74: All Things House

The layout of the black market was like a giant spiderweb, with the central trading plaza as the core, radiating out into more than a dozen intricate streets.

Each street had a different theme.

What Bai Ye was looking for were shops that sold special items or provided special services.

Soon, they arrived at a relatively quiet street.

The shops here were clearly decorated much more upscale than other places.

There were no noisy hawking sounds at the entrances, making it appear exceptionally mysterious.

"This should be it."

Zhang Tianluo pointed to one of the shops that hung a sign saying "One-Stop Shop."

"I just asked around, and this is the most famous intelligence and special service trading point in the black market."

"It is said that as long as you can afford the price, they can help you get anything you want."

He also understood that the so-called "anything" was just an exaggeration.

Bai Ye became interested.

Even if there were no items here that could solve the Gray Talent, finding some intelligence would make the trip worthwhile.

He walked into the shop, where a man wearing a black robe and a crow mask was sitting behind the counter, slowly wiping a crystal ball.

The Man in the Crow Mask did not rush his movements; he wiped the crystal ball until it was spotless, then raised his head, examining the two through the holes in his mask.

"You two, do you want to buy something, or sell something?"

"Items or intelligence that can eradicate negative talents."

Bai Ye got straight to the point.

His voice sounded somewhat hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time:

"Negative talents are considered defects in the essence of life; it is difficult for ordinary people to eradicate them."

There was a hint of mockery in the man's words.

Bai Ye's heart sank.

It seemed there was nothing he wanted here either.

"Then are there no other methods? Even just suppression would do."

The Man in the Crow Mask seemed to develop a trace of interest in Bai Ye, pulling a small dark green bottle from under the counter and placing it on the table.

The bottle was only the size of a thumb, filled with viscous liquid, emitting a faint glow in the dim light of the shop.

"Soul-Calming Agent, concocted from various soothing herbs and the body fluids of psychic-type Demonic Beasts, can temporarily suppress most side effects brought about by negative talents, allowing the beast pet to return to a normal state for a short period."

"However, it treats the symptoms but not the root cause."

The Man in the Crow Mask tapped the small green bottle on the tabletop.

"The drug effect lasts five minutes, and once the time passes, the backlash of the negative talent will be even more severe; long-term use will cause irreversible damage to the beast pet's Soul."

"Simply put, it's a potent drug for you to use when risking your life. Three million alliance coins per bottle, no bargaining."

This thing was considered a type of prohibited drug in legitimate trading markets.

Even if a beast pet did not have a Gray Talent, drinking a small bottle would still cause immense pain.

Zhang Tianluo, listening from the side, clicked his tongue; this price was too exorbitant.

Bai Ye looked at the small bottle and fell into brief contemplation.

The side effects of the Soul-Calming Agent were too great. Currently, as long as he didn't use Body Integration, being Frail would only significantly reduce Xiao Hei's Cultivate speed.

Moreover, with him around, it wouldn't come to his beast pets having to risk their lives.

Bai Ye shook his head, his gaze falling back onto the Man in the Crow Mask.

"I still want intelligence that can eradicate it."

The Man in the Crow Mask didn't seem to expect Bai Ye to refuse so decisively. He remained silent for a moment, his gaze from under the mask lingering on Bai Ye's cat-face mask for a long time, as if wanting to see through the two small holes to make out Bai Ye's true face.

"You are very young."

The man spoke suddenly, his tone carrying an inexplicable meaning.

"I can tell from your voice and eyes. To have contracted a beast pet with a negative talent at such a young age, it is truly a pity."

Bai Ye's heart stirred.

This guy really knew something.

"My partner, there is nothing to pity."

"Hehe..."

The Man in the Crow Mask let out a low chuckle and shook his head.

"A negative talent is like a bottomless pit that will constantly devour resources and energy, eventually dragging down your future."

"Many talented young people are dragged down by this kind of thing and eventually become mediocre."

The Man in the Crow Mask leaned forward slightly, crossing his hands on the counter.

"I truly don't have any items here that can directly eradicate negative talents; even if such things existed, they wouldn't appear in a place like the black market."

"But..."

He changed the subject: "I have the intelligence you want."

Bai Ye's eyes lit up; he hadn't interrupted the Man in the Crow Mask earlier, and finally, he had gotten to the main point.

"Name your price."

"Direct."

The Man in the Crow Mask nodded approvingly: "I like doing business with direct people."

He held up one finger.

"One million?"

Zhang Tianluo asked tentatively; although he was a businessman, he still felt that everything in the black market was so expensive.

However, stolen goods and the like were usually much cheaper than the original price.

The man shook his head.

Zhang Tianluo's heart skipped a beat; could it be...

"Ten million."

The Man in the Crow Mask spat out the three words indifferently.

"What?"

Zhang Tianluo couldn't help but speak out: "Are you robbing us! What intelligence is worth ten million?"

This guy wearing the crow mask must be treating them like suckers to fleece.

"Brother Zhang, don't get excited."

Bai Ye patted Zhang Tianluo on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

He turned to the Man in the Crow Mask and asked in a calm tone: "How do I know your intelligence is worth this price?"

"Just by the reputation of the 'One-Stop Shop'."

The Man in the Crow Mask pointed overhead: "I am the owner here. In the black market, credibility is more precious than gold. Since I dare to ask for this price, I naturally have my grounds."

"If you think it's not worth it, you can leave now; I will never stop you."

The man's attitude was very clear: take it or leave it.

"I'll buy it."

He took out the anonymous black card that Zhang Tianluo had given him earlier and placed it on the counter.

Although it was given to him by Zhang Tianluo, the money inside was his own.

"Swipe the card."

With a "beep," the transaction was successful.

"Very good."

The Man in the Crow Mask put away the POS machine and nodded with satisfaction.

He leaned back in his chair and spoke slowly.

"To eradicate a negative talent, conventional items and treatment methods are useless; you should be very clear about this, as that belongs to something engraved at the genetic level."

Bai Ye nodded, signaling him to continue.

The Man in the Crow Mask was just about to speak when he glanced at Zhang Tianluo, who was standing to the side listening, and pointed at him, saying with dissatisfaction:

"He didn't pay, so the intelligence can only be heard by you alone. As for whether you tell him later, that is your business. Now, please have him leave."

Zhang Tianluo's mouth twitched twice, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and voluntarily pushed the door open to leave.

He wouldn't listen then; he wasn't a Beast Tamer anyway.

Seeing the door close again, the Man in the Crow Mask continued.

"But in this world, there are always some special existences that can break the rules."

"There is an extremely rare Beast Tamer talent named 'Purification'."