"Just got lucky, Shopkeeper. You know, with so many days of heavy snow, this Hanging Crystal White-Jawed Tiger must've been starving and exhausted. That's why it was easy for me."
After Old Qin asked him this question,
he was afraid someone else would ask too,
so he thought of a fairly credible excuse before coming.
However, evidently,
Chen Jingtian didn't believe it.
When it comes to judgment, I'm not as good as Old Qin, but when it involves martial artists, Old Qin is not as good as me.
"What grade are you?"
"Shopkeeper, that doesn't have much to do with me selling this tiger, does it? As for the grade, just Ninth Grade, barely an entry-level."
Chen Xuan felt a bit displeased inside.
But he still answered his question, only concealing a little.
"Hehe, no offense, it's just that being old and meeting someone young and capable like you, made me curious. Inevitably, I asked a bit more."
Seeing this, Chen Jingtian only chuckled.
Chen Xuan also nodded, automatically filtering out his compliments.
Their gazes returned to the Hanging Crystal White-Jawed Tiger on the ground.
Though they knew it was indeed the same tiger, Chen Jingtian still examined it carefully.
The more intact the Hanging Crystal White-Jawed Tiger, the more valuable it is.
Also,
the less time it has been dead, the better.
After a thorough inspection,
he looked at Chen Xuan, "How much do you want?"
"Shopkeeper, how much will you pay for it?"
As soon as he finished speaking,
Chen Jingtian laughed.
Didn't expect this young hunter, who seemed simple, not to be foolish and to have some wits.
But he didn't care much,
after all, Old Qin had seen it, and he should've roughly told him the price.
Moreover,
he admired Chen Xuan, so he didn't drag it out and said, "Five hundred and fifty taels of silver! What do you think?"
Chen Xuan was first taken aback,
this price was much higher than Old Qin's estimate.
That shouldn't be!
Chen Jingtian could tell from his expression that he had offered a high price.
But that was intentional.
Consider it forming a connection, just fifty taels anyway.
It's worth it.
"Alright, deal."
Faced with such a situation, hesitating would make him an idiot. Although he felt a bit puzzled, who would complain about money?
Chen Jingtian nodded and was about to get the silver taels, but Chen Xuan stopped him.
"Shopkeeper, I want to buy a cultivation technique!"
"You reached Ninth Grade without a cultivation technique?" Chen Jingtian turned his head, surprised.
It's difficult to reach Ninth Grade without a cultivation technique!
"Not really, I learned a very ordinary one, which doesn't do much, so I want to switch to a better one."
"I see."
Suddenly, he understood, but it makes sense, an ordinary hunter wouldn't have a good cultivation technique.
As a martial artist,
he knew that a good cultivation technique is very important for a martial artist.
A good technique not only has greater power, but more importantly, can better refine the body.
Especially for the early grades of a martial artist,
a good technique can lay a better foundation, having a significant impact on future cultivation.
However... five hundred and fifty taels seems like a lot,
but that's not enough to buy a good cultivation technique.
Besides,
a good cultivation technique is basically unavailable on the market, they are held by families or major forces.
It's impossible for them to be released.
"Shopkeeper, just speak your mind!" Chen Xuan saw his hesitant expression and didn't know what it meant, so he spoke up.
"Alright, I'll be straight with you," seeing this, Chen Jingtian didn't hesitate further and continued, "For this small amount, the techniques you can buy are rubbish, and you can't buy a good one!"
"What?"
Immediately,
Chen Xuan's heart sank.
Can't buy a good technique!
What should I do then?
Really perplexing.
He risked coming to this black market hoping to buy a decent cultivation technique.
Now the shopkeeper says that for this amount, what you can buy is rubbish,
and,
from the look of it, he doesn't seem to be lying.
This risk was all for nothing!
"Still lacking connections, too poor!"
Chen Xuan smiled bitterly to himself.
"Actually there's another path, depending on whether you're willing."
At this point,
Chen Jingtian slowly spoke.
"What path?"
Although he knew there's no such thing as a free lunch, he really had no other solution now. If there's a chance, he'd hear it.
As for other things,
there was no time to consider them now.
"Have you heard of the Chen Family in Yunze County?"
"The Chen Family?"
Chen Xuan shook his head.
He knew nothing.
Having hardly left the village, his understanding of the county was a blank slate, knowing nothing.
Hearing him say this,
Chen Jingtian became more interested in him.
After all,
for a large family like the Chen Family, recruiting people isn't just for anyone.
First, talent must be high!
Second, the background must be clean, the cleaner the better!
Clearly,
Chen Xuan met both requirements.
Of course,
this was just his word at the moment.
If he really wanted to enter the Chen Family, they would definitely do a detailed investigation later.
"Joining the Chen Family, as long as you perform well enough, you'll have techniques, resources, anything you want, but you must be absolutely loyal to the Chen Family, otherwise, I think I don't need to say, you're smart, you'll understand the consequences."
....
Chen Xuan left the Treasure Pavilion.
Carrying five hundred and fifty taels of silver.
He didn't immediately agree to joining the Chen Family.
After all,
he had no understanding of the Chen Family,
and,
becoming someone of the Chen Family, he wouldn't be as free anymore.
Moreover,
according to the Treasure Pavilion shopkeeper, one must perform well to have a chance.
Just a chance,
uncertain how much effort it would take to seize such an opportunity.
So,
he told Chen Jingtian he needed some time to think about it before replying.
Since,
he couldn't get the technique he wanted at the black market, he wasn't planning to stay. But before returning, he purchased some rice and flour as daily necessities, stuffing the large sack full before leaving the black market.
At the pier!
Unexpectedly, the returning boat was still the same boatman.
But this time he was the only person on board.
Still required to pay 10 large coins to return.
This time,
Chen Xuan was quite generous.
After all,
besides buying these rice and flour supplies, he still had over 450 taels left.
10 large coins, no big deal at all.
But he was also sighing in his heart, this black market is really like a money printing machine, coming in costs money, selling things costs money, leaving costs money.
Just that,
already a fortune.
Moreover,
the merchants involved in trading and sales, surely they have to pay the black market too.
But,
"What should I do about the technique?"
Sitting on the boat, Chen Xuan was somewhat troubled.
He really didn't want to take the path Chen Jingtian mentioned.
But... a technique!
"What's wrong, young man? Sold such a big tiger, got a lot of money, and bought so many things, why the long face?"
Suddenly,
an old man who had been silent spoke.
Immediately,
Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
Indeed,
he had noticed at that time.
This old man, really wasn't an ordinary person, though just a boatman, can't be underestimated.
So he quickly put on a smile and respectfully replied, "Old man, I'm happy, how can I not be happy? These things will last us a long time back home."
"Nonsense! You little rascal!" the old man said with a chuckle.