CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 54 SELLING BONES

Old Building Street is a famous ghost market, open only in the latter half of the night.

Apart from antiques, the main transactions involve resources related to martial artist cultivation.

The reason Zhou Leng knows about this place is due to the legend a few years back that the Six Volumes of the Eastern Monarch appeared in the ghost market at Old Building Street, sparking a scramble among major forces.

The Martial Saint, Zhao Dongjun, personally wrote five volumes of the Miscellaneous Collection of Zhao Dongjun, but many say there is actually a sixth volume, which contains the true secret of Zhao Dongjun’s promotion to Martial Saint.

Whoever finds the Six Volumes of the Eastern Monarch not only gains the supreme manual but might also directly become a disciple of Zhao Dongjun.

Zhou Leng isn’t sure if it’s true or not; anyway, everyone believes in the existence of the Six Volumes of the Eastern Monarch.

On the way, Zhou Leng realized that many were eyeing him, so he headed to the nearby pharmacy to buy a mask to wear.

The Martial Arts Era is far more chaotic than the past.

Previously, Zhou Leng would never have dared to come to the ghost market.

After advancing to the Blood Transporting Period, there are no longer big concerns.

Under the dim streetlights, people come and go on Old Building Street.

Zhou Leng walked along, browsing as he went.

Most antique-selling stalls were quite deserted, while those selling martial arts resources were crowded.

The best thing here is that no one cares about the source of the goods.

The only inconvenience is that you can’t use official currency, only underground encrypted digital currency.

Zhou Leng had never used underground currency before, so he quickly searched online and downloaded an underground currency exchange app.

Ahead, at a stall, more than a dozen people gathered in vague shadows.

Zhou Leng squeezed in for a look, and under the bright incandescent light, bottles and jars were laid out on the stall, some porcelain, some glass, with food paper-wrapped spheres inside.

All major forces strictly control pill manufacturing, but there are always some who have mastered drug-making techniques.

"How much for the Replenishing Essence Pills?" Zhou Leng asked the stall owner sitting on a wooden stool.

"Eighty percent efficacy, sixty percent of the price."

The official mall sells them for a hundred thousand; sixty percent means sixty thousand.

Zhou Leng asked again, "What about the Great Nourishing Pills?"

"Ninety percent efficacy, seventy percent of the price."

Zhou Leng was tempted.

The Great Nourishing Pills aren’t core elixirs, but they’re used daily, one pill is a thousand, equivalent to a serving of meat herbal cuisine.

Given his cultivation intensity, he should take three a day, but actually averages one every two days.

Unfortunately, he can’t take more yet; the money needs to go towards Replenishing Essence Pills and future Strengthening Body Pills.

After glancing at the old stall owner, Zhou Leng decided against purchasing.

He didn’t know the person and couldn’t be sure of the pill’s efficacy.

Besides, the efficacy of such private medications is notoriously unstable.

Only the private drugs from martial aristocratic families can compare to official ones, or even exceed them.

Zhou Leng continued to wander the ghost market.

Pills, beast bones, demon remnants, handwritten manuals, second-hand demonized items, treasure maps, and miscellaneous items from the Ten Realms were all there.

After getting a rough understanding, Zhou Leng found a place, spread out an old bedsheet, and displayed the bones.

Soon, a few martial artists gathered.

Zhou Leng observed discreetly.

Most people, like him, wore masks, and some even wore hats.

No one used their energy to reveal their aura, making it impossible to gauge strength.

"How much?"

"You tell me."

"You’re selling something and won’t name a price?"

Zhou Leng remained silent.

It’s not that he didn’t want to say, but truly didn’t know the going rate.

"Twenty thousand."

Zhou Leng shook his head.

"Then you name a price."

Zhou Leng said, "Two hundred thousand."

"Forget it..."

A few people asked for the price, then stood nearby, occasionally glancing over to discuss.

A youngster without a mask approached, wearing capri pants, exposing his ankles, and carrying a plastic bag.

"Hey guys, what’s up?"

"Ni San, looking good today, did you get some pills?"

"Hey, last job went well, Brother Nie rewarded me with five Blood Replenishing Pills, just took one. What’s this about cow bones?"

"A stall over there has some innate demon bull bones, looks nice, but six thousand is a bit steep."

"Innate demon bull bone? Just what Brother Nie needs for body refinement. If it’s good, I’ll take it back for him."

Ni San walked up to Zhou Leng’s stall, picked up the demon bull bone, and examined it for a while.

"Buddy, would you take three thousand?" Ni San asked.

Zhou Leng shook his head.

Ni San squatted down, wearing a crumpled black suit, revealing two tattooed dragon arms, tilting his head slightly.

Zhou Leng glanced at the plastic bag in Ni San’s hand; inside the transparent bag was a vague, white medicine box.

"Three thousand’s not low. You can ask around, I’m Ni San, everyone in this area knows, my deals are always fair. What do you say, friends?"

Zhou Leng shook his head.

"Oh... come on, you’re difficult, three and a half thousand, fixed price, what do you think?"

Zhou Leng remained silent.

"Then you name a price."

"Six thousand."

"You’re selling a demon bull bone, not an entire demon bull. Buddy, do me a favor, my boss needs it, four thousand, and I’ll grit my teeth and buy it."

Zhou Leng shook his head.

"Hey..." Ni San sized up Zhou Leng, then suddenly smiled.

"Buddy, the ghost market isn’t safe, you know. Sell to me, and I’ll ensure you leave here safely."

Zhou Leng narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Ni San.

Ni San chuckled, stood up, and looked at Zhou Leng.

"Four thousand, deal or no deal!"

"No deal!" Zhou Leng was blunt.

"Alright." Ni San smiled and turned to leave.

Soon, a mask-wearing person approached.

"How much for the innate demon bull bone?"

Seeing the person could recognize the item, Zhou Leng replied, "You name your price first."

"You set a price."

Now having a rough idea of the pricing, Zhou Leng said, "Six thousand."

"A bit expensive..." the person murmured.

At this moment, Ni San strolled over with a grin, squatting beside the person, and said, "Pal, I think this thing isn’t worth six thousand, four thousand at most."

The person glanced at Ni San, still fixing his eyes on the demon bull bone.

Ni San then added, "Our Bad Exploration Company has taken an interest."

The person turned and asked, "Tian Wenhua’s Bad?"

"Ruge District, only this one Bad."

"Goodbye." The person got up and left.

Zhou Leng narrowed his eyes, looking at Ni San.

Ni San chuckled, got up, and engaged in a conversation with someone not far away.

Zhou Leng surveyed the surroundings, observing that some people were watching from afar, not coming closer.

People continued to come to look, but as soon as Ni San mentioned the names of Bad Exploration Company and Tian Wenhua, they all had to leave.

Not long after, a burly man without a mask approached, picked up the cow bone, and examined it closely.

"This cow bone is old, but well-preserved; name your price."

"Six thousand," Zhou Leng replied.

The man furrowed his brows, hesitating.

As Ni San walked over, he said, "Friend, our Bad Exploration Company is interested."

The burly man glanced at Ni San, then looked at Zhou Leng and said, "Five thousand eight hundred, direct transaction."

"Deal."

"Straightforward person," the burly man smiled.

After completing the underground currency transaction, the burly man left with the bone on his shoulder, without taking the bedsheet.

Ni San glanced at the man and snorted softly, leaving with his companion.

"Why didn’t you stop him?" his companion asked.

"That guy’s posture is steady, handling a bone weighing dozens of pounds like chopsticks, at least at the Body Refining Stage, not someone to mess with."

Zhou Leng gathered up the old bedsheet and headed home, his expression calm but wary inside.

After walking out of the ghost market for a dozen steps, two figures jumped out from the front.

"Buddy, business went well, huh."

Ni San and his partner stood smiling in front.

"This is the city center," Zhou Leng said.

Ni San smiled, "City center, so what? There are no cameras around. Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking for you, not for anything else, just wanna ask where you got your cow bone. I’d like to pick a few pieces myself."

"My uncle is a Vitality Stage expert, he picked it up in Demon City and gave it to me. You want some? Come on, I’ll take you to meet my uncle, or do you want to call him first?" Zhou Leng countered.