Roan walked around the Inner City, going from shop to shop. He used Rean's Light Ability to make his body look older. At the same time, his hair and eyes had also changed color. It's just that the effect wasn't as great as it was with Calina. Nonetheless, it was more than enough for Roan's objective.
Roan then entered a shop called Myriad Resources. Like many of the available shops in the Inner Sect, you could find a great variety of items on display. Roan walked into the shop until he finally stopped in front of an article on display. It looked like a needle that brimmed with some weird energy. It was also one of the spotlights of the entire shop. It also had an exorbitant price of 500 Rank Three Spirit Stones!
One must remember that anyone at Roan's level would usually find it very difficult to bring out such a number.
A shop attendant noticed Roan's presence in front of the item and quickly came forward.
"This customer has good eyes. This item is called Spiritual Piercer. Although it's an object that you can only use once, it can definitely pierce through any defense. If used correctly, it might even save your life."
Roan nodded before asking.
"What's the level of the attack?"
The attendant smiled.
"It is guaranteed to work on anyone at the Middle of the Core Formation Realm and below. However, it can also be a great threat to those at the Late or maybe even Peak Stage, depending on how you use it."
Roan pondered a bit and shook his head.
"It's too weak. I need something stronger. Show me something that can pierce through a Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivator."
The attendant was taken aback for a second. Still, he shook his head in the end.
"If we really had such an item, it wouldn't be shown in the outside like this."
Roan smiled after hearing that.
"It seems like you know something. Can you tell me where I can find items like the one I told you about?"
The attendant noticed that he slipped his tongue and quickly denied everything.
"This customer must be joking. The City Guards wouldn't allow such items to be sold to just anyone. After all, Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivators can even create a sect or clan of their own by relying on their power alone. Items capable of breaking through their defenses easily would be strictly regulated in the city."
Roan then approached the guy and passed him a small bag in a way that only he and the attendant noticed. At the same time, he sent the guy a Spiritual Sense massage.
'We are both good citizens, right? We need to keep our eyes open if such an item suddenly appears. Don't you know a place where anyone might be breaking the laws? I will go there and investigate it myself.'
The attendant's Spiritual Sense entered the bag and quickly saw a hundred Rank Three Spirit Stones inside. His eyes opened wide but promptly returned to normal a moment later.
'This customer is right. We all need to help keep the city clean.'
The guy immediately put the bag away before anyone could notice anything different.
'If you go to the Alakaste Shopping Street, you will find a place called The Dawn Treasure Store. Some... 'rumors...' say that if you ask the attendant on the seventh counter for Rank Ten Spirit Stones, they might bring you to a certain special place. There, you can 'investigate' and see if you can find anything worth 'reporting' to the city guards.'
Roan patted the guy's shoulder, satisfied.
'I'll definitely make my part as the citizen and will investigate the area.'
Roan then pointed at the Spiritual Piercer.
"That's a very good deal. I want this Spiritual Piercer."
The attendant was surprised to hear that. He was delighted to get that many Rank Three Spirit Stones. Now, he will even get a commission for selling the Spiritual Piercer to Roan. Of course, he also understood that Roan did it to not raise any suspicion for both of them.
The Spiritual Piercer that looked like a need was quickly prepared to Roan, who paid the 500 Spirit Stones without blinking. After that, he turned around and left the shop.
However, he snorted as soon as he stopped out.
'Sure enough, a few bugs got interested.'
500 Spirit Stones wasn't a small sum even in the Inner City. Besides, Roan was walking alone. Although fighting in the city was prohibited, no one would say anything if no one saw anything. If it was someone important or a big group, those guys wouldn't try anything. However, since Roan was by himself and his cultivation was only in the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm, they thought it might be worth a try. That being said, a few eyes aimed at Roan while he walked away.
Roan continued to walk in the crowded streets for some time. However, it didn't take long until the movement around him decreased. Still, Roan continued to walk as if nothing happened. Finally, he reached the residential part of the Inner City, where the movement was low. There, he made a few more turns until he ended in the back of an alley without anyone to be seen.
Seeing that Roan was finally alone, those guys who had been following him in the shadows showed themselves and rushed inside the same alley. Three of them had cultivations at the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm. As for the last one, he was at the Middle Stage. Unfortunately...
"What?!"
"Where is he?!"
"He came here, I'm sure!"
"It must have been one of you idiots who scared the lamb away."
"Let's separate. If he's still around this place, we can get him."
However, it was at this moment that a voice entered their ears.
"There is no need to look for me. I'm right here."
The robbers felt a chill on their backs and immediately turned around while bringing their weapons out. Unfortunately, it was too late.
'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'
*Swish, swish, swish!*
Three heads then flew in their air, not giving their owner a chance to even scream.
"Ah!"
Roan killed three of the robbers in one strike. However, there were four of them. Roan hadn't killed the Middle Stage guy. The man knew that he had the advantage in cultivation but completely gave up the idea of fighting Roan here. He had seen Roan's speed and technique. Even if he went all out, he wouldn't be able to replicate as much as half of the result. It was obvious that Roan was several times stronger than him.
'Path of the Lightning!'
Lightning Element gathered on the man's legs as he shot out of the alley. As long as he arrived in a crowded area, Roan wouldn't dare to attack him there. As for seeking revenge against Roan, that idea didn't even pass through the robber's mind. Unfortunately for the robber...
'Death Style, First Movement Form, Shadow Steps!'
'Death Style, First Form, Stellar Piercer!'
Even without Rean's Enhancement ability, Roan was still more than fast enough to catch up with this guy.
The man noticed the ray of black light coming from his back and panicked. It was just too fast! He quickly stepped aside, barely missing a fatal strike through his heart. Still, the strike hit the left side of his body.
"Ahhhh!"
Unfortunately for him, Dark Element immediately began to eat away his life force, making the injury quickly rot. Nonetheless, the robber gritted his teeth and bore the pain as he began to run once more.
"Did I say that you can go?"
Suddenly, Roan emerged from the shadows in from of him as if he was a ghost!
"What?!"
The guy tried to change the direction he was trying to flee but soon noticed that his movement was sealed. It was then that he looked down and saw several black vines attached to his legs.
'Death Style, First Energy Form, Shadow Bind!'
Roan's sword flashed once more, aiming for the guy's head. In the end, all the robber could do was close his eyes and wait for his death. There was simply no time to dodge or use any action anymore.
However, he noticed that the sensation of his neck being cut didn't come as he expected. When he opened his eyes again, he understood why. Roan had stopped his sword just a millimeter away from his neck. He could even feel the Dark Element emanating from Roan's White Star, which affected his skin too.
"It's too early to die. Let's make a deal here. You tell me what I want to know, and perhaps I'll be merciful enough to let you go. It will depend on how much your words are worth, though."
The man didn't even think before nodding. Hell, he would even tell his dick size if Roan wanted it.
"First, what's your name?"
"I'm Dudle Suo."
Roan nodded.
"Dudle, swallow this pill."
The man looked suspiciously at the dark pill in front of him. However, he only had to give a glance at Roan's dark face for his doubts to disappear.
"Good! If you continue like that, you might really survive. I just gave you a poison that I created myself. If you don't take the antidote in the next hour, you are dead. Now, let's start."
"You definitely were sent after me by that shop attendant. But let's forget about him for now. What I want to know is where I can find the black market of Sasamil City."
In the end, Roan had never trusted the attendant's words. What he really needed was someone who knew what he was looking for. After showing his wealth, someone would come after him... or so was his plan. Fortunately, it played well. Now he could get the real information from this guy since Roan had his life in his hands.
