132: Black market for stolen goods!

Following Golden Mask's command.

News of the “Earth-Grade Mission” swept through the entire Shadow Kill organization's internal network in the Royal Capital like a storm.

For a time, countless Shadow Kill members, lurking in every corner of the Royal Capital, received this shocking news.

Royal Capital, inside an unassuming tavern.

A down-and-out swordsman, drinking wine, suddenly tightened his grip on his wine cup after seeing the message from the jade token at his waist, and a terrifying glint burst forth from his eyes.

“Earth-Grade Mission? The target is just a youth?”

West of the city, in a room of a brothel.

A Young Master in luxurious clothes, who was frolicking with a beauty, suddenly pushed away the woman in his arms, his face revealing a solemn expression.

“Two thousand Spirit Stones, two spirit breaking pills, and a Soul Chasing Crossbow... What a grand gesture.”

Outside the Imperial City, an old beggar, who was begging, had a hint of greed flash in his turbid eyes.

“The position of Silver Mask Director... Hehe, interesting.”

Countless gazes, some overt, some hidden, all focused on the name “Li Qing” at this moment.

Their identities might differ, and their strengths vary.

But they all shared a common name—Gold-Medal Assassin!

They were the core fighting force of the Shadow Kill organization, reapers walking in the darkness!

Assassins are divided into White, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

White is the highest, and Bronze is the lowest tier.

Legend says there are also the Ten Assassin Kings!

They are outside this scope.

Li Qing, the instigator of all this, was currently unaware of the fluctuations in the shadows.

He had just emerged from the abandoned dye works, carefully putting away the map marking the Shadow Kill strongholds.

“One must eat bite by bite, and walk step by step.”

He muttered to himself.

Directly taking down other strongholds would create too much commotion and carry too high a risk.

The most urgent task was to quickly convert the resources at hand into his own strength.

He touched his bosom, where he kept the spoils of war plundered from those three unlucky assassins.

Several Profound Rank Martial Skills, several bottles of Medicinal Pills, and a thick stack of gold notes.

“It's time to exchange for some Spirit Stones.”

He identified the direction, and with a flicker of his figure, disappeared into the bustling night of the Royal Capital.

He needed to find a place that was safe enough and “professional” enough to handle these items.

The night in the Royal Capital was far more prosperous and bustling than in Jinling City.

Even deep into the night, the streets were still brightly lit, with people coming and going.

Li Qing moved through the crowd, like a drop of water merging into the sea, inconspicuous.

He wasn't in a hurry to find a place to fence the goods; instead, he strolled leisurely through the city.

On one hand, it was to familiarize himself with the environment of the Royal Capital; on the other, it was to shake off any potential “tails.”

After making several large circles and confirming there were no suspicious presences behind him, he turned into a street called “Ghost Market.”

Ghost Market was the Royal Capital's famous black market.

This was an extralegal zone for fencing stolen goods, trading, and intelligence buying and selling.

It is said that if you have enough money, you can even buy confidential information about the royal family here.

Of course, the rules here are also very strict.

They don't ask about your origin or background; they only recognize money.

But if anyone dares to cause trouble here, no matter who they are, they will become a floating corpse in the Qiu River the next day.

Li Qing entered the Ghost Market wearing a mask and immediately felt an aura completely different from the outside world.

Chilling, chaotic, yet with a strange order.

On both sides of the street, various stalls were set up.

Most of the stall owners had their faces covered with black cloth, revealing only a pair of shrewd eyes, vigilantly scrutinizing every passerby.

The items displayed on the stalls were also diverse.

There were blood-stained weapons, Cultivation Techniques Secret Manuals of unknown origin, Medicinal Pills emitting strange odors, and even some oddly shaped Vicious Beast cubs kept in cages.

Li Qing merely glanced casually before walking deeper into the Ghost Market.

The items on these stalls were not worth his attention.

What he was looking for was the largest fencing channel here—Duobao Pavilion.

He hadn't been wandering aimlessly these past few days.

He had gathered quite a bit of intelligence.

Soon, a three-story pavilion, built entirely of dark sinking wood, appeared before him.

At the entrance of the pavilion stood two burly Spirit Transformation Realm Guards with powerful auras, like door gods, their eyes coldly scanning everyone who approached.

This was Duobao Pavilion.

The strongest and most reputable place in the Ghost Market.

Li Qing straightened his clothes and walked straight over.

“Stop!”

A Guard stretched out his hand, blocking him.

“Duobao Pavilion only receives distinguished guests.”

The Guard's voice was devoid of emotion.

Evidently, Li Qing's ordinary attire made him seem less like a “distinguished guest.”

Li Qing didn't speak; he simply took out a black token from his bosom.

It was precisely the Shadow Kill organization's token he had obtained from the assassin named Ghost Smoke.

Although he didn't know what this token represented in the black market, he figured that a token from a top assassin organization should carry some weight.

Indeed, the moment the Guard saw the token, his pupils slightly contracted.

The coldness on his face was instantly replaced by a hint of respect.

He bowed slightly to Li Qing.

“So it is a distinguished guest arriving; I apologize for my disrespect.”

He stepped aside, making way, and made a “please” gesture.

“Please enter, the Manager is already waiting for you on the third floor.”

Li Qing understood.

It seemed that the Shadow Kill organization and Duobao Pavilion had some unknown cooperative relationship.

He put away the token and stepped into Duobao Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, there was a world of its own.

The first floor was a grand hall, displaying various clearly priced goods, all rare treasures not easily seen on the market.

The second floor was an auction house, and at this moment, waves of fierce bidding could be heard.

And under the guidance of that Guard, Li Qing was directly led to a private room on the third floor.

Inside the private room, sandalwood incense wafted.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a brocade robe, slightly plump, and always wearing a smile of amiable prosperity, was already waiting there.

“Hehe, a distinguished guest has arrived. I apologize for not coming out to meet you sooner.”

The Fat Manager cupped his hands at Li Qing, his attitude very polite.

Although he couldn't discern Li Qing's cultivation or see the face beneath the mask.

Anyone who could produce a Shadow Kill token was definitely not someone he could offend.

“I have a batch of goods to sell.”

Li Qing spoke directly, not wanting to waste words with him.

“Easy to say, easy to say.” The Fat Manager said with a chuckle.

“May I know what kind of goods the distinguished guest has?”

Li Qing didn't answer; he simply dumped all the items he had obtained from the three assassins onto the table.

Three Profound Rank Martial Skills, a dozen bottles of Medicinal Pills of varying quality, and some miscellaneous Materials.

These Medicinal Pills, obtained this way, had unknown properties.

It was best to sell them.

The Fat Manager's eyes lit up the moment he saw those items.