The moon hung high in the sky.
Fang Xi held the black market token in his hand, still feeling somewhat puzzled.
According to Mu Canglong, the term "demon" likely referred to powerful beast-like creatures with extraordinary physiques. But "true demon"? That seemed far stranger, neither demonic beasts nor the demonic cultivators of the immortal realm.
"At any rate... I'm finally about to gain access to this world's high-tier resources."
Looking ahead at the bridge, a faint trace of excitement flickered across his face.
According to Mu Canglong's instructions, Blackstone City's black market was located at "Moon Bridge." On the first and fifteenth day of each month, one could present a token and board a boat at the riverside to enter the true black market!
Fang Xi had naturally changed into dark nightwear and a bamboo hat that obscured both his figure and appearance.
When he arrived at the foot of the Moon Bridge, he saw a black-sailed boat waiting silently by the shore.
"Who goes there?"
On the boat, an old man holding a bamboo pole called out.
"A man headed to the black market," Fang Xi replied.
"Do you have your token?"
"Here."
He tossed over the wooden token. The old man examined it briefly, nodded respectfully, and beckoned him aboard.
There were already a few other black-clad passengers onboard, each keeping a quiet distance from one another.
After waiting for the time of three incense sticks, the old man pushed off with his pole, and the black boat drifted away beneath the moonlight.
A thin fog rose, and the surrounding scenery blurred into shadowy silhouettes.
Who knew how much time passed before the boat finally docked at a small riverbank.
"We've arrived."
The old man's voice sounded again.
Fang Xi stepped off the boat, his foot sinking slightly into the damp mud.
He surveyed the surroundings, it appeared to be an island in the middle of a lake, scattered with makeshift stalls and hawkers.
The only buildings were a few shabby wooden huts, primitive and crude.
"This black market… is nothing like what I imagined."
"It's far too rundown."
The corners of Fang Xi's mouth twitched as he melted into the flow of people.
"Brother, want to learn martial arts? This is the Iron Sword Sect's secret 18-style Iron-Cutting Sword Manual, complete with a Divine Will Diagram!"
One vendor, face veiled, shouted loudly from his stall.
Fang Xi glanced at the stack of manuals and shook his head before walking away.
He didn't need to examine them closely to know, they were almost certainly fakes. A true "Divine Will Diagram" was not so easily replicated.
"Come take a look! Top-quality slaves here… look at that skin, those teeth… clearly raised in a wealthy household! A few years of training and they'll be stunners!"
At another stall, to his surprise, they were selling people!
Fang Xi swept a glance over and saw a few terrified children, faces filled with dread. He immediately recalled the recent rumors of children going missing from prominent families in the city, and a chill ran down his spine.
"So the imperial court of Daliang doesn't have as much control as I thought."
"This black market… truly deserves the name."
"What a pity. I don't yet have the strength to do whatever I please…"
After a silent sigh, he followed Mu Canglong's directions to a certain wooden hut.
The hut was crude and unkempt. Fang Xi wrinkled his nose as he caught a whiff of thick blood in the air.
"So this is Mu Canglong and White Cloud Martial Hall's demonic beast meat supplier?"
Muttering inwardly, he stepped inside.
The interior was dim, lit only by a single oil lamp. The flame burned a ghostly green.
As the lamp oil burned, a strange aroma wafted through the room.
Fang Xi swallowed unconsciously, he actually felt a bit hungry.
"There's definitely something off about this lamp oil…"
Just as he pondered, a deep, booming voice echoed out:
"You're here for meat?"
Fang Xi looked up, and couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
To the side of the room was an actual mountain of meat!
No, it was a person. A massive, obese man, easily two or three meters tall. Rolls of pale fat spilled out like draped cloth, with slick, glistening oil coating his sagging skin.
A grotesque monstrosity of a man, at least five hundred kilograms.
With a calm voice, Fang Xi said, "I heard… you sell demonic beast meat here? Don't worry, I know the rules."
He tossed over the wooden token.
The meat-mountain caught it, gave it a cursory glance, and then grinned, "Ah, a referral from a regular. No worries, I've got the best meat in town."
As he spoke, his enormous hand, like a fan, reached behind and grabbed something.
Smack!
A pale chunk of meat, easily five to six kilograms, slammed down before Fang Xi.
It was pure white, with no trace of blood.
"This… feels just like the lamp oil…"
Fang Xi gave it a quick glanced and reached a conclusion.
"One hundred taels of silver per 0,5 kg," the fat man said casually.
"Alright."
Fang Xi nodded, producing a gold leaf, specially prepared for transactions like this.
Carrying large amounts of silver wasn't exactly safe.
"I've got a hundred gold leaves here, worth a hundred gold taels. At the official exchange rate, that's a thousand silver taels. Give me five kg of meat."
The fat man stared for a second, then burst out laughing.
"Good! I like dealing with straight-shooters like you. Name's Han, the Fatty Han!"
Laughing, he grabbed another hunk of meat and slapped it onto the counter.
"This one plus the last definitely comes out to over five kg. The extra's on me… Life is short, and nothing beats a good meal. Just don't eat too much, or you might burst! Hahaha!"
His laughter shook the very walls of the wooden hut.
Fang Xi clasped his hands in thanks, wrapped the meat in cloth, slung it over his back, and left.
Having gotten what he came for, he didn't linger. He boarded the return boat and disembarked beneath the Moon Bridge once again.
After winding through several alleys, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and sighed, "You've been tailing me for quite a while… What exactly do you want?"
At the end of the alley, a black-clad figure emerged.
He sneered, "Heh… you've got sharp senses, kid. Since you were able to get so much meat from Fatty Han, you must be loaded. Hand it over!"
As he spoke, he was still at the far end of the alley, yet by the time the last word left his mouth, he was already in front of Fang Xi, fist crashing down like a landslide.
"Rolling Stone Fist?!"
Fang Xi chuckled lightly. He recognized the move, it was a technique used by disciples of Boulder Martial Hall.
Having studied martial arts himself, Fang Xi calmly flipped his hand. His palm darkened, and he struck out in return.
Boom!
Palm met fist. Two torrents of powerful blood qi clashed, letting out a heavy thud.
The attacker groaned and staggered back several steps, eyes wide in shock, "Third Transformation Blood Qi? Impossible!"
He had already scoped out all the young experts in the city. Based on Fang Xi's voice, he assumed he was just a youth, an easy mark.
Clearly, he picked the wrong target.
"You're also a third transformation blood qi martial artist from Boulder Martial Hall?"
Fang Xi nodded, then shook his head. "Why throw your life away?"
"Hmph! So what if you have White Cloud Palm? You may not be able to beat me!" The attacker roared and unleashed another barrage, his fists thundered like rolling stones, gathering force as they built momentum.
The longer he struck, the more powerful the final blow would be.
Fang Xi prepared to counter, but then twitched.
The black-clad man… turned and ran.
Ran.
"You think I'm dumb enough to fight someone as strong as me head-on?!"
Cursing internally, the man bolted.
If one looked closely, they'd see black markings on his fists, the poison from Fang Xi's palm wasn't ineffective.
"Damn White Cloud Martial Hall… I'll remember this grudge…"
Just as he prepared to flee further, a blur appeared before his eyes, it was Fang Xi again!
Boosted by the Red Serpent Leg technique, Fang Xi's speed was nothing to scoff at.
Despair flooded the man's heart. "Are you really going to kill me over this?"
"Not at all…" Fang Xi smiled. "You're a third transformation martial artist, right? I just want to run a little test."
He began muttering an incantation, drawing qi into his fingertip.
Then, he pointed.
Several sword-shaped blasts of energy surged forth.
Green Bamboo Mountain Spiritual Farmer Weed-Clearing Technique, Grass Cleaving Sword!
The black-clad man was still wondering what Fang Xi was doing when his body suddenly erupted with wounds, blood sprayed like a fountain.
"What… what kind of martial art is this?!"
He dropped to one knee, face hidden under a mask but full of disbelief.
"Innate Formless Sword Qi."
Fang Xi stood with hands behind his back, the very image of a transcendent master.
Inwardly, however, he was carefully noting the results,
"Even a low-tier spell at the early Foundation stage can seriously injure a third-transformation martial artist..."
"You…" the man wanted to curse, but couldn't catch his breath.
This isn't martial arts! Even the masters of Yuanhe Mountain couldn't release force from afar like this!
Unfortunately, before he could finish the thought, a flash of green light passed.
His headless corpse slumped to the ground, blood quickly pooling beneath it.
"Using even a low-grade artifact is like slicing vegetables."
Fang Xi sighed, retrieving his Green Millet Sword, still somewhat dissatisfied.
"Next time… I'll try it on a martial hall master."