Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Acquiring Treasures
"Welcome, sir. Please, come in. Are you looking for a room?" an attendant asked enthusiastically.
The Celestial Breath Tower was not just a black market where treasures were sold, but also an inn. Furthermore, inns that did business in the black market never asked about a customer’s background.
After Ye Xuan requested a room, the attendant enthusiastically showed him to it.
To avoid attracting attention, Ye Xuan had only asked for a standard room. It was fairly spacious and well-equipped, but the price was a bit steep at ten thousand Profound Coins per night.
But this was the Imperial Capital of the Sky Empire, after all, so such a price was normal. Besides, to Ye Xuan, ten thousand Profound Coins was nothing.
The room also offered various common cultivation items, but these, of course, came at an additional cost.
After settling in, Ye Xuan immediately left and followed a staircase down into the depths of the Celestial Breath Tower.
He had learned from Luo Cheng that every inn here was part of a black market faction and had its own underground hall. If you wanted to sell or buy anything, the underground hall was the place to go.
Moreover, the underground halls of the entire street were all connected, creating a bustling network.
Even though it was a black market, each establishment was backed by a specific faction, and the underground halls operated under a set of unified rules.
For Martial Artists staying at the inn, getting to the underground black market was simple—they just had to take the stairs down. For those not staying, however, it was more troublesome and required going through special channels.
This was one of the reasons the inns here were so expensive.
A moment later, Ye Xuan reached the underground level, and a bustling hall opened up before him.
The hall was teeming with people. Some were conducting trades, others were deep in discussion, and some were arguing furiously. There were even a few who radiated killing intent, looking ready to erupt into violence at any moment.
Surprisingly, despite the crowd, the hall wasn’t noisy. Many people wore cloaks and veils, clearly not wishing to reveal their true identities.
Before coming down, Ye Xuan had applied a simple disguise, making himself look a little older, like a man in his twenties with a somewhat sallow complexion.
In various sections, people were in discussion, yet no sound escaped, indicating the presence of sound-dampening Restrictions.
In the very center of the hall stood a massive white stone stele. Lines of text continuously scrolled across its surface, most of them notices to buy or sell various items.
It was clearly an advertising board.
Around the perimeter of the hall, some Martial Artists had rented small booths to set up stalls. However, the prime locations were occupied by proper shops, clearly established by major factions.
Watching the streams of cloaked and veiled Martial Artists in the underground hall, Ye Xuan felt a pang of confusion. He couldn’t understand how the Sky Empire’s imperial family could tolerate the existence of such a black market, especially since many of the goods traded here were illicit.
To Ye Xuan’s surprise, he even saw his own wanted poster in the underground black market.
’The Profound Mystery Sect’s influence is truly vast. They can even post wanted posters in the black market of the Sky Empire’s Imperial Capital.’
’But this black market is filled with people who hide their identities. Is posting it here really going to be effective?’
Soon, Ye Xuan realized he had been too naive.
Many people who, like him, had just arrived at the black market were gathered in front of the wanted poster, gossiping.
"Who are these two kids? The Profound Mystery Sect must have paid a hefty price to have them wanted."
"Tsk, tsk. Look at that, the reward from the Profound Mystery Sect isn’t low at all. Just for a verified tip, you get to choose any treasure of at least Tier Six. If you manage to capture them and turn them in, you’re rewarded with the position of a Guest Minister in the Profound Mystery Sect! A Guest Minister of the Profound Mystery Sect... that’s a more prestigious title than an elder or even a Sect Master of some minor sects."
"You’d have to be alive to collect it. Didn’t you see? These two are wanted for killing a Profound Mystery Sect elder. Do you think someone who can kill one of their elders is going to be easy to catch? Be careful you don’t end up losing your own life instead of catching them."
"That’s true. I’m not hoping to capture them myself. I’d be happy just to find a clue and trade it for a Tier Six treasure."
"Now that’s a feasible plan. I came from Wukong Ridge, and those two showed up there once. I heard the Profound Mystery Sect sent a Martial King Level Supreme Elder to personally lead the pursuit. It’s been months, and they still haven’t caught the culprits."
"You must be talking about Supreme Elder Crazy Battle. I heard the elder who was killed was Gale of the Profound Mystery Sect, Crazy Battle’s son. That’s why he’s so enraged. Wanted posters have been issued all over the Dream Realm Plain; everyone knows about it."
He had to admit, these Martial Artists who frequented the black market had their own networks and could dig up a lot of information.
"Sir, are you looking to buy or sell something? If you wish to sell, we offer stall rentals, or I can introduce you to any of the shops for consignment. If you’re looking to buy, you can post a notice on the board in the center of the hall, or visit the shops directly. I can help you with any of these."
A pleasant voice suddenly sounded by Ye Xuan’s ear.
Ye Xuan saw that it was a rather pretty woman in an attendant’s uniform. He immediately said, "Yes, I’d like to acquire a few materials. Can you post a notice for me? As for the payment..."
Ye Xuan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It can be in Profound Coins, Profound Stones, or Pills, depending on the seller’s preference. Anyone with the materials can come talk to me in person."
Originally, Ye Xuan had planned to inquire at some of the black market shops. However, he knew that even though this was an underground market, most shops were backed by established factions. Buying from them would be no different from buying from shops on the outside.
Since the Profound Mystery Sect could get a wanted poster posted here, they had likely already alerted the local shops. Buying from them would just be fooling himself.
Besides, this was the black market. If he were ambushed in one of the shops, no one would intervene on his behalf.
’It’s better to post an ad in the main hall. More people will see it that way.’
"Of course. The price for advertising on the board varies by position. For example, the three permanently pinned spots at the very top cost one hundred Lower Grade Profound Stones per day. The scrolling spots below are much cheaper, at only one hundred thousand Profound Coins per day."
After she finished speaking, the pretty woman looked at Ye Xuan expectantly.
’So expensive,’ Ye Xuan thought, inwardly stunned.
He knew it wouldn’t be cheap, but he hadn’t expected it to be this expensive. A hundred Lower Grade Profound Stones just to post an ad! That was enough to buy any Tier Five treasure, and this was just the price for a single day.
In comparison, the smaller, scrolling ads below were much more affordable.
Hearing Ye Xuan’s comment, a trace of disappointment immediately flickered in the pretty woman’s eyes.
As an attendant in the underground black market, she worked on commission. Closing a deal meant she could earn a little extra.
Ye Xuan didn’t look very old, but he had a good disposition, which was why she had approached him. Now, it seemed he wasn’t going to place an ad after all.
In truth, not many people were willing to advertise here. Aside from the truly wealthy or those with an urgent need, most would rather spend their time browsing the stalls than pay for an ad.
After all, the price she quoted was for a single day.
"Since you find it too expensive, sir, you don’t have to place an ad. I see you’re looking for materials. You could try checking these few shops and stalls."
The pretty woman assumed Ye Xuan wasn’t going to place an ad. Though slightly disappointed, she still offered helpful advice.
But before she could finish, Ye Xuan took out a box and handed it to her. "This is the fee for the first day. Go ahead and post the ad for me."
Even though the price was steep, Ye Xuan still opted for the most expensive ad. After all, a hundred Lower Grade Profound Stones was nothing to him.
The pretty woman opened the box, and the glittering Profound Stones inside were so bright they practically blinded her. Her jaw dropped involuntarily.
"Please, have a seat at table number eight, sir. I’ll post your notice immediately," the pretty woman said, her voice filled with excitement.
She never expected Ye Xuan to actually post an ad, let alone in the most expensive, pinned position. For a sale like this, her three percent commission would be three Lower Grade Profound Stones. Normally, she wouldn’t sell one of these spots for days on end.
Only then did Ye Xuan realize that the tables here were numbered.
His table, number eight, was in the most central area of the hall. It had a table and a few chairs.
He was quite satisfied with the location. As soon as he sat down, a black market staff member brought him a pot of tea.
Ye Xuan had barely been seated for a moment when he saw the top of the notice board flicker. His purchase request had appeared.
At the same time, a voice echoed throughout the underground hall. "The friend at table number eight wishes to purchase Spirit Core Stones, Soul Yuan Heart Crystals, Stabilizing Marrow, and other items. Payment can be made in Profound Coins, Profound Stones, or Pills. Anyone possessing these items may proceed to table number eight to discuss the details."
Ye Xuan hadn’t expected that placing an ad would also come with an announcement to the entire underground black market.
No wonder there were still a few ads in the expensive, pinned positions. If someone urgently needed a treasure, they just had to post a pinned ad, and the entire black market would know instantly.
At the same time, his brow furrowed. ’The items I’m seeking are all things that can remove the Nether Heart Seed. This won’t attract the attention of the Profound Mystery Sect, will it?’
Even if it did, there was nothing he could do. He was sick of being constantly on the run.
However, Ye Xuan believed the Profound Mystery Sect wasn’t so powerful that they had spies planted everywhere. By the time they got the news, he would likely be long gone.
Once the announcement was made, the gazes of many in the black market turned toward Ye Xuan at table number eight, their expressions curious.
Although the items Ye Xuan was seeking to acquire were not listed with a tier, anyone with a discerning eye could tell at a glance that they were all Tier Six treasures, with a few even being Tier Seven King Level treasures.
