Fang Zheng navigated his way to the depths of the black market with ease.
Sure enough,
he encountered the stallholder, known by the nickna ’Ghost Daoist’, at the sa place they had traded last ti.
"Fellow Taoist."
Recognizing Fang Zheng as he approached, the Ghost Daoist spoke excitedly:
"You finally arrived, I was afraid you wouldn’t co. I haven’t missed a single day these past days, so as not to miss you."
"Oh!"
Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow:
"It seems the Daoist urgently needs the ginseng essence in my possession?"
"Uh..." The Ghost Daoist paused, slightly embarrassed:
"It’s not that urgent, but ginseng essence is as hard to co by as my Yin Soul Pearl. The more, the better when the opportunity arises."
"Is that so?" Fang Zheng supported his chin:
"I’ve heard that ginseng essence is far rarer than Yin Soul Pearls."
"Who told you that?" The Ghost Daoist gritted his teeth and slapped his thigh:
"How about this... six Yin Soul Pearls for five drops of your ginseng essence?"
"Last ti, I was unaware of the market value, but not this ti." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"Any mage can refine Yin Soul Pearls, it’s just a matter of ti. However, ginseng essence is truly sothing that costs heaps of silver to acquire and is a life-saving treasure, extrely rare on the market."
"So how about two drops of ginseng essence for three Yin Soul Pearls?"
"Fellow Taoist, don’t be too greedy." The Ghost Daoist’s voice turned stern:
"Although any mage can refine Yin Soul Pearls, the quality varies. The pearls I refine are all top grade."
"Alright!"
Seeing Fang Zheng rise to leave, he hastily blocked his way:
"Two drops for three pearls, fine. But this ti, I want to exchange for thirty drops of ginseng essence."
"Thirty drops?" Fang Zheng said with surprise:
"Why do you need so much ginseng essence?"
"That is not your concern." The Ghost Daoist shook his head:
"Just say if you’ll trade or not."
"Hmm..." Fang Zheng seed deep in thought, paused, then nodded:
"Deal!"
"Good." The Ghost Daoist rejoiced.
This ti, he brought all his stock with him, worrying whether Fang Zheng had enough ginseng essence.
Unexpectedly,
he really did!
......
After exchanging for the Yin Soul Pearls, Fang Zheng wandered around, then chose an unoccupied spot to sit cross-legged and wait for custors with a prepared sign.
Apart from stallholders like him, there was also a high platform in the center of the marketplace.
As long as one paid the guard enough silver, they could get on the platform to sell, similar to an auction, with the transaction to be completed within the ti of one incense stick.
If not completed in ti, one could pay to extend it.
At this mont, soone climbed onto the high platform.
"Ladies and gentlen."
The seller was a corpulent man, dressed in rich attire like a wealthy rchant. He took a palm-sized clay figure from his pocket and shouted:
"This item is called a Substitute Doll, it can substitute a person’s death once, but only against spiritual attacks targeting the Sea of Divine Soul."
"The price is five hundred taels of silver!"
"Anyone interested may co forward to discuss."
Substitute a person’s death once?
Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up at first, then he shook his head gently.
If it could work on the physical body, he would definitely find a way to acquire it. But if it was limited to spiritual attacks, then it wasn’t necessary.
He was quite confident in his Martial Dao Will and the Yama Visualization thod.
If anyone could breach his Sea of Consciousness with a Spirit Secret Technique, they would be a top-notch expert. Even with a Substitute Doll, it might be useless.
’Heh...’
’If it could work on the physical body, it wouldn’t be a re five hundred taels of silver.’
He wasn’t interested, but many others approached upon hearing it. After all, most practitioners are involved in Suppression, curses, and voodoo techniques.
With this Substitute Doll, they could avoid disaster when encountering such thods.
As there was soone selling, there were those raising the price.
Before long, soone had bid eight hundred taels of silver, and most people had withdrawn from the competition, except for two who never gave up.
In the end,
one of them obtained the Substitute Doll for one thousand two hundred taels of silver.
The buyer did not appear happy, as this price far exceeded his estimated value, while the one who failed to obtain it had a similarly gloomy expression.
The two exchanged a glance and left with cold snorts, likely having ford a grudge.
"Brother."
A figure blocked Fang Zheng’s line of sight, bringing him back to reality.
The newcor was thin and haggard, with sparse hair on top, missing teeth, and a foul tongue, his whole body exuding a strong alcoholic sll.
"Brother."
Rubbing his hands, he asked in a low voice:
"Do you buy various recipes here?"
"Mm." Fang Zheng nodded:
"As long as it’s useful to , the price is negotiable."
"Do you buy wine brewing recipes?" The newcor’s eyes lit up, looking around before leaning in closer and whispering:
"I have an extraordinary wine recipe, obtained by my Patriarch from a Master Yuan, then improved over generations."
"A wine recipe?" Fang Zheng leaned back, sowhat unable to stand the odd sll from the other person, and lightly pushed him back with one hand, then asked:
"What kind of wine recipe?"
He had previously acquired wine recipes, even trying them in the modern world, but the taste wasn’t anything remarkable.
At least,
it didn’t have the effect of making soone feel refreshed.
It couldn’t possibly replicate the situation with Square Porcelain and Yunzhi, so gradually the idea faded away.
As for the so-called extraordinary recipe ntioned by the other person, listening to it was fine, but many sellers exaggerate, and if believed, one would be a fool.
"It’s this kind."
The newcor took out a finger-sized miniature gourd, gently opened the gourd’s mouth, and imdiately a rich aroma of wine wafted out.
He handed the gourd forward:
"Brother, you can try it."
Fang Zheng didn’t answer, squinting at the other person.
"I understand, I understand." The newcor nodded knowingly, saying:
"The wine is not poisoned; if you don’t believe it, I’ll taste it first to show you."
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