75: Chapter 75 Heavenly Sword Sect Black Market

Qin Changsheng's Divine Sense had been focused on Li Hu the entire time.

Naturally, he captured Li Hu's reaction.

He found that Li Hu's reaction was far too abnormal.

Whether their cultivation was high or low, when the fellow townsmen present mentioned the Heavenly Sword Sect Grand Competition, they either looked forward to it, envied it, or discussed it fervently; even those who knew their strength was insufficient would join in the excitement.

But Li Hu not only remained silent throughout but also wore such a contemptuous expression, as if everything everyone was talking about was completely wrong.

Hu Nan scanned the surroundings, then stood up and said, "Fellow townsmen, we've just discussed the Grand Competition. I wonder if there's any fresh news or strange rumors within the Heavenly Sword Sect recently?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was momentarily stunned, and then interest appeared on their faces. Clearly, they had been holding back many anecdotes about the Sect and were just worried they had no place to share them.

Zhang Han was the first to set down his wine cup, smiling as he waved his hand. "Hu Nan, you asked at just the right time. There really has been quite a bit of news in the Sect lately, though compared to the Grand Competition, it's not considered much of a big deal, so I didn't mention it earlier."

"Isn't that the truth!" A fellow townsman at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining took up the conversation, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "A few days ago, Junior Brother Zhao from the East Peak suffered a Qi Deviation while practicing his sword. He actually hacked his sword into an Elder's spiritual field! He was punished by the Elder to guard the spiritual field for three days, and even his Qi was sealed. He's become the laughingstock of the Sect now!"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into loud laughter. Someone added, "And then there's the Spirit Plant Garden on the West Peak. For some reason, the Spirit Silkworms they were raising ate the High Grade spirit mulberries completely clean. The garden owner was stomping his feet in rage and searched for several days without finding the culprit. I heard he doesn't even dare to step out of his door now."

One after another, everyone began to speak about the strange rumors and anecdotes within the Sect. There were jokes about Cultivators making fools of themselves while practicing techniques, strange occurrences with Spiritual Plants and Spirit Beasts, and small Opportunities encountered by Sect Disciples. Their words were full of interest, and laughter rang out continuously within the private room.

Hu Nan listened quietly, occasionally nodding slightly. He appeared to be listening intently, but in reality, he was relaying all this information one by one to Qin Changsheng, while secretly keeping an eye on Li Hu's movements.

Just as everyone was speaking to their heart's content and the strange rumors were mostly finished, Lin Yao, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly stood up.

Lin Yao lowered her eyes slightly, her voice clear and calm, yet carrying a hint of imperceptible solemnity. "Speaking of which, half a month ago I went to the Sect's black market to purchase Spiritual Plants and happened to encounter a strange thing. It's not exactly a rumor, but it was just too bizarre, so I never dared to speak of it."

"Oh? What kind of strange thing could happen in the black market?" Zhang Han asked, raising an eyebrow. "The Sect's black market is a mix of all sorts of people; strange things are common there. Could it be that some Heaven-Defying treasure appeared?"

Lin Yao shook her head and looked up at everyone, her tone serious. "It wasn't a treasure, but rather an eerie Cultivation Technique. I saw someone selling it with my own eyes in the black market. That technique can rapidly increase one's cultivation at the cost of burning one's own Lifespan. It's said that even at the Early Stage of Qi Refining, as long as one dares to burn their Lifespan, they can break through one level in a single day. It's just... the reduction in Lifespan is too severe. With the slightest carelessness, one's lamp will run out of oil and they will wither away."

As soon as these words came out, the private room instantly became deathly silent. The smiles on everyone's faces vanished completely, replaced by shock and wariness. The sound of people drawing in cold breaths rang out one after another. "Burning Lifespan to increase cultivation? That's far too eerie!"

"It's simply like drinking poison to quench thirst! No matter how high your cultivation is, it's all for naught without a Lifespan. Who would dare use such a technique?"

"The black market truly hides filth and corruption. To think they'd dare to sell such an evil technique. If the Sect Elders found out, they would surely be ground to dust and scattered to the winds!"

Everyone discussed it one after another, their tones full of lingering fear and disdain. They all felt that this technique was far too dangerous; even if it could rapidly increase cultivation, it was absolutely undesirable and nothing more than a heterodox path.

Meanwhile, far away in his courtyard in the Heavenly Sword Sect Outer Sect, when Qin Changsheng perceived these words, his eyes were filled with joy.

Burning Lifespan to rapidly increase cultivation.

To others, these words sounded like an eerie thing to be avoided at all costs, a burden where the loss outweighed the gain. But to Qin Changsheng's ears, it sounded like heavenly music.

Others were wary of losing Lifespan, fearing that their life would run out and they would perish, but he possessed the Immortality trait. His Lifespan was endless, and time could not touch him. To him, Lifespan was originally the least valuable thing and the thing he needed to worry about least.

This eerie Cultivation Technique that required burning Lifespan to activate was arsenic to others, but to him, it was a treasure tailored specifically for him!

With this technique, he would no longer need to cultivate step-by-step or slowly accumulate Qi and proficiency. He would only need to burn a little Lifespan to rapidly increase his cultivation.

Originally, there were only a little over two months left before the Heavenly Sword Sect Grand Competition.

It would be very difficult for Qin Changsheng to increase his cultivation to Level 10 Qi Refining Stage within two months.

But if he had this Lifespan-burning technique, he could easily break through to Level 10.

The chance of winning the championship in the Grand Competition would also increase significantly.

...

Heavenly Sword Sect Black Market.

The Heavenly Sword Sect's black market was located within the market town.

The black market was a place for dealing with items and treasures that couldn't see the light of day.

This was a place Qin Changsheng had only learned about after inquiring for a long time.

At the entrance of the black market, two guards at the Late Stage of Qi Refining were standing there.

Hu Nan also wore a mask and arrived here dressed in black clothes.

"Black market entrance, pay ten Spirit Sands," a guard blocked Hu Nan.

Hu Nan nodded slightly without saying much, handing ten small grains of Spirit Sand to the guard.

The guard took the Spirit Sand, and after carefully counting it and confirming it was correct, he shot a look at the guard on the right. Both of them stepped aside simultaneously, revealing the entrance behind them.

Hu Nan took a deep breath and walked inside.

A long, narrow passage appeared before his eyes. Faint oil lamps hung on both sides of the passage, their dim yellow light barely illuminating the path ahead.

After walking about dozens of steps along the passage, the front suddenly opened up, and a massive underground space came into view.

This was the Heavenly Sword Sect's black market.

Within the black market, there was a hubbub of voices, and Cultivators coming and going in an endless stream. Everyone wore a black mask on their face, concealing their appearance.

On both sides of the black market, various stalls were set up. Some sold Low Grade Magical Artifacts and Spiritual Plants, some peddled Medicinal Pills and Talismans, and some secretly traded Cultivation Techniques and Secret Realm information. The cries of the vendors were low and restrained.

Hu Nan's gaze quickly swept over the entire area. While keeping an eye on the surrounding movements, he searched for the figure selling the Lifespan-burning technique. His steps were steady and his expression calm, never drawing the attention of others.

He slowly wove through the black market, passing stall after stall and looking at item after item. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he discovered his target in an open space in the center of the black market.

It was a Cultivator dressed in a magnificent brocade robe. The fabric of the robe was of fine quality and embroidered with complex patterns. Even under the dim light, one could tell it was of great value, making him stand out from the mostly plainly dressed Cultivators in the black market.

He also wore a black mask that covered most of his face, revealing only a tight jawline and a pair of cold eyes.

What was most striking was that his left hand was missing, and his sleeve was neatly rolled up.

At this moment, a simple and old black booklet lay before him. The cover of the booklet had no patterns or words, and a hint of cold, eerie Aura lingered around it, exactly like the Lifespan-burning technique Lin Yao had described.

"Lin Hao?" The moment he saw this person, Qin Changsheng recognized that this stall owner was Lin Hao.

After all, in the Heavenly Sword Sect, the only person who dressed so magnificently, was at the Level 10 Qi Refining Stage, and had his left arm cut off was Lin Hao.

There were many Cultivators around Lin Hao.

Some people also asked about the technique, but once they learned it was a Lifespan-burning technique, they were all unwilling to inquire further.

After all, the price of burning one's Lifespan was far too dangerous, and the loss outweighed the gain.

Hu Nan also arrived not far from Lin Hao.

"Fellow Daoist, how much for this technique?"

Lin Hao's gaze slowly fell on Hu Nan, carrying a hint of scrutiny as if he were judging Hu Nan's identity.

"This technique is a method of burning Lifespan, exchanging Lifespan for cultivation. Are you sure you want to buy it?"

Hu Nan nodded slightly. "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to say more. If the price is right, we'll trade directly."

Lin Hao was silent for a long time before saying, "Five hundred Spirit Sands, fixed price, no bargaining."

Hearing this, Hu Nan did not hesitate at all. He nodded slightly and replied in a calm tone, "Deal."

As soon as he finished speaking, he placed five Low-Grade Spirit Stones in front of Lin Hao.

Lin Hao looked down at the five Spirit Stones, carefully counted them once, and after confirming the amount was correct, he gently pushed the Lifespan-burning technique in front of him toward Hu Nan.

"The technique is yours."

"Remember, the price of burning Lifespan with this technique is extremely heavy!" After Lin Hao finished speaking, he paid no more attention to Hu Nan and hurriedly left the place.

Hu Nan reached out and placed the technique into his Storage Space.

At the same time, he also quickly left the area.

...

Heavenly Sword Sect.

Outside the market town.

Not long after Hu Nan walked out of the market town, he saw three figures blocking his path.

The three of them stood in tricky positions, forming a triangle that blocked all of Hu Nan's paths of retreat.

These people had a menacing Aura, and their eyes were full of greed and ill intent.

Hu Nan looked up at the three of them, his gaze quickly sweeping over the leader.

It was a Cultivator dressed in black martial attire, tall and with a fierce face, at the Qi Refining Stage 7.

The other two were both at the Qi Refining Stage 6.

The tall Cultivator stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Kid, be smart and hand over everything on you! Especially that technique you bought from the black market, as well as your Spirit Stones and treasures. Hand them all over and I'll spare your dog life; otherwise, I'll leave your corpse in the street today!"

This person's tone was arrogant, and the greed in his eyes was completely unconcealed. He was clearly certain that Hu Nan was just an ordinary low-level Cultivator and was no match for the three of them. Taking him down would be as easy as lifting a finger.

The other two Cultivators at Qi Refining Stage 6 also chimed in, their tones fierce as they continuously issued threats, forcing Hu Nan to hand over his things.

Hu Nan's expression remained unchanged, still maintaining his calm, though a bit more coldness appeared in his eyes.

"You all were sent by Lin Hao, weren't you?" Hu Nan asked.