Rogue Cultivator Market

The next day.

Having finished his cultivation early, Chen Daoxuan began investigating Guang'an Prefecture's magic artifact market according to plan.

"Guang'an Prefecture Immortal City is mainly divided into four areas: the Core Commercial District, the Rogue Cultivator Market, the Cave Mansion Rental District, and the Zhou Family Cultivator Compound, which governs this Immortal City.

"The areas we will mainly investigate today are the Core Commercial District and the Rogue Cultivator Market."

There was no need to say much about the Core Commercial District. It was the most prosperous district in all of Guang'an Prefecture Immortal City, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, and most shops were unavailable at any price.

Wanting to buy a shop in this bustling commercial district took more than Spirit Stones; someone also had to be willing to sell.

Most of the shops in the Core Commercial District were controlled by the Zhou Family and several major Foundation Establishment families. Ordinary cultivators found it difficult to get a hand in.

As for the Rogue Cultivator Market—

It was a commercial district dominated by Rogue Cultivators and small families.

There were few shops here. Most were Rogue Cultivators setting up stalls.

As everyone knew, Rogue Cultivators were generally poor, their pockets cleaner than their faces. Naturally, their spending power was far inferior to that of the scions of great families.

However, while an individual Rogue Cultivator's wealth could not compare to that of a great family's descendant, Rogue Cultivators were numerous.

In terms of numbers, the Rogue Cultivators within a hundred thousand li of sea territory outnumbered family descendants by dozens of times.

Thus, the seemingly chaotic Rogue Cultivator Market had become the second most prosperous place in all of Guang'an Prefecture Immortal City, second only to the Core Commercial District.

"Thirteenth Uncle, how about we split up? That will speed up the investigation as well."

Hearing this, Chen Xianhe thought for a moment. "All right."

After discussing it.

Chen Xianhe chose to investigate the Core Commercial District, while Chen Daoxuan headed for the Rogue Cultivator Market, which the two of them favored more.

Riding in a Cloud-Treading Beast Cart.

Chen Daoxuan headed to the Rogue Cultivator Market of Guang'an Prefecture Immortal City.

The moment he entered the Rogue Cultivator Market, before he had even stepped down from the cart, the uproar outside, as intense as blazing oil, reached Chen Daoxuan's ears.

After paying the fare and getting out.

Chen Daoxuan finally took a careful look at the largest gathering place for Rogue Cultivators within ten thousand li of sea territory.

Compared with the streets of the Core Commercial District, the streets here were far too broad. Rather than streets, they were more like rectangular plazas.

On either side of the street.

Countless Rogue Cultivators spread out a piece of carpet, laid out some goods atop it, and began hawking their wares in wave after wave.

It looked quite similar to a flea market from his previous life.

In comparison, the shops on both sides of the street were much quieter. Rogue Cultivators seemed to prefer hunting for goods at street stalls rather than visiting shops.

After thinking it over, Chen Daoxuan did not browse the livelier Rogue Cultivator stalls. Instead, he walked toward the quieter shops.

"Tongbao Pavilion!"

Arriving before a shop, Chen Daoxuan glanced at its signboard and strolled inside.

It seemed that no customers had visited in a long time.

When the Tongbao Pavilion Shopkeeper saw a customer enter, he first froze, then immediately piled on a smile and hurried forward at a trot.

"Fellow Daoist, what would you like to buy? We have magic artifacts, medicinal pills, Talismans, Spirit Rice—everything you could need—as well as all kinds of Spirit Materials to choose from."

At the sight of a customer, the Tongbao Pavilion Shopkeeper launched into an introduction, as though afraid Chen Daoxuan might run away.

After hearing the shopkeeper's introduction, Chen Daoxuan had a general idea. This shop was a general store that sold a little of everything, though the quality of its goods was anyone's guess.

"You are too courteous, Shopkeeper."

Chen Daoxuan cupped his hands and pondered. "May I ask how the magic artifacts in your shop are priced?"

"Magic artifacts!"

At the mention of magic artifacts, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up. A big deal!

"Different magic artifacts have different prices. What grade of magic artifact does Fellow Daoist wish to purchase?"

"First-tier magic artifacts. Bring me one flying sword each of the upper, middle, and lower grades for me to inspect."

Chen Daoxuan spoke plainly.

The shopkeeper nodded. "Fellow Daoist, please follow me upstairs."

With that, he made an inviting gesture.

After going upstairs.

The shopkeeper had an attendant serve tea, while he personally fetched the magic artifacts for Chen Daoxuan.

About the time it took to drink half a cup of tea later.

Following Chen Daoxuan's request, the shopkeeper brought over three sword cases. Inside were three flying swords, ranging from First-tier low-grade to First-tier high-grade.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a look!"

The shopkeeper first opened the sword case on the left. A cyan flying sword flickering with cold light came into view.

"This is the First-tier low-grade flying sword, the Azure Peak Sword. This sword is incomparably sharp. When infused with true qi, its Sword Light can reach two chi."

Chen Daoxuan accepted the flying sword and infused it with true qi. At once, a Sword Light over two chi long shot from its tip.

"What do you think?"

Chen Daoxuan gave no opinion and looked toward the other two sword cases.

The shopkeeper did not mind. He opened the second sword case.

At once, a flash of silver light met his eyes.

"This is the First-grade Medium Flying Sword, the Moonlight Sword. It is forged entirely from Silver Moon Stone. Not only can this sword unleash a five-chi Sword Light, it is also unafraid of fierce flames. It is truly the bane of fire-element spells!"

Seeing Chen Daoxuan's dissatisfaction with the first flying sword, the shopkeeper hurriedly introduced the second one.

Yet the moment Chen Daoxuan saw the second flying sword, he already had a faint understanding of the quality of magic artifacts sold by this shop.

Without waiting for the shopkeeper's introduction, he opened the third sword case himself.

Sure enough.

Chen Daoxuan's face was full of disappointment, but his heart was overjoyed.

"Shopkeeper, why are all the magic artifacts your shop sells secondhand goods?"

Seeing Chen Daoxuan expose the truth in a single sentence, an awkward look flickered across the shopkeeper's face before vanishing.

Chen Daoxuan was not wrong. These three flying swords had all been used by others, and each had been in use for at least five years. Even the Spiritual Aura on the flying swords had begun to dissipate.

One had to know that an ordinary First-tier magic artifact only had a lifespan of around ten years.

A flying sword that had been used for five years had already reached half its lifespan. Unless it was sold dirt cheap, even Rogue Cultivators would be unwilling to buy such a flying sword.

"Fellow Daoist has keen eyes."

Seeing that Chen Daoxuan understood the matter, the shopkeeper no longer concealed it. "The flying swords in our shop are indeed ones discarded by descendants of great families."

Hearing this, Chen Daoxuan took a sip of tea and waited for what came next.

Seeing Chen Daoxuan's calm attitude, the shopkeeper continued, "Fellow Daoist should know that Myriad Star Sea and Cloud Country have been at war all along. The Frontline's need for magic artifacts has reached a point where the fire is already licking at its eyebrows.

"It is only within Myriad Star Sea. If these flying swords of such quality were taken to the Seven Immortal Cities at the Frontline, even secondhand, they would have long since been snapped up!"

Hearing that load of nonsense, Chen Daoxuan could not help but sneer. "Then why doesn't Shopkeeper go to the Frontline and sell these flying swords?"

He believed the shopkeeper when he said the Frontline lacked magic artifacts. After all, magic artifacts had a service life, and fierce battles drastically shortened that lifespan.

Myriad Star Sea and Cloud Country had fought for several centuries. The shortage of magic artifacts at the Frontline was plain for all to see.

But to say that Frontline cultivators would take any secondhand magic artifact was utter nonsense meant to fool ghosts.

Because the more a cultivator fought on the Frontline, the higher their standards for magic artifact quality.

After all, no one wanted to lose their life on the battlefield because their magic artifact was of poor quality.

One had to know that even Qianyuan Sword Sect, when it wanted Myriad Star Sea cultivators to contribute and participate in the war against Cloud Country, could only attract them with various Cultivation Techniques and cultivation resources.

Who would dare force Frontline cultivators to use this kind of shoddy secondhand merchandise? Were they not afraid the cultivators would mutiny in minutes?

Seeing that he could not deceive Chen Daoxuan, the shopkeeper could only keep lowering the flying swords' prices. Even when he finally lowered the Azure Peak Sword to fifty Spirit Stones, Chen Daoxuan still would not budge.

"Since your shop does not have the magic artifacts I want, I will not trouble you further."

With that, Chen Daoxuan prepared to leave.

"Fellow Daoist, don't waste your effort."

Seeing that Chen Daoxuan was unwilling to buy the magic artifacts in his shop, the shopkeeper's attitude turned cold as well. "Whether in our Rogue Cultivator Market or the Core Commercial District, the chances of buying brand-new magic artifacts are far too low."

After saying this, the shopkeeper spoke no more.

Hearing this, Chen Daoxuan paused, cupped his hands, and left the shop.