Chapter 221: Shadowy Tool

Even though they were in the Southern Phoenix Continent, the black market was a chaotic mix of various individuals. Despite the Seven Blood Eyes being a top power in the region, much malice still lurked in the shadows.

Furthermore, Xu Qing was inherently cautious, and his business in the black market was not something to be openly displayed. Therefore, he meticulously disguised himself and even concealed his aura.

As for the captain, being a seasoned veteran, he concealed himself even more thoroughly than Xu Qing. He transformed into a hunchbacked old man who, despite appearing frail, did not seem easy to provoke.

This disguise was considerably better than the lean, middle-aged man Xu Qing had transformed into.

After stepping out of the teleportation array, Xu Qing glanced at the captain, feeling he had just learned a valuable lesson.

The captain coughed hoarsely, then scanned Lingyou City before speaking faintly.

"This place is decent. I also have some items to handle. We'll rendezvous here once we're both finished," the captain said, leading the way. He casually selected a small boy from among the children who were eagerly watching him.

Xu Qing didn't choose a guide; he had the Vajra Sect Patriarch.

The Vajra Sect Patriarch was clearly very familiar with the black market. Xu Qing walked expressionlessly into the distance, aware of the malicious and scrutinizing gazes that converged on him. As he moved further away, most of these gazes dissipated, but a few strands stubbornly lingered.

"Master, what a brilliant strategy! You must have known this black market is full of greedy individuals, so you deliberately let them target us. This way, after we sell our goods, we can expect additional gains."

"I suggest, Master, that you subtly display some wealth later. If we control the extent of the display, we can avoid attracting Golden Core cultivators and instead draw in only those weaker Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Master, these hyenas are quite lucrative."

Seeing this, the Vajra Sect Patriarch spoke with an ingratiating tone. He felt his presence had been too diminished lately; not only was the captain often around, making it difficult for him to assert himself, but the little Shadow had also recently shown a tendency to become rather arrogant.

This made the Vajra Sect Patriarch very wary. He decided that while in the black market, he must reinforce his utility in Xu Qing's mind, ensuring Xu Qing did not perceive him as useless.

"Hm."

Xu Qing's gaze swept across the surrounding shops and the bustling crowd. Most of the pedestrians here concealed their identities, donning wide robes and some even wearing masks to deter scrutiny. As he observed, Xu Qing paid little attention to the Vajra Sect Patriarch's words, offering only a faint reply.

However, this simple response made the exceptionally sensitive Vajra Sect Patriarch's heart tremble.

"Whenever this demon Xu has previously given me a one-word reply, it has signaled displeasure. Did I say something wrong just now? Or does he not want to sell it so simply? Or is he displeased with me because of it? No, I must find a solution, otherwise, this is a clear sign that I'm about to be used as cannon fodder!"

A strong sense of crisis made the Vajra Sect Patriarch tremble, and he quickly spoke.

"Master, I've been pondering recently: if we simply sell these magical artifacts as they are, we won't get their true worth. I have an excellent idea!"

Xu Qing was about to enter a refining shop that wasn't particularly crowded. Hearing this, he paused, a hint of surprise in his expression.

"We, as honorable individuals, won't engage in deceit or try to pass off fakes. Instead, we'll sell magical artifacts that appear normal but are designed to shatter upon a slight impact!"

"I've thought it through; this will be our unique selling point. After all, the people here are very diverse, with all sorts of intentions. Many purchase items not for personal use, but with the specific goal of harming others. For them, our magical artifact will be the top choice!"

"So, instead of going to shops, we'll set up a street stall!" The Vajra Sect Patriarch racked his brain, speaking quickly. Xu Qing pondered this for a moment and found it acceptable.

Furthermore, rarity adds value, and for those with specific needs, such an item could be a unique find. Thus, Xu Qing adopted the Vajra Sect Patriarch's suggestion and, guided by him, departed for the Free Market in Lingyou City.

That area was bustling with even more cultivators, a true melting pot of various individuals. The Vajra Sect Patriarch, knowing the ropes, guided Xu Qing to the local management office to rent a stall, where they erected a large wooden board.

Without needing any input from Xu Qing, the Vajra Sect Patriarch skillfully manipulated the black iron stick to write four large characters in flowing script on the board.

"Tools for Scheming!"

Xu Qing glanced at it, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing. He sat down cross-legged, waiting in silence, observing the constant flow of people in the bustling market and listening to the cacophony of sounds echoing all around.

After a long wait, most passersby merely glanced at the sign, with hardly anyone showing genuine interest, which made Xu Qing a little impatient.

"Master, please don't be impatient. This will definitely work. I am confident, I have faith. You see, back in the day, I visited numerous black markets specifically searching for items like this... Such things are uncommon, and I believe there are many people out there just like me."

The Vajra Sect Patriarch spoke quickly, unaware that the Shadow beside him had been cautiously narrowing its shadowy eyes, watching him as if he were a formidable opponent.

Simultaneously, it was learning rapidly. Upon hearing the Patriarch's words, it seemed to have a sudden realization, as if it had grasped something significant.

Xu Qing said nothing, closing his eyes. Time passed in this manner, and amidst the Vajra Sect Patriarch's anxiety, the duration of an incense stick burned. Suddenly, the Vajra Sect Patriarch's eyes lit up, and Xu Qing, sensing something, also opened his eyes.

A tall cultivator, completely shrouded in a black robe with an indiscernible appearance, paused before Xu Qing's stall, his gaze fixed on the four characters on the wooden board.

"How does one scheme?" A hoarse voice emerged from within the robe.

Without a word, Xu Qing tossed over a jade slip. Simultaneously, he took out a fan artifact, placed it beside him, and rested a hand upon it. The black-robed figure caught the jade slip and fell silent after carefully examining its contents.

The jade slip's content, prepared by the Vajra Sect Patriarch, comprehensively detailed the fan artifact's functions. It meticulously explained that while only its outer shell remained, it still appeared fully functional, making it difficult to detect any issues. It further clarified that the artifact was designed to self-destruct and shatter at critical moments if too much force was applied.

Judging from the jade slip's description, the artifact seemed to have been refined specifically for the purpose of tricking or harming others.

"The price is acceptable, not exorbitant, and this artifact is quite intriguing…" The black-robed figure mused, clearly tempted. Finally, they produced a bundle of spirit notes and handed them to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing raised his hand to receive the notes, then with a flick of his sleeve, the fan artifact flew into the black-robed figure's hand. From the extended hand, it was apparent that this was a young female cultivator.

She grasped the fan, inspected it thoroughly, appeared quite satisfied, and then swiftly departed.

Seeing that a transaction had genuinely been made, Xu Qing was greatly relieved. The Vajra Sect Patriarch, standing nearby, also let out a sigh of relief and transmitted a low whisper.

"Master, rest assured, I understand this type of person perfectly. This is a niche artifact; it may seem worthless to many, but for certain individuals, it's an invaluable tool for sabotage—rare and impossible to guard against. If you can manage to get an enemy to take this, they'll be utterly ruined without ever knowing how they met their end."

"Excellent," Xu Qing encouraged. This single word greatly excited the Vajra Sect Patriarch.

His assessment proved correct. The patrons of the black market were indeed not all seeking items for personal use; many had their own hidden agendas, and for them, such specialized tools for trickery were quite uncommon.

Soon after, Xu Qing welcomed his second customer. This individual appeared to be an alien, not human. After reviewing Xu Qing's jade slip, they purchased three items without hesitation and departed.

And so, as dusk descended that day, all eight magical artifacts Xu Qing had prepared were sold. With his inventory nearly depleted, Xu Qing dismantled his stall and walked through the market, preparing to locate the captain and return to the sect.

Although it was dusk, as the sky grew darker, even more cultivators frequented the market. As Xu Qing walked, his gaze swept across the surrounding stalls. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he halted, turning towards a particular stall.

There were no items displayed on this stall, only some characters carved onto a wooden board nearby. Two specific words caught Xu Qing's attention.

"Soul Pills?"

The stall owner, also clad in a black robe with an indiscernible gender and an evil spirit mask covering their face, coldly looked up as Xu Qing approached and inquired.

"One hundred thousand spirit stones, per pill."

Xu Qing frowned. He knew Soul Pills were costly, essential for artifact refining, opening cultivation orifices through specific techniques, or various dark arts. However, at such a price, they would only be worth it if the quality was exceptional; otherwise, it would be a poor investment.

As if anticipating Xu Qing's thoughts, the stall owner stated calmly, "The quality is acceptable; all are refined from Foundation Establishment souls."

Xu Qing pondered. If they were indeed refined from Foundation Establishment souls and available in large quantities, they would certainly aid him in opening his cultivation orifices, especially since he was only eleven orifices away from igniting his third Life-Flame.

Feeling a sense of urgency, Xu Qing produced a roll of spirit notes. The stall owner glanced at them, then with a wave of a hand, presented a jade box.

Xu Qing took the box, opened it, and his pupils slightly contracted upon seeing the contents.

They were indeed Foundation Establishment souls, and specifically, they were from the Sea Corpse Race. There were also some Qi Condensation souls mixed in, likewise from the Sea Corpse Race.

Xu Qing gazed intently at the stall owner. He detected no trace of the captain's aura on the individual, leading him to surmise that if all the Soul Pills originated from the Sea Corpse Race, this person was most likely a cultivator from the Seven Blood Eyes sect.

Only the Seven Blood Eyes sect would currently possess such a large quantity of Sea Corpse Race souls.

"How many more do you have?" Xu Qing inquired, his right hand casually tapping the black iron stick hidden in his robes.

"Many," the stall owner replied, looking up at Xu Qing with a hint of cold arrogance.

Xu Qing pondered, then after a few breaths, he made a firm decision.

"I'll take forty!"

At these words, the stall owner was visibly startled. His cold arrogance vanished, his breathing quickened slightly, and a clear hesitation settled upon him.

"I don't have that many here. Wait a moment; I have companions, and we should be able to gather enough if we combine our stock." "Alright, but since I'm buying such a large quantity, you'll need to give me a few extra," Xu Qing stated earnestly.

The stall owner was a straightforward individual. Hearing this, he nodded, then held a jade slip in his sleeve and began transmitting a message. Shortly after, five or six cultivators, similarly clad, swiftly arrived from various directions. Upon nearing, they each scrutinized Xu Qing for a few moments.

Among them was a tall cultivator, whose aura fluctuations were exceptionally strong, and who fixed his gaze on Xu Qing for the longest duration. Xu Qing, in turn, looked back at them.

After a moment, the tall cultivator chuckled softly. "Seventh Peak?"

"First Peak?" Xu Qing replied calmly.

The tall cultivator chuckled again upon hearing this, then ceased his questioning. With a wave of his hand, he produced a storage bag and tossed it to Xu Qing.

"Forty-three pills!"

Xu Qing took the bag, inspected its contents, then exchanged the spirit stones he had earned from selling the artifacts and turned to depart.

After he had departed, the black-robed figures huddled together, gazing in the direction Xu Qing had gone. The original stall owner spoke in a low voice.

"Second Senior Brother, who was that kid from the Seventh Peak? The sect's rewards haven't even been distributed yet; how is he so wealthy?"

"Hard to say; those from the Seventh Peak always prefer to keep things hidden... We'll investigate him later. If he's that wealthy, he might need guardians, right? Then we can have him pay a hefty sum to hire us long-term. 'Fat sheep' have been scarce lately, so I'm sure he'll be quite generous in employing us."

"Let's put that aside for now. We need to quickly sell our remaining stock. The war is ending; once we've sold everything and returned, we likely won't have to go back to the battlefield."