Chapter 223: Black Market

Through the vendor's introduction, Yan Buji spent a lot of resources before finally obtaining the entry qualification for the underground black market.

"Hey, brother, don't think you're at a loss. Many things can't be seen on the surface, which is why this underground black market exists. Moreover, with this credential, as long as you cause no trouble, you can come back later." the vendor laughed.

Yan Buji looked at the vendor, interested, and asked, "May I know how you are called?"

"I am Gao Yong."

"I am Yue Jin, and I hope to converse with Dao friend Gao again in the future." Yan Buji smiled, turned, and left.

Gao Yong pinched his chin and stared at the other side oddly: "What faction is Qingfeng Temple?"

The so‑called underground black market is actually a narrow alley on this street; inside the Hundred Soldiers Pavilion they claim it to be a world of its own. Though it's unclear whether it's a Lingyu or some special Accumulation Device, the interior space is indeed that small.

The alley also hosts many stallholders; it is extremely cramped, accommodating at most two people side by side.

Yan Buji walked over and saw many murky Spiritual Materials and Accumulation Device components.

As for components, Yan Buji could even detect the lingering essence of the original owners on them, indicating these Accumulation Device parts were likely taken by force and then disassembled.

Those capable of forging Accumulation Devices, aside from sect cultivators, are at least late‑stage Qi‑refining wandering cultivators who have the accumulation and time.

Hence the entry qualification here is not obtainable by just anyone; none of the vendors present are mid‑stage Qi‑refiners, all are late‑stage Qi‑refining cultivators.

However, most of them conceal their faces or veil their aura with secret methods, so Yan Buji naturally does not blatantly spy on others.

Eh?

Yan Buji stopped before a vendor, squatted down, picked up a component curiously, and asked, "Dao friend, may I ask what material this component is made of?"

"Ah, you have a good eye, guest. This component was taken from a Foundation Establishment cultivator's Accumulation Device; the material is unusual and can affect ghosts and monsters."

"Ghosts and monsters?" Yan Buji squinted, sensing a yin‑dark aura on the component, and then asked, "How is this component traded?"

"One thousand Spiritual Stones, or an equivalent amount of Spiritual Material."

"Too pricey, six hundred Spiritual Stones."

"Are you trying to waste my time on purpose?"

Yan Buji lifted his head, looked at the other's gleaming bald head, and smiled: "Dao friend, are you a Buddhist cultivator?"

"Hmph, my affairs are none of your concern. If you want it, nine hundred Spiritual Stones."

"Nine hundred Spiritual Stones can buy a slightly inferior First‑Tier Accumulation Device; why is this single component so expensive?"

The bald man looked dissatisfied and said, "Then give me your final price."

"Eight hundred Spiritual Stones."

"Deal!"

Yan Buji pulled out a pile of First‑Tier Spiritual Materials; the bald man paused, said little, and began counting carefully:

"This Flying Spirit Flower was poorly preserved, its medicinal properties mostly lost, at most ten Spiritual Stones;"

"Dragon Blood Herb? Rare indeed, I'll give you eighty Spiritual Stones...."

After the bald man tallied each item, he found it totaled exactly eight hundred Spiritual Stones, sighed helplessly and said, "Take it."

"Thank you, Dao friend."

Yan Buji took the skull‑shaped component, pondering its use.

However, his purpose this time is to inquire about Mixed Refinement Foundation Pill rumors; these trinkets are secondary.

Soon, at the far end of the alley, there is a slightly wider open space; in front of it a table is set up, surrounded by cultivators.

Yan Buji moved to the back of the crowd, watched the person on the stage laboriously introduce a Second‑Tier Accumulation Device.

After the introduction, interested cultivators bid fiercely; in the end the Second‑Tier Accumulation Device was bought at a price about one‑third above market value.

Yan Buji was indifferent to this, and saw the stage cultivator shout:

"One Chang Ghost, accompanied by a parasitic tiger bone, can forge a special Accumulation Device, starting price one thousand Spiritual Stones!!"

"Three thousand Spiritual Stones!"

"Three thousand five!!"

Yan Buji was taken aback; he hadn't expected this shabby place to have so many good items.

Ghost creatures are extremely rare in the Nan Ting Mountain Region, possibly because dense human settlements suppress the ley lines, causing human realms to flourish; similar mountain spirits are seldom seen.

"Aren't demon races also those that have hidden between yin and yang for years before emerging to cause trouble?"

Ghost creatures differ from ordinary spirit beasts; demon creatures are non‑human beings that have become spirits, whereas ghost creatures are born from the death of living beings. Legends say ghost creatures' ultimate destination is the Youming Jie for reincarnation, but after becoming a cultivator, Yan Buji has never heard the term reincarnation.

He knows the Youming Jie truly exists, and indeed contains many ghosts, but it's odd that the mortal world lacks such reports.

This also leads to the fact that even within the cultivation world, Yan Buji rarely encounters ghost creatures.

Moreover, because Yan Buji deals only with orthodox factions, he hasn't seen any sect that would keep Chang Ghosts.

He has, however, heard that a Chang Ghost is created when a tiger that has attained spirit form devours a person, forcibly seizes the person's soul, and then uses that soul to lure more victims for the tiger; thus folk say there is a phrase "to act as a tiger's Chang."

"Do not enter the forest; beware both bandits and these man‑eating spirit beasts."

Although Yan Buji is not clear on the use of this Chang Ghost, its rarity and apparent high quality make most cultivators scramble to purchase it.

In the end, a cultivator clad in black bought the Chang Ghost; many eyes stared at him, and the man left directly.

Yan Buji folded his arms, pondering: "In this treacherous realm, there seem to be many demonic and evil cultivators."

After the scramble for the Chang Ghost, the atmosphere on site became even more heated.

The person on the stage didn't waste words, pulled out a pill bottle, and said: "One Mixed Refinement Foundation Pill, starting price two thousand Spiritual Stones!"

Yan Buji widened his eyes, silently gasped.

Two thousand Spiritual Stones is no small sum; some Spiritual Materials are worth that price, some Accumulation Devices as well, but a single Mixed Refinement Foundation Pill with only a two‑ or three‑percent success rate has a starting price of that amount—could it sell for tens of thousands of Spiritual Stones?

"Five thousand Spiritual Stones!"

"Five thousand five!"

"Seven thousand!"

A pale‑faced cultivator, looking ill, glanced at a bidder and said gloomily: "Master Xu, are you done? Are you trying to raise the price of the Mixed Refinement Foundation Pill to that of a Human Realm Foundation Pill?"

Hehe, this Foundation Establishment Pill is a good thing; holding it in hand, not afraid of losing value. But you, Yumian Wuchang, you're eating tight. Master Xu let out a sly laugh.

Hmph, you know I'm just one Foundation Establishment Pill away from being able to establish foundation; you came here on purpose to cut in, right? Yumian Wuchang let out a cold snort.

Stop the nonsense; highest bidder wins. If you have no Spiritual Stones, leave on your own; don't spoil everyone's fun here. Master Xu held his folding fan, opened it with a flick, and his white beard fluttered from the breeze.

Yumian Wuchang looked at him resentfully: "Fine, Master Xu, you have money; I won't compete with you. Just tell you this: the tides of feng shui turn!"

Master Xu pursed his lips, looking disdainfully at Yumian Wuchang's retreating back.

Yan Buji stood at the end of the line, having watched the whole show.

In the end, this Foundation Establishment Pill was also taken by the wealthy and generous Master Xu.