Song Changsheng, however, was completely unfazed. This was the Black Market, and haggling was part of the charm.

Business was just like that—a matter of a willing buyer and a willing seller. He had searched everywhere, and Song Changsheng’s item was the most suitable one he’d found. Despite his dissatisfaction, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, thirty thousand it is. I’ll make up the rest with Spirit Stones—Middle-Grade Spirit Stones!"

A brilliant smile immediately spread across Song Changsheng’s face, his tone growing much more enthusiastic. "That’ll be one hundred and ninety Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."

With the transaction complete, the tall, black-robed man turned and left.

Having acquired a bottle of Thousand-Year Stalactite Spiritual Liquid that could improve his Cultivation at a low price, plus one hundred ninety Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, Song Changsheng was very satisfied. Adding the eighteen thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones he already had, his purse was finally full again.

Unfortunately, there was still no news about a Flood Dragon Scale. So far, only a couple of swindlers had stopped by.

It was still early, but Song Changsheng had no intention of waiting any longer. He picked up his two iron signboards and prepared to leave.

But the moment he stood up, a group of people in black robes surrounded him.

"What is the meaning of this, everyone?" Song Changsheng asked calmly.

He wasn’t worried. ’They wouldn’t be so bold as to start a fight in the Black Market.’

"Friend, I will offer forty thousand Spirit Stones. How about you trade that Thousand-Year Stalactite Spiritual Liquid in your hand to me?"

"I’ll offer fifty thousand Spirit Stones."

"I’ll offer five hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones!"

For a moment, everyone was bidding, and the offers made Song Changsheng feel quite tempted.

However, this was an item you could only stumble upon by chance, not something you could actively seek out. It was still of great use to him, so there was no way he would trade it.

He cupped his hands to the crowd. "Everyone, I have no intention of selling. However, if anyone has a Flood Dragon Scale of equivalent value, you’re welcome to trade with me."

The crowd exchanged glances before finally dispersing.

A Flood Dragon Scale might not sound particularly precious, but in truth, creatures with the Dragon Attribute were already exceedingly rare on the continent. A Flood Dragon was just one step away from becoming a True Dragon and was considered a Sub-Dragon, making it even more of a rarity.

In the Hundred Thousand Mountains, for instance, the only true Flood Dragon was the Old Flood Dragon of the Black Water Marsh, and it didn’t even have any direct bloodline descendants.

An ordinary person simply couldn’t get their hands on a Flood Dragon Scale.

Seeing that no one was taking him up on his offer, Song Changsheng sighed and walked toward a pavilion in the distance.

There weren’t many buildings in the Black Market; Song Changsheng could only see three. One housed the Spatial Transmission Array, which was how he had arrived.

Another belonged to the Black Market’s enforcement agency, which was responsible for maintaining order.

The last building was his destination. As he passed, he noticed many people in black robes going inside. Since he had nothing else to do, he figured he might as well go in and have a look.

No one greeted him at the entrance, so Song Changsheng walked right in. He found the interior filled with gray stones of all shapes and sizes.

Many people in black robes were weaving among the stones, occasionally stopping to comment on them.

’A stone exhibition?’ Song Changsheng frowned, not quite understanding what was going on.

Just as he was thinking of finding someone to ask, a sudden clamor broke out.

Song Changsheng looked toward the source of the noise and saw a group of people huddled together, excitedly discussing something.

This was a strange sight. Since arriving at the Black Market, he’d found that everyone here was incredibly tight-lipped, and even their conversations were usually brief.

This was the first time he had seen a group of people discussing something so heatedly, which only piqued his curiosity further.

Just then, a slender person in a black robe passed by him. He immediately spoke up. "Excuse me for being forward, friend, but could you tell me what this place is for?"

The person looked him up and down. "First time here?"

The voice was as pleasant as a songbird’s; it was a woman.

Seeing his chance, Song Changsheng quickly cupped his hands. "I am indeed. I hope you’ll be so kind as to enlighten me."

"Of course. See these stones? They’re special rocks mined by the Black Market from an Ancient Battlefield.

Most of them are just ordinary rocks, but a very small number contain things like artifact fragments or Rare Treasures.

And so, stone gambling was born. You pick a stone you like, pay for it with Spirit Stones, and the professional cutters here will slice it open for you. Whatever’s inside is yours.

It might be worthless junk, or it could be a priceless treasure. It all comes down to your judgment and your luck," the woman explained enthusiastically to Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng’s eyes widened in realization. ’Holy crap, so it’s stone gambling.’ He’d even tried it in his past life. Some vendor’s lucky-number spiel had ended up costing him twenty-eight hundred.

’So people in this Otherworld play this game too. But... wouldn’t it be easy for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to just see through the stone shell with their Divine Sense?’

He voiced his doubt, and the woman scoffed. "If they could be seen through, do you think the Black Market would be selling them? These are the leftovers after they’ve already picked out the good ones. They’re all capable of blocking Divine Sense."

"I see," Song Changsheng said, realization dawning on him.

"Since this is your first time, you probably don’t know how to pick one, right? Come on, I’ll teach you the essence of stone gambling." The woman’s unexpected enthusiasm made Song Changsheng a little suspicious of her motives.

However, he was also curious about this Otherworld’s version of stone gambling. Seeing how experienced the woman seemed, he figured she could help him avoid some common pitfalls. And so, he followed her.

The woman strolled among the stones with her hands clasped behind her back, saying confidently, "With stone gambling, the first thing you look at is the rind. The color should be rich and uniform, with no impurities. You also don’t want anything with cracks. A misshapen mess like this? I wouldn’t take it for free."

She pointed to a stone in front of her that was covered in fine cracks, her voice laced with disdain.

"Second, you have to feel the weight. This is something you have to judge with your own experience; it’s more of a feeling than something I can explain in words.

Third, the sound is crucial. You can tell if there’s anything inside just by tapping it. I myself once found an Exquisite Pagoda using that very trick.

Also..."

The woman rattled on, listing a whole host of other tips that were a real eye-opener for Song Changsheng. He’d had no idea there were so many tricks to the trade.

"I’ve learned a great deal," Song Changsheng said, cupping his hands in a sincere gesture.

"Don’t mention it. See any you like, friend? I can take a look for you," the woman said, full of confidence.

Being a newcomer, Song Changsheng didn’t want to just throw his Spirit Stones away. He shook his head. "I’d like to just look around for a bit first."

"Ah, you newbies are always so cautious! Don’t you know that fortune favors the bold? I’ll show you how it’s done today."

Her voice was pleasant, but she spoke like a seasoned gambler.

As she spoke, the woman walked over to an oval-shaped stone. She leaned in to tap it, then ran her hands all over its surface. After fiddling with it for a moment, she announced joyfully, "This one’s got something in it."

Song Changsheng, however, couldn’t see any difference between it and the stones around it.

’If it’s a Spiritual Object, perhaps I can see it with my Eye of Truth.’

At this thought, Song Changsheng closed his eyes. When he opened them again, an eerie pattern had appeared deep within them.

Directing his gaze to the stone the woman had chosen, Song Changsheng did indeed spot a faint Spiritual Light within it. ’It seems there’s some merit to her methods after all,’ he thought. ’I just don’t know if what’s inside will be worth more or less than the cost.’

He glanced at the stone and saw a wooden sign next to it with the price: "Five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

That was definitely not cheap. After all, a single misjudgment meant the money was gone for good.

The woman repeated her technique, picking out more than a dozen stones before she stopped, satisfied.

Song Changsheng did a quick mental calculation. She had just spent nearly seven thousand Spirit Stones.

But she didn’t even frown, paying the bill without a second thought.

Song Changsheng, however, offered her a moment of silence in his heart. He had already checked them: out of the sixteen stones she had chosen, only six contained any Spiritual Light.

This person certainly had a knack for it, but her skill only went so far.

If she didn’t uncover a major treasure, she was likely going to lose her shirt on this gamble.

Song Changsheng had a somewhat favorable impression of her. Seeing her looking so proud and confident, he couldn’t help but suggest tactfully, "Friend, why not open one or two first, just to test the waters?"

But the woman just waved him off. "See? I told you you’re a newbie. It’s still early and not too crowded. If I don’t snatch up the good ones now, what will be left for me when everyone else gets here?

Relax. When I make a move, I never come back empty-handed. Open them all."

the woman declared with a grand flourish.

At that, Song Changsheng sighed and said no more.

Compulsive gamblers deserved no sympathy.

...