You Cultivate, I Farm

"Come, come, Daoist Lu, taste this brew that I've been aging for nearly ten years."

In the home of the cultivator surnamed Wu, the two were deep into their cups.

Lu Xuan shook the silver-made goblet in his hand. Within it, the golden spirit wine ebbed and flowed with his movements, releasing a rich, mellow aroma of the brew.

"I never expected Wang Shan, a guardian of the law enforcement hall, to be tainted by malevolent forces. Fortunately, it was discovered early enough, sparing our neighbors from any harm," remarked the cultivator surnamed Wu, setting down his cup, a hint of fear lingering in his thoughts.

"Yes, indeed. If the malevolent forces hadn't been discovered and eradicated in time, those of us living nearby would have struggled to ensure our own safety," Lu Xuan concurred.

"Those wastes from the law enforcement hall have been stationed around this area for some time now, making it inconvenient for anyone to do anything outside."

"They don't even realize that if they can't protect their own, invaded by malevolent forces, what use are they to oversee us? It might be better to thoroughly investigate internally; who knows what else might be uncovered!" The cultivator surnamed Wu, clearly a bit tipsy, spoke with a hazy gaze.

"Daoist Lu, why don't you cultivate spirit plants suitable for brewing spirit wine? If you do, I'll buy as much as you produce!" he suddenly shifted the conversation toward Lu Xuan.

"I've been considering it lately. However, the spiritual field in our courtyard is too small; there's no extra space for cultivating other spirit plants, and I don't have the energy at the moment to foster new ones," Lu Xuan explained.

"If I do plan on it, I'll definitely seek to collaborate with you, Daoist Wu."

The two continued drinking.

"By the way, Daoist Wu, are you familiar with the black market in the Lin Yangfang Market?" Lu Xuan inquired of the elder.

"The black market? Why, are you thinking of entering it?" Wu asked.

"I have considered it, but I've never been there before and don't know much about it. You, Daoist Wu, are highly skilled, and you've spent a considerable time in the market. Hence, I thought to ask you about it," Lu Xuan smiled.

"I have indeed entered several times. The most recent time was about two years ago," the elder recalled, his drunkenness fading slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression.

"The black market is located in the heart of the market. Rumor has it that it's managed by several underground forces within the market, but I suspect there's the shadow of one or several prominent families behind it."

"The market was initially established atop an abandoned secret realm. The black market sits within a natural maze, accessible only by purchasing a guiding token with several spirit stones."

"As its name implies, the black market differs significantly from the regular freelance market and larger stores. Those who appear there are generally involved in shady dealings. Cultivators who enter usually conceal their identities or their abilities."

"The goods inside are no different. There are many treasures one wouldn't easily find in the market or stores, of dubious origins, from things unsuitable for normal sales due to being related to killings or looting to various peculiar and mystical materials, some even linked to malevolent forces."

Lu Xuan nodded occasionally.

"Are ordinary freelancers guaranteed safety inside the black market?"

"Inside is undoubtedly safe, guarded by powerful cultivators. Rarely have I heard of disturbances happening inside."

"As for the outside, beyond the black market's jurisdiction, among the cultivators entering and leaving, there are some malicious individuals or those practicing sinister arts. So, safety outside is considerably lower; occasional incidents involving killings or looting might occur."

"Generally, it's still safe. After all, the black market is situated in the heart of the market. I've been there more than once, even when I was at a lower cultivation level, and I didn't encounter any unexpected situations."

"If you truly wish to enter, you should exercise caution. If you're anxious, you could enter alongside a familiar cultivator."

"Thank you for imparting this crucial information, Daoist Wu," Lu Xuan acknowledged the elder.

"It's nothing much; you could have gathered this information by asking around outside," the elder waved it off.

Their acquaintance being ordinary, he didn't inquire about Lu Xuan's purpose in entering the black market.

Lu Xuan stayed a while longer before returning home with the Cloud-Stepping Lynx cub, which had been quietly perched on his shoulder the whole time.

After some contemplation, he decided to pay a visit to the black market. As per the elder's advice, it could offer more opportunities to find unknown spirit species than the regular freelance market.

Besides, considering his current strength, Lu Xuan felt confident. With his cultivation at the sixth stage and the proficiency in the formidable Golden Sword Technique, the special-grade artifact, the Fractured Silver Blade, two second-grade Myriad Sword Qi Talismans, the second-grade Swift Speed Talisman, along with various runes, even against higher-level cultivators, he had a fair chance of triumphing.

The next day, after surveying his spirit field and ensuring all the spirit plants were in prime condition, Lu Xuan set off for the black market, leaving the Cloud-Stepping Lynx cub at home as it would attract undue attention.

Upon realizing it couldn't accompany him, the Lynx cub stared with its emerald eyes, motionless, fixated on Lu Xuan. Sensing its fear of abandonment, Lu Xuan almost relented. However, considering the risk of exposing his true identity, he settled for comforting it and leaving a heap of dried meat strips before departing alone.

About half an hour later, Lu Xuan arrived at the outskirts of the black market.

Although the black market was close to the center of the market, its surroundings were desolate. There were no courtyards or residences; only a few cultivators hurried along the streets, watchful of each other.

The entire area was enveloped in thick black mist. When Lu Xuan's spiritual sense probed into the mist, it seemed obstructed, hindering any progress.

Wearing a makeshift mask, Lu Xuan approached the cultivator guarding the entrance to the black market. Observing that nearly all the cultivators dressed similarly to him, most concealing their faces with masks or cloths, a few used special artifacts for concealment, while some didn't bother, revealing their true faces, although Lu Xuan couldn't ascertain if they were their actual identities.

He watched the movements of the cultivators ahead, then handed over three spirit stones to the shrouded figure at the entrance, receiving a token inscribed with black runes and a faintly moving black arrow.

Entering the mist, a blurry scene unfolded before him. The faintly shimmering black arrow continuously adjusted its direction within the mist, guiding Lu Xuan forward.

After a while, Lu Xuan felt a sudden refreshment as he passed through the mist and arrived inside the black market.

Contrary to his expectations, the black market was spacious. He spotted around a hundred to two hundred cultivators within his line of sight, the atmosphere relatively tranquil, accompanied only by soft murmurs of discussion.

Overhead, a heavy black cloud seemed to cover the black market, and in the sky, about ten black paper kites slowly glided.

The material of these kites remained unknown, appearing like ethereal beast skins hovering in the air. As one passed over Lu Xuan's head, a malevolent thought brushed against him, causing goosebumps to erupt across his skin.

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