THE MASTER OF TEN THOUSAND REALMS

Chapter 6: Leaving the Black Mist Forest

Tirta stood in the middle of the forest with steady breathing, his body radiating the powerful aura characteristic of a cultivator in the Earth Realm, Four Stars. The Black Mist Forest, which had previously felt terrifying, now seemed like nothing more than his training ground. With five Level 3 Beast Crystals and one Level 4 Beast Crystal in his possession, he felt that his achievements so far were quite satisfying.

"It's time for me to leave this forest and sell these Beast Crystals," Tirta muttered as he stored all his spoils inside his storage ring.

The thick mist covering the forest began to fade as Tirta moved toward the edge of the forest. Along the way, he remained vigilant, his sharp eyes monitoring his surroundings. Although he had eliminated most of the wild beasts, he knew that the Black Mist Forest was always full of dangerous surprises.

As he walked farther, a faint path began to appear between the trees. The path seemed to lead toward a small settlement outside the forest.

"If I remember correctly, there's a market over there where adventurers sell the spoils they obtain from hunting," Tirta thought.

At the Market Gate

The bustling atmosphere welcomed him as soon as he approached the market. Adventurers from various regions were busy selling their catches, trading rare items, or simply resting after facing danger.

Tirta took a deep breath, feeling an atmosphere completely different from the forest. He walked toward a large stall with a sign that read, "Crystal and Rare Goods Trading Center."

An elderly man with a long white beard welcomed him with a friendly smile. "Welcome, young man! What can I help you with today?"

Tirta opened his storage ring, bringing out the five Level 3 Beast Crystals and one Level 4 Beast Crystal. The crystals shone brightly, attracting the attention of several adventurers nearby.

The old man was startled for a moment before immediately smiling broadly. "Incredible! This Level 4 Crystal is extremely rare. I can offer you a good price for it!"

"Of course, I want to sell all of them," Tirta replied calmly, although inwardly he was curious about how much he would receive.

The old man carefully inspected the crystals. After a while, he nodded with satisfaction. "I'll give you 1,500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the five Level 3 Crystals, and 2,500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the Level 4 Crystal. That's a total of 4,000 Spirit Stones. How does that sound?"

Tirta thought for a moment. The price was quite high, especially for the Level 4 Crystal, which was usually valued at only around 2,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. "Deal," he replied with a nod.

After completing the transaction, Tirta carefully stored his money. With such a large amount, he knew that he could purchase several important items for his next journey.

After leaving the stall, Tirta walked toward a small restaurant in the corner of the market. He sat at an empty table and ordered a simple meal.

"It's been a long time since I've been able to eat peacefully," he thought as he enjoyed the food that had just been served.

While eating, his mind began forming new plans. With his strength continuing to increase, he knew that the Black Mist Forest was only the beginning of his journey. Beyond it, there were many more dangerous regions with even greater opportunities waiting to be explored.

"Before that, I need to improve my equipment and skills," he muttered. His eyes radiated his eagerness to continue moving forward.

Ding...

[The System recommends that the Host purchase a World Map and an Advanced Battle Technique.]

Tirta smiled. "It seems this System knows exactly what I need."

Tirta followed the System's instructions and opened a holographic screen that only he could see. At that moment, he accessed the System with his fingertips floating in the air. This attracted the curiosity of the people around him about what Tirta was doing.

"Is that guy crazy? What is he doing?" The person sitting beside him stared at Tirta.

Tirta did not realize that his action of opening the System's holographic screen had attracted the attention of the people around him, including a group of young women sitting in the corner of the market. One of them, a woman with long jet-black hair wearing luxurious clothing, looked at him with a cold gaze.

The man who was called "Brother Wei," a burly man with a long sword on his back, nodded with a faint smile. "Alright. Teach him a small lesson, but don't be too harsh. We don't want to cause trouble here."

One of his subordinates, a young man holding a short spear, stepped forward with a mocking smile. "Young man, what are you doing here? Pointing at the air like a madman? Don't let that hand of yours invite trouble."

Tirta stopped moving his finger and looked calmly at the young man. "Am I bothering you?" he asked flatly, showing no emotion.

The young man snorted. "You think I don't know? You're probably trying to attract the attention of the women over there. Do you think they're interested in someone like you?"

Tirta merely sighed. He had no interest in getting involved in a pointless argument, but the young man's arrogant gaze was beginning to annoy him. "If you're bothered by me, you can leave," he said casually before returning his attention to the System's holographic screen.

However, Tirta's calm attitude only made the young man angrier. "How dare you talk to me like that! I'll make you regret it!" he shouted as he leaped forward, his spear already aimed at Chen Yan.

As the spear approached, Tirta moved quickly like a shadow. With a single step to the side, he avoided the attack, then with a simple movement, he grabbed the young man's wrist.

"Thank you for attacking first," Tirta said with a faint smile. With a small amount of pressure, he twisted the young man's arm, causing him to lose control of his spear. The spear fell to the ground with a loud clang.

The young man grimaced in pain. "Let me go!" he shouted, trying to fight back, but Tirta's strength was far beyond his.

Tirta released his grip, causing the young man to fall onto the ground. "Next time, don't start a fight without a reason," he said coldly.

This small commotion attracted the attention of many people in the market. Most of them were shocked by how easily Tirta had defeated the young man. Some even began whispering, praising his strength.

Brother Wei, who had witnessed the incident from a distance, frowned. "This kid isn't as simple as I thought," he muttered. However, he did not take further action. Confronting Tirta in public could humiliate his group.

On the other side, the woman with jet-black hair looked at Tirta with newfound interest. Her cold gaze changed into slight curiosity. "This person has some interesting strength," she murmured softly.

Tirta, who did not care about the attention of the people around him, returned his focus to the System. On his holographic screen, he saw the two recommended options: the World Map and the Advanced Battle Technique. The Heaven-Splitting Earth-Cleaving Sword Technique.

"Alright," he said softly. "It's time to continue."

With a single touch on the holographic screen, he ordered both items through the System. The World Map immediately appeared inside his storage ring, while the scroll containing the Advanced Battle Technique began downloading directly into his mind.

"This world is indeed full of challenges," he thought as he walked out of the crowd.