Karma bid Ye Ziyun a casual goodbye before returning to the group.
Du Zhe leaned closer, pointing subtly at Shen Yue's finger.
"That's an interspatial ring. It looks small, but the space inside is enormous. People usually hide them somewhere on their body."
He adjusted his clothes.
"When he bought that gauntlet earlier, he didn't even check it—just slipped it onto his finger. He's clearly trying to impress Ye Ziyun."
Karma glanced at Shen Yue, unimpressed.
"It's just an interspatial ring."
Then he turned to Nie Li and casually tossed him one.
"Here. There's some money inside, just in case you need it."
Nie Li caught it and smiled.
"Hehe. I told you this wasn't necessary, but… thanks, Karma."
Karma waved it off as if it meant nothing.
Behind them, Lu Piao leaned in.
"Ye Ziyun won't fall for that kind of move, right?"
Nie Li nodded slightly.
"She won't."
His gaze softened as it followed Ye Ziyun.
What Ye Ziyun wants most right now isn't wealth or status—it's friendship.
In my previous life, she wanted to be friends with Xiao Ning'er… but fate pushed them further apart instead.
Shen Yue frowned, irritation flickering across his face.
"Hmph… fine. Looks like Ye Ziyun really doesn't care about money," Lu Piao muttered while watching her leave.
Then he glanced at Karma.
"Just what is her background…?"
Karma chuckled under his breath.
"Trust me," he said lightly, "that question's going to give you a headache."
Nie Li turned on his heel.
"Let's go. I'm starting my plan."
The group moved deeper into the marketplace, weaving through stalls filled with weapons, herbs, and strange materials.
Nie Li pointed ahead.
"Lu Piao, buy two crossbows and five hundred bolts."
Lu Piao blinked.
"Two crossbows?"
Karma leaned in, whispering loudly,
"Don't let them overcharge you. Crossbows cost six hundred demon spirit coins each. Bolts are thirty coins apiece. If they try anything funny—walk away."
Lu Piao stared.
"…How do you know that?"
Karma winked.
"Experience."
Nie Li continued, already moving ahead.
"We'll meet up at the school's training ground."
Lu Piao scratched his head.
"Nie Li, have you bought weapons before? You're way too calm about prices."
Nie Li sighed dramatically.
"Since it's my plan, I should be the one buying them… but my monthly allowance is only fifty demon spirit coins. So… sorry."
Karma snorted.
Next, Nie Li turned to Du Zhe and Karma.
"Du Zhe, Karma—we'll go buy Black Pool Grass."
"Alright."
They stopped at a small stall run by an old man with weathered hands. Nie Li knelt, carefully examining several jars.
"In addition," Nie Li said quietly, "we'll need a low-grade fusing agent."
Karma crouched beside him, peering into one jar.
"This stuff smells like it could melt eyebrows."
"That means it's the right one," Nie Li replied calmly.
They left the marketplace, heading toward the outskirts near a grassy hill.
"They should have it here," Nie Li said, eyes scanning the ground.
Moments later, he parted the grass and smiled.
"Found it. Zoysia Grass."
Du Zhe hesitated.
"Black Pool Grass, Zoysia Grass, and a low-grade fusing agent… what exactly are you planning?"
Nie Li turned, holding the grass between his fingers.
"Black Pool Grass has a paralysis effect, but it's very weak. It's usually used on wounds as a pain reliever."
He continued,
"Zoysia Grass is extremely common—so common that no one ever bothered to study it. But if it's fused together with Black Pool Grass using a fusing agent, it can greatly amplify the paralysis effect."
Du Zhe frowned.
"…How strong are we talking?"
Nie Li replied calmly,
"It has no effect on ordinary demon beasts. In fact, it's weaker than a low-grade paralysis agent."
Karma turned to him, confused.
"Then why are we making it if it doesn't work on demon beasts?"
Nie Li lifted the bag slightly.
"Did you notice something?"
"Horned Sheep never eat Zoysia Grass."
Du Zhe froze.
"…Horned Sheep?"
Karma's eyes lit up as he remembered the crossbows and bolts.
"Don't tell me…" he said excitedly. "Are we hunting Horned Sheep?"
Nie Li nodded.
"Let's go."
Karma raised both hands, grinning widely.
"Let's go—!!"
Du Zhe watched him, utterly confused about what was so exciting.
As they walked, Du Zhe glanced at Nie Li, curiosity bubbling over.
"Nie Li… you wouldn't happen to be an alchemist, would you?"
Nie Li smiled—but didn't answer.
Behind them, Karma stretched lazily, hands behind his head.
"That's right… how do you even know all this?" he muttered. "Are you secretly a bookworm or something?"
In his previous life, Nie Li's understanding of alchemy had only appeared superficial.
In truth, Glory City's so-called alchemists were laughable. Their standards were so low they couldn't even be considered true practitioners. Real alchemists were forged in places like the Toxic Forest—where survival meant enduring endless attacks from poisonous demon beasts, and every mistake meant death.
Compared to them, the alchemists of Glory City were merely dabblers.
Nie Li glanced at the bottle in his hand.
If compared to them… I could barely be considered one.
"I guess so," he said casually.
Du Zhe stared at him as if he were looking at a monster.
"…Amazing."
Karma nodded seriously.
"So we've got ourselves a doctor," he said with a grin. "That's reassuring… hehehe."
Nie Li glanced at him, a shadow passing through his eyes.
I will cure your disease this time, Karma. It's dormant now… and you don't even know about it.
Nie Li corked the bottle.
"Sixth bottle—done. Alright. Time to head to the training ground."
He looked up at the sky and smiled faintly.
"Lu Piao should be anxiously waiting by now."
The towering gates of the training ground loomed before them—ancient, massive, imposing.
Such tall doors… Du Zhe thought in awe.
"This training ground had been established by Lord Ye Mo himself—a Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist. Even the principal of the Holy Orchid Institute was only Black Gold Rank."
"I've only been here a few times," Nie Li admitted quietly.
They stepped inside.
"Lu Piao?" Du Zhe called out. "Why are you even later than—"
He froze.
"…Us?"
A crossbow.
Then another.
Bolts strapped neatly across back.
A straw hat tilted forward.
"Hahahaha!"
Lu Piao burst out laughing, legs spread wide, holding a crossbow in each hand, looking unbearably proud.
Nie Li's face darkened instantly.
"I already said!" he shouted. "Just crossbows and bolts are enough!"
Lu Piao blinked, lifting his newly purchased armor.
"Wh–what? I finally managed to buy this battle armor…"
Nie Li pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This area is specially reserved for those below Silver Rank," he explained, forcing himself to calm down. "Experts capture low-level demon beasts and place them here every year. Students hunt them for demon crystals and materials."
He sighed.
"Armor just makes you slower."
Karma, leaning against a pillar with crossed arms, added lazily,
"…For the record, he still looks ridiculous even with it."
Lu Piao deflated instantly.
"First," Nie Li continued, "we go to the guard area to confirm our student identities. Then we enter."
"With our current strength," he added, "we'll hunt Horned Sheep first. They're herbivores—but dangerous if you're careless."
Karma tilted his head.
"Horned Sheep, huh? Cute name. Sounds harmless."
The moment they stepped into the forest—
A massive beast came into view.
Brown fur. Thick muscles. Four massive horns curling outward. Steam puffed from its nostrils as it chewed lazily.
"Huff… huff…"
Lu Piao froze.
"…It doesn't look harmless."
The Horned Sheep lifted its head.
Its eyes locked onto Lu Piao.
Du Zhe swallowed hard.
"…Nie Li."
Karma leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming.
"Ohhh," he said with a grin. "Totally not cute at all."
Nie Li crouched, calm and focused.
"Remember—Horned Sheep never eat Zoysia Grass."
He pulled out the prepared bag.
The Horned Sheep snorted.
The ground trembled.
And the hunt officially began.