Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Xia Jin stood there, watching the Grand Hall Master's figure disappear into the distance, before turning her gaze away and revealing a thoughtful expression.

"The trading market...it'd be good to check it out."

Having made her decision, Xia Jin immediately turned and walked westward.

The streets of Longyuan City were laid out very neatly, with the main road running straight through the entire city, connecting east, west, north, and south. Xia Jin walked west along the main street for about half an hour before finally arriving at the so-called trading market.

These are all old shops that look like they've been around for a while. The people on the street are also more mixed, with cultivators of all kinds of clothes and attire mixed together, and even some faces that are obviously not human mixed in.

"Just as the Grand Master said, this place is a melting pot of all sorts!"

Xia Jin slowed her pace, frowning as she scanned the stalls and shops on both sides.

The market was much larger than he had imagined; he spent a full hour there and still hadn't seen it all. While he didn't see anything particularly noteworthy, the various strange and unusual items broadened his horizons considerably.

"What a pity, none of these things can improve my strength. Am I really going to go back empty-handed?" Xia Jin shook his head helplessly.

Just as he was about to walk a little further and leave the market if he found nothing, he suddenly stopped after taking only two steps.

Not far ahead, in front of an inconspicuous little stall, an old man in gray was lazily leaning against the wall, dozing off. The stall didn't have many items on display, just a few tattered-looking objects scattered around, as if they had been picked up from some garbage dump.

But Xia Jin's gaze was fixed on one thing.

It was a piece of metal ore the size of a fist.

The stone's surface was covered with a thick layer of grayish-black stone skin, making it look unremarkable, even somewhat ugly. But the moment Xia Jin saw it, the Eastern Emperor Bell in her sea of ​​consciousness trembled several times.

The desire that Donghuang Zhong revealed was clearly much stronger than when he saw the underground palace on the memory crystal.

"Donghuang Zhong!?" Xia Jin's expression changed, and her heart began to beat faster.

"There really is treasure here!?"

He forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, and his expression remained unchanged as he walked forward like an ordinary passerby.

As he walked past the stall, he only glanced casually at the items on it before continuing on his way.

After walking a dozen steps, he stopped in a slightly secluded corner, leaning against a pillar, while keeping an eye on the area around the stall.

The old man in gray who was dozing off didn't look like any expert, and there were no other customers at his stall.

But the eyes under his straw hat, though seemingly closed, still occasionally revealed a glint of shrewdness, indicating that this old man was no ordinary person.

After a moment of silence, Xia Jin decided to test the old man first. If he could get his hands on the metal ore, that would be ideal; if not, then he wouldn't be so ruthless. He couldn't act in the market, but once the old man left, no one could stop him.

However, what you fear most is what you will encounter. Before he had taken more than a few steps, a voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

"Get out of the way! Don't block the way!"

Xia Jin frowned slightly, but still took a step back to the side.

A young man in a brocade robe, followed by four or five burly attendants, swaggered through the crowd. The young man had a fair complexion and delicate features, but his eyes held an undisguised arrogance. His chin was slightly raised, and he seemed to regard everyone else with disdain.

Wherever he went, the surrounding cultivators gave way, lowering their eyes, daring not to speak out against his anger.

The merchants on both sides were even more so, turning their heads away as if they had seen a plague god, not daring to meet the young man's gaze at all.

Throughout the entire market, only Xia Jin dared to openly scrutinize the other person.

Seemingly sensing an inexplicable gaze fixed on him, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable, the young man suddenly frowned and swept his eyes around with hostility.

Soon, he saw Xia Jin staring intently at him.

"Huh? Interesting. I didn't expect there to be someone in Dragon Abyss City who isn't afraid of me!"

The young master's gaze fell on Xia Jin, and he looked her up and down. Soon, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

He waved his hand behind him and walked directly towards Xia Jin with his entourage.

"They're coming for me!?" Xia Jin's eyelids twitched slightly upon seeing the other party's actions. "Damn it, there are so many people here, why did they pick on me of all people?"

"A new face, huh? First time visiting Longyuan City?" The young master looked at Xia Jin with a smile.

Xia Jin did not answer, but simply nodded.

The young man was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting such a cold response from the other party.

Xia Jin's aloof demeanor immediately drew displeasure from the young master's attendant.

One of the attendants immediately stepped forward and shouted at Xia Jin, "Boy, our young master is asking you a question! What kind of attitude is this? Do you know that in Dragon Abyss City, our young master can decide your life or death with a single word?!"

Xia Jin glanced at the attendant but remained silent.

"Step back!" The young master raised his hand to stop his attendant. Xia Jin's attitude, however, piqued his interest. "Interesting, very interesting. In Longyuan City, this is the first time I've seen anyone dare to treat me like this. It seems you don't know who I am?"

"I don't know, and I'm not interested," Xia Jin finally spoke with a cold laugh.

These words drew gasps of shock from the surrounding crowd. Several cultivators who had been secretly watching from a distance paled, their eyes fixed on Xia Jin as if she were a dead man.

The young man's expression stiffened slightly, but after taking a deep breath, he regained his nonchalant smile.

"Your cultivation is impressive, and you're quite bold. I like people like you the most. Here's what we'll do: from today onwards, you'll follow me and become my subordinate. Don't worry, with me, you'll live a life of luxury and be able to do whatever you want in Dragon Abyss City."

Upon hearing this, Xia Jin's lips twitched slightly, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes: "Sorry, I don't have time, and I'm not interested in becoming your subordinate."

Xia Jin's words caused the young man's smile to vanish, replaced by a chilling aura.

He narrowed his eyes, his voice turning icy cold: "In Dragon Abyss City, no one has ever dared to disobey my orders. Since you insist on going against my wishes, then I, this young master, will grant your request!!"