Haggling

"Yo! Kid, you've got quite the temper, don't you?"

The lanky stall owner sneered, "Don't you see where this is? A little brat whose feathers haven't even grown in yet dares to yell at me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the lanky stall owner abruptly rose to his feet. An inexplicable aura suddenly surged from within him and bore down directly on Meng Haoran!

Meng Haoran's pupils contracted slightly. Qi Refining Perfection?

The path of cultivation began with Qi Refining.

Qi Refining was divided into ten levels. Levels one through three were the minor attainment stage, levels four through six were the major attainment stage, levels seven through eight were the perfection stage, and the tenth level was the peak stage.

Just then, Meng Bohai gently placed his right hand on Meng Haoran's shoulder. An aura likewise spread from him!

The two auras of differing attributes collided, stirring up waves of spiritual qi from heaven and earth in the surrounding area.

Meng Bohai stood motionless at Meng Haoran's side.

Meanwhile, the lanky stall owner staggered back several steps in succession. A glint appeared in his eyes as he said, "I couldn't tell before—you're actually a tenth-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator?"

"Fellow Daoist, you have a sharp eye," Meng Bohai said with a smile.

The lanky stall owner thought, To have reached the tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm at such an age, and with an unknown junior at his side... it seems my guess was right. The two of them must be members of a Lineage from Qingyang County Territory!

With that thought, the lanky stall owner clasped his fists and smiled. "My apologies for failing to recognize your status, Fellow Daoist."

To Meng Haoran, the word "status" from the lanky stall owner simply meant that he feared Meng Bohai's cultivation!

The Black Market was called the Black Market for two reasons. First, it could not be brought into the official light. Second, it was truly black-hearted!

Murdering people and seizing their goods was an extremely common occurrence in the Black Market.

A customer might purchase goods they fancied from a stall owner, catch someone's eye, and then meet a cruel end outside the Black Market!

A stall owner might reveal tempting wealth while selling goods, only to be secretly followed and quietly murdered by someone with malicious intentions!

Such things happened all the time.

Meng Bohai knew when to stop and did not forcefully suppress the lanky stall owner with his cultivation. Instead, he smiled. "Fellow Daoist, just tell me the price of the Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil directly. That way, neither of us will delay our next transaction."

"Very well! How much Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil does Fellow Daoist want?" the lanky stall owner asked.

Meng Bohai lowered his head and glanced at Meng Haoran. The latter softly replied, "Five mu will do."

"Five mu?"

The lanky stall owner began secretly guessing which family Meng Bohai and Meng Haoran belonged to.

"Yes, five mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil. Approximately how many Spirit Stones would that cost? Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist," Meng Bohai asked.

Because the spiritual qi of heaven and earth within the Great Yu Immortal Dynasty was chaotic and disorderly, cultivators could scarcely absorb and refine it directly. Spirit Stones, however, contained spiritual qi from heaven and earth and were highly suitable for cultivators to absorb and refine.

Thus, Spirit Stones had replaced gold and silver as currency in the cultivation world.

The lanky stall owner sized Meng Bohai up for a moment, then smiled. "For one mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil, five mu in total, I'll charge you fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Since we've become acquainted through a clash, I'll give you a discount of two thousand. Forty-eight thousand Spirit Stones altogether. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

The moment he finished speaking, Meng Bohai repeatedly shook his head. "Not good. I know Fellow Daoist is also running a small business, and obtaining this Spirit Plant Soil must have taken quite a bit of trouble. But we, too, are short of funds and cannot afford so many Spirit Stones. I hope Fellow Daoist can understand us as well."

The lanky stall owner secretly spat, though he kept smiling. "As long as Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil is properly planted and tended, this soil will become a treasure ground that produces wealth in the future. Charging you ten thousand Spirit Stones for one mu is already an extremely fair price!"

Meng Bohai waved his hands again and pretended to be troubled. "Too much! Still too much!"

Seeing Meng Bohai's expression and movements, Meng Haoran grew suspicious. When we left Xinghua Village, Clan Uncle Bohai told me that buying one mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil for ten thousand Spirit Stones was already an extremely good price. If that's the case, why is Clan Uncle Bohai still haggling? Isn't he afraid the stall owner won't do business with us?

Knowing Meng Bohai was a difficult customer, the lanky stall owner asked, "Fellow Daoist, then tell me—what price do you wish to offer?"

Meng Bohai smiled. "Forty thousand Spirit Stones for five mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil!"

"Hiss!"

The lanky stall owner sucked in a breath and shook his head. "You're far too greedy! That's the same as making me give you one mu of land for free!"

"Whether in life or cultivation, there must be give and take. This time, I've bought Spirit Plant Soil I like from you. When the Black Market opens next time, I'll certainly come find you again," Meng Bohai said insincerely.

The lanky stall owner had conducted Black Market business for many years. He had heard lies like Meng Bohai's more times than he could count.

The lanky stall owner waved his hand. "No, no! I don't even know where you're from. What if you buy it this time, and I never see you again next time? Wouldn't my small business suffer a loss?"

Meng Bohai asked, "How about this? Let us each take a step back. I'll offer forty-two thousand. Is that acceptable?"

The lanky stall owner raised an eyebrow and replied, "No. That's still a loss. Forty-eight thousand!"

Hearing this, Meng Bohai turned around and took Meng Haoran's hand. Looking back, he said, "I'll take another step back. Forty-five thousand. I'll pay forty-five thousand Spirit Stones for your five mu of Spirit Plant Soil. If that price still won't do, then it can only mean that you and I are fated to meet but not fated to trade!"

After saying that, Meng Haoran was led away by Meng Bohai in a dazed state.

The lanky stall owner panicked. All of his goods had been bought on credit. If he could not recover the funds in time, he would be in serious trouble!

"Since you and I are fated, Fellow Daoist, I'll take another step back. Forty-six thousand!"

The lanky stall owner called out loudly, "Forty-six thousand Spirit Stones, and you can take away five mu of Spirit Plant Soil!"

Meng Bohai continued holding Meng Haoran's hand without looking back, slowly walking toward another area.

The lanky stall owner suddenly stood up and stretched out a hand. "Fine! Forty-five thousand it is!"

Only then did Meng Bohai stop and turn around. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

Meng Bohai first handed five Storage Bags to the lanky stall owner, then said, "There are forty-five thousand Spirit Stones inside. Please count them, Fellow Daoist."

The lanky stall owner smiled faintly as well and likewise handed five Storage Bags to Meng Bohai. "I also have five Storage Bags here. Each Storage Bag contains Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil equal to a full mu of land. Fellow Daoist, please count them as well."

Meng Bohai placed the five Storage Bags on the ground. With a thought, a trace of spiritual sense emerged from his body and entered the five Storage Bags.

Before long, Meng Bohai gently nodded at Meng Haoran. Meng Haoran hurriedly placed the five Storage Bags containing Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil onto the Spirit Horse behind them.

Meng Bohai clasped his fists toward the lanky stall owner. "Goods and payment are settled. Fellow Daoist, if fate wills it, we shall meet again."

With that, Meng Bohai and Meng Haoran turned and left.

Only after the two had gone far away did Meng Haoran voice the doubt in his heart.

"Clan Uncle Bohai, that man's price just now was already extremely good. Why did you still bargain with him?"

Hearing Meng Haoran's question, Meng Bohai smiled. "We had to let him know that although we came to the Black Market, our pockets were empty, thereby cutting off any thought he might have of murdering us and seizing our goods."

Meng Haoran nodded. "I understand. If we had bought his Spirit Plant Soil at ten thousand Spirit Stones per mu, he might have mistaken us for being flush with money and harbored evil intentions. Once we left the Black Market, he could have attacked us!"

Meng Bohai said solemnly, "That's right! Hao Ran, remember this: no matter where you go in the future, unless it is absolutely necessary, never reveal your trump cards too early!"

"Alright!"

The instant Meng Haoran's words fell, the mysterious Heavenly Cauldron in his dantian suddenly trembled lightly. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned to look around.

"What exactly has drawn the Heavenly Cauldron's attention?"

Ever since Meng Haoran had obtained the Heavenly Cauldron, it had rarely made any movement on its own.

Now that the Heavenly Cauldron had taken the initiative to react, something must have happened. That was why he was so vigilant.

When Meng Haoran's gaze landed on a voluptuous female cultivator, the Heavenly Cauldron trembled lightly once more!

"It's over there!" Meng Haoran stopped and looked toward the stall filled with Spirit Beasts.

Seeing Meng Haoran's movement behind him, Meng Bohai followed his gaze and could not help teasing him. "What's wrong? You like looking at that?"

Meng Haoran's little face flushed slightly. He knew Meng Bohai had misunderstood him and explained, "Clan Uncle Bohai, I'm looking at those Spirit Beasts."

"Spirit Beasts?"

Meng Bohai was slightly stunned. "What about Spirit Beasts? Our family raises Spirit Beasts too."

Meng Haoran greatly valued this rare initiative from the Heavenly Cauldron, so he said, "Clan Uncle Bohai, how about we go take a look? We've already bought the Spirit Plant Soil the family needs anyway."

Meng Bohai raised his head and looked at the sky, then nodded. "Alright. It's still early, so I'll accompany you to look at these Spirit Beasts."

When the voluptuous female cultivator saw Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai slowly walking toward her, she continuously struck seductive poses and said, "Honored guests, whichever Spirit Beast the two of you fancy, the price is negotiable!"

Having only just left Xinghua Village, Meng Haoran had never seen such a sight before. His little face immediately turned bright red.

Fortunately, Meng Bohai was beside him to speak for him.

"We're only looking around."

As Meng Bohai spoke, Meng Haoran focused his mind on the Heavenly Cauldron, his gaze constantly examining the Spirit Beasts confined in cages.

As Meng Haoran inspected them inch by inch, the Heavenly Cauldron showed no reaction at all.

Only when his gaze fell upon a small cage in the corner did the Heavenly Cauldron within Meng Haoran's dantian tremble again!

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