Chapter 51

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A night had passed.

The next day, the death of two wandering cultivators in Jinsha City did not cause a great stir. Perhaps some high-ranking officials would investigate, but they would not expend too much effort. After all, the Hundred Islands Guard was more chaotic than other places, and the death of two wandering cultivators was not a big deal.

As for the mastermind behind the "Yinsha Outer Sect" disciple, they would likely be surprised and suspicious for a while, but they would not be able to conduct a large-scale investigation. After all, the Hundred Islands Guard, no matter how weak, was still within the jurisdiction of Longzuo County, and the Yinsha Sect could not cause trouble here.

Wang Shuzhe and his group, of course, acted as if nothing had happened, and they were not at all interested in the mastermind's schemes.

The small Wang family now had to focus on their own survival.

The black market usually opened every few days.

Today was the day the black market opened.

In the evening, Wang Shuzhe asked Chen Fanghua to arrange a carriage to take him and Longyan Old Ancestor to the black market. This time, no one else accompanied them, just the two of them.

The black market was located on the eastern side of Jinsha City, near the seaside. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter. Only Xuanwu cultivators at the Fourth Layer of the Qi Condensation Realm or higher had the资格 to enter, and most of them could only stay in the main hall.

Wang Shuzhe and Longyan Old Ancestor had thoroughly disguised themselves today. He dressed as a rough-looking man, while Longyan Old Ancestor was completely covered in a gray robe, with only her eyes exposed.

The two got out of the carriage and walked straight to the entrance of the black market.

Longyan Old Ancestor released a bit of her Spirit Platform Realm aura, and was immediately respectfully invited into the black market and led to a private room on the second floor, without even being asked about their background. When she mentioned that she wanted to sell a spirit artifact, the other party immediately took it seriously and said they would ask the steward to appraise it.

This was the style of the black market, allowing customers to disguise themselves and ensuring their privacy.

Such practices made the black market in Jinsha City of the Hundred Islands Guard increasingly famous. Many families from surrounding guard cities might try to participate in the black market transactions.

Soon, a servant girl came in to serve fruits, tea, and other refreshments, then left respectfully.

After a short while, a voice sounded outside the private room: "I am the black market steward, surnamed Zhong."

Longyan Old Ancestor gave Wang Shuzhe a look.

Wang Shuzhe immediately understood and went to open the door, inviting the steward in. He had seen the information before; this black market was a joint venture of the Zhong and Ouyang families, two of the Heavenly Human Xuanwu families in the Hundred Islands Guard.

This person was dressed in a black robe, with a mask on his face that showed no expression. Since he was surnamed Zhong, he must be a member of the Zhong family.

"Steward Zhong, my ancestor requests your presence," Wang Shuzhe, playing the role of a rough-looking man, bowed to him.

Steward Zhong entered the room and politely bowed to the gray-robed Longyan Old Ancestor: "Thank you for trusting our black market. Our black market has been in operation for two hundred years, and we value our reputation. You can trade here without any worries. What spirit artifact do you wish to sell? Please show it to me."

His words were straightforward and represented the foundation of the black market. Any market would cherish its reputation. A two-hundred-year-old reputation was not easy to build.

Longyan Old Ancestor did not waste words. She flipped her hand, and a palm-sized object appeared in her hand. It looked like a turtle shell, covered with layers of dense scales, and on the scales were intricate and mysterious inscriptions.

"This is it. What is your appraisal, Daoist friend?" Her voice was low and hoarse, deliberately disguised.

"This?" Steward Zhong took a closer look, and his eyes immediately changed. He whispered fiercely, "It's actually the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield. Daoist friend, where did you get this?"

A powerful Spirit Platform Realm aura emanated from him.

Wang Shuzhe's heart skipped a beat. What was going on with this black market? Just a moment ago, they were boasting about their reputation, and now they were questioning the item. He immediately stepped in front of Steward Zhong, ignoring the Spirit Platform Realm aura, and said coldly, "Steward Zhong, are you trying to break the rules of the black market?"

His words quickly calmed Steward Zhong down, but he still looked serious: "I was rash. This Turtle Scale Treasure Shield is a relic of an important person in my sect. If you are willing to reveal its origin, I will offer a ten percent, no, a twenty percent premium."

"Hmm?"

Wang Shuzhe frowned. As a defensive spirit artifact, the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield was generally more valuable than offensive ones, and its price could reach tens of thousands of gold! A ten percent premium would be several thousand gold.

This Steward Zhong was so concerned about this treasure? And his words...

"We're not selling it. Let's go." Longyan Old Ancestor casually put the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield away, her voice low and cold.

"Wait!"

Steward Zhong blocked the door and stared at Longyan Old Ancestor with a surprised look, whispering, "Senior Sister, is it you, Longyan Senior Sister? You, you, you are still alive."

Senior Sister?

Wang Shuzhe took a deep breath. This Steward Zhong was actually Longyan Old Ancestor's junior? He was also from the Purple Mansion Academy... Could it be that they had some past... He started to imagine.

"Who are you!" Longyan Old Ancestor stopped, her eyes flashing with a fierce look. "How do you recognize me? Why do you recognize the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield?"

"I, I am Zhong Xingwang." Steward Zhong hurriedly bowed. "Does Senior Sister remember me?"

As he spoke, he took off his mask, revealing a slightly aged, ordinary old man's face.

"Zhong Xingwang?" Longyan Old Ancestor thought for a moment, her eyes showing a hint of confusion. "I don't recognize you. Perhaps I've forgotten."

Steward Zhong was not offended, but he chuckled and bowed, saying, "It's normal for Senior Sister not to remember me. When you reached the mid-Spirit Platform Realm at sixty, you were a rising star in the academy. I, Zhong Xingwang, only entered the academy through connections and was just a junior. I could only look up to you."

As he spoke, admiration, reverence, and even a hint of fear showed on his face and in his eyes.

Hearing this, Wang Shuzhe finally understood. His previous imagination was wrong. This Steward Zhong and Longyan Old Ancestor were not some mutually admiring divine classmates, but rather a loser and a goddess...

Her ancestor didn't even remember his name...

And he looked somewhat aged and weathered. He called Longyan Old Ancestor "Senior Sister" and entered the Purple Mansion Academy through connections, so he must have reached the Spirit Platform Realm at an older age.

It was normal that he didn't know Longyan Old Ancestor's family background. The Purple Mansion Academy strictly prohibited the random promotion of one's family or inquiring about others' families.

Unless they had an extremely close relationship, everyone was just a student, without much distinction in family background. This was the domineering nature of the Purple Mansion Academy.

"Why are you blocking me? Are you trying to break the rules of the black market?" Longyan Old Ancestor's voice was cold.

"No, no, no." Steward Zhong hurriedly waved his hands. "If I break the market rules, I will be killed by the ancestors. They all said Senior Sister died in the outer domain, and I was sad for many years. When I saw Senior Sister, I got a bit excited. Please don't be angry, Senior Sister."

As he spoke, he bowed repeatedly, asking for Longyan Old Ancestor's forgiveness.

"Then move aside." Longyan Old Ancestor said coldly.

"Move, move, move... No, no, no." The dignified Spirit Platform Realm Steward Zhong was suddenly flustered. "Please, Senior Sister, give me a chance to atone. Why are you selling the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield? I remember it was a spirit artifact given to you by High Priest Binglan!"

"Short of money." Longyan Old Ancestor said coldly.

"Short of money, why didn't you say so earlier?" Steward Zhong sighed with relief and then showed a flattering and ingratiating expression. "As a direct descendant of the Zhong family, I have saved some private funds and have some connections. How much does Senior Sister need? I can help arrange it."

Direct descendant of the Zhong family?

The Zhong family was a high-ranking Heavenly Human bloodline family in the Hundred Islands Guard. How could a direct descendant be in such a state? He had to enter the academy through connections. And his appearance was like that of a sycophant.

A sycophant who didn't care about the situation and had no skill, just blindly fawning.

Wang Shuzhe was speechless. Steward Zhong, Steward Zhong, chasing a goddess isn't done this way. Haven't you heard that sycophants end up with nothing?

Sure enough, a cold aura gradually spread from Longyan Old Ancestor, and anger rose in her. She sneered, "Zhong, are you trying to buy me, Wang Longyan?"

Steward Zhong's legs suddenly went weak, and he panicked, "Senior Sister, please don't misunderstand. I just want to repay you. Don't you remember? In one of the academy's trial missions, you helped me once, even though you don't remember..."

Finished!

Wang Shuzhe shook his head. In front of his goddess, he couldn't even stand straight. How could he have any chance?

Such a person, not to mention Longyan Old Ancestor, even Wang Shuzhe wouldn't be interested.

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