I Can Travel between Two Worlds-Chapter 49 - 48: Black Market Dealings, the Five Thunders Astonish All!
The man led Lin Chen to the back hall, then through a deep and narrow path.
After twisting and turning along the way, they finally reached the main site.
This was a small courtyard, home to twenty or thirty cultivators, each wearing a mask, not revealing their true faces.
Lin Chen’s arrival didn’t attract much attention, so he found a corner to stay.
This seemed to be a small-scale gathering, with transactions in full swing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, look at this talisman... it’s a First Tier Upper-Grade Giant Strength Talisman! Once activated, it can increase one’s strength by ten thousand pounds for a short time!"
"I wish to sell this talisman for thirty Spirit Stones. Is anyone interested?"
In the middle of the courtyard stood a masked man in a black robe, his gaze somewhat sinister.
After he took out the talisman, someone quickly decided to purchase it.
"Hahaha, Master Fu’s skills are becoming more refined; the Water-Resistant Talisman I bought the other day was extremely useful when exploring the Secret Realm!"
"Let me purchase this talisman."
The speaker was an old Taoist with white beard near Lin Chen, without a mask, with an ordinary face, seemingly not showing his true face either.
The old Taoist flicked his fingers, True Essence wrapped around thirty Spirit Stones and sent them to Master Fu.
Soon, the transaction between the two was complete.
After Master Fu bought a few more talismans, a graceful woman in purple attire stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen, recently I’ve acquired a Treasure Artifact short sword, though it’s incomplete... I wonder if anyone is interested?"
"I wish to price this fragmented Treasure Artifact at eight hundred Spirit Stones..."
Then, the seductive woman took out a pitch-black Treasure Sword, about a foot long, but the blade seemed to be missing a third.
This fragmented Treasure Artifact caused quite a stir in the room.
"It’s actually a Treasure Artifact! Though incomplete... if repaired, it could at least be restored to a Top Grade Magical Artifact, or even a Half-Step Spiritual Treasure!"
"But the price is somewhat steep. Eight hundred Spirit Stones for a fragmented Treasure Artifact..."
Several people in the courtyard were tempted but hesitated to bid.
Lin Chen quietly observed, having gained some understanding of the black market gathering’s nature.
The transaction seemed to be held on a small scale, with few knowing about it, requiring a minimum cultivation level of late Qi Refining.
Or like Lin Chen, having connections or recommendations also granted access.
The number of participants never exceeded thirty, with goods of top quality not found in ordinary shops.
Like the seductive woman selling the fragmented Treasure Artifact.
Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators often only possess Magical Artifacts.
But Treasure Artifacts can only be used by Core Formation cultivators...
If complete, Treasure Artifacts would be worth several thousand Spirit Stones.
Nonetheless, even though it’s fragmented, it’s still precious.
"However, this gathering seems a bit shady... the identities of these people might be related to the likes of Tribulation Cultivators?"
Lin Chen mused to himself.
Before arriving, his senior advised him that many of the black market transactions involved Loose Cultivators with questionable acquisitions.
It’s likely some participants even dabbled in Tribulation Cultivator activities.
Usually behaving honestly in cultivation, but if money was lacking, they’d commit a robbery or target a wealthy victim before laying low for a period.
Many Loose Cultivators ensure their cultivation success using such methods.
"Hmm, these people who have cultivated to late Qi Refining as Loose Cultivators likely have bloody histories... caution is needed!"
Lin Chen silently reminded himself, standing aside without speaking.
Soon, the fragmented Treasure Artifact was bought by the Taoist Fu for a thousand Spirit Stones.
Afterwards, several more people began trading and selling goods.
Some were talismans, pills, or even precious Spiritual Medicine obtained from some Secret Realm, and even intelligence and information were traded.
After quietly observing for a while, Lin Chen hesitated whether to present his Five Thunders artifact.
Just then, the graceful woman in purple smiled and said:
"This is your first time attending, isn’t it?"
"I noticed you haven’t made any bids... do you have any treasures to offer?"
Clearly, Lin Chen’s first-time presence caught attention.
Many in the courtyard turned their gaze towards him, either with cautious or scrutinizing expressions.
Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then stepped forward.
He activated the voice changer under his mask, transforming his voice to that of a weathered gentleman:
"As it is my first visit, I naturally must observe first."
"However... indeed, I do have a treasure to offer."
With that, Lin Chen took out the Five Thunders imitation and held it up, saying:
"Does anyone have interest in this item?"
"Is this... Five Thunders?"
Someone in the courtyard quickly recognized it.
"Wow, this is quite rare... I heard it’s made using ore from extremely hot regions, and its power is formidable!"
"However, crafting it comes with great risk; if the Artifact Refiner is careless, they might end up injured..."
The cultivators discussed in whispers, then the seductive woman curiously asked:
"Five Thunders, this item is indeed quite rare... I wonder how powerful yours is and what’s its price?"
"As I know, the power of Five Thunders is closely related to the Artifact Refiner’s skill level."
The seductive woman’s gaze carried a scrutinizing intent, questioning the power of Lin Chen’s Five Thunders.
"These Loose Cultivators are truly cunning..."
Lin Chen internally noted, but still maintained a calm tone:
"As for the power of my Five Thunders, I can say without exaggeration... in close proximity, if a late Qi Refining cultivator is unguarded, it can directly kill them!"
"Even if guarded, if their Magical Treasures are insufficient, it could cause minor injuries or even severe harm!"
Directly kill a late Qi Refining cultivator? Even guarded, severely injured?
Upon hearing this, the cultivators in the courtyard expressed shock.
"Haha, your cultivation may not be high... but your words are quite strong!" joked the Taoist Fu.
Nevermind killing a late Qi Refining cultivator, as long as it could cause severe injury, it would serve as a trump card for them.
Despite the skepticism, Lin Chen’s tone remained assertive.
"If anyone doubts this, I can demonstrate its power!"
With that, Lin Chen suggested everyone step back, revealing the courtyard’s ten-foot tall fake hill.
Then, Lin Chen activated the Five Thunders, tossing it ten meters away, quickly retreating.
Bang!
With a loud noise, the ten-foot tall fake hill was blasted into rubble!
A few nearby cultivators, indifferent before, were shocked into sitting on the ground.
After the Five Thunders explosion, Lin Chen scanned the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think of the power of my Five Thunders?"
His voice was not loud, yet made all the cultivators’ hearts pound.
"This, the power of this Five Thunders is indeed terrifying?"
"If this person harbored ill intentions and threw it at me... I fear I couldn’t escape unscathed!"
Many cultivators simultaneously had this thought.
Even the Taoist Fu’s expression changed drastically, observing Lin Chen with more caution.
The seductive woman reacted quickly, her face nearly losing composure under the veil.
Yet she forced herself to stay calm:
"Friend, your Five Thunders is truly powerful; earlier it was my mistake..."
"However, may I ask, how many Spirit Stones for one of your Five Thunders?"
