Luoyun Town's streets teemed with people, bustling and lively.
Chen Chen walked through the crowd with a calm expression, yet his powerful Spiritual Power made him seem like a lofty observer, clearly sensing everything around him.
He could hear a storyteller in a teahouse recounting the legendary tale of some sect genius.
He could hear the clanging from a blacksmith's shop, as well as several mercenaries arguing endlessly over the price of a weapon.
He could also smell the faint medicinal fragrance drifting from a pill shop, along with the rich scent of wine wafting from the tavern next door.
This was a living, breathing cultivation world, brimming with the warmth of mortal life.
Completely unlike the oppressive, closed-off atmosphere of Qingyang City.
Chen Chen quickly found his destination.
At the center of town stood a three-story pavilion, with a huge plaque hanging above its entrance. Three grand characters danced across it like dragons and phoenixes—"Myriad Treasures Pavilion."
This was Luoyun Town's largest and most renowned trading establishment.
It was said that so long as one could afford the price, anything could be bought here.
Chen Chen straightened his clothes and stepped inside.
The moment he entered, a mixed scent of medicinal herbs, ink, and faint Spiritual Energy washed over him.
The main hall was exceptionally spacious, lined with rows upon rows of shelves made from precious wood.
The shelves were crammed with a dazzling array of goods.
There were weapons gleaming with cold light, jade pill bottles shining with flowing colors, ancient yellowed talismans, and all sorts of strange demon beast materials and ores.
Several attendants dressed in matching uniforms greeted customers with smiling faces.
Chen Chen swept his gaze around the hall without lingering, then headed straight for the counter.
Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man in brocade robes with a goatee.
He was flicking a small abacus with rapid clacks, apparently calculating something, without even raising his head.
Yet Chen Chen could sense that this man's cultivation was astonishingly at the Second Level of Qi Condensation.
A mere shopkeeper possessed cultivation at the Second Level of Qi Condensation. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion's backing was likely far from simple.
"Sir, are you looking to buy something, or sell something?" the goateed shopkeeper casually asked without lifting his eyelids.
"I'm selling." Chen Chen deliberately made his voice somewhat hoarse.
The goateed shopkeeper's movements paused, and he finally looked up.
His small eyes swept Chen Chen from head to toe like a hawk's.
When he sensed the aura of the Seventh Level of Body Tempering around Chen Chen, a trace of barely noticeable disdain flashed through his eyes, though his expression remained polite.
"Oh? What treasures does this sir wish to sell?"
Chen Chen did not waste words. He directly took out several items from his storage bag and placed them on the counter.
A manual for the Low-grade Black Tier Blood Fiend Saber Technique.
Several bottles of Healing Pills collected by Wang Zhan that Chen Chen had no use for.
And some high-quality materials obtained from demon beasts.
When the goateed shopkeeper saw the Blood Fiend Saber Technique manual, his pupils contracted slightly.
A Low-grade Black Tier martial technique!
In a place like Luoyun Town, it already counted as a top-tier treasure.
How could a mere martial artist at the Seventh Level of Body Tempering possess such a thing?
The disdain on his face instantly faded considerably, replaced by the shrewd scrutiny unique to a businessman.
"Sir, the origin of these goods... is it clean?" the goateed shopkeeper asked meaningfully.
He suspected that this kid had killed some expert and obtained these spoils.
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion accepted such illicit goods as well, but naturally, the price would have to be pressed down.
Chen Chen sneered inwardly. He had long expected the other party to ask this.
Without changing expression, he said, "Shopkeeper, rest assured. I was fortunate enough to obtain these items from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Their origin is absolutely clean."
As he spoke, he activated the Nine Nether Soul Refining Art.
An invisible Spiritual Pressure far stronger than his apparent cultivation silently spread toward the goateed shopkeeper.
The smile on the goateed shopkeeper's face instantly froze!
He felt as though an invisible sledgehammer had savagely smashed into his mind. He became dizzy and disoriented, his heart and soul violently shaken!
He stared at Chen Chen in horror, his small eyes filled with shock and disbelief!
What... what was going on?
How could a martial artist at the Seventh Level of Body Tempering possess such terrifying Spiritual Power?
This Spiritual Pressure was even several times stronger than that of a cultivator like him at the Second Level of Qi Condensation!
Could it be...
A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind.
Could it be that the youth before him was not truly at the Seventh Level of Body Tempering at all!
He was a peerless expert concealing his cultivation! Or perhaps a genius disciple from some super sect who had come out to gain experience!
He had deliberately suppressed his cultivation in order to play the pig and eat the tiger!
The goateed shopkeeper's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
He no longer dared show the slightest contempt. Hastily bowing, he said in an almost fawning tone, "Senior! This junior failed to recognize Mount Tai and has offended you. I hope Senior will be magnanimous!"
The way he addressed Chen Chen had changed directly from "sir" to "Senior."
Chen Chen laughed inwardly. This Nine Nether Soul Refining Art was indeed useful.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
He calmly withdrew his Spiritual Pressure, his voice still hoarse. "Shopkeeper, can we discuss the price now?"
"Yes! Of course!" The goateed shopkeeper nodded like a pounding garlic pestle, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. "Senior, our Myriad Treasures Pavilion will take all of these treasures!"
He picked up the Blood Fiend Saber Technique manual and carefully flipped through several pages. "This Low-grade Black Tier martial technique is in perfect condition. This junior will make the decision and offer you three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones!"
Three hundred!
That price was already quite fair.
Chen Chen nodded.
"These bottles of pills are all top-grade Healing Pills. I'll give you fifty Spirit Stones per bottle, making one hundred and fifty for all three."
"And these demon beast materials are good items as well. I'll offer one hundred Spirit Stones for them."
"That makes a total of five hundred and fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones! Senior, what do you think of this price?" the goateed shopkeeper asked tentatively.
"That will do." Chen Chen's reply was concise.
His purpose in coming here was to exchange for Spirit Stones. As long as the price was fair, that was enough.
"Excellent! Please wait a moment, Senior!"
As though granted amnesty, the goateed shopkeeper hurriedly took out a storage bag from beneath the counter, counted out five hundred and fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones, and respectfully handed it to Chen Chen.
"Senior, these are your Spirit Stones. Please count them."
Chen Chen accepted the storage bag, swept it with his Spiritual Sense, and put it away after confirming that the amount was correct.
"Oh, right." As though remembering something, he asked, "Do you have any higher-quality weapons here?"
His previous steel blade had merely been ordinary iron. It had already gained several chips during his battle with Wang Lie.
Now that he had entered the Qi Condensation Realm, that blade could no longer keep up with his strength at all.
"Yes! Of course!" the goateed shopkeeper hurriedly said. "Senior, the finest weapons in our Myriad Treasures Pavilion are all in the VIP rooms on the third floor. This junior will take you up at once!"
"No need. I'll just look around the first floor." Chen Chen waved his hand.
He did not want to be too high-profile.
"Yes, yes, yes." The goateed shopkeeper did not dare disobey in the slightest. He quickly came out from behind the counter and personally led the way for Chen Chen.
"Senior, look at this 'Wind Chasing Sword.' It is a low-grade spirit artifact, its blade forged from century-old cold iron. It is incomparably sharp, and when activated, it can even release a wind blade. It costs three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."
"And this 'Thick Earth Saber' is also a low-grade spirit artifact. It is powerful and heavy, with astonishing defensive strength. It costs three hundred and twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones."
The goateed shopkeeper introduced them diligently.
Chen Chen's gaze swept across row after row of weapons before finally stopping on an ancient-looking longsword that was entirely black.
The sword had no extravagant decorations. Its blade was dull and lusterless, quietly resting on the shelf without attracting the slightest attention.
Yet Chen Chen could sense that a restrained sharpness seemed to be contained within the sword.
"What is this sword called?" Chen Chen asked, pointing at the black longsword.
The goateed shopkeeper glanced at it, a troubled expression appearing on his face. "Senior, you truly have a discerning eye. This sword is called 'Ink Shadow,' and it is also a low-grade spirit artifact. It is just... somewhat strange."
"Oh? In what way is it strange?" Chen Chen was intrigued.
"This sword was obtained by our Myriad Treasures Pavilion from some ruins. It is incomparably hard and exceptionally sharp, yet no method can leave even a mark on it, nor can it be refined. It is like... a naturally formed sword embryo. True Qi cannot be infused into it, and the spirituality within it cannot be activated."
The goateed shopkeeper explained, "So although it is a spirit artifact, in practice, it is no different from a somewhat sharper piece of ordinary iron. After acquiring it, we studied it for a long time without figuring it out, so it has remained here ever since. If Senior wants it, you can take it for one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."
Unable to be refined? Unable to have True Qi infused into it?
Chen Chen's brows furrowed slightly.
He reached out and picked up the black longsword called Ink Shadow.
The sword felt icy and heavy in his hand.
He tried to infuse a thread of True Qi into it.
Sure enough, it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, without the slightest response.
However, just as he was about to give up, the Asura God Transformation Art within his body suddenly began circulating on its own without warning!
A faint thread of True Qi carrying blood-colored Killing Intent flowed down his arm and into the Ink Shadow Sword!
Buzz—!
The black longsword, which had originally seemed utterly lifeless, suddenly let out a faint sword cry that only Chen Chen could hear!
A nearly imperceptible flash of bloody light flickered across the blade and vanished!
Chen Chen's heart leaped!
This sword could actually absorb his Asura True Qi!
This was absolutely a treasure!
Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, he said to the goateed shopkeeper without changing expression, "I'll take it."
"Excellent!" Seeing that he had finally sold off this "tasteless discard," the goateed shopkeeper was delighted as well.
Chen Chen paid one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, stored the Ink Shadow Sword away, and turned to leave.
However, at the instant he turned around, an extremely faint stabbing pain suddenly came from his soul.
He walked toward the entrance as if nothing had happened, but from the corner of his eye, he glanced at a thin black-clothed man in the corner of the hall who was selecting herbs.
That person seemed to have been watching him all along.
A faint strand of malicious Spiritual Sense came from that man.
He had been targeted.
A flash of killing intent passed through Chen Chen's heart.
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