Chapter 236: The Black Market's Recruitment

Having the experience from the last trip to the Black Market.

He has broken through to Level Five again.

This time Jiang Cheng is much more composed.

Around two or three in the afternoon, he put on the Human Skin Mask, slipped the gold and silver ornaments into his pockets, took the pair of gloves as well, intending to sell them for some cash.

When he got off the bus, he immediately saw several people wearing masks wandering around.

Seeing that Jiang Cheng had nothing on his face and nothing in his hands, those people's gazes quickly shifted away.

There was a hapless guy lugging a bag, wearing a mask; whether he was just a passerby or planning to head to the Black Market, he was eyed by two or three people as soon as he stepped off.

Jiang Cheng's peripheral vision caught that.

But he was too lazy to meddle.

He entered the alley, where two masked men stood guard at the entrance.

"I don't know if they're the same two from last time."

Jiang Cheng muttered inwardly and handed over the Bid Token.

One of them took it, glanced at it, then returned the Bid Token and stepped aside.

Jiang Cheng walked in and arrived at the room he had entered the first time.

"Number 72, hehe, I have an impression of you,"

The man in a long robe smiled at Jiang Cheng's Bid Token.

"So, this time are you here to deposit money or to entrust us with auction items?"

"Please see how much this is worth,"

Jiang Cheng took a pair of fist gloves from his pocket.

If he doesn't intend to buy a blade, keeping this can serve as self‑defense.

Moreover, based on his guess, a Level 3 Original Force Warrior's weapon is most likely D-level.

Sure enough.

"Oh, D-level alloy weapon, Blacklight Fist Gloves,"

The man blurted out, picked up the two gloves, and examined them closely.

"These gloves are fairly intact; we can buy them outright for 60,000 yuan. If you think that's low, we can auction them, but I must remind you this is just a D-level alloy weapon, nothing extraordinary, you can get similar ones everywhere.

Even at auction it won't fetch much, and after the auction you must pay us a twenty‑percent fee, so you might end up with less than 60,000."

"Then let's go with the outright price."

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said,

He also didn't think the gloves would fetch a high price at auction.

60,000 is decent enough.

"Alright, in a moment I'll give you a contract; just sign it, then tell me your bank account and I'll transfer the money to you,"

"Also this, please appraise its value as well," Jiang Cheng pulled out more gold and silver ornaments from his pocket.

"Okay."

The man smiled, apparently aware that these items have dubious origins.

But the Black Market doesn't care about that; it only cares whether the items are genuine.

A few minutes passed.

The man looked up at Jiang Cheng, "These gold and silver ornaments I can appraise at 80,000, same as the gloves; if you have no objections, just sign later and collect the money."

"Then 80,000 it is,"

Jiang Cheng agreed.

He let out a sigh of relief.

His account still held over 200,000, and adding this 140,000 brings it to over 300,000.

He could even afford a slightly inferior B-level weapon.

He signed the contract.

In less than ten seconds, Jiang Cheng's phone received a notification.

140,000 yuan deposited, account balance over 360,000.

"Anything else to do?" the man asked with a smile, glancing at the auction item guide on the table.

"I heard there are two auctions here?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Indeed."

The man nodded, "A session opens at seven, but participants must be Spiritual Thought Masters; Force Warriors cannot join—that's a Black Market rule I can't change."

He sounded a bit helpless at that point.

Since there are few Spiritual Thought Masters, auction prices don't rise much, sometimes even fall below market value; only especially rare items fetch high bids.

But the higher‑ups don't want to offend them; they even try to recruit them, both to gain more talent and to boost auction prices.

Unfortunately, after all this time the effect has been limited; many Spiritual Thought Masters are proud and unwilling to serve the Black Market, especially the stronger ones—just like the two Grandmasters stationed here, one of whom is a Spiritual Grandmaster, who only shows up to help when the Black Market convenes, then leaves, a standard fee‑for‑service routine.

"I am a Spiritual Thought Master."

As the words fell, the man's eyes behind the mask widened suddenly.

He immediately asked, "What level Spiritual Thought Master are you?"

"Barely Level One."

Jiang Cheng hesitated briefly but did not lie.

If the other side were to verify, it would be awkward.

Moreover, he recalled Niutou Laoge saying that as long as one can move objects with Spiritual Power, it's considered passing, which aligns with the Black Market organizers' interests.

It's barely Level One.

The man glanced at Jiang Cheng, feeling a bit doubtful.

He pointed at the pen on the table and said, "Then use Spiritual Power to move it and try."

Jiang Cheng's gaze fell on the pen on the table; as his thought shifted, the pen floated up, sometimes standing upright, sometimes spinning.

Is it enough?

Enough, enough.

The man quickly replied, and unconsciously his attitude toward Jiang Cheng improved.

Friend, please wait here for a moment; I'll go fetch our Guanshi.

Saying that, he rose and ran toward the interior.

Sir, please wait a moment; our Guanshi will be here shortly.

The cheongsam-clad woman standing before them also spoke softly.

Guanshi?

Jiang Cheng had a suspicion in his heart.

After a short while, a series of footsteps approached from afar.

The robed man who had just left walked ahead, followed by a man in a blue robe wearing a mask.

"Li Guanshi, this friend is the newly arrived Spiritual Thought Master."

The robed man introduced him.

The blue-robed man examined Jiang Cheng from head to toe, then clasped his hands and smiled, "Friend, could you repeat the action you just performed?"

The robed man also gave Jiang Cheng a smile.

Jiang Cheng said nothing and once again used his thought to control the pen.

"Not bad, not bad."

The blue-robed man hurriedly asked Jiang Cheng to stop, smiling, "Friend, may I have a moment to speak privately?"

Jiang Cheng had anticipated this and also wanted to see what the situation was.

He nodded.

"Alright, please follow me."

The blue-robed man made a gesturing motion of invitation.

The two, one ahead of the other, arrived at a private room.

The private room was simple yet elegant, its heavy redwood furniture bearing faint traces of age; on the wall hung finely brushed landscape paintings, ink flowing on rice paper, depicting scene after scene of beautiful rivers and mountains.

Beneath the ancient paintings, a long table displayed exquisite tea sets, with tea brewing nearby, emitting a faint fragrance.

(End of chapter)