Chapter 244: I Want to Buy a City
That guide was named Hua Buwei, appearing to be around thirty years old, with a goatee and a shifty-eyed, rat-faced look. His martial arts cultivation was not weak, having reached the early stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
"The black market in Dashi City is a mix of fish and dragons, with experts as numerous as clouds. Most of the martial artists there are vicious and evil, and many are wanted criminals by the imperial court. Of course, aside from a very few experts, the vast majority are just a rabble, nothing to fear."
"What's truly formidable in the black market are the large organizations. They are the ones who are truly ruthless, ruling over most of the black market. Their words carry more weight than the decrees of the Four Directions Commandery King. Among them, the Poison Spider Merchant Guild and the Vermilion Bird Tower are the most powerful."
"Sir, after you go there, it's best to keep a low profile. In the black market of Dashi City, it's common to see fights break out over a single disagreement." Hua Buwei said with a grin.
Hua Buwei didn't know Zhang Ruochen's identity; he had only received orders from Zhao Jing to take an important person to the black market.
After meeting this important person, he was surprised to find it was just a teenager of about ten-something years old. So, he assumed Zhang Ruochen was a noble scion going to the black market to broaden his horizons.
Hua Buwei had seen too many such frivolous young masters. Most of them went to the black market to buy beautiful slave girls or to have a good time at the Vermilion Bird Tower. In short, they were looking for thrills and entertainment.
So, what he feared most was that these young masters would still put on airs and act impulsively in the black market. If they offended ordinary evil martial artists, it might be manageable, but if they provoked the major powers in the black market, the trouble would be huge!
The backgrounds of those major powers in the black market were all terrifying. They didn't care if you were a noble young master or a commandery prince; once you provoked them, they would still cut you down with a single slash.
Hua Buwei continued, "The black market is very chaotic, but as long as you have enough silver coins, it's a paradise on earth. Anything you want can be bought in the black market. There are even things you can't imagine that can be bought there."
Along the way, Hua Buwei chattered incessantly, telling Zhang Ruochen all about the black market.
Zhang Ruochen seemed not to hear him at all, and said indifferently, "Do you know where the Poison Spider Merchant Guild is?"
"Of course I do."
Hua Buwei showed a knowing expression and smiled, "There's no place in the black market that I, Hua Buwei, don't know."
"Take me there." Zhang Ruochen said expressionlessly.
Under Hua Buwei's lead, the two quickly entered the underground black market, passed through the bustling streets, and arrived outside a dark black castle.
At the top of the castle was embedded a circular boulder, with a spider imprint in the middle.
"Master Hua, what good things are you here to buy at the guild today?" An evil martial artist guarding the gate of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild seemed familiar with Hua Buwei and greeted him proactively.
Hua Buwei smiled, "The big boss today isn't me, but Young Master Chen. Young Master Chen, please go ahead. Hurry up and invite Elder Wei out; Young Master Chen is a truly honored guest."
"No need, I'll take a look around the guild first."
Zhang Ruochen hadn't come to the Poison Spider Merchant Guild to actually buy any black market goods, but to find the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram.
Mu Qing was the head of the Dashi City Poison Spider Merchant Guild, so his residence was definitely within the guild.
As long as he found Mu Qing's residence, everything would be easy.
With Zhang Ruochen's strength, he could sweep through the Poison Spider Merchant Guild, but the guild was arranged with formations. If the formations were activated, even with Zhang Ruochen's strength, it would be hard to gain an advantage.
Moreover, the entire black market was arranged with a city-protecting grand formation. If things got out of hand and the formation was activated, even a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist would be killed by it.
Mu Qing was the best example; Zhang Ruochen didn't want to follow in his footsteps.
In the face of formations, individual power still seemed somewhat insignificant.
The Poison Spider Merchant Guild truly lived up to its reputation as the largest black market guild in the thirty-six commanderies of the Demon Ridge. Here, Zhang Ruochen saw many unimaginable goods.
One of them, a map depicting a city, caught Zhang Ruochen's attention, because that map was priced at eight million silver coins.
Hua Buwei explained to Zhang Ruochen, "Young Master, that's not a map for sale, but a city."
"Don't cities fall under the jurisdiction of the Four Directions Commandery? Can the Poison Spider Merchant Guild also sell them?" Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
Hua Buwei smiled and lowered his voice, "That's right. An important figure from the royal clan of the Four Directions Commandery is selling that city. However, in Dashi City, there are too few people who can come up with eight million silver coins, so the city hasn't been sold yet."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly became interested and asked, "Which important figure has such great power to sell a city?"
"Town-Suppressing Marquis, Huo Yundu." Hua Buwei said.
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred, and he revealed a meaningful smile: "So it's him."
I searched high and low but found it with no effort at all.
He hadn't expected to easily find evidence of Huo Yundu colluding with the Poison Spider Merchant Guild. As long as this map with its price tag was sent to the Martial Market Academy, wouldn't the academy deal with Huo Yundu?
Huo Yundu's courage was too big, actually selling a city so blatantly in the black market.
The evidence wasn't sufficient yet. Zhang Ruochen wasn't in a hurry; he would continue to dig deeper and find more evidence.
It would be best to expose everyone in the imperial court of the Four Directions Commandery, only then could he completely topple the Four Directions Commandery and the Poison Spider Merchant Guild.
The news of Zhang Ruochen's arrival at the Poison Spider Merchant Guild was still reported to the guild's higher-ups by that evil martial artist, who truly treated Zhang Ruochen as an honored guest.
Elder Wei hurried over, stared at Zhang Ruochen from a distance, and asked the evil martial artist who had just reported to him, "Is it him?"
That evil martial artist said, "He was brought by Hua Buwei. Since Hua Buwei said he's an honored guest, he must be a wealthy client."
Elder Wei squinted his eyes, a sharp light flashing in his pupils as he carefully examined Zhang Ruochen, and said, "This person is not simple. His martial arts cultivation should have reached the Earth Extreme Realm."
"What? Earth Extreme Realm? How old is he?" That evil martial artist was greatly shocked.
Elder Wei stroked his beard and smiled, "Otherwise, why would he be an honored guest? I want to see exactly what background this honored guest has."
Elder Wei took a few quick steps, walked behind Zhang Ruochen and Hua Buwei, and said with a grin, "Young Master Chen, are you interested in this city?"
Zhang Ruochen had long sensed Elder Wei's arrival, and even clearly heard the conversation between Elder Wei and that evil martial artist.
Turning around unhurriedly, Zhang Ruochen showed a slightly surprised expression and said, "Old sir, you are?"
"This old man's surname is Wei, and I am an elder of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild." Elder Wei said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded, once again fixed his gaze on that city, and said, "Elder Wei, is this city really for sale?"
"Of course." Elder Wei said.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately put on a troubled expression and said, "But this city is located at the border of Yunwu Commandery and the Four Directions Commandery, with a population of less than two hundred thousand, barren land, and low city walls. Isn't the price too high?"
Elder Wei's eyes lit up and said, "As long as Young Master Chen is truly interested, the price can be negotiated."
Elder Wei had only asked casually, but he didn't expect the other party to actually intend to buy a city.
You know, that was a city, not a slave, a True Martial Treasure, or a pill. It was that simple.
It seemed he really was a big spender!
Even Hua Buwei was startled. He hadn't expected this young master to be here to buy a city. He tugged hard at Zhang Ruochen's sleeve and reminded him, "Young Master Chen, that city is worth eight million silver coins, eight million silver coins."
Zhang Ruochen ignored Hua Buwei entirely and directly took out a fist-sized high-quality spirit crystal from his sleeve, handing it to Elder Wei, and said, "Elder Wei, I'll temporarily reserve this city. I hope you can arrange a meeting between me and the city's owner to discuss the specific price. Regardless of whether the final price is agreed upon, the Poison Spider Merchant Guild does not need to refund the deposit."
A high-quality spirit crystal was equivalent to a hundred ordinary spirit crystals, worth over one hundred thousand silver coins.
What a generous spender!
Putting away that high-quality spirit crystal, Elder Wei's face showed ecstatic joy, and the last trace of doubt in his heart disappeared. He became even more respectful to Zhang Ruochen and said, "Young Master Chen, rest assured. This old man will now go notify the owner of this city and will arrange a meeting as soon as possible."
Elder Wei pocketed that high-quality spirit crystal and hurriedly left, heading straight for the Town-Suppressing Marquis Residence.
After leaving the black market, he immediately rushed to the Town-Suppressing Marquis Residence.
Hua Buwei looked at Zhang Ruochen with an admiring gaze and said, "Young Master Chen, you are too wealthy! Actually buying a city, a truly big spender, truly unfathomable. Young Master Chen, should we go have some fun at the Vermilion Bird Tower? With your financial resources, even getting Yunzhi girl to sleep with you would be easy... Young Master Chen... Young Master Chen... Where did he go?"
Hua Buwei had only blinked, and the "Young Master Chen" who had been standing in front of him had already disappeared.
Since Elder Wei had left the Poison Spider Merchant Guild, Zhang Ruochen naturally wanted to take this opportunity to go to Mu Qing's residence and search for the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram.
With Zhang Ruochen's current mastery of space power, he could easily distort space. Even if he walked right past Hua Buwei, Hua Buwei wouldn't be able to see him.
Soon, Zhang Ruochen found Mu Qing's residence and swaggered inside.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen released his space domain, which continuously spread in all directions. The entire residence, whether in the sky or underground, all architectural structures were clearly emerging in his mind.
In the residence, there were fourteen formations arranged, fifty-seven servants, and two barbarian beasts...
Not long after, Zhang Ruochen discovered a secret chamber built more than forty meters underground. Outside the chamber, three layers of formation inscriptions were arranged.
If Mu Qing had indeed hidden the Half-Saint Sacred Intent Diagram in the residence, it would definitely be in this secret chamber.
"Swish!"
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to head to that secret chamber, suddenly, a slender black shadow flashed past from a distance at extreme speed, like a ghost, falling from the rooftop and rushing into one of the buildings, disappearing in an instant.
"Who is it?" Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled.
Such fast speed. Even Zhang Ruochen hadn't clearly seen the other's appearance, only a shadow. The speed should have exceeded two hundred meters per second.
Could there be another Heavenly Extreme Realm expert in the black market?