Ji Chen stood before the mirror, meticulously checking his disguise. The "Illusion Talisman" provided by Lin Mo worked wonders—staring back at him was a completely unfamiliar face: a rugged-looking man in his thirties with tanned skin and a scar cutting across one eye. He looked every bit like a seasoned rogue cultivator.
"How do I look?" he asked, turning toward Su Wan, who was busy adjusting her gear.
She, too, had transformed—gone was the ethereal beauty, replaced by an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman. Even her aura had shifted, becoming more worldly and practical. She was stuffing various talismans and hidden weapons into the pouches around her waist.
"Passable, barely," she said without looking up. "We're a pair of rogue cultivators from the southwest, here in Jiangcheng seeking treatment and spiritual medicine."
Jiangcheng Old District — 2:17 a.m., Qingzhu Alley No. 44
Ji Chen stood in front of a moss-covered brick wall, his finger lightly grazing a weathered coin nestled in the crevice between the bricks. It was the "key" Lin Mo had left them. Only by channeling spiritual energy into the coin at a specific frequency could they access the entrance to the underground black market.
"Ready?" Su Wan whispered beside him, her voice low. A large hood covered most of her face, and a half-veil concealed everything but her bright eyes. Though her injured left arm was healing, the residual Yin energy still caused occasional jolts of pain.
Ji Chen nodded and pressed the coin into a small depression on the wall. As his spiritual energy surged into it, the coin glowed faintly green. Ripples spread across the surface of the brick wall like water.
"Remember the rules," Su Wan reminded him. "Don't ask questions. Don't probe anyone's background. Don't stare too long at something you want—that's seen as a challenge. Bargain with hand signs. Never raise your voice."
Ji Chen took a deep breath and followed her through the "wall." On the other side, the world opened up—
An ancient street lit with floating lanterns stretched before them, bustling with activity. Shops on both sides were ablaze with light, their signs written in a mix of ancient and modern script. People dressed in wildly different styles wandered the marketplace—some in contemporary wear, others in full-blown robes from another era. Suspended in midair, hundreds of lanterns hovered without strings or poles, illuminating the entire street with a mystical glow.
"So this is... the cultivator's black market," Ji Chen murmured. He had only been here once before.
"Eyes forward," Su Wan tugged on his sleeve. "Don't gawk."
The streets were packed with vendors hawking everything from rare spiritual pills to enchanted weapons. One stall had rows of jade bottles labeled with names like "Foundation Elixir" and "Qi Restoration Powder." Another featured a live demonstration of a self-tracking flying sword. Further down, someone was openly selling "Millennium Spirit Ginseng"—the ginseng inside the glass case twitched slightly, as though still alive.
"What should we buy first?" Ji Chen asked, hand instinctively brushing the pouch at his waist that held their funds—ten mid-grade spirit stones, courtesy of Lin Mo. It was a decent fortune in the cultivation world.
"Offensive weapons first," Su Wan said as her eyes scanned the stalls. "You've got Foundation-level spiritual energy now, but barely any attack techniques to back it up."
Just then, a commotion arose ahead. The crowd parted on its own as several cultivators wearing uniform robes strode down the street. On their chests gleamed badges that read: Black Market Enforcement.
"They have enforcers?" Ji Chen asked, surprised.
"Of course," Su Wan replied, pulling him to the side. "Even black markets need rules. The whole place is run jointly by major cultivation clans. They keep order, take a cut from all transactions, and... remove anyone who breaks the rules."
She said the last part so softly that he barely heard it—then subtly nodded toward a wooden post nearby. Three weathered, mummified heads were nailed to it. Beneath them, a wooden placard read: Punishment for Thieves.
Ji Chen's stomach clenched. Whatever illusions he had about the place being chaotic but manageable were gone.
Eventually, the two stopped at a weapons shop called Hundred-Forge Pavilion. An elderly, one-eyed man sat behind the counter, quietly polishing a short dagger. When they entered, he barely looked up.
"What do you want?" he asked without pausing his work.
"Something that counters Yin-based energy. Preferably a dagger," Su Wan said directly.
The old man finally set the dagger down and gave them a long look with his single eye. "New here?"
Before either of them could answer, he pulled a blade from beneath the counter—a deep-blue dagger etched with faint runes that shimmered with anti-Yin properties.
"Made of Cold-Iron Ice. Cuts through darkness and evil. Thirty mid-grade stones."
Ji Chen inhaled sharply. That was three times their entire budget.
"Too expensive," Su Wan said awkwardly, leading him away.
Next stop: talismans.
They entered a shop with a sign that read Spirit Ink Pavilion. Shelves inside were lined with talisman paper, vermilion ink, and pre-drawn spell charms. A plump middle-aged man greeted them with a beaming smile.
"Welcome! Looking for mobility charms? Protection seals? Fire-scrolls? We've got everything—"
"Basic talisman compendium, Spiritblood Balm, one hundred blank papers, and a tael of top-grade cinnabar," Su Wan interrupted coolly.
The shopkeeper maintained his smile. "Talisman compendium: twenty stones. Spiritblood Balm: one box. Blank sheets: one stone per fifty. Cinnabar—"
"Too cheap for you now?" a mocking voice cut in from the doorway. "Su Wan, when did you stoop to buying flea-market junk?"
Ji Chen turned sharply. Zhao Mingyang stood at the entrance, flanked by two attendants, his tone full of disdain. He was dressed in ornate brocade robes, a glowing jade amulet at his waist—a defensive artifact of some quality.
Su Wan stiffened, but her voice remained calm. "Zhao Gongzi, you seem awfully concerned about my shopping habits."
Zhao Mingyang strode in arrogantly, scoffing at the goods. "This trash? You've really fallen far." Then he turned to Ji Chen, eyes narrowing with a glint of malice. "So you're the rogue who ran off with a Su Clan daughter? Changed your face? Pity—I'd recognize you even if you turned to ash."
Ji Chen suppressed his rising fury. He could feel Zhao Mingyang's cultivation—Foundation mid-stage. Slightly stronger than him, but the quality of the man's energy paled in comparison to his own, which had been refined through the Void Scripture.
"Is there something you need?" Ji Chen asked coolly.
"Oh, I'm just here to check on the traitor and her little lover," Zhao sneered. "You think running away means you're free? The Su Clan has disowned you. You're nothing but a stray now."
He raised his voice deliberately, drawing a crowd of onlookers outside.
Su Wan's hand tightened beneath her sleeve, but her expression remained placid. "Are you done? If so, step aside. We've got shopping to finish."
Zhao didn't budge. Instead, he stepped closer. "Why so hasty? How about a little friendly sparring? Let's see what the so-called Void Scripture host is made of."
The atmosphere in the shop shifted immediately—tense, electric. The shopkeeper ducked behind the counter, and more onlookers gathered.
Ji Chen knew the challenge was unavoidable. While killing was forbidden in the black market, injuries during "duels" were common. He exchanged a quick glance with Su Wan. She gave a slight nod.
"Sure," Ji Chen said casually. "What kind of duel?"
"Simple. Three moves. No weapons. No artifacts. Pure technique." Zhao gestured toward an open space outside. "Right there."
The crowd instinctively formed a circle around the makeshift arena. Ji Chen took position, silently activating the Void Scripture. Zhao Mingyang stood with hands behind his back, radiating arrogance.
"First move!" Zhao struck suddenly, sending a gray beam toward Ji Chen's throat.
Ji Chen had anticipated it. Activating Spiritual Sight, he tracked the trajectory and sidestepped. His right hand formed a sword-finger, shooting a beam of golden flame—Spiritfire Pierce.
"Hmph, parlor tricks," Zhao scoffed. A gray shield deflected the blast easily. But in that split second, Ji Chen's left hand formed another seal—the scattered golden flame regrouped midair and came streaking in from the side!
Zhao narrowly avoided it, his sleeve singed. The crowd murmured in surprise.
"Second move." Ji Chen didn't let up. Twin beams of gold lanced out from his palms, dancing in a complex arc.
Zhao's smile faltered. He snapped into motion, forming a seal. A swirling cyclone of gray-black energy erupted, swallowing the golden light and surging toward Ji Chen!
The oppressive coldness—it felt just like Qin Yue's power. Ji Chen acted fast. The Spiritfang Dagger appeared in his hand, its blade glowing blue as he infused it with Void energy. A shimmering barrier formed just in time to block the cyclone.
"You're cheating!" Zhao roared.
"So are you," Ji Chen snapped. "You embedded a Soul-Eater Gu inside that cyclone. You thought I wouldn't notice?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Poison arts were strictly forbidden in duels. The enforcers would not look kindly on this.
Zhao's face twisted, then broke into a cold smile. "So what? Prove it. Third move—die!"
He slapped a black talisman onto his chest—Bloodburn Seal! His energy surged to late Foundation-stage. Twin palms launched a beam of swirling black and gray energy, cracking the ground and distorting the air.
"Careful! It's a forbidden talisman!" Su Wan shouted.
Too late to dodge. Ji Chen channeled every drop of his spiritual energy into the Spiritfang Dagger, holding it defensively. The attack collided with a deafening boom! Ji Chen was knocked back several paces, blood at his lips—but he had blocked it.
"Zhao Mingyang! You violated the rules!" Su Wan cried, silver bow in hand.
Whistles shrieked in the distance—black market enforcers were coming.
Seeing the tide turn, Zhao hissed, "You're lucky. But..." He leaned close. "The Night Owl Society won't let a Void host walk free." Then he vanished in a puff of smoke, disappearing just as the enforcers arrived.
Ji Chen staggered, only staying upright with Su Wan's help. He coughed blood.
"You okay?" she asked, panicked, slipping a pill between his lips.
"I'll live," Ji Chen muttered, wincing. "But damn... that almost wrecked my blade."
She checked the Spiritfang Dagger. A crack ran along its body, but the core runes were intact. "Fixable. But you..." Her voice softened. "You could've dodged it."
"That'd mean losing." Ji Chen forced a smile. "Didn't want to embarrass myself in front of you."
Su Wan blushed faintly and muttered, "Idiot."