Typically, underground black markets generally refer to places not allowed to exist openly and can only exist in the shadows.
However, Starfall Fortress’s underground black market was truly underground.
And the scale wasn’t small either.
Jun Changxiao walked down along the tunnel, wandering in the mall-like black market for a while, and nearly got lost.
“Sect Master.”
Shang You Hen asked, “What are we doing here?”
He had originally needed to come to Starfall Fortress, but the Dark Great Demon King had been eliminated by the Sect Master, so there was no longer any need.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten about his ancestor.
It was just that there was no longer any need to spend a large sum to get him out of the Nine Layer Hell. After all, even after coming out, he’d just be locked up again.
“Buying medicinal materials.” Jun Changxiao said.
Because the black market had many precious treasures, various prohibitions existed to prevent others from prying, so he could only search step by step.
Hard work pays off. After wandering around inside for over half an hour, he finally browsed to an area mainly selling heavenly treasures and earthly materials. The various shops had all kinds of medicinal materials—truly everything one could ask for.
“Young friend.”
A medicinal shop’s shopkeeper smiled, “What medicinal materials do you need?”
The underground black market was opened by Starfall Fortress, but the various shops inside were contracted out to other planes, so unlike the inn’s shopkeeper who judged people by appearance, they always adhered to the principle that customers were gods.
Jun Changxiao browsed carefully and discovered they didn’t have what he needed, so he handed over a prepared list of medicinal materials and diagrams, “Do you have these?”
“We do, but…”
The shopkeeper said, “The supply isn’t abundant.”
Jun Changxiao said nonchalantly, “However much you have, bring it all out. I’ll take everything.”
This tone, this intonation, immediately made the shopkeeper realize he had encountered a big customer, so he hurriedly walked out from behind the counter, bowing and scraping, “Young friend, please wait a moment in the VIP room.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao walked over with Shang You Hen.
Just after sitting down, two curvaceous beauties came forward to pour tea, smiles on their faces showing ‘customer supremacy.’
Dog Sheng had no interest in women.
As a dignified prince of the Great Shang Empire, Shang You Hen naturally didn’t care either.
After drinking tea for half an hour, they had drunk enough to develop gallstones. A dignified-looking middle-aged man came with the shopkeeper, cupping his hands, “This humble one is the steward of Hongyun Medicinal Shop. May I ask young friend’s honorable surname and great name?”
“Jun Chaoshuai.”
“…”
The medicinal steward’s mouth twitched, “Good name! Good name.”
“Are the medicinal materials ready?”
Jun Changxiao had done business with the Ai Family before and had rich experience, so he didn’t like dawdling. He hoped to complete the transaction quickly, then go to the next shop.
Having finally found a place selling medicinal materials for refining Half-Saint Pills, under economically permissible conditions, he would definitely buy out their entire stock—not leaving a single plant for anyone else!
The system said, “This economic condition’s height depends on the depth of the Great Shang Treasury’s nine spirit stone pits.”
“Can you die if you don’t mock!”
“Yes! Immediately!”
“…”
The steward was also an old business hand. Hearing that this customer was somewhat impatient, he said, “This humble one has already instructed subordinates to organize the medicinal materials young friend Jun needs. They will all be delivered very soon.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao nodded.
The steward took advantage of this time to initiate conversation, even subtly probing where Dog Sheng came from.
Presenting a list of materials that were all high-grade goods, and saying he’d take everything with one breath—this was definitely a wealthy customer. If his home plane happened to be very close, doing business in the future would be much more convenient.
“I come from Valoran Continent.” Jun Changxiao said.
Dog Sheng wasn’t the type to casually give out his home address, not because he worried about being sent blade packages, but because… if he caused a commotion at the fortress, wouldn’t that be ruining Xingyun Continent?
“Valoran Continent?”
Judging from the steward’s confused eyes, he clearly hadn’t heard of such a plane.
Jun Changxiao said, “My continent is composed of power-nations like Demacia and Noxus.”
“Each region has resident heroes, then they’re controlled by a profession called Summoners to engage in duels at Summoner’s Rift. Every year we also organize Hall of Legends battles where victors ascend to the King’s throne while losers take the blame and retire.”
The system said, “Really knows how to boast!”
“I see.”
The steward asked curiously, “Is young friend Jun also a Summoner?”
Jun Changxiao said proudly, “I’m not just a Summoner—I control two signature heroes.”
“One is Hasagi the Wind Swordsman, the other is Zed the Shadow Master!”
“These are the two most difficult champions in terms of mechanics. Only I can unleash their full potential. People gave me the nicknames托儿索 and儿童劫!”
Since he was idle anyway, Dog Sheng started bragging.
The steward actually believed him and asked, “Young friend Jun, where is Valoran Continent located?”
“North of the stars, where my lord is most beautiful.”
North of the stars—didn’t that just mean the northern universe? As for the last sentence, could it be some kind of code phrase?
After wildly speculating, the steward thought to himself, “Since I know the general direction, I should be able to find the place. If I have time, I’ll go check it out. Maybe I can establish trade with Valoran Continent.”
…
While bragging, time always passed so quickly.
Jun Changxiao hadn’t even finished talking about his awesome Recall Steal, Ghost Sword One-Shot, invisible positioning maneuvers when the assistants brought down space rings one after another.
“Young friend Jun.”
The steward smiled, “All the medicinal materials you need are here.”
As he spoke, he handed over a list, “The quantities are all written on it too.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao looked it over and immediately felt a bit excited.
The pills required fifty types of medicinal materials. This shop not only had them all but could also assemble a hundred sets. If he refined them all, disciples who met the realm requirements could instantly create a bunch of Half-Step Martial Saints!
Awesome!
Jun Changxiao suppressed his excitement and asked, “How much?”
The steward said, “According to market price, these high-quality medicinal materials are worth one million two hundred thousand ninth-grade spirit stones. However, considering young friend Jun is buying everything, I’ll round down and give you…”
“Two hundred thousand?” Jun Changxiao said.
The steward nearly fell over.
Rounding down starting from the first digit?!
“One million!”
“Fine.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Deal.”
The steward was somewhat dazed. Until he signed the trade contract and held the space ring filled with ninth-grade spirit stones, he gradually came back to his senses, sighing, “First time doing business so smoothly with a customer!”
…
One million ninth-grade spirit stones in exchange for materials to refine a hundred Half-Saint Pills—an average of ten thousand each. This was acceptable to Jun Changxiao. After all, from a normal resource cultivation perspective, ten thousand ninth-grade spirit stones might not necessarily be able to cultivate a Half-Step Martial Saint.
Next, Dog Sheng successively visited other medicinal shops, buying all the needed materials completely clean. Massive amounts of ninth-grade spirit stones flowed away like water.
When the barrier overhead showed nighttime, Jun Changxiao finally returned to the inn.
After visiting all the medicinal shops, he had obtained materials for refining a thousand Half-Saint Pills total. His mood was exceptionally delighted.
“Sect Master.”
Shang You Hen said, “Why didn’t you let your disciple pay?”
“Your money.”
Jun Changxiao said earnestly, “How could this seat use it?”
“You are your disciple’s Sect Master—that makes you your disciple’s family. Please don’t stand on ceremony!” Shang You Hen said.
Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder, “That you can think this way makes this seat very gratified.”
At this point, his eyes suddenly became cold and severe.
Because in front of the inn where they were staying, that hot-tempered guy was leaning against the doorframe, the corners of his mouth raised in a smile.
“Sect Master!”
Shang You Hen also noticed and immediately said, “This guy is definitely deliberately blocking the door to prevent us from entering.”
“Go drink tea.”
Jun Changxiao pointed toward a teahouse next door, his gaze gradually hardening, “No matter what happens outside, don’t come out.”
“Sect Master, I’m not thirsty…”
“Go!”
Shang You Hen closed his mouth, then obediently walked toward the teahouse, but wondered in his heart, “Why won’t the Sect Master let me come out?”
“Boom—”
However, just as he entered the teahouse and hadn’t yet sat down, an explosion suddenly came from outside. A visible ripple instantly spread, shattering the surrounding tea tables and teapots to smithereens!
Shang You Hen’s body stiffened as he turned his head. Looking through the window at the inn’s location, every inch of muscle on his face gradually froze as his mouth opened, and his eyeballs slowly bulged from their sockets.