Chapter 33: Recruiting Subordinates
Wei Shiyan looked at the girl once again, his eyes glinting faintly, and then a smirk tugged at his lips.
"Interesting," he muttered softly, the single word carrying a weight that made the girl shudder in fear.
Her throat tightened, but gathering her courage, she blurted out, "Mister, if you want… I can also show you the way to the brothel. But… I'm only a guide."
Her voice wavered, but hidden deep in her tone was a sharp disgust. In her mind, men were always scum by nature, creatures driven by lust and arrogance.
Wei Shiyan, however, even though he could clearly feel her misjudgment and harsh interpretation of his character, didn't show the slightest trace of anger. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as he replied with a neutral tone,
"Oh? Really? Then lead the way… to the planetary brick station."
The girl blinked, startled. Then, letting out a breath of relief, she nodded quickly.
"Sure."
Without another word, she led him away. They had barely walked a short distance from the inn when she stopped before a strange mirror-like portal. It shimmered, rippling with soft waves of light, almost as if a pond of liquid glass had been framed in midair.
Pointing at it, the girl explained, "We'll have to use the Mirage Door to reach the Central Market. Otherwise, if we fly… it'll take us more than a month, since the Fifty Blissful Peaks are far too vast."
She glanced back at him, her tone turning slightly cautious.
"But remember… it doesn't take black crystals. You'll need to throw in spiritual crystals."
Wei Shiyan's eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze locked on the portal. His voice was steady as he asked, "How many?"
The light from the Mirage Door reflected in his eyes, igniting a storm of ideas. The sight dazzled him, inspiring wild possibilities. Already, his mind was drifting, envisioning ways to create an upgraded version of this very portal using his Space Law.
"Fifteen thousand spiritual crystals per person," the girl answered bluntly.
Wei Shiyan's thoughts froze for a moment.
"So much?" he muttered under his breath.
Yet even as he voiced his surprise, his mind spun faster. If I study the structure of these Mirage Doors across the Fifty Blissful Peaks… what if I design a small pocket dimension linked to them? One that secretly saves part of the crystals thrown inside?
The plan built itself in his thoughts. He could use his deep understanding of formations, combined with the power of Space Law, to refine the flow of energy and regulate the power consumption for each travel. A system like that would bleed less, consume less, and give him free passage while others paid a fortune.
But he stopped himself. Not now. Too many eyes, too much attention. Later.
Suppressing the urge to act immediately, Wei Shiyan casually pulled out thirty thousand spiritual crystals from his wealth. With an almost careless flick, he tossed them toward the mirror-like surface.
The portal rippled instantly, expanding outward like a pond disturbed by stones. A wave of soft light spread around them, streaks of brilliance covering their bodies. And then—
Whoosh!
They vanished. Not even a trace of their existence remained in front of the inn.
Fifty Blissful Peaks – Central Market
The shift was instant.
One moment, they had been standing before the shimmering door. The next, they were standing on an enormous platform, so vast and bustling that one might mistake it for a small city. And yet, this was merely one corner of the Central Market.
The girl didn't waste time. She immediately began walking to the left, heading toward an area where the ground was cracked and broken, with massive chunks of stone scattered about. The jagged terrain gave off the feel of a battlefield long forgotten, but the noises ahead shattered the grim impression.
Crowds surged before their eyes. Rows upon rows of stalls and pavilions stretched endlessly, each displaying ores of every imaginable kind. Rare stones gleamed under makeshift lights, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
Wei Shiyan's eyes widened slightly. He was astonished at the variety.
The girl, however, merely glanced at the stalls and spoke lightly, "I suggest you don't waste time here. Go to the other end, where you can buy straight from the mine."
Wei Shiyan chuckled. "Sure."
They moved quickly, winding through narrow alleys wedged between stalls until they arrived before a massive cave.
The cavern's mouth was colossal—so vast it seemed like some prehistoric beast had torn open the mountain with its jaws. Its yawning maw stretched into shadow, and had it not been for the hustle of silhouettes and the constant echoes of voices and activity, the place would have felt terrifying.
Just as they approached, a tall man with slightly oversized ears stood before them.
The guide girl called out with familiarity, "Pighead Ma! I brought you a buyer. What's my commission?"
Her tone was bold, without the slightest shred of embarrassment.
Wei Shiyan nearly choked. He glanced at the girl, then at the man, muttering to himself, What a legitimate business tycoon…
The man called Pighead Ma, however, didn't react to the insulting name. His face remained calm, as though he had long been used to it.
"Ahem… about that, we'll talk later," he said after clearing his throat lightly. "But for now, business comes first, yes?"
Bam!
The sudden noise jolted everyone's attention. Something heavy had hit the ground.
They turned together—and saw a youth sprawled on the stone floor. His skin was slightly tanned, his body trembling as though at death's door. His chest heaved with effort, his eyes clouded with pain, but still, he struggled to rise.
Behind him stood a sinister old man, his eyes sharp and venomous.
"You useless slave!" the man roared. "Today I'll break your legs and throw you out like trash!"
The boy shuddered, his body wracked with pain that seemed to ripple through his very soul. Gritting his teeth, he tried to stand, but his strength failed him. He collapsed again, powerless.
The onlookers had different reactions—some looked on with pity, while others dismissed it entirely. Misery was nothing new here.
The guide girl frowned slightly, turning to Pighead Ma.
"I've never seen this guy before. What's his story?"
Pighead Ma sighed, folding his arms.
"We're all strangers in this place. The Desolate Mirage Ridges attract only one kind of people: treasure seekers. But this boy… he was unlucky. His people were slaughtered, and he was captured. His body crippled, his soul… shattered."
The girl blinked. "His soul?"
Pighead Ma nodded grimly.
"Yes. They conducted a soul search on him. It ruined him completely."
The girl let out a soft sigh. But as she spoke, Wei Shiyan's focus drifted away.
His eyes had locked on something subtle—something so faint that no one else could sense it. A spark hidden deep inside the boy.
Without wasting a moment, Wei Shiyan stepped forward. A chuckle escaped his lips, low and mocking, yet strangely magnetic.
"Hahaha… crippling him is such a waste. Why not sell him to me instead? I have a need for his soul."
The crowd reacted instantly, but not with shock. After all, the Desolate Mirage Ridges were notorious for cruelty. Things like this were far from rare.
Yet the guide girl beside him frowned deeply, her disgust thick in her expression.
Wei Shiyan didn't bother explaining himself. He didn't need to. His goal wasn't to play the saint.
Inside, he had already made up his mind. He would save the boy, yes—but not out of compassion. He had seen something others could not: potential. A rare, unparalleled potential.
Since his rise to power, only a handful had carried this kind of spark. The girl standing beside him was one. And this boy, broken and near death, was another.
These were the kind of talents ranked among the top ten even in ancient times, capable of shaking entire galaxies. And Wei Shiyan, with his unmatc
hed soul, could see it clearly.
He would not let them slip away.