txolops Chapter 62 Secret Shop Auction: Selling Stolen Goods!
Chapter 62 Secret Shop Auction: Selling Stolen Goods!
"If you trust me, senior, I can introduce you to a secret shop that few people know about... Although a small portion of the items sold there have questionable origins, they are all top-quality goods that are rarely seen outside! I think you will be able to find satisfactory array-setting artifacts there."
Feng Xingzi introduced himself very respectfully.
"Secret shop?"
Lin Chuan paused slightly, his gaze falling on Feng Xingzi Wang Lin's face, which was feigned mystery yet carried a hint of certainty.
He was naturally familiar with the name.
It could even be said that it was anticipated.
In many markets, especially near markets run by major sects like the Tianxing Sect, there are always places where private transactions are conducted without asking where the buyer comes from; these are commonly known as black markets or secret shops.
The items sold there were either stolen goods that couldn't be brought to light, or hot potatoes that some monks desperately needed to get rid of.
There may even be some evil artifacts with bizarre power, but whose crafting methods are contrary to the laws of nature.
For him
The allure of this "secret shop" lies not so much in selling, but in acquiring and reselling stolen goods.
He quickly went through his storage bag in his mind.
Previously in the Crimson Forbidden Land, he killed many core elites from various sects, including Feng Yue, Duobao Nu, and Han Tianya, not to mention the ordinary disciples who intended to ambush him.
These people came from extraordinary backgrounds, and the magical artifacts, talismans, and other items bearing obvious personal markings they possessed were things they dared not easily show to others within the Yue Kingdom.
Once these disciples' families or senior masters trace their origins, it will be difficult to find them.
Even with the protection of being Li Huayuan's disciple, it's still a huge problem.
Now that he has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, many of the magical artifacts he used during the Qi Refining stage have become ineffective, making it the perfect time to get rid of this batch of "black goods".
The secret shop of the Tianxing Sect in the Yuanwu Kingdom, which does not inquire about the source of stolen goods, is the ideal place to sell stolen goods.
"Lead the way," Lin Chuan said succinctly, his voice calm and unwavering.
A flicker of joy crossed Wang Lin's face, but he rubbed his hands together and said, "Senior, according to the rules, the auction at the secret shop won't officially begin until noon tomorrow. If we go now, I'm afraid..."
"No need to wait for the auction."
Lin Chuan interrupted him, "I have some things that I want to sell to the person in charge there right now."
Wang Lin suddenly realized and quickly bowed, "So that's how it is. Senior wants to ship the goods directly. I understand, I understand! Please follow me."
Next, Wang Lin led Lin Chuan through the seemingly chaotic alleys of the market, winding and turning, avoiding the main streets, and finally stopping at the end of a quiet alley.
Before me stood a solitary, dilapidated shack, its door weathered and devoid of any signage. Compared to the surrounding shops, even the smallest ones, it appeared exceptionally shabby, desolate, and utterly inconspicuous.
Wang Lin stepped forward and knocked on the door three times in a specific rhythm.
A moment later, the door creaked open a crack, revealing a man in his thirties with an ordinary face and a cultivation level of around the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining. Her gaze swept warily over the two people outside the door.
"Madam Zhang," Wang Lin said with a smile, clearly recognizing the woman. "It's not time yet, sorry to bother you. However, this senior isn't participating in the auction; she has a batch of goods she wants to sell directly to the shop."
Upon hearing this, the woman addressed as Madam Zhang turned her gaze to Lin Chuan. Sensing the Foundation Establishment stage aura he was intentionally radiating, her guard lowered slightly, and she stepped aside to let him pass.
"I see, please come in, senior."
Lin Chuan didn't say much, and casually flicked a few low-grade spirit stones to Wang Lin as a reward for guiding him.
Wang Lin accepted the spirit stone with a beaming smile, thanked them repeatedly, and quickly disappeared into the alleyway.
Stepping inside, the scene was no different from what was seen outside, and even more chaotic.
Some low-quality alchemy and weapon-refining materials with little spiritual energy were haphazardly piled up on wooden shelves in corners or on the ground, and the air was filled with a stale smell of herbs and metal.
"Sir, please follow me."
Mrs. Zhang said something in a low voice, then walked straight to a corner of the room.
She extended her right hand, a faint yellow light shimmering in her palm, and gently pressed it against a spot on the ground. A soft mechanical sound was heard, and a stone slab silently slid open, revealing a dark, downward-pointing staircase entrance.
The woman went down the steps first. Lin Chuan, skilled and daring, briefly probed with his divine sense and, finding nothing amiss, followed closely behind.
The stairs were short, leading to a small stone chamber lit only by a single oil lamp emitting a dim yellow light.
In the center of the stone chamber, a figure shrouded in a wide black robe and wearing a plain black mask stood silently.
This person's aura was obscure, but even with Lin Chuan's current Foundation Establishment stage spiritual sense, he could still vaguely sense that the other party's spiritual power fluctuations were deep and heavy, clearly indicating that he was a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. Presumably, he was one of the managers of this secret shop.
"We are sorry for failing to greet our distinguished guest properly."
The black-robed man's voice was deliberately altered, hoarse and low, making it impossible to discern his age or gender. "What do you wish to sell? Our shop's rules dictate that we only inspect the goods, not their origin. As long as the value is comparable, spirit stones or barter are both acceptable."
Without wasting words, Lin Chuan patted the storage bag at his waist. A series of flashes of spiritual light appeared, and various magical artifacts landed with a tinkling sound on an empty stone platform in the middle of the stone chamber.
In an instant, the spiritual energy fluctuations within the stone chamber became somewhat disordered.
There are more than twenty of these ritual implements, including knives, swords, shields, rings, hooks, ropes, and many other kinds.
Most of the spiritual energy fluctuations were between the middle and upper levels, but three of them had an exceptionally sharp and solid aura, with a faint flow of precious light.
These three items are top-tier magical artifacts that Lin Chuan doesn't really need.
The gaze behind the black-robed man's mask seemed to freeze for a moment before he silently stepped forward and carefully examined each of the magical artifacts.
The whole process lasted about half a cup of tea's time. The stone room was silent, with only the occasional crackling sound of the oil lamp flame popping.
Finally, the man in black robes placed all the magical artifacts back on the stone platform and slowly spoke, his voice still hoarse: "The items... are not bad, but they're a little too hot to handle. Package price: five thousand low-grade spirit stones."
This price represents a loss of at least 30% compared to the value of these ritual artifacts sold through normal channels in Yue.
However, considering its "black market" nature, as well as the risks and resale profits borne by the secret shop, this price is within the market range.
The other party did not excessively try to lower the price.
Lin Chuan pondered for a moment.
His intention was simply to quickly sell the item and exchange it for clean spirit stones; he didn't expect to sell it for a high price.
Five thousand spirit stones were enough for him to purchase some decent array plates and flags, with some left over.
"make a deal."
He nodded decisively.
The man in black robes seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, said no more, and directly took out a storage bag full of spirit stones and handed it to Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan scanned the area with his divine sense to confirm the number was correct, and then put the spirit stones away.
He nodded slightly to the other person, then turned and left the underground stone chamber via the stairs.
Back at the dilapidated house on the ground, Madam Zhang had vanished without a trace.
Lin Chuan pushed open the door and stepped out; the alley was deserted.
He didn't continue wandering around the market, but instead went straight to an inn that looked fairly clean and checked in.
After setting up simple warnings and restrictions, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing, waiting for the next day.
……
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone through the inn's window, Lin Chuan opened his eyes precisely on time.
Golden light flickered before my eyes, and the familiar divination symbols refreshed as scheduled:
Today's divination result: Minor good fortune.
[The divination indicates that you participated in a secret shop's auction and won a high-quality array item. This item was secretly brought to the secret shop for sale by a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Heavenly Star Sect.]
"Exquisite array equipment... leaked out privately by disciples of the Heavenly Star Sect?"
A hint of interest flashed in Lin Chuan's eyes. "Very good, let's go and see just how 'exquisite' it is."
He patiently waited until nearly noon before getting up.
He took out a black cloak that had been prepared in advance from his storage bag and put it on. The wide hood hung down, covering most of his face, and he took out a plain mask to cover his face.
Only after ensuring that even familiar people would have difficulty recognizing him immediately by his figure and clothing did he leave the inn and head back to the dilapidated hut from the previous day.
The same Mrs. Zhang opened the door. She didn't ask any questions, but simply stepped aside.
Upon entering the underground again, the scene was completely different from yesterday.
The staircase didn't lead to the small stone chamber, but rather to a slightly wider passageway.
After walking along the passage for more than ten feet, push open a heavy stone door, and a large underground hall that can accommodate nearly a hundred people comes into view.
The hall is semi-circular, with a low stone platform at the front, clearly for displaying auction items.
Dozens of stone chairs were scattered around the stage, and about twenty or thirty people were already seated. The lighting was still dim, with only a few specially made lamps on the walls providing illumination.
What is striking is that everyone in the hall, without exception, was dressed in black or dark-colored clothing, with hoods or masks covering their faces completely.
The entire hall was silent, filled with a tense and wary atmosphere.
What made Lin Chuan even more alarmed was that when he subtly sensed the situation with his divine sense, he discovered that most of the cultivators in the hall were at the Foundation Establishment stage!