34: Chapter 34 Dream of the Red Chamber

Amidst the lingering gaze of the young master of the Li family, your figure slowly merged into the crowd.

After spending a day gathering all the information you needed, you decisively tossed him aside once he was of no use.

A mere inferior triple spiritual root—there was simply no need to cultivate any feelings.

That True Monarch Wangyue had arrived in Yunque City seven days ago, and news of the spirit-gathering jade marrow had not yet appeared at that time. In other words, the other party did not come for this treasure.

Or rather, not for its efficacy in refining spiritual power; after all, the spirit-gathering jade marrow only works on Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement Stage cultivators.

Of course, the possibility of purchasing it for a junior could not be ruled out; you needed to find out if this spiritual item had any other uses.

According to the information you currently understood, the most well-informed and comprehensive place for news in Yunque City was actually the black market in the Outer District.

To save time, you casually changed into a simple long dress and conveniently transformed your face into a rough, pockmarked visage that even made you feel a bit nauseous looking at it.

You then proceeded unimpeded all the way to the checkpoint. After a guard glanced at you, he waved his hand and decisively let you pass.

As soon as you stepped out of the city gate, you felt the massive gap between the areas before and after the portal.

The Central District was paved entirely with blue bricks, and there were countless exquisite and luxurious pavilions and palaces.

As for the Outer District, earthen walls and mud bricks met the eye everywhere. Not far from the city gate, quite a few beggars slumped by the roadside, and passing pedestrians were disheveled and emaciated.

A single wall separated them, creating a world of difference. This scene looked extremely similar to Lion Camel Ridge at the foot of Spirit Mountain.

The distinction between immortals and mortals was once again displayed in a bloody manner before your eyes.

Suddenly, several men dressed as beggars struggled and pounced toward you, their dark, ferocious faces carrying a distorted desire.

"Hmph!"

You let out a cold snort, and your powerful spiritual pressure was ruthlessly crushed outward without reservation.

After a bout of teeth-aching bone-cracking sounds, not even a scream was transmitted, leaving only a few bloody, mutilated corpses on the ground.

With a calm expression, you let out a light breath. No matter how high the price, you had to break free from this quagmire!

Your figure then moved, and in the blink of an eye, you disappeared from the spot.

"Hehe~ Wang Datou and his gang finally kicked an iron plate!"

"Serves them right. Walking by the river often, how could one not get their shoes wet? Running into the hands of an immortal master means certain death."

"Hehehe~ Several people have already headed straight for Wang Datou's home. I heard his old lady is quite exciting, so I'll take my leave first."

"That woman is also an evildoer who has harmed countless innocent girls. I am going to uphold justice on behalf of heaven!"

...

The so-called black market was not like what you had imagined—secret passages, signals, and sneaking around.

Instead, the black market in Yunque City was openly established in the central area of the Outer District, covering a vast expanse of land.

Judging from the orderly arrangement of shops and street stalls, it had long since formed a complete system.

After paying an admission fee of three low-grade spirit stones, you headed straight for the largest pavilion in the center of the street.

It was precisely the black market's largest intelligence organization—the Red Mansion!

According to Young Master Li, the Red Mansion organization spread across the entire Xuanhuang Prefecture, and perhaps mighty figures surpassing the Deity Transformation Stage sat behind the scenes.

Upon entering the pavilion, an empty hall met your eyes. Only the walls of the main entrance were hung with gray wooden tablets.

"Is the guest inquiring about news or selling news?"

A hoarse voice rang out from somewhere unknown, yet clearly fell into your ears.

"News can even be sold?"

You grew interested.

"That depends on what kind of news it is."

"How does one sell news? And how does one purchase news?"

After you asked this question, a gray wooden tablet flew straight toward you.

"Take the wooden tablet to the second floor. Regardless of whether you buy the news you need or not, pay a hundred low-grade spirit stones first."

"..."

Very well, Red Mansion is it? You've jotted down this account!

After obediently leaving behind a hundred spirit stones, you pinched the wooden tablet and walked toward the second floor.

As you passed through the floor, you felt an obvious fluctuation sweep across your body. After the wooden tablet in your hand emitted a faint luster, everything returned to calm.

"Guest, please come with me."

After a blind youth dressed as a servant bowed slightly to you, he led you toward a partition.

Pushing open the wooden door, an old man with white hair and beard was turning over an unknown classic, turning a blind eye to your arrival.

The youth did not speak either. After bowing deeply once more, he closed the door and left.

You gently tapped on the tabletop, whereupon the old man furrowed his brows and raised his head from the book.

"What news are you inquiring about?"

"I am selling a piece of news first."

You grinned widely, appearing exceptionally heroic beneath your rough makeup.

The old man's mouth twitched slightly, raising a hand to signal you to continue.

"The Tianxuan Sword Sect's treasure, the nine luminaries demon-suppressing monument, was stolen by the Hehuan Sect's witch, True Monarch Zicha."

As soon as you spoke, it was earth-shattering.

The old man's originally casual expression instantly converged, and he said in a serious tone:

"Selling fake news bears consequences."

You felt the opponent's formidable aura, but cared not at all.

"You guys buy news, you should have a way to distinguish true from false."

Hearing this, the old man nodded slightly, and with a wave of his hand, a piece of white warm jade fell before you.

"Hold it, and say that news again."

After you did as told, the white jade had no reaction whatsoever.

"It actually is true!"

He stared at you carefully for a long time, and ultimately could not hold back.

"As a Qi Refinement Stage cultivator, how did you come to know such a secret?"

You rolled your eyes at him.

The old man chuckled awkwardly, knowing he had overstepped, and gave a light cough.

"You have two choices: three Xuan-grade pieces of news or one Di-grade piece of news as your reward."

"Such major intelligence can only exchange for this little information?"

Actually, you had no idea what use this news was, nor did you know what the nine luminaries demon-suppressing monument was actually for; you simply wanted to drive up the price.

"This news will attract the pursuit and kill of the Tianxuan Sword Sect, and our Red Mansion needs to bear the risks involved."

The old man once again resumed that casual attitude. Anyway, you had already spoken the news; whether you wanted to sell it or not was up to you.

The inherently evil Red Mansion—this kind of monopoly industry was truly unreasonable!

"What is the scope of Xuan-grade news?"

"All news below the Nascent Soul Stage."

Your brows raised slightly. So rampant?

"Then I choose the first one."

Nascent Soul level news was temporarily useless to you, and besides, maybe you could use this news to freeload a few more times later...

The old man nodded slightly, and three pure black tokens floated out of thin air before you.

"With this item, you can redeem news for free at any branch."

You decisively tossed out a token.

"Why does True Monarch Wangyue want to purchase the spirit-gathering jade marrow?"

After hearing your question, the old man got up and left the partition.

About half an incense stick of time later, the old man returned. Instead of speaking directly, he stretched out his hand toward you.

"This counts as two questions; take out another token."

"On what grounds?"

Your eyes widened in disbelief.

In the short span of an incense stick of time, the Red Mansion organization fully displayed its black heart.

"This question not only needs to answer True Monarch Wangyue's reason for purchasing the spirit-gathering jade marrow, but it also involves his physical condition, as well as the second function of the spirit-gathering jade marrow."

The old man completely ignored your protest.

"Two tokens, you made a huge profit!"