Two Big Fish

Blackwater Market was the closest resource trading point in the Cultivation World to Old Ancestor Tong Hui's tribulation point.

Like most markets in the Cultivation World, Blackwater Market maintained an open and welcoming attitude towards all cultivators, with no illusion arrays set up at all.

Therefore, it was easy to see the entire layout of Blackwater Market from the sky.

This was a market built within a swamp.

From high above, this black swamp looked oval-shaped, much like a black eye.

And it was an eye that was oozing pus everywhere.

In the black, viscous mud, a mass would occasionally bulge up, then explode with a "plop." What gushed out from the center of the bulging mud ball wasn't marsh gas, but a fountain of black water.

The height of the black water spray varied from a few feet to several dozen feet.

Dozens of pavilions and courtyards, built in various styles, floated on the swamp like ships.

Each time the black water erupted, a transparent gray light shield would appear around these pavilions. The black water would land on the gray light shield, neither penetrating nor splashing, but disappearing silently.

Immediately after, dozens of black odd fish would swim out from the black mud beneath the foundations of these pavilions.

These odd fish looked very much like catfish, with long barbels, but they had no eyes, only a short, shiny black horn on the top of their heads.

These odd fish would swim to the site of the black water eruption at the fastest speed, then absorb some of the Vital Energy produced by the black water eruption. After dozens of breaths, these odd fish would quickly return to the shadows beneath those pavilions and dive back into the viscous mud.

The outer perimeter of this swamp was a red soil and gravel area spanning nearly a hundred miles. Not a blade of grass grew there, only some fist-sized red beetles that appeared from time to time.

The Lesser Jade Continent had over three hundred large and small markets. Most of these markets were trading venues independent of the jurisdiction of the Sects on the Lesser Jade Continent. In addition to their immense contribution to the circulation of various resources and the convenience for cultivators in finding resources, the transactions in these markets naturally generated enormous profits.

Where there were profits, there was control, and there were ultimate beneficiaries. The greater the profit, the more intricate the relationships behind it.

Therefore, even for a market like Blackwater Market, which was considered small on the Lesser Jade Continent, it was likely that powerful Sects from larger continents were involved. This was also the fundamental reason why True Person Baixi, despite being extremely tempted by the Yin Thunder Umbrella, had no desire to try his luck at Blackwater Market.

Pride comes before a fall.

This was something he had specifically mentioned in the introductory lessons for the Immortal Seedlings of Xianke Sect, and he certainly couldn't forget it himself.

In his opinion, once Spirit Treasures of this caliber entered the market, they would likely end up in the hands of powerful Sects on other continents. Even the top Sects on the Lesser Jade Continent might not be able to keep such Spirit Treasures within the Lesser Jade Continent.

Gurgle, gurgle...

In the red soil and gravel area surrounding Blackwater Market, over a dozen fist-sized red beetles crawled slowly. The shells on their backs looked like pieces of natural red stone, and when they bumped into each other, they emitted a very peculiar sound, like water flowing through holes.

Suddenly, as the Profound Heaven Sword Qi wielded by Lü Shenliang swept past, the gurgling sound erupted into a chorus. Thousands upon thousands of these red beetles emerged from the loose sandy soil, chasing after the dark gold sword light like a stream of water. After a moment, the beetles realized they couldn't keep up and slowed down again, with most of them slowly burrowing back into the loose sandy soil.

The dark gold sword light stopped in front of a two-story pavilion in the center of Blackwater Market.

As the sword light retracted, Lü Shenliang and Wang Li stood steadily on the green glazed ground.

This two-story pavilion and the floating platform supporting it were made of green glaze, shining brilliantly green within Blackwater Market.

Upon landing, Wang Li asked softly, "Senior Sister, did those two you mentioned follow us?"

Lü Shenliang glanced at him but didn't speak, yet Wang Li understood her look.

Those two had indeed followed.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Lü."

A middle-aged man wearing a snow-white garment, with a slender and refined appearance that exuded an air of immortality, appeared at the entrance of the pavilion, offering a slight smile.

His smile contained a hint of discernible strain, a sense of reluctant hospitality.

"Greetings, Senior Meng." Wang Li smiled and bowed, his smile carrying more awkwardness.

This reception was far too grand.

For anyone else, even a Golden Core True Person, the Workshop Master of this place would absolutely not come out to greet them personally, let alone greet them with such a gentle smile.

Meng Xiqiong, the Workshop Master of Azure Treasure Glazed Workshop, was notoriously cold-faced, known throughout Blackwater Market for his chilling gaze and an expression that kept people at a distance.

But towards Wang Li and Lü Shenliang, he truly couldn't maintain a cold demeanor.

Because according to the unwritten rules here, they simply didn't apply to Lü Shenliang.

The scene of Lü Shenliang's first visit here was unforgettable for many.

"Where is your Workshop Master?"

"Our Workshop Master generally does not receive guests."

"Alright, I'll self-detonate a Golden Core."

"..."

"I am Meng Xiqiong, the Workshop Master of Azure Treasure Glazed Workshop."

"Why the long face? I don't owe you money. Smile."

"Fellow Daoist, your..."

"It's fine if you don't smile, but do you want to see a Golden Core self-detonation?"

"..."

While others' threats might just be threats, Lü Shenliang's self-detonation of a Golden Core was a genuine self-detonation.

"Fellow Daoists, what brings you here today?" Meng Xiqiong took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible.

With just that one sentence, he exchanged a few glances with Wang Li.

The first glance was to confirm if Lü Shenliang was acting normally today. The second was to tell Wang Li to be extra careful, as it seemed only he could manage Lü Shenliang's sudden whims.

He thought it was a bit much to consider self-detonating a Golden Core on a whim.

"We're here today to sell an artifact and consign some artifact fragments," Wang Li said, certain his senior sister was perfectly fine today. He was now just curious about what kind of fish Lü Shenliang was trying to catch.

"What rank are the artifact and artifact fragments? May I see them?" Meng Xiqiong asked, feeling slightly more at ease seeing Lü Shenliang so calm. If other cultivators came to sell or consign artifacts, he would definitely invite them into the glazed hall behind him first. But facing Lü Shenliang, it seemed safer to quickly conclude the deal outside. Although Blackwater Market had unique arrangements, a self-detonation of a Golden Core would likely result in immense losses.

"One Yin Thunder Umbrella, a Cosmos Grade Spirit Treasure, and fragments of a Fire Clam Mirror." As soon as he finished speaking, Lü Shenliang's hand flashed with light, and she directly produced the Yin Thunder Umbrella and the fragments of the ancient mirror.

Meng Xiqiong had repeatedly reminded himself to keep his tone and demeanor as calm as possible, not to provoke Lü Shenliang's whims. But the moment he saw the artifact appear in her hand, his expression instantly changed. "What!"

Lü Shenliang looked displeased. "Don't make such a fuss, it's just a Spirit Treasure."

"You..." Meng Xiqiong forcefully swallowed the words that were already at the tip of his tongue.

In a market, one does not question the origin of treasures; that was the rule.

Regardless of the artifact's rank or how it came into her possession, given his position, he had only two tasks: first, to verify the artifact's authenticity and value, and second, to negotiate a price and see if he could afford it.

As the master of such a market, he naturally possessed unique methods and knowledge for appraising artifacts.

He calmed his mind and, without any outward action, tiny silver lights flickered within his pupils.

In an instant, the silver lights vanished, and his expression became extremely grave. "Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Lü, what price do you want for this Yin Thunder Umbrella?"

"One Purity Returning Spirit Pill and two million spirit sand," Wang Li replied.

Meng Xiqiong glanced at Wang Li and nodded. "That price is reasonable."

He was somewhat surprised by Wang Li's well-informed nature. The Purity Returning Spirit Pill was a spirit pill that could strengthen divine sense and had miraculous effects in repairing the soul. Azure Treasure Glazed Workshop had also acquired one three days ago, and he had indeed thought of Lü Shenliang then, but he figured that with the abilities of these two disciples from the Profound Heaven Sect, they wouldn't be able to afford such a pill.

Frankly speaking, if the Purity Returning Spirit Pill were put up for auction, based on past records, it would sell for around 1.5 million spirit sand. Adding that to the two million spirit sand, the total would be no more than 3.5 million spirit sand.

However, even though this Yin Thunder Umbrella was severely damaged, its value was certainly above five million spirit sand. Even for Azure Treasure Glazed Workshop, such a Spirit Treasure was indeed a hot potato, but it would definitely be profitable.

His direct statement that the price was reasonable indicated that he had already determined the deal could be made at this price.

"Consigning these Fire Clam Mirror fragments for two million spirit sand as well," Lü Shenliang suddenly said at this moment.

"This... also two million spirit sand?" Meng Xiqiong almost lost control of his emotions.

"Mm," Lü Shenliang nodded faintly, glancing at him with a hint of disdain in her eyes. "What are you so surprised about? Is there something wrong with your brain? I'm consigning it. Even if I asked for ten million spirit sand, what difference would it make?"

Meng Xiqiong couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

"Fellow Daoist Lü, you are correct," he said with a bitter smile.

Although Fire Clams had been extinct on Lesser Jade Continent for many years, the demon crystals and jade produced by these low-level demonic beasts were of little use. Even if the Fire Clam Mirror were intact, its value would be at most around two million spirit sand. Now that the Fire Clam Mirror was irreparable, its value as spiritual material alone would likely not attract buyers even at tens of thousands of spirit sand.

But when dealing with Lü Shenliang, what logic could be applied?

"Then please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Lü. I will retrieve the spirit sand and the Purity Returning Spirit Pill now."

Just as he was about to turn, a mass of black clouds descended rapidly from high above. Tens of feet from the ground, a clear voice rang out from within the clouds, "Wait a moment."

Wang Li secretly glanced at Lü Shenliang, knowing that the two big fish she had been angling for had arrived.