Slaves are something very common. But finding a good slave is very difficult. Still, as far as I remember, entire families are also sold in this slave market. And those are the slaves I need.
After that, Fan went to a hidden place in the slum.
The deeper he walked, the narrower the paths became. Broken walls, dim light, and the faint smell of blood mixed with rotting wood filled the air. Ordinary people would never come this far.
But Fan's steps didn't slow down.
Everyone knew there was a black market here.
But knowing was one thing… entering was another.
Fan stopped in front of a small, ordinary-looking meat shop. From the outside, it looked no different from any other poor stall—worn wood, hanging meat, nothing unusual.
Yet this was the entrance.
A place where only those who knew the rules could pass.
In his past life, it had taken him almost five months to figure out these code words. Five months of trial, failure, and near-death mistakes.
This time—
He walked in without hesitation.
"Hello sir, what would you like? How much meat should I give?"
Fan's gaze swept across the shop for a brief moment before replying calmly,
"I need sweet meat."
The shopkeeper didn't even blink.
"We don't sell candy."
"So give me a red candy."
A short pause.
"How much?"
"10 gold."
For a split second, silence filled the shop.
Then—
"Welcome, sir."
The shopkeeper's tone changed instantly.
"Please go inside."
The air itself seemed to shift.
This was why very few people could enter this place. Without the correct words, this door would never open.
Fan walked forward, passing through the narrow passage.
The moment he stepped inside—
The real world of the black market revealed itself.
After entering inside, Fan is welcomed by a person.
"Sir, how can I help you?"
"Miss, please stop using illusion."
When someone comes to this place for the first time, everyone gets deceived by this four-tail fox.
"Ha ha ha, Young Master, please don't take this seriously. Tell me, what kind of goods do you want?"
"Slave family. Money is not a big issue. But I need soul slaves."
"Okay, come with me."
After that, they went underground.
A narrow staircase stretched downward, the light from above slowly fading with each step. The air grew heavier—thick, damp, and suffocating. Faint echoes of chains dragging and distant murmurs drifted upward from the darkness below.
Fan walked calmly.
Step by step.
Until—
The path opened.
—
A vast underground world revealed itself.
For a brief moment, even Fan's steps paused.
What lay beneath the surface was not just a market—
It was an entire hidden city.
Massive stone pillars rose from the ground, supporting a ceiling so high it disappeared into shadow. Dim lanterns burned with a cold, pale light, barely enough to illuminate the endless rows of iron cells stretching in every direction.
Left.
Right.
Forward.
As far as the eye could see—
Cells.
Thousands of them.
Each one holding people.
Families.
Children.
Warriors.
All reduced to commodities.
The sound filled the space—
Chains clinking.
Low whispers.
Occasional cries quickly silenced.
And beneath it all…
A quiet, suffocating despair.
"This way, Young Master."
The fox girl's voice sounded light, almost cheerful—as if this place was nothing more than an ordinary shop.
She walked ahead effortlessly.
Fan followed.
His gaze moved across the cells without pause.
Cold.
Calculating.
This wasn't his first time seeing such a place.
In his past life, he had walked this very ground—though back then, it had taken him months just to find the entrance.
Now—
Everything felt… insignificant.
"Young Master, come with me. I will show you the goods."
She gestured lightly toward the rows of cells.
"I hope you will find what you need here."
Fan didn't reply.
His eyes had already begun searching.
Among thousands of lives—
He was looking for the few that would shape the future.
"Alright, Young Master~ Follow me, and I'll show you the goods—but don't get lost in awe~" I hope you will find what you want among these cells.
After that, Fan starts searching one by one. First, he finds a family of nine. This family is an alchemist family.
According to my past life, this will be the best family for making pills.
"Okay, what is the price for all of them?"
"5000 gold."
"Final price, 4500 gold."
"Aaaaaaa, okay, Young Master."
After searching further, Fan goes to another family. This family has only five members. But they are a forging or blacksmith family.
"All of these. And one more thing—no matter what I buy, you will tell me your final price. I don't want to bargain here."
"Okay, last price 4000 gold."
After that, Fan goes to some of the largest families. The largest slave family has a total of 21 members.
"Okay, in my opinion, they will be good for managing an Auction House. And since this family is not skilled in any specific field, they will be able to manage it in the best way."
Actually, this family had a great name in a kingdom. But because they supported the king, when the king fell, the opposition turned them into this state.
"Price?"
"Last 30000 gold."
"Okay."
Now comes the main thing. This is the only reason I am in such a hurry.
After that, Fan's attention goes to the second-largest cell. There is a family of 16 members. In my opinion, this is the most valuable family here. In my past life, this family ran an information and assassin organization.
"Okay… so the rumor that this family was once slaves is actually true."
"What is their price?"
"Their price is 16000 gold."
"Okay."
"All the families I have seen and asked prices for—I will buy all of them. After that, I will look at some more goods. First, let's finish this part."
"Okay, sir. Give me some time. I will arrange the soul slave contracts for them with you. So your total comes to 70000 gold, including the soul slave contract fee."
"I'll arrange everything. Meanwhile, you can look at the slaves. And here, take this list—everything about the specialties of the slaves is fully described here."
After some time, the four-tail fox brings many soul slave contract scrolls. Then Fan starts using them one by one to make soul slave contracts. It takes some time.
Because of the game system in this place, the soul slave contract can be done very easily. Otherwise, I would have needed to be at least at Qi Gathering level.
After that, Fan buys two more families. One family is skilled in formations. This family has 5 members. Their price is 10000 gold coins.
The second family is a cook family. They were actually royal chefs. For some reason, they have now become slaves. Their price is 2000 gold coins.
"Okay, now show me the individual slaves."
After that, according to the list given to Fan, he buys 10 bodyguards of his choice. Their price is 10000 gold coins. These bodyguards are Tier 1 fighters at the Foundation Establishment level.
While checking the list, Fan's eyes suddenly stopped on a girl.
"Wait… what?"
For a brief moment, his breathing paused.
That face… those cold, emotionless eyes…
A memory flashed through his mind.
In his past life, countless experts had fallen under a single sword. A name that once echoed across battlefields… a figure people both feared and admired.
The legendary Frost Sword Maiden.
"How is she here…?"
Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression turning serious for the first time since entering the market.
Then his gaze swept over her again, more carefully this time.
Too young.
Her body was still that of a child—her aura incomplete, her presence unrefined. She hadn't even stepped onto the path of cultivation yet. Right now… she was nothing more than an ordinary girl.
This wasn't just a lucky find.
This was something far beyond value.
If his memory was correct, in the future… she would rise to a terrifying height. A true peak existence in swordsmanship.
And right now—
She was just a slave.
Fan slowly exhaled, suppressing the slight shock in his heart. His gaze became calm again, but a deeper meaning hid behind it.
"This one… and the remaining nine."
He spoke casually, as if nothing had happened.
"Tell me the total price."
"Young Master, your total is 125000 gold coins."
"And yes, from my side, this cat girl is free. Also, They are all in good condition." you know what I am talking about.
Don't worry."
The four-tail fox gives a slight smile.
"I don't need to know that."
"No, I just said it casually."
"Okay, now make soul slave contracts with all the remaining slaves. No problem—I have already added the cost of all the soul slave contract scrolls. So you only need to pay 125k gold coins."
After that, Fan takes out 125500 gold coins and gives them.
"500 gold coins are yours."
"Thank you, Young Master."
"Send all these slaves to the Bright Stone Market's Bright Stone Auction House."
"Okay, Young Master. If you need anything, please let me know."
"Actually, do one thing. If someday a strong slave fighter appears within the range of 100 to 500 million gold coins, send that information to the Bright Stone Auction House."
"How many?"
"My buying range is minimum 100 and maximum 500 million gold coins. But I don't know how many I will buy. If I like the slave, then I will buy."
"Okay."
After that, Fan leaves the black market and goes to buy same house. In places like this, buying a house is not that difficult if you have money.
"Sir, how can I help you?"
"I want to buy some courtyards—7 of them."
After that, the manager hurriedly comes out.
"Young Master, this way please—VIP room."
After going to the VIP room, a servant brings tea. Then the manager personally serves tea to Fan.
"Young Master, please drink tea."
"Thank you. Now let's get straight to business."
"I need 7 courtyards—1 large courtyard and 6 medium-sized courtyards. And all of them must be in one place. I don't need them in the center of the city, but they must all be together."
"Young Master, there is such a place. It is a bit far from the city center—almost outside a large portion of it. But it is far from the city walls."
"The price for these courtyards will be 980 million gold coins. Also, within this price, you will get a strong defensive formation for all of them."
"Okay, no problem. How will I pay? And also, the information about who bought these courtyards must not be leaked. Cash."
"Okay, cash, Young Master."
After that, the manager gives Fan a space ring.
"Young Master, please put all the gold coins inside this ring."
Fan puts all the gold coins inside the space ring.
After that, in a very short time, the courtyard transfer papers are prepared.
By the time everything is finished, it becomes afternoon. After that, Fan goes to the Auction House.