After looking at myself in the mirror, I engaged in conversation with Anna and found my way in the middle of a bustling street.

As I lifted my gaze to the sky, the cloudless sky greeted me with the glare of three Suns which made me squint my eyes compared to the solitary Sun back in my world.

The brightness of the three Suns was too dazzling for my eyes.

Flame City boasted three distinct street markets catering to the needs of people visiting, depending on their needs and status.

The street I am currently visiting is only popular among cultivators who just started their cultivation.

As I looked around, I noticed a crowd of people going from one stall to another stall, as well as many vendors fervent enthusiasm.

The stalls were filled with swords, sabers, spirit wine, Pills.… and so on, useful for cultivation. Each item caters to the needs of aspiring cultivators.

The Merchants from other cities and students from the Academy, who were trying to increase their sales, and the excited chattering of the surrounding crowds buzzing with the whispers of bargaining.

Observing the lively scene before me, a chuckle escaped my lips.

"Even though the world has changed, the people remained the same," I mused silently, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

How long had it been since I had immersed myself in such vibrant surroundings? The memory seemed distant, almost hazy.

“Is this a dream or reality?" I pondered, a lingering sense of disbelief still clouding my thoughts.

Despite the truth, Sometimes I still couldn't accept my death and the sudden possession of my soul into an unknown body.

I thought before starting to look around the bustling street along with two Knights trailing behind me. Both having a cultivation of Foundation Establishment 9th stage and are proficient in Fusion battle skills.

I don't know whether some more are following me in secret due to my status.

Currently, I am wearing a mask as my face is very popular among the people in the City and even ordered both the knights to comee out in casual clothes.

Even though both were stunned at my request, they followed my orders without asking any further questions.

While I was recklessly exploring the different stalls and started asking questions pointing at different things placed on the table.

Suddenly I stumbled upon a kid, barely on the cusp of adolescence. An age where a person could awaken their Spirit bone aptitude as long as they could afford an awakening potion.

“ Do you want a Bigu Pill, sir?”

“Huh?” I mumbled, momentarily taken aback by his proposition.

“ No need,” I said in a tone that I considered as gentle, and was about to bypass him when he grabbed the hem of my robes.

“ “How dare you put your hands on-! “ One of my escort knights bellowed in anger, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. But I intervened before he could draw his sword.,

“ Stop. “

At my voice, the other knight stopped him but both of them had an expression of surprise and confusion at my unexpected intervention.

As I glanced between them, I realised the reason for their confusion.

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Since the previous Noah was a thorough Bloodline supremacist who despises commoners and would have already ordered to kill the kid for sullying his clothes.

It's not only Noah, but most of the Nobles in the Empire have the same ideology and only see them as tools to use.

“Erm… uh… can you please buy at least one Pill?” said the kid even though he was scared at the menacing gaze of Roan; one of my escort knights.

He then reached into an enormous basket he was carrying that seemed to be bigger than his own height and handed me a Pill bottle.

His skinny hands were covered in bruises shaking at the weight of the enormous basket.

I don’t know how he lived, but I could relate to those dark eyes that are desperate to live somehow in this cruel and unforgiving world.

His clothes, covered in dirt, would easily pass him off as a beggar rather than a seller.

‘ sigh ’

Finally, I reached for the Pill bottle from his hands, even though I didn't have any use for it.

Bigu Pill is only consumed mostly by Non-cultivators or people in the Qi Condensation Realm; the first power level in this world of cultivation.

The use of this Pill is simple. It will make your body hunger-free for three days. But after three days, you will feel a severe urge to eat.

Meanwhile, his dry lips bloomed into a bright smile after seeing me take one bottle.

As I watched his smiling face, I said.

“ Thank you very much. I was just about to look for it.” It was a completely different response from what my escorts expected.

Their bewildered stares didn't escape me, even from the back.

“Ye-Yes…!!”

“ Growl “

After his enthusiastic response, his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl, staining the kid's face red with shame.

"Disgusting!" Roan's muttered comment only deepened the kid's embarrassment as he lowered his head further.

While I casually popped open the lid of the bottle, inspecting its contents.

“How much?" I inquired, cutting through the awkward silence.

But the kid had wide eyes as if he didn't expect me to buy an entire Pill bottle containing five pills instead of one.

After continuing to struggle for a few seconds at how much to ask, he finally managed to stammer out,

"C-Can you give me ten bronze spirit coins?"

“......”

“ N-No, just give me eight coins! “ said the boy in fear after getting no response from me.

He was afraid that he would lose the only customer who was willing to buy the pill and thought that my lack of reaction was due to the high price.

Little did he know, my lack of reaction stemmed not from the price, but from the fact that I only carried Silver Spirit coins in my pouch, each worth a thousand Bronze Spirit coins.

At that moment, my other escort knight stepped forward, standing beside me as if sensing my dilemma, and handed the kid ten coins.

“ Here take it…”

The escort frowned in discomfort as he approached the kid, due to the smell coming from his body. His left hand lingering on his sword, ready to draw anytime.

It wasn't because of the kid but to be ready to face any unforeseen situation.

“R-really? You are really giving me this!?” The kid spoke as if couldn't believe it.

I noticed some tears welling up in the corner of his eyes as he stared at the coins.

After a moment's hesitation, he gathered the courage to ask, "Can you tell me your name?"

“.....”

Silence hung in the air for a beat.

“ Tha-nk you sir.” As if he realized his slip of the tongue, the kid spoke again before darting off towards a narrow alley between two shops.

Though I couldn't see his face as he ran, I could sense the elation in his hurried steps, knowing he was likely filled with joy at the prospect of making a sale.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Roan, standing at my left side, quickly apologized.

“I apologize for my actions earlier, my Lord.…”

“ It's okay, “ I reassured him, but before he could feel smug, I opened my mouth again but this time my voice was chillingly cold.

“ From now on you don't need to escort me anymore! “

At my voice, Roan shivered in fear but he dare not speak back.Yet, his eyes betrayed his shock and disbelief, mirroring the expression of the kid from moments before.

To his stunned silence, I offered only one word, "Disgusting," before the calm voice of my other escort broke the tension.

“ My Lord, it’s time to go back.”

I slowly turned towards him.

“ Then let's go,” I said, leading the way back with two knights who would never be able to forget this day for vastly different reasons.

However, a few days later I would realize…

“ That even the best Bigu Pills only costs one Bronze Spirit coin.”

And that I got conned by a small kid.

**********

Meanwhile, an Old man rushed through the crowd and hugged the same kid who sold Bigu Pill to Noah.

“I told you to not wander around alone without your grandpa!”

The kid nestled into the arms of his Grandpa, who was embracing him. Then he smiled at his grandpa, who was yelling at him.

“I’m fine! And I also sold a Pill bottle today!” he proudly showed his grandpa, the ten coins he got by selling the pills.

Ignoring the fact that the kid had sold the pills, the old man hugging the kid started to look at him with a quivering gaze. It was as if he was scared of something.

His voice trembled as he spoke,

“My little Alex, don't tell me you sold the pill bottle for ten coins,… “

“Ohh! Yes, with this we can finally afford treatment for my sister” the kid exclaimed.

The old man gave him a somewhat shocked stare, before carrying his grandson and vanished into the crowd.