The man quickly put on a fawning smile. "In response to your question, Senior, I grew up in the city, so I know every brick and tile by heart. I wonder if you might need a guide? It’s only ten Spirit Stones a day."

"Ten Spirit Stones... not exactly cheap," Song Changsheng chuckled. He produced ten Spirit Stones and tossed them to the man. "Alright then, please take us to a quiet inn first."

Seeing how readily Song Changsheng parted with the money, the man’s enthusiastic expression grew even stronger. He immediately said, "This way, Senior, please follow me."

He soon led the group to an inn.

Though it was in a secluded spot, it was wonderfully quiet and elegant.

After booking several rooms, Song Changsheng turned to the guide he had hired at no small expense. "Are there any interesting places in this city?"

Hearing this, the guide answered without hesitation: "There are four famous places in Ten Thousand Swords City. First is the Celestial Weapon Pavilion. It’s the largest Spiritual Artifact shop in the Daqi Cultivation World. They have everything from Tier One Spiritual Artifacts to Magical Treasures. Many people travel here just for that.

Second is Red Sleeves. It’s the city’s biggest money pit—the liveliest place with the most entertainment. I’ve heard they even have rare Merfolk there.

Third is the underground Black Market. It’s the most hidden place, and very few know about it, but it’s a great spot for treasure hunting and fencing illicit goods. Someone once found the bones of a Demon King there.

Finally, there’s the auction house run by the Eight Directions Pavilion. The last auction was just seven days ago, and the final item was a Low-Grade Magical Treasure."

After hearing the guide’s descriptions, Song Changsheng’s interest was piqued. ’Looks like the next couple of days won’t be too boring.’

"Which place would you like to visit first, Senior?"

Before Song Changsheng could speak, Song Qingxi piped up impatiently, "Uncle, let’s go to Red Sleeves first! The Merfolk are the kings of the Water Race, and Xi’Er has never seen one before."

"Urk... AHEM, AHEM." Her words nearly made Song Changsheng choke. Meeting the little girl’s expectant gaze, he said meaningfully, "If I dared to take you to a place like that, your grand-aunt would skin me alive."

Song Qingxi was confused. She stared at the guide with her big, innocent eyes and asked, "But why?"

Staring into those clear eyes, the guide was at a loss for words. He said awkwardly, "Little Fairy, that place... it’s for men. You can’t go."

His explanation, far from helping, only made the little girl more curious. She immediately started peppering him with questions, determined to get to the bottom of it.

The guide couldn’t handle it and cast a pleading look at Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng gave Chi Huo a look. The Chi Huo Old Ghost immediately understood, cleared his throat, and said to Song Qingxi with a perfectly straight face, "Young Miss, that place is very peculiar. It’s harmless to men, but it doesn’t allow women inside. That’s why you can’t go."

"Oh, is that so? Alright then." The little girl nodded, a hint of disappointment on her face.

After placating the little girl, Song Changsheng turned to the guide. "Take me to the Black Market first."

Luoxia City also had a Black Market, but it wasn’t very large, and Song Changsheng had never been. Now that he had the chance, he wanted to broaden his horizons and, while he was at it, fence some goods.

To rescue Song Yulong, Song Yushi, and the others, he had once slaughtered a small squad of Blood Demons and seized a good deal of Demonic Spiritual Artifacts and supplies. The most valuable item among them was a High-grade Demon Spirit Artifact.

These things were useless to him, yet highly sensitive, so he couldn’t dispose of them casually. He was unwilling to simply smelt them down into raw materials, so he hadn’t found a chance to get rid of them until now.

Now he was far away in Xuu Province. Even if members of the Blood Demon faction discovered these Demon Artifacts, they wouldn’t connect them back to the Song Clan or to him. It was the perfect time to sell them off.

The guide was a sharp man and quickly deduced Song Changsheng’s intentions. But he was also a smart man and didn’t ask any further questions. He simply said, "I should let you know, Senior, that to enter the Black Market, you need a special Token.

The channels to obtain this Token are very limited. Without special permission from the Black Market’s owner, only Foundation Establishment Cultivators and above can get one.

I’m afraid the Little Fairy and this young gentleman won’t be able to enter."

Although his own Cultivation was not high, he had a sharp eye. He had noticed at first glance that Song Changsheng and the Chi Huo Old Ghost were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the others were at the Qi Cultivation stage. That was why he said it.

This was a perfectly normal matter, but Song Qingxi was a little unhappy. Of the four places, she couldn’t go to Red Sleeves, fine, but now she couldn’t go to the Black Market either?

And the auction had just ended, so another one wouldn’t be held anytime soon. Didn’t that mean the only place she could go was the Celestial Weapon Pavilion?

Sensing the little girl’s mood, Song Changsheng felt a bit helpless. But there was nothing he could do. He could only say, "In that case, I’ll go to the Black Market by myself. Chi Huo, you take Xi’Er and the others for a stroll. It’s not often we come here. Go to the Celestial Weapon Pavilion and pick out a couple of suitable Spiritual Artifacts for them."

As he spoke, he took out a Storage Bag from his robes and handed it to Song Qingxi.

The little girl took it and looked inside. Neatly stacked within were thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Her face immediately lit up with a grin. She grabbed the wooden-looking Song Qingxing, who was standing beside her, and headed into the crowd.

Song Changsheng gave a meaningful look, and Chi Huo immediately followed them.

After seeing them off, Song Changsheng followed the guide’s directions to a pavilion.

The guide went forward and spoke a few words. He soon returned with a person in a black robe. The black-robed person’s face was obscured, and they spoke in a hoarse voice, "Senior, please reveal your Cultivation."

Song Changsheng did as requested, revealing a trace of his aura. The black-robed person immediately bowed deeply. "This way, Senior, please follow me."

"Senior, just follow him. I will wait for you out here."

The guide’s Cultivation was too low, so he wasn’t qualified to enter.

Song Changsheng nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

The black-robed person led him to a hidden room and pointed at the black robes and masks hanging on the wall. "These are Spiritual Artifacts that can block Divine Sense. Please take what you need on your way in and return them at the exit when you leave.

In the Black Market, it is strictly forbidden to ask about the origins of others or their goods. It is forbidden to casually probe others. It is forbidden to fight. Violators will be severely punished.

Furthermore, all sellers are private individuals. The market takes no responsibility for any issues with the goods. Is that clear, Senior?"

After receiving Song Changsheng’s affirmative reply, the black-robed person took out a Jade Token from their waist. "The Tokens are single-use. Place it in that groove, and the entrance to the Black Market will open."

After handing the Jade Token to Song Changsheng, the black-robed person left without another word.

Song Changsheng took a black robe and a Monkey Face Mask from the wardrobe and put them on. Then, following the instructions, he placed the Jade Token in his hand into the groove on the wall.

The moment he placed it, a crack appeared on the wall and slowly widened, revealing a swirling, multicolored vortex.

’It’s actually a Space Array. The Black Market really spares no expense.’ Song Changsheng was slightly startled. This was his first time seeing the legendary Spatial Transmission Array.

After hesitating for only a moment, he stepped inside.

A wave of dizziness and a familiar feeling of weightlessness washed over him, and Song Changsheng found himself in an unfamiliar space.

"Walk straight ahead to reach the Black Market. The exit is in another direction."

Before Song Changsheng could recover from the discomfort of spatial travel, an aged voice sounded in his ear. He could hear the voice but couldn’t see the person.

Following the voice’s instructions, he walked straight ahead. In less than a quarter of an hour, the view before him suddenly opened up, revealing a large underground marketplace.

The dimly lit underground space was filled with people dressed in black robes and wearing all sorts of masks.

With just a single glance, Song Changsheng was certain that he was probably no longer within the borders of Xuu Province, because nearly everyone he could see was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

In Xuu Province, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not a dime a dozen.

’I wonder where this is. Which regions have their Cultivators gathered here? Is it just the Daqi Kingdom, or does it include all the surrounding Cultivation Realms?’

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but feel amazed. The person behind this Black Market was truly extraordinary. Just the Spatial Transmission Arrays alone were something no ordinary faction could manage.

The Power of Space was a skill that only a Nascent Soul True Monarch could begin to grasp.

Just as Song Changsheng was wondering where to fence his goods, a secretive voice whispered in his ear, "Fellow Daoist, you want a Demon King Inner Core?"

...