Chapter 48: Honest Old Xu and the Heishan Rogue Cultivator Market
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Since arriving at the Pill Refinement Hall, Yu Xian hadn’t returned to the Weapon Hall even once.
It had been over eight months.
After all, he didn’t need to mine spirit stones—he simply refined pills.
And once those pills were made, he could price them directly in the Pill Hall and wait for buyers. There was no need to run errands to the Weapon Hall.
Until today, that is—when he returned once again to the bustling Weapon Hall.
The scene was just as lively as before: loud, crowded, and blazing with activity.
Yu Xian walked with familiarity straight to the counter where he used to sell his Blazing Sun Essence Stones.
Behind the counter was Xu Haoming, locked in an animated negotiation, saliva flying as he haggled with a customer.
But mid-sentence, his peripheral vision caught someone approaching—and he froze.
Yu Xian!?
Eight months of absence, and Xu Haoming had genuinely thought the kid was dead.
Xu had always known Yu Xian was someone with a rare treasure.
From the very first time Yu sold a large batch of Blazing Sun Essence Stones, Xu knew something was off.
But he never tried to rob him—
First, because it wasn’t worth the risk. Robbing someone for a treasure might sound easy, but in reality, it was gambling with one’s life. And this kid? He looked like a ruthless one.
Second, Xu was a businessman. He didn’t care where the goods came from—so long as there was profit, he was happy.
Yu Xian had been a goldmine.
Xu made sure to maintain a good relationship with him—after all, consistent supply meant consistent profit.
But if Yu Xian had died in the cutthroat world of outer sect disciples? That would’ve been totally normal.
In the Outer Sect of White Cloud Sect, tens of thousands of disciples lived side by side.
Fights over treasures, spirit stones, even personal grudges—murders, ambushes, assassinations—it was all common.
So eight months of silence? Xu was sure the kid was gone.
And yet here he was—walking straight toward him.
Xu immediately waved off the disciple he’d been haggling with.
“All right, all right. That’s the price. Don’t have enough spirit stones? Then don’t talk about promises or IOUs with me! No stones, no deal!”
He turned with a bright smile and called out,
“Ah! Isn’t that Junior Brother Yu? Long time no see! I’ve missed you, truly!”
Yu Xian smiled as he approached.
“Senior Brother Xu, long time indeed.”
The disciple who had been buying talismans frowned and shot Yu Xian a glare.
When he realized Xu wasn’t going to entertain him anymore, he stormed off angrily.
“Fine! You’re not the only counter here! Hmph! Just another snob with dog eyes! You’ll all regret this!”
But neither Yu Xian nor Xu Haoming paid him any attention.
Xu smiled brightly.
“It’s been eight months and sixteen days since we last saw each other. You’ve grown taller—and more mature!”
Yu Xian laughed.
“And Senior Brother Xu seems to be progressing in cultivation too. I’d say you’re not far from Foundation Establishment!”
“Hah! Foundation Establishment? I wish…”
Xu sighed bitterly, then quickly changed the topic.
“But I suppose you didn’t come just to see me?”
“Of course I came to see you.”
Yu Xian grinned and placed nine storage bags on the counter.
“Also brought a few things to sell. What do you think about these?”
Xu laughed heartily.
“Always so smooth with words.”
He reached out and scanned the bags.
All were low-grade storage bags.
“If I were to buy these, they’d be 1,000 spirit stones each. But since you’re selling, I can offer 800 each. Sound fair?”
He didn’t ask where the bags came from—not his business.
“Fair enough,” Yu Xian nodded.
Then he pulled out another bag and said,
“This one has some talismans and second-grade artifacts. Could you appraise it for me?”
“Oh?”
Xu raised an eyebrow and paused, reaching for the new bag instead.
As soon as his spiritual sense entered, his expression stiffened.
Then, slowly, he raised his head to look at Yu Xian, who simply smiled back.
But that smile, in Xu’s eyes, was… chilling.
Thirty-one talismans. Thirteen second-grade artifacts.
Combined with the nine storage bags…
This kid… Whatever he’d done these eight months—it definitely involved a lot of killing.
Xu suddenly felt grateful that he’d held back his greed in the past.
Had he tried to rob this kid, his own talismans and treasures might now be among the goods for sale.
He swallowed hard, his forced smile twitching at the edges.
“You’ve really struck it big, haven’t you? Let me… let me calculate a fair price.”
“Take your time,” Yu Xian said with a calm smile. “I’m in no rush.”
Xu began calculating carefully.
Selling was easy—you marked it up and put it on display.
But buying required real precision.
Miscalculate, and the loss came straight out of Xu’s own pocket.
Yu Xian, patient as ever, simply stood there quietly.
Finally, half an incense stick later, Xu looked up—his face now tinged with excitement.
“One price—10,000 spirit stones for the goods inside. Plus the nine storage bags at 800 each—that’s another 7,200. I’ll round it up and give you 17,000 spirit stones. Deal?”
“Deal,” Yu Xian agreed immediately. “Let’s go with your offer.”
Xu’s joy lit up his entire face.
He tried not to tremble as he rushed off, calling,
“Wait here! I’ll get the spirit stones!”
A short while later, he returned with a storage pouch and handed it to Yu Xian, glowing with excitement.
“Here, check it!”
Yu Xian took a peek inside.
One hundred and thirty mid-grade spirit stones, gleaming brilliantly.
“Senior Brother Xu is just as trustworthy as ever. Always fair and honest—doing business with you is a pleasure.”
Yu Xian smiled and stored the bag in his robes.
“I’ll be back if I have more goods to sell.”
“You’re welcome any time!” Xu laughed heartily.
“You know my reputation! I, Old Xu, deal fair with everyone!”
“Then I won’t interrupt your business any longer.”
Yu Xian gave a small bow and turned to leave.
“Until next time!”
Xu watched him walk away, then slapped his thigh with glee.
“Damn! He’s my lucky star! Eight months gone, and he shows up bringing me thousands in profit! Time to restock! Restock!”
As Yu Xian walked out of the Weapon Hall, his face held a calm smile as he strolled down the main path.
He knew Xu Haoming had skimmed some profit off the top—it wasn’t the first time.
But now he was rich and in a hurry to offload goods.
Letting someone else earn a little was completely reasonable.
The 17,000 spirit stones he got from Xu only accounted for one-eighth of what he had.
He still had a lot more to sell.
Back at his quarters, Yu Xian grabbed another nine storage bags.
He stopped by the Pill Hall’s selling counter and dropped off over a hundred bottles of pills.
Once sold, he’d earn 80% of the profits, redeemable with a token—just like most Pill Hall disciples earned their stones.
Then, he headed outside the sect’s mountain gate.
The Weapon Hall couldn’t digest all his goods.
Selling too much there would raise suspicion.
He couldn’t be sure Xu Haoming wouldn’t turn him in to the Law Hall for a massive reward.
So his next target? Rogue cultivators.
Loose cultivators made up the majority of the cultivation world.
The combined population of the six major sects in Eastern Continent didn’t even make up one-tenth of the number of rogue cultivators.
Some lacked the talent to enter major sects.
Others had been expelled.
Still others simply chose to walk their own path—some righteous, some demonic, some downright insane.
If all the rogue cultivators banded together, they could wipe out the six sects in one sweep.
But… rogue cultivators were “scattered” by nature.
They rarely united for long—forming only temporary alliances, small factions, or mercenary bands.
Yu Xian’s destination was one such place:
Heishan Market, located 600 li from the White Cloud Sect.
Every major sect had rogue cultivator markets around them.
These markets naturally formed over time and weren’t destroyed—in fact, the sects even supported them in secret.
Through these markets, sects obtained spiritual herbs, beast cores, and ancient treasures unavailable in their own lands.
Rogue cultivators were great at stumbling across hidden ruins and rare loot.
In return, the rogues could purchase sect-made goods: pills, beasts, manuals, weapons, talismans—you name it.
Although all sects officially forbade trade with rogues, everyone turned a blind eye.
The flow of goods through these markets was a vital part of the cultivation economy.
Half a day later, a lone man descended from the sky outside Heishan Market.
Built against a massive mountain, the market had grown into a full town.
Just one glance revealed tens of thousands of rogue cultivators coming and going—busier than even the White Cloud Sect’s outer gate.
A strict rule barred flying in market airspace.
Unless you were Golden Core stage or higher, you had to walk in.
This rule was enforced by the eleven forces that jointly ran Heishan Market.
Yu Xian canceled his Wind Step spell, descended from two zhang in the air, and stepped calmly into the crowd.
He wore a bamboo hat, a black veil, and a middle-aged man’s human-skin mask.
It looked fake, but it served its purpose—nobody would recognize him.
Even if outer sect disciples from the White Cloud Sect or the Pill Hall were here, they’d never suspect a thing.
The market was huge—comparable to a bustling county seat.
The main streets were full of hawk-eyed, wolf-gazing cultivators.
Everywhere you looked: hostility, wariness, danger.
Shops lined the streets, but most sold cultivation materials—there were few places for food or entertainment.
Still, they existed.
Rogue cultivators drank spiritual wine, ate spiritual meat, and played with cauldrons and female cultivators like anyone else.
Those who couldn’t afford a storefront simply set up stalls by the roadside.
For just a few spirit stones, they could rent a spot for a whole day.
And those stalls? Full of treasures and surprises.
Countless cultivators came just to hunt for hidden gems and bargains.
Yu Xian smiled.
This was the perfect place.
With the scale of this market, not to mention the chaos of rogue cultivators,
even if he brought ten times his current stash, it would be easily sold off.
Pity he was being cautious and only brought a fraction this trip.
He’d definitely have to make another run.
With that thought, Yu Xian disappeared into the crowd.
