22: Soul Devouring Blood Magic

The street wasn't big, but there were many shops on both sides and various stalls filled the ground, where a large number of Cultivators gathered to sell or trade all sorts of items.

However, everyone here carefully reined in their auras and hid all their traces.

After all, those who came to the black market weren't exactly upright people, and upright people generally didn't come to the black market.

He didn't look around, not wanting to appear as if it was his first time.

Walking onto the main street, the sounds of hawking were constant.

"High Grade Magical Artifacts for cheap! Only eight hundred eighty-eight Spirit Stones!"

"Exploring a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cave, seeking a few powerful Fellow Daoists!"

"Secret Realm treasure map, containing the Legacy of a Half-Golden Core expert! Obtaining it means establishing a Dao Lineage and becoming an ancestor is no longer a pipe dream. First come, first served, fifty Spirit Stones, no negotiation!"

"......"

Lu Ming passed by the stalls, listening to these shouts, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Since coming to the Immortal Cultivation Realm, he had never entered any Secret Realm or explored an Immortal Cave of a predecessor.

He just felt it was very unreliable!

What fell from the sky wasn't necessarily a pie; it was more likely a trap.

It might be a pit set by others, just waiting for you to fall in!

Perhaps there was a tiny chance to pick up a bargain, but as long as you didn't gamble, you would never lose!

He didn't have an 'Innate Protagonist Sacred Body' that could discover a world-shaking Cultivation Technique by falling off a cliff, or pick up a Heaven-Defying treasure by strolling down the street.

Also, what kind of Realm was this 'Half-Golden Core'?

Lu Ming's urge to complain reached its peak at this moment.

The items in this area were also quite mixed, with genuine and fake goods, relying entirely on one's discerning eye.

Lu Ming didn't make any purchases; he didn't think his eyesight was sharper than others.

The buyer never outsmarts the seller.

He first explored the black market generally, gaining an understanding of the prices of Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans.

Once he had a grasp, he began to look for places where he could sell the stolen goods he had obtained earlier.

After some observation, Lu Ming finally arrived at a small shop.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he saw several figures entering and exiting, vaguely seeing them selling items. He guessed these people were all there to fence stolen goods.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man, a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Seeing a customer approach, the shop owner already greeted him with a warm, smiling face.

"Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?"

"I have a batch of Magical Artifacts I want to sell. Do you buy them here?"

"Yes, of course we do!"

"Give me an estimate."

Lu Ming spoke in a hoarse voice, then threw out a Storage Pouch.

The shop owner took the Storage Pouch, inspected each item with his spiritual sense, then thought carefully for a moment before speaking.

"Fellow Daoist, the grades of these Magical Artifacts aren't very high, and many are damaged. Some have severe spiritual essence loss and almost need to be reforged.

There are a total of five Magical Artifacts inside; I'll give you two hundred thirteen Spirit Stones for them."

The boss said gently, a smile on his face.

Lu Ming's mouth, hidden beneath his black robe, twitched violently. This was too dark.

Even if they were all subpar items, they shouldn't be this low. A normal first-tier Low Grade Magical Artifact would cost around one hundred Spirit Stones, with expensive ones nearing three hundred Spirit Stones.

However, he also knew there was an unwritten rule in the black market: transactions didn't question the origin or source of items, but prices would be much lower.

Thinking of this, he didn't answer immediately but threw out another Storage Pouch, which contained various useless sundries.

"How much for all of these?"

After inspecting them again, the shop owner said, "A total of two hundred forty Spirit Stones."

"Alright, that price works."

Lu Ming had no intention of bargaining; being able to sell them was enough.

After settling the transaction with the shop owner, Lu Ming took the Spirit Stones and prepared to leave.

Just then, the shop owner suddenly called out to Lu Ming.

"Fellow Daoist, if you have any other items in the future, you can sell them directly to me. My prices are still very fair."

Lu Ming nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

He didn't know if it was fair, but the shop owner seemed to follow the rules and didn't ask any unnecessary questions.

As for whether he would come again, that was a matter for later.

Leaving the small shop, Lu Ming began to wander around the black market.

He hadn't forgotten his purpose for coming to the black market: to find various Cultivation Techniques that offered rapid advancement but had significant side effects.

His main destinations were the stalls selling Cultivation Techniques and secret arts.

Compared to shops, stalls sold items more cheaply and had a wider variety.

After obtaining some treasures, Loose Cultivators would first try to sell them at stalls. If they couldn't sell them, they would then consider selling them to shops.

This was because shops heavily suppressed prices, significantly reducing profits.

This was something Zhou Yang had mentioned inadvertently, and Lu Ming had kept it in mind.

Sure enough, not long after walking, Lu Ming's attention was drawn to a Cultivation Technique at a small stall.

He squatted in front of the stall, first picking up a small booklet and flipping through it. Seeing it was a first-tier Cultivation Technique, he then picked up the blood-colored Jade Slip next to it to examine.

The Jade Slip only contained a small initial portion, with the rest being blank.

This was merely a sample for Cultivators to inspect; the complete version could only be obtained after purchase.

This was also a preventive measure; most Loose Cultivators were thick-skinned, and without some protection, they might read the entire thing right in front of you.

"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in this 'Spirit Devouring Art'?"

The stall owner was a hawk-nosed Cultivator in a yellow robe, with a mole on his nose.

This person hadn't concealed his face, and Lu Ming didn't know if he was confident or possessed a disguise Cultivation Technique.

"Fellow Daoist, you have excellent taste. This was obtained unexpectedly when my friend and I explored an Immortal Cave and accidentally stumbled into a Golden Core Senior's Immortal Cave.

For this Legacy, my closest friend unfortunately perished in the Immortal Cave, and I went through immense hardship to get my hands on the Legacy."

As he spoke, the yellow-robed Cultivator even sighed.

"Alright, tell me about the Cultivation Technique."

Seeing that the yellow-robed Cultivator was about to spout more nonsense, Lu Ming impatiently interrupted him. Who wanted to know his experiences? It was nothing more than an attempt to demand a high price later.

The yellow-robed Cultivator wasn't annoyed by Lu Ming's interruption. He chuckled twice and began to introduce it to Lu Ming.

"Cultivating the 'Spirit Devouring Art' allows one to absorb the blood Qi of living beings to accelerate Cultivation speed. The more absorbed, the faster one's strength increases."

"A Demonic Path Cultivation Technique?"

Lu Ming's tone feigned displeasure, but inwardly, he was intrigued.

"Not at all. This is a blood Dao Cultivation Technique. Cultivated to Perfection, it can transform blood into blades, possessing immense power.

Moreover, Fellow Daoist can use Yao Beast essence blood to replace Cultivator blood Qi, thus avoiding wanton slaughter."

The yellow-robed Cultivator put on a benevolent expression.

"Such a Cultivation Technique must come with a huge price for Cultivation. Why didn't you mention it!"

"Fellow Daoist, don't rush. Listen to me. Cultivating this technique progresses extremely fast, so the Foundation might not be as stable, and it might also give rise to some Heart Demons.

But Fellow Daoist can reach Late-Stage Qi Refining Perfection faster than others, and then slowly refine your magical power Foundation. There will be more than enough time.

Besides, for the sake of longevity, what's a small price?"

The yellow-robed Cultivator's eyes lit up, seeing Lu Ming was tempted, and began to coax him.

Lu Ming knew this person hadn't finished speaking, but he didn't care. This Cultivation Technique was very suitable for him.

What were those so-called prices to him? He was only worried that the yellow-robed Cultivator was fabricating things.

"How can I be sure that everything you say is true?" Lu Ming asked.

"Fellow Daoist, don't worry. I will make a Dao Oath, confirming that everything I have stated is true."

Lu Ming nodded. A Dao Oath was not something to be sworn lightly. Once violated, one would surely suffer a Heart Demon backlash, and Realm Breakthroughs would become mere fantasy.

Generally, only Cultivators with no other options would commit such a self-destructive act against their Dao.

So, it could basically be confirmed that he indeed had such a Cultivation Technique in his hand. However, if he was just swearing a false Dao Oath, then Lu Ming would consider it unsaid.

"How much?"

"One hundred fifty Spirit Stones!"

Lu Ming turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, don't go, Fellow Daoist, please stay!" The yellow-robed Cultivator quickly urged.

Lu Ming's mouth twitched. Those words shouldn't be said!

"I'll take it for seventy Spirit Stones."

"Fellow Daoist, how can you cut the price in half like that! This was obtained by my beloved friends and sworn brothers with their lives. Fellow Daoist, take it for one hundred thirty Spirit Stones."

"Eighty."

"No, no, at least one hundred twenty."

Lu Ming and the yellow-robed Cultivator haggled back and forth, finally settling on ninety Spirit Stones.

Lu Ming only took out the Spirit Stones after seeing him make the Dao Oath, and the yellow-robed Cultivator handed over the blood-colored Jade Slip.

After the two completed the transaction, the yellow-robed Cultivator suddenly grinned and said.

"Fellow Daoist, we've settled the transaction!"

Lu Ming's eyelids twitched, but he said nothing more. Instead, he placed the blood-colored Jade Slip against his forehead to examine it.

At this point, the Restriction on the Jade Slip had been removed, and he could now view everything.

Before long.

Boom—

Magical power vibrated. Lu Ming tightly clutched the Jade Slip, staring intently at the yellow-robed Cultivator, as if he would erupt and attack at any second!

"How dare you harm me like this!"

The yellow-robed Cultivator, looking unconcerned, chuckled and said.

"Brother Dao, you are mistaken! I didn't lie, and don't forget the black market rules: once money and goods are exchanged, there are no returns or exchanges. Please, Fellow Daoist, don't be unreasonable!"

The yellow-robed Cultivator put on an act as if Lu Ming was slandering him.

"But you swore a Dao Oath!"

Lu Ming said, 'gritting his teeth'!

"I didn't say anything wrong. This is indeed a blood Dao Cultivation Technique, and the Cultivation Technique I gave you is also fine."

"It's not as simple and easy as you make it sound, you..."

The yellow-robed man sneered, interrupting Lu Ming.

"I didn't force you to buy it, did I? You bought it yourself, so who's to blame?"

Lu Ming was so angry that he 'trembled all over'.

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll take the loss! We'll meet again!"

Lu Ming snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Watching Lu Ming's 'fleeing' back, the yellow-robed Cultivator sneered.

"Trying to act tough with me? What a joke!"

...

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