I Can Extract Divine Power

A few of them had decent strength.

And the items displayed on their stalls exuded a powerful aura.

Shen Bai mulled it over for a moment before walking up to one of the stalls.

A middle-aged man stood in front of the stall, his strength roughly at the Meridian Realm.

When he saw Shen Bai approach, he immediately broke into a smile, pointed at a pair of claws on the ground, and said,

"Little brother, you've come at the perfect time. Take a look. These are from an Exotic Beast I just hunted. Its strength was at the Meridian Realm, and it took me quite a bit of effort. Do you want them?"

Exotic Beast?

Shen Bai furrowed his brow upon hearing those two words.

It was truly the first time he had ever heard of such a thing.

According to the information he had, there were no so-called Exotic Beasts in this world—only aberrations.

Shen Bai rubbed his chin and asked, "How much?"

The middle-aged man smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Just one hundred Deceit Coins, and you can take this Exotic Beast off my hands."

Another new term. Shen Bai found it increasingly strange.

This place was full of things that defied Shen Bai's understanding of the world.

He felt its secrets might run deeper than he imagined.

"Never mind, I don't want it." Shen Bai stood up.

He didn't even know what Deceit Coins were, so how could he possibly continue the transaction?

As Shen Bai was thinking this, the middle-aged man didn't get angry that he was just asking without buying. He simply smiled and told Shen Bai to look around elsewhere, suggesting he might find something better and cheaper.

Of course Shen Bai planned to look. He paid the middle-aged man no more mind and went to observe and ask questions at several other stalls.

Finally, after leaving the street, Shen Bai was lost in thought, standing motionless.

He had just questioned several stalls in a row and had only learned two things.

They called the corpses of those powerful beasts "Exotic Beasts," and the currency used for trade in Ruo Shui City was something called "Deceit Coins."

Shen Bai lowered his hand and asked inwardly, 'Red Makeup, did Exotic Beasts ever appear during the Era of Ten Thousand Cities? And was the currency you used back then Deceit Coins?'

He could only ask Red Makeup about this; after all, she was the only one from that era.

As soon as Shen Bai asked, Red Makeup immediately replied, her tone filled with confusion.

'Master, even in the Era of Ten Thousand Cities, there were no so-called Exotic Beasts—only aberrations. And in our time, we used gold and silver as currency. I've never heard of Deceit Coins.'

'It's all very strange to me, too.'

'This whole situation makes it seem like I'm not even from that era.'

After all, this was the first time she had ever seen any of this.

"That's odd, then."

Shen Bai placed his hand on his waist, gripping the hilt of Cold Moon and stroking it gently.

'This whole city feels mysterious, as if it's been cut off from the rest of the world. It has its own currency, and a new species seems to have appeared here. What's the reason for all this?' Shen Bai wondered.

Just then, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out.

He instinctively turned his head and saw several dozen people heading toward another street.

Not only that, but Shen Bai could also hear their voices.

"Hurry, hurry! The Courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flowers Building is playing the guqin again today! I hear she wants to choose a new suitor!"

Courtesan?

Ten Thousand Flowers Building?

And a suitor?

Shen Bai caught these words and grabbed the slowest person in the group to ask a question.

"Brother, where are you all going?"

The man who was grabbed was a bit anxious and said exasperatedly, "Judging by your question, you must not get out much. The Ten Thousand Flowers Building is the most famous house of pleasure on this street! But the Courtesan isn't like the other women; she sells her art, not her body. Once a year, she holds an elegant guqin recital. During the recital, she'll see if there's a suitor she fancies and invite him to her room for a night of conversation."

"It's the liveliest event on our street."

The man didn't know why he was answering Shen Bai. He just felt that Shen Bai's cyan pupils held a terrifying, deterrent force, and he answered subconsciously, not even daring to get angry.

Shen Bai let go, allowing the man to hurry away. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Well, this sounds like something interesting."

Since he had come here, Shen Bai was determined to gain something from it. He had no clues right now, and this so-called elegant guqin recital had just come up. Of course he wanted to check it out.

With this in mind, Shen Bai joined the crowd and headed forward.

...

Outside the Ten Thousand Flowers Building, a sea of people had gathered—hundreds of men.

At this moment, the crowd was filing into the building one by one.

Shen Bai, mixed in with the crowd, looked at the Ten Thousand Flowers Building—which was clearly a brothel—and felt things were getting more and more interesting.

Inside the Ten Thousand Flowers Building, enough tables and chairs had been set out, and at the very front was a large stage.

A guqin rested quietly on the stage.

Everyone present craned their necks, looking around curiously.

Shen Bai was also curious. He found a seat and overheard many people discussing matters concerning the Courtesan.

Not far away, a man who looked like a Turtle Eunuch was waiting patiently.

And on the second floor of the Ten Thousand Flowers Building, in the most prominent spot, two servant girls stood guard outside a door, their attitude respectful.

'Selling her art, not her body, in a brothel... I'd like to see just how beautiful she has to be to attract so many people,' Shen Bai thought to himself.

Every so often, a pretty girl would bring exquisite snacks and place them on the tables.

Shen Bai didn't touch a single thing, waiting patiently instead.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn,

the tightly closed door on the second floor was gently pushed open by the two servant girls.

Everyone's gaze shifted toward it.

Shen Bai did the same, watching intently.

Just then, Cold Moon, the sword in Shen Bai's hand, suddenly trembled.

Red Makeup's voice rang in Shen Bai's mind.

'Master, be careful. I sense a familiar aura. The person who is appearing is definitely from the Era of Ten Thousand Cities.'