Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 296 [Black Market Black Scheme] (6000 words)

(As promised, I updated early today~)

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Chapter 290 [Black Market Black Scheme] (6000 words)

It's impossible for me to have a big sword, it's impossible for me to have a big sword in this lifetime.

Chen Yan declared that he was upright and righteous!
However, Chen Yan quickly realized that he had misunderstood Yun Zhao's meaning.

Yun Zhao led Chen Yan along, passing through two streets and then through a small alley.

This intersection is quiet, with far fewer pedestrians than the surrounding streets.

As Chen Yan entered the alley, he clearly saw several cultivators dressed in tight-fitting clothes loitering at the intersection. They stood around in small groups, seemingly lazy but actually vigilant. Their gazes appeared relaxed, but they were actually patrolling everywhere.

There aren't many pedestrians on this road, but as soon as someone approaches the entrance to this alley, several pairs of eyes will immediately be cast upon them, with a scrutinizing look.

If an ordinary person were to approach, they would immediately be driven away by a fierce gaze.

If a cultivator walks in, someone will immediately come up to greet him and ask him questions.

Chen Yan followed Yun Zhao over, but the group only glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away.

“I was here a while ago, and they already recognize me.”

Yun Zhao stood tall and proud, his face showing a hint of arrogance, and pulled Chen Yan into the path.

The tall walls of the buildings on both sides made the path seem even narrower. After walking about a hundred meters, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a cluster of houses that looked like greenhouses.

This building looks quite large; it's only one story, yet it occupies a vast area.

There were even corner towers on the roof, and people were clearly patrolling and keeping watch inside.

The entrance was wide open and spacious. The two had barely reached it when someone stepped forward, seemingly to greet them, but actually to block their path.

The two people blocking the way were both dressed in demon clan attire and were not tall.

Most of the Ghost Clan members have this appearance: dark skin, large joints, and a smaller stature than northerners, but they are actually strong and muscular.

One of them actually recognized Yun Zhao, nodded and smiled, and said in a somewhat broken Universal Language, "Our distinguished guest has arrived again."

Yun Zhao waved his hand: "I brought a friend to take a look."

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow: "What, do we have to pay for entry again?"

"You're a returning customer, so you don't need to pay the entrance fee today. But this friend you brought..." The ghost clan member looked at Chen Yan as he spoke.

Yun Zhao casually took out a jade coin and tossed it over. The man caught it with both hands, and a smile spread across his face. He said, "Please... By the way, the first basement level will open in half an hour. There will be some good things there. If you're interested, you might as well go and take a look. However... you'll need to pay a deposit of ten coins for that event."

After hearing these words, Chen Yan roughly guessed what was going on.

He followed Yun Zhao inside, but Lao Liang didn't follow. He just stood outside, found a shady spot by the wall, and rested with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

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Upon approaching the gate, one is immediately greeted by a cacophony of voices—not that the people inside enjoy making a lot of noise, but rather that the building's structure causes the space to concentrate sound.

What made Chen Yan feel a sense of familiarity was that the scenes here reminded him somewhat of shopping at a farmers' market in the real world.

Nowadays, urban vegetable markets are generally like this—open-air vegetable markets are rare in cities; they are mostly large buildings or sheds that have been renovated.

Once inside, there are stalls all around, while in the middle, there are individual stalls cut out in rows and columns.

There were quite a few people, but upon closer inspection, there wasn't a single ordinary person among them; they were all dressed as cultivators—much more upscale than the stalls and markets on the main streets outside.

Clearly, this place is a marketplace for buying and selling goods intended solely for monks.

Thankfully, they didn't bring me to the big sword shop.

Chen Yan sighed with relief.

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When Chen Yan visited this market, he mainly focused on looking around—he didn't actually have much money in his pocket.

However, Yun Zhao was clearly a wealthy man, after all, he was the pet of the Black Feather Lark clan.

Yun Zhao walked along, looking at this stall and picking up items from that stall.

The items here are several levels above what you'd find on the street.

The medicinal herbs are mostly spiritual medicines; you rarely see anything for ordinary people.

There were even finished pills available—but after visiting two stores, Chen Yan knew for sure that they didn't have any high-grade pills, only common ones.

Moreover, some of these pills are different from those available on the market.

For example, Chen Yan himself uses the White Bone Pill quite often, which is specifically for treating various injuries.

What's sold in southern Xinjiang isn't called White Bone Pill—it has a similar effect, about 70% as effective as White Bone Pill, but at half the price.

It was made using several kinds of spiritual herbs that were special products of the Ghost Clan's territory in the Southern Frontier.

In particular, there is a plant called "ghost face grass" whose leaves unfold, and on the green grass leaf base, there is a cluster of black patterns that look like a ghost face.

It is said that the clearer the outline of the black ghost face and the darker the color, the older it is and the more effective the medicine will be.

The medicine that was refined to treat injuries is called the "Ghost Blood Pill," and its effects are similar to those of the White Bone Pill.

Chen Yan didn't buy the finished Ghost Blood Pill, but instead bought several portions of the raw materials for the Ghost Blood Pill according to the recipe.

Seeing this, Yun Zhao laughed and said, "Brother Shanhe, are you planning to take this back to refine pills?"

"I was just excited to try my hand at it, and it was a good opportunity to hone my alchemy skills."

After walking for a while, Chen Yan saw a stall next to him and suddenly slowed down.

Yun Zhao also stopped, looked closely, and walked over.

The stall wasn't very big, and the stall owner was a thin, dark-skinned guy dressed in demon attire. His skin was as dry and wrinkled as orange peel.

However, those eyes, though seemingly murky, held a chilling aura that made Chen Yan's heart skip a beat!
This man is definitely not the simple, honest old farmer he looks like; he's a ruthless character!

"What good stuff is there?" Yun Zhao asked casually.

The stall owner glanced at Yun Zhao and pointed to the counter in front of him: "They're all here."

His voice was rough, as if he had a handful of sand in his throat.

Yun Zhao looked down and picked through the items; they were pots and pans or something similar.

Chen Yan also pretended to be selecting something, picking up a two-inch-long copper pestle and gesturing with it in his hand.

The stall owner immediately whispered, "This is a pestle for pounding medicine. It's made of green-patterned copper and coated with a layer of jade-black powder. It's compatible with vital energy, and when you use it to pound medicine, the medicinal properties won't dissipate."

Chen Yan laughed and said, "Having a pestle alone is not enough; we also need a container to hold the medicine."

The stall owner shook his head: "They're all incomplete, not in sets, so the price is cheaper. You can buy them and use a medicine basin to grind the herbs yourself."

After weighing it in his hand for a couple of moments, Chen Yan casually put it down without making a sound. Yet, seemingly even more casually, he picked up a bronze mirror from the table.

The mirror is about the size of a palm, and the back is covered with copper rust. In some places, it looks like it's about to rot through.

However, the mirror surface is polished to a very smooth finish.

Chen Yan held it in his hand and looked at it—after all, it was a bronze mirror, and no matter how smooth it was, the clarity was limited. It was only roughly clear enough to see, barely enough to make out.

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice: "Boss, is this a funerary object?"

Mingqi, or funerary objects, are specially made items used for burial.

The stall owner replied coldly, "If you want to buy what I'm selling, just buy it. Don't ask where it came from."

Suddenly, Yun Zhao leaned over and asked, "What's this mirror for? Is it a magical artifact?"

Chen Yan shook his head, his tone relaxed: "It's not a magic artifact, it's a feng shui ornament used to adjust the flow of vital energy in a room. However, this thing is old and badly damaged. Anyone who buys it will have to polish it when they get home. Even if it were new, it wouldn't be worth much money."

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao lost interest and went to look at other things.

Chen Yan smiled, but put down the mirror and picked up the pestle again, gesturing with it in his hand a couple of times, seemingly showing a hint of liking: "What's the price of this?"

"One hundred jade coins."

Chen Yan rolled his eyes and put the pestle down: "Boss, you're not really interested in doing business."

The stall owner frowned: "I'll state my price, you can bargain."

Chen Yan said calmly, "Although green-patterned copper is only produced in a few places in the southern border region, it is not a very valuable material. In the shops of big cities, you can only buy ten catties for a hundred coins, and that is a medium grade copper."

The mortar and pestle used for making medicine would definitely not be made of medium-grade copper, but rather of low-grade copper, which would cost only a few coins per pound.

Your pestle weighs only two pounds, and it's made of old copper, which is worth less than new copper.

As for the jade ink powder, it's only coated with a thin layer. Judging from the technique, it was brushed on and then baked dry.

The amount of powder used should not exceed four qian (approximately 15 grams). Even the best quality jade ink powder is only three to five qian per liang (approximately 15 grams). Ordinary jade ink powder is three to five qian per jin (approximately 500 grams)!
Judging solely by the cost of the materials, this item costs no more than ten coins. Even including the cost of the craftsmanship, it's probably only twenty coins at most.

"You're asking me for a hundred for something that costs twenty coins?"

The stall owner forced a dry laugh and gave Chen Yan a thumbs-up: "Sir, you're an expert in crafting. I misjudged you earlier. Here, thirty coins, take it."

Chen Yan hesitated, but held the pestle in his hand and gently rubbed it with his thumb.

Yun Zhao, who was standing nearby, watched the two talking and seemed about to say something—as a rich second-generation member of the Black Feather Lark Clan, a few dozen coins were just a few steel coins.

No, I can buy it and give it to a friend.

However, just as Yun Zhao was about to speak, he was caught off guard when Chen Yan secretly stepped on his foot.

Yun Zhao wasn't stupid; he immediately realized what was happening and changed his words to, "Boss, give me an honest price!"

The shopkeeper shook his head and said, "You can't sell things based on the cost of materials. The craftsmanship of making artifacts requires a weapon refiner. Thirty coins isn't much. I need to make a profit too."

Chen Yan laughed and said, "This set of medicine-making materials, including the pestle and the utensils and basins, which must be produced by a large workshop with more refined craftsmanship, would only cost eighty coins—and they would even give you a new set."

Your single pestle, being an old item, isn't worth thirty... How about twenty-two?"

The boss shook his head: "The customer is knowledgeable, but the price he's asking for is too high. I won't make any money this way."

Chen Yan hesitated for a while, then looked down and started searching the stall. He picked up something at random, weighed it in his hand, and put it down. He picked up another one, looked at it, and put it down again.

Finally, he picked up two odds and ends: a bronze plaque of unknown origin and the bronze mirror he had just picked up. He laughed and said, "How about this, thirty it is. I'll pay thirty, and you give me these two things in return."

"No, no!" The shopkeeper shook his head: "These two items you brought, if sold separately, would cost... um... ten coins each!" Chen Yan then showed displeasure and frowned, saying: "Boss, if you do business like this, then there's no way to do it."

After saying that, he put down the pestle and the two odds and ends, shook his head and said, "I've thought about it, then I'll just leave it."

He pulled Yun Zhao and was about to leave.

After taking only two steps, the stall owner sighed helplessly, "Please wait, sir."

He looked at the items on the table, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Here, I'll set one up for you."

Chen Yan then turned around, his expression hesitant for a moment: "Just one item?"

"Yes, same here. I'm packing up to go back for a drink soon. This is my last order for today."

Chen Yan nodded: "Alright, then I'll take this bronze medal."

Pick up that bronze medal.

The stall owner shook his head: "No, no, this bronze medal really costs ten coins to sell on its own."

He pointed to the broken bronze mirror: "This, this is for you."

Chen Yan looked somewhat reluctant, but he had no choice but to pick up the bronze mirror, look at it again and again, hesitate for a few moments, and then sighed: "Alright, this thing... I'll take it back and polish it a bit more, and it can barely be considered a decorative piece."

After saying that, he casually tossed the bronze mirror onto the table, took out his money, counted it carefully twice, and handed thirty coins to the stall owner.

After picking up the pestle, he carefully wrapped it in a piece of cloth and put it into his storage jade pendant.

As for the broken bronze mirror, Chen Yan simply picked it up casually and stuffed it into his pocket without any regard for it.

After doing all this, Chen Yan cupped his hands to the stall owner and said, "Boss, may your business prosper!"

The stall owner returned the gesture with a bow, saying, "Take care, sir."

After exchanging a glance, Chen Yan turned around.

At the same time, both of them were silently reciting the same sentence in their hearts:
Silly!

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After walking more than a hundred steps, Yun Zhao finally moved closer and whispered, "Brother Shanhe, did you find a treasure?"

Chen Yan glanced at Yun Zhao and sighed inwardly.

This guy is a real idiot, a classic example of someone who's stupid and rich.

If I hadn't reminded him in time, he would have ruined my plans.

He thought this to himself, but said with a smile, "It's just a small gain."

"Is there something special about that mirror?"

"Hmm, I'd guess it's worth twenty or thirty coins."

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao lost interest—twenty or thirty coins were nothing to him, Young Master Yun.

After walking a few steps with him, Chen Yan suddenly shook his head and said, "No, no, let's go our separate ways."

"Ah? Why is this?"

Chen Yan squinted and smiled at Yun Zhao: "Your clothes and appearance clearly indicate that you are a wealthy person."

As he spoke, he pointed to Yun Zhao's attire.

This young master Yun was dressed in a long robe with wide sleeves, which was even embroidered with gold and silver threads and had subtle patterns.

Furthermore, the dark green jade belt he wore around his waist was clearly equipped with a dust-repelling magic array.

Just this outfit alone costs at least a hundred coins! The reason I say "at least" is because even Chen Yan couldn't estimate the price of that belt with the dust-repelling spell.

This guy just pokes himself into the market, and he's walking money!
If you walk with him and want to buy something, the stall owners, seeing this young master Yun's attire, will invariably raise the original prices many times over.

In fact, if Young Master Yun hadn't been with us, we could have gotten that pestle for twenty coins during that bargaining session.

It was only because the shopkeeper saw that Young Master Yun Zhao was dressed so luxuriously and richly that he wanted to rip off more people, which is why he insisted on 30 coins.

Even so, the stall owner still made a profit of half with tears in his eyes!
Yun Zhao sighed helplessly, and after Chen Yan said that, he slapped his forehead: "Yes, yes, Brother Shanhe is right to remind me. It's just that I came out for a stroll and found such a good place. I'm too lazy to go back and change my clothes."

Chen Yan sighed. This young master was indeed from a wealthy family. He had to go back after changing his clothes.

If it were just me, I would find a secluded spot, take off my outer clothes, and put on a new one.

However, since Chen Yan had brought it up, Young Master Yun wasn't annoyed and agreed with a smile to go their separate ways.

Chen Yan left Yun Zhao and walked in another direction by himself. After a few steps, a stall owner next to him suddenly shouted at Chen Yan in a low voice.

"Hey sir, come take a look, we have some good stuff."

Chen Yan's heart stirred, and he glanced at the stall.

Several wooden boxes of varying sizes were placed on the platform, but they were arranged neatly. There was also an incense stick on the platform.
Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat when he smelled the fragrance!
This is Qingping Incense!
Specifically used for...

It can neutralize and mask the smell of blood and evil!

Chen Yan thought for a moment, then took a few steps closer and first looked at the stall owner.

This person was tall and didn't look like a demon, yet he was dressed in demon attire—but he was clearly an outsider.

Chen Yan didn't ask about the goods first, but coldly said, "Why did you only call me and not anyone else?"

The stall owner smiled faintly: "Goods are only sold to those who are destined to find them. It's a waste of effort to call someone who doesn't know their value or has no appreciation for their goods to come and see them."

As he spoke, he whispered to Chen Yan, "The guest exudes a menacing aura, clearly someone who has seen it all, unlike your companion who was just a novice. That's why I only addressed you, not him."

Chen Yan became secretly wary, looked around, and then slowly asked, "What good stuff do you have?"

The stall owner patted the boxes piled up in front of him, especially the top one, and said calmly, "I won't say much more. You can judge for yourself, sir."

Chen Yan nodded and moved closer.

The stall owner picked up the incense sticks from the counter, held them up in one hand, brought them close to the opening of the box, and then slowly opened it...

As soon as the box was opened, Chen Yan's eyes narrowed!
Even with the scent of Qingping Incense to neutralize and mask the aura, a faint, yet undeniable, bloodthirsty aura still wafted out from the box.

Looking down, I saw a short knife inside the box.

It was only a little over three inches long, about the length of a dagger.

The handle and the blade's mouthpiece were originally made of some kind of wood, but the wood grain has been worn away.

The blade was very sharp, but it clearly had several small, rice-grain-sized nicks, as if it had broken during the battle.

Upon closer inspection, extremely fine cracks have appeared on the blade at the notch—clearly, this blade has been damaged in a fierce battle and clashed with a powerful enemy.

Most importantly, the blood groove beside the blade faintly bears a hint of red and black rust!
The blood rust must have been cleaned, but it has seeped into the blade and can't be wiped clean.

What caught Chen Yan's attention was...

This knife is a magical weapon!
A battle-damaged magical artifact!
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Almost immediately, a few words popped into Chen Yan's mind.

swag!

Murder and robbery!
Murder and robbery...

In short, this thing definitely has a shady origin!

A proper owner of a ritual implement will take great care of it.

Moreover, even if the algorithm is damaged, the owner will repair it.

The blade was chipped and even had dark cracks, yet it could not be repaired.

Clearly, this stall owner is not the owner of the ritual implements!

·
As Chen Yan's thoughts raced, the stall owner lowered his voice and said, "There used to be a prohibition on it, but it's been removed. It's perfectly clean to use after you buy it; you won't have to worry about the original magical prohibition causing any trouble."

Chen Yan nodded, then deliberately said casually, "I'm not good with knives. Is there anything else?"

"..." The stall owner glanced at Chen Yan, closed the box, moved it aside, and opened an even larger box.

This time, the bloodthirsty aura inside the box was even stronger.

After opening it, there were a few more items inside.

There was a bronze seal, but it was missing a corner, as if it had been smashed.

There is a jade ring, but it has at least three obvious cracks.

There was also a folded leather banner!

They're all magical artifacts! Damaged and incomplete magical artifacts!

Chen Yan used his Qi Observation Technique to look at the leather banner and saw that there was a faint flow of black energy on it. What made him frown even more was that there was obviously bloodstains on the leather banner!
It must have been washed, but it wasn't clean.

Chen Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This stall owner is definitely not a kind person!

His mind raced, and he asked casually, "How much did you pay for that short knife?"

The stall owner was taken aback, not expecting Chen Yan to look at more things, but then asked about the first thing.

The stall owner chuckled confidently and quoted a price.

"Fixed price, one thousand coins!"

Chen Yan felt a sudden chill run down his spine!
It's not that the price is too high, but rather... it's too cheap!
Even if that short knife is a low-grade magic weapon, if it is new and undamaged, it is worth at least ten thousand coins!

The blade is likely made of refined iron, and the handle is made of yin water wood; both are top-grade materials for magical artifacts.

In addition, there should be at least two hidden spells within it, one to increase sharpness and the other to increase spirituality, which can be controlled by the master with the aid of divine sense.

If this one item is brand new, it's worth at least ten thousand coins! If it's cheaper, around eight or nine thousand, people will be scrambling to buy it!

Even if it's old and damaged, it only costs a couple thousand dollars to repair.

A bid of one thousand?
Is this some kind of charity?
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No, this isn't a good thing!
Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he knew in a flash that... he had been targeted!

Someone has their eye on me, treating me like an easy target from out of town, setting a trap to fleece me!
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(End of this chapter)