The catalog listed a wide variety of items, with detailed descriptions. Among them, many items even caught Meng Zhang's interest.
Although most of the items sold in the black market had questionable origins, the black market was honest about it and clearly stated their sources in the catalog. Despite knowing the origins might be dubious, some treasures were still sought after by many.
Meng Zhang was eyeing something specific: three Cold Poison Yin Thunders refined by the Liu Family. The Liu Family was on par with forces like Twin Success Valley and Forest Spring Watch, boasting several Foundation Building cultivators in their ranks.
It was said that within the secret ground of the Liu Family, there was a Cold Cave that had existed for countless years, emanating a chilling aura at regular intervals. Cultivators with Liu Family bloodline, practicing their secret techniques, could forge their Foundation with this chilling aura, negating the need for Foundation Building Pills. Although this method had some hidden risks, it ensured a steady supply of Foundation Building cultivators in the Liu Family, granting them a prominent position among Flying Swan Sect's vassal forces.
However, the process of absorbing the chilling aura from the Cold Cave also left behind a substantial amount of cold poison. Liu Family Foundation Building cultivators would refine this poison into the highly venomous Cold Poison Yin Thunders, capable of threatening Foundation Building cultivators.
The catalog explicitly stated that these three Cold Poison Yin Thunders were forcibly taken from the hands of Liu Family cultivators, hinting at their problematic origin. Although Liu Family occasionally sold a small number of Cold Poison Yin Thunders, most were reserved for use by their Foundation Building cultivators or given as protection to promising junior disciples. The origins of these three Cold Poison Yin Thunders were undoubtedly related to acts of robbery and murder.
Despite the risks, Meng Zhang decided to buy these three Cold Poison Yin Thunders if possible. As a Refining Qi Sixth Layer cultivator, he was slightly stronger than an average Refining Qi Mid-stage cultivator, but his strength had its limits. His most powerful means were Blood Refining Martyr Art, which allowed him to unleash the power of a Refining Qi Ninth Layer cultivator with a blood-refined magic tool.
Taiyi Sect was currently coveted by the Zhao Family, which had plenty of Refining Qi Ninth Layer cultivators. Blood Refining Martyr Art would not be as effective against them. The Cold Poison Yin Thunders could pose a threat to Foundation Building cultivators and, if purchased, could serve as a hidden trump card to save his life in critical situations.
After quickly browsing through the catalog and assessing his options, Meng Zhang had a clear plan.
The auction soon began with the plump old man on the high platform announcing the first item for bidding. The atmosphere quickly heated up with enthusiastic bidding.
As the auction progressed, some items sparked fierce competition. However, the identities of the bidders were kept anonymous, and the powerful Foundation Building expert on the high platform prevented any unruly behavior.
Finally, it was Meng Zhang's turn to bid. After some fierce competition, he successfully acquired the three Cold Poison Yin Thunders for five hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Normally, even a First Rank top-grade magic tool would cost no more than a hundred low-grade spirit stones in the outside market. However, the Cold Poison Yin Thunders, despite their tremendous power, were disposable items, used up after one attack.
But for Meng Zhang, this price was worthwhile. First Rank top-grade magic tools posed no threat to Foundation Building cultivators, while the three Cold Poison Yin Thunders, bought through legitimate means, would undoubtedly be more expensive, and there was no guarantee of getting hold of them even with sufficient funds.
Afterward, Meng Zhang spent another hundred low-grade spirit stones to buy three First Rank top-grade magic tools. Like the Cold Poison Yin Thunders, these magic tools were also stolen goods, intended for use with the Blood Refining Martyr Art.
While the Blood Refining Martyr Art could be used with slightly damaged magic tools, the effect would be better with intact ones. With cheap goods available in the black market, Meng Zhang decided to buy a few.
He estimated that, after blood refinement, these three magic tools would explode with massive killing power, each equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Refining Qi Ninth Layer cultivator.
Since the appearance of magic tools changed slightly after blood refinement, and they were disposable items, they would turn into fragments upon detonation. As long as he was careful and avoided being caught by the victims, the risk was relatively low.
Having carefully considered the matter, Meng Zhang was confident in purchasing these stolen goods.
The auction continued for a long time, but Meng Zhang didn't find any other items he wanted or couldn't conveniently buy for various reasons. So, he chose to remain silent.
After the auction ended, a group of maidservants entered each room to complete the transactions with the customers. Those who bought large items were led away by the maidservants to other locations for further transactions.
Meng Zhang paid the spirit stones, received the items he purchased, and thoroughly checked their authenticity before concluding the transactions.
During the transactions, curiosity got the better of Meng Zhang, and he attempted to read the thoughts of the maidservant before him with his Mind Reading Divine Ability. However, to his surprise, his Divine Ability failed again. Despite the maidservant having a lower Cultivation Base than him, he could not read anything from her mind. If not for her clearly being alive, Meng Zhang might have mistaken her for an unconscious puppet.
After the transactions were completed, the maidservant handed Meng Zhang a jade token and explained its usage in detail.
It was a token and also a simple magic tool. With this jade token, Meng Zhang could contact the black market and participate in transactions whenever he visited a place connected to the black market.
After carefully examining the jade token and confirming its authenticity, Meng Zhang stored it in his storage bag.
With the transactions completed, Meng Zhang quickly left the room, randomly selecting a passage to make his way out. The structure of this place was quite extraordinary, not only showcasing exquisite architectural craftsmanship but also incorporating intricate formations, involving mazes and spatial shifts. Trying to force one's way in could easily lead to being trapped or lost.
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