Chapter 3: The Grand Plaza

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Before Wang Liang could react, his vision flashed, and the next moment he found himself standing in an enormous plaza.

The plaza stretched as far as the eye could see, its surface paved with marble as white as jade. From where he stood, he couldn't see its edges. In the distance, he could make out the vague outline of what looked like a palace, yet when he tried to focus, it dissolved into nothingness—only cascades of purple seemed to hang from the heavens.

Before Wang Liang could take in his surroundings, a cacophony of voices erupted all around him.

"Erxian Mountain, Magu Cave forming a team! Need one for magical treasures, four waiting for one!"

"Emei Mountain, Luofu Cave, looking for people to fight against Zhao Gongming!"

"Death Tomb, expert leader, looking for a patron!"

"Silver Scale Breastplates, twenty coins each..."

Looking more closely, Wang Liang saw bustling crowds weaving through the plaza. It was impossible to estimate how many people were present, but one thing was clear: everyone here resembled those peculiar figures he had previously encountered. Most sported hair dyed in garish reds and greens, while some even walked around with bull or dog heads atop human bodies.

Others had simply spread out a cloth on the ground and displayed their wares, squatting beside their makeshift stalls and hawking their goods.

Faced with such a novel scene, Wang Liang couldn't help but feel curious. He glanced around and realized that, no matter how dense the crowd, he never actually bumped into anyone.

Moreover, whatever was laid out on these ground stalls could be seen with perfect clarity, even from a distance—he could easily discern every detail and item type.

Given that he was already here, Wang Liang decided to join in. He found a relatively quiet spot, knelt down, unfastened the cloth tied around him, and spread it out on the ground.

On top of that cloth, he placed a dozen or so volumes of "The Innate Universe Technique."

He had barely squatted down when he drew attention. After all, it was rare to see someone display so many identical books at once.

"Hey, brother, what are you doing there?"

A voice called out from nearby. Without looking up, Wang Liang replied, "Setting up a stall."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the cloth on the ground transformed, becoming a neatly squared, gray bundle. In Wang Liang’s eyes, it now displayed a grid—each compartment perfectly sized for a copy of "The Innate Universe Technique."

When he placed a book into a grid, a prompt appeared showing the base price and asking whether he was open to bartering.

His actions caught the attention of several onlookers. They had already noticed that Wang Liang’s earlier attempt to set up a stall had failed to activate the proper mechanism, marking him as a complete newcomer.

Now, seeing this rookie in possession of so many "techniques," the crowd sensed an opportunity for easy gain and began to press toward him.

Seeing the throng approaching, Wang Liang was startled and instinctively tried to back away, only to find he couldn't move more than a set distance from his stall.

The crowd, too, seemed unable to get any closer, forced to remain opposite him, nervously introducing themselves and pitching their cases.

Their odd behavior baffled Wang Liang. He couldn't fathom what they were thinking—perhaps they were simply not right in the head.

At that moment, a burly man over six feet tall elbowed his way forward.

"Make way, all of you, clear a path!" he bellowed.

He was as broad as a small mountain, with a crimson beard and green hair. He wore the short tunic of a butcher, a cleaver at his waist, his clothing spattered with blood and bits of flesh.

Having forced the others aside, the man planted himself in front of Wang Liang's stall, a friendly smile spreading across his face.

Wang Liang glanced at him. Oddly, the man's smile was so genuine it was impossible to dislike him.

Above the man's head floated a line of text: "Butcher No. 1 of the Five Metals Guild."

The butcher didn't notice Wang Liang's expression. He looked him up and down and greeted him, "Greetings, young master."

Young master? Not only Wang Liang, but everyone nearby was momentarily stunned.

The butcher puffed out his chest with pride. "What’s wrong, can't you see what this is? They're all copies of 'The Innate Universe Technique.' And look at our young master here—it's clear he's already begun cultivating the technique. Obviously, his family elders carried him through dungeons, farming these manuals just for him.

"The extra copies are his starting capital. Unless you have elders willing to grind the same dungeon endlessly for your sake, don’t try to sway the young master’s judgment."

He turned back to Wang Liang. "By the way, young master, you can call me Butcher. I’m a merchant with the Five Metals Guild. I deal in all sorts of exotic beasts—whatever you need, even celestial crane attendants, I can acquire them for you."

"Cranes? No need," Wang Liang waved him off.

The crowd observed that, though Wang Liang no longer resembled the portly figure from before and now exuded the scholarly air of a cultured gentleman, he unmistakably carried himself with the bearing of someone used to authority. Some habits could not be disguised.

At this, the crowd began to believe the butcher's words. Their gazes toward Wang Liang grew more respectful.

The butcher, now deferential, asked, "Young master, may I ask your distinguished name?"

"My surname is Wang, and my name is…" Wang Liang hesitated. He had no idea why everyone here bore such peculiar names, but it was clear that names mattered greatly in this world.

After a moment’s thought, he straightened and declared, "My name is Wang Jilong."

Yet, sensing that something was still missing, he added, "Wang Jilong, master of many talents."

After saying this, he nodded with satisfaction. Now, this should be comparable to that 'Dragon Cannon Gunner Yin Zhiping.'

"Master of many fortunes?" Butcher muttered under his breath. "What a splendid name—only such a name befits the young master’s majesty. It says everything about your style."

He continued, "Young master, do you need someone to lead you? The Five Metals Guild has expert teams ready to serve distinguished patrons—leveling up, hunting, dungeon runs, magical treasures, reputation farming—anything you need, we can deliver. Just say the word, and whatever your goal, we’ll see to it without fail."