However, this was only the surface phenomenon. Xin Ci had learned from Elder Han that Jingchen Country was the place with the most severe slave trade in the Central Continent.
Xin Ci found it hard to develop any goodwill towards such a country. He decided to follow Mu Qingqing's advice and have the院长 take him to Mingguang City first.
"Strange, where did Grandpa Dean go?"
Only then did Xin Ci notice that Dao Yuanming, who had been by his side, had vanished.
He was there when they disembarked, so how could he disappear in the blink of an eye?
Mu Qingqing, in his consciousness space, also noticed this and helplessly rubbed his forehead. "Did this old gambler run off to a casino the moment we got off the ship? Given the院长's gambling habits, it's quite possible."
Xin Ci searched for a long time but couldn't find Dao Yuanming. This was troublesome.
How was he supposed to get to Mingguang City then?
At this moment, Mu Qingqing appeared beside Xin Ci in his soul form and said, "Don't worry about that old gambler Dean. He's definitely gone to a casino somewhere. And with his Saint Emperor realm strength, I doubt anyone in Jingchen Country can do anything to him."
Hearing Mu Qingqing's words, Xin Ci stopped worrying about Dao Yuanming's situation. He just found it a bit more troublesome to locate him. He decided to walk around Jingchen Country for a while, observe the differences in the Central Continent's countries, and get familiar with the environment.
Xin Ci walked onto the streets of Jingchen Country and realized that the country's slave trade was more severe than he had imagined.
Every three or four stalls he passed was selling slaves in public.
Whether human, demon, or beast, these lowly and unfortunate slaves, confined in iron cages, were all being sold like merchandise in this slave market without exception.
Not only that, Xin Ci also saw a carriage passing by.
The iron cage on the carriage was filled with about a dozen dancers in thin clothing, dressed up attractively by the slave owner.
Every single one of them lowered their heads and wept. But as slaves, their future lives would be even more despairing.
Xin Ci stopped and looked back at the carriage as it gradually disappeared into the distance. It was his first time seeing such a scene, and his heart was filled with complex emotions.
He then watched the slave merchants around him receiving bags of spirit stones.
For a moment, Xin Ci fell silent.
"Let's go, Xin Ci. I know what you're thinking, but this is the reality of Jingchen Country. There's nothing you can do about it now," Elder Han sighed and said slowly.
Xin Ci didn't speak. After a while, he took a step forward and continued to move.
According to Elder Han, Jingchen Country was a coastal nation in the Central Continent, where various rare treasures circulated. Perhaps he could find the Five Elements Spirit Pill, the Purple Crystal Jade Bone, and the Saint Beast's essence blood.
Xin Ci had not forgotten his other purpose for coming to the Central Continent: to find the spiritual material needed to shape bodies for Elder Han and Mu Qingqing.
However, even in Jingchen Country, Xin Ci searched many shops but couldn't find these three spiritual items.
This showed the rarity of these three items.
"It's normal not to find them. These three items are Saint-grade spiritual items, treasures that are rare even in Jingchen Country," Elder Han transmitted.
Xin Ci was a little disappointed but decided to find an inn to rest.
His spirit stones had all been depleted when he activated the ancient teleportation array earlier.
Fortunately, he still had some left. Xin Ci went to a spiritual medicine shop and sold a few of the pills he had refined, obtaining three million mid-grade spirit stones.
Just as he walked out of the spiritual medicine shop, he accidentally stepped on something.
Xin Ci looked down and saw an ornate jade pendant.
He picked it up and found two elegantly written characters engraved on it: Pei Xiu.
This seemed to be a girl's name.
Mu Qingqing, in his consciousness space, looked at the name on the jade pendant and found it somewhat familiar.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him: "Oh right, isn't this a minor character from the original novel who had a conflict with Xin Ci in Jingchen Country?"
"Could it be that..."
As expected, before Mu Qingqing could finish speaking, he saw through the screen two women in lavish attire appearing behind Xin Ci.
"Hey, you in front, how dare you steal my jade pendant! Hurry up and return it to me!"
Pei Xiu saw Xin Ci holding the jade pendant and assumed he had stolen it, so she immediately shouted.
"This is your jade pendant?"
"What else? Do you think it's yours!"
Pei Xiu's eyes widened, and she snatched the jade pendant back, speaking indignantly.
Pei Xiu's eyes widened, and she snatched the jade pendant back, speaking indignantly.
Xin Ci didn't have time to bother with this woman. He just wanted to find those three spiritual items quickly and turned to leave.
But Pei Xiu ordered her accompanying maid to block Xin Ci.
"You thief, you dare to steal my jade pendant and then act like nothing happened? Zhu'er, stop him for me!"
"Yes, Miss!"
The maid named Zhu'er, standing beside Pei Xiu, immediately blocked Xin Ci's path upon hearing the command.
A hint of displeasure flickered across Xin Ci's brow. He said coldly, "I just picked this jade pendant up from the ground. If you continue to make unreasonable demands, don't blame me for being impolite!"
He had just arrived in Jingchen Country and didn't want to cause trouble, but Xin Ci wasn't afraid of trouble.
If these two women continued to be unreasonable and overbearing, he would not show any mercy.
"Don't worry, they'll be leaving soon," Mu Qingqing transmitted to Xin Ci from his consciousness space.
"Qingqing, are you switching personalities?"
"No, we don't need to do anything. Pei Xiu will leave on her own."
Hearing Mu Qingqing's confident words, Xin Ci was a little confused.
However, he still believed what Mu Qingqing had said.
Meanwhile, Pei Xiu was angered by Xin Ci's words. "How dare you, you little thief! I'd like to see how you'll be impolite to me!"
"Zhu'er, tie this thief up! I'm going to capture him and sell him as a slave!"
Xin Ci's lips curved into a cold smile. Although Pei Xiu and her maid Zhu'er had the strength of a Four-star King Realm, Xin Ci had no fear of them if they really fought.
However, the maid Zhu'er, who was blocking his path, still hadn't made a move.
"Zhu'er, what are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear what I said?" Pei Xiu became somewhat displeased.
The maid Zhu'er hesitated and said to her mistress, "But... Miss, Master said not to cause trouble on the streets. And haven't you just been released from confinement? If Master finds out..."
"Just say what you want to say, don't be so hesitant. It's just a matter of teaching a thief a lesson. I don't believe my father will scold me."
Pei Xiu still didn't listen.
Helpless, the maid Zhu'er could only pull out her last resort and said, "Miss, aren't you out for the Flower Betting Festival this time?"
"So what? I don't care about that Five Elements Spirit Pill!"
"But that fox tribe slave, you liked her a lot, didn't you?"
Hearing "fox tribe slave"!
Pei Xiu's eyes immediately lit up, and she finally compromised.