The underground black market was located beneath a manor on the outskirts of the city. Before they even arrived, Zhang Xuan and Zhang Jiuxiao had already changed their attire to casual attire, reminiscent of a noble scion who was out for a stroll.
"It's said that the founder of the Qianchong Black Market was a downtrodden scholar. After seeing through the fickleness of the world, he decided to abandon his studies and pursue the martial path. Thus, in order to vent his frustrations, he decided to create this black market.
"Here, as long as you have money, you can buy whatever you want. As long as you have money, you can vent your frustrations to your heart's content. Of course, the cost of living here is extremely high as well. It can be said to be the biggest money-squandering ground in the entire Qianchong City! "
Zhang Jiuxiao explained as they proceeded forward.
"For such a place to exist so openly … Is the Qianchong Empire, the Mingshi Tang, or the royal family not concerned about it?"
Zhang Xuan asked in bewilderment.
Even a foreign master teacher like Zhang Jiuxiao was aware of it. Yet, the royal family and the Mingshi Tang simply allowed it to develop without interfering?
"It's not that they don't want to interfere, but they want to stabilize the situation." Zhang Jiuxiao shook his head.
"Stabilize the situation?"
Zhang Xuan was perplexed.
Even though they hadn't arrived yet, based on what Zhang Jiuxiao had said, the black market was a place without any rules or regulations. It was already unstable in the first place, so how could it possibly be for the sake of stability?
"The larger the city, the more cultivators there are, the more scarce resources there are. Thus, in order to raise their cultivation, there will be fights, fights, and even robberies … Such situations happen every single day. Even the royal family and the Master Teacher Pavilion are unable to eradicate them completely!"
Zhang Jiuxiao said.
"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded.
The need for resources for cultivators was similar to the need for food and water. If there wasn't enough food, there would be chaos. This was something that couldn't be helped.
No matter how powerful the Mingshi Tang was, it couldn't possibly eliminate the most basic needs of cultivators. If it were to do so, it would be going against human nature.
"The underground black market might seem shady, but it provides a channel for people to vent their frustrations. Here, as long as one has money, one can buy whatever one wants. And if one wishes to earn money, one has to work harder on one's cultivation and battle! This creates a unique cycle. Even though the number of deaths has increased, the stability of the city has been stabilized. "
Zhang Jiuxiao shook his head.
Where there is light, there is shadow.
There were scums among the master teachers. Cultivators didn't cultivate their state of mind, and if they didn't have a place to vent their frustrations, there was no guarantee that nothing would happen to them.
Zhang Xuan came to a realization.
If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If a person is too observant, he will have no disciples.
Back then, Kong Shi was also able to tolerate poison masters.
Although the existence of the black market did not conform to the rules, if it could reduce crime, it did have a meaning.
Just like in his previous life, even though certain professions were clearly prohibited, and many people knew where they were located, these professions were still able to exist … It wasn't that the crackdown wasn't strong enough, but that it was able to satisfy the demand and reduce crime.
If they were to completely annihilate them, not a single one of them would remain. The security of the society would be greatly challenged.
The Qianchong Empire's underground black market was one such example.
On the surface, it seemed to be against the rules, but in reality, it would save them a lot of trouble … Naturally, the imperial family allowed him to do as he pleased.
As for the Mingshi Tang, as long as it didn't destroy the stability of the human race and didn't do anything harmful to the human race, it was natural to pretend that it didn't exist.
It seemed like there were similar places in Hongyuan City and Qingyuan City as well. It was just that he hadn't spent too much time in those cities, so he hadn't paid too much attention to them.
"We're here!"
While Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, he suddenly heard Zhang Jiuxiao's voice. Raising his head, a massive manor came into view.
"Warrant!"
But before he could reach the manor, two green-robed men suddenly blocked his path.
They were actually Primordial Spirit realm experts, and they carried killing intent on them. With just a look, it was clear that they had killed many people before.
Flicking his wrist, Zhang Jiuxiao passed an object over.
After inspecting the object, the green-robed man nodded and passed two strips of black cloth over.
Zhang Jiuxiao gestured for him to cover his eyes.
After covering his eyes as well, Zhang Xuan realized that the black cloth could not only block one's vision but also one's Spiritual Perception, making it impossible for one to perceive one's surroundings.
Under the guidance of the green-robed man, they walked for around ten minutes before they finally arrived at a certain location. Only then did they finally relax.
A massive shopping mall appeared before their eyes. There was a huge flow of people that stretched as far as the eye could see. Even though they were underground, under the illumination of the Night Illumination Pearls, it was as bright as day.
"This …"
Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes in bewilderment as he scanned his surroundings.
He had been to plenty of shopping malls and workshops, and he had seen quite a few large-scale ones as well. Even though the scale of the shopping mall wasn't too big, the items that were sold here were astounding.
"Black Goldcrystal Ore? How can one buy such an item? "
After taking a few steps forward, Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes in astonishment.
Black Goldcrystal Ore was a treasure that Wu Yangzi had left behind. It was so rare that one couldn't even find it in Qingyuan City. Yet, there was actually a stall here selling it …
Even though he was witnessing it with his own eyes, he still found it hard to believe.
"Black Goldcrystal Ore might be rare, but it's not impossible to obtain it. It's not a big deal that it's being sold here!"
Seeing Zhang Xuan's expression, Zhang Jiuxiao chuckled softly.
He had also reacted the same way when he first entered the Black Goldcrystal Ore. He found it hard to believe, but as time went by, he got used to it.
"Cultivation technique manuals, Saint intermediate-tier artifacts, personal privacy, all kinds of information … It's indeed a black market. There's anything that can be found here!"
After walking for a moment, Zhang Xuan shook his head with a bitter smile on his face.
It was indeed a black market. Anything that was illegal or illegal could be found here.
"Are there any Half-Leaving Aperture realm and Leaving Aperture realm cultivation technique manuals here?"
Zhang Xuan asked as he walked up to the stall where the cultivation technique manuals were sold.
"Yes, there are. Depending on the tier, the price will be different as well."
An old man looked over lazily.
As this was a black market, there was no need for him to worry about being robbed.
"Tier? Price? Tell me about it, "Zhang Xuan said.
"Take a look for yourself!"
After saying those words, he casually gestured to the wall.
Zhang Xuan turned his gaze over, and what he saw was a clear price tag on the wall.
Saint intermediate-tier cultivation technique manuals cost at least ten concentrated high-tier spirit stones. Lower tier cultivation technique manuals were slightly cheaper.
It wouldn't cost much to buy a single cultivation technique manual, but Zhang Xuan needed more than a thousand of them. This was definitely a huge expenditure.
"How many Leaving Aperture realm cultivation technique manuals do you have here?"
Zhang Xuan asked.
"There are a total of 52 Leaving Aperture realm cultivation technique manuals and 327 Half-Leaving Aperture realm cultivation technique manuals. They are all on the bookshelf in front of you, and they are all sealed with seals that prevent you from using your Spiritual Perception. Which one do you wish to buy? Pay me the money, and I'll make a copy of it for you. Rest assured, the cultivation technique manuals here are very detailed. Even the Qianchong royal family's Hidden Dragon Art and Pavilion Master Yue's Split Swordsmanship are included here. The price is also very fair.
The elder waved his hand casually.
Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze to the bookshelf in front of him. There were indeed quite a few books on it, but they were all sealed with seals that prevented him from using his Spiritual Perception.
However …
He didn't need his Spiritual Perception to read the books!
Sweeping his gaze across the books, Zhang Xuan muttered, 'Flaws!'
Huala!
All of the books on the bookshelf were copied.
With a single sweep of his consciousness, he converted them into his own knowledge.
The quality of these cultivation technique manuals wasn't low, but there were too few of them. It was a pity that he couldn't compile them into a Heaven's Path Divine Art.
There's indeed a copy of the royal family's Hidden Dragon Art and Pavilion Master Yue's Split Swordsmanship Manual … Isn't this black market a little too powerful?
Going through the contents of the books in his head, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but sigh in awe.
Ever since he came to Tianxuan Kingdom, the cultivation technique manuals of the royal family had always been the greatest of secrets. It was impossible for outsiders to pry into them. Yet, this black market was actually able to obtain them and sell them directly. Just the thought of it was frightening.
"Which one do you wish to buy? I'll make a copy for you right now! "
Seeing that Zhang Xuan had already scanned through the books, the elder said.
"There's no need for that …"
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
He had already collected all of the books in the Library of Heaven's Path, and there were even flaws in them. These books were of no use to him at all. Besides, he was poor at the moment. Even if he wanted to buy them, he wouldn't be able to do so.
Seeing that Zhang Xuan wasn't interested in buying them, the elder turned his gaze away.
He had seen plenty of people like this every single day, so he was already used to it.
Leaving the bookstall, Zhang Xuan continued onward. There were all kinds of treasures along the way, and there were even grade-7 pinnacle pills for sale.
"Zhang Shi, up ahead is the place where you can exchange for concentrated high-tier spirit stones. If you have any ordinary high-tier spirit stones or other artifacts, feel free to use them to exchange for them. Of course, the price will be very low, so it's not worth it! "
After walking for a moment, Zhang Jiuxiao pointed ahead.
Zhang Xuan turned his gaze over and saw a long and narrow counter. There were only two attendants at the counter, and there weren't many customers.
Walking up to the counter, Zhang Xuan took a look at the exchange table on the wall, and his lips twitched.
It was indeed a scam.
Under normal circumstances, the exchange rate for concentrated high-tier spirit stones was a thousand to one. Yet, the exchange rate for concentrated high-tier spirit stones was three times that, to three thousand to one!
In other words, three thousand high-tier spirit stones were required to exchange for a concentrated high-tier spirit stone.
If an ordinary person were to exchange for a concentrated high-tier spirit stone, they would have already depleted all of their wealth.
A Primordial Spirit realm intermediate-tier artifact would normally cost around ten concentrated high-tier spirit stones, but here, it was only worth three concentrated high-tier spirit stones. Even a Leaving Aperture realm Saint intermediate-tier artifact would only be worth two concentrated high-tier spirit stones.
"Ding Ding does seem to be quite valuable. I should be able to sell it for around thirty high-tier spirit stones …"
Calculating the price of Jin Yuan Ding in his heart, Zhang Xuan stroked his lower jaw.
Even though he had earned quite a bit from selling the Cloudmist Flower and robbing the Ten Great Kings and the Qingtian Emperor, he had only earned around fifty to sixty thousand high-tier spirit stones in total. Furthermore, he had used quite a bit of them to cultivate his soul, so he only had around forty thousand high-tier spirit stones on hand.
In other words, if all of them were used to exchange, there would be no more than ten of them.
On the other hand, if he were to sell Jin Yuan Ding, he would be able to get close to forty high-tier spirit stones. It was still a good deal.
"Forget it. That fellow is extremely loyal to me, and he has helped me many times. I can't possibly sell him …"
Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan decided not to think about this matter anymore. Instead, he turned to the attendant.
"I want to exchange for high-tier spirit stones!"
"How much?"
The waiter on the opposite side looked over with an indifferent expression.
"How much do you think I can exchange for?"
Hong long!
With a loud explosion, a huge pile of high-tier spirit stones, weapons, medicinal herbs, and ores fell to the ground, creating a huge cloud of dust.
"So much?"
The attendant abruptly stood up.
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