Chapter 289 – An Abnormal Obsession

Chi Qian’s appearance was like a stone thrown into the Talent Market, creating ripples that spread through the area.

Many people were watching Chi Qian, discussing her actions and causing the recruitment activities to temporarily halt. The Professionals present were no longer in a hurry to find suitable teams, instead observing the scene with great interest.

Even though this wasn’t the first time Chi Qian had done this in the Talent Market, she still managed to attract such widespread attention and discussion. This clearly demonstrated just how much attention and discussion this woman could generate.

As for all of this, Chi Qian watched with an expressionless face, as if the person being discussed and watched wasn’t herself. She simply sat there, appearing less accustomed to it and more numb to the situation.

Su Ming could see the numbness in Chi Qian’s eyes.

This made Su Ming’s frown deepen.

“She probably doesn’t really believe she can obtain the Dragon Demon Saliva she wants this way, but is just persisting out of desperation, treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.”

This was what Su Ming discerned.

“What does she want the Dragon Demon Saliva for anyway?”

Su Ming pondered silently.

Just then, another commotion arose in the Talent Market.

“Look! Someone’s approaching her!”

“Is that someone from the ‘Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion’?”

“The A-rank team ‘Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion’?”

“Is that their Vice Captain Qiao Zhi leading them?”

“That’s right, it’s the young master of the Qiao Family, the younger of the Qiao twins!”

A stir ran through the crowd as a group of people made their way through and stopped before Chi Qian.

Each of these individuals possessed an impressive Aura, especially the one leading them, who even seemed slightly stronger than Chi Qian himself. He appeared robust and powerful, commanding authority without needing to display anger, presenting a rather dominant presence.

Chi Qian lifted her eyes to look at the person before her.

Qiao Zhi was also watching Chi Qian, his gaze flickering as he observed this former legend.

After a long moment, Qiao Zhi spoke.

“You’re here again.” Qiao Zhi said with a furrowed brow. “I’ve already told you, you won’t get what you want this way.”

Qiao Zhi’s words didn’t elicit any reaction from Chi Qian.

Chi Qian simply continued looking at Qiao Zhi, as if his words had no effect on her whatsoever – so detached, so indifferent.

“Stop persisting, Chi Qian.” Qiao Zhi seemed unable to withstand Chi Qian’s overly indifferent gaze as he said in a deep voice. “You know how precious Dragon Demon Saliva is. Not to mention four drops, even one drop is hard to come by. You’ve been searching for a year now, and still no one has been able to provide it. Given this, what’s the point of continuing like this?”

Chi Qian lowered her eyes, whether because she couldn’t be bothered to listen to Qiao Zhi’s nonsense anymore or because she was growing impatient.

This rather legendary woman’s silence began to irritate Qiao Zhi.

“Let me be straightforward, Chi Qian.” Qiao Zhi decided to speak bluntly. “Stop searching for Dragon Demon Saliva. Join our ‘Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion’ instead. As long as you’re willing to come, you can name your terms.”

Hearing this, those who hadn’t understood the situation finally realized what was happening.

So this so-called Vice Captain of the A-rank team ‘Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion’ had come here with that opening speech specifically to recruit Chi Qian into his team.At this, Chi Qian finally spoke up.

“I’ve said it before, I don’t need anything except Dragon Demon Saliva.”

Chi Qian’s voice was unexpectedly pleasant, carrying the clarity of water droplets falling on a jade plate.

However, her tone lacked inflection, filled with numbness that somewhat wasted such a beautiful voice.

“I told you, you won’t get your wish.”

Qiao Zhi was still trying to persuade her.

“That’s not for you to decide.” Chi Qian said indifferently, “Regardless, I will continue my search.”

After speaking, Chi Qian closed her eyes, seemingly unwilling to listen to Qiao Zhi any further.

“You…”

Seeing Chi Qian like this, Qiao Zhi was so angry he almost turned to leave.

If it weren’t for this woman’s genuine capabilities – not only his elder brother but even the family elders praised her endlessly – he really wouldn’t want to put up with her attitude anymore.

After all, times had changed. This woman was disfigured now, no longer stirring those restless feelings in people’s hearts like before.

Nowadays, all that remained admirable about her was her strength and potential, though even these had to be discounted somewhat.

No matter what, losing a hand would inevitably affect one’s combat prowess to some degree.

Yet, remembering this woman’s past deeds and all the incredible things she had accomplished, Qiao Zhi could only suppress his anger and continue patiently persuading her.

He wasn’t the only one acting this way – the Vice Captain of the ‘Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion’ was doing the same.

As time passed, team after team seemed to have caught wind of the situation and arrived.

“That’s Zhuo Yong, the second-in-command of the A-rank team ‘Scarlet Branch Knights’!”

“That’s Sun Jian, Commander of the B-rank team ‘Phosphorus Fire Blade’!”

“That’s Liu Zai, Commander of the B-rank team ‘Heavenly Grandeur’!”

“And that’s Zhu Yun, Vice Captain of the A-rank team ‘Iron Rose’ – just like Chi Qian’s former team, they only recruit female members!”

Among the crowd, Professionals called out the origins of these teams and their leaders’ names with either surprise or excitement, heating up the atmosphere.

In less than an hour, one famous team after another appeared here, coming before Chi Qian and extending olive branches to her.

These were all teams of at least B-rank, with several A-rank teams among them. Teams below B-rank seemed unqualified to even step forward with invitations, left to watch from the sidelines with eyes full of envy for the major teams’ prestige and longing for this powerful Hunter.

Yet even these minimum B-rank teams, even when their Commanders personally came to extend invitations, couldn’t move Chi Qian.

No matter how eloquently these teams pleaded, whether appealing to emotion or reason, Chi Qian’s expression never changed once.

From beginning to end, Chi Qian had only one sentence.

“Bring me Dragon Demon Saliva, or there’s nothing to discuss.”

This single statement completely shut down all the major teams.

Her utterly unyielding attitude eventually provoked even a major team Commander to lose his temper.

“Even if Dragon Demon Saliva really exists, do you think a half-crippled woman like you still has the value to exchange for such treasure?”

The person who uttered these words that made everyone present pale was none other than Liu Zai, Commander of the B-rank team ‘Heavenly Grandeur’.Liu Zai was a middle-aged man approaching forty, lean in build but exceptionally tall. At first glance, he resembled a bamboo pole—tall and thin, giving the impression that a strong gust of wind could knock him over.

Yet, this Liu Zai was capable of becoming the Commander of a B-rank team, so he was certainly no weakling.

Liu Zai himself was a bona fide Five-Star Hunter. Although his Liu Family was not one of the Eight Great Families—a Super Family in Tianfeng City—it was still a top-tier family just below the super families. The pinnacle of their family was his father, the current Family Head of the Liu Family, a Six-Star Professional. Thus, Liu Zai could be considered a young master of considerable standing.

His team, “Heavenly Grandeur,” though only B-rank, boasted three Upper-Rank Professionals. Besides Liu Zai himself, a Five-Star Professional, the other two were Four-Star Professionals. Coupled with no fewer than thirty Three-Star Professionals, the team was far from weak among B-rank teams. Even if it wasn’t the top, it was significantly stronger than those lingering in the middle or lower tiers.

Such was Liu Zai, yet in the instant he uttered his disrespectful remarks, he was struck with a thunderous blow.

“Boom!”

Amidst a deafening crash, Liu Zai was sent flying violently, crashing through countless reception areas and injuring numerous Professionals along the way. Panicked screams and shocked cries erupted from the crowd.

“Commander!”

The members of “Heavenly Grandeur” had no time to react. In the blink of an eye, their Commander was sent flying, leaving them only able to shout in fury and alarm.

In the spot where Liu Zai had stood, Chi Qian had somehow appeared unnoticed.

She coldly watched Liu Zai being flung away and tossed out a remark.

“Even half-crippled, dealing with a Five-Star Hunter like you, who relies on family resources to climb the ranks, is more than enough for me.”

With those words, Chi Qian turned and left.

The leaders of the various major teams watched her storm off, their hearts filled with shock and doubt.

“She actually sent Liu Zai flying with a single move?” Sun Jian, Commander of the B-rank team “Phosphorus Fire Blade,” stared in astonishment at Chi Qian’s departing figure.

“Impressive,” said Zhuo Yong, the second-in-command of the A-rank team “Scarlet Branch Knights,” his eyes lighting up as if he had witnessed something extraordinary.

“As expected of her,” Zhu Yun, Vice Captain of the A-rank team “Iron Rose,” also gazed at Chi Qian with shining eyes.

As for Qiao Zhi, he felt a chill in his heart, recalling the earlier strike that even he hadn’t been able to react to in time. His expression turned grave.

“Has this Chi Qian actually become stronger than she was back then?”

After enduring such a hell and suffering such setbacks, this woman still hadn’t forgotten to refine herself and enhance her strength?

Truly…

“A terrifying woman.”

Qiao Zhi was filled with wariness toward Chi Qian.

He had initially thought her value had greatly diminished, but now it seemed he had misjudged. No wonder his elder brother had always insisted on recruiting her.

If properly nurtured, given Chi Qian’s potential and abilities, she would undoubtedly be able to advance to a Six-Star Professional, right?

“It seems I’ll have to put in more effort,” Qiao Zhi straightened his thoughts and began pondering how to further win Chi Qian over.

As for “Heavenly Grandeur” and Liu Zai, no one paid them any mind now.Today’s events spread at an astonishing speed, making Chi Qian—the already fallen legend—gain popularity once again.

Under such circumstances, no one noticed that at the recruitment center next to Chi Qian’s, a shadowy figure had already vanished without a trace.

……

Evening quietly arrived.

The sunset glow on the horizon resembled a golden veil draped over clusters of white clouds, dyeing them in vibrant hues.

Chi Qian slowly emerged from the Professional Center, gazing at the evening sky, yet without a trace of appreciation in her heart.

“Still no luck today?”

She murmured to herself like this, the numbness in her eyes transforming into profound exhaustion.

Although she had largely anticipated this outcome, Chi Qian still felt deeply disheartened.

“When will I ever find the Dragon Demon Saliva?”

At this moment, her heart felt as if shrouded by thick shadows, leaving her utterly desolate.

She was almost ready to give up.

A full year of relentless searching and effort seemed utterly futile—not only had she failed to find what she sought, but she hadn’t even uncovered a single clue.

This left Chi Qian deeply discouraged, even despairing.

“Is it truly impossible?”

Chi Qian whispered.

After a long while, the heavy exhaustion clouding her eyes gave way to renewed determination.

“No, I cannot give up.”

“If even I give up, then it’s truly over.”

“One year—what is that compared to the eight years I spent striving for a Breakthrough to become an Upper-Rank Professional?”

As a strong-willed woman who had risen to her current level through her own efforts, Chi Qian’s resolve was unshakable.

Even half-crippled, she would not lose heart or ambition.

Because this was the only thing she could rely on.

“Tomorrow, I’ll search the swampy mountain forests again. That area hides many Phantom Demons that manifested long ago—perhaps there are Dragon Demons among them.”And the Wanbao Auction House—recently, even divine weapons like the fierce cauldron have appeared at their Third Floor auctions. It’s not impossible for Dragon Demon Saliva to show up too.”I could also try negotiating with those ancient Families—they might have treasures of this level stored away.”

“And…”

Chi Qian muttered to herself as she walked forward, her thoughts entirely consumed by how to find the Dragon Demon Saliva.

This had been her daily routine for the past year.

No matter the approach, method, or channel, Chi Qian would attempt it all.

Over this year, she hadn’t just been “selling herself” at the Talent Market—for the Dragon Demon Saliva, she had ventured into numerous perilous zones and exerted immense effort, never once considering surrender.

And she would continue doing so.

If one year wasn’t enough, then two.

If two years weren’t enough, then three.

If three years weren’t enough, then five.

If five years weren’t enough, then ten.

If even ten years yielded nothing, she would spend her entire life searching relentlessly.

This was something she had to do.

Suddenly, Chi Qian halted.

A cold glint surfaced in her eyes, her expression turning sharp as her entire being transformed into an unsheathed Sword—filled with edge and danger.

“Am I being followed?”

She had detected something unusual.

But just as Chi Qian prepared to turn and confront the stalker, she was startled to find the other party boldly approaching her.

This wasn’t stealthy tracking—it was an open, brazen pursuit.Chi Qian turned around to look at the newcomer, only to find an unfamiliar young figure.

“Who are you?”

Noticing the other’s rather youthful appearance, Chi Qian let her guard down somewhat.

The other party suddenly smiled.

“I am Su Ming, the Commander of an E-rank team.”

“Nice to meet you.”

The newcomer was none other than Su Ming.

(End of Chapter)