Gray Robe Jiang Lao

At dusk, outside Xinghua Village.

Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai each rode a Spirit Beast, the "Flying Star Horse," heading east.

The little "Thunderfire Tiger" bounced and skipped around them.

Meng Bohai turned his head and asked, "Clan Uncle Bohai, what kind of channel are we looking for in the Black Market this time?"

Meng Bohai replied, "Last time, you raised many Second-Tier Spirit Plants, Six-Pattern Wheat, in our Meng Family's Spirit Plant Field. We planted some in the Meng Family's backyard, the clansmen consumed some themselves, and we need to sell the rest."

"Sell them?" Meng Haoran asked in confusion.

"In another month, the Second-Tier Spirit Plants, Six-Pattern Wheat, in the Meng Family's backyard will ripen under your cultivation. Once they mature, we will keep enough for the clansmen and must sell the remaining Second-Tier Spirit Plants, Six-Pattern Wheat."

Meng Bohai answered, "We cannot, nor are we qualified to, sell these Second-Tier Spirit Plants, Six-Pattern Wheat in the eastern and western market districts of Qingyang County Town. But neither can we let this Six-Pattern Wheat rot in our hands. We can only find a channel to sell it, and the Black Market is our only outlet!"

"I understand. Once the Second-Tier Spirit Plants, Six-Pattern Wheat, cultivated by our Meng Family appear in the market districts of Qingyang County Town, they will surely draw the attention of those seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families. When that happens, they will definitely rack their brains to bring down our Meng Family!"

Meng Haoran nodded slightly. "Only by selling the Six-Pattern Wheat in the Black Market and using its murky, chaotic trading channels can we help the Meng Family strengthen its power and foundation!"

"And for the sake of caution, the Black Market we are heading to this time is not within Qingyang County, but in the territory of a neighboring county."

Meng Bohai continued, "This is the first time in ten years, since the Meng Family suddenly lost two clansmen at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, that we have actively sought out a sales channel in the Black Market. We must consider everything thoroughly."

Hearing this, Meng Haoran nodded gently.

As long as the Meng Family opened up a stable sales channel in the Black Market this time, it could continuously trade Second-Tier Spirit Plants, "Six-Pattern Wheat," in the Black Market for cultivation resources.

Within less than a year, the Meng Family would be able to accumulate cultivation resources at the Foundation Establishment Level.

The reason it was called the Black Market was that it was a place that could not see the light, unable to appear within the sight of the seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families in Qingyang County Town.

For that very reason, once goods entered the Black Market, it was almost impossible to trace their source.

Likewise, once goods sold from the Black Market left it, it would be even more impossible for the seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families to follow the vine to find the person at the source.

That was why Meng Bohai had come to the Black Market this time to seek out a channel.

Within the Tianyang Mountain Range, Chiyang County.

Because the Tianyang Mountain Range stretched on for far too long, several surrounding counties had grown around this mountain range.

Meng Haoran followed behind Meng Bohai, watching him study a map.

Meng Bohai said in a low voice, "It should be somewhere around this area."

Meng Haoran had just been about to nod when he suddenly sensed movement off to his left.

A fireball immediately appeared in Meng Haoran's hand as he looked in that direction vigilantly.

"Who's there? Come out at once!"

Meng Bohai was also slightly startled. His cultivation was far above Meng Haoran's, yet even he had failed to notice someone nearby.

Tap, tap, tap!

A person slowly emerged from behind a towering tree.

The man spread his old gray robe and raised both hands high, saying with an ingratiating smile, "Hehe, Fellow Daoists, do not act rashly. I am no villain."

Meng Bohai rode his horse in front of Meng Haoran and looked at the man. "Who are you? State your name!"

The man smiled faintly. "I am a Black Market merchant. Thanks to the regard of friends from the martial world, I was given the title Gray Robe Jiang Lao."

"Gray Robe Jiang Lao?" Meng Bohai murmured.

Gray Robe Jiang Lao smiled. "Judging by the dust and travel-weariness on the two of you, I presume neither of you is from Chiyang County."

Meng Bohai and Meng Haoran ignored him upon hearing this.

When traveling the martial world, unless absolutely necessary, one must never casually reveal one's true information.

Seeing the two remain silent, Gray Robe Jiang Lao was not surprised.

After all, in this exceedingly dangerous cultivation world, it was always a good thing to have some caution.

Gray Robe Jiang Lao shook his head and smiled. "Fellow Daoists, I bear no ill will. You have appeared in these mountains and forests, and you are not from Chiyang County. Then you must be here to seek the Black Market. Am I right?"

Meng Bohai replied, "Oh? Could it be that Jiang Lao is also here to seek the Black Market?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao waved his hand. "I am not here to seek the Black Market, because I am one of the Black Market's people!"

Meng Bohai's pupils contracted slightly. "Jiang Lao, you are one of the Black Market's people? A merchant?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao lowered his hands before him and replied, "Indeed."

Meng Bohai asked again, "Since Jiang Lao is a merchant in the Black Market, why are you not doing business there, but instead waiting for us here...?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao laughed toward the sky, then said, "The two of you do not know this. Nowadays, the Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families are tightening their control over cultivation resources by the day, and business in the Black Market is becoming harder and harder!"

Meng Haoran leaned forward and asked, "So?"

"So, in order to specifically solicit business, I can only hide here and intercept Fellow Daoists who wish to do business in the Black Market," Gray Robe Jiang Lao explained.

Meng Haoran looked at the situation behind Gray Robe Jiang Lao, then asked, "I have been to the Black Market before. Those stallholders all had large stalls. Where is your stall?"

Hearing this, Meng Bohai narrowed his eyes slightly as well and looked at Gray Robe Jiang Lao.

"Hehe, please look, you two!"

As soon as the words fell, Gray Robe Jiang Lao suddenly spread open his old robe and called out, "This is my stall!"

Meng Haoran and the other hurriedly looked over. The robe Gray Robe Jiang Lao wore was exceptionally broad, and once spread open, it revealed more than a dozen "Storage Bags" hanging inside.

Looking at Gray Robe Jiang Lao's robe, Meng Haoran secretly thought, This garment must also be a Dao Artifact of some rank!

"Hehe, sorry, Jiang Lao. The two of us failed to recognize your true worth, but one must be cautious when away from home," Meng Bohai said with a knowing smile.

Gray Robe Jiang Lao extended his large hand and waved it. "No matter, no matter! I understand. As long as there is business to be done, that is enough!"

Meng Bohai looked over the "Storage Bags" hanging from Gray Robe Jiang Lao and asked, "May I ask what kind of business Jiang Lao deals in?"