Chapter 22: The Black Market Bargain and the Wind Spirit Pearl

Though their target was confirmed, Yue Feng and Xiaoke did not immediately depart. Instead, they lingered near several stalls surrounding their objective, repeatedly picking up wind-attributed items to examine.

They feigned interest in purchasing, which prompted the stall owners, sensing a potential sale, to eagerly step forward and promote their wares.

This was when Yue Feng and Xiaoke’s performance truly began.

“Oh, esteemed guest, if you desire this wind-attributed necklace, I must commend your discerning eye!” A cunning merchant, convinced he had snared a fat lamb, pitched to Yue Feng.

“This is a treasure passed down through my family for generations. Truth be told, my master was a formidable expert of the Cloud Soaring Realm, possessing peerless mastery over wind elemental power.”

“This necklace can unleash incredibly potent wind blades, capable of striking fear even into Cloud Soaring cultivators,” he continued, his voice laced with feigned sorrow.

“Alas, my descendants proved unfilial. By my generation, I’m compelled to sell it to a fated individual to support my household. Young hero, I sense a connection between us. I’ll offer it to you for a mere one violet stone.”

Witnessing the merchant’s exorbitant demand, Yue Feng raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, Xiaoke, what do you make of this?”

The merchant froze for a moment, his gaze falling upon the magical companion beside Yue Feng. ‘He had never seen such a creature before. Could it be a new species?’ he wondered.

Xiaoke, arms crossed, spoke with arrogant confidence.

“Master, this rogue merchant is clearly trying to deceive you. This necklace is, at best, a mundane artifact, and having been used countless times, its efficacy has long dwindled. It’s worth no more than one blue stone.”

The merchant was utterly dumbfounded by Xiaoke’s words, his heart seizing with panic. ‘What kind of creature is this? It’s incredibly astute, hitting every single point!’

“Hmph!” Yue Feng scoffed, turning to leave.

Similar scenes unfolded repeatedly, orchestrated by Yue Feng and Xiaoke’s seamless teamwork. By the time they reached their target stall, its owner was visibly flustered. He watched as Yue Feng approached his display and picked up a small green bead.

This bead had been unearthed from an unknown tomb, and aside from a faint trace of wind elemental energy, the owner had found it utterly useless.

He had merely hoped to try his luck selling it in the black market. ‘It seems there’ll be no fleecing any lambs today,’ he thought, his only desire to quickly send these two troublemakers away.

“Oh, guest, interested in this wind bead?” the stall owner offered with a fawning smile, genuinely worried that Yue Feng’s companion would expose his wares.

“Honestly, this wind bead has no real purpose beyond its pretty appearance. If you truly want it, I’ll simply give it to you.”

“There’s no need for charity. I find the bead quite beautiful and wish to give it to my girlfriend. Just name your price,” Yue Feng stated calmly.

The stall owner was about to raise the price when he noticed Xiaoke’s disdainful expression directed at the bead. His heart instantly seized with panic.

“One blue stone,” he blurted out. “Guest, I know this bead isn’t worth much, but it wasn’t easy for me to find it. Even if there’s no merit, there’s certainly effort involved. Just give me a small token of goodwill, won’t you?”

Seeing the stall owner’s pitiful demeanor, Yue Feng and Xiaoke barely managed to suppress their laughter. Yue Feng then produced a blue stone and handed it over.

“Oh, thank you kindly. Please, take your time departing,” the stall owner said, his face still contorted into a deferential smile.

Yue Feng maintained his composed expression, tucked the bead away, and walked off. Once they reached a secluded spot, Yue Feng and Xiaoke could no longer hold back.

“Hahahahaha! That fellow was absolutely hilarious! I didn’t even have to make a move, and he practically surrendered!” Xiaoke laughed so hard he couldn’t even fly, instead rolling on the ground in a fit of mirth.

Shi Yang couldn’t help but interject. “You’ve truly struck gold, my boy! A Wind Spirit Pearl can only be born through various coincidences within a great wind that rages for a century without ceasing.”

He continued, “While the Valley of Wind can consistently produce them, only a few emerge every hundred years, and these are always claimed by the great sacred lands. Those that circulate outside are exceedingly rare.”

“They’re worth far more than ten violet stones,” he added, “and furthermore, they are priceless rarities with no real market value.”

Yue Feng caressed the Wind Spirit Pearl in his hand, then contentedly put it away. “Master, do you think if I give this to Yu’er, she might pledge herself to me?”

“You’re dreaming too big. It’s impossible for her to pledge herself to you,” Shi Yang said, gazing at his smug disciple. “However, you should certainly be able to leave a lasting impression on her heart.”

“Hehe, that’s already enough,” Yue Feng replied, unfazed. Ever since hearing about his master’s wondrous ‘hometown,’ he hadn’t regarded Wang Yu as an ordinary girl. Her true identity, he suspected, surpassed even that of the direct descendants of the sacred lands.

To think he could win her over with just a Wind Spirit Pearl seemed highly unrealistic in his eyes. “As long as Yu’er holds me in her heart, I’ll be able to win her over, hehe.”

“Alright, stop with the silly grinning. Let’s head to the next stall,” Xiaoke interjected, cutting short Yue Feng’s fanciful thoughts. “My bargaining blade is already itching for action!”

Observing Xiaoke’s excited expression, Yue Feng asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice, “How are you so skilled at bargaining? Were you short on money before?”

He felt that Xiaoke, being by Haotian Daoist Venerable’s side, shouldn’t have lacked for funds, yet the entire scheme had been Xiaoke’s idea.

“Not at all!” Xiaoke chirped.

“Haotian used to take me to the black market all the time to buy things. Even when we didn’t need anything, we’d go out of sheer boredom. It was purely for the thrill of bargaining. Seeing those scoundrel merchants agonizing over our price cuts always brought Haotian and me immense joy.”

“………” Yue Feng and Shi Yang felt a metaphorical mountain collapse within their hearts.

The rest of their excursion proceeded smoothly. Yue Feng unearthed many valuable treasures, acquiring these costly items at a minimal price, all thanks to Xiaoke’s cunning.

Regrettably, however, they did not encounter any more rare and fortuitous treasures like the Wind Spirit Pearl.

Under the merchants’ disheartened and gloomy expressions, they swaggered out of the black market.

“Hahaha, splendid! Absolutely splendid! A thousand years have passed, and this old man’s return to the world of cultivation is truly extraordinary!”

Xiaoke exclaimed, his face brimming with satisfaction, an ancient wisdom seeming to momentarily etch itself onto his features.

Yue Feng shook his head, choosing not to interrupt Xiaoke. After all, it was a tactic born of necessity.

***

Just as Yue Feng and his companions exited the black market, a figure in black robes stealthily trailed them from outside. Simultaneously, they transmitted a message using an unknown device.

[Boss, the person you mentioned, the one with the spirit beast capable of appraising treasures, has emerged.]

“Keep a close eye on them. I’m on my way now,” a gruff voice responded. “Damn it, this time we’re going to make a massive fortune! With that spirit beast, our brothers will never have to worry about food or drink again!”

As night deepened, Yue Feng and his group began their journey back.