Chapter 271: Black Market Trade

"It's a fragment of a magic treasure!"

Gu Qingzhao's eyes widened in surprise; after carefully examining it for a moment, she hesitated before asking, "Isn't this the half fragment of the bronze mirror that caused such a stir in the Immortal City not long ago?"

"Rumors say it was taken by Long Daoren—how did it end up in Qin's hands?"

"Yes, that's right. I acquired it from Long Daoren myself."

"He came to me to have elixirs refined and paid me with this fragment of the magic treasure," Qin Ming said without blinking.

Gu Qingzhao nodded slightly. "No wonder. But even if you found the other half of the bronze mirror, you likely couldn't restore it into a true magic treasure—the seals inside have been completely destroyed."

"Even a third-rank Artificer Master might not be able to repair it, let alone—there isn't a single third-rank Artificer Master within Wei's borders."

The cost Qin Daoyou paid for this seems rather excessive.

"It doesn't matter. I'm merely interested in the object—I don't expect to fully restore it," Qin Ming said.

"Very well. I'll quietly send people to keep an eye out for it."

Gu Qingzhao immediately took out a memory mirror and copied both sides of the bronze mirror.

She then returned the mirror to Qin Ming.

"Since Qin Daoyou has come, why not stay a few more days?" Gu Qingzhao urged.

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "Hehe, I promised Xue Zhili I'd attend the Black Market fair on Fangcun Mountain."

"Oh~ So that's it. I've heard about Fangcun Mountain's affair too—if I weren't tied up, I'd go myself. Word is, cultivators from all four nations are coming," Gu Qingzhao realized.

Afterwards, Qin Ming engaged in further deep discussion with Gu Qingzhao before leaving the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Three days passed.

Qin Ming exited Canghai Immortal City and first transferred his three spiritual beasts into his newly purchased second-rank superior spiritual beast pouch.

Then he mounted his Silver-Winged Frost Bee and headed toward the Fangcun Mountain bazaar.

"Ah! Now that's more like it! This is vastly more spacious than before—so much more comfortable," came the voice of Shitian Mouse from the new spiritual beast pouch.

More than an hour later.

Qin Ming, riding his Silver-Winged Frost Bee, arrived near the Fangcun Mountain bazaar.

He retracted his spiritual pet and descended gracefully.

This time, Qin Ming made no disguise—he appeared in his true form, since he had been invited by Xue Zhili and had no need to conceal himself.

He reached the entrance of Fangcun Mountain and stared at the transformed bazaar, unable to suppress a sigh.

All the buildings and collapsed ruins had been cleared away and rebuilt.

It no longer carried the grandeur it had under Lei Yuanzong's management.

Only temporary, crude huts stood scattered about, each with a few isolated stalls.

The outer defensive array had been replaced with a second-rank middle-grade array—its defensive capability was still decent.

Today, due to the Black Market fair, the number of cultivators arriving at the bazaar had increased significantly; all manner of cultivators from every sect and background arrived, their various-colored flight glows descending outside the bazaar.

Inside the bazaar, traffic surged; outside, a long line of cultivators waited.

Nearby cultivators, seeing a Foundation Establishment cultivator arrive, immediately made way.

The cultivation world was rigidly hierarchical, and now that this place had become a lawless zone, offending a Foundation Establishment elder could mean death without knowing why.

Qin Ming made no pretense—he stepped directly into the bazaar.

Following the address Xue Zhili had given him, he arrived at the former site of Lei Yuanzong's Yunhuo Pavilion.

Everything had changed: the once-luxurious pavilion was gone, replaced by a single artificer's shop.

Qin Ming walked straight into the shop and then entered the courtyard behind it.

As soon as he entered, he saw two guard cultivators stationed there; after a brief probe of their cultivation levels, he was startled to discover both were Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators.

Clearly, Xue Zhili had spared no expense—even the guards guiding outsiders were this powerful.

"Esteemed Daoyou, do you have an invitation token?" one guard asked politely.

Qin Ming immediately withdrew the black xuan iron token that Xue Zhili had given him and handed it over.

After verifying the token, the two guards bowed respectfully and said, "Daoyou, please enter."

One of the guards then led Qin Ming into a chamber.

He cast several hand seals onto the ground—BOOM! Instantly, a tunnel wide enough for two people appeared beneath their feet.

"This…" Qin Ming stared, momentarily speechless.

He hadn't expected the Black Market fair to be held in such a hidden location.

The guard led the way through a long corridor, and suddenly, Qin Ming's vision brightened.

A vast underground trading market appeared before him, resembling a subterranean miniature city.

It was lavishly decorated, no less splendid than the surface; its ceiling glowed with countless luminous gems, illuminating the entire space.

Qin Ming glanced around roughly and saw over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, each with their own stalls, displaying their wares.

He merely released his spiritual sense for a quick scan—he immediately discerned their cultivation levels: most were Foundation Establishment early-stage, fewer were mid-stage, only about a dozen.

Eight or nine were late-stage, and three were at Foundation Establishment peak.

Clearly, Xue Zhili had pulled off quite a spectacle—bringing together so many Foundation Establishment cultivators at once.

This was likely due to the beast tide outbreak, which had driven many cultivators to Canghai Immortal City.

But what surprised him even more was that this underground market was shrouded in a highly sophisticated array—one that even Qin Ming's Jin Dan-level spiritual sense had been repelled by.

"Oh! Qin Daoyou has arrived!"

Xue Zhili, dressed today in a white robe embroidered with golden thread and crimson silk, looked especially festive; upon seeing Qin Ming, he hurried over.

As soon as he spoke, nearby cultivators all came over to greet him.

"Qin Daoyou, welcome!"

"I didn't expect even Master Qin to come!"

"Master Qin, do you have any Gao Jie spiritual plants or elixirs for sale?"

"We've long heard of the great name of Qin Daoyou from Wei!"

"Now that Qin Daoyou has come, you must have fine wares to offer."

"Xue Daoyou really knows how to pull strings—he even got Qin Daoyou here!"

"Qin Daoyou, are you still selling spiritual energy Rice? I'd like to purchase some."

"..."

In an instant, numerous cultivators surrounded him, warmly greeting him and uttering flattery and formalities.

Some cultivators from other nations treated Qin Ming with indifference, for his reputation wasn't as prominent outside Wei.

"Qin Daoyou, feel free to browse for a while—or if you wish, you may set up a stall. Many cultivators will gladly trade with you," Xue Zhili said with a smile.

"Later, we'll hold an auction."

"If you have any needs, Old Man can bid on your behalf—I charge only a ten percent commission."

Qin Ming nodded and immediately withdrew a vial of Yu Xuan Dan and a Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach, handing them to Xue Zhili.

After all, Xue Zhili had gone to great lengths to organize this event—he deserved some profit.

"Th-this-this—"

Xue Zhili took the two items Qin Ming offered, his voice trembling, nearly unable to speak from excitement.

He had never before seen such legendary items.

"Yu Xuan Dan… Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach…"

Yu Xuan Dan were so rare that even within Liang's dominant sect, Xuanxi Valley, few alchemists could successfully refine them—they enhanced the magic power of late-stage and peak Foundation Establishment cultivators and were nearly impossible to find on the outside.

This elixir would surely be fiercely contested by high-level Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Five-Element Qi Spirit Peach needed no further explanation: consuming it directly increased cultivation base and, more importantly, extended lifespan.

If this were made public, even the False Core Elders would tear their hair out trying to obtain it.

After all, False Core Elders had reached the end of their path—they could no longer advance to higher realms—and lifespan had become their most precious asset.

Aside from the one sold to Mirror Snow Pavilion…

The one Qin Ming now held was likely the first in Wei's cultivation world in a hundred years.

(End of Chapter)