Everyone, including Fang Chao, was stunned.
Although the stall owner might have been exaggerating, his dagger was undeniably sharp. If it had landed on Du Fei, wouldn't he have been at least severely injured, if not killed?
After all, although cultivators were no longer ordinary people, they were still flesh and blood, except for some external martial arts masters who had trained their bodies to the extreme.
How could flesh and blood withstand such a sharp dagger?
"Brother Fei, perhaps we should forget it."
Fang Chao thought Du Fei was speaking in anger and quickly tried to dissuade him.
To his surprise, Du Fei simply waved his hand, indicating no need to say more.
Since Du Fei was determined, Fang Chao could only sigh helplessly.
The stall owner's eyes glinted menacingly, his face filled with terror as he said, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you on Xie Family territory? Since you're looking for death, don't blame me for being merciless!"
As the organizers of the martial arts convention, the Xie family had informed every cultivator upon their arrival that fighting was forbidden except on the arena.
However, cultivators were not ordinary people. They were often hot-tempered and prone to conflict, making it impossible to completely prevent fights.
But as long as the commotion wasn't too great, or if there were no major casualties, the Xie family would often turn a blind eye.
The stall owner, provoked by Du Fei's words, felt that if he didn't teach Du Fei a lesson, he wouldn't be able to continue his stall for the next few days.
He figured that as long as he held back a little and with so many people witnessing it, the Xie family wouldn't trouble him even if Du Fei got injured.
With this thought, the stall owner snatched the dagger Fang Chao had been looking at and stepped over the table towards Du Fei.
"Alas, young people are indeed impulsive. Even if that dagger isn't forged from thousand-year cold iron, it's still incredibly sharp. A single slash would surely cause blood to spatter five steps."
"Brother Liu, ordinary people can injure or kill someone with just a few words, let alone us cultivators."
"Exactly. This fellow is too blunt with his words, it's no wonder the stall owner is angry."
"If this escalates, the Xie family's enforcement team might have to intervene."
As the stall owner approached, the onlookers felt that Du Fei had been a bit rash.
After all, mocking someone's wares as garbage in front of so many people would anger anyone.
Seeing the stall owner walk up to Du Fei, ready to strike, everyone subconsciously held their breath.
However, Du Fei remained calm, as if the situation had nothing to do with him.
"Die!"
The stall owner had initially intended to walk out slowly, exerting pressure on Du Fei.
If Du Fei showed any sign of fear, he wouldn't have to act.
After all, if he lost control and the situation escalated, the Xie family would surely intervene.
But the stall owner had no idea that Du Fei was not only unafraid but also looking at him with a defiant gaze.
"How can I endure this?" The stall owner hardened his resolve and swung the dagger at Du Fei.
Seeing the flashing dagger heading towards Du Fei, Fang Chao instinctively moved to intervene.
Even though Du Fei had told him not to interfere, in Fang Chao's eyes, this was merely a matter of pride. Even if Du Fei was stronger, he was still made of flesh and blood and couldn't possibly block a sharp weapon.
*Clink.*
Just as Fang Chao was about to make his move, his eyes widened.
"This is impossible!"
However, the surrounding onlookers couldn't help but exclaim.
As the stall owner's dagger was about to strike Du Fei, the latter casually extended two fingers and caught the blade.
*Clang!*
With a crisp sound, Du Fei actually snapped the incredibly sharp dagger with just two fingers? This was too incredible.
"A mere dagger forged from ordinary copper, with some sleight of hand to cover up its flaws. You were trying to pass off fake as genuine. What are you trying to say by harming me?"
The crowd's gaze followed Du Fei's words to the dagger on the ground.
Now, the dagger, broken in two, revealed its true nature. It was just ordinary junk, lacking the sharp gleam it had earlier.
Exposed by Du Fei, the stall owner was overcome with shame.
He then awkwardly rolled up his wares and slunk away.
Du Fei, who had snapped the dagger with just two fingers, became the center of attention.
"Brother Fei, how did you know this dagger was fake?"
Fang Chao looked at Du Fei with immense respect.
His strength was unfathomable, and his eyesight was top-notch. When would he ever possess Du Fei's abilities? Fang Chao could only entertain such thoughts in his mind.
Du Fei smiled and said nothing.
Both his x-ray vision and divine sense were abilities he couldn't explain to Fang Chao, so it was better to appear enigmatic.
Seeing this, Fang Chao didn't press further. After all, everyone had their secrets, and if Du Fei didn't want to disclose them, it was likely for a good reason.
The two continued their exploration.
From then on, whenever Fang Chao encountered valuable items he liked, he would first ask for Du Fei's opinion. Only after Du Fei nodded would Fang Chao proceed with negotiations.
Among these items was a pair of gloves that Fang Chao was very pleased with, and Du Fei confirmed they were exquisite.
However, the stall owner would only trade for pills that enhanced cultivation or martial arts techniques.
Fang Chao possessed neither, so he could only reluctantly leave the stall.
"Huh."
After walking a few more steps, Du Fei stopped at a particular stall.
Having walked for so long, Du Fei had only glanced at the items along the way and had never paid any particular attention to anything.
Fang Chao followed Du Fei's gaze and saw that the item that had caught his attention was a miniature Buddhist pagoda, about the size of a palm.
The pagoda was carved with exquisite detail, and even the eaves of each level were lifelike.
"May I take a look?"
Du Fei pointed at the pagoda and asked the stall owner.
The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a blank expression, appearing to be at least forty years old.
In fact, besides this stall owner, many of the vendors in this area, specially designated for stalls by the Xie family, looked over thirty.
Some of them were there to watch the excitement, while others were accompanying younger family members to the martial arts convention.
Du Fei and Fang Chao had even overheard people saying that every martial arts convention attracted a group of people who set up stalls to sell all sorts of peculiar items, making a fortune.
"You can, but I must state upfront that I don't sell my items for money. I only trade them for pills that enhance cultivation or medicine for healing."
The stall owner looked up at Du Fei.
His words were similar to those of other stall owners, indicating that pills for enhancing cultivation were the most sought-after items among cultivators.
Nodding slightly, Du Fei picked up the exquisite pagoda from the table.