Li Si didn't let the opportunity slip. Stepping forward, he raised his right foot and stomped down hard on Zhao Wuji's right leg.
"Ahhhh!"
Zhao Wuji screamed in agony, his pitiful cry causing many of the onlookers to avert their eyes.
"The so-called Immovable King Zhao Wuji… We had no grudges before, and I didn't seek you out," Li Si said coldly, his tone devoid of sympathy.
"This entire mess started because of that so-called 'Dai Shao.' If you want to blame someone, blame him."
"You wanted to break my limbs and later even kill me. By all rights, I should kill you here to eliminate any future problems. But since you at least had the decency to ensure that girl stayed out of harm's way, I'll be merciful."
Li Si's voice was as calm as ever.
"I'll settle for breaking your arms and one leg as punishment. If you feel wronged, feel free to seek me out for revenge. Next time, I won't be so lenient."
Without waiting for a response, Li Si ended his transformation and turned to walk toward Xiao Wu.
Midway, as if remembering something, he stopped and glanced back at Zhao Wuji.
"Oh, by the way, that green powder isn't lethal. It's called Itch Powder. The effects last for about three days."
He smirked as he added, "It's easy to mitigate—take frequent baths and drink plenty of hot water. That should reduce the duration to two days."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "This stuff is a must-have for any auxiliary-type spirit master. Whether for self-defense or disabling an opponent, it works wonders!"
"If anyone's interested, I've got more for sale. You can find me at the teahouse across from the Great Spirit Arena!"
The Crowd's Reaction
Zhao Wuji: "…"
The crowd: "…"
It was one thing to win a fight; it was another to advertise your wares right after.
Some of the auxiliary-type spirit masters in the crowd felt tempted.
This guy took down a Soul Sage as a Soul King. If he values this powder, it must be incredible.
A curious voice called out, "Big brother, how long does it take for this powder to start working?"
Li Si stroked his chin thoughtfully before shaking his head.
"Depends on the person. There's no fixed timing."
As if on cue, the unconscious Dai Mubai, lying nearby, began scratching himself frantically. It had only been about two minutes since he was exposed to the powder.
The crowd's eyes lit up.
He's a Soul Elder, a strong beast-type spirit master, and yet he couldn't hold out for even two minutes?
For most of the spirit masters present—ranging from level 10 to level 40—this revelation was nothing short of miraculous.
Of course, only Li Si knew the truth.
The powder wasn't inherently that potent. Dai Mubai's quick reaction was due to his weakened state—unconscious, gravely injured, and with no defenses active. Under normal circumstances, the effects would have taken five to six minutes.
Furthermore, as a non-lethal irritant, the powder couldn't be countered with conventional poison-resistance skills, only purification abilities from light-attribute spirit masters.
"The effects speak for themselves. If you're interested, come find me at the teahouse—first come, first served," Li Si said, advertising once again before departing with Xiao Wu.
The Aftermath
As Li Si and Xiao Wu walked away, the crowd buzzed with excitement.
"How much do you think he's selling that powder for? I should grab some—it's perfect for self-defense!"
"Too bad it can't kill outright."
"Ha! You think someone who can make this wouldn't have something lethal? Just ask him."
Meanwhile, Flender, who had been watching from the shadows, was deep in thought.
He had considered intervening when Li Si prepared to break Zhao Wuji's leg, but the possibility of offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stopped him.
Better to let this pass. Zhao Wuji might be badly injured, but he'll recover. If Li Si had wanted to kill him, I would've had no choice but to step in.
Flender sighed. Dai Mubai, what kind of monster did you provoke this time?
Dai Mubai's royal ties meant little to Flender. To the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai was a discarded prince. If he was humiliated or beaten, the empire wouldn't care—they'd simply view it as proof of his incompetence.
If Dai Mubai ever wanted revenge, he'd have to climb his way to the throne first.
"Ugh… what a mess," Flender muttered before using his speed to quietly retrieve Zhao Wuji and Dai Mubai.
Xiao Wu's Reaction
Unaware of Flender's thoughts, Li Si was now under Xiao Wu's scrutinizing gaze.
"Well, well, Li Si, you've been hiding your true strength for years!" Xiao Wu huffed, puffing her cheeks in mock anger.
Li Si smirked, choosing to change the subject. "Want to know something even more surprising?"
Xiao Wu's curiosity instantly replaced her feigned anger. "What surprise?"
Li Si leaned closer, his grin widening.
"We're about to make a ton of gold spirit coins!"
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with excitement.
She and Li Si had always lacked stable income, their rapid spirit power growth making them ineligible for subsidies. Though she didn't care much about money, having more gold spirit coins meant better clothes, nicer accommodations, and more fun.
"This is your new moneymaking idea?"
"Exactly!" Li Si replied, his plan forming on the fly.
His initial idea had been to open a clinic across from the Spirit Arena, using his healing abilities as a food-type spirit master to earn money. But that would inevitably conflict with the Spirit Arena's interests.
Selling Itch Powder, however, had no such complications.
The First Customer
By the time Li Si and Xiao Wu arrived at the teahouse, they hadn't even had time to settle in before their first customer walked in.
It was someone they both recognized.
"All of it. I'm buying your entire stock!"
Li Si froze.
How did I forget about this little rich girl…