章 15: Tailed

The black market of Lakir City operated discreetly, hidden from the casual observer.

The entrance to the black market was a concealed alley, known only to those familiar with its existence. It was protected by its own set of Array Formations that kept it safe and hidden from prying eyes.

Once one entered the black market after paying twice the entrance fee of Lakir City, they would be welcomed by a mysterious atmosphere. It was as if the entire black market had been transported to the twilight zone forever.

The vibe of the black market was palpably different from the lively and open markets found in Lakir City. Here, a sense of secrecy hung in the air, intensifying as one delved deeper into the shadows.

Masked cultivators roamed the narrow passages, their identities concealed behind intricate designs. These masks served as both a symbol of anonymity and a warning to others.

A few rogue cultivators, daring and confident, displayed their identities openly. They were the puppet masters orchestrating clandestine transactions. Their stalls, integrated into the maze-like structure of the black market, showcased an array of forbidden and exclusive items.

The products available in the black market differed significantly from those in the mainstream markets of Lakir City. Here, one could find rare and prohibited cultivation resources, artifacts with concealed powers, and more.

Forbidden books, elixirs of dubious origin, strange Array Formation disks, and talismans with mysterious effects were openly displayed, enticing those seeking power beyond conventional means.

Transactions in the black market were hushed and quick. Bargaining was often done in whispers, and deals were sealed discreetly. The anonymity provided by the masks allowed cultivators to engage in exchanges without fear of reprisal or exposure, at least for the most part.

Compared to the regulated and monitored commerce of the regular markets, the black market operated on the fringe of legality. It attracted those willing to tread the fine line between forbidden knowledge and societal constraints.

Even though the black market was part of Lakir City, it didn't follow the same set of rules as the city itself. Its dwellers didn't enjoy the same form of protection as the local citizens. It meant that as long as one was capable and daring enough, they could initiate a conflict with other cultivators.

***

At this hour, a tall and burly masked man in a long purple robe, wearing a hat that covered half of his masked face, was seen haggling with an ashen-faced man inside an old shop.

The shop seemed decadent and rarely visited by anyone, as if it had been abandoned by everyone in the black market.

"I told you, I can't sell the last three layers of the Basic Greenwood Tantra to you for any less than 200 Spirit Stones," the ashen-faced man said to the burly man in a serious tone.

He snorted at the burly man before speaking further. "You can try to find some other place that sells a 1st Order cultivation technique with all nine layers intact. Let's see if you find any better deal."

The price of 200 Spirit Stones was an exorbitant amount for an inferior-grade cultivation technique like Basic Greenwood Tantra. If it were any other free city, a cultivator could get much better cultivation techniques at lower prices. However, those free cities had their own set of rules, regulations, and limitations.

Of course, the reason why the shopkeeper could dare to demand such an exorbitant price was that he had a monopoly in the black market on this cultivation technique. This was the only shop in the black market that dared to defy the Lakir clan and sold the technique to its customers.

The burly man didn't get frustrated after hearing the ashen-faced shopkeeper's asking price. He raised his head a bit before speaking in a deep voice.

"Alright. It seems you are a bit of a stickler for rules. Then how about you sell me only the 7th layer of the Basic Greenwood Tantra? That should bring down the selling cost, right?"

"Hmm. reasonable. Basic Greenwood Tanta, huh! Are you perhaps… a Spirit farmer, dear customer?"

The ashen-faced man tried to get a good look at his customer. However, he couldn't get a read on his facial features.

This burly man, who looked to be in the prime years of his life, had hidden his identity well behind a combination of black robes, a face-covering mask, and a hat. He also wore gloves, and even his neck was covered in some gray fur-like animal skin that stuck close to his real body like a suit.

The burly man's heart skipped a beat when he heard the shopkeeper's question. A sudden urge almost forced him to check if his mask was present on his face or not.

He then realized why the shopkeeper was able to take a guess. The first six layers of the Basic Greenwood Tantra were distributed to all the Spirit farmers in the region by the Lakir family.

Those who practiced this Tantra could only be Spirit farmers. Why would anyone else who could afford to buy Tantra select such an inferior technique for themselves?

However, the burly man quickly regained his composure and asked the ashen-faced shopkeeper in a cold tone, "Does being a farmer or not have anything to do with this transaction?"

"Hehehe," the ashen-faced shopkeeper chuckled before shrugging his shoulders. "I guess you are right. How about paying me 75 Spirit Stones for the 7th layer of the Tantra?"

"Alright. Deal," the burly man didn't take long to respond.

He knew that the man was selling the individual layer of the Tantra at a higher price than it should be. However, he didn't care.

It was not like one who had just achieved a breakthrough into the 7th stage could break into the 8th layer of the Spirit Refining realm anytime soon. It was much better to keep on cultivating only with the 7th layer and worry about getting the remaining layers in the future.

The shopkeeper didn't dare to deceive the burly man after sensing his breath. The burly man was clearly in the 5th stage of the Spirit Refining realm while he was only in the 3rd stage. Plus, a certain killer's aura surrounded the burly man, which painted the picture that he had been in many battles.

He quickly took out a scroll containing the 7th layer of the Basic Greenwood Tantra from under his counter and asked the burly man to check its contents.

A simple inspection from the burly man was enough to know if the scroll containing the information about the 7th layer was genuine or not.

The burly man nodded before tucking the scroll away in his purple robe. He produced the required amount of Spirit Stones and handed it to the shopkeeper before calmly making his way out.

The burly man didn't want to buy anything in the black market after getting his hands on the scroll. Yet, he still roamed around and checked out the prices of a few things. This act was just a diversion.

Since he had detected that there were three people following him, he decided not to rush.

'Need to get rid of the tail before coming out of the disguise,' Aksai thought to himself as he resolutely entered an abandoned alley.