Chapter 487: Chapter 269: Ghost Tower

For two months, news about the Song Family filled the air.

The first piece of news was a letter from Han Yingjie, who had entered the Celestial Strategy Academy. It served as a deterrent to the opportunistic factions in Cyan Yang City. None dared to annex the Song Family’s businesses, and all of them withdrew their outstretched hands.

After divesting from businesses that required experts to run, the surviving members of the Song Family managed to preserve most of their assets.

With Han Yingjie’s letter, even the Purple Sun Sect stepped in to help.

The second piece of news was that on the very day of the Song Family’s downfall, Liu Qingyuan, an inseparable friend of Song Yushao, announced he was entering seclusion.

Those who knew Liu Qingyuan understood that he was worried about getting involved in the Song Family’s affairs and provoking the expert who had killed Song Yushao.

It was through this matter that Xu Yang learned of Liu Qingyuan’s cautious nature.

’If I want to lure Liu Qingyuan into a deadly trap, I can’t let this drag on. With a personality as cautious as his, he’ll be difficult to ensnare if too much time passes.’

’I’ll go find Senior Brother first!’

Xu Yang left his courtyard to find Gao Lin.

He had a pile of Spirit Iron and Half-Spirit Weapons, all of them ill-gotten goods that couldn’t see the light of day. He had more than he could use.

He also had three Spiritual Soldiers. Even after leaving Song Yushao’s sword for Xu Qing, he still had one he could sell.

If he had a channel to offload them, it would be best to trade the Spirit Iron and other items for Spirit Medicine.

He knocked on Gao Lin’s door, and Gao Lin warmly invited him in.

His face had grown even older; he had never recovered the lifespan he’d lost back then.

"Junior Brother, is there something you need from me?" Gao Lin asked after a few pleasantries.

Xu Yang nodded. "I wanted to ask you, Senior Brother, if you know of any secret channels for offloading some... ill-gotten goods."

He wasn’t hiding anything from Gao Lin. After all, Gao Lin knew he had killed Song Shixian and taken the Jade Water Saber. If he used the pretense of selling the Jade Water Saber to probe for information, Gao Lin wouldn’t be suspicious.

"Are you looking to trade for Elixirs or money?" Gao Lin asked.

Xu Yang’s eyes lit up. Gao Lin’s words meant he knew about such things.

"I want to trade for Spirit Medicine."

He didn’t need money. The amount he had on him was more than enough for Xu Qing.

The things he himself needed now couldn’t be bought with money.

As for Elixirs, Gao Lin was likely referring to Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm Elixirs like the Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill. However, Xu Yang was already at the Celestial Essence realm; Bone Marrow Cleansing Elixirs were of little use to him.

Even after giving a portion of the Elixirs he’d obtained from the Su Family Treasure Vault to Xu Qing, he still had plenty left.

"There is such a place, but I can’t guarantee your safety. You’ll have to weigh the risks and bear them yourself," Gao Lin said.

Spiritual Soldiers tempt the heart. The people who deal in such items are no saints. It could easily turn into a case of thieves robbing thieves, and there’s also the risk of information getting leaked.

Xu Yang nodded. "Where is it?"

"It’s right here in Cyan Yang City. The place is called the Ghost Tower. They specialize in acquiring unsavory items and shipping them elsewhere to be sold. You can choose to barter or trade for silver taels.

Half-Spirit Weapons, Spiritual Soldiers, or Spirit Iron can be exchanged for Spirit Medicine there, based on their value.

On the surface, it’s a tavern. When you get there, say ’May your business prosper and reach the four seas’ to the shopkeeper, and they’ll know you’re there to sell something.

If you’re not satisfied with their offer, remember not to argue with them. Just leave.

The Ghost Tower is rumored to be backed by the Heaven-Burning Sect, one of the Demon Sects. Others say it’s just a major family from Yun Province. They’re very difficult to deal with. Do not, under any circumstances, start a fight there. If you go, do your best to conceal your identity.

And whether the deal goes through or not, be extremely careful when you leave. People in this line of business have no integrity."

Xu Yang cupped his fist. "Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother Gao."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Gao Lin and asking for the Ghost Tower’s exact location, Xu Yang got up and left.

Returning to his courtyard, he selected some common Spirit Iron, two Half-Spirit Weapons, and also brought the Jade Water Saber with him. He planned to test the waters at the Ghost Tower with these items and see if he could lure out Liu Qingyuan in the process.

He leisurely descended Li Fire Peak, left the Purple Sun Sect, and made his way to Cyan Yang City at an unhurried pace. Liu Qingyuan never appeared.

He found an alley to put on a conical hat and a mask. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he located the Ghost Tower.

It was a rather dilapidated-looking tavern. The sign was rotting, and inside, there were only a few scattered customers.

Xu Yang stepped inside. No waiter came to greet him; one was dozing on a nearby stool. Even the shopkeeper was yawning repeatedly, completely ignoring his arrival.

"May your business prosper and reach the four seas," Xu Yang said in a hoarse voice as he walked to the counter.

The shopkeeper, who had been yawning and ignoring him, immediately perked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Honored guest, please follow me."

With that, he walked out from behind the counter and headed toward the back courtyard.

Xu Yang noticed that the few customers who had been drinking now all had their eyes fixed on him.

These people all carried an air of Evil Qi. Their gazes were sharp; one look was enough to tell they were trouble.

He followed the shopkeeper and soon entered a room in the back courtyard. The room’s furnishings were stark; apart from a table and a few stools, there was nothing else.

"What is our guest looking to sell?" the shopkeeper asked with a smile, inviting Xu Yang to sit.

"Two Half-Spirit Weapons and some Spirit Iron. But I only want Spirit Medicine," Xu Yang said, placing the items on the table.

Most of the Spirit Iron he possessed was from the Purple Sun Sect, so this was the only place he could sell it.

The Ghost Tower’s shopkeeper didn’t rush to inspect the goods. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Does our guest require a specific Spirit Medicine, or will any kind do?"

"As long as it’s Spirit Medicine, it’s fine!" Xu Yang said.

’If I specify a type of Spirit Medicine and they don’t have it, the deal will fall through.’

’Besides, I don’t need to perform alchemy right now, so there’s no particular Spirit Medicine I need.’

The Ghost Tower’s shopkeeper nodded and began inspecting Xu Yang’s items. "The two Half-Spirit Weapons can be traded for one two-year-old Spirit Medicine. This Spirit Iron can be traded for two two-year-old Spirit Medicines.

If our guest is willing to make the trade, I will go and fetch the Spirit Medicine."

Xu Yang’s brow furrowed slightly. If he were to turn these items over to the Purple Sun Sect, there was no way he would only get three Spirit Medicines in return.

Even with the Purple Sun Sect exploiting its disciples, his items should have fetched at least four two-year-old Spirit Medicines. The Ghost Tower’s offer was barely half of that; they were even more ruthless than the sect.

As if sensing Xu Yang’s dissatisfaction, the shopkeeper chuckled. "This must be our guest’s first time here. I am not intentionally lowballing you.

The price is indeed a bit low, but you must understand that to avoid trouble, we have to spend a great deal to ship the goods we acquire to other places for sale.

Furthermore, if the items you’re selling have a significant origin, my Ghost Tower could get into trouble. All of this must be factored into our costs.

And then there’s the Purple Sun Sect. We have to give them a cut of the profits as well. In truth, we don’t make much."

’The Purple Sun Sect is taking a protection fee from this place too?’ This was something Xu Yang hadn’t expected.

But after a moment’s thought, he understood. For a place like this to operate openly in Cyan Yang City without being shut down, the Purple Sun Sect must have a stake in it. Even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake.

Of course, Xu Yang took the claim of "not making much" with a grain of salt.

The whole point of this business was exorbitant profit. Otherwise, who would be willing to take such risks?

"Add one more Spirit Medicine. This price is too low," Xu Yang said.

The Ghost Tower’s shopkeeper pondered for a moment. "I can’t give you another Spirit Medicine. How about this: I’ll add one thousand taels. If our guest is willing to trade, I will fetch the medicine now. If not, then please feel free to leave."

Xu Yang knew the man wouldn’t raise the offer again, so he immediately nodded in agreement.

It was a huge loss, but he had nowhere else to sell these things. Even if the price were lower, he would have had to pinch his nose and accept it.

It was better to exchange them for something truly useful than to let them gather dust.

He had no plans to develop his own faction, so hoarding these items was pointless.

"Please wait a moment, guest!" The Ghost Tower’s shopkeeper said with a smile as he stood up and left.

A short while later, he returned with a middle-aged man.

This man was carrying a tray with three jade boxes and a silver banknote on it, his gaze flickering almost imperceptibly toward Xu Yang.

"Guest, please take a look. If the items are in order, then our transaction is complete," the shopkeeper said, pushing the tray over.

Xu Yang opened the three boxes one by one. Each contained a Crystal Lotus Root, and their Spirituality was about the same as the ones he had obtained from the Su Family Treasure Vault.

He knew much more about Spirit Medicine now. Crystal Lotus Root could be considered one of the most common types. It was easy to cultivate, its effects were average, and its main benefit was its Spiritual Qi.

"There’s no problem with the items!" Xu Yang put away the three jade boxes and the one thousand tael silver banknote, then stood up and left without another word.

"Three Spirit Medicines and a one thousand tael silver banknote. Shall I go retrieve them?" the middle-aged man who had carried the tray asked, his eyes narrowing.

The real source of exorbitant profit for the Ghost Tower wasn’t the margin between buying and selling. It was "acquiring goods with empty hands"—sending someone to steal everything back after a successful transaction. That was the true windfall.

Of course, they didn’t do this for every transaction, only for the "fat sheep." After all, they needed to maintain a certain reputation to attract customers.

"Go. Make it clean. He deliberately disguised his voice, but does he think I can’t tell he’s a young man?" the Ghost Tower’s shopkeeper said with a laugh.

Young meant his cultivation was low, making him an easy target.

The other party was using a Breath Concealment Skill, so he couldn’t sense a specific cultivation level. But judging from the voice, he sounded to be around twenty years old.

At that age, most people hadn’t even broken into the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. In the entire Purple Sun Sect, only Li Chuyang, Jiang Fan, and Xu Yang had reached Marrow Cleansing Great Success at such an age.

’How could there be so many Spirit Medicines in this world? These are nothing but bait.’

"Alright!"

The middle-aged man nodded, turned, and pushed the door open to leave.

A short while later, he had changed his face and clothes and left the Ghost Tower with a swagger.

In his hand, he carried a cage wrapped in black cloth. Inside was a mouse.

This was a tool for tracking!

The room they were in earlier had a special fragrance. Anyone who spent time inside would inevitably be marked by its scent.

And once marked by the scent, no matter where you went within a day, the mouse in his hand could find you.

"He’s quite cautious. A shame that in front of a Tracking Mouse, taking all the detours in the world is useless," the middle-aged man chuckled.

Up ahead, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight.

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