Chapter 5 - Dispute

After leaving the Li family, Lin Mo headed towards the martial artist marketplaces in Tianlan City.

Tianlan City had three such marketplaces, each controlled by the Li family, the Fang family, and the Chen family respectively. The most influential force in the city was the City Lord's Mansion, which managed the branch of the Xuanfeng Trading Company.

Although the Xuanfeng Trading Company offered a wide variety of goods, their prices were slightly higher than those of the three major families.

This time, Lin Mo went to the marketplace under the control of the Li family. After all, it was better to earn money for his own family.

Soon, Lin Mo arrived at the marketplace managed by the Li family. While it was said to be managed by them, it was more like maintaining order since it was impossible for all the shops and stalls to be owned by the Li family. The Li family only operated some large shops while the rest were rented out to others for profit.

Entering through the gate of the marketplace, there were six Li family guards stationed at the entrance. Naturally, they knew Lin Mo, and usually, they would respectfully address him as "Young Master Lin" when he entered. However, this time, they acted as if they didn't see him.

Seeing this, Lin Mo wasn't upset. This was just reality. When you were successful, people would line up to flatter you. But when you fell on hard times, you wouldn't even see a shadow.

Lin Mo walked straight in without paying them any mind and soon navigated through the dense crowd to reach a shop called the Golden Beast Pavilion.

This was a shop specializing in the sale of beast souls. Beast souls were the souls left behind by demonic beasts after their deaths.

Beast souls had two main functions: one was to seal them into spirit weapons to enhance their power, and the other was for martial artists to refine them to obtain pure elemental energy, which was helpful for their cultivation.

"Master Lin, may I help you with something?" As Lin Mo entered the Golden Beast Pavilion, a young and beautiful maid respectfully asked.

Although Lin Mo had long been regarded as useless by the Li family, this maid didn't show any disdain towards him.

"What is the highest-ranked beast soul available in the shop?" Lin Mo asked directly.

The rank of a beast soul corresponded to the level of the demonic beast it came from, ranging from first to ninth rank. These beasts had no intelligence and were akin to fierce beasts.

After the ninth rank came the mysterious rank, earth rank, sky rank, spirit rank, king rank, emperor rank, and even the legendary imperial realm demonic beasts. Each rank was further divided into levels one to nine.

"Due to the large number of beast souls purchased by the Fang family recently, the highest-ranked one available in the shop right now is only a fifth-rank beast soul," the beautiful maid replied.

"How much is it?"

"One thousand gold coins."

Upon hearing the price, Lin Mo couldn't help but click his tongue in his mind. This beast soul was a bit expensive.

Fortunately, the Li family had always treated him as a young master, giving him a monthly allowance of two hundred gold coins for his personal expenses.

This one beast soul would cost him five months' worth of income...

"I'll take one fifth-rank beast soul then," Lin Mo said, taking out his spatial pouch to prepare to pay.

"Wait, I'll take the fifth-rank beast soul, and also, I'll take all the beast souls in this shop," he added abruptly.

At that moment, a dignified young man strode into the shop.

Upon entering, he cast a disdainful glance at Lin Mo, revealing a mocking smirk. Lin Mo recognized him as Fang Qiong, a young master from the Fang family, one of the three major families.

"Master Fang, this fifth-grade beast soul was bought by Master Lin. We cannot sell it to you," the beautiful maid apologized.

"What did you say?" Fang Qiong suddenly exclaimed in anger.

Observing this, Lin Mo remarked casually, "Is there something wrong with your ears?"

"Lin Mo, you useless trash, shut up, or I'll cripple you," Fang Qiong glared angrily.

News of Lin Mo becoming a waste had spread throughout Tianlan City in the past three days. To Fang Qiong, daring to defy him with such words despite being a useless individual was simply asking for a beating.

A glint of coldness flickered in Lin Mo's eyes. "Is that so? Then why don't you try?"

Seeing the altercation, the maid hurriedly ran out to intervene. "Master Fang, transactions here follow the principle of first come, first served. Moreover, this is the Li family's market. Please refrain from causing trouble."

Snap! Unexpectedly, Fang Qiong slapped the maid as she approached.

"This is how I handle things. Do I need your guidance?" Fang Qiong said coldly.

This commotion attracted many onlookers in the shop.

However, Fang Qiong wasn't the least bit worried. So what if he hit a salesgirl here? At most, he would pay some money. He didn't believe the Li family would do anything to him because of a mere servant girl.

"Why is Master Fang Qiong hitting people here?"

"So what? Even if the Li family guards arrest him, he'll just get a lesson and pay some money."

"True, after all, this maid isn't from the Li family."

The people outside the door began to discuss.

Meanwhile, inside the shop, Lin Mo's eyes turned cold. He hadn't expected Fang Qiong to suddenly make a move.

He walked up to Fang Qiong and said in a deep voice, "Fang Qiong, you're quite audacious."

"Hehe, I've always been bold. Let alone her, I dare to hit even a useless piece of trash like you," Fang Qiong sneered. He had awakened a Fourth-Rank Martial Spirit and received special training from the Li family. If things escalated, the Fang family would surely protect him. As for Lin Mo, whether the Li family cared or not was another matter.