[Three days later, you will head to the underground Black Market to purchase the method for crafting High-Tier Talismans. On your return, you will be ambushed by a Late Stage Qi Cultivation Tribulation Cultivator in the Black Forest.]
Fu Changsheng stared at the words on the panel, momentarily stunned.
He did indeed plan to visit the Black Market.
Because both he and Molan had reached Tier One Middle-Grade in Talisman Making Technique and could attempt to craft Tier One High-Grade Talismans, but the method for this was pricier in the Marketplace.
And the reason why the Black Market is called the Black Market.
Is because the origins of the items in underground trade are somewhat dubious, making them cheaper, though the quality and authenticity require one's own judgement:
"Looks like the Black Market trip in three days needs to be canceled."
Wait!
Fu Changsheng's mind raced.
He immediately changed his mind.
Recently, he had clearly felt as if someone was monitoring him whenever he entered or exited the mountain gate. If he could use this Black Market opportunity to pull off a strategy where someone else does the killing, it might be a good plan.
Thinking about this.
Fu Changsheng immediately came out of seclusion, took the Tier One Middle-Grade Talismans made by Molan and those he made in his spare time, and sold them to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in the Nanyang Marketplace, earning a total of 120 Spirit Stones. To buy the method for crafting Tier One High-Grade Talismans in the Marketplace, he would need at least 40 to 50 more Spirit Stones.
Upon leaving the Nanyang Marketplace.
This time.
He deliberately did not wear the Invisibility Cloak.
He walked through the Black Forest.
Upon reaching the entrance to the Black Market, he could distinctly feel someone indeed following him.
Fu Changsheng sneered, paid one Spirit Stone, took a mask from the guard, put it on, and went straight into the Black Market.
....
A hundred meters from the Black Market, in a copse of Catfish Trees.
A figure dressed in black, seeing Fu Changsheng enter, immediately took out a Communication Jade Talisman from their waist and quickly said:
"Young Master Wentai, Fu Changsheng entered the Black Market after leaving the Nanyang Marketplace."
After a while.
The Communication Jade Talisman flashed.
Li Wentai's voice came through:
"Hurry, ambush on the unavoidable route in the Black Forest, I'll arrive right away."
...
In the Black Market, everyone wore masks. These masks prevented Divine Sense from spying, so no one knew who was behind them.
The Black Market was essentially a main street flanked by stalls.
Unlike the bustling Nanyang Marketplace, the stall owners here quietly waited for customers without calling out.
Fu Changsheng had a clear goal.
He came today to find the method for crafting Tier One High-Grade Talismans.
After searching around.
He spotted a book titled "High-Tier Talisman Crafting Method" on a stall towards the back on the right. This stall was more unique as it had only that one book and nothing else for sale.
The stall owner was a frail, elderly man, occasionally coughing up phlegm stained with blood.
Fu Changsheng flipped through the contents and found it recorded the Earth Escape Talisman and Immobility Talisman, both Tier One High-Grade Talismans. The former suitable for escaping, the latter for combat. Fu Changsheng was satisfied and immediately asked:
"Fellow Daoist, how much for this ancient book?"
"Cough, cough, this ancient book cost me half a life to bring out from the Blood-colored Forbidden Area, it's not priced below two hundred Spirit Stones."
"Would you sell it for one hundred and thirty?"
Fu Changsheng initially wanted to offer one hundred, but couldn't bring himself to, knowing the method for crafting just the Earth Escape Talisman cost more outside.
The old man didn't even lift his eyelids.
He waved Fu Changsheng away:
"Go, go, if you're not sincere about buying, don't block my stall."
Seeing there was no room for negotiation, Fu Changsheng turned to leave.
His purpose today wasn't truly to purchase the method for crafting High-Tier Talismans.
After casually wandering around the Black Market, he stepped out. Returning the mask, he glanced from the corner of his eye at the bushes not far away; the shadow from Luofeng Mountain following him to the Black Market had disappeared.
Fu Changsheng smirked.
If he guessed correctly.
The person should be ambushing on the unavoidable path in the Black Forest.
As the name suggests, the Black Forest was devoid of any light, with only the leaves of the Catfish Trees faintly glowing green. From a distance, it was impossible to discern who was approaching.
Leaving the Black Market.
He took a few steps forward.
A familiar yet unfamiliar scent wafted from behind.
Fu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
He quickly slapped a few Rapid Movement Talismans on himself, his speed increasing instantly, and with a few blinks he was into the Black Forest. Once inside, he quickly donned the Invisibility Cloak, scattering white powder on himself to block scent tracking.
Whether it was the lookout from Luofeng Mountain or the Tribulation Cultivator who followed him from the Black Market, they must have left something on him for tracking.
Hiding within the forest.
After a while.
Soft footsteps were heard emphatically from behind.
Fu Changsheng quickly took a robe he often wore from his storage bag and tossed it to Xiaoqing. Xiaoqing hissed towards the Spirit Beast Bag, summoning several Silver-Spotted Poison Snakes. One seized the robe and, urged by Xiaoqing, slithered forward.
As the Silver-Spotted Poison Snake moved.
The previously paused footsteps behind resumed.
After a while.
The sound of fierce fighting erupted ahead, gradually fading after reaching a climax, then Fu Changsheng leapt from the Catfish Tree.
Peering down.
Two bodies lay on the ground.
In the speckled green light from the Catfish Tree.
The bodies on the ground.
One of them turned out to be Li Wentai.
And the Tribulation Cultivator standing was the elderly vendor from the Black Market, however now standing tall without a hint of old age.
Even so.
The Tribulation Cultivator was clearly injured.
Watching him swiftly rummage through the belongings of Li Wentai and the other, then curse:
"Two dead paupers!"
Suddenly.
The Tribulation Cultivator realized something.
He suddenly turned his head.
At that moment.
Swish, swish, swish, the sound of air being sliced echoed.
Poisonous inflammable liquid, stinking and corrupt, shot out in waves, filling the air and visibly heading towards him. Upon closer inspection, surrounding him were countless Silver-Spotted Poison Snakes, stealthily awaiting.
The Tribulation Cultivator quickly slapped a talisman on himself, golden light flashed, enveloping him in a light shield. Then he immediately performed a hand gesture, intending to use Earth Escape.
However.
On the ground where he stood.
A dozen Silver-Spotted Poison Snakes suddenly burst forth, surging towards his face like lightning.
Even though he reacted quickly, covering with a fan, he still got bitten once. The gesture was momentarily halted, but he quickly swallowed an antidote, his gaze sharply fixed on Fu Changsheng hiding up the tree:
"Heh, heh, I've been waiting for you for a while!"
With that said.
A yellow light flashed from his body.
Instantly, he vanished into the ground, reappearing the next moment under Fu Changsheng's hiding spot in the Catfish Tree.