Chapter 673 - 265: Buying Information, Entering the Black Market
Chapter 673: Chapter 265: Buying Information, Entering the Black Market
This was convenient for both parties.
"This way, please, Senior. We have various types of Spiritual Artifacts, such as conical hats, masks, and veils. Which kind are you looking for?"
As it happened, these items were displayed right on the first floor.
Two other Golden Core Cultivators were also there, comparing different concealment-type Spiritual Artifacts.
When they saw Xiao Chen approach, they gave him a wary glance.
"Which is the cheapest concealment Spiritual Artifact? How many Spirit Stones does it cost?"
Since Xiao Chen was only buying it to comply with the rules, he would naturally choose the cheapest one.
The attendant answered immediately, "To answer you, Senior, this new Conical Hat is available for the low price of just one hundred thousand Spirit Stones if you buy it now."
Given the expensive materials used for Spiritual Artifacts, one hundred thousand was basically the starting price.
"Alright, I’ll take this one."
Xiao Chen made his decision on the spot and went to the side to pay with his Spirit Stones.
Afterward, he found a nearby inn to stay in.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 9th day of the 6th lunar month.
Interestingly enough, this Black Market was scheduled to be held from 7 p.m. in the evening until 3:45 AM the next morning.
Therefore, Xiao Chen waited until evening before leaving the inn and following his map to the location.
Thanks to his incredible Escape Speed, he arrived at a deserted island two thousand li away precisely at 5:00 PM.
There was no No-Fly Restriction here, so he landed directly in front of a small mountain in the center of the island.
According to the information he’d received, the small mountain had been completely hollowed out.
This Black Market was being held inside the belly of this mountain.
"Hold it, Fellow Daoist!"
Noticing his approach, a burly, masked man guarding the cave entrance spoke immediately. "Show me your Token!"
He had three companions beside him.
Each of them deliberately emanated the aura of a Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator as a deterrent.
After inspecting Xiao Chen’s Token, the man breathed a sigh of relief. "Fellow Daoist, there are two rules I must state again."
"First, unless absolutely necessary, do not remove your Conical Hat and reveal your true face inside."
"Second, centralized trading will take place in the rear cave at Midnight."
"If you have items that you need help selling, you must hand them over to Lord Silver Rat at least an hour in advance. No late submissions will be accepted!"
"The leader does not welcome those who break the rules."
With that said, he stepped aside. "Please enter, Fellow Daoist!"
Xiao Chen took back his Token, adjusted his Conical Hat, and entered the Black Market through the cave mouth.
Just after he stepped inside, the place looked no different from an ordinary cave.
However, after walking a few dozen paces and rounding two corners, the space before him opened up dramatically.
The entire interior of the small mountain had been completely hollowed out.
A single stone pillar, a full three zhang thick, had been left in the very center to act as a support.
Looking up, he could see densely packed runes at the very top. They spread out from the stone pillar like the crown of a tree, supporting the earth and rock above and preventing it from collapsing.
Thousands of Everlasting Lamps hung from the ceiling, bathing the entire mountain cavern in brilliant light.
A spiral wooden staircase wound its way upward from before Xiao Chen.
It was a full two zhang wide, with a shimmering golden line drawn straight down the middle.
Many Cultivators had set up stalls on the side closer to the rock wall, attempting to sell the Spiritual Objects they had on hand beforehand.
The other Cultivators could use the other side of the staircase to ascend.
Perhaps because he had arrived early, there weren’t many Cultivators setting up stalls, and the cavern was still sparsely populated.
But Xiao Chen quickly realized, ’I’m early.’
’After all, you need a Token to even get in here.’
’Besides, a Black Market isn’t a formal banquet; there’s no expectation to be punctual.’
’More Cultivators will probably only start showing up closer to the centralized trading at Midnight.’
’In that case, I should probably go find this Lord Silver Rat first.’