Luo Zhen spent the next few weeks on a rampage. He tore through the surrounding territory, hitting one bandit crew after another. They varied in size and strength, but they all had one thing in common: they were sitting on piles of cash.
By the time he was done, a half-month later, he had swept the region clean for thousands of miles. The sheer amount of spirit stones he'd collected was staggering. Satisfied, he headed back to Flying Sand City with his haul.
The moment he set foot on his own turf, he saw a familiar face.
A woman, half-human and half-serpent, was standing at the gate to his estate, craning her neck as she peered inside, obviously looking for someone.
"Hong Yu?" Luo Zhen called out, walking toward her.
"Luo Zhen!" It was her. She whipped her head around, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You made it out! I can't believe it. I was sure the Ant Queen had gotten you for good!" She leaned in closer. "Seriously, how did you get away from her?"
A faint blush crept up Luo Zhen's neck. He gave an awkward cough. "It's, uh, a long story. Better not to get into it."
There was no way he could tell her what really happened with the Ant Queen.
He changed the subject, giving her a once-over. A faint, bloody aura shimmered around her, and his instincts—honed by his own rare power—screamed that she was now a genuine threat.
"You've changed, Hong Yu," he said, his tone serious. "A lot."
"It's all thanks to you," she replied. "Because you helped me find that poison crystal, I was able to evolve. I went into seclusion to refine it the second I got back. I just finished, and the first thing I heard was that you'd taken back your territory. I came right over to give you your payment."
Back when they were hunting for the crystal, Hong Yu had promised to double the reward for anyone who helped her. In the end, only two of them had made it back alive. The Sand Scorpion, the Mole Rat, and the Lizard generals were all buried in the Black Desert.
"I'm surprised you even remembered," Luo Zhen said, pushing open the heavy gates to his home. "Come on in. We can talk inside."
They settled into the main hall as his attendants brought out tea. As they talked, the conversation drifted toward magical artifacts. Luo Zhen decided to tell her about his problem: he needed a massive quantity of Thunder Stones. Hong Yu had been in Flying Sand City for years; she was established, connected. Maybe she knew something he didn't.
He was right.
"Thunder Stones?" she said, thinking for a moment. "A couple of friends of mine have two pieces, but I don't know if that's enough for you."
"Two is a start, but I need way more than that," he said, shaking his head. "Of course, I'll gladly buy those two off them."
"That's the easy part," she said. "But the stones themselves are incredibly rare. You rarely see them on the open market. If you need them in bulk, there's really only one place to go."
"Where?" Luo Zhen leaned forward, his attention locked on her.
"Flying Sand City has two markets," she explained. "There's the one everyone knows, the official one. And then there's the one that operates in the shadows: the underground market."
She took a sip of tea. "In the official market, the prices are fair, but the selection is basic. It's all common stuff. The underground market is the complete opposite. You can find anything there, as long as you have the money. The catch? A lot of the goods have a questionable history. Buy the wrong thing, and you might attract the kind of trouble you can't fight your way out of."
"Do they have Thunder Stones?" Luo Zhen asked, completely unfazed by the warning.
"Oh, yeah. I see them there all the time," she said with a laugh. "Funny thing is, nobody ever seems to buy them."
"That's perfect!" he said, his heart pounding. "Where is it? How do I get in?"
Hong Yu's smile was sly. "It's not open every day. It's held on a schedule, and you can't just walk in. You need someone to vouch for you." She winked. "Don't worry, I can get you in. I'm a regular. But I need to give you a heads-up on a few things."
Her expression turned serious. "First, everything is ridiculously expensive. And it's not uncommon for multiple generals to get into a bidding war over a single item. So you'd better come loaded for bear."
"Second," she continued, her voice dropping lower, "do not flash your wealth around. The place is chaos. It's crawling with sharks. If the wrong person sees you as a mark, you're in for a world of hurt."
Luo Zhen nodded. "Don't worry. I get it." He paused. "So, when's the next one?"
"Ten days from now," she said. "I'll come get you."
They chatted a bit longer before she left. The moment she was gone, a voice echoed in Luo Zhen's mind.
That one, Hong Yu, she's more dangerous than she looks, the system noted.
Luo Zhen raised an eyebrow. How so?
She fully assimilated that poison crystal. She's developed a completely new poison skill. A typical general wouldn't stand a chance against her. Hell, even a half-step Beast King would probably drop dead if her venom got in their system.
Is she really that strong? Luo Zhen was taken aback. Could she hurt me?
No, the system replied, the tone dripping with annoyance. You're a freak of nature. You're not even on the same scale. Even if her venom did get you, your Azure Jade Spirit Body would patch you up and flush the poison out before you even noticed.
Good to know, Luo Zhen thought, relieved. When I first saw her, I felt a flicker of danger. I almost thought she'd surpassed me.
With that, he headed back out into the city. Armed with his newfound fortune, he went on a spending spree, buying up all the other materials he needed to forge his Thunder Cloud Blade. He even found one shop that had a single Thunder Stone for sale. It was tiny—no bigger than a cherry—but he bought it on the spot.
He had just gotten back to his estate and sorted through his haul when a knock came at the door. It was one of Hong Yu's subordinates, holding a small package. Inside were two more Thunder Stones.
When Luo Zhen tried to pay, the man politely refused. "A gift from Lady Hong Yu," he said.
Luo Zhen thanked him and saw him out. He looked down at the stones in his palm. They were from Hong Yu's friends, each the size of a walnut, a deep, mesmerizing blue with tiny sparks of lightning dancing within.
All the pieces were in place. All he needed now were more Thunder Stones.
Ten days later, just as promised, Hong Yu appeared at his gate.
She led him out to a secluded spot in the desert, a barren wasteland where a single, rickety tea shed stood against the endless sand. Two beast generals were sitting inside. The moment they saw Hong Yu and Luo Zhen approach, their hands went to their weapons.
"Hold it," one of them barked. "State your business."
"Relax," Hong Yu said smoothly, not breaking her stride. She pulled an antique wooden token from her sleeve. "I'm a regular. He's with me."
One of the guards took the token, gave it a close look, and nodded, handing it back. "It checks out. You can go in." He eyed them both with a stern warning. "But I'll say this once: don't start anything in there. The consequences are your own damn problem."
"We know the rules," Hong Yu said with a smile, leading Luo Zhen behind the shed.
The area behind the shed was just as empty as the front, except for a single, massive cactus sprouting from the sand.
Luo Zhen looked around, confused. "What are we doing out here?"
"Just watch," she said with a cryptic grin. She placed her palm flat against the cactus and pushed.
With a grating groan, the ground split open, revealing a wide, stone-cut entrance leading deep underground. A wave of noise—the roar of a crowd, the clang of metal, the murmur of a thousand conversations—washed over them.
"Welcome to the underground market," Hong Yu said, gesturing to the opening. "They hollowed out the earth itself. You won't believe the things you can find down there. The cactus is just the lock on the door—a secret only regulars know."
She stepped into the passage, and Luo Zhen followed close behind.
The scene that unfolded below them took his breath away. It was a sprawling, subterranean city, brighter than daylight, lit by thousands of glowing pearls embedded in the cavern ceiling. It was packed with people, and the stalls were overflowing with goods Luo Zhen had only ever heard of in legends.
"There's really only one business that runs this place: the Hundred Treasures Tower," Hong Yu explained as she guided him through the throng. "All these other shops and stalls are just overflowing. The Tower has so much inventory that they can't fit it all in one place." She lowered her voice. "The Tower is powerful. Rumor is, it's run by a council of Beast Kings, so I'm serious—don't make a scene."
Luo Zhen nodded. He understood.
"Thunder Stones are too rare for these smaller stalls," she continued. "We need to go straight to the source. The main tower."
Soon, an opulent building rose before them, a skyscraper carved from the very rock of the cavern, easily a dozen stories high. A massive, gleaming plaque hung above the entrance, bearing three characters: Hundred Treasures Tower.
"This is it," Hong Yu said. "Let's go."
The moment they stepped inside, a stunningly beautiful fox-woman glided over to greet them. Her form was half-human, but Luo Zhen could sense that her power was only at the Spirit Beast level.
"Welcome to the Hundred Treasures Tower," she purred, her voice smooth as silk. "Whatever you desire, we can provide."
"We need to speak to your manager," Hong Yu stated flatly. "Get them."
The fox-woman's professional smile faltered for a second. She recognized the tone. These were serious customers.
"Of course, right away," she said, bowing her head. "Please wait here." She turned and darted up a grand staircase, a hint of excitement in her step. A big sale meant a big commission for the one who greeted the clients.
"Her power level is low," Luo Zhen murmured to Hong Yu as the fox-woman disappeared. "How is she in half-human form? I thought that was exclusive to generals."
Hong Yu glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "She took a Shaping Pill," she whispered. "It forces the transformation. The side effect? Your cultivation is permanently frozen. You can never advance again."
"I see," Luo Zhen said, a new understanding dawning on him.
"From what I've heard," Hong Yu added, her voice laced with pity, "none of them wants to take it. But the Tower makes them do it to be more… appealing to the clientele." She paused, her gaze dark. "And if a high roller takes a liking to one of them, they can be bought, too. Part of the price of doing business here."
Just then, the fox-woman returned, followed by a shrewd-looking rat-man.
"Good day," the rat-man said, his beady eyes sizing them up. "I'm the manager. I was told you were looking for me?"
"We are," Hong Yu confirmed. "We're here to buy Thunder Stones. I assume you have them."
"My dear lady, this is the Hundred Treasures Tower! We have everything!" he declared with a sweeping gesture. "Though, I must say, an item like a Thunder Stone carries a… significant price."
Hong Yu didn't blink. "Money isn't the problem. The quality is. And just so we're clear, we're not here for one or two."
At that, the rat-man's professional smile turned into a hungry grin. His eyes lit up.
"Right this way!" he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Let's discuss this in a private room, shall we?"
"Lead the way."
He escorted them to an elegantly furnished room on the second floor. Another fox-woman served them fragrant tea before quietly excusing herself.
"Please, enjoy the tea, my honored guests. I'll be right back with the merchandise," the manager chirped before scurrying out.
He returned a moment later carrying a large, ornate box. He placed it on the table and opened the lid with a flourish. Inside, nestled on a bed of black velvet, was a single, perfect Thunder Stone. It was the size of a man's fist, glowing with a deep blue light.
"Please, inspect it at your leisure," the manager said, puffing out his chest.
Luo Zhen picked it up. It was heavy, cool to the touch, and thrummed with contained energy. It was flawless. The Tower's reputation was well-earned; the biggest stone he'd found on his own was cherry-sized, and this one was a monster.
"It's good," Luo Zhen said, nodding as he placed it back in the box.
"Excellent!" the rat-man clapped his hands together. "Then all that's left is to discuss the price. What are you offering for such a magnificent specimen?"
Luo Zhen opened his mouth to speak, but Hong Yu cut him off.
"That's not how this works," she said, her voice cool and sharp as ice. "You don't ask the buyer to name their price. You tell us yours."
Just then, the system's voice chimed in Luo Zhen's head, practically laughing.
Okay, host. From here on out, let her do all the talking. Don't you say a word.
Why? Luo Zhen asked silently.
Are you kidding me? The system shot back, its tone dripping with sarcasm. You think you can haggle? She's a woman. They're born for this. Just sit back and watch the master at work.