Translator: AnubisTL
"Fellow Daoist," Uncle Fu asked amiably, his tone showing no malice, "I was wondering if you have any extra second-tier crimson crystals for sale?"
"I'm sorry, we only have two second-tier crimson crystals for sale today," Shen Ningbing replied coldly.
But Uncle Fu's next words sent a shockwave through both Shen Ningbing and Li Qing, who was slowly approaching from behind.
"I can also offer some Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid in exchange," Uncle Fu said earnestly.
Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid again!
Hearing those four words, Shen Ningbing felt an overwhelming urge to offer her second-tier crimson crystal for trade.
But glancing at Li Qing, who had already arrived, she wisely kept her mouth shut.
In such situations, it was best to leave the stage to senior brother Li, who was far more experienced in handling such matters.
"Heh, why didn't you two fellow Daoists bid earlier?" Li Qing chuckled. "With Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid, you could easily outbid those cultivation-enhancing pills."
Li Qing chuckled softly. Though deeply tempted by the Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid, he knew it was prudent to understand the situation thoroughly before committing to any trade.
Uncle Fu and Wang Chan turned to glance at Li Qing as he approached, their eyes betraying a hint of wariness.
Two foundation establishment realm cultivators!
The black market's backing must be more formidable than they'd initially thought, likely with powerful figures pulling the strings behind the scenes.
"Fellow Daoist," Uncle Fu replied, "the crowd was too dense earlier. We didn't want to draw unnecessary attention."
Repeatedly offering Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid for crimson crystals, even in a black market setting, would have been too conspicuous.
Their identities were sensitive, especially within the Ghost Sword Sect's territory, where exposure could be disastrous.
The reason was simple: the young master beside him bore the surname Wang!
Li Qing said calmly, "I see. That's understandable."
"To be frank, I still have a second-tier crimson crystal. How much Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid are you willing to offer for it?"
At this, Uncle Fu and Wang Chan exchanged glances. Wang Chan nodded slightly, prompting Uncle Fu to speak:
"Half a bottle of Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid!"
"However, before we proceed with the trade, I'd like to meet the person behind you."
Li Qing naturally refused without hesitation.
They were merely rootless rogue cultivators with no backing whatsoever. The mysterious force behind the black market was nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion designed to intimidate visitors.
Li Qing said calmly, "The elder rarely sees outsiders. If you need anything, just tell me."
Uncle Fu sighed. "I want to know if there are higher tiers of crimson crystals. We might need them in the future."
Third-tier crimson crystals!
Not only had Uncle Fu never seen one, but even Li Qing himself had only encountered a near-third-tier One-Eyed Giant Deer in the World of Eternal Night.
Hunting a third-tier strange beast would be a daunting task, even for Li Qing.
Moreover, such crystals were exceedingly rare. If his calculations were correct, a third-tier crimson crystal could trigger a rapid metamorphosis in a third-tier demonic beast, causing its strength to surge dramatically in a short time.
The value of such an item would likely be terrifyingly high.
"Regarding third-tier crimson crystals, I can't give you a definite answer right now, but they should appear eventually."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu's eyes lit up with joy, but his expression quickly turned hesitant.
"In the future... how long will that be?!"
How long?! Naturally, until he had the strength to hunt Third-Tier strange beasts!
Li Qing shook his head. "I cannot guarantee a specific timeframe. Do you two have some unspoken concerns?"
Unspoken concerns?!
Of course they did. Wang Chan couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at his own predicament.
"If you can acquire a third-tier crimson crystal within ten years, this deal might still be possible," Wang Chan said wryly.
Ten years!
To a mortal, this might seem like a long time—a significant portion of their fleeting lifespan.
But to a cultivator at a decent cultivation realm, ten years was merely a moderate-length period of secluded cultivation.
Could he break through to the core formation realm within ten years?
Li Qing dared not make such a promise. The core formation bottleneck had claimed countless foundation establishment cultivators, and for someone with four spirit roots like himself, the odds were even more dismal.
On this path, wasn't everyone just struggling to cross the river?
"Ah, dwelling on this is pointless. Fellow Daoist, let's focus on completing this transaction first."
Uncle Fu interrupted, then produced a jade bottle from his robes, no larger than two fingers. Within it swirled a precious quantity of Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid.
Faint strands of violet light shimmered within the bottle, its radiance barely contained even by the precious jade.
More Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid!
A surge of excitement coursed through Li Qing.
Combined with the ten drops he'd acquired earlier, he now possessed nearly a quarter of the Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid required for a foundation establishment cultivator to attempt core formation.
Three more trades like this, and he would have enough of the core formation spiritual material!
The Great Wilderness Domain truly offered boundless opportunities.
Li Qing retrieved his last second-tier crimson crystal and handed it over.
During his expedition to the World of Eternal Night, he had obtained four second-tier crimson crystals. He had auctioned off two, given one to Shen Ningbing, and now traded away the last.
The gains were astonishing!
"Excellent! The Secret Power within this crimson crystal is indeed significantly more concentrated!" Uncle Fu pinched the crimson crystal, sensing the dense malevolent energy within, his tone deeply satisfied.
Wang Chan breathed a slight sigh of relief. If Uncle Fu said so, then the purple kirin beast's metamorphosis must be a promising endeavor.
"Gentlemen, we have urgent matters to attend to. We must take our leave now!"
With that, Uncle Fu led Wang Chan away from the black market.
Li Qing watched them go, secretly speculating about their identities.
"This master-servant pair is likely more than meets the eye, and their affairs seem to be shrouded in secrecy," Li Qing murmured to himself, weighing the Purple Mansion Spirit Liquid in his hand.
Beside him, Shen Ningbing couldn't help but ask, "Senior brother Li, how did you know they were master and servant?"
"I observed them earlier. Although the foundation establishment cultivator's cultivation level is higher, he consistently deferred to the younger man's judgment before making any decisions."
Li Qing shook his head, then changed the subject. "Enough about them. It's not important."
"Junior sister Shen, tonight we're going to pull off something big outside the city!"
Shen Ningbing froze slightly, unsure what he meant.
(End of the Chapter)
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