Gray Robe Jiang Lao

At dusk, outside Xinghua Village.

Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai each rode a spirit beast, the Flying Star Horse, heading toward the east.

The little Thunderfire Tiger hopped and skipped along around them.

Meng Haoran tilted his head and asked, "Clan Uncle Bohai, what kind of path are we looking for in the black market this time?"

Meng Bohai replied, "Last time, you raised many Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat in our Meng Family spirit plant field. We planted a portion in the Meng Family backyard, the clansmen consumed some themselves, and we need to sell the remainder."

"Sell them?" Meng Haoran asked, puzzled.

"In another month, those Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat in our Meng Family backyard will mature under your cultivation. Once they are ripe, after we set aside the volume needed by our clansmen, the rest of the Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat must be sold."

Meng Bohai answered, "And in the east and west markets of Qingyang County Town, we cannot and do not have the qualifications to sell these Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat. Yet, we cannot let these Six-Pattern Wheat rot in our hands, so we must find a way to sell them off. The black market is our only path for sales!"

"I understand. Once these Second-Tier Spirit Plant Six-Pattern Wheat cultivated by our Meng Family appear in the markets of Qingyang County Town, they will surely attract the attention of those seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families. At that time, they will certainly try every possible means to topple our Meng Family!"

Meng Haoran nodded slightly and said, "Only by selling the Six-Pattern Wheat into the black market, utilizing the chaotic and obscure sales channels of the black market, can we help our Meng Family improve our strength and foundation!"

"And to be safe, the location of the black market we are heading to this time is not within the territory of Qingyang County, but in the region of a neighboring county."

Meng Bohai continued, "This is the first time in ten years, since our Meng Family suddenly lost two Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm clansmen, that we have proactively sought out sales channels in the black market. We must be thorough in our considerations."

Hearing this, Meng Haoran nodded gently.

As long as the Meng Family could establish a stable sales channel in the black market this time, the family could continuously exchange the Second-Tier Spirit Plant "Six-Pattern Wheat" for cultivation resources from the black market.

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

The reason the black market is called a black market is that it is a place that cannot see the light of day and cannot appear within the field of vision of the seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families in Qingyang County Town.

It is precisely for this reason that once the items to be sold flow into the black market, it is almost impossible to find the source.

By the same token, once items sold and flowing out of the black market leave the black market, it is even more impossible for the seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families to follow the vines to find the source.

This is also the reason why Meng Bohai wanted to find a path in the black market this time.

In Chiyang County, within the Tianyang Mountain Range.

Because the Tianyang Mountain Range is overly long, the surrounding counties all exist around this mountain range.

Meng Haoran followed behind Meng Bohai, watching the latter check the map.

Meng Bohai whispered, "It should be near this area."

Meng Haoran was just about to nod when he suddenly felt movement on his left side.

A fireball instantly appeared in Meng Haoran's hand, and he looked toward that spot with vigilance.

"Who is it? Come out!"

Meng Bohai was also slightly startled. His cultivation was far higher than Meng Haoran's, yet he had not discovered anyone nearby either.

Step, step, step!

From behind a tall, massive tree, a person slowly walked out.

The person stretched out his old, gray robe, raised his hands high, and said with a fawning smile, "Hehe, two fellow Daoists, do not be impulsive. I am not a bad person."

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

The man smiled slightly and said, "I am a black market merchant. Thanks to the kindness of friends in the jianghu, they gave me a title: Gray Robe Jiang Lao."

"Gray Robe Jiang Lao?" Meng Bohai muttered.

Gray Robe Jiang Lao laughed, "Seeing the dust and fatigue on you two, I presume you are not from my Chiyang County."

Meng Bohai and Meng Haoran heard this and ignored him.

Walking in the jianghu, unless absolutely necessary, one must never easily expose one's true information.

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

After all, walking in this treacherous world of cultivation, having a bit of defensive heart is always a good thing.

Gray Robe Jiang Lao shook his head and laughed, "Two fellow Daoists, I have no ill intent. You appear in this mountain forest and are not from my Chiyang County, so you must be here to find the black market. I guessed right, didn't I?"

Meng Bohai replied, "Oh? Could it be that Jiang Lao is also here to find the black market?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao waved his hand and said, "I am not here to find the black market, because I am a person of the black market!"

Meng Bohai's pupils shrank slightly, and he said, "Jiang Lao, you are a person of the black market? A merchant?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao lowered his hands in front of him and replied, "Exactly."

Meng Bohai asked again, "Since Jiang Lao is a merchant in the black market, why not do business in the black market, but instead wait here... for us?"

Gray Robe Jiang Lao looked up to the sky and laughed, then said, "Two fellow Daoists may not know, but nowadays, the Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families are increasingly controlling cultivation resources, and business in the black market is even harder to do!"

Meng Haoran leaned forward and asked, "So?"

"So, in order to specifically solicit business, I can only hide here and intercept those fellow Daoists who want to do business in the black market," Gray Robe Jiang Lao explained.

Meng Haoran looked at the situation behind Gray Robe Jiang Lao and asked again, "I have also been to the black market. Those stall owners all have a large area of stalls. I wonder where your stall is?"

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

"Hehe, two, please look!"

As the words fell, Gray Robe Jiang Lao suddenly opened his old robe and said loudly, "This is my stall!"

The two of them quickly looked over, only to see that the robe worn by Gray Robe Jiang Lao was extremely wide. After opening it, there were actually more than a dozen "Storage Bags" hanging there.

Looking at Gray Robe Jiang Lao's robe, Meng Haoran thought to himself, I presume this garment is also a Dao Artifact with a grade!

"Hehe, sorry, Jiang Lao, it was us who misjudged. But when out and about, one must be on guard!" Meng Bohai also smiled, showing great discernment.

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

Meng Bohai looked around at the "Storage Bags" hanging on Gray Robe Jiang Lao and asked, "I wonder what kind of business Jiang Lao does?"