Trading

In fact, Song Yan had not decided on this on a whim.

Besides selling off those things that could not quite stand the light of day, he had also wanted to search for a few other things on this trip.

For example, information about sword cultivators of High Antiquity, or about Demon Beasts like Xiao He.

He had only decided to try his luck because the Complete Record of Immortal Dao Scenery sounded so grand.

He had not expected the preview to actually contain a few scattered words about sword cultivators.

There's no hurry. I can read it once I'm back at my cave abode.

Song Yan firmly suppressed the urge to find a teahouse and read the Jade Slip, turning his thoughts to how he should sell those things.

Find a general store and offer them my wares?

Right, Granny Qin mentioned earlier that there's an auction house in the night market. I'll ask whether they buy these things...

But he did not know where the auction house was, so he still had to find someone to ask.

"Fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist White Wolf!"

Someone behind him seemed to be calling him.

Song Yan looked back. The newcomer was a young cultivator dressed in blue robes.

Puzzled, he asked, "Is something the matter?"

Three or five cultivators, both men and women, stood at the mouth of an alley nearby, all looking his way.

By the look of things, this blue-robed cultivator was one of their group.

"I noticed you wandering alone without any particular destination, fellow Daoist. Is this your first time attending the Spirit Source Marsh night market?"

"..."

Song Yan frowned slightly, but after a moment's consideration, he nodded.

Before he came to the night market, Granny Qin had not told him there would be cultivators from elsewhere here. He had assumed everyone would be a sect disciple, so he had not changed out of his outer sect disciple robes.

These people had probably recognized him as an outer sect disciple, but in that case, he did not need to worry too much about his safety.

After all, this was ultimately Dongyuan Sect territory.

"If this is your first time at the night market, fellow Daoist, then surely you're looking to buy some... special Spiritual Objects, or perhaps sell something with a complicated provenance, correct?"

"Please don't misunderstand, fellow Daoist. In fact, every cultivator who comes from across Feng'an Prefecture to attend this Spirit Source Marsh night market is here for just that."

Song Yan nodded.

He had not sensed any of them using a Law Technique like the Spirit-Appraising Art to probe his spiritual power cultivation realm.

The blue-robed cultivator was very good at reading expressions. Seeing Song Yan nod in agreement, he promptly introduced himself.

"I am Ke Huai, a disciple of the Purple Sun Sect. How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"

Song Yan had heard of the Purple Sun Sect. It was a sect of middling size in Feng'an Prefecture, with a very long history. It was said that a mighty Nascent Soul Realm cultivator had once emerged among its founding ancestors.

Although its current strength could not compare with the Dongyuan Sect, its foundations were there, and it still counted as a recognized name throughout Feng'an Prefecture.

"I am Tong Chuping."

Song Yan was well practiced at continuing to use this dead man's name.

Still, few people would take names given in this night market seriously.

"Brother Tong, we've arranged to meet here to barter. Would you be interested?"

"..."

Song Yan considered for a moment, bearing in mind that he was new here and inexperienced. Although his life would not be in danger on Dongyuan Sect territory, being swindled out of his belongings would still be troublesome.

"No, thank you."

He was about to leave, but Ke Huai did his utmost to keep him.

"Were you planning to visit the auction house, Fellow Daoist Tong?"

Song Yan paused. "What? Can't I...?"

He noticed hints of half-smiles on the faces of the Rogue Cultivators behind Ke Huai.

One female cultivator covered her red lips with her fingers and laughed. "This little brother really is rather adorably silly."

Ke Huai showed no sign of mockery, merely explaining, "You've only just arrived, fellow Daoist, so you wouldn't know. That auction house only accepts valuable Spiritual Objects. If you bring odds and ends of pills, Law Artifacts, and such, I'm afraid you'll be turned away..."

"Besides, it's already the hour of the boar. Tonight's auction has begun. If you insist on selling your Spiritual Objects that way, you'll have to wait until the next night market."

Tsk.

Song Yan grumbled inwardly. Why didn't Granny Qin tell me any of this...?

Standing here made him look rather foolish.

"..."

Seemingly noticing Song Yan's wavering, Ke Huai struck while the iron was hot. "Several of us are Rogue Cultivators. Fellow Daoist Rong and Fellow Daoist Wu are dao companions from Wuye Mountain."

"I am Wu Huaguo."

"I am Rong Xiaofeng. My wife and I are from Wuye in Feng'an Prefecture, both Rogue Cultivators."

Fig...

Song Yan raised his eyebrows. This assumed name really did sound like an assumed name.

"This is Fellow Daoist Zhou, a Rogue Cultivator from Hangping Rice Mountain."

The cultivator surnamed Zhou smiled good-naturedly and cupped his fists, looking rather like a martial artist of the wandering world. "Zhou Jiasheng. A pleasure to meet you."

Perhaps because he brought Sheng Nian and Constable Ling of Shiliang Town to mind, Song Yan found this Zhou Jiasheng quite approachable, and nodded.

"This is Fairy Lin of the Heavenly Jade Palace."

The female cultivator from earlier, with her silken, alluring gaze and enticing figure, smiled gracefully and bowed. "I am Lin Xiaoyu."

Seeing that the five of them were quite sincere, Song Yan stopped declining. He had to sell these things sooner or later.

"Very well. With such a kind invitation from you all, refusing again would make me seem unable to appreciate a kindness."

Song Yan nodded. "However, to be honest with you all, the things I wish to trade probably aren't worth many Spirit Stones."

"That's no matter. Fairy Lin and I come from small sects, and the other three are Rogue Cultivators. Where would any of us find such precious Spiritual Objects?"

That was true enough.

A short while later, Song Yan followed the five of them to a secluded pavilion.

"Carefree Heart Pavilion."

Ke Huai exchanged a greeting with the pavilion's guard, and everyone headed inside. He must have made arrangements beforehand.

As he entered the pavilion, Song Yan felt that the space inside seemed a little more spacious than it looked from outside, though he did not know whether it was his imagination.

A spatial... formation?

Many cultivators were resting and talking in the pavilion's main hall. Song Yan even spotted the bushy-bearded cultivator he had seen earlier in the market, arguing with someone over the price of a Cultivation Method.

But this place was clearly not as noisy as the night market outside. There was only the sound of ordinary conversation.

"Senior Ke, Yi Thirteen, a superior room."

"Lead the way."

"This way, please."

Once they entered the room, they found a moderately sized round table in the center. The five each chose a seat, and Song Yan likewise sat down at the table.

The dao companions sat to Song Yan's left, while Lin Xiaoyu sat to his right.

An attendant placed some fruit and pastries in the center. Song Yan was inwardly surprised. These were all spirit fruits. Although their grade was low, they were still enough to demonstrate the deep pockets of this tearoom called Carefree Heart Pavilion.

Once the uninvolved people withdrew and the soundproofing formation began operating, Ke Huai waited no longer.

"Thank you all for coming. Apart from Fellow Daoist Tong, everyone here is an old acquaintance, so I won't beat around the bush. I'll briefly explain the rules to Fellow Daoist Tong, and then we'll begin our little trading gathering."

"Fellow Daoist Tong, there aren't really any rules, just an order of turns."

"I'll start, followed by Fellow Daoist Zhou. We'll go around in seating order, each describing what we wish to sell and what we want. Anyone present who has Spiritual Objects meeting the requirements, or enough Spirit Stones, may make an offer."

"If the person offering the trade is satisfied, the deal can be concluded."

"We're not an auction, and we don't have so many rules. If you have no questions, Fellow Daoist Tong, shall we begin?"

After listening, Song Yan nodded.

It was simple enough, with nothing to ask. Instead, he began considering what he should exchange these things for...

Granny Qin had said that the bottle of Spirit-Transforming Blood Pills and its Pill Formula were unusual in nature. Someone with a particular need for them might bid as high as several dozen Spirit Stones, but their market price was probably only around ten.

As for the Yin Corpse Puppet Rebirth Nail, it should fetch about fourteen or fifteen Spirit Stones.

If he bartered, what should he get...

As though prompted by ghosts and spirits, a few descriptions from the Spirit-Transforming Treatise General Outline and the "Sword-Planting Technique" flashed through his mind.

Song Yan froze, seemingly struck by a thought.

Thanks to Wubei Wufen for the tip!