After the mind-reading cripple junior sister, the entire sect rose to prominence.

Chapter 371 The Black Market (Happy New Year)
It's quite a coincidence that the Hu family has many businesses, the biggest of which is the auction house.

Ren Ruojiu has managed the auction house for many years and has handled countless spiritual herbs, including some of the more precious ones.

But she had only seen this cold beauty once.

That is to say, she reads a lot of books on a regular basis, and even pays attention to some obscure or even extinct rare objects, otherwise she would not have recognized that this is a cold beauty.

Even the owner who brought it to the auction house didn't know what it was!

That's all. The book only describes the appearance of the cold beauty and says that its growing environment is very harsh, so this plant is very rare, but it doesn't mention anything about its toxicity.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten infected.

Ren Ruojiu didn't know anything about Leng Meiren, but that didn't matter. She had many alchemists she often dealt with, so she could just ask them.

"Alright, then remember this. Let me know if there are any results." Hu Xiu nodded.

"Don't worry, we'll have news soon," Hu Li'an comforted his son. "If it really is because of this poisonous herb, then we'll find a way to cure it. Besides, didn't that little girl say there's a kind of pill that can treat the symptoms? So it's probably not a big problem."

Hu Xiu nodded. "I hope so."

The next day, the time for the Black Market to open finally arrived.

The black market in Canxin City is different from other places. Other places are open for one day every few days, but Canxin City is open every day, except for a big market every half month.

The small markets that are open on weekdays mostly sell ordinary items, while the really good and rare items are reserved for the big markets. During the big markets, not only do customers gather, but sellers with good items also come from afar.

The black market in Canxin City is very large, which is why Mo Jiuwei made this special trip, hoping to purchase as many items as possible in one go.

The entrance to the black market was an unassuming ladder that led downwards. The top of the ladder was in the middle of a busy street, and an outsider might mistake it for someone's cellar.

Once inside, it was pitch black. The rule here is that no lighting equipment can be used, because many people choose to put on large cloaks to protect themselves from being spied on after entering, so as to hide their identities.

Some people also remove their cloaks here and reveal their true appearance.

Therefore, if someone lights a lamp there, it is considered a provocation, and everyone around will attack them in order to silence them.

Mo Jiuwei was held in Huang Ye's arms, and Huang Ye put on a very large black cloak, which also covered Mo Jiuwei.

Those outside could not tell the man, woman, or child by looking through the cloak, nor could they tell that she was holding someone in her arms.

This cloak was modified by Qi Qi. The area where Mo Jiuwei's eyes were placed was re-stitched, and the original cloth was replaced with a layer of black gauze. Mo Jiuwei could see outside if she got close, but she could not be seen from the outside.

Although it was dark inside the ladder and I couldn't see anything, I was able to feel my way along the wall until I turned a corner and the light began to gradually brighten.

There were other monks around them, but everyone went their own way and no one spoke.

"Ten crystals per person."

Upon reaching the actual entrance, the gatekeeper, also dressed in a black cloak, spoke upon seeing them approach.

Huang Ye's task was to hold Mo Jiuwei and poke her whenever Mo Jiuwei took a liking to something, while Hua Yan was responsible for paying for it.

Xueying, Tuanzi, and Qiqi were mainly responsible for collecting items, while Ningning and Xiaoya were responsible for guarding and keeping an eye on the surroundings to prevent anyone from following them or attacking them.

Hua Yan paid for seven people, but Mo Jiuwei, being a child, didn't count. Besides, she was hidden in her cloak, so the gatekeeper didn't notice her.

After paying, they entered the black market.

The black market was very orderly, consisting of rows of stalls, but the stalls were not placed on the ground, but on special tables.

The stall owners wore different colored cloaks, which were gray and issued by the black market. Each stall had a number on it to prevent people from getting confused and not being able to tell who was who.

The entire area was laid out in a grid pattern, allowing cultivators to easily turn and detour, with so many stalls that it was almost impossible to see the end of the area.

Wow, the spiritual energy here is so strong! There are so many treasures here.

"The nearest one is to the east... I need Huang Ye to take me there. Good things should be taken first, otherwise someone else will snatch them up." Upon hearing this, the seventh maidservant silently quickened her pace, heading east.

[A little further north...we're here! This is stall number 28!]

[Oh, it's Spirit-Seeking Liquid! Good stuff, I'll buy it!]

Mo Jiuwei is not short of money at all; don't forget, she owns a crystal mine!
She told Xu Yihan and the others about the harvest from the crystal mine, but they said to let her keep it for herself first, as the sect wasn't short of money for the time being, and to come to her when they were really broke.

Mo Jiuwei knew immediately that the money would ultimately be hers, since the Immortal Sect would continue to make money and wouldn't need her private treasury.

Since we have money, what are we afraid of? Buy whatever we want!
Mo Jiuwei knew very well that real resources were limited. Those spiritual herbs took hundreds or thousands of years to grow, and once one was bought, there would be one less available. First come, first served.

In comparison, crystals are nothing; as long as a person is alive, crystals can always be earned again.

So if there are good things, she'd rather keep them first, since things won't go to waste in her possession and will always be able to reach their maximum value.

"Shopkeeper, how much are these in crystals?" It was time to buy something, and Hua Yan perked up as she stepped forward to ask.

"Spirit-Seeking Liquid, 8,500 crystals per bottle."

That's too expensive, six thousand is the most.

Mo Jiuwei was worried that the maid didn't know the bottom price, and was about to whisper a reminder, but...

"Five thousand," Hua Yan calmly countered.

"That won't do! It must be at least 8,200!" the stall owner shrieked.

"Five thousand."

"Eight thousand."

"Five thousand."

……

After some haggling, the deal was finally struck at 5,800.

[Huayan is great! They've got the price just right; they know their stuff!]

Mo Jiuwei was astonished. If it weren't inconvenient for her to speak, she would have liked to praise Hua Yan immediately.

Hua Yan blushed at the words and cleared her throat awkwardly.

The other maids, however, suppressed their laughter.

There's something great next door! That bracelet is really nice; it has a calming effect and is perfect for wearing during meditation!

Mo Jiuwei's eyes lit up as she spotted the items at the stall.

Huang Ye carried her a few steps and happened to stop in front of that stall.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this bracelet?" Hua Yan asked.

【Huh? You all have such similar tastes?】

[Hua Yan really knows her stuff!]

Hua Yan: ……

Oh dear, how embarrassing!

She's not a connoisseur at all!
But she could only pretend nothing was wrong and calmly haggle over the price.