across her face at their stunned expressions.
"How much... for this?" Zuoqiu Hui's face flushed crimson with excitement. If she could bring this back to her clan and have their ancestor refine it...
Perhaps the Zuoqiu Clan could produce a sage of their own!
This would elevate them to one of the world's top powers.
Even the five great sects of the Central Region each openly claimed only one sage.
The young woman's smile widened as she slowly extended a finger. "One thousand pounds of soul spirit."
"Soul spirit?" Zuoqiu Hui asked, puzzled. She had never heard of such a thing.
"Hiss..." Xu Sanyan gasped, fully aware of the implications of one thousand pounds of soul spirit.
He himself possessed only two pounds, three ounces, and six coins of soul spirit—meaning nearly five hundred of him would be needed to exchange for just one of these arms.
"Don't even think about it. You couldn't afford it even if you sold yourself," Xu Sanyan said, shaking his head to cut off her thoughts.
Zuoqiu Hui's eyes dimmed, but she remained undeterred. "How many pounds of soul spirit do I have?"
She knew soul spirit was simply another term for divine soul, but she had never imagined it could be quantified. This was the first time she had heard of measuring divine souls in pounds.
"How many pounds?"
The young woman's eyes sparkled with amusement, a hint of mockery hidden within. "You have seven ounces and two coins. If you gathered fourteen hundred copies of yourself, you might just be able to afford it. Doesn't that sound motivating?"
Zuoqiu Hui froze, silently lowering her head.
(End of the Chapter)
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