Chapter Twenty-One: The Trading Market (Part Two)

Seeing the furious expression on Liu Junhuai’s face, Boss Zhang patted him on the shoulder and said, “Young man, you’re not a local, are you? Just let him have the goods for now. I still have two stalks of two-hundred-year-old Seven Star Grass here. That fellow’s surname is Qi; he’s the third young master of the Qi family from Cloud Valley. The Qi family has more than a dozen people here in the Haitian Pavilion. See over there?” He discreetly pointed not far away at several disciples dressed in blue-violet uniforms, “Those people are under Qi’s control. If you cross them, they won’t take you to the Haitian Pavilion, but straight to the Qi household—where reason counts for nothing.”

Liu Junhuai regretted his rashness at these words. He realized he could have resolved things differently. With important duties on his shoulders, avoiding trouble should have been his priority. He repeatedly thanked Boss Zhang and politely offered to buy the two Seven Star Grasses at a high price.

Boss Zhang didn’t stand on ceremony, selling each stalk to Liu Junhuai for five hundred low-grade spirit stones—a steep price, but Liu Junhuai had several hundred middle-grade stones and a few dozen high-grade ones at hand. Converted to low-grade stones, he’d have several hundred thousand. Besides, Boss Zhang had helped him out of a jam, earning his sincere gratitude.

Seeing Liu Junhuai was reasonable, Boss Zhang advised, “Transactions are pretty fair here. With your current cultivation, you’re an easy target, but once you reach Foundation Establishment, few will dare bully you. Since you’re after rare herbs, try Guiyuan Pavilion to the east.” He pointed to a sizable stall not far away. “They only deal in rare treasures, and the proprietor has real clout—nobody dares cause trouble there. Prices are higher, though.”

Liu Junhuai thanked him once more and set off as directed.

Stepping into Guiyuan Pavilion, he saw they indeed sold Seven Star Grass, Star Blue, Ice Arrow Grass, Bone-Corrosion Spirit Flower, Azure Dragon Ginseng, Heart-Eroding Mushroom, and other rare herbs. He asked about the two-hundred-year-old Seven Star Grass, finding it priced at only four hundred low-grade spirit stones—quite reasonable.

He bought five stalks each of a dozen rare herbs, spending nearly a hundred middle-grade stones, which came to almost ten thousand low-grade stones. The shopkeeper, seeing that Liu Junhuai was young but generous, assumed he was a scion of some great family. He produced a redwood invitation and handed it over: “Young sir, tomorrow night the market’s trade association is holding an auction. There’ll be rare treasures and magical items up for bid—perhaps something you need will be on offer…”

Listening carefully, Liu Junhuai learned that this was the largest auction in the marketplace, hosted by the Shangyu Commerce Association, Guiyuan Pavilion’s backer. Held every three months, it always featured precious items. Even if he couldn’t afford anything, it would be worth attending. Thanking the shopkeeper, he accepted the invitation and left.

He picked up some common alchemical ingredients at a few more stalls, and soon his spiritual sense detected someone tailing him. Realizing his frequent spending had attracted attention, he became more alert, comparing their strength to his own and preparing to act if necessary.

After two hours, he identified two followers: a bodyguard-type youth at the seventh level of Qi Refining, who periodically reported to a middle-aged man at the first level of Foundation Establishment. The two would swap places and continue tailing him.

It wasn’t until Liu Junhuai lingered at a shop for some time that a third person appeared, and he realized this was the third young master of the Qi family behind it all.

From the trio’s conversation, Liu Junhuai learned that the third young master had spotted him producing large sums of spirit stones amid the crowds, piquing his interest. Seeing him spend freely, and given their earlier altercation, they decided to rob him.

Liu Junhuai’s own murderous intent was roused, and he gradually led his pursuers toward a secluded part of the market.

He waited for the Foundation Establishment cultivator to tail him, then, feigning panic, he dashed off toward a hillside.

At a well-chosen bend, Liu Junhuai suppressed his aura and concealed himself behind a thick tree, Shadow Blade drawn, his sea of consciousness surging with golden elemental power, ready to strike.

A few breaths later, the middle-aged man hurried past the tree.

Liu Junhuai sprang out, blade flashing toward the man’s back.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator sensed danger just in time, the corner of his mouth curling in a sneer as he flung a black mountain-splitting axe behind him without turning.

But Liu Junhuai’s transformed blade, wrapped in golden elemental force, appeared from within the blade light. The man’s face twisted in shock as his upper body was shredded to pieces.

Liu Junhuai pocketed the fallen storage ring, hid behind the tree again, and waited for the remaining two.

Moments later, the third young master and the Qi Refining youth came running. As they rounded the bend and saw the corpse, Liu Junhuai struck again—the youth’s head flew from his shoulders in a single flash of the blade.

The third young master cried out in terror, turning to flee, but Liu Junhuai appeared before him.

“You killed them? How did you do that?” the third young master stammered.

“I’m just a nobody. They ran into my blade by accident and couldn’t react in time. Please forgive me, young master.” Liu Junhuai looked at him with a mocking smile.

Even a fool could now see that this “Qi Refining fourth level” was disguising his true strength. “Aren’t you afraid the Qi family will slaughter your whole clan? If anything happens to me, even if you run to the ends of the earth, the Qi family will find you,” the third young master threatened desperately.

“Thank you for the warning, young master. I’ll be sure to destroy the bodies and erase all traces,” Liu Junhuai replied with a cold laugh.

With a thud, the third young master dropped to his knees, pleading, “It was foolish of me to offend you. Please, spare my life! I’ll pay a hundred thousand—no, a million spirit stones if you’ll just let me go!”

Liu Junhuai sneered, “You’ll have nothing left after you’re dead. Why bother?” Without another word, he drove his blade into the young master’s body.

He took the two storage rings, swept the three corpses into his own ring with a wave, tidied up the scene, walked around the hillside, and after a brief rest, made sure no one was watching before returning to the marketplace.

The crowds were still thick for miles around. Amid the throng, Liu Junhuai arrived at a stall selling discarded magical treasures.

All sorts of broken magical items were strewn across a space dozens of yards wide.

Half a Rainbow Cord, a broken Heaven-Earth Ruler, a damaged Jade Crystal Bottle, a rodless Primal Banner, a headless Fire Dragon Dart… The selection was broad, but the prices steep—the Rainbow Cord alone was priced at twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones, more than double the cost of its materials.

As he rummaged, Liu Junhuai suddenly noticed a lidless small cauldron, rough and ugly, with a fine crack running down its body and one of its three legs missing.

Activating his Celestial Eye, he saw within it an even smaller golden cauldron, spherical in shape, with three protruding feet. Its surface was etched with exquisite runes, the walls thin as paper, its rectangular handles merging seamlessly into the body—an object of peerless craftsmanship.

Liu Junhuai was delighted, but gave no sign. He picked up an eight-inch gilt iron spear beside the ugly cauldron and pretended to examine it closely.

“That’s a Golden Light Black Iron Spear, missing a section of the shaft. Two thousand low-grade spirit stones—well worth it!” the stall owner said as Liu Junhuai inspected it.

“The iron’s good, but the content’s too low. The spearhead’s fine, but the shaft’s brittle from poor tempering. Only the head’s worth anything,” Liu Junhuai replied honestly. “Just the spearhead—how about five hundred low-grade spirit stones?”

The owner looked pained. “The shaft’s worthless alone, but the whole thing’s worth at least a thousand. How about this: give me thirteen hundred and it’s yours.”

Liu Junhuai shook his head. “Eight hundred, tops. Getting a smith to repair it will cost at least three hundred more.”

The owner refused, so Liu Junhuai sighed and made to leave. The owner quickly stopped him, “A thousand, lowest price. I haven’t sold a thing all day—I’d be glad to make your acquaintance. How’s that sound?”

Liu Junhuai pretended to consider, then crouched down to examine the spear again, casually picking up the ugly cauldron as well. “Throw in this scrap iron. There’s still some black iron ore inside.”

The owner hesitated, then said, “I’ve never bundled goods before—wouldn’t do my reputation any favors. How about this: the cauldron, plus fifty more spirit stones, and you take both.”

After a moment’s thought, Liu Junhuai counted out one thousand and fifty low-grade spirit stones, handed them over, picked up both items, and left.