Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen sighed inwardly. The Spirit Jade Palace truly deserved the title of "Orthodox Path."
While banning all black markets undoubtedly hindered transactions between cultivators to some extent, it also effectively eliminated robbery and plunder.
In particular, disciples from renowned sects and clans often carried medicinal pills, mystic treasures, and spiritual artifacts marked with unique identifiers. Without black markets, robber cultivators found it difficult to sell these stolen goods, deterring them from targeting such individuals in the first place.
"Senior, if you wish to discreetly sell items, your only option is to participate in private exchange conferences held among cultivators. However, these conferences are restricted to those with established connections. To attend, you'll need a referral," the stall owner said to Song Wen through spiritual sense transmission.
Song Wen's eyebrows arched, a flicker of interest crossing his face.
New to this place and unfamiliar with the local customs, attending such exchange conferences might prove beneficial.
"It seems you can provide such a referral, little friend?"
The stall owner replied, "This junior may be lacking in talent, but I've been navigating Great Tan City for centuries and know a few tricks of the trade."
Song Wen casually tossed ten high-grade spirit stones onto the stall.
"This is a reward for you. If I obtain what I seek at the exchange conference, there will be a greater reward."
"Thank you, Senior." The stall owner accepted the spirit stones, his face beaming. "In a month, there will be a high-tier cultivator exchange conference. Only those with nascent soul cultivation or higher may attend. Would Senior be interested?"
Song Wen nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the stall owner continued, "At dusk in one month, this junior will await Senior at Auspicious Jade Mountain, a thousand li east of the city."
"I will be there on time," Song Wen replied, then asked, "Are there any shops in Great Tan City that sell information?"
"The Yellow Antiquity Shop on East Main Street, the Primal Spirit Shop in West Ming Lane..." The stall owner rattled off several shop names. "Senior can try these shops; you might find what you're looking for."
Song Wen memorized the shop names, then changed the subject.
"By the way, I haven't asked for your name, little friend?"
"Senior is too kind," the stall owner replied. "This junior is Shi Lei. May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?"
"Yun Xu," Song Wen replied.
With that, Song Wen turned to leave, but Shi Lei called out again.
"Senior, when attending the exchange conference, be sure to prepare plenty of spirit stones and spiritual objects. You wouldn't want to miss out on something you desire."
"Very well."
Song Wen's voice lingered in the air as he continued walking away.
Following the address provided by Shi Lei, he arrived at the Primal Spirit Shop on West Ming Lane, the nearest location.
The shop was small, staffed only by a golden core-stage woman. Inside, medicinal pills, spirit herbs, mystic treasures, and other items were haphazardly arranged.
A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator was haggling with the woman.
Growing impatient, the woman abandoned the customer the moment she saw Song Wen enter, rushing over with a fawning smile.
"Senior, what would you like to purchase?"
"This isn't a suitable place to talk," Song Wen replied. "Let's find somewhere quiet."
"Please wait a moment, Senior. I'll deal with this customer and attend to you immediately."
With that, she turned to the other customer, her smile vanishing instantly.
"That spiritual artifact is yours for four hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Pay up and be gone."
The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator showed no anger, only relief. He hastily produced four hundred mid-grade spirit stones and respectfully handed them to the woman.
After accepting the spirit stones, the woman waved her hand repeatedly, signaling the customer to leave quickly.
Once the man had departed, the woman's smile returned. She bowed slightly and gestured toward the depths of the shop.
"Senior, please come to the courtyard for our discussion."
Song Wen readily agreed and followed the woman's gesture, walking down a corridor.
After traversing the several-zhang-long corridor, Song Wen arrived at a small courtyard.
The woman invited Song Wen to sit at the stone table in the courtyard and poured him a cup of tea before asking, "May I inquire what Senior wishes to purchase?"
"A map," Song Wen replied, "the more detailed, the better."
The woman flipped her hand and produced a jade slip, handing it to Song Wen.
"Please examine this, Senior."
Song Wen accepted the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.
Instantly, a vast map unfolded before him.
The map encompassed hundreds of millions of li surrounding Great Tan City, meticulously detailing mountains, rivers, Spiritual Qi distribution, major and minor factions, and other information.
Yet Song Wen seemed less than satisfied.
"Do you have a map covering a broader region? Preferably one that includes the entire Southern Nether Continent."
The woman retrieved another jade slip and handed it to Song Wen.
After examining it, Song Wen found the map to be extremely simplified, with most areas left blank. It only showed the relative positions of the three great sects—the Profound Sky Sect, Myriad Swords Pavilion, and Spirit Jade Palace—along with the borders of the Southern Nether Continent.
The western and southern sides of the Southern Nether Continent bordered the sea, but both were now covered by Primordial Qi. To the north lay Crimson Cloud Province, separated by a massive mountain range stretching hundreds of millions of miles. To the east was Azure Gale Continent, divided by an endless desert.
Song Wen frowned slightly, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Why is this map so simplified?"
The woman replied, "Senior, you're mistaken. Not to boast, but these two maps are the most detailed available in all of Great Tan City. If you require more detailed maps, you'll likely have to seek them from the Spirit Jade Palace."
Song Wen remained noncommittal, pocketed the two jade slips, and asked, "How many spirit stones?"
The woman's face lit up with a radiant smile.
"One hundred high-grade spirit stones."
Without haggling, Song Wen produced a hundred high-grade spirit stones and handed them over.
"Does your shop have any detailed information about the Spirit Jade Palace?"
The woman's expression suddenly tightened, as if she had heard something terrifying.
"Senior, this humble shop would never dare sell information about the Spirit Jade Palace!"
Song Wen didn't press the matter and instead asked, "Then do you have any information about the Divine Blood Gate? For example, their strongholds in the Southern Nether Continent, their members, or anyone associated with them?"
The woman replied, "Senior, you overestimate this humble shop. If I possessed such information, I would have already reported it to the Spirit Jade Palace for a reward."
Realizing he wouldn't obtain any useful information, Song Wen purchased some illustrated guides to spirit herbs and materials before departing.
He then visited three more intelligence shops, but none yielded anything of value.
Instead of leaving Great Tan City, he entered several spirit herb shops and purchased some sixth-tier spirit herbs.
Years ago, after killing Hong Zhe, Jiang Lanruo, and Chi Qi, he had obtained five sixth-tier Pill Formulas. However, he had never found the time to refine these medicinal pills.
These five pills were commonly used by Void Refinement Stage cultivators. Eager to prevent his Pill Refinement Technique from stagnating, Song Wen saw this as an opportunity to hone his skills.
Moreover, the Blood Demon Pill's medicinal potency no longer met his cultivation needs. He intended to repeat his previous success by developing a new medicinal pill tailored to his cultivation, but currently had no leads.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (𝗥𝗗𝗖) on the Site till Ch1448. (424 Chapters Ahead)
💲Read upto Ch1258 for ABSOLUTELY 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀! ℕ𝕠 𝕃𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕟
⚡ 14 Novels | 8.7k+ Chapters | 14.6M+ Words [𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦]