Chapter 83: Black Market

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Black Market

"Senior Brother Liu, if you need to purchase anything in the Marketplace, perhaps I can help."

After Patriarch Ye left, the Outer Disciple closest to Liu Chen slowly approached. The other two Outer Disciples glanced over before resuming their posts.

"Then do you know where I can find Magical Artifacts for sale?"

Liu Chen sized up the Outer Disciple from Purple Bamboo Peak. ’To be able to work under a Steward, he must be somewhat clever. This fellow most likely figured out my identity from our earlier conversation.’

"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Marketplace sells all sorts of Magical Artifacts. Senior Brother can go there and try his luck."

The Outer Disciple spoke slowly, his eyes filled with anticipation. ’If I can just take this Senior Brother to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, won’t I be able to swagger through the Marketplace from now on?!’

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

Liu Chen nodded but said nothing more. ’This is such basic information. Forget Senior Brother Yang, even I could find out just by asking any Loose Cultivator.’

Seeing that Liu Chen had no intention of continuing the conversation, the Outer Disciple returned to his post, looking dejected.

A short while later, Yang Haichen walked in from the room.

"Junior Brother, we have half an hour."

After coming out, Yang Haichen went straight to Liu Chen’s side. He had thought they would have to rush back on their own, but it turned out Steward Lin had business to discuss with his father. They could take Steward Lin’s carriage back later, which would save them some energy.

"Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen nodded and walked out of the courtyard with Senior Brother Yang. The Outer Disciple, still standing in his original spot, watched them go with a crestfallen expression.

"Senior Brother, do you know where they sell Spirit Swords?"

Stepping out of Purple Cloud Hall, Liu Chen surveyed the bustling Marketplace and asked in a low voice. ’Half an hour is a bit tight. If I search blindly on my own, I probably won’t even find the right place.’

"Junior Brother, you mean..."

Yang Haichen turned to look at him. ’I know Liu Chen has a Cyan Steel Sword. For him to want to buy another Spirit Sword under these circumstances, there are only a few possibilities.’

’Either something is wrong with his Cyan Steel Sword—but that was something a True Disciple exchanged for Spiritual Cuisine. Even if the Cyan Steel Sword isn’t outstanding, it’s unlikely to have problems so soon. Besides, no one would be having a Magical Battle with Junior Brother Liu on the back mountain.’

’The only other possibility is that Junior Brother Liu wants another Spirit Sword to conceal his identity. If that’s the case, he definitely can’t buy one openly from a stall or shop.’

"Junior Brother, follow me."

Yang Haichen nodded and led the way forward. In no time, the two of them had left the main street and turned into a small alley.

"This place is called the Black Market by Loose Cultivators. The prices here are ten percent higher than elsewhere, but its advantage lies in its secrecy."

Yang Haichen explained as he knocked three times on a gray brick.

A crisp sound echoed, and Liu Chen immediately saw the wall slowly slide open, revealing a doorway.

Yang Haichen entered first, with Liu Chen close behind.

Liu Chen didn’t see many people inside. What met his eyes were rows of Black Robes and masks.

"These are just ordinary masks and clothes, but in the Black Market, no one dares to break the rules and release their Spiritual Sense. Any fool who tried is already dead. They’re more than enough to conceal your face and figure."

Yang Haichen draped a Black Robe over his shoulders and put on a mask. After he finished changing, he turned around, expecting to see a flustered Liu Chen. Instead, what met his eyes was a figure in black, already prepared.

"The items in the Black Market are all clearly priced. Haggling is not accepted. Even if you try to negotiate, the stall owners won’t engage with you."

Yang Haichen pushed open a distant gate and walked out slowly. Liu Chen followed behind, listening quietly. ’Judging by Senior Brother Yang’s familiarity, he must be a regular at the Black Market.’

’Not that I had any intention of haggling anyway,’ Liu Chen thought. ’It would be arrogant to say I have more Spirit Stones than I can spend, but if I’m only buying items for the Body Tempering and Meridian Passage Realms, I most likely won’t run out.’ ℴℴ𝘮

Though called a Black Market, it was actually just a series of residential courtyards in the Marketplace that had been connected. There were only about seven or eight courtyards in total. The number of stalls in each courtyard varied; some had three or four, while others had as many as seven or eight.

There were people browsing in the Black Market, but the entire place was eerily silent. Liu Chen watched for a moment. The other masked figures, much like himself, would simply take out Spirit Stones after spotting something they wanted. The equally concealed stall owner would verify the Spirit Stones before handing over the corresponding item.

There was no further communication between the two parties. At most, they would point at the desired item with a sleeve of their Black Robe.

"Go have a look around on your own, Junior Brother. I’ll wait for you here."

Yang Haichen conveyed this to Liu Chen via voice transmission. Since Liu Chen wanted secrecy, there was no need for him to tag along and risk causing a misunderstanding.

Liu Chen nodded and walked toward the stalls. After casually glancing over the items on display, he continued forward impassively.

Along the way, Liu Chen saw a few Spirit Swords, but none of them felt comparable to his Cyan Steel Sword, so he saw no need to buy them. ’This Spirit Sword is for dealing with the Nangong Family. If the quality is too poor, it could put me in a dangerous situation.’

As he passed through the third courtyard, Liu Chen spotted a green pearl on a small, low stall. The Wooden Token in front of it read: Price, five hundred Spirit Stones.

The pearl looked like a piece of egg-sized green jasper and had no Spiritual Power fluctuations. However, Liu Chen could sense the vigorous Life Force contained within it. Since both the Recovery Technique and the Withering Skill affected Life Force, Liu Chen was quite sensitive to it.

’Even though I don’t know what it is, for five hundred Spirit Stones, the Life Force alone makes it worth the price. It can’t be a loss.’

Liu Chen took out five hundred Spirit Stones, bought it, and placed it in his Storage Ring before continuing on.

In the sixth courtyard, Liu Chen found a Spirit Sword he was very satisfied with. It was snow-white from hilt to tip and radiated a faint chill. The only problem was its rather high price: two thousand Spirit Stones.

However, this Spirit Sword could be used even by those in the Meridian Passage Realm. Among First Grade Spirit Swords, it could be considered Top Grade—at least, in Liu Chen’s opinion.

Liu Chen decisively bought it. As he accepted the Spirit Sword and was about to leave, he saw the stall owner place a Sword Manual in the spot where the sword had been. The price was three thousand Spirit Stones.

The stall owner then looked at him. Liu Chen hesitated for a moment before purchasing the Swordsmanship as well. It was obvious the stall owner had only brought out the manual because Liu Chen had purchased the Spirit Sword.

After buying what he needed, Liu Chen wandered around the Black Market for a bit more. Then, at the far end of the market, he spent a thousand Spirit Stones to buy an Intermediate Magic: the Golden Sword Technique.

Once he was done shopping, Liu Chen went directly to find Senior Brother Yang, who had completed his own circuit and returned to their starting point. The two then entered a room similar to the one they had used upon arrival, took off their Black Robes and masks, and left the Black Market.

A moment later, a figure in black, their identity concealed, slowly left the Black Market with a trace of confusion after circling it several times.

Back in the Marketplace, Liu Chen spent two hundred Spirit Stones on a pile of Spirit Beast Flesh before finally returning to Purple Cloud Hall.