The Exchange Tower's Former Site, Tracking Leads in the Black Market
Outside the Chaotic Star City, the caravan slowly came to a stop.
The city wall in front was dozens of feet high, built entirely of black stone, like a giant beast lying on the wasteland.
The surface of the black stone was covered with knife marks of varying depths, as well as several beast claw marks that were several meters long. The deepest one almost split the city wall open, with dried dark red marks remaining at the edge.
On either side of the city gate, more than ten armored Soul Master stood with their spears.
At the very least, he's Soul Venerable.
Caravans lined up in long queues, mercenaries carried blood-stained weapons, and noble carriages were pulled by Desolate Beast, their wheels making a dull thud as they rolled over the stone road.
Sasuke sat on the edge of the truck, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.
Even a random guard walking by here Jonin an aura no weaker than Konoha.
Some mercenaries wore blood-stained Soul Artifact at their waists, their eyes fierce, scrutinizing even those they looked at. Further away, several luxurious carriages inlaid with jewels entered the city, escorted by a group of Soul Master.
Sasuke said in a low voice, "This place is completely different from the villages in the Shinobi World."
"Do you understand now?"
Ren sat at the front of the carriage, his voice calm.
"Once we enter the city, put away your Sharingan, conceal your Chakra aura, and don't think of yourself as Uchiha."
Sasuke nodded.
I won't hold anyone back.
At the city gate, a guard clad in black armor raised his hand.
"Stop!"
Han Zhong hurriedly jumped out of the car, handing over the travel permit with a beaming smile.
"Sir, we are the Han Family caravan from the Southwest Trade Road, transporting medicinal herbs and Desolate Beast hides."
The guards took the documents and inspected each truck one by one.
When he walked up to Ren, his gaze paused for a moment.
Who are these people?
Han Zhong immediately replied, "He's a distant relative of my Han Family. He heard there were many opportunities in Chaotic Star City, so he came with the caravan to try his luck. This man is Ren, a junior member of my family, and also serves as a part-time bodyguard."
Ren lowered his head and remained silent.
Fugaku, Itachi, Shisui, and the others changed into coarse cloth caravan clothing, with ordinary short swords hanging at their waists, and no Uchiha markings on their faces.
Obito tugged at his sleeve, his face stiff.
"These clothes are so inconvenient, they don't even allow for easy movement."
Ban stood to the side, arms crossed, his face colder than the black stone walls.
He, the mighty Madara Uchiha, was forced to wear the clothes of a caravan servant and follow a group of ordinary people through the city gates.
If Ren hadn't personally arranged it, he wouldn't have paid any attention to it.
Ren glanced at the two of them.
"Whoever reveals their identity first will have to move Han Zhong three days."
Obito's lips twitched.
Ban's face darkened even more on the spot.
Han Zhong, who was standing next to him, almost couldn't help but laugh, and quickly lowered his head and coughed.
After a brief inspection, the guards found nothing amiss and returned the document to Han Zhong.
"Go in."
The caravan finally passed through the city gate.
The moment they stepped into Chaotic Star City, the overwhelming noise made them pause slightly.
The streets were lined with shops, with shops selling Soul Artifact, Pill, and materials for Desolate Beast crammed together.
There is no orderly ninja village here.
Only strength, wealth, and fists matter.
The caravan arrived at the south of the city and unloaded its cargo.
Han Zhong, accompanied by his guards, inventoried the goods, while Fugaku arranged for members of the Temple to stand guard on the perimeter. Itachi and Shisui appeared to be helping to move boxes, but their eyes were constantly scanning the surrounding streets.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the crowd, Ren turned and walked into a secluded alley.
The alley was narrow and dark, with large patches of charred marks remaining on the ground.
At the end hung half a tattered wooden sign.
The wooden sign was mostly burned away by the fire, leaving only two blurry characters on it.
Exchange Tower.
Ren stopped in front of the signboard.
Memories of Heaven-Mending Clone running a business, training the Cloudsky Guard, and establishing the Void Network flashed through his mind.
The Exchange Tower was once brightly lit and bustling with merchants.
Now all that remains are burnt-out walls and broken wooden signs.
Ren remained silent.
He took out a Void Link Ring and slowly approached the plaque.
The black and white Pattern on the ring were slightly warm.
A faint spiritual fluctuation extended along the ground, spreading into the depths of the alley, underground, and further into the distant Chaotic Star City.
Shisui squatted down and felt around in the crack in the rock with his finger.
Someone has been here recently.
Fugaku looked at him.
"Sure?"
"The footprints have been cleaned, but the dust in the cracks of the rocks hasn't been completely wiped away."
Shisui pointed to the base of the wall.
"There were at least three people; one of them had heavy footsteps, while the other two deliberately concealed their presence."
Itachi walked to the corner of the burned wall and pulled a broken ring from under the rubble.
Only half of the ring face remains, but the black and white Pattern have not completely faded.
He handed the ring to Ren.
"It shares the same origin as the Void Link Ring."
Ren took the broken ring and gently pressed it with his fingertip.
The remaining spiritual imprint from the broken vows trembled slightly.
Not all of Former Exchange Tower members died.
At least, someone is secretly guarding this network.
Fugaku said in a deep voice, "Clan Leader, should we expand the search area?"
"No rush."
Ren put away the abstinence ring.
"The fact that someone cleaned up the footprints indicates they don't want to be identified. Find their contact information first, then decide how to make contact."
Han Zhong's voice came from the alley entrance.
"Young Master Lu, the goods have been almost completely unloaded."
Ren turned around.
"Fugaku, take your men back to the caravan's camp to rest."
Fugaku frowned.
"And you?"
"Go to the black market."
Itachi and Shisui stepped forward simultaneously.
"We'll follow."
Han Zhong's face turned pale upon hearing the words "black market".
"Young Master Lu, that's not a proper place to do business."
"Many fugitives, mercenaries, and outlaws gather in the black market. Without powerful backing, getting in is easy, but getting out is not so certain."
Ren didn't explain, he just placed a black market entry token on the table.
The back of the talisman was covered with a blood-red mark.
Han Zhong stared at the entrance token, his lips moved, but he ultimately lowered his voice.
"Since you all insist on going, I can only offer one piece of advice."
"There's a Crimson Fiend Hall in the black market, led by Li Kui, who has several Great Soul Sage under his command. Many merchant caravans entering the city have to pay him a tribute."
If you encounter him, try to avoid conflict.
Ren stood up.
He'd better think so too.
The entrance to the black market was hidden in the backyard of a tavern.
A burly gatekeeper sat in front of the courtyard gate.
He took the entrance token, glanced at it, and then looked Ren and the others up and down.
There was no obvious fluctuation of Soul Power on Ren's body.
Itachi and Shisui were wearing coarse cloth robes.
The goalkeeper's lips curled into a sneer.
"Outsider?"
Ren did not answer.
The gatekeeper raised his hand to block the way.
"Admission fee doubled."
"These are the rules of the black market; outsiders who want to get in have to follow them."
Shisui's eyes were slightly cold.
The gatekeeper, however, paid no attention.
With the black market right behind him, he dared to guard the gate here, so naturally he wasn't afraid of a few seemingly ordinary outsiders.
Before Ren could speak, Itachi had already taken out a soul crystal and placed it on the table.
The soul crystal was perfectly lustrous and its internal Soul Power was abundant.
The gatekeeper's eyes lit up.
This item is worth at least several hundred Soul Coins.
He originally wanted to continue making things difficult, but his hand had already involuntarily put away the soul crystal.
"Please come in, everyone."
The courtyard gate opened.
The scene inside the black market immediately came into view.
The sounds of hawkers hawking their wares, the clash of weapons, and the roars of spirit beasts mingled together.
The stalls displayed Pill, Soul Artifact, and the bones of Desolate Beast, as well as many blood-stained storage rings. Several masked men stood by the roadside, speaking in hushed tones.