Chapter 638: Black Market

“So, a flying carriage doesn't count as sword-riding flight?” A flying carriage could carry up to five people, which was far more than what the Sword-Washing Pool could manage.

The constable glanced at Lu Yang and explained, “Flying carriages are specialized magical artifacts for flight. Each one undergoes quality inspection and is subject to special regulations in the law. If your Sword-Washing Pool also had special regulations, that would be acceptable.”

Lu Yang conceded defeat.

They suffered a setback before even beginning; they had to pay up before making any money.

Fortunately, nothing eventful happened after that.

During their multi-day flight, to avoid sleeping rough, they landed at an inn. There, they conveniently helped the innkeeper resolve an issue with her brother-in-law, who, after her husband's death, brought relatives to demand his elder brother's inheritance. They politely declined the heirloom the innkeeper offered as a token of gratitude, and based on clues, they deduced that the innkeeper herself was her husband's killer.

At the second inn, they encountered two Qi Condensation cultivators arguing over the 'Heavenly' room. From them, the duo learned about a nearby treasure site. On their way, they unearthed a significant treasure meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators, which they then handed over to the local authorities. A lost-and-found notice was posted, attracting two Foundation Establishment families and uncovering a century-long feud between them. The patriarchs of both families committed suicide together during a torrential downpour, finally ending the century-old rivalry.

At the third inn, they met a wealthy young lady being pursued over a thousand miles. They escorted her home, where they discovered and eliminated a malevolent ghost that had been hidden in her house for ten years. This forced the person behind the ghost to reveal themselves and engage them in a battle. The duo captured this individual, declined the young lady's proposal of marriage, and, following the clues left by the ghost-raiser, dismantled a demonic rogue cultivator stronghold.

The Sword-Washing Pool successfully carried them to Youzhou.

“Finally, we're here,” they both sighed. Although it was only a few days' journey, it felt like they had been flying for over a month, and their bodies ached all over.

Perhaps the reason it was uncomfortable was that it lacked water; it's actually quite comfortable for bathing.

They entered the black market, finding it unlike ordinary markets. It was remarkably quiet, with only occasional whispers from cultivators. At these times, cultivators from nearby cities, as well as those like Lu Yang and his companion who travel from further away, would come here for secret transactions. Due to the lack of government oversight, the black market offered many items rarely seen elsewhere.

To be able to control such a large pool for flight would require at least a Core Formation stage cultivator. The black market entrance was guarded by cultivators to prevent mortals from accidentally entering and causing unnecessary trouble. The guard had personally witnessed the two flying on the Sword-Washing Pool, then seamlessly putting it away and changing into black robes—a smooth, practiced sequence of movements that marked them as seasoned veterans. Inside the black market, cultivators conducting transactions used methods like focused sound transmission and spiritual sense communication to ensure secrecy. The cultivators guarding the entrance did not stop them.

“The timing is just right. Every fifteenth of the month, Soul Nascent stage old monsters gather here.”

By the time they arrived, the black market had already been open for over an hour. All the cultivators who had been waiting outside had already entered, which was why the entrance seemed deserted. The two wore black robes with collars pulled up, revealing only their eyes. This was a rule of the black market, making it easier to escape if officials came to apprehend someone. Immortal Fairy thought to herself, *Isn't it because you two have experienced too much along the way?*

The black market Meng Jingzhou spoke of was located at the foot of a large mountain in the Youzhou region. It was usually hidden within a secret realm and would undergo spatial displacement during the transition between yin and yang, emerging from the realm to provide a trading venue.

“This pool of yours isn't comfortable to lie in.”

For example, the cultivation manual Lu Yang was holding.

“Boss, are you sure this book is the Qi Condensation cultivation manual used by Lu Yang, the Heavenly Prodigy of Dao-Seeking Sect?”

The boss swore confidently, “How could this be fake? I have a distant relative in the Dao-Seeking Sect, and this is a cultivation manual he brought out from there!”

“Young brother, I see you're in the Qi Condensation stage. Why not buy a copy and try it? I guarantee that after cultivating with it, you'll soar to greatness and become a genius like Heavenly Prodigy Lu!”

Due to the lack of government oversight, many counterfeit items could be found in the black market. Lu Yang quietly put it back; it was simply too fake.

However, there were also less obvious fakes, such as the one next to it, advertised as the latest edition of ‘The Legend of Dao-Seeking Sect.’ A closer look would reveal the title was actually ‘The Legend of *Jian* Dao Sect.’ Upon reflection, the reason such a book appeared here became clear: ‘The Legend of Dao-Seeking Sect’ was widely available everywhere outside, so there was no need to sell it in the black market. This was simply a scam for unsuspecting patrons with poor eyesight, or for thin-skinned cultivators too embarrassed to put it back once they picked it up.

Lu Yang also saw purple-gold gourds that claimed to suck anyone into them if their name was called and they responded. A genuine purple-gold gourd was worth more than the entire black market combined. Even a replica would be a treasured magical artifact for a Soul Transformation stage cultivator. Neither the genuine article nor a true replica would ever be found here.

There were also storage rings of various shapes and sizes, with unknown refiners and no guaranteed quality. Consequently, their prices were much lower than outside. Some of these storage rings matched their descriptions, being genuine items crafted by unqualified refiners. Others looked authentic on the surface but were actually fakes; due to refining errors, they had a limited number of uses and would shatter once that limit was reached. Only those with a deep understanding of storage rings could discern them.

There were also many talismans for warding off ghosts and evil spirits. Such items were difficult to counterfeit, and fake ones could cause serious problems, so only genuine ones were sold. However, Lu Yang and his companion had no need for them; a single drop of Meng Jingzhou's blood was more effective than a stack of talismans. When facing ghosts of the same cultivation level, Meng Jingzhou's Yang energy was so potent that merely his aura could cause them to melt. Alluring female cultivators were also soliciting customers on the streets, but they were directly ignored by the two.

“Why are there no souls, eyeballs soaked in medicinal liquid, or soul-recruiting banners?”

Halfway through their browsing, Lu Yang found the black market's atmosphere as eerie and ghostly as he had imagined, but the goods being sold were vastly different from what he expected. Meng Jingzhou shot his good brother a disdainful look. “The purpose of this black market's establishment is tax evasion.”

“What you're talking about is a demonic black market,” he continued. “If I knew the location of such a place, I'd go straight to the authorities, clear it out, and claim the reward. Why would I bother attending a Soul Nascent stage gathering? That would be far more efficient for making money.”

Lu Yang admitted Meng Jingzhou had a point.

“We're here. This is where we Soul Nascent old monsters gather.”

Meng Jingzhou pointed to a luxurious palace. It was entirely black, with statues of rare beasts at the four corners of its eaves. A formation isolated it from spiritual sense detection, and two Core Formation stage cultivators stood guard at the entrance. This was the place he had learned about from Dai Bufan, absolutely reliable.

Lu Yang turned to Meng Jingzhou and asked, “Speaking of which, I've never asked, what's this self-sufficient money-making method you mentioned?”

“Selling blood.”