Tales of Demons and Gods: Light Devil Fruit

"It's incredible. Looking at his malnourished body, we can assume that the boy never received any proper cultivation resources. Yet, he was still able to manifest his soul force," Ye Xiao remarked. The boy's frail, thin frame suggested he barely had enough to eat, let alone afford pills or other resources.

"Hmm. With the support of the Snow Wind Family, reaching the legend rank as a demon spiritualist shouldn't be impossible," replied Ye Xiu, Ye Zong's younger brother and Ye Xiao's elder sibling. He had been sitting beside Ye Xiao since the beginning of the gathering.

"Brother-in-law is lucky. Fufufu." Lu Yingmei chuckled elegantly, her laughter graceful and light.

"Still, suddenly adopting an outsider will cause a lot of problems for Eldest Brother. And no matter how great the talent, personality is what matters most," Ye Xiao said cautiously.

"Are you being too wary of a mere child? We have plenty of time to observe him," Ye Xiu responded with a shrug.

"I hope so. You know how stubborn our Elder Brother can be—once he makes up his mind, it's nearly impossible to change it. Unless..."

"Unless Lord Father personally intervenes. Judging from the situation, it seems Elder Brother Ye Zong hasn't informed him yet," Ye Xiu nodded. Everyone knew Ye Zong only feared one person—his father, the legendary rank practitioner and the strongest figure in Glory City.

Ye Xinghan listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the arena.

Ye Han was a minor antagonist in the original novels. In truth, his personality wasn't inherently problematic—he was brave, gentlemanly, patient, and caring.

However, under the influence of the Sacred Family, coupled with his unchecked ambition and unrequited feelings for Ye Ziyun, his character twisted into something far darker.

"Let's see how obedient you are. If you step out of line, it won't be too late to deal with you—you lack the power to cause any major disruptions for now," Ye Xinghan thought to himself.

As everyone mulled over their own thoughts, the battle arena reached its final phase. The City Lord personally distributed the rewards to the winners.

The top-ranking participants received generous prizes, inspiring the younger generation to strive harder in their cultivation.

Not everyone was satisfied with the results, but most paid no mind to the dissenters. The family gathering eventually came to an official close, and everyone returned home.

Ye Xinghan, exhausted, fell asleep the moment he hit his bed.

---

Morning

Glory City's market—the largest and most bustling marketplace in the heart of the city.

Here, an incredible variety of goods were displayed: fresh meat, vegetables, demon spirits, and countless other items. Every day, traders gathered to sell their wares.

Even luxurious, rare, and expensive items could be spotted. Yet, no one feared theft, as the market's defensive systems were top-notch.

The taxes collected from the market were substantial, making it a critical asset to the City Lord's mansion.

Bronze-ranked fighters patrolled the streets, their keen eyes scanning every corner for any signs of trouble. The level of security ensured that both merchants and shoppers felt safe in this thriving hub of commerce.

And if any unforeseen accidents were to occur, there was no doubt that a swarm of guards would arrive at a moment's notice, with even hidden demon spiritualists likely stepping in to assist.

This was why everyone felt secure enough to freely spend their money here.

From early morning, Ye Xinghan wandered through the market, looking at the items on display with great interest.

There wasn't anything in particular he needed; he was merely sightseeing, as this marketplace had appeared in the original story.

Before long, he found himself in the section selling antique items.

This area had noticeably more wealthy-looking individuals compared to the outskirts of the market, and the shop decorations were much more vibrant.

"Purple Wood Essence Incense, perfect for relaxing your mind and making enlightenment easier! Ten sticks for 1,000 DSC."

"Chopper Violent Ape Vest, specifically designed for Bronze-Rank Fighters! Only 50,000 DSC!"

"Drazzle Flame Grass, grown in high-altitude mountains. Perfect for paralyzing insect-type demon beasts when burned, making it easier to extract their blood without harming them. It's also great for defending yourself during arguments with Vegans! Five thousand DSC for 20 stalks!"

Vendors shouted loudly, their voices competing to attract customers. Some even raised their voices to drown out their competitors.

Ye Xinghan skimmed through the items carelessly, feeling that most of them weren't particularly useful to him.

However, he paused at an average-looking stall with no customers.

What caught his attention was a scroll inscribed with the words "Added Body Weight."

"Excuse me, sir, can you tell me more about this scroll?" Ye Xinghan asked the vendor.

"Oh, Young Master, hehehe." The vendor's face lit up as he carefully explained. "As the name suggests, this inscription allows the user to increase their body weight by channeling a small amount of spiritual energy. The maximum effect triples the user's weight."

Ye Xinghan frowned slightly, his mind racing with theories about the scroll. The most likely explanation seemed to involve gravitational manipulation.

There were many fan theories about using gravity to exponentially increase one's physical strength. Scientifically, it was also proven that creatures living under extreme conditions evolved to be stronger than those in more favorable environments.

Ye Xinghan believed he could accelerate his physical training with this scroll, and perhaps enhance it further as he learned more about inscriptions.

"Haki, here I come," Ye Xinghan thought happily.

"What a useless scroll," a voice suddenly interrupted. It was the owner of the neighboring stall.

"Who would use an inscription to torture their own body? Absolutely useless in a real battle," the man sneered.

Ye Xinghan smirked and turned back to the original vendor. "How much for this scroll?"

"It's 700 DSC, Young Master," the vendor said, deliberately lowering the original price. He assumed the scroll would be hard to sell and didn't want to scare Ye Xinghan away.

"Here, 1,000 DSC. Keep the extra as a tip for holding onto this scroll for me," Ye Xinghan replied, handing over the money and continuing his sightseeing.

As he passed the neighboring vendor, he left a sentence.

"Never underestimate the value of something—it can become a deadly weapon in the right hands."

—-

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