Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

The map of keys in his hands changed subtly, but enough to tell him where he should go. Looking at the three-dimensional object with various markings around it, he could tell he needed to go to the Barter Fair, to the second floor, and look for something or someone in the left corner of the building.

It was time to go to the Barter Fair and scan the area!

'Felicity warned me about the dangers of going in search of this secret mission, but with several groups after my neck and an imminent action against Emerald Owls, I'm in no position not to risk it.'

After stowing the item in his spatial ring, he got ready to leave, assuming that it would be a while before Lazarus would reply to his message.

'I'll just scan the area. If I find any problems, I'll leave it for the future.'

Making a firm decision, he stepped out of his room and set off towards Street Eight, where the lively Barter Fair awaited him.

The climb between Street Thirty-Seventh and Street Eight posed no challenge for Liam as he made his way up later that afternoon. As he prepared to ascend to the rank of a third realm cultivator, his body had undergone significant transformations thanks to his Spirits, leaving him in far better physical shape than when he had first joined the sect a month ago.

His breathing would increase in the last half of the climb up the main staircase, while drops of sweat would appear on his body. But for him, the fatigue of climbing the stairs did not differ from the fatigue caused by an ordinary person's moderate 15-minute walk.

He reached the entrance of Street Eight and proceeded towards the Barter Fair building, situated in one of the corners of the area. The building neighbored a garden that provided a serene overlook of the surrounding peaks.

As he walked through the bustling entrance of the open building, he couldn't help but notice the lively atmosphere and the sound of people engaging in business transactions.

People sitting on the floor, in chairs, or even standing, stood next to their products in small individual spaces, forming rows of informal establishments around the aisles of the area.

It was late afternoon, but there were at least 100 people on the first level of the Barter Fair, with many students doing business in the area, as happened in ordinary fairs.

They displayed the products on the floor or on small tables, with a few places with shelves or showcases. With their sample prices, everyone could tell from afar the starting price of the items that caught their eye.

But each outer disciple saved their resources. The voices of people negotiating better prices, trading products that were more advantageous to them, filled the site, making it especially noisy.

Liam had never been there in his weeks as a member of Demon Gate. Even though he knew his destination was on the second floor of the building, he observed the entrance area, strolling as he noticed eye-catching items.

What did the Barter Fair offer? A bit of everything. There wasn't one type of product that was more common there, as most of them were there to exchange resources and not necessarily sell items like the shops did.

If a disciple had one resource and needed another, the exchange was one of the best options in town. The supply of resources depended much on what each individual had and wanted.

There were no fixed seats at the market. It was open 24 hours a day, and when you registered to take your place, they gave you a period to use your corner. After those hours, you would either renew your right to use the area by paying merit points, or you would lose your spot to another interested party.

But as busy as it was, the Barter Fair seldom had all its slots filled. As Liam walked along the first level, he saw at least a dozen unused niches for people interested in bartering.

[Arcane Crystals For Merit Points] said one of the notes in Liam's path, drawing his attention to a woman at the beginning of the third realm, sitting on a cushion with her eyes closed, waiting for business in the area.

[Average-Quality For High-Quality Second Class Weapons.]

...

[Third Class Techniques For Any Items Of Similar Quality.]

Liam saw some splendid opportunities, including Runemasters interested in selling enchanted artifacts and materials for making enchanted items.

When a professional of any kind advanced in rank, it was common for them to no longer use many of their previous materials and resources. Then, many would trade these items below market price.

Liam wanted to stop by one stall that caught his eye later, but for now, he continued on to the second level of the building.

In this second area, he found himself in a less crowded and less noisy place, where the smell of herbs and metals was much stronger. There were at least half as many stalls as on level one, but the average strength of the disciples was three stars higher than on level one.

Remembering his 3D map, Liam followed the outer corridors of the area, where he could more easily see the surroundings of the building without walls.

The location indicated by the map was on the left side of the building, from the perspective of someone coming out of the stairwells that gave access to the first and third levels. Specifically, the location was at one end of the rectangular building, opposite the exit from the stairs.

Liam followed the path and soon spotted the only stall in that corner, where a bald man in a yellow cloak was sitting in the lotus position with his eyes closed.

Stopping in front of this stall, Liam looked at the items for sale on a small table and frowned when he saw a 3D map, just like the one that had brought him there.

There were slight differences between the map on sale and the one he had in his pocket. His was made of keys that fit together. The one available for trade was a solid casting with no fittings.

[I'll Trade Anything For Specific Items] said the sign on this stall.

Liam brought one of his hands up to the three-dimensional figure as the man from the third realm, bald with no eyebrows or facial hair, opened his eyes.

"What do you want for this object?" Liam asked.

His 3D map didn't tell him much, except that he was supposed to come here. He didn't know exactly what he had to do or what the risks were. But when he saw this artifact, he couldn't help but feel that this was the way for him to access this secret mission.

The man narrowed his eyes but didn't answer Liam. "What caught your eye about this item? I won't exchange it unless you have the key I'm looking for."

Liam's eyes lit up. He clearly got the message. "I might have the key. That's why it caught my eye."

"Can I see it?" the man asked as he showed Liam one of his hands.

The young man with the short black hair looked around to make sure no one else was watching them. But that would be impossible. There were at least four people looking at him right now.

'I hope none of them understands what this is...' He took a deep breath as he called up the 3D map of keys from his spatial ring.

Originally, he hadn't planned to go deep into this journey today. But when he saw this item, he decided to solve this mystery in one fell swoop!

The moment he saw the key map fall into his hands, the bald man's neutral expression changed, the corners of his lips turning up, while his eyes became smaller.

He stood up and picked up all his items from his desk, leaving only the item in one of Liam's hands. "We made the exchange. Good luck."

Without any hesitation, he closed his tent and walked away, not bothering to cast a backward glance.

Liam stood in the middle of the man's quick departure, not quite comprehending the situation as everything had happened so quickly and more easily than he had predicted.

'This... What does that mean?' He looked at the object in his hands, but didn't stay still for long.

Seconds after the bald man left, Liam put his new item away and started walking again, making his way through level two of the Barter Fair as if he was there just to do more business.

His observers followed him, watching as he eventually picked up materials and books for Runemasters, as well as some Arcane Crystals.

When he left the fair, he didn't go home. Instead, he made his way to the Lotus Temple, leaving his observers wondering what his trip later that afternoon might mean.

'What was that item he traded?' one of them wondered as she saw Liam enter a cultivation room, the limit of where she could observe him.

'All his other trades were for resources for his profession or to strengthen his Spirits. But what about it?' This woman asked herself, with the same questions as several of Liam's observers.

'I have to keep watching him. It may not be relevant, but I'll keep it in mind!'