Chapter 273: Seeing Through the Disguise

The middle-aged man with a pale face before him had undergone some sophisticated disguise.

Like Qin Ming's True Demon Illusion, it was equally ingenious; not only could ordinary cultivators not see through it, even Golden Core elders might be fooled.

Yet under Qin Ming's "Destruction-Revealing Twin Eyes," the opponent's flawless disguise was as if nonexistent.

He had also concealed his cultivation base—his true level was Foundation Establishment peak.

This man was none other than the long-missing demonic warlord—Lin Zi Xiao!

'It's him! What is his purpose in infiltrating the black market?'

Qin Ming's thoughts raced swiftly; the presence of this demonic warlord was certainly no good omen.

He must have some agenda.

Yet Qin Ming's current cultivation and strength held no fear of the opponent—he was no longer the same man who had once been chased across the land.

Perhaps even if Lin Zi Xiao had broken through to Foundation Establishment peak, he was no longer Qin Ming's match.

The white-faced middle-aged man disguised as Lin Zi Xiao also flickered with a subtle, complex emotion in his eyes upon seeing Qin Ming's gaze.

Clearly, he still remembered vividly how he had nearly died in Qingyang Market from Qin Ming's Divine Sword Lightning Technique.

"This fellow cultivator is late—the last bottle has just been sold."

"If you truly need Jade Xuan Pills, you may wait for the upcoming black market auction—I've already submitted one for bidding," Qin Ming replied calmly, feigning ignorance, his expression unchanged.

The white-faced middle-aged man, disguised as Lin Zi Xiao, paused, then smiled and said, "I myself have a few fine items—would Master Qin care to take a look?"

Qin Ming's heart tightened; seeing Lin Zi Xiao's persistence, refusing to trade might arouse suspicion.

"I also have the essence-blood of a second-rank peak beast, and even one beast core—does Master Qin have any need?" Lin Zi Xiao said, producing a jade bottle and a jade box.

Qin Ming took them and examined them—indeed, the man spoke truly.

He also formed a new assessment of Lin Zi Xiao's strength; this second-rank peak beast was likely slain by his own hand.

The beast had died no more than three days ago.

"I've heard Master Qin brews a unique immortal liquor called 'Yulin Wine.' I've long admired it—could I exchange these two items for two jars of your Yulin Wine?" Lin Zi Xiao smiled pleasantly.

Qin Ming's face showed no change, but he could not fathom why Lin Zi Xiao would trade two top-tier beast materials for only two jars of spirit wine.

Yet seeing the blood's high lineage, he pondered briefly, then took two jars of Yulin Wine from his storage pouch and handed them over swiftly.

"Since the fellow cultivator is so generous, I shall not refuse."

"Deal!"

Lin Zi Xiao smiled as he took the spirit wine Qin Ming offered, tucked it away without even looking.

Qin Ming grew even more confused about what the man was truly after.

He only wanted to leave as soon as the black market auction ended, collect the spirit stones from Xue Zhili, and depart quickly.

Afterwards, Qin Ming wandered the black market once more, acquiring several items.

At the third hour of noon.

The black market auction began, and Xue Zhili, as host, stepped onto the stage.

After a passionate opening speech, item after item rarely seen outside was brought forth.

Since the lowest cultivation level among participants was Foundation Establishment early stage,

the bidding was extraordinarily fierce, and Xue Zhili made a fortune.

After dozens of items were sold, another item was brought up.

Xue Zhili slowly lifted the red cloth, revealing a half-fragment of a bronze mirror.

The moment Qin Ming saw it, even his normally unshakable composure trembled with unprecedented agitation! 'It's the other half of the magic treasure fragment!'

'I've searched far and wide—yet here it is, effortlessly found!'

'Hahaha!'

'Who would have thought I'd encounter this here? My cultivation of my core magic treasure can now be prioritized.'

'But first, I must bid for the fragment and leave this place as soon as possible.'

Xue Zhili began: "This item was entrusted to me for auction by a fellow cultivator from Wu State—a fragment of a magic treasure."

"Starting bid: six hundred middle-grade spirit stones!"

No sooner had he spoken than cultivators began bidding. "Seven hundred middle-grade spirit stones!"

"A magic treasure fragment? But it's useless—it's shattered, can't unleash any power. Buying it serves no purpose."

"Even as a half-fragment, it has research value—I'll bid seven hundred fifty!"

"Eight hundred!"

After observing briefly, Qin Ming joined the bidding: "Eight hundred fifty."

"Nine hundred!"

A familiar voice rang out—Qin Ming turned to see Lin Zi Xiao also bidding.

His expression darkened.

'Could Lin Zi Xiao be deliberately opposing me?'

"Nine hundred fifty."

"Nine hundred eighty!"

As the price climbed higher, more and more cultivators withdrew from bidding.

Eventually, only Qin Ming and Lin Zi Xiao remained.

Lin Zi Xiao had noticed Qin Ming's interest and joined the bidding—but he himself saw nothing special in the fragment.

"One thousand middle-grade spirit stones."

Qin Ming silently cursed Lin Zi Xiao in his heart, yet announced his bid with calm tone.

Xue Zhili, too, was stunned—no one expected a magic treasure fragment to fetch such a high price. His smile nearly split his face as he reaped another windfall.

"Since Master Qin is so interested, I shall not compete further," Lin Zi Xiao's disguised white-faced man said with a cold, false smile.

Hearing this, Qin Ming exhaled deeply.

"One thousand middle-grade spirit stones—once!"

"One thousand middle-grade spirit stones—twice!"

"One thousand middle-grade spirit stones—thrice!"

"Congratulations, Master Qin!"

Xue Zhili acted swiftly, ordering someone to deliver the bronze mirror fragment to Qin Ming on the spot.

Qin Ming took the fragment in hand, examined it, confirmed it was indeed the other half, and his heart surged with excitement.

Yet he concealed it perfectly, silently stowing the half-fragment away.

Next, Xue Zhili announced the finale of the auction.

The moment the jade Xuan Pills were carried out by a servant girl, the entire hall's enthusiasm ignited.

At the start of bidding, the several Foundation Establishment peak elders could no longer sit still.

They began bidding fiercely, and the price of the jade Xuan Pills soared.

Yet what puzzled Qin Ming was that Lin Zi Xiao, seated among the crowd, had raised his bid only a few times before ceasing entirely.

This gave Qin Ming a sense of foreboding.

'Could this bastard be planning another zero-spirit-stone scam?'

The bottle of jade Xuan Pills was ultimately won by a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator from Jin State for two thousand middle-grade spirit stones.

Then, when Xue Zhili unveiled the Five Elements Qi Spirit Peach, the air in the entire black market froze! "One second-rank supreme-grade spirit fruit: the Five Elements Qi Spirit Peach."

"Consumption increases magic power cultivation, and first-time ingestion extends lifespan by thirty years!"

The younger cultivators, who still had abundant years ahead, paid little heed.

But the elderly cultivators stared fixedly at the peach on stage, eyes blazing with madness.

For the several late-stage and peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, the peach held deadly allure.

Thirty extra years of life meant more time to seek opportunities, to pursue the Golden Core Dao.

(End of Chapter)