From Duobao Pavilion, Lin Jiang and several independent cultivators in the Qi Refining later stage walked out. They agreed to gather at a nearby restaurant, where they enjoyed a table filled with delicious food and drinks.
Although Lin Jiang had left his previous residence and no longer visited the South City Market, he still had connections with Duobao Pavilion.
There is no way, Lin Jiang spent too much money here at Duobao Pavilion. Every year, he spends thousands of spirit stones. Over the past ten years, the total amount of his spending is no less than sixty to seventy thousand. Plus the amount he spent on auctioning the Green Rock Pill, Lin Jiang can be said to be the highest-ranked guest in Duobao Pavilion during the Qi Refining Period.
This status has many benefits. The most basic one is getting discounts when buying things. Additionally, Duobao Pavilion provides many services, including improving communication skills and hosting high-profile auctions.
These benefits make Lin Jiang reluctant to give up, because reaching this level again would require a lot of time, money, and effort.
Therefore, Lin Jiang still deals with Duobao Pavilion as Jiang Lin, but he pays attention to keeping his identity a secret.
"Taoist Friend Jiang, I have known you for many years. I see that you have a good income, so why haven't I ever seen you go to the black market?"
"The area outside the city is too chaotic. I rarely leave the city, maybe only two or three times a year. Once I finish my business, I come back."
Lin Jiang shook his head. He knew about the black market, a place that exists somewhere outside the city. It is said that you need a recommendation to find it.
In the black market, there are many good things that are not seen in regular markets. However, most of these good things are illegal, like some resources that are obtained through robbery, which can easily lead to misunderstandings.
"The marketplace outside the city is indeed unsafe. Many people in the Building Foundation Period die there every year. However, Taoist Friend Jiang can try the fake marketplace inside the city instead."
"Can there be fakes in the black market?"
Lin Jiang was shocked, what the heck, there are fakes in the black market?
"Haha, Taoist Friend Jiang is fully dedicated to his spiritual practice. You must be unaware of many things, right?"
"Indeed, please enlighten me, Taoist friend."
"The black market originated from the needs of us cultivators. It's the demand that gave birth to the black market. While it's true that there are many shady things in the black market, not everything is necessarily like that.
Moreover, even though the black market outside the city has been raided more than ten times, it still exists. So even the Zhonghang Sect and the Cloud Sword Sect can't avoid this problem. Instead of letting others make all the money, why not make it themselves, right?"
"That's true, but why call it a fake black market?"
Because it's different from the real one. The black market outside the city is a lawless place where anything goes. Besides being a place for thieves to sell stolen goods, it's also a meeting place for assassin organizations and a place to hire killers. In addition, there are many shady practices, such as gambling fights, fights between humans and monsters, where people bet money, and many more.
The fake black market within the city doesn't allow these things to happen. After all, these activities are too disruptive to the city's rules and pose a huge challenge.
"What can the fake black market inside the city sell?"
"Actually, it's not much different from the big market, except there are more stolen goods. For example, if I leave the city and someone tries to rob me, I can fight back and take their things. But it's not easy to sell them openly, so I can go to the fake black market. It's a place where secrets can be kept."
"In that case, does the fake black market have any business? It would be better to go to the real black market."
"Taoist Friend Jiang, you're mistaken. The fake black market is extremely popular because it's safe. Fighting is not allowed within the city. If you're being pursued by enemies, you have a chance to escape. But outside the city, the black market doesn't care as much, and there are many people killing others on the streets."
"Nowadays, there are only shady businesses left in the real black market outside the city. If Taoist Friend Jiang has this interest, it would be a good opportunity to broaden your horizons."
"Oh, I see. I've learned something new, thank you."
Lin Jiang politely gestured with his hand. He didn't actually know all of this, but indeed, the factor of safety can attract many cultivators. The real black market doesn't guarantee that.
"Actually, this fake black market is secretly organized by the high-level people of Yunzhong City. It's their money bag, so the security is quite reliable..."
Then, someone leaked information that the fake black market can also be called a black market because it's operated by the high-level people of Yunzhong City.
The higher positions in Yunzhong City were held by members of Zhonghang Sect and Cloud Sword Sect. It was considered their duty within the sect, even though these individuals occupied high positions and controlled the treasury of Yunzhong City. However, their income was not very high.
Instead of resorting to corruption and bribery, which eventually led to punishment when discovered by the sect, it was better to find ways to make money from other sources. The black market was one of their means to achieve this. The entrance fees and taxes in the black market all went to them personally, without being recorded in the official accounts. In order to have a steady income, the higher-ups put in a lot of effort to maintain the existence of the black market. Hearing this, Lin Jiang was immediately intrigued.
"Brother Jiang, come with me."
In a corner of Yunzhong City, Lin Jiang followed a cultivator named Zhang into a hidden black market.
The black market was actually a mix of residential houses, somewhat similar to a village Lin Jiang had been to before. At the entrance, there was a cultivator guarding it at the Building Foundation Period. The entry fee was ten spirit stones and the person would also give a hat, which was a magical tool that could hide one's appearance. The Qi Refining Period's spiritual sense couldn't penetrate it. However, it had to be returned when leaving.
The two entered the black market and Lin Jiang saw people setting up stalls on the street, as well as some shops. The shops didn't have names, only special symbols. Only those familiar with them would know what these shops were for.
(Translated by Gravity Tales 😂)
Many of the things on the stalls had obvious bloodstains, which made Lin Jiang shake his head. Couldn't they at least wipe them off?
"Yunzhong City has a million residents, and there are no less than fifty thousand visitors from outside each day. Along the roads outside Yunzhong City, dozens of bands of bandits linger all year round. Therefore, the number of cultivators who fall each day within a thousand miles of Yunzhong City will not be less than three figures. It's normal for people to die. We cultivators have it tough."
"I heard about this, Qi Refining Period cultivators can live up to a hundred years, but more than thirty percent of Qi Refining Period cultivators cannot live past sixty years old."
Lin Jiang nodded, being a cultivator is very dangerous and chaotic. Sometimes, being born into a family or sect is lucky because the chances of living until old age are high, but for independent cultivators, it's really unfortunate.
"Yeah, cultivation is not easy. Well, forget about that. I'm going to buy something. Jiang, feel free to look around. Remember the rules I told you."
"Got it, no asking about origins, no bargaining, and less talking."
"Just remember, even though this is a fake black market, it's still a black market. Be cautious."
"Okay."
Lin Jiang and him nodded at each other, then went their separate ways to do their own things.
"What kind of demon beast's Demon Core is this? How much does it cost?"
Lin Jiang strolled around for a while and saw a stall selling Demon Cores. He approached and inquired.
"The Demon Core of the Iron Arm Eagle, a third-grade medium-quality item, worth fifty thousand spirit stones."
"I want to check it."
"Okay, there's a place for appraisal in the black market, and this is the appraisal certificate they provided."
"Alright."
Lin Jiang nodded and took out fifty thousand spirit stones. He could afford it without a problem. He decided to buy them for Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao.
The transaction was straightforward. In less than a minute, Lin Jiang left. Afterwards, he entered a shop and got rid of the clutter he had on him. Some of these items were acquired after killing people, but he didn't sell all of them. For example, the things he obtained from He Yunwei's possession. Maybe this black market still had a share from the He family, and he didn't want to take risks.
After browsing around for a while, Lin Jiang left. He already understood the situation in the black market. Most of the items here had dubious origins and were cheaper compared to those outside, such as the Demon Core he bought, which would cost at least eighty thousand spirit stones elsewhere.
Additionally, this Demon Core seemed to have been around for a while. It was probably someone's cherished collection or even a family heirloom that got into someone else's hands. Such things were not uncommon.
A few days later, Lin Jiang had someone divide the Demon Core into six parts. Only then did he dare to feed it to Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao. Otherwise, a Demon Core at the mid-level of the golden core stage would be enough to make them explode. The difference between them and a third-grade medium-quality item was immense.
In less than an hour, Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao fell sound asleep. This is a normal behavior for advancing monsters. Lin Jiang expected them to sleep for about two to three years.
Of course, it's also possible that they will never wake up because the advancement of monsters can also fail, and failure means death. The cultivation world is cruel like that, whether you are a cultivator or a monster.
Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao falling into sleep actually saved Lin Jiang some expenses. He decided to invest more in his talisman-drawing skills to increase his income. He doesn't have many spirit stones left, and he needs them to feel safe.

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