Zhou Xun stepped through the entrance, and the view suddenly opened up.

A simple square spanning over a hundred feet appeared before him. Though called a square, it was actually just a slightly leveled platform.

Much of the ground was still exposed dirt, indicating that it had been recently constructed.

In the center of the square stood a simple wooden stage over a fathom high, empty and devoid of any figures.

The area up to the edges of the square was lined with various stalls, and behind each stall sat a cultivator, likely the stall owner.

There were already quite a few cultivators in the square at this time, gathering around the stalls to make their selections.

Bizarrely, every cultivator here either wore a cloak to hide their figures or donned masks to obscure their faces.

Zhou Xun was no different, dressed in a pitch-black cloak that enveloped his entire body.

"Welcome in, just a single Spirit Essence!" a cold voice said in Zhou Xun's ear.

It turned out that there were two guards on each side of the entrance, and it was the leader who had spoken.

Zhou Xun didn't hesitate, quickly pulling out a Spirit Essence and handing it to the guard, before striding towards the vendor stalls in the square.

...

"Fellow Daoist, take a look at these fine talismans, Fireball Talisman, Ice Spike Talisman, Quicksand Talisman... All in abundance!" a stall owner wearing a monkey mask called out to Zhou Xun as he passed by.

"What's the price?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun squatted down and picked up a Fireball Talisman, scrutinizing it carefully.

"Fireball Talisman, Ice Spike Talisman, all five for one Spirit Stone!" the stall owner replied with increased enthusiasm upon seeing Zhou Xun's interest.

"Certainly cheaper than Red Leaf Square!" Zhou Xun nodded to himself in approval.

In Red Leaf Square, a Spirit Stone would at most buy four of these.

Then Zhou Xun moved on to several other stalls, all of which sold goods at prices at least twenty percent cheaper than those at Red Leaf Square.

Some stalls even offered discounts of thirty percent or even forty percent.

However, these treasures often carried traces of blood, indicating their origins to Zhou Xun.

It was undoubtedly from some unfortunate cultivator.

Looking at the stall owners behind the stalls, two words formed in Zhou Xun's mind: "Tribulation Cultivator"!

He didn't linger any longer.

It was said that many Tribulation Cultivators practiced special tracking spells, ensnaring people unknowingly.

Zhou Xun, being cautious, naturally left quickly.

Circling through all the stalls, Zhou Xun encountered many tempting treasures.

Unfortunately, he was short on Spirit Stones, needing to reserve what he had for bidding on Yin Condensing Grass.

Otherwise, he'd be regretting missing a few Spirit Stones during the auction.

After all, the Yin Condensing Grass, a low-cost Tier Two Spirit Medicine, was not easily found.

After lingering for about two hours, the auction finally commenced.

Suddenly, the sound of three gongs echoed as over a dozen cloaked figures ascended from behind the high platform.

"Welcome, esteemed guests, to this market event, I am one of the hosts!" A man wearing a grotesque mask stepped forward, greeting the surroundings with cupped hands.

Although his words were courteous, his cultivation of Late-Stage Qi Refining was unrestrained.

This was likely to deter those harboring ill intent.

After all, the black market was a haven for filth and villains amidst a motley crew.

"I shall host this auction!"

"As for the auction rules, there's only one: the highest bidder wins. After making a successful bid, you can proceed directly to the room below the stage for settlement."

Saying this, he pointed to the left side of the stage.

A few simple houses stood there.

"For this auction, some of you may have received prior information. Whether it's realm-breaking elixirs, high-quality magical artifacts, or rare talismans, we have them all!"

"Alright, let's skip the small talk and go straight to the treasures."

Raising his voice, he commanded loudly:

"Bring out the treasures!"

Shortly after, two burly men appeared, carrying a chest half as tall as a person, which they set down gently beside the middle-aged man.

The man with the grotesque mask waved his hand, and the chest opened automatically.

Next, he retrieved a gear-like treasure from within:

"The first treasure, Cold Moon Wheel"

"Middle-Grade Attack Spiritual Artifact!"

"Made primarily with Profound Iron, supplemented by Celestial Purifying Star Sand. Refined by Artifact Refining Master Jin Hong. When activated, the wheel spins, boasting penetrating sharpness that is the bane of Defense Spiritual Artifacts!"

"Starting price is twenty-one Spirit Stones, and each bid increment must be no less than one Spirit Stone!"

The first item up for auction was a middle-grade spiritual artifact.

The crowd's excitement surged.

This classic example of making an impactful first impression was likely the hosts' intention.

Zhou Xun watched with interest, though the Cold Moon Wheel, albeit unattractive in appearance resembling a large cogwheel, undeniably possessed substantial power and was a fine treasure.

Alas, he couldn't afford it, for his true purpose was the Tier Two Spirit Medicine.

"Twenty-two Spirit Stones!"

No sooner had the words fallen than an impatient cultivator placed a bid.

"Twenty-three Spirit Stones!"

The sound of bids echoed one after another.

This Cold Moon Wheel, with its armor-piercing effect, was a rare gem among attack artifacts, well regarded as a premium item.

"I bid 30 Spirit Stones, and I hope my fellow Daoists will grant me this favor!"

Now an elderly voice called out.

What followed was a sudden burst of Ninth-Layer Qi Refining mana.

The crowd was startled.

"Ninth-Layer Qi Refining!"

Such a figure was significant even in Red Leaf Square!

No one knew who had concealed their identity.

The middle-aged host on stage frowned slightly at these words, saluting someone behind him with a small bow.

Then, a cultivator seated at the back rose.

"Auction items go to the highest bidder, and no one may disrupt this process!"

The voice was authoritative, and the pressure in its tone silenced the entire square.

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

Zhou Xun's heart tightened.

It was definitely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Such overwhelming suppression that made breathing difficult could only be achieved by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It seemed this so-called black market was not that simple.

Being able to enlist a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it likely had ties to the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square.

"Four major forces, Four Great Clans!"

"Indeed, these four major forces must be the proxies supported by the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square!"

Zhou Xun instantly comprehended the intricacies.

Evidently, the black market was backed by the Four Great Clans.

As he pondered, that elderly voice rang out once more, but now with a hint of panic.

"I was reckless, esteemed senior, I am willing to pay a hundred Spirit Stones to purchase this item!"

"Hmph, let this be the only exception!" The words on stage had just been spoken.

And the elderly bidder let out a dull groan, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Thank you, senior, for showing mercy!"

Soon, the middle-grade spiritual artifact was purchased by the elderly man for a bid of 100 Spirit Stones.

"The second auction item, Foundation Strengthening and Essence Nourishing Elixir, ten bottles of Energy-Introducing Pills"

Saying this, the middle-aged host waved his hand, and five bottles of elixirs flew from a Storage Bag, landing on the table beside him.

"Energy-Introducing Pills, as you're aware, can aid in cultivation, saving several months of time. Additionally, possessing realm-breaking effects, they are rare Treasure Pills."

"Each bottle contains ten pellets. Starting bid is three Spirit Stones, with increments no less than ten Spirit Essence each time!"

"Three Spirit Stones, ten Spirit Essence!"

"Three Spirit Stones, twenty Spirit Essence"

The bids rang out one after another.

Soon, the elixirs were bought by a cultivator bidding three Spirit Stones and eighty Spirit Essence.

"The second item..."

"The third item..."

...

One treasure after another was bought through the auction, finally arriving at Zhou Xun's objective

"The twenty-third item, Tier Two Spirit Medicine Yin Condensing Grass, starting bid 40 Spirit Stones!"

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