233: Void Black Market

Su Lin's mouth twitched slightly as he forced a calm smile and turned to look at Luo Ximei.

"Your Revered Master was just... out to enjoy the moonlight."

"Enjoy the moonlight?"

Luo Ximei looked up at the pitch-black roof above her head, then at the foggy sky.

"Revered Master, where is the moon?"

She walked closer slowly, her Black-Gold Flowing Cloud Dress swaying gently with her steps, her platinum heterochromatic eyes looking exceptionally enchanting under the dim lamplight.

"Moreover, this [Great Void Shifting Talisman] in Revered Master's hand doesn't look like a prop for enjoying the moonlight."

Su Lin's movements stiffened as he calmly tucked the Talisman he was about to activate back into his sleeve.

"Ahem... This is one your Revered Master just drew; I was planning to test if the spiritual energy flow was smooth."

"Oh—is that so?"

Luo Ximei drew out the last syllable, already pressing up against Su Lin. She reached out a finger, gently hooking Su Lin's belt, her tone becoming dangerous and ambiguous.

"Then why don't I help Revered Master check it? I've done a lot of research on 'body smoothness'."

Before Su Lin could refuse, the surrounding space suddenly fluctuated.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

Four figures appeared out of thin air like ghosts, instantly blocking all of Su Lin's escape routes.

"Old Man! You want to run away?!"

Su Hongling carried her great sword on her shoulder, blocking the main entrance. Her red eyes were full of the anger of being abandoned and the excitement of 'I caught you.'

"We agreed to share blessings and burdens, fight together, and eat meat together! You actually wanted to slip away alone?!"

"Are you tired of us?"

Chu Weiwei held a few green-glowing poison needles, looking at Su Lin with teary eyes, her expression saying she'd die for him to see if he dared say yes.

"Revered Master... Weiwei hasn't finished testing her poisons on you yet..."

Mu Qingxue stood by the window, cold air condensing in her hand, directly freezing the window and the scenery outside into a block of ice.

"You're not allowed to go anywhere."

She said coldly, her gaze obsessive.

"Unless you take me with you, or... freeze me by your side."

Cold Moon sat elegantly on the only chair, smoothing her skirt, looking every bit like the primary wife.

"Revered Master, you're trying to run off again.

Could it be that you feel I have given you too much freedom?"

Her fingertips gently tapped the tabletop, making a 'thump, thump' sound, each one feeling like it was tapping on Su Lin's heart.

"It seems I must consider forging a set of golden chains for you, to lock you to the Dragon Throne so you can accompany me day and night as I review memorials."

Facing this interrogation-like setup, Su Lin knew it was impossible to slip away.

He sighed and simply gave up, sitting back down on the couch.

"Fine, stop acting."

Su Lin waved his hand helplessly.

"Your Revered Master is going to the [Void Black Market]."

"It's a mix of all sorts of people there, full of danger, and it's not in the physical world. Taking you along... is too conspicuous."

"Void Black Market?"

Their eyes lit up instantly.

"Sounds like fun!" Su Hongling was the first to respond. "Are there lots of fights to be had?"

"It's very dangerous!!" Su Lin added.

"Who dares say we're dangerous? We are danger itself!"

Su Lin looked at this group of disciples who didn't know the heights of the heavens, rubbing his temples.

Indeed.

With their current strength, they could indeed walk sideways in the cultivation world.

But the problem was... they were too good at causing trouble!

"I can take you."

Su Lin took a deep breath, his expression turning serious.

"But we must agree on three rules."

"First, no picking fights proactively."

"Second, follow my commands for everything."

"Third..."

His gaze swept over everyone, lingering specifically on Su Hongling and Chu Weiwei.

"No eating random things! No poisoning people randomly! No smashing others' stalls! And definitely no kidnapping passersby to use as test subjects!"

"..."

Everyone looked at each other, then nodded in unison, their faces showing well-behaved smiles.

"Don't worry, Revered Master! We're the most obedient!"

Looking at their solemn promises, Su Lin's ominous premonition only grew stronger.

These wicked disciples said nice things, but once they were outside, they'd be like a pack of wild horses off the leash—the kind carrying nuclear weapons.

"Fine."

Su Lin sighed; he knew if they kept arguing, it would be dawn.

"Since you've all decided to go, don't dawdle. Give me your hands."

He held out his right hand, palm up, Spiritual Qi surging as he activated the [Great Void Shifting Talisman].

"I want to hold it too!"

Su Hongling was the first to pounce, grabbing Su Lin's thumb with so much force she almost snapped his finger off.

"Hong Ling! Gently!" Su Lin hissed.

"Hehe, I got excited." Su Hongling giggled, loosening her grip slightly but still holding on tight.

Next, a cold, soft hand grasped Su Lin's index and middle fingers—it was Mu Qingxue. She was expressionless, but the slight cold sweat in her palm betrayed her nervousness.

Luo Ximei unceremoniously pushed Su Hongling aside to take half her space, her slender fingers interlocking with Su Lin's ring and pinky fingers. Her fingertips lightly scratched Su Lin's palm, her gaze seductive.

Chu Weiwei had nowhere left to grab and was pacing anxiously. Finally, she had a bright idea and hugged Su Lin's forearm directly, hanging on like an accessory.

Ye You used her tail to hook Su Lin, wrapping him very tightly for fear of him being snatched away.

"You're all holding hands, so where should I hold?"

Cold Moon frowned, looking at the right hand that had already been completely divided, then at Su Lin's empty left hand.

"Revered Master, give me your left hand."

"No way!"

Su Lin refused flatly; his left hand still needed to form hand seals to guide the way.

"Then just grab the hem of my robe."

"The hem? That's where servants grab!" Cold Moon was furious; her dignity as an Empress wouldn't allow her to accept such treatment.

Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly took a step forward, wrapping both arms around Su Lin's waist.

"I'll hold onto Revered Master; that's the most secure way."

"You..."

The other four disciples immediately shot murderous glares.

"Enough! Nobody move! It's starting!"

Su Lin shouted, forcibly interrupting the impending civil war.

Spiritual Qi poured in, and the Talisman burned.

"Hum—"

A silver radiance instantly enveloped the six of them.

Space distorted, and the surrounding scenery blurred and stretched like melting wax.

A strong sense of weightlessness hit them.

This was the Great Void Shifting; it wasn't a normal Teleportation Formation, but rather opening a temporary path directly through the void turbulence. One slip-up and they'd be lost in the endless darkness.

The passage was pitch black, with only the occasional space storm flashing with dangerous purple light.

"Ah! It's so dark! I'm scared!"

In the darkness, Chu Weiwei let out an affected cry of alarm, and her grip on Su Lin's arm tightened even more. She pressed herself against him, the soft sensation making Su Lin's arm go stiff.

"Scared my ass! Why weren't you scared when you were playing with poisons?" Su Hongling's loud voice was exceptionally clear in the darkness.

"Ouch, who's touching my butt?!" Luo Ximei suddenly cried out. "Su Hongling, is it you?!"

"Scram! I have no interest in your butt! I'm looking for my sword!"

"Revered Master... cold."

Mu Qingxue's voice rang out faintly. Su Lin felt an even greater chill from the fingers she was holding, and then his whole body was wrapped in a frosty aura as Mu Qingxue tried to 'keep warm' this way.

"All of you, behave!"

Su Lin gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead.

Maintaining balance in this spatial tunnel while enduring the harassment of these disciples was more exhausting than fighting a Mahayana Stage expert.

Fortunately, although the Talisman was one-time use, its quality was extremely high.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

A speck of light appeared in the darkness ahead.

"We're here, prepare for landing!"

Su Lin reminded them.

Space shattered, and seven figures tumbled out of the Void Realm.

To maintain a cool landing posture, Su Lin forcibly circulated his Spiritual Qi to steady himself in the air, landing lightly on a massive black rock.

But the disciples behind him weren't so particular.

"Ouch!"

Su Hongling smashed directly into the ground like a cannonball, creating a human-shaped crater in the hard black rock.

Chu Weiwei and Luo Ximei reacted quickly, each using their movement techniques to land, though they were a bit unsteady.

Although Cold Moon was holding Su Lin's waist, she had to let go to maintain her Empress's poise upon landing, smoothing her skirt.

Only Mu Qingxue landed silently, an Ice Lotus blooming under her feet to support her, still looking as cool and ethereal as ever.

"So this is... the Void Black Market?"

Everyone stood still and looked around.

The scene before them even made these disciples, who had seen much of the world, pause in surprise.

This wasn't a continent or a Secret Realm.

It was a massive cluster of meteorites floating in the endless Void Realm.

Countless black boulders of varying sizes were connected by thick chains, forming islands in the sky.

There was no sky above, only brilliant and dangerous auroras and the occasional space crack.

There was no ground around them either, only a bottomless void abyss; one slip and you'd be lost forever.

This was the Void Black Market.

No one knew its exact location; it could only be reached through special teleportation methods.

No one knew who the owner was, only that it opened once every hundred years. This time, the Void Black Market was still a week away from truly opening.

"It's not open yet?"

Su Hongling jumped out of the pit, patted the dust off her butt, and looked disappointed.

"Old Man, didn't you say there were many fun things here? Why can't I see even a ghost of a person?"

The meteorite cluster was indeed a bit deserted.

Although those strange buildings were there, most had their doors tightly shut, with only a few small shops hanging 'Open' signs, looking somewhat desolate.

"This is what a black market is."

Su Lin straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, and said calmly.

"Real transactions are done in the shadows.

It's still a week before the Grand Opening; the truly big figures haven't arrived yet."

"Then why did we come so early? To blow in the cold wind?"

Chu Weiwei hugged her arms, shivering from the cold, then naturally burrowed into Su Lin's embrace.

"Revered Master... Weiwei is cold..."

"If you're cold, wear more clothes!"

Luo Ximei pulled her out and pressed herself against him instead.

"Revered Master, the Yin Qi is heavy here; let your Disciple's Devilish Qi help warm you up."

"Enough."

Su Lin helplessly pushed away this group of clingy pests.

"There's a reason we came early."

He looked deep into the meteorite cluster.

A hundred years ago, he had obtained something here, and it was because of that item that he was able to preserve a glimmer of hope in the later Great Tribulation.

"Many unknown secrets are hidden here."

"Some things can only be found before the market officially opens."

"Secrets?"

Hearing these words, the disciples' eyes lit up instantly.

"Are there many treasures?" Su Hongling drooled.

"Are there many rare poisonous insects?" Chu Weiwei rubbed her hands.

"Are there many... Cultivation Techniques suitable for Dual Cultivation?" Luo Ximei licked her lips.

Su Lin: "..."

"Let's go, find a place to stay first."

Su Lin led everyone, familiarly crossing several suspended chain bridges to a meteorite that looked like a giant mushroom.

There was only one inn on this meteorite, named [Wuyou Inn].

The inn's door was half-open, and a faint scent of wine wafted from inside.

"Yo, welcome inside, guests!"

As soon as they entered, a ghost cultivator shopkeeper with only half a body floating in the air greeted them.

A professional smile hung on his pale face, and when he saw the six stunning women behind Su Lin, his eyes almost popped out.

"Are you all here... for a meal or to stay?"

"To stay."

Su Lin threw out a bag of Spirit Stones.

"I want the best room."

"Certainly! Heaven No. 1 Room!"

The shopkeeper took the Spirit Stones, grinning from ear to ear, and floated ahead to lead the way.

"No. 1 Room? Just one?"

Cold Moon frowned. "There are so many of us; how is one room enough?"

"Oh, this guest might not know."

The shopkeeper turned back to explain, "Space in the Void Black Market is at a premium. Even if the market hasn't opened yet, rooms are in high demand.

"Moreover, our Heaven-grade rooms are worlds of their own. Forget just you few, even dozens more could stay!"

With that, he pushed open the door.

Everyone looked inside and was instantly stunned.

How was this a room?

This was clearly an independent small Secret Realm!

Inside were mountains, rivers, pavilions, and even a blooming peach blossom forest.

The Spiritual Qi concentration was more than ten times higher than outside.

"Wow! So beautiful!"

Chu Weiwei cheered and rushed straight into the peach blossom forest.

"The owner of this inn has some skill," Luo Ximei praised.

"It's indeed not bad."

Su Lin nodded, fairly satisfied with the environment.

"Since we're settled, feel free to move around."

Su Lin waved his hand. "But remember, don't go too far and don't cause trouble."

"We know!"

The disciples agreed readily and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Su Hongling took her great sword to the back mountain to practice.

Chu Weiwei dove into the grass to catch insects.

Mu Qingxue found a cold pool to meditate.

Cold Moon and Luo Ximei went to explore the garden together; although they were still sniping at each other, at least they didn't start a fight.

Ye You hung onto Su Lin, refusing to come down.

"Revered Master, shall we go for a walk too?"

She rubbed her tail against Su Lin's face. "I want to see if that food stall is still there."