The once-familiar streets that had belonged to small merchants of Earth had transformed beyond recognition. After the Great Upheaval, foreign races from other dimensions had settled in, reshaping the city into something both strange and wondrous. From the outside, the district looked ordinary, but stepping inside revealed a sight no longer of this world. This was the Street of the Second Dimension, a vast marketplace where otherworldly goods were displayed in dazzling variety.
Lee Seong-jun moved through its heart, his eyes catching glimmers of weapons forged with alien craftsmanship. Among them, the dwarves' armaments stood apart—sharpened with perfect balance, crafted with a mastery that only a race of artisans could achieve. Yet their price was equally astonishing, each blade costing fortunes. Even the cheapest dwarven sword was worth three hundred million won, while artifacts imbued with attributes or special powers reached billions or more. Some tempted him, but Seong-jun quickly reminded himself of his true purpose. He had not come for weapons. His fists, sharpened by endless battles, were the most reliable weapon he would ever wield.
He pressed deeper into the marketplace, seeking what he had come for—an elixir. Shops selling them were loud and chaotic, merchants waving and shouting to lure customers. Yet beneath their theatrics, Seong-jun sensed hollowness. Most of the products on display were poor imitations, diluted mixtures with purity so low they could hardly be called elixirs at all. Worse still, some carried dangerous impurities that could corrupt the body, clog the spiritual channels, and even trap cultivators in misfortune. For one who pursued higher realms, such flawed concoctions were poison disguised as medicine.
Disappointed, Seong-jun sighed. He had wasted time. But then—something unusual reached him.
A faint ringing sound echoed in his ears. For a martial artist of his level, such a sensation was rare. It meant interference—either a powerful spell, barrier, or hidden presence. Sharpening his senses, he traced it back to a narrow alley concealed between crowded stalls. There, the air shimmered unnaturally.
A barrier.
Though it looked like nothing but a dark passage, it was veiled by powerful concealment magic. Ordinary eyes would have missed it entirely. Even Seong-jun would have walked past if not for the ringing that alerted him. Yet curiously, the barrier gave no sense of hostility. It was built to hide, not to kill.
His mind drifted briefly to memories of the Zhuge clan's formations, which had stalled even the Blood Demon's army during the great Jeongsa War. Back then, he had studied such barriers endlessly to counter them, and though he never mastered magic, he had learned enough to see through their functions. With calm certainty, he stepped forward into the hidden alley.
Inside, the world twisted. Though the path seemed straight, he found himself walking in circles. Only by marking the wall with his finger did he confirm the illusion. It was a cunning trap to confuse intruders endlessly. But for one versed in blood arts, it was not enough.
Seong-jun released a droplet of his own crimson essence, activating the Glory of Evil Blood, a specialized technique of the Blood Demon's martial line. Unlike destructive arts meant to crush foes, this power was attuned to exploration and pursuit, tracing the flow of blood—the foundation of all living life. The droplet spread like a web across the ground, pulsing with eerie red light, and soon revealed what lay hidden.
Two life signatures. Deep within the barrier, isolated from the bustling street, two presences awaited. With his path clear, Seong-jun advanced, step by steady step, deeper into the distortion. The air grew darker, oppressive, as if the daylight itself was being devoured. The ringing in his ears sharpened, warning of the final threshold.
And then, from the shadows, a voice resounded, booming with theatrical welcome:
"Welcome, great warrior!"
What lay beyond was no mere shop. It was a hidden domain, shielded from the eyes of the ordinary, and Seong-jun had just crossed into it.