Chapter 641: Ghost Tower (Happy New Year's Eve)

Over the span of two months, news regarding the Song family flew everywhere.

The first was a letter from Han Yingjie, who had entered the Tiance Academy. It intimidated the various forces in Qingyang City that had been stirring, causing them to abandon any plans to annex the Song family's industries and retract the hands they had reached out.

After the remaining members of the Song family shed some businesses that required experts to operate, most of their industries were preserved.

With Han Yingjie's letter, the Profound Heaven Sect also stepped forward to help.

The second piece of news was that on the day the Song family incident occurred, Elder Liu Qingyuan, who had been close friends with Song Yushao, announced he was going into seclusion.

Those who understood Elder Liu Qingyuan knew he was worried that intervening in the Song family's affairs would provoke the expert who had killed Song Yushao.

It was through this matter that Xu Yang learned Elder Liu Qingyuan was a cautious person.

If he wanted to lure Elder Liu Qingyuan into a trap, he could not drag it out for too long; if he did, Elder Liu Qingyuan's cautious nature would make it difficult to deceive him.

"I'll go find Senior Brother first!"

Xu Yang left the courtyard to find Gao Lin.

He had a pile of spirit iron and half-spirit weapons on him, all of which were things that could not see the light of day; he had more than he could use.

He also had three spirit weapons; even if he kept Song Yushao's sword for Xu Qing to use, he still had one he could sell.

If there were a channel to sell them, it would be best to exchange the spirit iron and the like for spirit herbs.

After knocking on Gao Lin's door, Gao Lin enthusiastically invited Xu Yang inside.

His face looked increasingly aged; the lifespan he had lost back then had never been recovered.

"Junior Brother, is there something you need by coming here?" After some small talk, Gao Lin took the initiative to ask.

Xu Yang nodded: "I want to ask Senior Brother if you know of any secret channels where one can sell things that cannot see the light of day..."

He did not avoid Gao Lin, as Gao Lin was aware that he had killed Song Shixian and seized the Green Water Blade; using the excuse of selling the Green Water Blade to probe Gao Lin, Gao Lin would not be suspicious.

"Are you looking to exchange for elixirs or money?" Gao Lin asked.

Xu Yang's eyes lit up; since Gao Lin said this, it meant he knew about such things.

"I want to exchange for spirit herbs."

He did not need money; the money he had on him was enough for Xu Qing to spend.

The things he needed for himself now could not be bought with money.

As for elixirs, Gao Lin was likely referring to elixirs for the Marrow Cleansing Realm like the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill, but he was already in the Heavenly Origin Realm, so Marrow Cleansing elixirs were of little use.

Among the elixirs obtained from the Song family treasury, even after giving a portion to Xu Qing, he still had quite a few left.

"There is such a place, but I cannot guarantee the safety aspect; you must weigh it yourself and bear the risks," Gao Lin said.

Spirit weapons stir the heart; those who collect such things are not kind-hearted people to begin with. If things go wrong, they might kill you to silence you, or they might leak information.

Xu Yang nodded: "Where is it?"

"It is right here in Qingyang City, a place called the Ghost Tower. They specialize in collecting things that cannot be shown to others and transporting them elsewhere to sell. For the transaction method, you can choose to barter or choose silver taels.

Half-spirit weapons, spirit weapons, or spirit iron can be exchanged for spirit herbs there based on their different values.

It looks like a restaurant on the surface. After you go, tell the shopkeeper there, 'Business is booming and reaches the four seas,' and they will know you are there to sell things.

If you are not satisfied with their offer, remember not to argue with them; just leave.

It is rumored that behind the Ghost Tower is the Burning Heaven Gate, one of the Demonic Sects, while others say it is just a large clan from Yunzhou. They are very troublesome; do not make a move there under any circumstances. If you go, try your best to conceal your true appearance.

Regardless of whether the transaction succeeds or not, be as careful as possible after leaving; people who do this kind of business have no credibility."

Xu Yang cupped his hands: "Many thanks for the guidance, Senior Brother Gao."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Gao Lin and clarifying the specific location of the Ghost Tower, Xu Yang rose and left.

Returning to the courtyard, he selected some common spirit iron and two half-spirit weapons, and also brought the Green Water Blade with him. He planned to take these things to the Ghost Tower to test the waters, and incidentally see if he could lure out Elder Liu Qingyuan.

Leisurely descending from Fire Peak and exiting the Profound Heaven Sect, Xu Yang arrived at Qingyang City at a steady pace, but Elder Liu Qingyuan did not appear.

Finding an alley to put on a bamboo hat and a mask, it took him the time of one incense stick to find the location of the Ghost Tower.

It was a restaurant that looked somewhat dilapidated, its sign rotting, with only a few sparse guests inside.

Xu Yang stepped inside. The waiter did not come forward to greet him, instead dozing on a stool to the side, and even the shopkeeper looked like he was yawning repeatedly, ignoring his arrival entirely.

"Business is booming and reaches the four seas," Xu Yang said to the counter in a hoarse voice.

The shopkeeper, who had been yawning repeatedly and ignoring him, immediately perked up, revealing a smile and saying: "Distinguished guest, please follow me."

As he spoke, he stepped out from behind the counter and walked toward the backyard.

Xu Yang noticed that the gazes of the few guests drinking there all fell upon him.

These people all carried a murderous aura, their eyes sharp; one look and it was clear they were not kind-hearted.

Following behind the shopkeeper, he quickly entered a room in the backyard. The room was sparsely furnished, with nothing other than a table and a few stools.

"What does the guest want to sell?" The shopkeeper smiled and invited Xu Yang to sit.

"Two half-spirit weapons and a few pieces of spirit iron, but I only want spirit herbs." Xu Yang placed the items on the table.

Most of the spirit iron he had came from the Profound Heaven Sect, so he could only sell it here.

The Ghost Tower shopkeeper did not rush to look at the items, but instead smiled: "Does the guest want specified spirit herbs, or will any spirit herb do?"

"Any spirit herb will do!" Xu Yang said.

If he specified spirit herbs and they didn't have them, the transaction could not be completed.

Moreover, he did not need to refine elixirs now, nor did he have any particular need for specific spirit herbs.

The Ghost Tower shopkeeper nodded and opened Xu Yang's items to look at them: "Two half-spirit weapons can be exchanged for one two-year-old spirit herb; these spirit irons can be exchanged for two two-year-old spirit herbs.

If the guest is willing to trade, I will go and fetch the spirit herbs."

Xu Yang frowned slightly; if he handed these things over to the Profound Heaven Sect, it would be impossible to only get three spirit herbs in return.

Even the Profound Heaven Sect exploited its disciples; these things of his could fetch at least four two-year-old spirit herbs. The value given by the Ghost Tower was almost only half of the Profound Heaven Sect's, even more ruthless than them.

Seeming to see Xu Yang's dissatisfaction, the Ghost Tower shopkeeper smiled: "Is this the guest's first time here? I did not deliberately suppress your price.

This price is indeed a bit low, but you must know that to avoid trouble, we spend a great cost to transport the items we collect to other places to sell.

And if the items you sell have too big a background, my Ghost Tower will also get into trouble; these must also be calculated into the cost.

Furthermore, there is the Profound Heaven Sect; we also have to give them a share of the profits. In fact, we don't earn much."

The Profound Heaven Sect actually collected kickbacks here too; this was something Xu Yang had not expected.

However, after a little thought, he understood that for such a place to remain open in Qingyang City without being uprooted, the Profound Heaven Sect must have a share in it; a strong dragon does not suppress a local snake.

Of course, Xu Yang just listened to the claim that they earned little.

Doing this kind of business is all about huge profits; otherwise, who would be willing to take such risks?

"Give me one more spirit herb; this price is a bit low," Xu Yang said.

The Ghost Tower shopkeeper pondered slightly and said: "I cannot give any more spirit herbs. How about this: I will add one thousand taels. If the guest is willing to trade, I will go fetch the spirit herbs now; if not, then please feel free to leave."

Xu Yang knew the other party would not increase the price further, so he immediately nodded in agreement.

Although it was a loss, he had nowhere else to sell these things besides this place; even if the price was lower, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

Rather than letting the items gather dust, it was better to exchange them for something truly useful.

He did not intend to develop his own faction, so keeping these things was useless.

"Please wait a moment, guest!" The Ghost Tower shopkeeper smiled and rose to leave.

In a short while, he returned with a middle-aged man.

This man was carrying a tray with three jade boxes and a silver note on it, his gaze glancing toward Xu Yang from time to time.

"Please take a look, guest. If there is nothing wrong with the items, the transaction is considered complete." The Ghost Tower shopkeeper pushed the tray over.

Xu Yang opened the three boxes one by one; each box contained a crystal lotus root, and the spiritual energy was about the same as what he had obtained from the Su family treasury before.

Now he also understood many spirit herbs; crystal lotus root could be said to be one of the most common types of spirit herbs, easy to cultivate, and its effects were quite average; its main feature was just spiritual energy.

"There is no problem with the items!" Xu Yang put away the three jade boxes and the one thousand taels of silver notes, and rose directly to leave.

"Three spirit herbs, one thousand taels of silver notes. Should I go and take them back?" The middle-aged man carrying the tray squinted his eyes and said.

For the Ghost Tower doing this kind of business, the true huge profit was not the price difference between buying and selling, but rather "empty-handed white wolf" tactics—after the transaction was successful, sending people to seize the items back. This was the true huge profit.

Of course, under normal circumstances, they would not make a move; they only made a move on fat sheep. After all, they also needed to maintain a certain reputation to attract people.

"Go ahead, and do it cleanly. He deliberately pinched his throat to speak; do you think I can't tell he's a young man?" The Ghost Tower shopkeeper smiled.

Young meant his cultivation base was not high, making him easy to deal with.

The other party was using a breath-concealing technique, so he could not sense the specific cultivation base, but listening to the voice, he was only about twenty years old.

At this age, most people had not yet broken into the Marrow Cleansing Realm; in the Profound Heaven Sect, only Li Chuyang, Jiang Fan, and Xu Yang had reached Marrow Cleansing Major Success at this age.

There were not that many spirit herbs in this world; these spirit herbs were merely bait.

"Good!"

The middle-aged man nodded, turned, and pushed the door to leave. ===== CHAPTER 642 =====