Xu Qing nodded, took the Black Mountain Tiger Meat into his hand, and examined it a few times. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with any of it, he found that its quality was even somewhat better than the Meat Ganoderma.
"Good."
Xu Qing said, "This one."
"You have a good eye, sir."
A smile appeared on Black Tiger's face as well.
Shortly after.
Xu Qing completed the transaction with Black Tiger. He spent ten thousand taels of silver to buy forty-six jin of Level Two Spirit Food: Black Mountain Tiger Meat, enough to last him for over a month.
"My purpose in coming to the black market has already been achieved."
Xu Qing carried the iron case away. He had no desire to remain in the black market any longer, so he lowered his head and left in two strides.
"Follow him."
"Move."
"..."
However.
Xu Qing had barely gone a few steps when several figures immediately began tailing him from behind, their eyes brimming with vicious greed.
The black market.
There was no law and no order there. As long as no trouble was made within the black market itself, anything went.
Therefore.
The moment Xu Qing entered the Black Tiger Spirit Food Shop, some of the Hunters in the black market had already set their sights on him. These Hunters were not weak. Every day, they specifically watched for targets like Xu Qing who had made large transactions in the black market, then intercepted and killed them to seize their wealth.
The danger of the black market was not merely the possibility of trading for convincing fakes. The greater danger was being targeted after exposing one's wealth.
"Scarface and his men are afraid they've kicked an iron plate this time."
Black Tiger glanced over and shook his head. He had long been accustomed to such things, but this time would probably be different. "That man is no ordinary person. Scarface and his men lack the eye to see just how strong that customer is. Daring to rob and kill him is nothing but throwing away their lives."
In the blink of an eye.
Xu Qing had already left the black market.
"Serpent Evasion Technique."
Whoosh!
Xu Qing leaped up and landed on a rooftop.
"Where do you think you're running to?"
However.
The moment Xu Qing landed on the roof, he discovered that his path had already been blocked. These Hunters from the black market had long been lying in ambush at the black market's exits.
"Huff..."
Xu Qing took a deep breath and looked around. There were quite a few Hunters, five in total, closing in from all directions.
"If you leave now, I can pretend none of this ever happened."
Xu Qing's tone was calm.
"Hahaha..."
One of them, Scarface, gave a ferocious grin. Staring at Xu Qing, he said viciously, "Hand over everything on you, and I can spare your life."
"Do you know what a black market is? It's a place without law or order. If you want to buy things here, you'd better be ready to hang your head from your belt."
"You overestimate yourselves."
Clang!
Xu Qing shook his head, his gaze indifferent. With a flick of his right hand, the LV10 Iron Sword had already left its sheath, streaking through the night like silver lightning.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed.
Scarface did not even have time to react before Xu Qing cut off his head on the spot. Blood gushed high into the air like a fountain.
Thud!
The headless corpse collapsed onto the roof, while the head rolled several times across the tiles, the expression on its face frozen in place.
"Boss!"
"This is bad!"
"Run!!!"
"..."
There was almost no hesitation.
The remaining four Hunters turned and fled. Xu Qing's strike had just displayed terrifying strength—he had cut off Scarface's head with a single sword.
One had to know.
Scarface had dared to form a hunter squad like this because he naturally possessed a certain level of strength. He was a true Dark Force expert.
And now.
Such a Dark Force expert had been instantly killed by Xu Qing with a single sword stroke, his head severed. It was terrifying beyond measure, leaving the remaining four trembling in fear.
"Die!"
Clang!
Splurt! Splurt! Splurt!!
Xu Qing's gaze remained indifferent as he moved swiftly. He deployed the Serpent Evasion Technique and unleashed the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking, every strike sealing a throat.
Blood sprayed.
In the blink of an eye.
Xu Qing had killed all four remaining Hunters. Their corpses lay sprawled across the rooftop. He searched their bodies and found thirty-five hundred taels' worth of silver notes.
"Not bad."
Xu Qing took all the silver notes. They were his spoils of war.
Not long after.
Xu Qing had already left.
He returned to the courtyard.
He removed the Ghost Mask and returned to his original appearance.
Inside the bedroom.
"Hmm."
Xu Qing pondered, "This trip to the black market got me the Black Mountain Tiger Meat. For the next month or so, I won't need to worry about spirit food. I can cultivate in peace."
"Besides..."
Xu Qing took out a piece of Black Mountain Tiger Meat and placed it in his palm. His consciousness connected with the Omni-Codex. "Record Black Mountain Tiger Meat."
Hum!
A flash of white light.
Recording failed
The Omni-Codex sent back the corresponding information.
"As expected, it failed."
Xu Qing sighed softly. "Actually, when I first obtained Tai Sui Spirit Meat, I tried recording it with the Omni-Codex."
"However."
"The Omni-Codex returned 'recording failed.' I also tried it with Meat Ganoderma, and it failed as well. Now, with this Black Mountain Tiger Meat..."
"This proves one thing."
"The Omni-Codex cannot record spirit food consumables such as Tai Sui Spirit Meat, Meat Ganoderma, and Black Mountain Tiger Meat. That is why I have to spend money to buy spirit food. If I could record and upgrade these spirit foods, it would save me a great deal of trouble."
"The Omni-Codex is naturally not truly omnipotent. If it were omnipotent, it could simply let me become an immortal on the spot."
"Growth requires a process. Any attempt to pull up seedlings to help them grow or reach the heavens in a single step will ultimately leave one's foundation unstable."
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye.
More than a month later.
This day.
Morning.
"Huff..."
After finishing a set of Eight Extremities Fist, Xu Qing slowly withdrew his stance and exhaled a breath of stale air. Light gleamed in his eyes, and his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had all reached their peak.
"I didn't expect another forty-six days to pass so quickly."
Xu Qing pondered, "I have already eaten all forty-six jin of Black Mountain Tiger Meat that I bought from the black market last time. It seems I'll have to make another trip to the black market tonight."
Forty-six days had passed.
Eight Extremities Fist LV9: 2520/2560.
Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking LV4: 500/240 (Upgradeable!)
Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV6: 460/360 (Upgradeable!)
"Upgrade Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking."
Hum!
The Omni-Codex glowed.
It was as though.
Xu Qing's consciousness entered that mysterious space once more. Within that mysterious space, he continuously practiced the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking while also deducing the Fifteenth Sword Strike of Life-Taking.
One had to know.
When the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking had reached LV4, the Fourteenth Sword: Sword of Death had already been fully completed and perfected, reaching consummation.
Therefore.
With another upgrade to the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking, it began deducing the Fifteenth Sword Strike of Life-Taking.
Clang!
At last.
Accompanied by a sword cry.
Xu Qing thrust out with this strike. Sword Qi surged in all directions, sword light dazzled the eye, and it carried an aura of destruction. The changes in the sword move were impossible to grasp.
Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking LV5: 260/480 (This was originally an exceptionally exquisite sword art, containing thirteen sword strikes in total. Each strike contained one hundred and eight variations, emphasizing speed, precision, and ruthlessness. At the same time, every strike contained an immensely fierce and baleful aura, representing a sword art of death and destruction. After deduction and evolution, it further deduced and perfected the Fourteenth Sword Strike of Life-Taking: Sword of Death, and now it has even deduced the Fifteenth Sword Strike of Life-Taking: Sword of Destruction. However, this is only an initial deduction, with merely thirty-six variations.)
"Not bad."
Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.
"Upgrade the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."
Xu Qing said.
Hum!
Likewise.
It was as though Xu Qing's consciousness entered that mysterious space, continuously practicing and refining the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique within it.
Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV7: 100/720 (...)
With this upgrade.
The effects of the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique doubled once more, and the number of beasts it could command had reached sixty-four.
That was already extremely astonishing.
It could be said.
If the effects of the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique continued doubling with every upgrade, Xu Qing could build an army of beast tamers through the technique alone.
Evening.
Xu Qing put on the Ghost Mask once more, changed his appearance, and again became the mysterious swordsmanship master Lü Dongbin as he entered the black market for the second time.
Compared with the first time.
Xu Qing was already thoroughly familiar with the route this time. He found the Black Tiger Spirit Food Shop and saw its owner, Black Tiger, again.
"Shopkeeper."
Xu Qing glanced at Black Tiger and said calmly, "I want Level Two Spirit Food: Black Mountain Tiger Meat."
"Certainly."
Black Tiger was stunned for a moment, but he recognized Xu Qing at once. He knew that the man before him was the major customer from last time, while the deaths of Scarface and his men had not caused much of a stir.
After all.
People died in the black market every day.
"May I ask how much you want this time, sir?"
Black Tiger asked.
"Huff..."
Xu Qing took a deep breath and pulled out all the silver notes on him, leaving only one thousand taels for emergencies. "There are forty thousand taels of silver here. Use all of it to buy Black Mountain Tiger Meat."
"This..."
Black Tiger's pupils contracted. He could not help taking a deep breath as he looked at Xu Qing with a trace of reverence, yet he still could not help asking, "Sir, are you sure you want to buy this much?"
"I'm sure."
Xu Qing nodded.
"Good."
Black Tiger nodded solemnly as well. "Honored guest, please wait a moment."
Without hesitation.
Black Tiger turned and went to the warehouse to fetch the meat.
Not long after.
Black Tiger returned.
This time.
He came out carrying two large iron chests, setting them heavily before Xu Qing. When he opened them, neatly arranged inside were pieces of Black Mountain Tiger Meat.
"Honored guest."
Black Tiger said, "The amount involved in this transaction is indeed rather large—forty thousand taels in all. For every jin of Black Mountain Tiger Meat, I can make the decision to reduce the price by ten taels, charging you only two hundred and ten taels."
"So."
"Your forty thousand taels of silver can buy one hundred and ninety and a half jin. I can give you one hundred and ninety-one jin."
"Alright."
Xu Qing nodded and did not waste words. "Let's do it this way. Let's make the trade."
"Very well."
Black Tiger appeared extremely respectful.
After that.
The two completed the transaction. Black Tiger confirmed that there was no issue with the banknotes, while Xu Qing verified that there was no problem with the Black Mountain Tiger Meat. Once the transaction was complete, Xu Qing carried the two iron chests away.
"Guest."
As he was leaving.
Black Tiger reminded him, "Be careful."
"Mm."
Xu Qing nodded faintly.
Before you continue