Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 15: Buying and Selling

The shadows of trees and the weeds obscured the view as we hurried along.

After a cup of tea, a lake that had never been frozen finally came into view, with stalls of all sizes neatly arranged around the lake.

Each stall was filled with neatly arranged spiritual items ready for sale. On a small island in the middle of Ice Heart Lake stood three wooden buildings, which were shops that specialized in purchasing items in the market.

The company specializes in acquiring spirit objects by categorizing them according to their different types, attributes, uses, etc. This was Tong Bingfeng's first objective on this trip.

As for what happens next, the types and quantities of spirit items that can be purchased on the black market all depend on the sale of the monster corpses first, and on the amount of spirit stones obtained in the end.

The number of cultivators coming and going in the black market was not small. They all used different methods to conceal themselves and remained quiet. Only occasionally could you hear faint sounds of bargaining from the stalls.

"The black market, the black market, just as I thought. If it were bustling with activity, the Chen family wouldn't allow it to exist for long. This kind of semi-underground trading place can only serve as a supplement to Ice Spirit Island, and it can never be the main one."

After observing and confirming that it was safe, Tong Bingfeng no longer hesitated. He transformed into a black streak of light and, with the help of his dantian magic power, easily rode the waves, heading straight for the location of the shop on the central island of Ice Heart Lake.

Due to the constant erosion of wind, snow and low temperatures, the northern border region is basically frozen year-round. With Ice Spirit Island as its core, the only exception within a radius of a thousand miles is Ice Heart Lake, which is also the origin of the name of the black market.

Tong Bingfeng was unaware of the fundamental reason why Bingxin Lake was able to withstand the dual erosion of wind, snow, and low temperatures, and had no interest in exploring it further.

Ice Heart Lake is not very large. Walking on the waves, his figure appeared smoothly on the island in the middle of the lake and went straight into a shop that specializes in buying and selling the corpses of monsters.

There was no need to carefully distinguish the three shops, but this one constantly emitted a strong smell of blood, and had the largest number of cultivators coming and going.

The majority of them are cultivators in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining, since only they have the qualifications to conduct preliminary in-depth explorations of the depths of the Northern Frontier Ice Domain.

As for cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining, although they occasionally come and go, most of them are in groups of three or five led by their companions. Soloists like Tong Bingfeng are quite rare.

"Since they've been buying monster corpses in the Ice Heart Lake black market for a long time, their safety should be guaranteed. Hopefully, their purchase prices are indeed higher than those in the market, just as rumored."

After resting for a while and calming down, Tong Bingfeng decisively stepped into the shop, which was filled with the smell of blood but had no name on it.

"Young friend, are you planning to sell the corpses of demonic beasts? What are their grades and types?"

As soon as I stepped into the shop, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, dressed in black shorts, shirtless with only a black pad covering his chest, and holding a murderous pig-slaughtering knife, came forward. He looked like an ordinary butcher, but his face was full of fierce features.

"This humble cultivator greets fellow Daoist. I am here to sell the corpses of two demonic beasts: a low-grade first-rank ice crab and a low-grade first-rank black tiger fish."

Tong Bingfeng's caution was almost ingrained in her bones. Facing this seemingly rough mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, even as a customer, she dared not make the slightest mistake, only hoping to be polite and forgiving.

Upon hearing the inquiry, he immediately responded and laid out the parts of the monster he was preparing to sell, waiting for the other party to appraise them.

"Although the Ice Crab and Black Tiger Fish are only low-grade Tier 1 fish, they each have their own unique characteristics. It is quite remarkable that you were able to find their traces in the Ice Domain."

"The first-grade low-level ice crab has been sorted and cut up. All parts will be purchased for nine spirit stones. The first-grade low-level black tiger fish is intact and has delicious meat. It can be used to make fish soup to aid cultivators in their practice. It will be purchased for four spirit stones. In total, it will be thirteen spirit stones. What do you think, young friend?"

After sizing him up, the butcher-like cultivator gave a relatively fair price, which was even higher than Tong Bingfeng had expected.

"Deal made. Your price is fair, and we have no objections to minor repairs."

Regardless of the other party's origins or their purpose in acquiring such a large number of monster corpses, it was all irrelevant to Tong Bingfeng. The most important thing was to get the spirit stones into his pocket as soon as possible.

After a short while, the money and goods were settled, the transaction was completed, and Tong Bingfeng left immediately, heading towards the market stalls.

"I sold thirteen spirit stones this time, and I still have four spirit stones left over, for a total of seventeen spirit stones. I should be able to leave satisfied."

As he counted the spirit stones in his robes, Tong Bingfeng could not suppress his joy. After all, this was the moment he had amassed the most spirit stones since embarking on his cultivation path.

When they were ice harvesters, they worked hard and diligently, but the rewards they earned were usually in the form of spirit crystals, which was pitiful.

Seventeen spirit stones was a real fortune for him, since a bottle of high-quality, flawless Tier 1 low-grade Qi Refining Powder sold in a regular shop in the Ice Sea Market only cost five spirit stones.

In the Ice Heart Lake Market, the prices of various spirit items of the same level are always lower than those in the market.

Once away from the surface of Ice Heart Lake, Tong Bingfeng had regained his usual calm. After calculating that there was still enough time before the black market ended, he began to wander around and observe each stall.

On the one hand, it increases knowledge about various spiritual objects. In the vast Northern Frontier Ice Region, there are many kinds of spiritual materials and medicines. Tong Bingfeng's cultivation level is low and his knowledge is limited. He has only heard of many of them but has never seen them. Although he cannot take the initiative to communicate with them today, there is no problem in seeing them with his own eyes.

On the other hand, while the spirit items sold at the stalls in Bingxin Lake Market are guaranteed to be genuine, different stalls have different prices. To get a good deal, you naturally need to invest enough patience.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, how much does the Qi Refining Powder cost? Is there a discount if I buy two bottles?"

After comparing prices at three different stalls, Tong Bingfeng stopped in front of a relatively secluded stall and asked questions, his eyes intently examining the neatly arranged jade bottles on the stall.

The stall owner was also shrouded in a black robe, making it impossible to discern his appearance or even his gender.

"One bottle of Qi Refining Powder costs four spirit stones and fifty spirit crystals. Two bottles cost eight spirit stones. All Qi Refining Powder is made by experienced alchemists and is of excellent quality."

The stall owner responded simply in a hoarse, obviously masked voice, showing absolutely no enthusiasm, a stark contrast to the warm welcomes and farewells of the shops in the market.

"make a deal"

If the price is right, Tong Bingfeng will not hesitate. After all, whether in the marketplace or the black market, elixirs of different grades, types, and uses are always the most popular hard currency.