Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 357: Chapter 354: Return to the Sect

Black markets were a real mixed bag.

They teemed with a motley crew.

It was possible to find a hidden treasure,

but far more likely that you’d be deceived.

You could even be ambushed and end up as fodder for someone else’s advancement.

Such things,

even someone like Wang Xiao’Er, a mere Qi Introduction First Layer, had heard of.

Wang Xiao’Er naturally felt a sense of goodwill toward a generous patron like Shen Changchuan.

So he discreetly shared some of what he knew, offering Shen Changchuan a few warnings.

For instance, there was an old man who often set up a stall in a corner selling Immortal Cultivation Techniques. It was said that anyone who bought his techniques met a bad end, disappearing without a trace.

Then there was the Elixir stall that sold its wares for less than a third of the market price. In reality, they used a special method to coat a thin layer of Elixir onto a jade sphere, passing it off as the real thing...

Shen Changchuan listened with great interest.

’This place,’

’is a real hotbed of talent, isn’t it!’

However, it also served as a reminder for Shen Changchuan.

In the future, when visiting other black markets without a familiar guide to warn him, he’d best not make any rash purchases.

’Too many pitfalls.’

After strolling around for a while,

Shen Changchuan did not leave empty-handed.

To his surprise, he found a Gu Dao Secret Technique inheritance for sale in the black market.

It was said to be a Gu Dao Secret Technique from the Nanyue Kingdom.

Presumably because the stall owner had made multiple copies, the price wasn’t steep.

Without much hesitation, Shen Changchuan bought all of them.

At this,

Wang Xiao’Er offered another quiet warning.

Things like this Secret Technique inheritance might have hidden traps.

Some people were just malicious, adding or removing key parts of a Cultivation Technique or Magic. Not only would this prevent a Cultivator from making any progress, but a failed attempt at Cultivation could lead to a severe backlash. In the worst cases, it could even shred their Dantian Meridians, wiping out their Cultivation in an instant.

However, regarding this concern,

Shen Changchuan didn’t seem too bothered.

This was because Gu Dao Secret Techniques were unlike Cultivation Techniques or Magic.

They weren’t cultivated inside the body, where failure could cause a physical backlash.

Gu Dao Secret Techniques were mostly related to refining Gu Insects.

Even if he failed,

at most he would just waste some resources and materials.

’Besides, if the original owner tampered with the Secret Technique, I’ll discover it quickly enough with the help of the progress bar panel.’

’What’s more,’

’even if the owner removed a few things,’

’it’s not like it was created from nothing. The underlying concepts and principles are still there, which can further enrich my understanding of Gu Techniques.’

So, naturally, Shen Changchuan took them all.

Aside from these Gu Technique inheritances,

Shen Changchuan’s other major acquisition was medicinal herbs for Refining Elixirs.

In the black market,

a cloaked figure hiding their identity was selling a large batch of herbs.

They were the main ingredients for refining the Cyan Jade Pill.

The price was also considerably lower than normal.

After confirming there were no issues with the herbs, Shen Changchuan didn’t ask about their origin and simply bought the entire lot.

Shen Changchuan didn’t care if they were stolen, robbed, or acquired from some dangerous ruin.

’It’s a black market, after all.’

’Everyone hides their faces and identities.’

’Neither buyer nor seller knows who the other is.’

’There’s no need to ask where the goods came from.’

It was after seeing Shen Changchuan complete this transaction...

...that Wang Xiao’Er, who had been following him the whole time, froze in place.

A transaction of that magnitude

made him realize in an instant

that the young man he had taken the initiative to guide was likely an extraordinary Cultivator!

Wang Xiao’Er swallowed hard.

’Spending thousands, even tens of thousands of Spirit Stones without batting an eye... Is he an Alchemist, or an expert at the Soul Emergence Realm?!’

’I’m actually lucky enough to be working for such a great personage?!’

For a moment,

Wang Xiao’Er trembled inwardly.

He didn’t know if it was from fear or excitement.

Shen Changchuan paid no mind to the many thoughts swirling in Wang Xiao’Er’s head.

After purchasing the main ingredients for the Cyan Jade Pill, and seeing nothing else in the black market that caught his eye,

Shen Changchuan decided to leave.

”Alright, that’s enough for today. You don’t need to follow me anymore.”

”We’ll meet again if fate allows.”

Outside the black market,

seeing that he no longer needed a guide, Shen Changchuan prepared to part ways with Wang Xiao’Er.

”Thank you, Immortal Master!”

Wang Xiao’Er bowed.

But he gritted his teeth, as if having made a decision, and asked,

”But I must be bold and ask a question.”

”Immortal Master, are you looking to collect Gu Dao Secret Techniques?”

”I’ve heard through certain channels that many Cultivators have been traveling to the Nanyue Kingdom recently, and some have returned with quite a bit of loot. There should be some Gu Dao Secret Technique inheritances among them.”

”Not many people practice Gu Dao Secret Techniques, so they occasionally show up in the black market these days.”

”I spend a lot of time in Qing City. Perhaps I could help you collect these things, Immortal Master...”

Wang Xiao’Er said, his words spilling out in a rush.

At the same time, he was filled with anxiety.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

’Someone who can casually spend tens of thousands of Spirit Stones is definitely a big shot!’

’If I accidentally anger a personage like that, he could kill me with a wave of his hand and face no consequences!’

Wang Xiao’Er was, of course, afraid of dying.

But at the same time,

he also knew in his heart...

...that with great risk...

...came an unprecedented opportunity!

’If I can work for this great personage,’

’if I can latch onto this powerful connection,’

’I might not soar to the heavens in a single step,’

’but it will surely be enough to escape my current predicament. I probably won’t have to worry about the cost of sending my son to the academy anymore!’

’Based on the half-day I’ve spent with him,’

’this great personage doesn’t seem like the capricious, cruel, and ruthless type.’

’I’ll risk it all on this gamble!’

”You’re quite thoughtful.”

Shen Changchuan glanced at Wang Xiao’Er, who was still bent over in a deep bow.

He was a little surprised by the man’s sharp-wittedness,

but ultimately,

he didn’t really care.

”I do need to collect Gu Dao Secret Techniques. Since that’s the case, you can keep an eye out for me.”

”If you succeed, you will be well-rewarded!”

”Rest assured, Immortal Master! I will definitely collect enough Gu Dao Secret Techniques for you!”

Wang Xiao’Er’s face lit up with joy as he quickly replied.

Shen Changchuan nodded.

He then took out two hundred Spirit Stones as operating funds for Wang Xiao’Er. He also gave him a Communication Talisman, telling him to contact him at the end of each month to report how many Gu Dao Secret Techniques he had purchased. If it was a sufficient amount, he would make a trip over.

Of course,

to prevent Wang Xiao’Er from being targeted as a fat sheep and devoured by others, Shen Changchuan also left him a Jade Talisman imbued with his own aura.

A Jade Talisman carrying a wisp of his Soul Emergence Divine Soul’s aura would serve as proof.

If some local gang ’boss’ or the like tried to rob him of the two hundred Spirit Stones, he could show it as a deterrent and inform them that he was working for him.

After arranging everything,

Shen Changchuan headed toward the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion.

The Qing City Sub-Pavilion Master personally came out to receive him.

He was given the proper respect,

but it wasn’t long before Shen Changchuan emerged, somewhat disappointed.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion did not have a great treasure like the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Jade.

Fortunately, however,

the Qing City Sub-Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion did give Shen Changchuan a piece of news.

In three months,

the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion would be holding an auction in the Heisei Domain.

One of the auction items...

...was none other than the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Jade.

Finally, some good news.

With this information in hand,

Shen Changchuan changed his course and headed back to the Sect.