This time was completely different from the desolation of the eighth day.
Before Xiao Chen even reached the place where he had found the tree stump last time, he saw many unfamiliar faces.
There were also numerous cultivators, either masked or cloaked to conceal their appearances.
They hurried along, nearly all alone. Even the groups traveling together spoke not a word, focused solely on making their way forward.
Xiao Chen followed the crowd onward. Along the way, he only saw three cultivators in black robes and conical hats sitting beneath a roadside tree, seemingly resting after growing tired from the journey.
Other than that, he saw no idlers. Before long, he arrived before the Valley at the rear.
Here, a queue had formed ahead.
Several cultivators wearing identical Moon Hats stood spread out along the perimeter, as though keeping watch.
There was also a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator stationed at the valley entrance, inspecting the tokens of those arriving.
Yet he was not verifying their identities, but collecting their Spirit Stones.
From time to time, he would shout, "You all know the rules, right? They're carved over there. Make sure you read them clearly before going in!"
Xiao Chen glanced over. To the side stood a massive boulder that someone had apparently moved here, two zhang in length and width and over eight chi high.
Someone had used their finger as a brush to carve three Black Market rules upon it.
First, before entering, each person had to pay one Spirit Stone as an entrance fee.
Those unwilling to show their true face had to pay one additional Spirit Stone.
Second, fighting was absolutely forbidden within the Black Market. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were stationed inside.
Anyone discovered fighting would be expelled immediately and forever barred from returning.
Third, the