Henry Gale was also shocked, looking at Ryan Lawson with an inhuman gaze.

　　Hmph!

　　But Ryan Lawson just sneered, his face full of mockery.

　　He cultivated the "Heavenly Fate Creation Technique," and had gained spiritual sense in advance, able to control an area of four or five meters around him.

　　After advancing to the Open Vein stage, his spiritual sense could cover a radius of ten meters.

　　"It's your turn!"

　　Ryan Lawson shouted, suddenly activating the divine vein within his body.

　　Whoosh—crack!

　　With a single palm strike, a chilling cold burst forth, sending Henry Gale, along with his sword, flying several meters away.

　　"You... actually hid your true strength."

　　Blood trickled from the corner of Henry Gale's mouth, and his entire sword-wielding arm was covered in a layer of frost.

　　What kind of power is this? So terrifying!

　　It turned out—

　　In his previous battles, Ryan Lawson hadn't used his divine vein; just pure true qi and physical strength were enough to suppress someone at the second level of the Open Vein stage.

　　"Hmm, this sword is not bad."

　　Ryan Lawson walked up to Henry Gale and picked up his sword.

　　This sword was exquisitely crafted, made of tough and resilient material, and could at least withstand the true qi of a third-level Open Vein practitioner.

　　"Sir, we admit our mistake. Please accept this sword as an apology."

　　Henry Gale said respectfully.

　　But in his heart, he was bleeding. This sword was of excellent quality, worth two to three thousand gold.

　　However, Ryan Lawson was not satisfied.

　　He was in desperate need of money.

　　To pay off the Du family's debt, that superior-grade Open Vein Pill alone was worth twenty thousand taels of gold.

　　"You two, take off your clothes."

　　Ryan Lawson said indifferently.

　　"Ah."

　　The two of them turned pale, especially the petite girl, whose face went deathly white.

　　Hiss!

　　Ryan Lawson pointed the sword in his hand at Henry Gale's neck.

　　"Take off your clothes and hand over everything valuable."

　　Ryan Lawson couldn't be bothered to search them himself.

　　"I'll do it, I'll do it..."

　　Henry Gale breathed a slight sigh of relief and took off all his clothes, leaving only his underwear.

　　"Young master! Please don't! I'm still pure!"

　　On the other side, the petite girl blushed with shame, tears streaming down her face.

　　After all, she was a girl.

　　Ryan Lawson showed impatience on his face. With your looks, you're not even a fraction as pretty as Xueyao.

　　"Young master, if you need money, there's a 'Vitality Spirit Fruit' growing nearby that's about to ripen..."

　　In her panic, the girl blurted out whatever came to mind.

　　Vitality Spirit Fruit?

　　Ryan Lawson's eyes lit up. This fruit was extremely potent, able to greatly enhance the cultivation of the Open Vein stage. With enough foundation, one could even break through a level.

　　"Shut up!"

　　But Henry Gale was furious and quickly tried to stop her.

　　Tonight, he had brought the girl to pick the "Vitality Spirit Fruit," intending to use it as bait to win her over.

　　He hadn't expected his companion to give up the fruit just to protect her chastity.

　　Smack!

　　Ryan Lawson slapped Henry Gale, sending him flying and coughing up blood, worsening his injuries.

Chapter 008: First Entry into the Martial Market

　　"Very good. If you tell me where the 'Vitality Spirit Fruit' is, and it's true, you won't have to take off your clothes."

　　Ryan Lawson looked at the petite girl with approval.

　　In reality—

　　What Ryan Lawson had said earlier about taking off clothes only meant outer garments.

　　Hearing this, the girl felt as if she had been pardoned, and quickly told Ryan Lawson the location of the Vitality Spirit Fruit.

　　As luck would have it—

　　The Vitality Spirit Fruit was growing among the vines on a nearby rock wall.

　　"It really is a Vitality Spirit Fruit."

　　Ryan Lawson picked a crystal-clear, plump green fruit from the rock wall, about the size of a baby's fist.

　　Originally—

　　The fruit would only be fully ripe by midnight, which was the best time to pick it.

　　However, because Ryan Lawson had activated his divine vein, drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, the fruit ripened early.

　　Just as he picked the "Vitality Spirit Fruit," the heavenly book in his mind suddenly unfolded, and a surge of suction rushed forth.

　　Stop!

　　Ryan Lawson's expression changed, and with a thought, he closed the heavenly book, stopping the suction.

　　Whew!

　　Ryan Lawson secretly wiped away a cold sweat. Fortunately, the heavenly book could not disobey its master's command.

　　The value of the Vitality Spirit Fruit was far higher than that of spiritual grass. It could greatly enhance the cultivation of the Open Vein stage, and with enough foundation, could even break through a level.

　　"Get lost."

　　After collecting the spoils, Ryan Lawson kicked the resentful and unwilling Henry Gale away.

　　The two of them fled in embarrassment, their clothes in disarray.

　　"It's not safe to stay here."

　　Ryan Lawson suddenly sensed a bad omen and got up to leave.

　　The creation technique he cultivated gave him a keener sense of fate and fortune than most people.

　　Once his level was higher, he could even divine fortune and misfortune on his own.

　　Ryan Lawson had only just left for a short while.

　　Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

　　Several powerful figures arrived silently.

　　"The earlier disturbance in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth came from here."

　　The leading black-clad martial artist said.

　　They searched for a while but found nothing, looking somewhat disappointed.

　　Hmph!

　　The black-clad martial artist, displeased, threw a punch from a distance.

　　Boom—crackle!

　　A golden fist shadow the size of a millstone, accompanied by crackling electric light, blasted a huge pit four or five meters in diameter into the rock wall, sending stone chips flying.

　　That spot by the rock wall was exactly where Ryan Lawson had been cultivating earlier.

　　……

　　Three days later.

　　In a small hollow in Black Demon Ridge.

　　Ryan Lawson sat cross-legged, circulating his true qi, his aura growing ever stronger.

　　Inside his body.