Chapter 333: The thousand dao city 3.

"This is good."

Mo Yuxin immediately pushed the entire paper bag toward her.

"Take all of them."

Su Yubing looked at the six buns.

"You bought them for yourself."

"I can buy more."

"You spoil me."

"Yes."

Su Yubing looked amused.

"You say it as though you are proud."

"I am."

Su Yubing ate another bun. A group of young cultivators passed by. One of them glanced at the couple, then looked again. His friend whispered something. The first young man immediately looked away. Su Yubing noticed. She leaned closer.

"They were looking at you."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"I noticed."

"Does it bother you?"

"No."

"Why?"

"They are looking. You are the one I care about."

Su Yubing’s expression softened. She nudged her shoulder against Mo Yuxin’s.

"Then keep looking at me."

Mo Yuxin smiled.

"Always."

By noon, they had reached the southern district. This was where Thousand Dao City’s scale became truly absurd. The first artifact street alone stretched for several kilometers. Shops sold swords, spears, shields, flying swords, defensive robes, storage treasures, spirit boats, miniature formations, and all kinds of strange treasures. Mo Yuxin naturally slowed down near a weapon shop. Su Yubing noticed.

"You want to go in."

"No."

"You are staring."

"I am looking."

"That is the same thing."

Mo Yuxin glanced at the shop sign.

"Fine."

They entered. The shop was much larger inside than outside. Rows of weapons floated inside transparent display formations. Some were ordinary spirit weapons, while others were rare treasures with old spiritual fluctuations. A middle-aged man approached them.

"Welcome."

He looked at Mo Yuxin’s clothing, then at Su Yubing.

"Looking for a weapon?"

Mo Yuxin shook her head.

"Just looking."

The shopkeeper smiled.

"Take your time."

Unlike many weapon shops in smaller cities, he did not begin throwing expensive treasures at them. Mo Yuxin walked past several swords. Her expression remained calm. Then she stopped in front of a long black sword. It was not particularly flashy. The blade had no glowing runes. There were no jewels in the hilt. It was simply well made. Mo Yuxin picked it up. The sword released a faint vibration. The shopkeeper immediately became interested.

"That sword is called Silent River."

Mo Yuxin examined it.

"Good balance."

"It was forged by a master from the western mountains. It is made from dark river iron and moonfire steel."

Su Yubing walked closer.

"Do you like it?"

Mo Yuxin hesitated.

"I like the weight."

"Then buy it."

Mo Yuxin looked at the price. It was expensive. Not remotely expensive to her, but still much higher than an ordinary wandering cultivator would casually spend. She looked at Su Yubing. Su Yubing smiled.

"I know that look."

"What look?"

"The look that says you want it but you are pretending you do not."

"I do not need another sword."

"Neither does anyone need twenty different kinds of tea, but you still buy them."

"That is different."

"How?"

"Tea is important."

Su Yubing laughed.

"Buy the sword."

Mo Yuxin finally nodded. She placed the required spirit stones on the counter. The shopkeeper wrapped the sword. Su Yubing took the package before Mo Yuxin could. Mo Yuxin raised an eyebrow.

"You are carrying it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you carried all my things yesterday."

"I am stronger."

"So?"

Mo Yuxin thought about arguing, then decided it was pointless.

"Fine."

They left the shop. Less than fifty steps later, Mo Yuxin quietly bought a small silver hairpin from another stall. Su Yubing noticed.

"What is that?"

"A random thing."

"You bought me something again?"

Mo Yuxin held it out. Su Yubing took the hairpin. It was simple, made from pale silver spiritual wood with a tiny flower carved into the end.

"It is pretty."

"You said you liked it."

"I only looked at it."

"I know."

Su Yubing smiled.

"Then why buy it?"

Mo Yuxin answered without hesitation.

"Because I wanted to."

Su Yubing tucked the hairpin into her hair.

"How does it look?"

Mo Yuxin stared for a few seconds.

"Good."

"Only good?"

"Beautiful."

Su Yubing’s smile became warmer.

"Better."

Mo Yuxin reached up and gently adjusted the hairpin.

"Now it is perfect."

Their afternoon was spent exploring the merchant district. This was where Mo Yuxin became genuinely interested. The merchants of Thousand Dao City were organized almost like miniature sects. Each large clan maintained its own warehouses, spirit fields, caravans, shipping routes, and bodyguards. Some families controlled entire markets. Others specialized in rare materials. There was one clan dealing only in spirit beasts. Another controlled several mines. A different clan specialized in formation cores and sold defensive systems to entire sects. Su Yubing found the whole thing fascinating.

"You said the Southern Continent has no central ruler."

"Not exactly," Mo Yuxin replied. "There are regional powers, but nobody controls everything."

"Then who stops all these clans from fighting constantly?"

"The city."

Su Yubing looked at her. Mo Yuxin pointed toward a huge tower visible in the distance.

"That is the Thousand Dao Administration Tower. It handles trade rights, city security, public formations, disputes between clans, and the neutral cultivation zones."

"Neutral?"

"Yes. Thousand Dao City survives because nobody owns it completely."

That was one of the strange things about the city. It was powerful precisely because many powerful groups could coexist there. No single sect could simply declare the entire city its territory. The major sects had their districts, their branch halls, and their influence, but merchants, independent cultivators, academies, and city officials all possessed enough strength to make conquest inconvenient. As they continued walking, they passed a building with seven giant flags. Su Yubing looked up.

"What is that?"

"The Seven Great Merchant Alliance."

"What do they sell?"

"Everything."

"That is not helpful."

Mo Yuxin smiled.

"Then we can find out."

They entered. Two hours later, they came out with tea leaves, spirit fruit jam, a set of traveling cups, and a ridiculous amount of dried meat. Su Yubing looked at the bags.

"We went in to look."

"Yes."

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TO BE CONTINUED.