Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Chapter 126 - 126: Mysterious Exchange

The map of keys in his hands changed subtly, but enough to tell him where he should go. Looking at the three-dimensional object with various markings around it, he could tell he needed to go to the Barter Fair, to the second floor, and look for something or someone in the left corner of the building.

It was time to go to the Barter Fair and scan the area!

'Felicity warned me about the dangers of going in

Remembering his 3D map, Liam followed the outer corridors of the area, where he could more easily see the surroundings of the building without walls.

The location indicated by the map was on the left side of the building, from the perspective of someone coming out of the stairwells that gave access to the first and third levels. Specifically, the location was at one end of the rectangular building, opposite the exit from the stairs.

Liam followed the path and soon spotted the only stall in that corner, where a bald man in a yellow cloak was sitting in the lotus position with his eyes closed.

Stopping in front of this stall, Liam looked at the items for sale on a small table and frowned when he saw a 3D map, just like the one that had brought him there.

There were slight differences between the map on sale and the one he had in his pocket. His was made of keys that fit together. The one available for trade was a solid casting with no fittings.

[I'll Trade Anything For Specific Items] said the sign on this stall.

Liam brought one of his hands up to the three-dimensional figure as the man from the third realm, bald with no eyebrows or facial hair, opened his eyes.

"What do you want for this object?" Liam asked.

His 3D map didn't tell him much, except that he was supposed to come here. He didn't know exactly what he had to do or what the risks were. But when he saw this artifact, he couldn't help but feel that this was the way for him to access this secret mission.

The man narrowed his eyes but didn't answer Liam. "What caught your eye about this item? I won't exchange it unless you have the key I'm looking for."

Liam's eyes lit up. He clearly got the message. "I might have the key. That's why it caught my eye."

"Can I see it?" the man asked as he showed Liam one of his hands.

The young man with the short black hair looked around to make sure no one else was watching them. But that would be impossible. There were at least four people looking at him right now.

'I hope none of them understands what this is...' He took a deep breath as he called up the 3D map of keys from his spatial ring.

Originally, he hadn't planned to go deep into this journey today. But when he saw this item, he decided to solve this mystery in one fell swoop!

The moment he saw the key map fall into his hands, the bald man's neutral expression changed, the corners of his lips turning up, while his eyes became smaller.

He stood up and picked up all his items from his desk, leaving only the item in one of Liam's hands. "We made the exchange. Good luck."

Without any hesitation, he closed his tent and walked away, not bothering to cast a backward glance.

Liam stood in the middle of the man's quick departure, not quite comprehending the situation as everything had happened so quickly and more easily than he had predicted.

'This... What does that mean?' He looked at the object in his hands, but didn't stay still for long.

Seconds after the bald man left, Liam put his new item away and started walking again, making his way through level two of the Barter Fair as if he was there just to do more business.

His observers followed him, watching as he eventually picked up materials and books for Runemasters, as well as some Arcane Crystals.

When he left the fair, he didn't go home. Instead, he made his way to the Lotus Temple, leaving his observers wondering what his trip later that afternoon might mean.

'What was that item he traded?' one of them wondered as she saw Liam enter a cultivation room, the limit of where she could observe him.

'All his other trades were for resources for his profession or to strengthen his Spirits. But what about it?' This woman asked herself, with the same questions as several of Liam's observers.

'I have to keep watching him. It may not be relevant, but I'll keep it in mind!'