Chen Shu and Zhang Dali exchanged weird looks, black lines practically forming on their foreheads. Why did everything about the restaurant feel so off?

Would anyone actually come eat at this kind of place?

But the owner was bursting with enthusiasm, having finally gotten his first customers after a whole week.

They'd promised him the area near the black market had heavy foot traffic, no less than downtown. Talk about a massive disappointment.

"By the way, does adding two eggs come with two cans of cola? Do you guys do that combo?"

"Get out of here, what kind of shop is this?"

Chen Shu's mouth twitched. Just then, he spotted a beautiful figure outside the shop.

"Dali, come with me. I know how to get into the black market."

"You two aren't ordering?"

"The stuff you're 'bringing out' in there is way too hot. I'm afraid it'll burn my mouth."¹

Chen Shu and Zhang Dali hurriedly left the ramen shop and headed to the street.

"Could it really be that what I make doesn't taste good?" The noodle shop owner kept reflecting, trying to figure out what went wrong.

The black market was located in the suburbs, but crowds still flowed endlessly.

"Sister Xiaoyu! Sister Xiaoyu!"

Chen Shu called out enthusiastically.

In the crowd, a ponytailed girl with delicate features, fair skin, and exceptionally clear eyes—the type many boys secretly had crushes on—kept looking around.

Xu Xiaoyu's expression froze, confusion filling her eyes as she saw two people rushing toward her.

Who the HELL are these two?

"Sister Xiaoyu, we're classmates. I'm Chen Shu from the Beast Taming class."

"And I'm Zhang Dali. You must have heard of my legendary stories."

The two started introducing themselves, trying to close the distance.

Xu Xiaoyu was famous as the grade's top academic ace, constantly holding first place.

As the grade's top academic ace, she held first place with near-perfect scores in liberal arts, an Excellence Level beast taming talent, and even a rare A-rank contract spirit. The school was cultivating her as a prospect for China Academy; it was safe to say she and these two weren't from the same world at all.

"Xiaoyu, you know these two?"

Beside Xu Xiaoyu, a handsome young man stepped forward, intentionally creating distance between them. Though his expression seemed friendly, his eyes held a deep-seated arrogance and disdain.

"We're classmates. And who are you?"

Zhang Dali could see right through his pretentious act and spoke with clear displeasure.

"You don't know me?"

The young man raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"What, are you Chinese currency? Everyone's supposed to know you?"

"You little—" The young man's face turned cold. He'd never encountered anyone who dared speak to him this way.

Seeing conflict about to erupt, Xu Xiaoyu stepped in to mediate.

"This is Third High School's top student, Wang Teng."

"Ohhh~ Wang Teng..."

Zhang Dali had a look of sudden realization, his face full of amazement.

This naturally satisfied Wang Teng's vanity immensely. The corners of his mouth couldn't help rising as he let out a light snort.

Zhang Dali followed up with a ruthless blow: "Never heard of you."

"Chen Pi, do you know him?"

"Don't know him, but I always feel like... you have the bearing of a Great Emperor!"²

"Huh? What?"

Wang Teng looked over. Though he didn't understand what that meant, it somehow didn't feel like a compliment.

As a self-proclaimed genius, he had the distinct feeling he was being mocked.

"What did you need me for?"

Xu Xiaoyu spoke up to break the tension.

Though Chen Shu and Zhang Dali seemed weird, they were still ordinary students.

If Wang Teng decided to target them, it wouldn't end well.

"Sister Xiaoyu, we want to check out the black market, but it seems we can't get in."

Zhang Dali spoke with hopeful eyes.

"Perfect, I was planning to browse the black market too. Let's go together."

"Since you have business, I won't tag along."

Wang Teng was quick to suggest leaving. Chen Shu and Zhang Dali somehow made him uncomfortable.

"Xiaoyu, I hope you'll seriously consider my proposal."

Before leaving, Wang Teng gave Xu Xiaoyu a meaningful look, then turned and left.

"Sister Xiaoyu, what proposal?"

Zhang Dali's personality was straightforward — he asked whatever popped into his head. Meanwhile, the usually obnoxious Chen Shu seemed unusually quiet.

"The third-year grade Beast Taming competition. Wang Teng wants to form a team early."

Xu Xiaoyu explained briefly without going into detail.

Perhaps in her view, reaching such competitions was way too distant a goal for these two.

"Ah I see well then, let's go check out the black market."

The three entered through another black market entrance, which Xu Xiaoyu navigated without a guide, as her status as a Level 7 Beast Tamer gave her the qualification to enter and exit freely.

After bringing them in, Xu Xiaoyu was ready to leave. "I have other business. You two browse on your own." Though kind-hearted, she felt no need to waste time babysitting them.

"Thanks, Sister Xiaoyu. If you ever need anything, come find me at Beast Taming Class 5 anytime."

Xu Xiaoyu nodded and left immediately.

Zhang Dali and Chen Shu were like curious babies, constantly gawking at the black market.

The black market belonged to Nanjiang City's Seven Star Street district, with seven interconnected streets. Various stalls lined both sides, crowds flowing endlessly, prosperity rivaling downtown.

Though called a black market, it had some official backing — otherwise it would've been shut down long ago.

"Selling Earth Dragon King Beast Core! This comes from China's only disaster-level dimensional space, worth a fortune! Can forge divine artifacts for contract spirits! Opportunity knocks but once, dear!"

"Shocking! Due to life's hardships, a high-level Beast Tamer is selling a Divine Beast Egg! Consuming it will directly make your contract spirit Gold rank!"

"Good news! Good news! Today at this stall, purchases over 50,000 yuan will receive my personal autograph! First come, first served!"

Hawking cries rang out endlessly from both sides of the street. This was the stall area, mostly individuals selling.

Though they seemed more like street swindlers with the offers they made, patient people could still find plenty of treasures.

Dimensional spaces contained countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Human materials science couldn't fully categorize them all — perhaps true wonders lay hidden in the dust.

Zhang Dali was quite interested, constantly examining various stalls, even bending down to ask:

"Uncle, how much for this Earth Dragon King Beast Core?"

"Young man, you really know quality! I can see you have wisdom bones, destined to be a dragon and phoenix among people³. Today I'll sell it cheap to you."

"A mere ten thousand yuan! Take the Earth Dragon King home!"

"Can it be any cheaper?"

"What's your offer, young friend?"

"TEN YUAN!"

Chen Shu's face was covered in black lines. Their conversation completely shocked him.

He thought Zhang Dali would get cursed out, but to his astonishment, the stall owner nodded without hesitation and exclaimed, "Deal!"

As Zhang Dali happily stuffed the yellowish sphere he'd bought for ten yuan into his pocket, the stall owner watched them leave, painfully pocketed his profit, and immediately pulled another 'Earth Dragon King Beast Core' from a large wooden box behind him.

"Dali, are you out of your mind? Buying something made from mud?"

Chen Shu couldn't help but speak up.

"You really think I'm stupid? Blue Star doesn't have this kind of mud. It's definitely from a dimensional space. Ten yuan for a souvenir is totally worth it."

Chen Shu was COMPLETELY speechless, wandering around the black market until he finally found his target.

1.  In Chinese, "pull" (拉) as in pulled noodles is also vulgar slang for "to crap." Chen Shu is making a juvenile toilet humor joke.

2.  "大帝之姿" (having the bearing of a great emperor) is a famous Chinese internet meme from the web novel *Shrouding the Heavens*. In the novel, Wang Teng's father constantly brags "My son Wang Teng has the bearing of a great emperor!" despite Wang Teng's arrogance leading to his downfall. The phrase became a sarcastic meme used to mock someone who thinks too highly of themselves or whose reputation is inflated by boastful relatives. Here, MC is essentially saying "Oh wow, you must be SOOO special" in a mocking way, though Wang Teng doesn't realize he's being insulted.

3.  "Dragon and phoenix among people" (人中龍鳳) is a traditional Chinese idiom meaning an exceptional or outstanding person, literally "a dragon and phoenix among humans." It's a high compliment often used by scammers and flatterers to butter up potential customers.