Top Grade Fire Physique

Business district of the Black dragon city. This was a place where the adventurers gathered. The Evergreen Trading Firm was also located at the centre of this district. One has to say that the city lord of the Black Dragon city was one competent fellow. Even though a large number of cultivators gathered here both at tempering realm and foundation realm, with all sorts of treasures flooding the market, no large scale trouble happens here.

Where people gathered, disputes are unstoppable. Even though small scale disputes happened every now and then, no trouble escalated to fighting. The credit of this peace would go to the infamous Black Dragon guards. With surplus treasures and an ideal training ground like the Black Dragon mountains, the city lord created a ferocious team of 500 guards. All of whom at the peak of tempering realm and 50 vice captains at early foundation realm (level 1-3) 10 captains at middle stage foundation realm (4-6) and 5 commanders all of them at peak foundation realm (7-9). These guards were personally lead by the city lord who was at early golden core realm. This force was strong enough to bully a weak kingdom.

A youth dressed in black robes was strolling around the market. He appeared to be a young teen of around thirteen in age. He had long black hair, sword like eyebrows and a distinctive handsome face. What attracted people's attention was his eyes. They were as clear as crystals without any ripples. The pupils were as black as galaxy. One would find his soul being sucked into them.

The youth was followed by some servants. He was strolling around the temporary stalls set up by the adventurers and from time to time he would buy some herbs.

This youth was Zhao Yun. He was on his way to the Evergreen Trading Firm. While on his way he would find some rare herbs necessary for healing and cultivation purposes and some others who were rare and might come handy.

Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. His gaze fixed on a small stall set up in a corner of the market.

Zhao San who was following behind him paused and turned his gaze towards the stall too. He was stunned to see a small figure sitting there. The sign told that the figure was selling himself as a slave in exchange for one gold coin.

The figure waa a boy. His age same as Zhao Yun. His facial features could be considered decent. He was covered in wound and bruises. There was scar on his chest that appeared to be a claw mark of some beast. What was more surprising was his cultivation at 4th layer tempering realm. If not for his complexion that appeared to be sickly pale and his breath that was as if he was on the cusp of dying maybe some rich merchants would have been willing to pay a gold coin for his talent alone was sufficient. Now though everyone was avoiding him as if he was a plague.

What attracted Zhao Yun's attention was some rocks that he was selling for one gold too. For others it was only some black rocks but for him it was a priceless treasure. With excitement concealed in his eyes, he strode towards the boy.

Zhao San and the others followed after him confused.

He stood in front of the boy to observe him. From the knowledge of [Basics Of Medicine Refinement] he had learnt not only about cultivation medicines buy also medicines for all kinds of basic ailments. From injuries to sickness his knowledge was enough to cure all kind of superficial ailments.

He could see that the boy though injured and seemingly on the verge of death was in reality far from it. His wounds were serious but something was stopping his life force from leaving. As for what it was, he had a guess but was not too sure.

He squatted down and touched the Black rocks.

Instantly a peculiar sensation was transmitted to him causing the excitement in his eyes to grow.

'As I guessed. These are spatial stones.' He thought.

Spatial stones were treasures which can be considered as precious. Their purpose was to create spatial tools. These tools had a separate dimension inside of them and thus were able to carry non living objects. There was no other law inside that dimension apart from space law thus the items won't age even after eons thus making these tools as efficient and effective.

If a competent weapon refiner was present, with these rocks he can make many spatial tools. Thus these tools though precious were not rare. These tools were mainly in the form of storage bags, rings, bracelets, necklace etc.

There was another kind of spatial tools. They were called dimension tools, they were special as they can hold life. Unfortunately one needed to comprehend space rules before forging it.

Zhao Yun would have never thought that he would find these space rocks here in a kingdom. Although these tools were easy to make, space rocks were still rare. Only 3 star and above forces would have access to them.

He examined the rocks and deduced them to be of medium grade.

Grades of space rock have no effect on the size of the dimension inside. It meant that there would be less impurities in it. Higher the grade, lesser the impurities.

Spacial rocks have different grading.

Low, medium, high, exceptional, legendary and mythical.

The higher the grade the rarer it was.

Low grade rocks were 30% pure medium ones were 40% high grade ores were 60% exceptional ones were 80% legendary ones were 90% pure while mythical ones were 100% pure.

Legend had it that legendary grade rocks had a natural dimension inside them while mythical grade spacial rocks were the core of the pocket world of the legends. They were extremely rare.

After confirming that they were all spacial rocks, Zhao Yun shifted his gaze to the boy.

"Why are you selling yourself?" Zhao Yun asked.

The boy glanced at him and said without any emotion, "Buy me and I'll tell you."

Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow. He glanced at Zhao San and signalled him to give two gold coins to the boy. One for buying the guy and other for the rocks.

Seeing the coins, for the first time some emotions appeared in the boy's eyes. They were excitement and worry.

He took out two parchments from his clothes. They were slave contracts. It was bound by the blood of both the owner and the slave. Zhao Yun knew that they were made by rune masters.

There were two kinds of slave contract. First one was a cruel one. The terms were extremely strict. Master can order the save to do anything while the slave cannot decline. When master dies, the slave will die too.

Second was a lenient one. Here the slave will still die when the master dies but if before death master wills it, the slave contract would be nullified. Also in this case the slave had some measure of freedom as he was not obliged to follow every order the master states. He can argue and can also try to change his master's view. Ultimately the final decision still lies with the master.

The boy took out both kinds as he wanted Zhao Yun to decide which one to choose.

Zhao Yun smiled. If the boy wanted he could just take out the second kind. But he still took out both showing his honest character.

Although he was impressed, he had no intention of sparing the guy. He was not a saint. He wanted subordinates who were loyal to him so that his secrets can be protected. He can trust his family, but outsiders were out of question.

He took the second kind and dripped his blood on it. The boy was grateful as it was still better to have some degree of freedom. He also dripped his blood on the contract. The parchment disintegrated into ashes and a red rune imprinted on the boy's forehead before vanishing. A similar rune formed on Zhao Yun's palm. Thus the pact between a master and servant was formed.

"Now can you tell me?" Zhao Yun asked.

The boy knelt on the floor and kowtowed, "Ignis greets you master."

Then he hesitated for a bit and said, "Master, my sister is sick. She's the only one I have in this world. After my parents died she is the one taking care of me. I need money to invite physician Luo to treat her."

His words were precise and to the point.

Physician Luo was the best doctor in the Black Dragon city.

Zhao Yun was surprised and so he asked, " so to treat her, you are selling yourself. Have you thought what would happen to her without you?"

Ignis bit his lips. He had thought about it. His first course of action was to fight and bring back a beast corpse to sell. But he was too weak to do so. He was injured seriously in the process. Then he decided to beg but no one was even willing to glance at him. Lastly he decided to sell the rocks he found by chance. He didn't know what they were but when he touched them, he felt something special so he decided to sell them but still no one came to even check them out. Out of desperation he decided to sell himself.

His story was tragic but his determination was something that touched Zhao Yun. Even though he himself was dying, he still decided to exchange the last of his life for his sister.

He smiled a little. 'Guess I got myself a good one.' he thought.

"Take me to your sister. Let me see if I can cure her. Also take this." Saying that he passed a healing herb he just bought. It was enough to prevent the guy from dying and also to recover slowly.

Ignis hesitated a bit. Not about taking him to his sister but about taking the herb. According to him the herbs that can heal his injuries were precious. How can he as a slave take it from his master when he haven't done anything for the latter.

Zhao Yun saw through his hesitation and shove the herb into the guys mouth with force.

Ignis was surprised and gulped down the herb instinctively.

He didn't say anything after that but looked at his new master with gratitude as he felt his body healing.

He quietly lead the way to his home. It was a small courtyard at the outskirts of the city. Apparantly it was left behind by his parents. His father used to own a restaurant and his mother was a cook. Once in order to search for some exquisite ingredients they ventured into the mountains never to return again. After that some covetous merchants forcibly snatched the restaurants from the siblings. Now all that left was this courtyard that the two were protecting with their life on the line.

The boy told Zhao Yun about his life and his sister.

His sister's name was Lingzhi. They both didn't have any surname. Lingzhi followed her mother and was an excellent cook. She was older than Ignis by 2 years. At the tender age of 15 she somehow reached the peak of tempering realm and thus somehow protected herself and the courtyard. Unfortunately some strange disease took her over and since then she was lying on the bed.

The disease was truly strange as what she was suffering from was burning of her body. Her body was burning as if on fire and even the surrounding temperature was so hot that Ignis was unable to endure it after a few breath.

Zhao Yun furrowed his brows. Basic Of Medicine Refinement provided him a plethora of knowledge about sickness too. He was unable to recognise this disease and thus decided to see it for himself.

When they reached the courtyard, Ignis led them to the room his sister was in. She was lying in a water tub which was boiling. Every minute with some strange mechanism the boiling water was removed and icy water was put into it.

Seeing the shocked face of Zhao Yun, Ignis proudly explained, "This was made by uncle Kim. He was my father's friend. This was supposed to be used in the restaurant but now my sister is making use of it."

As if remembering something he looked horrified and said to Zhao Yun, "Master, ummmm my sister is is...." He wasn't able to finish it.

Zhao Yun looked confused for a while and then something dawned on him. He glanced at Zhao San and others, "you guys go guard the outside."

"Yes Young Master." The guards acknowledged.

After the guards left he strode towards the girl in the barrel. Ignis wanted to say something but after a while he shook his head.

Zhao Yun neared the girl whose clothes had turned into ashes long ago. Even though he was young, he was a healthy male. Just thinking about the situation would have been stimulating for anyone. But his will power was enough to survive the death abyss. For him controlling of his emotions was easy. Even infront of the naked girl, his eyes remained clear and pure.

The heat coming from the girl was enough to burn any tempering realm cultivator to death if not controlled. Fortunately the girl was subconsciously controlling it otherwise the entire courtyard and Ignis would have left the world. Seeing this situation Zhao Yun har to marvel at the will power of the siblings. Both their condition was near death but just with sheer will power they were surviving. Ignis did it for Lingzhi and Lingzhi was most likely facing the pain for her brother.

Admiration was born in his heart for the siblings. They had no one to rely on and for each other they were even willing to challenge death such love was very rare in this power defined world.

Zhao Yun observed the girl's situation but was unable to recognise anything. This disease was truly strange. He frowned and thought hard and suddenly something clicked in his mind. He was close to the truth but was unable to recall it.

"Ah" suddenly a surprised yelp came from Ling Yun who was strangely quiet from the moment he met Ignis.

"What happened?" Zhao Yun asked.

"Brat are you a reincarnation of God of fortune.?" Instead of answering Ling Yun asked.

Zhao Yun rubbed his nose, "Old man what nonsense are you spouting. Tell me what disease is this girl suffering from."

"What do you mean disease? If this is a disease countless people would want to suffer from it." The old man sighed.

"Huh.. what do mean by that?"

"Well she has a unique physique. Top grade fire physique at that." Ling Yun said, his voice quivering a little.

"What!!" Zhao Yun cried out.