Translator: AnubisTL
Arriving at the black market once again, Li Qing was stunned by the sight of the underground plaza.
Two years ago, the market had only been in its initial stages of development, with scattered vendors setting up makeshift stalls on the ground, giving the place a desolate atmosphere.
Now, the once-empty plaza was filled with row upon row of shops, bustling with a considerable crowd. Hundreds of cultivators strolled through the market, making it nearly as lively as a regular market town!
The main difference from a normal market town was that everyone here concealed their faces, hid their auras, and went to great lengths to conceal their identities.
"Two years away, and this place feels like a lifetime ago," Li Qing clicked his tongue, pulled his hooded cloak tighter, and stepped into the black market.
"Tell Old Zhang to come see me," Li Qing said, grabbing a patrolling Martial Artist in a corner of the market and flashing his token.
The orphans he had adopted years ago had grown up. Years of martial training had erased any trace of youthful naivety from their faces.
"Greetings," the young man's eyes lit up at the sight of the token, and he immediately knelt to pay his respects.
Li Qing swiftly steadied the young man, preventing him from kneeling.
"A martial artist should never bow so easily," Li Qing said calmly.
The words brought a surge of excitement to the young man's face.
"Immortal Master, it's really you!"
This had been the secret code, their method of verifying Li Qing's identity. If the token holder had merely watched them kneel without reacting, they would have known it was an imposter.
"It's me. Where's Old Zhang? I need to see him."
After Li Qing spoke, the orphan quickly led him through a hidden door in the black market.
The passage was pitch-black, with barely a sliver of light.
After a moment, a rumbling sound echoed from ahead.
Zhang Da, who had lost his limbs, was slowly wheeled forward by two Martial Artists in a wooden wheelchair.
"Not bad, Old Zhang," Li Qing teased. "Leaving the black market in your hands was the right choice. You've managed to keep things remarkably organized."
Sensing Li Qing's aura, Zhang Da's face lit up with emotion.
Li Qing had already reached the late foundation establishment realm!
How fast!
"You can all go now," Li Qing waved dismissively. "I need to have a proper chat with Old Zhang."
After the other orphans had left, Zhang Da finally revealed a fawning smile. "Congratulations, Master Li, on advancing to the late foundation establishment realm!"
"Heh, spare me the flattery," Li Qing replied.
"Rest assured, the black market is now running like clockwork, thanks to your tireless efforts over the past two years. I've been watching closely."
"Look at this prosthetic limb. What do you think? I put considerable effort into refining it for you."
With that, Li Qing personally began installing the right arm for Zhang Da.
The entire limb gleamed with a silvery-white metallic luster, its joints intricately crafted. Even a casual glance revealed it to be a masterpiece of ingenuity.
The prosthetic's mechanical feel was starkly different from the traditional magic artifacts of this world. Apart from the faint spirit patterns visible within the mechanical arm, it bore no resemblance whatsoever to a typical magic artifact.
Several spirit patterns were etched into the palm of the prosthetic, extending all the way to its tip.
"Try it out. Connecting with your divine sense should allow you to control it effortlessly."
"Moreover, I've inscribed several metal-attribute spirit patterns into this magic artifact prosthetic limb, making its quality comparable to a high-grade magical artifact."
As his words faded, a crisp click echoed through the room.
The mechanical prosthetic limb was now firmly attached to Zhang Da's right shoulder.
Hearing this, Zhang Da extended his spiritual sense into the mechanical arm.
Almost immediately, the once rigid and lifeless limb began to move. Its fingers rhythmically flexed and twitched, displaying remarkable dexterity.
"This... this is truly miraculous!" Zhang Da exclaimed, utterly stunned by Li Qing's mastery of artifact refinement.
The prosthetic limb felt completely natural to control, almost indistinguishable from a real arm.
"Nourish it regularly with your true essence and practice using it," Li Qing advised. "Eventually, it should feel just like your own arm."
"Enough with the thanks. I'll refine the remaining three prosthetic limbs for you gradually. Now, tell me about the black market's situation over the past two years."
Zhang Da paused, then used the mechanical arm to retrieve a storage pouch from his waist.
"Master Li, the black market's accounts and spirit stone revenue for the past two years are all in here!"
Li Qing accepted the heavy pouch, nodding as he scanned its contents with his spiritual sense.
There were nearly four thousand spirit stones in total!
This was a substantial sum, and it represented Li Qing's net income.
Over the past two years, Shen Ningbing hadn't been in complete seclusion. She periodically withdrew her share of the spirit stones. Additionally, the black market's orphans and Zhang Da received ten percent of the profits combined.
After deducting miscellaneous expenses, Li Qing's personal share still amounted to nearly four thousand spirit stones!
It had to be said, the black market's profits were truly exorbitant!
Of course, Li Qing no longer cared much about these spirit stones. After casually glancing at the accounts, he asked, "Have there been any other developments in the Great Wilderness Domain over the past two years?"
Zhang Da's expression suddenly shifted.
"That's right! Just this morning, I received a secret letter!"
The black market had established its own intelligence system, a task Li Qing had assigned to Zhang Da before entering seclusion.
By expanding the intelligence network as much as possible and gathering more information, the black market could ensure its continued survival.
Li Qing took the secret letter from Zhang Da and quickly scanned it with his divine sense.
In an instant, a look of shock appeared on Li Qing's face.
Besieged by both the righteous and demonic paths, the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty had been utterly annihilated!
"Hiss!"
"This is truly a world-shattering event! The Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty has actually fallen!"
Li Qing's voice was hushed, yet his tone betrayed his profound shock.
Though he lacked firsthand experience of the dynasty's immense power, the fragments of information he had gleaned from others painted a clear picture of its formidable strength.
A flood of thoughts surged through Li Qing's mind.
With the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty gone, will the Great Wilderness Domain finally find peace?
Since ancient times, the righteous and demonic paths have been irreconcilable. Their temporary alliance against the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty was only possible because of this common enemy.
War between the righteous and demonic paths is highly likely in the future. I must prepare for it now.
Li Qing's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze suddenly deepening with resolve.
With the Immortal Dynasty's downfall, the righteous and demonic paths would inevitably begin dividing the spoils of victory.
This process would be anything but peaceful. Wherever conflicting interests existed, disputes were inevitable—that much was certain.
Even without further intelligence, Li Qing could accurately predict this outcome.
Two years ago, the royal marquis's grand tomb in Giant Deer Prefecture nearly sparked a conflict between the Yin Puppet Sect and the Ghost Sword Sect, two major demonic path factions. Now that the Immortal Dynasty had fallen, even greater interests were at stake.
For one thing, the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's Royal Family favored earth burials. How could the burial sites of successive ancient emperors possibly lack astonishing funerary treasures?
There might even be an entire ancient imperial mausoleum complex!
At this thought, even the usually composed Li Qing felt his heart race.
The ancient imperial mausoleums of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty—what an unimaginably valuable immortal treasury land that would be!
"The future is likely to remain chaotic," he murmured.
"Old Zhang, you've done well with this. Continue expanding covertly, steadily expanding the intelligence system, even if it costs more spirit stones."
"Also, I need to gather Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar and Azure Jade Spirit Water. Keep an eye out for any leads on those."
With that, Li Qing left the secret chamber, a bulging pouch of spirit stones tucked into his robes.
"The Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty has fallen! The Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty has been destroyed!"
This earth-shattering news finally spread from the Mystic Prefecture Imperial City to Sunward City in Giant Deer Prefecture.
As expected, the news sent shockwaves through the immortal cultivation world.
"I had a premonition, but it still feels like a dream. The Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty has truly fallen!"
"It's astonishing that such a flourishing Immortal Dynasty could perish."
"From now on, there will be no more Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty."
"The combined might of the righteous and demonic paths is terrifying!"
"Perhaps the cultivation world will finally find peace."
"..."
In a desolate, hidden ravine within Giant Deer Prefecture, a purple Kirin Beast roared incessantly. Its body resembled a deer but was not a horse, its entire form radiating a magnificent, luminous purple. The pair of horns atop its head were like the rarest treasures in the world.
"Roar! Roar!"
Any cultivator who witnessed this scene would be utterly astonished. A purple kirin beast with true spirit bloodline existed in this place!
The purple kirin beast's roars sounded pained, yet its aura grew increasingly powerful.
"Young master, the purple kirin beast has reached the late second-tier. It's time to extract its true blood for your first life-extending ritual."
Uncle Fu, his face weathered with age, approached slowly, his voice grave.
Beside the Kirin Beast, a young man with tear-filled eyes stroked the purple kirin beast's velvety fur, his expression sorrowful.
"Young master, now is not the time for hesitation. Our dynasty's fate is sealed. His Majesty cannot withstand the combined forces of the righteous and demonic paths. You are the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's only hope."
"Mm," Wang Chan murmured, then reassured the beast, "Xiao Guai, don't be afraid of the pain. It will be over soon. Don't be scared, okay?"
"Woong!" The purple kirin beast lowered its head mournfully, its demeanor remarkably docile, offering no resistance whatsoever.
If any other cultivator had witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly astonished.
Though not a true qilin, the purple kirin beast was still a symbol of auspiciousness. Such sacred creatures were known for their unparalleled pride and aloofness. How could it possibly display such submissive behavior?
Moreover, extracting true blood from such a rare beast was considered a grave taboo. Almost no demon beast would willingly comply.
Yet Uncle Fu proceeded without hesitation. He made a precise incision in the beast's chest and abdomen, drawing forth a stream of flawlessly translucent purple true blood.
The young man covered the purple kirin beast's eyes with his hand, his face etched with heartache.
"Enough, Uncle Fu. We don't need so much blood for the first extraction. Just a moderate amount will do."
The young man's voice was clear and melodious, like a pristine spring cascading through a pine forest, pleasing to the ear.
Hearing this, Uncle Fu finally sealed the purple kirin beast's wound and swiftly applied a top-grade spirit herb powder to accelerate healing.
"Young master, this old servant will withdraw now!"
Leaving behind a bowl of warm, purple true blood, Uncle Fu bowed deeply and retreated from the mountain stream.
After witnessing this, the young man slowly removed his robes, revealing skin as smooth and lustrous as congealed fat.
Wang Chan—no, perhaps she should be called Wang Chan!
TL/N:---
王蝉 (Wáng Chán) → surname "Wang," given name "Chan" (蝉 = cicada).
王婵 (Wáng Chán) → surname "Wang," given name "Chan" (婵 = graceful, beautiful woman, often used in female names).
The line is playing on the difference between the characters 蝉 and 婵, both pronounced Chán, but with very different connotations.
---------
Wang Chan lifted the bowl of warm true blood from the purple kirin beast. With utmost care, she extended two jade-like fingers, as pale as scallions, dipped them lightly into the blood, and gently smeared it across her snow-white skin.
Hiss
Wang Chan's delicate, willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, revealing a flicker of pain.
Bathing oneself in the true blood of a purple kirin beast would undoubtedly be considered a sacrilegious waste by anyone who witnessed it!
This true blood was exceedingly precious; ordinary people would treasure it like a priceless gem. How could anyone dare to squander it in such a manner?
But was Wang Chan an ordinary person?
No. Moments later, a faint, ethereal dragon's roar echoed through the mountain stream.
(End of the Chapter)
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