Chapter 1: Haicheng (Part 2)

On a whim, Guo Shier took out a few more pouches containing magical materials and said, “Since the price is fair, then… I’ll sell you these materials too.”
Sun Fu took the pouches and inspected them one by one, his face showing surprise. Inside were not only materials from fifth-level mutated magical beasts but also those from sixth- and seventh-level ones—materials that were quite valuable even in Haimen. The materials from seventh-level mutated beasts could even be used for exchanges, and few people offered them for sale.
Guo Shier had collected a wide variety of materials, with the most being those from mutated magical beasts. As for the top-tier materials, such as Anluo Stone, Zhuli Wood, and Blood Soul Stone, he definitely wouldn’t dare show them. If he did, he probably wouldn’t be able to sit here safely.
Sun Fu said, “I need some time to assess them. You sit here first; I’ll be back in a while.”
Guo Shier nodded. “Okay, let’s go to the market first. We’ll come back to you this afternoon.”
Sun Fu nodded and said, “Xuan Ai, take your friends along. Hehe, we’ll talk again when we have time.”
Shopkeeper Fan escorted everyone out. Xuan Ai asked, “Shier, what kind of materials are you selling? They require Sun Fu to spend time assessing them.”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “I have some materials from seventh-level mutated magical beasts.”
Huh?
Xuan Ai was shocked. “What are you doing? Materials from seventh-level mutated beasts! That’s not worth it!”
Guo Shier laughed. “It’s nothing. Just seventh-level ones.” Once upon a time, when facing the Earth Dragon, his excitement had completely vanished. Recalling his first meeting with Li Ran, he realized that Li Ran wasn’t interested in seventh-level mutated magical beasts at all. He was just looking for an excuse to communicate with him. It was ridiculous that he had feared Li Ran might have ulterior motives.
Xuan Ai shook his head repeatedly, scratching his head in confusion, and sighed, “Sigh, so wealthy…”
Eagle Demon also couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, but he would never oppose anything Guo Shier decided.
Monier, on the other hand, didn’t care at all. She doted on Guo Shier like her own son, allowing him to do whatever he wanted. Even if he brought out materials from eighth-level mutated magical beasts, she wouldn’t object—as long as Guo Shier was happy.

Xuan Ai wasn’t rich, but he was a professional and a disciple heavily nurtured by the inner sect, so he never lacked money. For professionals, Great Talisman Coins weren’t important. He couldn’t understand why Guo Shier would be willing to use materials from a level-7 mutated talisman beast to exchange for Great Talisman Coins.
The materials from a level-7 mutated talisman beast were considered mid-to-high-grade even in the Hai Men sect and could be exchanged for quite good things. That’s why Xuan Ai didn’t understand it and even felt a bit pained—had he known earlier, he would have bought those materials himself.
Guo Shier laughed and said, “When you arrive in a new place, you always need money. Hehe, anyway, the materials can be gathered through hunting, so it doesn’t matter… You knew how many mutated talisman beasts we hunted during our time in the Bloody Secret Realm.”
Xuan Ai replied casually, “Yeah, plenty…” but thought to himself, “Is that kind of treasure land in the Bloody Secret Realm accessible to just anyone? Sigh, Shier must belong to a major sect, but since he won’t tell, I can only pretend to be clueless.”
If Guo Shier had known Xuan Ai was thinking this way, he would have laughed himself to death—just by being generous, he could cause misunderstandings. He asked, “Xuan Ai, did Ding Ding and the others make it back safely?”
Xuan Ai said, “I thought you wouldn’t ask… Don’t worry, nothing happened. I just heard that Zhang Yaojin escaped.”
Guo Shier was surprised. “Weren’t the warrants against him canceled?”
Xuan Ai replied, “Yes, that’s right. But he killed seven disciples, and their sects refused to let it go. So Zhang Yaojin had no choice but to flee—otherwise, he would die. No one can protect him forever.”
Guo Shier laughed and said, “It’s good that he escaped. As long as he can run away, where can’t he survive? With Zhang Yaojin’s strength, he can go to any high-level continent, join a sect, and with a little effort, it won’t be hard for him to get an inheritance… By then, as long as no top experts appear, who can stop him?”
Xuan Ai agreed, “Yeah. I heard two great sage masters chased after him, hehe, but they couldn’t even find a trace of him. That guy had already honed his skills in the Bloody Secret Realm—he’s definitely an expert at escaping… By the way, Sun Min’er and Peng Yuanwang are doing well. They were taken in by a major sect and became inner sect disciples.”
Ying Mo couldn’t help but interject, “Those two guys…” He had a strong impression of them—they were extremely cowardly. When fighting mutated talisman beasts, they didn’t have any impressive tactics, but they were first-class at escaping. Only later, under Zhou Xiaoling’s pressure, did they gain a little courage. It was unclear if they still had that timid nature.

Guo Shier smiled and said, “These two are typical bullies who only target the weak. It’s good that they’ve found a decent end.” Knowing that his former adventure companions had a good outcome made him happy too. Whether they could meet again in the future wasn’t important.
After two reincarnations and three lifetimes, Guo Shier had become quite indifferent to partings and reunions. Apart from those who had done him favors, everyone else was like passing clouds. Yet this one conviction remained in his reincarnated soul—something he would never forget.
Monier pointed ahead and asked, “What kind of shop is that?”
It was a shop with a large storefront, also without a sign. Inside, there were rows of wooden shelves, with many low-level professionals wandering around.
Xuan Ai glanced at it and said, “That’s a shop where low-level disciples pick real talismans and talisman tools. It’s useless to us…”
Monier lost interest immediately. A place selling low-grade talismans couldn’t arouse her desire to buy anything. She asked, “Are there any shops frequented by high-level professionals?”
Xuan Ai smiled and said, “There aren’t any in Haicheng. But there are some in the inner market of Haimen.”
Monier said disheartenedly, “Then forget it.”
Guo Shier said, “Xuan Ai, find a fun shop.”
Xuan Ai replied quickly, “Yes, yes! I’ll take you there.” Fortunately, he had lived in Haicheng for some time and was very familiar with this coastal city. After winding through several streets, he led the three of them to a shop.
It was a clothing store. Before Guo Shier could say anything, Monier cheered and rushed in. He immediately understood and said, “Xuan Ai, you’re quite clever.”
Xuan Ai realized that Monier was an elder to Guo Shier, and a close one at that. To win Guo Shier’s favor, it was better to please Monier first, as that would make Guo Shier even more grateful. He said, “The fabrics in this shop are very famous. Ordinary people can’t afford them; only professionals buy them, and they’re expensive.”
Guo Shier followed Xuan Ai inside.
Xuan Ai explained, “Most of these fabrics are made by mixing silk and spider silk. Some are even woven from the tendons and hairs of mutated talisman beasts. The leather is tanned from the skins of talisman beasts… All the fabrics are decorated with simple runes and activated by talisman masters.”
Guo Shier asked, “Surely they’re not produced by your Haimen again?”
Xuan Ai smiled and said, “Besides our Haimen, which other shop could produce top-quality fabrics? Other sects… they can’t reach Haicheng.”
Guo Shier said, “That’s true. Well, I’ll take a look too. If there’s anything good, I’ll buy some to take back.”

Rows of racks stacked upon each other, bearing whole pieces of fabric and leather. Special lighting charms illuminated the room brightly, allowing people to clearly see the patterns and textures of the fabrics. Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—vibrant and dazzling colors abounded, with an endless variety of fabrics and furs available.

Even Guo Shier was amazed. Having seen large shopping malls in his past life, he was quite experienced, but even he was shocked by the sheer abundance of fabrics and furs. They were truly magnificent and eye-catching.

Monier couldn’t walk any further in front of the first row of racks. Any woman would find it hard to resist such temptation. She murmured, “How beautiful!”

Guo Shier smiled and said, “My dear, buy whatever you like. If the money isn’t enough, let Xuan Ai pay for it first.”

Monier perked up and said, “Okay!”

Xuan Ai immediately called over the shopkeeper, sensing that Monier would spend a lot. Sure enough, she started browsing. Pointing at the racks, she said, “This one… this one… and this one too… the one at the bottom.”

The shopkeeper hurried after her, repeatedly agreeing, “I’ve noted it down…”

Monier continued, “Discard these a few. Take everything else!”

The shopkeeper was shocked. It was the first time he’d encountered someone who wanted to discard a few items while taking everything else. Monier tossed over two token bags and said, “Pack them up for me.” Several workers quickly stepped forward to assist. In no time, wherever Monier passed, only a few pieces of fabric remained, with the rest packed into the token bags.

The shopkeeper was clearly stunned. He rarely encountered someone who bought so wildly. His attitude became even more respectful.

The store had three large halls, each several hundred square meters in size, filled with fabrics and furs. Under Monier’s frenzied shopping, the three rooms quickly became empty, with only a few pieces of fabric left swaying in the draft.

Soon, the shopkeeper brought the bill and said, “It totals 370,000 Great Token coins, with the change already deducted.”

Monier’s face turned slightly red as she asked, “Baby, isn’t there enough money?”

Guo Shier smiled and said, “There is enough. What could be lacking? Xuan Ai, pay for it first.”

Xuan Ai inwardly groaned. How could he carry that much in Great Token coins? He said, “Shopkeeper, just record it for now. I’m an inner disciple. Here’s my identity token. I’ll bring the money tonight.”

The shopkeeper agreed repeatedly. An identity badge for an inner disciple was a golden ticket; using such status as collateral posed no problem at all. He noted down the identity badge and then had Xuan Ai sign her soul imprint before everyone left the shop.
Xuan Ai said with lingering fear, “It’s good I’m an inner disciple; otherwise, it would have been a joke.”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “If it weren’t your territory, we wouldn’t have made such purchases. Don’t worry. Even if Hai Zhen Merchant Guild doesn’t have enough money, I can sell some materials—your share of the fees won’t be reduced.”
Xuan Ai shook her head. “It’s not about the fees. If professionals really want to make money, these fees are nothing.”
Guo Shier pointed to a place not far away and asked, “What’s that?”