Black Market

Pingyin County had a Black Market, and Chen Fei had only learned of it from Zeng Defang. He heard that its former location had been not far outside Pingyin County's northern wall.

Now, because of the Refugees, the Black Market had opened directly inside Pingyin County.

Chen Fei guessed that this Black Market must have some official backing. Otherwise, how could the County Government Office allow it to operate so openly and brazenly?

In the night, Chen Fei wore a Bamboo Hat and a face covering, hiding his features as he arrived at the Black Market.

Unlike the sneaky, furtive place he had imagined, this so-called Black Market was actually rather lively. Apart from the lack of hawking cries, it was not much different from the night market inside Pingyin County.

Chen Fei strolled along, taking in the sights at a glance. The things displayed on the Stalls were strange and bizarre, many of them things Chen Fei had never seen before, or had not even heard of.

Whenever he encountered such things, Chen Fei would silently stand behind and listen to those people's conversations, learning some information from them.

And don't say it—just by eavesdropping like this, Chen Fei actually did obtain quite a bit of useful news.

Walking and looking all the way, Chen Fei stopped in front of a Stall. Many manuals were laid out on this Stall. Strangely, very few people stopped here.

"You may browse as you like, but these manuals only have a small portion. If you see one you're satisfied with, then we can discuss the price. At that time, this old man will naturally take out the complete manual."

Seeing Chen Fei stop, the Stall Owner glanced at the Deerskin Gloves on Chen Fei's hands and said with a smile.

"Do you have any Movement Technique manuals?" Chen Fei did not touch anything, but asked directly.

Chen Fei had thought about it yesterday. Although he currently lacked both Cultivation Realm and cultivation methods, what he lacked most severely was actually a Movement Technique. If he had a good Movement Technique, then when he encountered danger, the first choice would actually be to run.

As long as he ran fast enough, even if his Cultivation Realm was inferior to others, the probability of preserving his life was actually still quite high.

"Of course I do. Young Hero, take a look at these." The Stall Owner rummaged around, picked out several manuals, and placed them before Chen Fei.

Water Treading Skill, Swallow Pressing Branch, Green Grass Crossing, Wave Walking Steps.

Chen Fei casually picked one up and began flipping through it. A moment later, Chen Fei put the manual down and picked up another one.

In less than fifteen minutes, Chen Fei had finished reading all four manuals, a thoughtful look on his face.

"These are all basic lightness skill manuals. Do you have anything better?" Chen Fei asked after pondering for a moment.

"Yes, of course I do, but even if I dare give it to you, would you dare practice it?"

The Stall Owner looked at Chen Fei with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, "Aside from Basic Manuals, this old man naturally has other, better manuals here. But whether there are omissions in them or not, this old man does not know. If something happens because you practice the manuals this old man gives you, this old man will not take responsibility."

Chen Fei was somewhat enlightened. In the end, his own experience was still a little shallow.

With things like cultivation method manuals, if a few lines inside were slightly altered, ordinary people would not be able to tell. If the alterations were in key places, the person practicing the cultivation method might even suffer Cultivation Deviation, and ending up half-paralyzed would be perfectly normal.

The more profound the cultivation method, the more this was the case. On the contrary, those basic cultivation methods had simple routes for circulating qi and blood. Even if mistakes were made while practicing them, there would not be too much of a problem.

And as a martial artist's cultivation improved, if there truly were any problems in a basic cultivation method, they could see it at a glance. Just like Chen Fei at this moment—although he was only in the Skin Refining Realm, because he had cultivated several cultivation methods to the Great Perfection level.

When he looked at those four manuals just now, he had not discovered any problems. They could all be practiced directly.

"What price for these four manuals?"

"Two taels of silver each. How many do you want?"

"All of them." As Chen Fei spoke, he took out eight taels of silver and placed them on the Stall.

A smile appeared on the Stall Owner's face. From the area behind him, he took out the corresponding lower halves of the manuals and handed them to Chen Fei. Chen Fei flipped through them and, finding no problems, placed the four manuals into the bag on his back.

"Oh, right. Give me one move manual, something more profound," Chen Fei said after thinking for a moment.

Chen Fei wanted to try and see whether the Panel had any way to complete this kind of manual with omissions, or even a damaged manual, and then allow him to practice it.

The Stall Owner's brows moved slightly, but he did not refuse. He searched around the Stall, took out a manual, handed it to Chen Fei, and said, "Immortal Cloud Sword, the unique sword art of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect."

"Immortal Cloud Sword Sect?"

Chen Fei was slightly startled. This sect was far too famous. Within a radius of several thousand li, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was probably the one holding the ox's ear.

Powerful figures emerged in endless succession within the sect. Every year, who knew how many people wanted to enter and become disciples, yet had no chance. Chen Fei's predecessor had once fantasized about it too, but unfortunately, his campaign had ended before the first victory.

Chen Fei accepted the manual and flipped through it briefly, his brows tightening and loosening by turns. Judging by Chen Fei's current insight from his Great Perfection Green Mountain Sword, what was recorded in this Immortal Cloud Sword did indeed contain some profound and subtle principles of the sword path.

But even more of it consisted of specious nonsense. It seemed more like someone had obtained some sword moves, then, because they were incomplete, stuffed in many of their own insights, even fanciful principles, to fill the gaps.

"What price?" Chen Fei raised his head and asked.

"Fifty taels!" The Stall Owner grinned.

Chen Fei did not speak. He only looked at the Stall Owner. Was he slaughtering pigs? He actually dared shout such a price for this kind of self-compiled manual.

The Stall Owner did not back down either, calmly looking at Chen Fei as well. I'm selling it at this price—what can you do about it?

Chen Fei nodded, put the manual down, and turned to leave directly. This money had not been scraped up by a great wind. He had only just become a little more comfortable, so he had to spend it slowly.

To spend so much money just for a test of the Panel would make him an utter sucker.

"Hey, don't go. You name a price!" the Stall Owner's voice came from behind him.

Chen Fei stopped and considered for a moment, then said, "Three taels!"

"Good, deal!"

The Stall Owner immediately agreed, as if afraid Chen Fei would go back on his word. Very decisively, he took out the other half of the manual as well and stuffed both into Chen Fei's hands.

Chen Fei was somewhat speechless. So it turned out that even shouting three taels had been too high.

However, Chen Fei did not go back on it. He briefly looked over the latter half of the manual. It did indeed still contain some principles of the sword path, so buying this cultivation method for three taels could not be said to be a complete loss.

"If Young Hero has any other needs in the future, feel free to come find this old man. This old man will always be setting up his stall at this spot." Having completed two deals, the Stall Owner was in quite a good mood.

Chen Fei waved his hand, put the Secret Manual away, then turned and left.

Within the Black Market, Chen Fei wandered around a few more times, and even deliberately asked about buying and selling Pill Recipes. But aside from basic Pill Recipes, the Black Market had none of the slightly more advanced Pill Recipes at all.

As the night deepened, Chen Fei did not linger long and directly left the Black Market.

After returning to the place he rented, Chen Fei took out the Water Treading Skill and began studying it carefully.

Half an hour later, information about the Water Treading Skill finally appeared on the Panel.

"Panel, simplify the Water Treading Skill!"

"Water Treading Skill simplification in progress... Simplification successful... Water Treading Skill → walking!"