Haggling

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

The tall, thin stall owner sneered, "Don't you see what kind of place this is? A little brat whose feathers haven't even filled out yet, and you dare yell at me!"

With that, the tall, thin stall owner abruptly rose to his feet. An indescribable aura suddenly surged from within him and bore straight down on Meng Haoran!

Meng Haoran's pupils contracted slightly. Qi Refining Realm perfection?

The path of cultivation began with Qi Refining.

Qi Refining was divided into ten levels. Levels one through three were the minor completion stage, levels four through six were the major completion 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 heaven and earth spiritual energy around them.

Meng Bohai stood perfectly still at Meng Haoran's side.

The tall, thin stall owner, however, staggered back several steps. A glint flashed through his eyes as he said, "I couldn't tell. You're actually a tenth-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator?"

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

The tall, thin stall owner thought to himself, To reach the tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm at such an age, while bringing along an unknown junior... it seems my guess was right. These two must belong to one of the lineages within Qingyang County!

At that thought, the tall, thin stall owner cupped his fists and smiled. "My apologies for failing to recognize your status, Fellow Daoist."

The word "status" in the stall owner's mouth sounded to Meng Haoran like fear of Meng Bohai's cultivation!

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

Murder and robbery were exceedingly common in the Black Market.

Customers who bought goods they fancied from stall owners could be marked by others and meet a bloody end outside the Black Market!

Stall owners who displayed tempting wealth while trading could be secretly followed and quietly murdered by those with ulterior motives!

Such things happened all the time.

Meng Bohai knew when to stop. He did not forcefully suppress the tall, thin stall owner with his cultivation, instead smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist, just tell me the price of the Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil directly. That way, we won't delay either of us from making our next deal."

"Fine! How much Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil do you want, Fellow Daoist?" the tall, thin stall owner asked.

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

"Five mu?"

The tall, thin stall owner began secretly guessing which lineage Meng Bohai and Meng Haoran came from.

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

Because the heaven and earth spiritual energy within the Great Yu Immortal Dynasty was chaotic and disordered, cultivators could scarcely absorb and refine it directly. The spiritual energy contained within Spirit Stones, however, was highly suitable for cultivators to absorb and refine.

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

The tall, thin 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 come to know each other through a clash, I'll give you a discount of two thousand. Forty-eight thousand Spirit Stones total. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

The moment he finished speaking, Meng Bohai shook his head repeatedly. "Not good. I know you're running a small business, Fellow Daoist, and obtaining this Spirit Plant Soil must have taken quite some effort. But we're also short on funds and cannot pay so many Spirit Stones. I hope you can understand."

The tall, thin stall owner secretly spat, though he kept smiling. "So long as you carefully cultivate the Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil, this soil will become treasure land that breeds wealth in the future. Charging you ten thousand Spirit Stones for one mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil is already an extremely fair price!"

Meng Bohai waved his hands again, putting on a troubled expression. "Too much! Still far too much!"

Seeing Meng Bohai's expression and movements, Meng Haoran grew suspicious. When we left Xinghua Village, Clan Uncle Bohai told me that being able to buy one mu of Yellow-Tier Spirit Plant Soil for ten thousand Spirit Stones would already be an excellent 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 tall, thin stall owner asked, "Fellow Daoist, then tell me. How much are you willing to offer?"

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

"Hiss!"

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

"Whether in life or cultivation, what matters is give and take. This time, I've bought Spirit Plant Soil I'm satisfied with from you. The next time the Black Market opens, I'll definitely come looking for you again!" Meng Bohai said insincerely.

The tall, thin stall owner had done business in the Black Market for many years. He had heard lies like Meng Bohai's more times than he could count.

The tall, thin stall owner waved a 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 little business be taking a loss?"

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

The tall, thin stall owner raised his brows. "No. I'd still be selling at a loss. Forty-eight thousand!"

Hearing that, Meng Bohai turned and took Meng Haoran by the 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 make a deal!"

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

The tall, thin stall owner grew anxious. 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 tall, thin stall owner called out, "Forty-six thousand Spirit Stones, and you can take away five mu of Spirit Plant Soil!"

Still holding Meng Haoran's hand, Meng Bohai did not turn back. He continued walking slowly elsewhere.

The tall, thin stall owner abruptly stood and stretched out a hand. "Fine! Forty-five thousand it is!"

Only then did Meng Bohai stop. Turning around, he said, "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

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

The tall, thin stall owner smiled slightly 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 covering exactly one mu. Fellow Daoist, please inspect them as well."

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

Before long, Meng Bohai lightly 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 cupped his fists toward the tall, thin stall owner. "Goods and payment are settled. Fellow Daoist, may we meet again if fate allows."

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 earlier price 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 purses were empty, thus cutting off any thoughts he might have of murdering us and taking 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 wealthy and conceived evil intentions. Once we left the Black Market, he could have attacked us!"

Meng Bohai said solemnly, "That's right! Haoran, remember this: wherever you go in the future, unless it is absolutely necessary, never reveal your trump cards too early!"

"Alright!"

The moment Meng Haoran finished speaking, the mysterious Heavenly Cauldron within his Dantian suddenly trembled lightly. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned to look around.

"What exactly drew 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 be happening. That was why he was so vigilant.

When Meng Haoran's gaze landed on the alluring Female Cultivator, the Heavenly Cauldron trembled lightly once more!

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

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

Meng Haoran's little face reddened slightly. Knowing Meng Bohai had misunderstood, he explained, "Clan Uncle Bohai, I was looking at those Spirit Beasts."

"Spirit Beasts?"

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

Meng Haoran greatly treasured this rare initiative from the Heavenly Cauldron, so he said, "Clan Uncle Bohai, why don't we go take a look? We've already bought the Spirit Plant Soil the family needs anyway."

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

Seeing Meng Haoran and Meng Bohai slowly approach, the alluring Female Cultivator repeatedly struck seductive poses and said, "Esteemed 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 scenery before. His little face immediately flushed red.

Fortunately, elder Meng Bohai was beside him to speak on his behalf.

"We're just looking around."

As Meng Bohai spoke, Meng Haoran focused his mind on the Heavenly Cauldron, his eyes continuously inspecting the Spirit Beasts kept in cages.

As Meng Haoran examined them inch by inch, the Heavenly Cauldron showed no reaction whatsoever.

Not until his gaze fell upon a small cage in the corner did the Heavenly Cauldron in Meng Haoran's Dantian tremble once more!