On the colossal St. Ancestral Mountain range, sunlight shined through the gap between the mountains into the deep canyons. On the hillside beside the valley, some snow remained.
Even though it's already the early summer, the snow has yet to melt. The cold here is exceptionally long. The roars of beasts can occasionally be heard. On the surface of the valley stood a magnificent city.
The world outside St. Ancestral Mountains has been occupied by the beasts. The people living in the mountain range have not contacted the outside world for hundreds of years.
The people who live in the city are unsure of the situation in the outside world.
During the most glorious period of mankind, having thousands of Legend rank Fighters and Demon Spiritualists, the humans established many empires on the vast continent, but those empires have been wiped out.
Due to being stealthily located geographically, the city was well preserved from the Age of Darkness. They would occasionally encounter attacks from powerful Snow Wind Beasts within the St. Ancestral Mountains. However, after going through numerous devastating conflicts, the city was rebuilt again and again.
Outside the city gates were Issei and Raynare. Issei was taking a picture of Raynare's face. Oh, it was so fun for him. In Issei's opinion, the expression of absolute shock and awe coming from Raynare's face was quite hilarious.
"So? What do you think?" Issei asked. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to further tease Raynare. "Is it special or what?".
"Oh, it is indeed special," Raynare said. Something was not right. How is Issei capable of doing something like this? This was so illogical. "How in the hell is this possible?! I've never heard of something like this before!".
Calm, Raynare was not. Now, she understood how special is special to Issei. Raynare doubted that another person on Earth was capable of going to other universes. To be fair, Earth had different realms where different mythology lived. But none has ever left the universe to enter another. This was all so surreal to her.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! You should have seen the look on your face," Issei said. He was laughing his ass off as this was the first time in a while that he saw Raynare stunned at something he did. "I love seeing your surprised expression".
"I'm sure it was hilarious for you," Raynare said. She rolled her eyes at Issei. Through these types of actions, Raynare can tell that he is Miki's son. They both have a tendency to tease and cause mischief. "Please don't ever show anyone those pictures you took. I don't want to be a laughing stock".
"Don't worry, the pictures are only for me to laugh at," Issei said. He then kissed Raynare to assure her. "And if there's ever a chance it leaks, and they laugh at you, they will be dealing with me. Only I can make jokes about my girlfriend's expression".
Raynare once more rolled her eyes. The duo then entered the city. Issei knew that he did have the funds to buy the ingredients that he would need. So, Issei was planning to head to places where he could sell the weapons he had forged in the last seven years, but he was not going to sell his masterpiece, only the mediocre ones.
Looking around, Issei didn't know if he could just open a stall and sell his merchandise. So, he looked for someone that he could ask questions. It wasn't easy finding someone he could talk to about opening a stall as he was unfamiliar with the world. But, there is always a universal rule that can be relied on. When you see someone with expensive-looking clothing, they will be educated in this type of world.
It wasn't long before Issei and Raynare saw a tall, sexy woman with a curvaceous and voluptuous body and big, soft breasts. She had her hair in a half bun and a fringe to the left side of her face. Her clothing looked a lot fancier than the other people that Issei could see.
"Excuse me, miss?" Issei called. The woman stopped walking and stared at Issei. "Do you mind if I ask you a question? You look like someone who is quite knowledgeable".
The woman that Issei called to looked at him with a wonderous expression. Why? That's because Issei's clothing is nothing like the one people of this world wear. The woman looked at Issei and saw that his clothes were clean even though they looked weird. Issei wasn't a simple person as his clothing looked like a luxury item to her.
"My name is Yang Xin," Yang Xin introduced herself. Looking at Issei, she felt that he was an ordinary person, but something deep within her told her that she shouldn't underestimate him. Yang Xin's guts have never failed her. So she decided to follow it. "What's the question that you wanted to ask?".
"Right, I'm new to this place. I'm from far away," Issei said. He told the truth. There was no point lying as this place isn't a world like Earth. The Ultimate Gacha gave him some understanding of this world. Should he be careful when interacting with cultivators? Sure, but Issei didn't care. With Fiery Eyes Golden Pupil, he was able to see the strength of the people he was interacting with. "I was wondering what requirements I need to fulfil to be able to open a stall to sell some of the weapons that I've forged?".
"It depends on what type of weapon," Yang Xin answered. Until now, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Issei was a special person and gaining his favourite meant something huge. "If you're planning to sell ordinary weapons for regular civilians to use, you can just go to any corner and open a stand, but you have to tell them that it's a standard weapon.
However, if you're selling weapons made for Fighters and Spiritualists, you would be required to have the qualifications.
For example, if you're a weaponsmith, you need a licence, depending on your level. If you're an Alchemist, it would be the same. Each has three levels. Apprentice, Master and Grandmaster.
The higher your rank, the more famous you would be and the more you would be coveted".
"That makes sense. I mean, not just anyone would have the qualification to say that the weapon or pills they made are capable of what they are advertised," Issei said. He then made a thinking face. "Are there other ways I can sell my items?".
"Well, if you don't have the licence for the appropriate level, then you have another choice. And that's selling it in an auction," Yang Xin said. Throughout her interaction with Issei, she tried to probe his cultivation, but she couldn't grasp it. His soul felt unbound by the laws of the universe. As if there is nothing that can restrain it. That wasn't possible unless the person's cultivation was so high that he was a God. "I can lead you to the nearest Auction house that is currently ongoing".
"Thank you for the assistance. By the way, I'm Hyoudou Issei, and this lovely lady beside me is my girlfriend Raynare," Issei said. He was gesturing towards Raynare when he introduced her. Issei then had a smirk on his face. "Also, you could have just asked me how strong I am instead of trying to probe me".
Yang Xin, who was walking to guide Issei and Raynare to the nearest Auction house, nearly tripped when she heard what Issei said. The entire time, she thought that she was being discreet, but the whole time, the other party was allowing her to do as she pleased.
"Please, accept my apologies," Yang Xin said as she bowed her head. Her apology was sincere. Probing someone isn't something Yang Xin normally does, but Issei and Raynare were too unique that her curiosity got the better of her. "I don't normally do something as shameless as to probe someone. It's just that you're not someone that one could meet on a daily basis".
"There's nothing to apologise for. I felt no malicious intent. So, I let you do as you pleased," Issei said. If the person probing him were to have any malicious intent, the outcome would be different from how he treated Yang Xin. "Anyway, let's move faster. I'm curious about these auction houses as I've never been to one".
Yang Xin bowed slightly at Issei and picked up the pace.
"Earlier, you said I could just ask you about yourself rather than probe you. Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Yang Xin said. The question she was going to ask is personal but not too personal. Yang Xin was just very curious. So, she smiled when Issei nodded at her. "Are you a Fighter or a Spiritualist?".
"For showing us around and giving us assistance, I'll answer your question. It's neither," Issei said. The look on Yang Xin's face was hilarious. So, Issei took a picture of her face. Yang Xin shook her head as she wasn't prepared to be flashed with a bright light. "Fighters use traditional training involving martial arts, endurance, strength exercise, and natural ability.
Meanwhile, Spiritualist uses a cultivation technique to enhance one's soul force and use it to make attacks or even fuse with a Demon Beast.
I'm neither, as I use another system, and so does my girlfriend. Although, it could be said that I can be called a Fighter as I do train in the traditional way.
That being said, do not underestimate us and believe that we are any weaker than the so-called Demon Spiritualist as I can obliterate them with ease, even if I don't look or feel like it.".
Truth be told, although Issei is not a cultivator, he can use attacks or martial arts of cultivators as it is part of (Master Magician). How is it possible that a knowledge of magic would contain martial techniques? That's because magic is a very broad word. Anything that can't be understood by science can be regarded as magic. Hence martial techniques from cultivation worlds can be considered magic.
For example, there is a technique within the (Master Magician) knowledge that Issei got called Yin-Yang Bomb, Heavenly Accumulating Strike, and other techniques. There is even some knowledge on Kido.
After walking for a while, Yang Xin, Issei and Raynare arrived at the Auction house. At the current time, it is bustling with people. In fact, it was overcrowded. Thankfully, Issei and Raynare weren't here to participate in the bidding. Instead, they were here to sell some weapons.