Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 298 [Underground Trading Market] (6200)

Chapter 292 [Underground Trading Market] (6200)

Grandma Yu, who was kneeling on the ground, kept her head down and dared not look at the "Grandma Yu" in front of her.

She lowered her voice and said in a trembling tone, "What are you saying, Master! You are a disciple of the Ancestor. To serve you is to serve the Ancestor! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I would be willing to serve the Ancestor!"

"Alright, I've used up your identity. It's time to return it to you. Starting tomorrow, you can go back to being yourself."

As he spoke, the one standing continued with a smile, "I managed to get things done using your identity this time. If I am to receive a reward, you will naturally benefit as well. Later, I will bestow upon you a great fortune."

Upon hearing this, Granny Yu on the ground twitched her facial muscles and kowtowed repeatedly with a joyful expression, saying, "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!!"

"However, you heard me talking to someone outside just now. Tomorrow, when you return to your true self, make sure your words and actions don't cause any trouble."

Especially that young man who came by just now…

Granny Yu kowtowed again: "Granny Yu understands! If that young master comes to the market again, I will take good care of him. Even if it costs this old woman my life, I will protect him!"

She kowtowed countless times in one breath, but when she raised her face again, there was no one in front of her.

`
In a dark room with no windows on all four sides.

On a wooden platform, a stick of incense burned in a gilded bronze incense burner. The incense stick was much longer than the usual size, with faint sparks and wisps of blue smoke swirling around it.

Suddenly, a breeze stirred in the dark room, and the sparks from the incense stick flared up!
In an instant, it seemed as if some force surged wildly, drawing in everything. The sparks from the incense burner shone brightly!
In just a few breaths, the incense stick, which was originally a foot long, visibly burned down rapidly!

Perhaps because it burned too quickly, the ashes did not fall off but remained condensed, maintaining their original long shape, standing tall in the incense burner...

Finally, the incense flame reached its end, flickering slightly twice before seemingly going out.

A plume of smoke shot out from the sparks, swirling in the dark room before finally transforming into a human shape and standing before the incense table.

The smoke swirled, and finally the human figure gradually became clear, but it turned out to resemble the "Grandma Jade" from before.

However, it did not stop, but continued to wriggle. Its size, clothes, and even posture and appearance gradually changed under the movement of the smoke.

Finally, the one standing inside the house was a young woman.

The clothing was in the style of the demon race, with tight sleeves and a short top that revealed a section of the waist.

Her skin wasn't the fair kind of beauty, but a light tan, like wheat, full of healthy, vibrant beauty, and her figure was exquisitely shapely.

Her beautiful hair was tied up with a gold ring, like a high ponytail, and her hands, feet, wrists and ankles were adorned with pure gold bracelets.

In the dark room, those clear eyes shone as brightly as the stars.

After the woman gradually took shape inside the house, she let out a soft sigh, spun around twice, and shook herself off. As if she had stretched, a smile gradually appeared on her face.

The woman wasn't particularly beautiful; her forehead seemed a little wide, and her features weren't especially delicate. Yet, she possessed a wild, untamed quality, like that of a mountain creature. With her brows lowered and eyes lowered, her gaze seemed to hold the sharp, predatory glint of a wild animal hunting its prey.

After exhaling a few breaths softly, the woman slowly stretched out her hand, and a black jade bowl appeared in her palm.

After placing the bowl on the incense table with both hands, water was automatically poured into the bowl.

After the woman silently recited a spell, the water in the bowl rippled, and a blurry image slowly appeared.

The image reflected in the water went from blurry to clear, and as the ripples gradually subsided, a figure appeared in the water.

The figure appears to be lying on its side on the couch, but with its back to the viewer.

From behind, it appears to be the figure of a woman.

"Master!"

The woman immediately bowed respectfully.

On the other side of the screen, the person in the back simply waved their hand slightly, looking rather lazy.

The woman cleared her throat and whispered, "The matter is settled. The three spots I gave up this time are just a smokescreen. The demon race hasn't realized my true intentions yet. Just wait until tomorrow..."

In the scene, the figure remained silent, merely waving his hand casually: "Who cares about these things? Let's get down to business." — The tone and voice were utterly indifferent.

The woman quickly put on a flattering smile: "I've seen that kid, hmm... he's quite interesting."

The figure in the water in the bowl finally moved slightly, then picked up a fan and gently waved it. Its tone remained ethereal, but its words carried a hint of seriousness.

"Don't be careless. The conflict between the two races is not really important. In the end, it will come down to the two patriarchs to step in. Any further actions taken are just to gain momentum."

Your most important task when you go to the City of No Return is to take good care of that child!
When the ancestor gave his instructions before, he didn't seem to care much about the conflict between the two races or our plans. He only listened to me once and then didn't bother to ask any more questions. On the contrary, he mentioned that child twice!
Therefore, you need to know in your heart which is more important and which is less important.

If you mess up the conflict between the two clans in the City of No Return, you can simply come back and kneel at the foot of the ancestral mountain for a few days. I'll put in a good word for you then, and with the ancestor's magnanimity, he won't punish you too severely.

But what if something happens to that child…

At this point, the figure on the tarpaulin finally turned around.

His face was expressionless and his appearance was ordinary, but his features exuded a fierce aura.

Through the ripples of the water, she seemed to be coldly staring at the woman: "...I will kill you first, and then go to the Ancestor to beg for forgiveness!"

The woman exhaled, seemingly unafraid, and smiled gently, but her tone was serious as she replied, "Master, rest assured, I will definitely protect him!"

"There's no need for too much contact. I heard from the ancestor that as long as he's safe and sound, that's enough. He doesn't want him to get involved in too many of our troubles."

The woman nodded: "I understand."

She paused, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and smiled, "Master... what exactly is that child's identity? Could it really be, as the rumors say, the bloodline of the Ancestor who was lost in the mortal realm?"

"Shut up!"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman in the video immediately raised her eyebrows, pointed at the object in her hand, and said coldly, "How dare you discuss the ancestor's affairs in private? You can't control your mouth. I'll cut out your tongue when we get back."

The woman shrank her neck, but stuck out her tongue and chuckled softly, "Master can't bear to part with it. I still have so many sweet words to say to make Master and the Ancestor happy."

Seeing that the woman was still joking, the middle-aged woman in the picture frowned.

She sat up from the couch, put down her fan, and stared coldly at them.

"I'm starting to regret sending you to the City of No Return!"

"Ok?"

"You've had it too easy these past few years, your cultivation has increased rapidly, and you've handled everything very smoothly. Everything has gone your way, and now your mind has become arrogant!"

The middle-aged woman said coldly, "The ancestor spoke of these words, and he emphasized these people. I entrusted you with such an important task, and you're just laughing and joking around here?"

Seeing her master get angry, the woman stopped laughing, suppressed her smile, and quickly stood up respectfully.

“After you come back this time, you’ve completed your mission. Go to the mountains and cultivate yourself for ten years. You need to temper your impetuous nature.”

The middle-aged woman sighed: "I'm not joking with you. That child cannot be harmed! If necessary, even if we mess up the conflict between the two clans in the city, we must ensure the child's safety."

“…Yes, ma’am,” the woman replied softly.

The image flickered and then disappeared, leaving only a bowl of clear water.

The woman breathed a sigh of relief, casually poured out the water from the bowl, and put it away, but her expression was complicated.

The conflict between the two races, and the strategic deployment within the City of No Return, is precisely the grand plan concerning the future of the Ghost Clan for the next hundred years. It's also where the interests of the eighteen tribes of the Ghost Clan lie!
Master, as the patriarch of the Ghost Clan, is only focused on currying favor with the Ancestor; he has put the cart before the horse...

While we must respect our ancestors, we cannot ignore the interests of the millions of members of the eighteen tribes of the Ghost Clan.

Since I have personally come to the City of No Return, and all the arrangements here are strategies and plans personally designed by me, I naturally have to do things perfectly so that when I return, I can be rewarded for my contributions and become a Yama King.

Only then will there be a chance to ascend to the position of chieftain of the eighteen tribes left behind by my master.

As for the ancestor's bloodline in the mortal realm...

Saints and Venerables are immortal and have long lifespans. Their kinship lineages left behind in the mortal world countless tens of thousands of years ago have passed through countless generations.

Since the ancestor is mindful of the incense offerings and wants to take care of him, in addition to his own duties, he should spare some time to look after him and ensure his safety.

What's so difficult about it?
·
After the woman had made up her mind in the dark room, she turned around and pushed open the door to come out.

Outside was an exquisitely decorated incense room, with an incense altar, futons, and rare and precious items.

The surrounding pillars were carved with patterns of magic arrays, and a faint light shimmered around them, while rich primordial energy surged in from all directions.

The woman sat on the futon for a while, then heard a knock on the door.

After knocking three times, a human voice was heard.

"Cave Maiden, the time has come."

The woman took a deep breath, stood up, straightened her clothes, and with a cold expression on her face, calmly walked over to open the door.

Outside the door, several people dressed in the colors of the ghost clan stood with their hands at their sides. At the front was a man dressed in dark blue-black clothes with gold thread, and his head was wrapped in layers of turbans.

His eyes were slightly sunken, his skin was dark, but his gaze was sharp.

He looked up at the woman, concealing the sharpness in his eyes, and said respectfully, "Everything is ready outside."

The woman said coldly, "Let's go."

·
The underground transactions in this market are truly "underground."

From the northeast corner of the market, there is another entrance. Go down the steps for dozens of steps and you will arrive at the underground hall.

The hall was excavated in a very grand manner, covering an area almost equivalent to a marketplace on the ground.

It features an arched layout. A ring of terraces surrounds the area, upon which seats are placed.

Below that is a display stand that is ten meters long and ten meters wide.

There were already about two or three hundred people sitting in the underground hall at this moment.

However, most of them were ordinary cultivators who came to the market to stroll around.

The front row seats were empty, and several round tables were set with fragrant tea and fruit, where some special guests of distinguished status were seated.

Chen Yan was sitting with Yun Zhao in the second row of the platform behind the mountain.

Yun Zhao pointed to the nearest round table in the front row of the display area and whispered in Chen Yan's ear, "Those should be the people from various aristocratic families and sects who are here to participate in the trade. It seems that we lowly rogue cultivators can only sit here."

After a pause, Yun Zhao smiled and said, "I've inquired about it. Originally, the underground trading market in this place did not comply with Sendai's regulations. However, after the Oni Clan occupied the South City, they obtained this market and took control of it."

The demons are standing here now, and the two races are fighting fiercely. Sendai is far away and the emperor can't interfere here.

This place is becoming increasingly influential, and many illegal items are being traded here.

People from all walks of life can find good stuff here.

However, such a lively scene today is rare. The fact that so many sects and families have been attracted, sending representatives specifically for this event, suggests... they're probably drawn here by the rumored three spots in the Ghost Clan's Heaven-Piercing Ceremony to be auctioned off.

Chen Yan turned around and looked back.

Above the platform, there is a ring of enclosed rooms, with windows facing the display stands below.

"There is……"

“Small sects and aristocratic families sit at the front table, while large sects and aristocratic families naturally sit in the private rooms.” Yun Zhao curled his lips: “It’s only because I sneaked over to watch the show that I was able to. Otherwise, with the prestige of my Black Feather Cloud Sparrow Clan, I could at least sit at a round table in the front, and maybe even in a private room in the back.”

Chen Yan smiled and didn't expose the guy's boast.

The Black Feathered Lark Clan is considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful demon clans in the realm, and its influence is certainly considerable.

But compared to top-tier sects and aristocratic families, they are not up to par.

The front row round tables might be enough, but forget about the private rooms in the back.

It would be more likely if Gu Jinjia or Gu Qingyi came.

·
This kind of auction in another world is actually not much different from the ones in the real world.

Well, actually, Chen Yan didn't know either.

In the real world, he had only been successful for less than a year.

At this time last year, he was a poor student. He had never been to an auction before; he had only seen them in novels or movies.

The items auctioned earlier are usually just for show, and are only used by ordinary cultivators.

However, these are the things that the hundreds of cultivators present actually need.

The truly top-tier goods actually have little to do with the people sitting on the mountain platform behind them.

One by one, the items were displayed, and then they were usually bought up after a few rounds of bidding.

Very few items failed to sell at auction.

The bidding process here is very simple—just shout it out yourself.

They were all cultivators; when they channeled their energy, their vital energy surged, and their voices could easily travel throughout the entire area.

We're not afraid of you causing trouble or not buying after bidding—Yun Zhao had already paid a deposit before entering the market.

Moreover, this is the territory of the Ghost Clan. If you dare to cause trouble, you'd better think twice about whether you can even get out of here.

The items auctioned earlier weren't exactly good; some of them even tempted Chen Yan.

Two or three mid-grade magic artifacts, some for combat and some for support.

There are also some pills that can be auctioned, which are naturally not the kind of things that can be easily bought in ordinary shops.

Chen Yan took a liking to three things in succession.

The umbrella is a low-grade magical artifact. The ribs are made of a kind of water-essence copper that is compatible with the vital energy, and a gemstone is inlaid at the top of the umbrella, which can amplify the vibration of the vital energy.

This is an offensive magic weapon that can cast two spells with a water-based attribute.

The most ingenious part is that after the umbrella is opened, it can also be used as a defensive artifact, which can conjure three layers of water barriers to block enemy attacks.

Although this is a low-grade magic weapon, it is actually rarer than a typical mid-grade magic weapon because it can be used for both offense and defense.

However, Chen Yan gave up on the idea as soon as he heard the price.

The starting bid is 10,000 coins.

Where would he get so much money right now?

Finally, it was bought by a monk on the mountain platform for 18,000 coins.

Later, another mid-grade flying sword was auctioned off. It was said to be the work of a disciple of a famous sword-making master in the realm.

Well, if it were truly a masterpiece, it wouldn't be auctioned like this. It would probably be sent to a more prosperous city, to a place where only aristocratic families are qualified to attend.

A disciple of a master... that's not bad.

Chen Yan coveted this sword from afar. It shimmered with a precious light, and a sharp, azure aura enveloped its blade.

Moreover, when Chen Yan used the Qi Observation Technique and the "Breaking Illusion" spell to look at it, he vaguely sensed that the flying sword actually had faint fluctuations of divine consciousness!

That makes it even more precious.

Although it is a mid-grade magic weapon, it is of good quality and made of good materials, and it was forged using a certain secret method.

It has actually begun to generate a trace of sword spirit fluctuations—although it has not yet taken shape, it is still extremely rare.

As long as the sword owner carefully blesses and continuously refines it with magic, accumulating over time and nurturing the sword with divine sense, then it's only a matter of time before the sword develops a weapon spirit!
Not only Chen Yan recognized this treasure, but naturally, many other cultivators present also recognized its value.

The starting bid of 30,000 coins was quickly raised to 60,000.

Even the representatives of the sects and aristocratic families sitting in the first row couldn't help but make a move.

Finally, it was bought by a representative of a middle-class family who was sitting at a table on the left side of the first row for 98,000 coins.

This price was unaffordable for the vast majority of cultivators present—this trading place wasn't exactly a high-class place to begin with.

Of the hundreds of cultivators present, half were actually independent cultivators.

The last thing that Chen Yan valued was a bottle of pills.

Its name is "Heaven-Mending Pill".

Of course, this thing wasn't used to mend the sky.

It is a kind of elixir used to act on the physical body.

This stuff can't heal wounds, but it can prolong life!

White Bone Pill is a medicine for injuries, but this thing is used to treat illnesses.

It is said that taking one Heaven-Mending Pill can cure all diseases. Even a critically ill person can recover after taking it and have their lifespan extended by one to three years, depending on their constitution and lifespan.

No one is fighting over this.

Cultivators are generally not prone to illness.

Although the Heaven-Mending Pill has miraculous effects, everyone knows that it is something only mortals need.

Moreover, this thing's life-extending effect is ineffective for cultivators!
Since cultivators have already cultivated their vital energy and nurtured their physical bodies, theoretically speaking, they have already exhausted the potential of their lifespan.

Ordinary people eat grains and are prone to various illnesses. Theoretically speaking, an ordinary person's lifespan and fortune, or upper limit, are often not fully realized in the end.

Therefore, the life-extending effect of this Heaven-Mending Pill is only effective for mortals.

This bottle contains six Heaven-Mending Pills, with a starting bid of only one thousand coins.

Chen Yan was so envious that he wanted to buy it on the spot.

He himself doesn't need it, but when he returns to the real world, his relatives and friends are all ordinary people and they can all use it.

Even if it's intended for sale to top billionaires or influential figures...

Especially for those with terminal illnesses, how much would they be willing to pay for a single Heaven-Mending Pill?!

However, just as Chen Yan was about to bid, a thought struck him, and he suddenly remembered what Granny Yu had told him earlier that day.

Don't spend money, don't buy anything.

Just look, don't buy!
Although he was tempted, he finally sighed.

Seeing Chen Yan fidgeting and noticing his eyes fixed on the Heaven-Mending Pill on the display stand, Yun Zhao smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you interested in this?"

Chen Yan remained silent.

After a moment's thought, Yun Zhao smiled and said, "It seems that you still have relatives or friends in the mortal world that you care about, Brother Shanhe."

"This Heaven-Mending Pill... I actually saw it on the inventory list of the Four Directions Pavilion's clan property yesterday. It seems my family business has this. If you want it, don't buy it here; I'll have someone deliver it to you when we get back."

Chen Yan shook his head: "There's no need for that."

"It's just a bottle of pills for ordinary people. If you're embarrassed, you can just pay for it," Yun Zhao said with a smile.

Chen Yan looked at Yun Zhao carefully and nodded, saying, "In that case, thank you very much, Brother Yun Zhao."

After that, I photographed a few more items.

Since the start, more than a dozen items have already been auctioned off, which has stirred up the atmosphere among the guests on the platform.

Those who bought the items all had happy expressions on their faces.

However, Chen Yan noticed that the guests from the aristocratic families and sects sitting at the round tables in the front row were getting increasingly bored, and some were even yawning lazily.

Clearly, these people have higher standards. Apart from the flying sword that had already developed a trace of divine consciousness, nothing else could catch their eye.

In the back row of private rooms, no one made a sound from beginning to end, and even the windows were closed.

Just then, several servants came up from the display stand, pushing up several boxes and baskets.

When the crate was opened, the crowd erupted in uproar, and some even burst into laughter.

Simply because those crates on the display stand didn't contain goods, but living creatures!

There are small raccoon dogs, dogs, and some strangely shaped creatures from other realms.

What surprised Chen Yan even more was that there were cranes among them.

Someone below couldn't help but laugh loudly, "What, you ghosts are doing business now, even selling poultry and livestock?"

A middle-aged man dressed in the colors of the Ghost Clan walked slowly out from the booth. He was quite composed and, facing the uproar below, smiled and said, "Please calm down, everyone. Let me explain."

He pointed to the animals in the cages and laughed, "These are not ordinary beasts or poultry."

It is the offspring of a divine beast raised using the secret methods of my Ghost Clan.

Each one has the bloodline of a mythical beast.

After buying them, raise and nurture them well. Smaller families and sects can use them as divine beasts to guard their mountains and courtyards.

Even for solitary cultivators, they can be used as mounts or battle pets.

(End of this chapter)