Black Market and Sword Testing (Seeking Recommendations)

"Demon and Demon, huh?"

The moon hung high in the sky.

Fang Xi held the Black Market wooden token in his hand, still somewhat confused.

According to Mu Canglong, Demon could roughly correspond to certain physically powerful Demon Beasts, but Demon? It seemed rather strange, not like the Demon Beasts or Demonic Cultivators of the cultivation world...

"But, am I finally going to come into contact with the high-level resources of this world?"

He gazed at the bridge ahead, a hint of excitement in his expression.

As introduced by Mu Canglong, the Black Market of Black Stone City was located at the 'Demonon Bridge'. On the first and fifteenth of every month... holding the wooden token as proof, one could take a wooden boat from the bridge to enter the real Black Market!

At this moment, Fang Xi had naturally changed into a set of night-blooming clothes, complemented by a bamboo hat, making it impossible to discern his figure or face.

Upon reaching the Demonon Bridge, he indeed saw a black-canopied boat, docked by the shore, waiting.

"Who goes there?"

From the boat, an old man poling with a bamboo stick asked.

"Someone going to the Black Market."

Fang Xi replied.

"Do you have proof?"

"Here!"

After tossing the wooden token over, the old man examined it for a few moments, respectfully returned it, and then let Fang Xi board the boat.

On the boat, there were several other black-clothed individuals, maintaining a certain distance from each other, remaining silent.

After waiting for three sticks of incense to burn out, the old man poled the black-canopied boat, and it drifted away under the moonlight.

A wisp of thin mist rose, and the surrounding buildings became indistinct and shadowy.

After an unknown amount of time, the small boat docked on a riverbank.

"We're here."

The old man's voice came.

Fang Xi disembarked, his feet sinking into the damp mud.

Looking around, it appeared to be a lake island, with quite a few people setting up stalls and hawking their wares.

The few structures present were of wooden construction, looking incredibly rudimentary.

This Black Market... is completely different from what I imagined. So much simpler.

Fang Xi's mouth twitched slightly as he blended into the crowd.

"Brother, want to learn martial arts? The Iron Sword Sect's secret eighteen forms of the Iron Cutting Sword Technique, complete with the Divine Intent Diagram!"

At one stall, a vendor wearing a veil was shouting loudly.

Fang Xi glanced at the stack of secret manuals and shook his head, walking away.

He didn't even need to look to know that the Divine Intent Diagram wasn't something that could be easily replicated.

Whatever was appearing here was most likely fake.

"Come quickly, take a look! Top-quality slaves... look at this skin, these teeth... they clearly come from wealthy families. Raise them for a few years, and they'll definitely be great beauties!"

At another stall, they were actually selling people!

Fang Xi glanced over and saw several frightened-looking young boys and girls, which immediately reminded him of the recent rumors about children going missing from wealthy households in the city. A chill ran down his spine.

The control and deterrent power of the Da Liang dynasty seemed to be quite limited!

The Black Market, as expected, is truly black. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to do whatever I want right now.

After a silent complaint, he followed Mu Canglong's directions and arrived before a wooden hut.

The hut was very simple. Fang Xi sniffed, detecting a strong smell of blood.

In the grass around the hut, white bones could be vaguely seen.

"This is Mu Canglong and the White Cloud Martial Arts School's Demon Meat channel?"

Fang Xi muttered to himself and walked inside.

The light inside the hut was dim, with only an oil lamp lit. The flame burning on the wick was actually a vibrant green.

As the lamp oil burned, a strange aroma diffused throughout the surroundings.

Fang Xi swallowed, suddenly feeling a bit hungry.

This lamp oil... is not right.

Just as he was pondering, a deep voice suddenly sounded, "Are you here to buy meat?"

Fang Xi looked over and couldn't help but gasp, genuinely startled.

On the side of the house, a "mountain of meat" was piled up!

It was a true mountain of meat, about two to three meters high, with layers of white fat stacked up, its loose skin covered in grease.

This was an unimaginably fat person!

At least a thousand jin!

Fang Xi said in a low voice, "I heard... you sell Demon Meat here? Don't worry, I know the rules!"

As he spoke, he tossed over a wooden token.

The Meat Demonuntain took the token and glanced at it casually before smiling, "So it's a referral from a regular customer... Don't worry, the meat here is the best quality!"

As he spoke, he opened his fan-like hands and reached behind himself.

Snap!

A piece of bone-white meat was tossed in front of Fang Xi.

This chunk of meat weighed at least five or six jin. It had no red blood, and seemed to lack any muscle or tendon fibers.

This feels very similar to lamp oil?

Fang Xi glanced at it and made a judgment.

"My meat is one hundred taels of silver per jin," the Meat Demonuntain continued, stating the price.

"Deal!"

Fang Xi nodded and took out a gold leaf, which he had specifically exchanged for trading.

After all, carrying too much silver wasn't convenient.

"I have a hundred gold leaves here, totaling one hundred taels of gold. The official exchange rate is ten taels of silver for one tael of gold, which is equivalent to a thousand taels of silver. Give me ten jin of meat first."

After Fang Xi finished speaking and produced the gold leaves, the Meat Demonuntain opposite him seemed stunned.

A moment later, he burst into laughter, "Good... refreshing! I, 'Fatty Han,' like straightforward people like you!"

As he spoke, he grabbed another piece of Demon Meat and tossed it down, weighing a full five or six jin.

"This piece, plus the one just now, is definitely over ten jin. Consider the extra a gift from me..." the Meat Demonuntain chuckled. "Life is short, and only eating meat is the supreme pleasure... But you must remember not to eat too much, or you'll stuff yourself to death, hahaha..."

Fatty Han laughed heartily, causing the wooden house to tremble.

Fang Xi cupped his fists, wrapped the ten jin of meat in cloth, slung it over his back, and bid farewell.

Having bought what he wanted, he didn't linger in the Black Market but left directly.

The way back naturally involved taking a boat again, disembarking at Demonon Bridge.

As Fang Xi wound his way through alleys, he suddenly sighed, "Your Excellency has been following me for so long, what is your purpose?"

At the end of the alley, a black-clothed man had appeared at some point.

He sneered and replied, "Good lad, you've got some skill... You were able to get so much meat from Fatty Han, you're clearly wealthy. Hand it over to this old man!"

As the man spoke, he was still at the end of the alley, but by the time the last word fell, he had already appeared before Fang Xi, unleashing a punch like a rolling stone.

"Rolling Stone Fist?!"

Fang Xi smiled slightly. This person was also using a Martial Arts School technique; he had seen people from the Boulder Martial Arts School use it when he was studying martial arts.

He responded without panic, his palm turning slightly, its center turning pitch black as he struck out.

Bang!

Fist and palm met, and two surges of Blood Qi Power collided, emitting a dull thud.

The black-clothed man grunted, retreated several steps, and exclaimed in disbelief, "Three Changes of Qi and Blood? How is that possible?"

He had heard of the young experts in the city!

This time, he had chosen to attack only after hearing that the other party's voice was not old!

He hadn't expected to run into such a tough opponent!

"You're also a master of the Three Changes of Qi and Blood, and you're from the White Cloud Martial Arts School!"

Fang Xi nodded, then shook his head, "Why must you seek death?"

"Hmph! The White Cloud Palm may be vicious, but it might not be able to defeat me," the black-clothed man roared, his fists striking like thunder, his aura extremely imposing.

Although the name Rolling Stone Fist didn't sound pleasant, it lived up to its name. Once it gained momentum, continuous combos could build power, like a snowball rolling downhill, unleashing a world-shattering blow.

The longer it lasted, the greater its momentum!

Just as Fang Xi was about to focus, his lips suddenly twitched.

He saw the black-clothed man opposite him roar, then turn and run... ran away...

Damn it, why would I risk my life fighting a martial artist of the same level, Three Changes of Qi and Blood?

The black-clothed man turned and fled, feeling extremely frustrated.

Looking closely at his fist, a black mark had already appeared, indicating that the poisonous palm hadn't been without effect.

"A master from the White Cloud Martial Arts School, I'll remember this grudge..."

Just as he was about to utter more threats, his vision blurred and he saw Fang Xi!

With the Red Snake Leg enhancing his footwork, Fang Xi's speed was actually quite fast!

Seeing this, despair welled up in the black-clothed man's heart: "You… you really intend to kill me?"

"Not at all, not at all…"

Fang Xi smiled slightly: "You're a master of the Three Changes of Qi and Blood, aren't you? I just want to ask you to be a test subject…"

After speaking, Fang Xi concentrated his mind and chanted.

He quickly recited a spell, and the Magical Power within his body circulated, arriving at his right index finger.

Immediately, he raised his hand gently, and several sword energies surged out.

Green Bamboo Demonuntain Spirit Farmer's Weeding Spell—Geng Metal Grass Sword!

While the black-clothed man was still confused, several terrifying wounds suddenly appeared on his body, spewing blood!

"What… what Martial Arts is this?"

He knelt on the ground, his face beneath the mask filled with disbelief.

"Innate Formless Sword Qi!"

Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a master.

At the same time, he recorded the results of this experiment in his mind.

'A minor spell from the early Qi Refining stage still possesses considerable lethality against a Three Changes of Qi and Blood martial artist…'

"I…" The black-clothed man wanted to curse, but he couldn't catch his breath.

This was supposed to be Martial Arts?!

Even Martial Hall Masters, no! The great masters of Yuan He Demonuntain, might not be able to achieve something as outrageous as projecting their internal energy to injure others.

Unfortunately, before he could curse, a green sword shadow flashed.

The black-clothed man's headless corpse fell, blood quickly spilling out.

"Using a Low-grade Magic Tool would be even easier, like cutting vegetables…"

Fang Xi sighed, retracted the Green Grain Sword, and was somewhat dissatisfied: "Next time… I'll find a Martial Hall Master to test my sword."