Chapter 164 - 137: Talent: Qi Blood Derivation
Leaving Master Zhang’s home, Fang Yue took a deep breath.
’I can only tell myself,’ he thought, ’that I didn’t mean to deceive him. I’ve already started down this path, so all I can do now is keep trying.’
If he had any other choice, he certainly wouldn’t have done this.
But on second thought, without this Qi Cultivator’s Cultivation Technique, he might not have made it this far.
His strength wouldn’t have grown so quickly, and he might have met with some misfortune along the way.
Looking at it now, it might not have been a completely bad thing.
At least he wasn’t completely out of options. He still had a chance, and because of this, his future cultivation path might extend even further.
~~~~~~
Seven days passed, just in time for the night of the dark moon.
This was when the Ghost Market would next be open.
The Ghost Market.
Unlike an ordinary market, the "Ghost Market" was like a ghost, its presence vanishing into the morning mist at dawn.
This was simply because most of the goods sold here were of dubious origin or were contraband that couldn’t see the light of day.
As darkness fell, Fang Yue made his way to an inconspicuous carriage house on the east side of Xiahe County.
After exchanging a code phrase with the servant at the gate, he paid a fare of ten taels of silver, received a black robe and a black face covering, and, after putting them on, boarded a pitch-black carriage.
Once the carriage was full with six people, it immediately set off out of the city.
Half an hour later, the bumpy carriage finally came to a stop in a half-collapsed courtyard.
Peering through a collapsed earthen wall, Fang Yue saw that they seemed to be in an abandoned village.
Based on the distance traveled, he could roughly estimate which nearby area it was.
However, the Ghost Market changed its location every time it opened, so there was no fear of being ambushed in advance.
After a short while, a dozen more carriages arrived,
and the desolate, quiet village instantly became lively.
Beyond another broken wall was what had once been the village’s main road. Now, stalls were being set up one after another.
The vendors, also dressed in black cloaks and black face coverings, were wrapped up so tightly that you couldn’t make out their original appearance.
Under the scattered lamplight, you could see that the items for sale on these stalls were mostly strange and bizarre.
Medicinal herbs, animal bones, unidentifiable meat, weapons, even forbidden Crossbow Arrows, tattered books, and Martial Dao cultivation Secret Manuals.
Fang Yue even saw a Secret Manual for the White Tiger Fist at one of the stalls.
It gave him a fright at first, but when he opened it and looked at the beginning, he immediately spotted a clear error.
Furthermore, the Secret Manual only contained content for the Whole Force and Skin Grinding stages, and it was missing the most important Secret Medicine formula.
He figured it must have been a disciple from the White Tiger Boxing Hall who had leaked the Secret Manual. Unfortunately, that person’s own training was incomplete, which was why the manual being sold here was also flawed and incomplete.
This Secret Manual, however, also made him understand.
He now saw why this place was called the Ghost Market and why it had to stay hidden from the light.
Just the act of privately selling another Martial Arts Hall’s Secret Manual would have invited attacks long ago if it were done out in the open.
Fang Yue browsed several stalls but couldn’t find the basic Qi Cultivator cultivation Secret Manual he was looking for.
He did, however, see many Martial Arts Secret Manuals for techniques he had and hadn’t heard of. He briefly skimmed a few and found that, just like the White Tiger Fist manual, they were all flawed and missing the crucial Secret Medicine formulas.
’Perhaps only by controlling the Secret Medicine can one truly control the inheritance.’
A realization dawned on Fang Yue.
"Sir, you look new here. First time at our Ghost Market? What might you be looking for?"
Suddenly, a black-robed man approached Fang Yue, bowing and asking in an ingratiating tone.
"How did you know this is my first time?"
Lowering his voice, Fang Yue watched the man and spoke in a low, muffled tone.
He was inwardly alarmed. ’Even dressed like this, someone could still tell I’m a first-timer.’
’It was definitely the right call to disguise my build and slightly alter my appearance before coming here.’
’After all, this place is a mix of all sorts of people. If someone with ill intentions took notice of me, it would just lead to unnecessary trouble.’
"My name is Yang Yan," the man said. "I’ve been knocking around here for a long time. I don’t have any other skills, but with these eyes, I can spot a newcomer in a single glance."
Fang Yue nodded in acknowledgement. The scale of this Ghost Market meant that it was unlikely to have any truly high-end goods.
Naturally, it would be difficult to attract any Martial Artists at or above the Qi Sensing realm. Therefore, with his level of cultivation, Fang Yue was quite safe here. He didn’t look for trouble, but that didn’t mean he was afraid of it.
Disguising himself was just a way to avoid some hassle.
"The thing I’m looking for is a bit special. Can you really get your hands on it?"
"Heh heh, just say the word, esteemed customer. As long as it’s not too rare or expensive, I can get it for you," Yang Yan said confidently.
Fang Yue was a little curious now. This man only seemed to know some rudimentary Martial Arts, yet he dared to make such a bold claim.
’He’s not a con artist, is he?’
Fang Yue smiled faintly and stated his objective.
"A Qi Cultivator’s cultivation Secret Manual? Now that is quite rare."
Yang Yan muttered to himself. Then, as if he had just remembered something, his eyes lit up, and he quickly said with a fawning smile, "Sir, what a coincidence! If you had come any earlier or later, I’m afraid you would have missed it."
"Someone just happened to leave one with me to sell on consignment. But that thing is only good for life-preservation; you can’t develop any real martial power from it."