Grade-Eight Martial Artist.
Open a hundred acupoints, clear eight meridians, and generate strength within the body.
When that strength circulated through the acupoints, it was called Internal Force.
With Internal Force bolstering the body, one could unleash attacks with penetrating power. Though their raw physical strength was not greatly improved over a Ninth Rank martial artist's, they could still wound people from a distance.
It could also empower fists, feet, and weapons, stacking the damage dealt.
In Su Xinghe's eyes, one was a cold weapon, while the other was a firearm with slightly shorter range.
But he was not afraid.
The Black Market had its own rules. Once one paid the entrance fee, one would receive the organizers' protection.
"Your Excellency came from the city, didn't you?"
The old man spoke.
Pills were controlled by the Martial Dao Bureau. Not only were they tightly regulated in the city, but even Black Market trades risked being baited into a trap.
Su Xinghe nodded slightly. He knew the other man was probing him, trying to sound him out. On one hand, he was testing whether Su Xinghe could withstand a Grade-Eight Martial Artist's oppressive aura; on the other, he wanted him to retreat in the face of difficulty.
Some well-traveled seniors could even judge which true art a martial artist cultivated from the power of the martial artist's activated Qi-Blood, thus discovering which faction they came from.
But with the Listening to the Tides Art protecting his Spirit Sea, he did not need to activate his Qi-Blood to resist. Such a slight display of intimidation was useless against him.
The hunchbacked old man's gaze flickered with surprise.
"The Martial Dao Bureau's prices are cheaper. And forgive these old eyes, but you probably haven't reached Eighth Rank yet, so you have no use for Qi-Nourishing Pills."
His tone was noticeably better this time, and the sharp aura around him gradually subsided.
Yet Su Xinghe could tell that the man was still testing him.
So he spoke.
"Senior, there is no need for this. I am not a spy from any of those families. I was merely persecuted by petty people and had no choice but to come to the Black Market to try my luck."
When traveling abroad, one's identity was something one gave oneself. He did not mind putting on a new mask to win the man's sympathy.
After all, he had encountered this sort of situation when buying true arts before. That Ascending Dragon Stance sold by a wandering peddler had been a choice made out of helplessness.
The old man withdrew his aura, and a trace of curiosity appeared on his face.
"Hmm... Judging from your voice, you should be quite young. To ignore my pressure, your strength must be fairly impressive."
"I wonder... would you be interested in joining us?"
"Our Mountain-Chasing Gang has connections throughout Taiguang Prefecture!"
Su Xinghe shook his head without speaking.
Though he had heard from his younger brother's wife that the old man was a decent person, that only represented the man himself. If he entered a den of thieves and got implicated, the trouble would be enormous.
If he ended up on the Martial Dao Bureau's blacklist, even entering and leaving the city would become difficult.
"What a pity..."
The old man withdrew his gaze and returned to his seat.
"The pills have just sold out. Why don't you come back another time?"
As he spoke, he spread his hands, wearing an expression of helplessness.
Su Xinghe laughed. This old man was being overly cautious.
But then again, wasn't he the same?
If not for the conversation between the man and Yang Huaiyu earlier, which had confirmed that the old man was of decent character, he would have turned around and left without a second thought.
But now, he spread his hands as well.
"What a pity. I had wanted to do some business with you, sir. It seems I'll have to ask next door instead."
As he spoke, he casually patted his chest. Hidden inside were not only a thousand-tael banknote, but also a Ninth Rank true art.
When he deliberately patted his cloak a few times, the outline of a cylindrical bulge half a foot long could be seen.
Seeing his reaction, the old man's expression shifted from disdain to suspicion, then from suspicion to a professional smile.
"Hahaha..."
"Look at my memory. There should still be a few bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills."
Su Xinghe thought for a moment before saying,
"How about I come back tomorrow?"
As he spoke, he seemed ready to turn and leave.
"Young hero, don't be in such a hurry. Let me think a little longer."
Seeing that it was getting late,
Su Xinghe's patience was nearly worn away by this old fox.
He said directly,
"Ten bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills, ten bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills, and another ten bottles of Bone-Forging Pills!"
The old man's eye twitched violently. Only after quite a while did his professional smile return.
"Qi-Replenishing Pills and Bone-Forging Pills are no problem. But Qi-Nourishing Pills are Grade-Eight pills, used by Eighth Rank martial artists to strengthen their foundation, cultivate vitality, and nourish inner qi. A single bottle costs six hundred taels of silver. If the true art in your arms is not Eighth Rank, then I'm afraid I can only apologize."
"Qi-Nourishing Pills are Grade-Eight pills?"
Su Xinghe froze.
He had only learned of this pill by overhearing the two of them earlier. He had thought it was for Ninth Rank Body Tempering.
"Yes. If you want to use them to heal injuries or nourish your Qi-Blood, then pretend I said nothing. But first, you must let me inspect the goods!"
Seeing that this was a major deal, the old man patiently explained.
Su Xinghe immediately understood.
"Then ten bottles of Bone-Forging Pills, and two bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills for now. If you have more, we can discuss it afterward."
It was rare for him to get out here. He could not let the opportunity slip through his fingers.
The old man across from him also put away his professional fake smile and nodded seriously.
"Let me take a look first."
"Fine!"
Su Xinghe took out the sheepskin scroll and slowly unfurled the first three inches.
"Four thousand taels!"
After only one glance, the old man named a price.
Su Xinghe did not actually know the price of a Ninth Rank true art, but he was satisfied with this amount.
Do not be fooled by the fact that older youths had to pay a hundred taels just to study at a Martial Arts School. For most people, that merely bought them a protective talisman.
What was truly useful about a true art was an opportunity—the chance for someone with talent to reach the corresponding height.
He was alone, with no family or support. Keeping this copied Ninth Rank true art of unknown origin was of little use to him. It was better to exchange it for resources early and raise his martial arts realm.
So he released the sheepskin scroll.
"Deal!"
Four one-thousand-tael Treasure Notes instantly appeared on the counter.
Su Xinghe took them and carefully rubbed them between his fingers.
They seemed like neither paper nor cloth, smooth and resilient to the touch, yet faintly textured when examined closely.
A fortune he had never possessed before.
Just as he was marveling at it, the sheepskin scroll was fully opened.
Ten breaths later, the hunchbacked old man let out a long sigh.
"Young hero, you're incredible. They say you only used three punches to smash that sickly kitten's head to pieces."
"Oh? Senior knows about that too?"
A strange expression appeared on the old man's face. His gaze kept sweeping over Su Xinghe, as though he would not rest until he saw through the cloak.
"The whole area outside the city is talking about it. They say the Head-Chopping Bandits entered the city and chopped off the head of the Lu Family's third branch steward. As for that dead cat's family of more than fifty people, no one seems to care much."
As he spoke, he tapped the Crouching Tiger Stance scroll with a finger.
Su Xinghe's heart tightened. He knew he had still been careless. The old man across from him actually knew where this Crouching Tiger Stance had come from.
But hadn't he only killed two Ninth Rank martial artists?
Where had more than fifty people come from?
However, now was not the time to investigate how many people he had killed.
He hurriedly changed the subject.
"Senior, surely you have pills now, right?"
"Hehe..."
The old man smilingly dragged out a large iron chest from beneath the counter. After opening it, he pulled out two long wooden cases.
"They're all fine goods from the prefectural city."
He introduced them as he retrieved the goods.
"Ten bottles of Bone-Forging Pills cost two thousand taels. Two bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills cost one thousand two hundred taels. Three thousand two hundred taels of silver altogether."
"Why are they so expensive?"
Su Xinghe was startled by the price. Even with the five thousand taels he now possessed, it was still shocking.
"Hehe, is this your first time buying things at the Black Market, young hero?"
There was a faint trace of probing in the old man's eyes.
Su Xinghe caught it instantly.
The more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake. He felt that he could not stay any longer.
He slapped the four Treasure Notes in his hand onto the counter.
Before you continue