Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Someone You Can’t Afford to Provoke

「A few days later.」

Li Chang’an, in the guise of his alias Li Fan, left Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Outside Yellow Crane Immortal City.

There was also a Black Market.

This Black Market was much larger than the one outside Qinghe Marketplace.

The variety and quantity of treasures were far greater, and one could even find Tier Two Treasures.

’The prices for some of these treasures are lower than inside Yellow Crane Immortal City. They must be stolen goods that can’t see the light of day.’

Li Chang’an wandered through the Black Market for a long while, his gaze sweeping over one stall after another.

He eventually bought two types of Spirit Medicine to help Dahuang’s advancement.

After that, he sold some treasures—mostly useless items from Cao Shaolin’s and Lu Yuanji’s Storage Pouches.

Once his business was done, Li Chang’an went to a corner of the Black Market and found a Tribulation Cultivator named Luo Baitong.

The man was known as the Master of All Things; he had a wide network and was extremely well-informed.

He was a friend of Li Fan, Li Chang’an’s alias.

“Daoist Luo, I’ve come to ask you about something.”

“Daoist Li?”

Luo Baitong was taken aback and sized him up.

“I haven’t seen you in a while. Where have you been off making your fortune?”

“Just took a little trip into a Secret Realm.”

Li Chang’an answered vaguely.

Luo Baitong didn’t think much of it and just asked, “Alright, what do you want to know?”

“Where can I get a Tier Two Demon Core?”

“Ask something realistic!”

Luo Baitong was a bit speechless.

Every time something like a Tier Two Demon Core appeared, it caused a huge sensation and was discussed by countless people.

What was the point of asking him about it?

“Alright, then.”

Li Chang’an hadn’t gotten his hopes up; he was just trying his luck.

He asked again, “Daoist Luo, can you help me find some treasures suitable for an Earth Element Spirit Beast to break through to Tier Two?”

“Break through to Tier Two?”

Luo Baitong gave him a suspicious look.

The only people who sought such treasures were typically Cultivators who had raised a Spirit Beast to Tier One Peak.

And his alias, Li Fan, had never been known to possess any Spirit Beast.

Li Chang’an explained, “It’s not for me. I’m asking for a friend. My friend doesn’t like coming to the Black Market.”

“I see. A friend from the Righteous Dao, it seems.”

Luo Baitong understood immediately.

Being a Tribulation Cultivator didn’t necessarily mean living in the shadows.

Many Tribulation Cultivators had respectable public identities and knew plenty of friends on the righteous path.

The reverse was also true.

Many seemingly upstanding Righteous Cultivators were, in secret, notorious Tribulation Cultivators.

“I do have some leads on Earth Element Treasures suitable for advancement, but they’re all extremely difficult to obtain.”

Living up to his title as the Master of All Things, Luo Baitong quickly provided Li Chang’an with a few leads.

Deep in the Black Dragon Mountain Range outside the city, someone had once seen a “Church Grass.”

This treasure could increase an Earth Element Demon Beast’s chances of a successful advancement by ten percent.

However, guarding the Church Grass was a Great Demon at the Tier Two Late Stage.

’Tier Two Late Stage…’

Li Chang’an shook his head. A Demon Beast of that level was beyond his capabilities.

And it was deep in the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

The Black Dragon Mountain Range was crawling with countless Demon Beasts, and a single misstep could lead to an encounter with a Great Demon. It was far too dangerous and went against his philosophy of cautious operation.

The other leads Luo Baitong provided were similar.

They were all too difficult to obtain.

“Daoist Luo, is this all you have?”

“Daoist Li, I haven’t paid much attention to this area before, but I’ll keep an eye out for you from now on.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you.”

Li Chang’an immediately took out a Fire Element Treasure as payment and handed it over.

Luo Baitong chuckled and put the treasure away.

“Daoist Li, you’re a straightforward man. Rest assured, I will do my best to help you!”

Getting paid to do a job—it’s a principle as old as time.

Those who take the money and don’t do the job usually meet a bad end.

For example, Zheng Jinbao.

“Oh, right. Daoist Luo, there are a few other things I’d like to ask about.”

“Go ahead, Daoist Li!”

“I’m looking for Blood Tempering Stone and Bone Tempering Grass. I looked around the stalls just now but only managed to buy two very small pieces of Blood Tempering Stone.”

“Daoist Li, what a coincidence!”

The smile on Luo Baitong’s face grew wider.

He said that a small private auction was happening right now.

A piece of Blood Tempering Stone had just come up, one that was half the size of a man’s head—more than enough to meet Li Chang’an’s needs.

“Daoist Li, follow me, quickly! That Blood Tempering Stone is being auctioned off right now—highest bidder takes it!”

Luo Baitong had left a Puppet at the auction, so he was aware of the situation in real time.

Li Chang’an immediately followed him.

「A moment later.」

The two of them passed through a hidden door in a corner of the Black Market and entered a separate area.

In this area were over twenty people. Most wore masks, though a few did not bother to hide their faces.

Upon closer inspection, they were almost all notorious Tribulation Cultivators.

At this moment, the gazes of most people were fixed on one person in particular.

The man was holding up a crimson stone—the Blood Tempering Stone—and announced in a loud voice:

“Fellow Daoists, this is a sizable piece of Blood Tempering Stone! It can be used for Body Refinement, Artifact Refining, or even Array Formation. We already have a bid of two thousand Spirit Stones from a fellow Daoist.”

“Are there any higher bids?”

At his words, a few people in the crowd hesitated.

Two thousand Spirit Stones.

Even Tribulation Cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining would have a hard time producing that sum all at once.

Therefore, those still bidding were likely doing so cooperatively.

Several people would bid together and then split the item after winning it.

After all, this piece of Blood Tempering Stone was large enough.

Unless one was using it for Body Refinement, they wouldn’t need very much.

“Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!”

Li Chang’an quickly placed his bid.

The moment he spoke, several scrutinizing gazes fell upon him.

“So it’s Li Fan.”

“I wonder where that kid struck it rich. How can he afford so many Spirit Stones?”

A few whispers broke out, their tones tinged with greed.

Li Chang’an paid them no mind.

’It’s just a fake identity, anyway. It doesn’t matter if I’m targeted.’

’If these people are blind enough to actually try something, I wouldn’t mind making my Storage Pouch a little heavier.’

“Two thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!”

A cold voice rang out, raising the price again.

Li Chang’an immediately followed suit.

“Two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones!”

“Two thousand four hundred!”

The cold voice called out again.

The bidder shot Li Chang’an a cold glance, his eyes carrying a hint of a threat.

It was a clear warning not to bid again.

But Li Chang’an didn’t hesitate.

“Two thousand five hundred!”

“Two thousand six hundred!”

The man spoke again, his voice now tinged with anger.

He seemed to think Li Chang’an was deliberately trying to drive up the price just to spite him.

After all, the Blood Tempering Stone wasn’t worth two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.

Li Chang’an was just about to speak again.

Just then, Luo Baitong tugged on his sleeve and sent him a voice transmission.

“Daoist Li, that’s the leader of the Blood and Fire Three Brothers. The two beside him are his brothers. All three of them have a Cultivation at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. You can’t afford to provoke them. Just let it go. You can always look for Blood Tempering Stone later.”

The Blood and Fire Three Brothers were a well-known group of Tribulation Cultivators in this area.

The three brothers were all extremely powerful.

Few ordinary Tribulation Cultivators dared to provoke them.

But Li Chang’an was unconcerned.

’Look for one later?’

’I’m not about to waste time and energy.’

’There’s one right here. All I have to do is buy it, and that’ll be enough. Why should I wait?’