...
A night passed.
The next day, Golden Sand City was not in an uproar over the death of two loose cultivators. Perhaps so high-ranking governnt officials would investigate for a while, but they wouldn’t expend too much effort on it. The Hundred Islands Guard was already more chaotic than other places, and the death of two loose cultivators was not a big deal.
As for the mastermind behind the "Yin Sha Outer Sect" disciple, they would probably be uncertain for a while, but they wouldn’t dare to investigate openly. After all, the Hundred Islands Guard was still within the territory of Longzuo County, and they wouldn’t allow the Yin Sha Sect to cause trouble.
Wang Shouzhe and his team naturally acted as if nothing had happened and weren’t the least bit interested in the conspiracy behind it.
The small Wang Family, for now, still found it more prudent to focus on their own survival.
Black market transactions were often held every few days.
Today was the opening day of the black market.
In the evening, Wang Shouzhe asked Chen Fanghua to arrange a carriage for him and Ancestor Longyan to go to the black market. This ti, no one else went with them, just the two of them.
The black market was located at the east end of Golden Sand City, near the seashore, where ordinary people weren’t even allowed to enter. Only Black Tortoise Practitioners at the Fourth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm or higher were qualified to enter, and most could only stay in the main hall.
Today, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan had thoroughly disguised themselves. He disguised as a rough-looking man, while Ancestor Longyan was covered in a gray robe, revealing only a pair of eyes.
The two got off the carriage and walked straight to the entrance of the black market.
Ancestor Longyan released a slight Spirit Platform Realm aura, and the doorman respectfully invited them into the black market, and invited them to a private room on the second floor, without even asking about their background. Instead, when the ancestor ntioned selling a spiritual artifact, it imdiately drew attention, and they said they would invite the steward to appraise it.
This was the style of the black market, allowing custors to disguise themselves, ensuring their privacy.
Such practices made the reputation of this black market in Golden Sand City grow increasingly famous. Many families from nearby Guardian Cities might find ways to participate in the black market transactions.
Soon after, a maid entered and respectfully left after offering fruits and tea.
After a short while, a voice sounded outside the private room: "I am a black market steward, surna Zhong."
Ancestor Longyan gave Wang Shouzhe a look.
Wang Shouzhe understood imdiately, went to open the door, and invited the steward in. He had read the information earlier; this black market was a joint venture of the Zhong Family and the Ouyang Family, one of the two Celestial Human Bloodline Families of the Hundred Islands Guard.
The person was dressed in a black robe, wearing an expressionless mask. Since his surna was Zhong, he must be a mber of the Zhong Family.
"Steward Zhong, the family ancestor invites you." Wang Shouzhe, playing the role of the rough-looking man, saluted the man.
After entering, Steward Zhong courteously saluted the gray-robed Ancestor Longyan: "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for trusting our black market. Our black market has a two-hundred-year heritage and is most concerned with reputation. Fellow Daoist, you need not worry while trading in our market. If you wish to sell any spiritual artifact, please present it for viewing."
These words were spoken with integrity, representing the foundation on which the black market stands. Any market cherishes its reputation greatly. A two-hundred-year reputation is not easy to establish.
Ancestor Longyan wasted no words, and with a flip of her hand, a palm-sized object appeared. It looked like a turtle shell, with densely packed scales layered on top of it, and inscribed with so mysterious and complicated runes.
"It is this item, how do you appraise it?" Her voice was low and hoarse, deliberately masking her original voice.
"This item?" Steward Zhong took a closer look, his eyes changing instantly, speaking in a low stern voice, "It’s the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield, fellow Daoist, where did you get this?" A powerful Spirit Platform Realm aura emanated from him.
Wang Shouzhe’s heart skipped a beat. What was wrong with this black market? One mont they were praising their reputation, the next mont they were questioning the origin of this item. He imdiately stood in front of Steward Zhong, ignoring the Spirit Platform Realm pressure, and said coldly, "Is Elder Zhong intending to break the rules of the black market?"
These words made Steward Zhong quickly calm down, though he remained sowhat solemn: "I was being reckless, this Turtle Scale Treasure Shield is a relic of an important person from my sect. If you are willing to reveal its origin, I am willing to increase the purchase price by ten percent, no, twenty percent."
"Oh?"
Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly. The Turtle Scale Treasure Shield, as a defensive spiritual artifact, generally had a higher value than offensive ones, likely reaching tens of thousands of Qian Gold! Increasing the price by ten percent would equal several thousand Qian Gold.
This Steward Zhong was so concerned about this treasure? And his words...
"We’re not selling it; we’re leaving." Ancestor Longyan quickly put the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield away with a flip of her hand, her voice low.
"Wait!"
Steward Zhong unexpectedly blocked the doorway and then stared at Ancestor Longyan with a look of disbelief, whispering, "Senior Sister, is that you, Senior Sister Longyan? You, you, you’re still alive."
Senior Sister?
Wang Shouzhe gasped. This Steward Zhong was actually Ancestor Longyan’s junior? He was also from Purple Mansion Academy... Could it be that there was once... He started letting his imagination run wild.
"Who are you?" Ancestor Longyan halted her movents, her gaze flashing with a hint of severity, "How do you recognize , and why do you know the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield?"
"I, I’m Zhong Xingwang." Steward Zhong hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Senior Sister Longyan, do you rember ?"
As he spoke, he took off the mask on his face, revealing an ordinary old face, slightly aged.
"Zhong Xingwang?" Ancestor Longyan pondered for a mont, a hint of confusion in her eyes, "I don’t recognize you, perhaps I’ve forgotten."
Steward Zhong didn’t mind, just smiled foolishly and cupped his hands, "It’s normal for Senior Sister Longyan not to rember . Back then, Senior Sister Longyan reached the mid-stage Spirit Platform Realm at sixty and was a legendary figure in the Academy. And I, Zhong Xingwang, got into the Academy by using my family’s connections and was just a humble follower, only able to look up to Senior Sister’s magnificence."
As he spoke, his face and eyes unconsciously showed admiration, reverence, and even a bit of fear.
Hearing this.
Wang Shouzhe finally understood that all his previous imaginings were wrong. This Steward Zhong and Ancestor Longyan had nothing like a mutual admiration relationship, but rather a relationship of a loser and a goddess...
His own Ancestor couldn’t even rember his na...
And judging by his appearance, he was already sowhat old and worn. And he called Ancestor Longyan "Senior Sister" and got into Purple Mansion Academy through connections, must have only advanced to the Spirit Platform Realm at a much older age.
It was normal for him not to know Ancestor Longyan’s family background, as casually promoting one’s family or inquiring about others’ family situations was strictly prohibited in Purple Mansion Academy.
Unless the relationship was exceptionally good, everyone was rely one of the many students, without too much distinction of family status, which was the domineering aspect of Purple Mansion Academy.
"Why are you blocking , what do you intend to do?" Ancestor Longyan spoke with a cold voice, "Are you intending to break the black market’s rules?"
"Don’t dare, don’t dare." Steward Zhong hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Breaking market rules would get beaten to death by the Ancestors. It’s just that everyone said Senior Sister had already died in the Outer Domain, leaving heartbroken for years. So when I saw Senior Sister Longyan, I got a bit excited for a mont, hoping Senior Sister would not bla ."
Saying so, he repeatedly cupped his hands, pleading for Ancestor Longyan’s forgiveness.
"Then step aside." Ancestor Longyan said coldly.
"Step aside, step aside... No, no, no." The dignified Spirit Platform Realm Steward Zhong was actually flustering, "I plead with Senior Sister Longyan to give a chance to make ands. Why does Senior Sister want to sell the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield? I recall that was a Spiritual Artifact bestowed upon you by Binglan Ascendant!"
"Short of money." Ancestor Longyan said coldly.
"Short of money, you should’ve said earlier." Steward Zhong sighed in relief, then showed a flattery and pleasing expression, "Xingwang, as a direct lineage of the Zhong Family, has saved up a little in personal funds, and I’ve also accumulated so connections. How much does Senior Sister Longyan need? I might be able to gather so for you."
Zhong direct lineage?
The Zhong Family is a high and mighty Celestial Human Bloodline Family under the Hundred Islands Guard, how could a direct lineage fall to such a state? Even needing connections to get into the Academy. And his deanor, like a dog licking without any discernnt, going on a desperate licking spree.
Wang Shouzhe was speechless, Elder Zhong, oh Elder Zhong, chasing a goddess isn’t done this way. Haven’t you heard, "A licking dog ends up with nothing"?
Sure enough, the cold aura surrounding Ancestor Longyan gradually filled the air, her anger rising uncontrollably, saying with a cold sneer, "Zhong, are you planning to buy , Wang Longyan?"
Steward Zhong’s legs suddenly went weak, panicking, "Senior Sister Longyan, don’t misunderstand, I just wish to repay kindness, repay kindness. Don’t you rember? During one of the Academy’s trial missions, you helped once, although you don’t rember it..."
Done!
Wang Shouzhe shook his head in his heart. In front of his inner goddess, if even the legs can’t stand straight, how can the backbone be straight?
With this deanor, there’s probably not even a slim chance left. Even with such an old fellow’s talent, let alone Ancestor Longyan, even Wang Shouzhe couldn’t admire it.
...
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