Li Nanyi had no idea he had been targeted the moment he entered the city gate.
At the moment, he was still debating whether to go to the shops he frequented in the past or head straight to the black market.
After all, if he was lucky, he could fetch a higher price in the black market. What if someone there actually recognized the value of his goods?
However, there was a certain level of danger. The Sword Heart Sect was responsible for public safety, so they usually turned a blind eye to the existence of these black markets. As long as fights didn't break out in the open, no one cared what happened in private.
Every city had such a black market; they often brought in more foot traffic and business.
Moreover, even Sword Heart Sect disciples would occasionally sneak into the black market to trade. They could truly find good items there, and since the improvement of a disciple's strength only benefited the sect, no one would stop them.
It simply had to be done in secret, as the sect officially prohibited disciples from trading in the black market.
Li Nanyi didn't hesitate for long. After a brief thought, he turned and walked in a different direction.
The three of them followed him immediately.
Watching Li Nanyi enter a shop and fail to emerge for a long time, Mu Wenyan frowned and was the first to head inside to investigate.
However, Li Nanyi was nowhere to be found. The shop didn't even have a back door. After a moment's thought, Mu Wenyan realized that Li Nanyi must have gone to the black market.
It would actually be easier to handle if he had gone there. The Sword Heart Sect had no jurisdiction over fights within the black market.
As for the problem of gaining entry, that was even easier to solve. He would simply throw money at it. There was nothing a single high-grade spirit stone couldn't accomplish; if one wasn't enough, he would use two.
Regardless, money was the one thing he didn't lack.
After 'communicating' with the shopkeeper for a while, Mu Wenyan stepped out and called Li Nanzhu and Duan Xianxing inside.
"Do we still need to cover our faces?" Li Nanzhu asked, somewhat confused. If they were afraid of Li Nanyi discovering their identities, shouldn't they have covered their faces earlier?
"Yes. We are about to enter the black market. It's best to hide our identities there. Otherwise, if we happen to get our hands on something good, it'll be a hassle if someone remembers our faces. It's better not to cause too much of a stir on this trip."
After all three had put on veiled hats, they stepped into a teleportation array under the shopkeeper's guidance.
When they opened their eyes again, the scene before them had completely changed. It was no longer the cramped, dim backroom of a shop. Although it was still dark here, the area was decorated with many night-luminescent pearls for illumination. The street was lined with various stalls. The sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell, yet they were eerily controlled at a volume that was clear but not noisy.
Like them, the stall owners either wore masks or covered their faces.
As for the few who didn't hide their faces, they were either absolutely confident in their own strength or had used some sort of transformation spell.
Li Nanzhu wasn't in a hurry to find Li Nanyi. If she showed too much purpose immediately upon entering the black market, it would invite danger. It was better to act like everyone else and pretend to be shopping.
Mu Wenyan and Duan Xianxing also refrained from making any rash moves. This wasn't their first time visiting a black market; it was just their first time in the Xuanxiao City black market. They were already well-acquainted with the rules.
There were indeed many good things in the black market. Based on the few steps Li Nanzhu had taken, she had already seen demonic beast cores still stained with fresh blood and rare spirit herbs sealed in jade boxes.
There were even a few magic tools that clearly bore the markings of famous orthodox sects, though how they had ended up here was anyone's guess.
Mu Wenyan only glanced at the items before losing interest. There was almost nothing here that could be of use to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
At the same time, he spoke to the two in a low voice.
"There's no need to look at those magic tools. You can't buy them, and you certainly shouldn't touch them. They might have special trackers on them, or be tainted with demonic qi or resentment. If you touch them, it might transfer to you, and you'll be inviting trouble."
Li Nanzhu and Duan Xianxing nodded in understanding.
The one she needed to worry about least was actually Duan Xianxing. He had already spent almost all his money previously, so he couldn't afford anything now even if he saw it. Of course, it was also possible he simply hadn't seen anything he particularly liked yet; if he did, he would likely just borrow money from Li Nanzhu.
As for Li Nanzhu, even if she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she had read enough novels to know these rules. Even without Mu Wenyan's warning, she wouldn't have touched anything recklessly.
However, after a full circuit, they truly didn't run into Li Nanyi. They didn't know what kind of disguise he had changed into.
Still, if they didn't catch him this time, there would be other chances. Since it was rare to visit a black market, they discussed it and decided to set the matter of Li Nanyi aside for a moment to see if they could find any hidden gems.
After turning a few corners, they arrived at the East District.
The stalls here were mostly focused on medicinal herbs and miscellaneous items, making it relatively quiet.
Li Nanzhu was currently attracted by a stall selling spirit grass seeds. As she looked down to inspect them, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a stall in a remote corner not far away.
That stall was extremely inconspicuous. The owner was wrapped entirely in a black robe, revealing only his eyes. Strangely, there was a sign on it with four large words: 'Honest Dealing'.
A messy pile of items was laid out on the stall: rusted copper mirrors, herbs, demonic beast cores, unknown strange stones, and other junk.
The more Li Nanzhu looked, the more familiar it felt. She stared at that sign for a long time before suddenly remembering what she had forgotten.
In the original novel, Cang Dongqing obtained an extremely precious stone in the black market. It was through that stone, merged with her life-bound sword, that her sword spirit was subsequently generated, laying the foundation for her to become the number one person in the Dao of the sword.
And that specific moment was when Cang Dongqing returned from the Flowing Cloud Secret Realm. The stall owner's sign was exactly the same as in the original text.
Li Nanzhu's heart suddenly began to throb.
This was the original heroine's great opportunity! And currently, Cang Dongqing was still recovering at the sect and couldn't possibly come here.
That item was going to be hers!
Far away at the Sword Heart Sect, the recovering Cang Dongqing's heart suddenly trembled. She felt a wave of unease, as if she were about to lose something.
Over here, Li Nanzhu suppressed her excitement. She had to keep her voice calm. Once the other party knew her true goal, they would only hike up the price or refuse to sell it altogether.
Furthermore, this was originally the heroine's destiny. Who knew if someone would try to snatch it from her because of that? She couldn't be too hasty.
Thus, Li Nanzhu pretended to browse the nearby stalls, even spending money to buy two or three spirit plants. She acted as if she were just buying things on a whim because they seemed okay. Only then did she wander over to that specific stall as if she had just noticed it.
Duan Xianxing had already spotted a thunder-attribute ore and had just borrowed money from Li Nanzhu, dragging his first senior brother to a neighboring stall.
This gave Li Nanzhu the perfect opportunity to act.
"Fellow Daoist, how much for this mirror?"
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