Free Web NovelChapter 284: Chapter 54: Life Soul-level Mechanical Armor (2)
On the stone platform, blood-red halos of light appeared every few dozen feet. Some Cultivators sat cross-legged within the halos, with various treasures for sale displayed before them.
Other Cultivators, wearing masks, simply wandered about.
With Divine Sense blocked in this place, even an ordinary mask was enough to prevent one’s identity from being seen through. Coupled with a Concealing Breath Talisman to hide one’s cultivation aura, there was no risk of revealing who you were.
Fang Cheng found a mask in his storage pouch, put it on, and began to leisurely stroll through the Ghost Market.
A little over a third of the blood-red halos on the ground were occupied, leaving many empty.
There were few sellers and many buyers.
Everything sold here either had a questionable origin or was being sold by someone who didn’t want to flaunt their wealth. As a result, the goods were all rare treasures. There were no Magical Artifacts or Spiritual Medicines below the second tier.
As Fang Cheng walked, he saw six or seven people gathered around one of the blood-red halos, pointing at the items on the ground and discussing them animatedly.
He curiously went over and saw three bronze statues, each half as tall as a man, displayed on the ground.
The three statues were densely covered in Spirit Patterns and emanated an unfathomably powerful Spiritual Pressure. Although they were inanimate objects, they gave off an extremely dangerous and oppressive feeling.
Fang Cheng had only ever felt such an aura from the Dream Spirit.
’Life Soul Realm!’
These three bronze statues were shaped like a Swordsman, a Monk, and a Female Cultivator. Their expressions and attire were so lifelike they could have been real people, yet their bodies radiated a metallic sheen, giving them an eerie appearance.
The seller wore a mask of an old man from a traditional opera and sat cross-legged on the ground, completely still.
One of the onlookers said sarcastically, "Over ten years ago, the Nine Truths Sect attacked the Red Flame Immortal Palace. Rumor has it that someone took advantage of the chaos while the two sects’ experts were clashing, snuck into the Immortal Palace’s Treasure Vault, and stole three sets of Life Soul-level Mechanical Battle Armor. To think I’d run into them here today."
Another person added, "The Red Flame Immortal Palace’s Mechanical Battle Armor is truly unparalleled. It’s a shame these three treasures can’t see the light of day. If the Immortal Palace finds out, they’ll surely be reclaimed. Say, seller, can’t you lower the price a bit?"
The seller said flatly, "These are authentic Life Soul-level Mechanical Battle Armor from the Red Flame Immortal Palace. Five hundred Upper-Grade Spirit Stones each. The price is non-negotiable."
The man chuckled. "Five hundred Upper-Grade Spirit Stones? Whoever buys them is a sucker."
The seller remained noncommittal and said nothing.
At that moment, someone else asked, "Is this Mechanical Battle Armor really as miraculous as the legends claim? Can a Life Talisman Cultivator really match a Life Soul cultivator after putting it on?"
The first person who spoke replied, "Don’t underestimate this treasure. Back then, seven Life Soul Guardians from the Nine Truths Sect joined forces to attack the Red Flame Immortal Palace. The Immortal Palace only dispatched two Life Soul Elders, who led a group of Life Talisman Cultivators and managed to repel the Nine Truths Sect. They relied on this very Mechanical Battle Armor."
"However, this treasure has very high requirements for a cultivator’s Divine Sense. If you don’t have a cultivation at the Mid-Life Talisman Stage or higher, you shouldn’t even consider it."
Someone asked, "Seller, would you accept a trade?"
The seller said flatly, "I would."
The man took out a wooden box shrouded in Yin energy and handed it over.
The seller took the box, opened it for a glance, and handed it back.
"Not enough," he said.
The man smiled awkwardly, put away the box, and left.
Fang Cheng stood in the crowd, watching everyone try to haggle while clearly wanting to buy the three sets of Mechanical Battle Armor, and he couldn’t help but smile to himself.
After the few reluctant prospective buyers had left, he stepped forward, took out the Mountain Moving Talisman, and handed it over. "Could this be traded for your Mechanical Battle Armor?" he asked.
A flash of surprise flickered in the seller’s eyes. He took the Mountain Moving Talisman and scanned it with his Divine Sense.
The next moment, he sensed the size and quality of the Outer Realm Cold Iron within the talisman.
"Mmm..." The seller was clearly an expert. He examined it repeatedly before saying, "You’re quite lucky, friend, to have found such a large piece of Outer Realm Cold Iron."
Fang Cheng did not reply.
The seller pondered for a moment. "If this iron were taken to auction, it would probably sell for around two thousand Upper-Grade Spirit Stones. But since we’re in the Ghost Market, the price isn’t set by conventional rules. I’ll value it at one thousand six hundred Upper-Grade Spirit Stones. What do you think?"
Fang Cheng hesitated.
To be honest, he only knew the cold iron was valuable, but he had no real idea how much it was worth.
He hadn’t been short on Spirit Stones for years, but over a thousand Upper-Grade Spirit Stones was still an astonishing figure to him.
If he took the talisman to sell at the Abyssal Marsh, he would miss out on these three sets of Life Soul-level Mechanical Battle Armor.
The seller added, "You’re different from those paupers. I’m willing to do business with you. How about this? I’ll add another two hundred. If you still can’t make up your mind, feel free to look around elsewhere."
Fang Cheng smiled freely. ’It’s just something I found in the Wilderness, anyway. Better to get rid of it sooner rather than later.’
He said, "Alright, at the price you stated. I’ll take all three sets of your Mechanical Battle Armor."
Seeing how decisive he was, the seller chuckled, took out a cloth pouch, and handed it over. "There are three hundred Upper-Grade Spirit Stones inside. Please count them."
Fang Cheng took the pouch and glanced inside. The number of Spirit Stones seemed about right. He then inspected the three sets of Mechanical Battle Armor on the ground before putting them all away.
This Mechanical Battle Armor was far more profound and complex than an ordinary Third-tier Magical Artifact. With this treasure in hand, he now had another means of self-protection.
After completing their transaction, both parties were very satisfied and went their separate ways, leaving the empty halo on the ground to quietly emanate its blood-red light.
Now carrying over four hundred Upper-Grade Spirit Stones, Fang Cheng found his mentality had subtly shifted. Whenever he came across something he liked in the Ghost Market, he would buy it on the spot as long as the price was right.
One item was a bottle of Ten Thousand Year Spirit Marrow; a single drop could instantly restore one’s Magical Power.
The seller asked for 1,300,000 Spirit Stones, but Fang Cheng haggled the price down to 980,000 before buying it.
He also bought a Second-Order Top-grade Magical Artifact in the form of a jade hairpin. When activated, it could transform into an Ice Phoenix for protection, with power comparable to that of a Late-stage Life Talisman Cultivator. Fang Cheng bought it, planning to give it to Ye Yan after he returned.
He continued walking and arrived before another blood-red halo.
A masked, Black-robed Cultivator sat within it. Next to him stood a Long Banner, covered in hundreds of sprawling characters.
Many Cultivators were gathered around him, studying the text on the banner.
Fang Cheng moved closer for a look, and his brow furrowed slightly.
The content written on it was a bounty notice!
The bounty was issued by the Rakshasa Sect, calling upon the Loose Cultivators of the Eastern Wilderness to hunt down the murderer of their Young Master.
The first person to provide a clue about the murderer would be rewarded with one million Spirit Stones and a Second-Order Middle Grade Magical Artifact.
Whoever avenged the Rakshasa Sect’s Young Master would be rewarded with eight million Spirit Stones, a Third-tier Magical Artifact, an appointment as an Elder of the Rakshasa Sect, a Mountain Gate Cave Mansion, and eight beautiful Concubine Tripod Furnaces.
The Black-robed Cultivator also had several jade slips placed before him. Only those with a cultivation at the Mid-Life Talisman Stage or higher were permitted to take a jade slip and learn more details.
A few Cultivators verified their Cultivation and Magical Power with the black-robed man, took a jade slip, and left.
Fang Cheng watched with a cold expression, his mind racing.
According to Cang Wuya, the Rakshasa Sect ranked among the top three of the ten major sects in the Eastern Wilderness.
The sect had produced Dharma Realm experts in its long history and had deep historical ties to a major power of the Demon Dao in the East Cyan Domain.
Currently, the Rakshasa Sect had nine Life Soul Realm cultivators and hundreds of Life Talisman Cultivators. It was filled with experts, and its power was renowned throughout the Wilderness.
If the Rakshasa Sect’s Young Master hadn’t run into Fang Cheng, an ordinary Life Talisman Cultivator would have been no match for him.
The terms offered by the Rakshasa Sect were far too generous, and many Cultivators stepped forward. They took the Jade Ruyi from the Black-robed Cultivator and channeled their Magical Power into it. As light flowed across the Jade Ruyi, the Black-robed Cultivator confirmed their cultivation level and handed them a jade slip.
Fang Cheng also stepped forward and took the Jade Ruyi. When he channeled his Magical Power into it, more than half of the artifact lit up.
Without a word, the Black-robed Cultivator handed him a jade slip.
Fang Cheng turned to leave and saw a bald-headed man walking toward him. The man was dressed in snow-white monk’s robes, with eight ordination scars on his head. He had handsome, elegant features and a smile on his face, making no attempt to hide his identity.
The Monk also took a jade slip before departing with an air of casual grace.
Fang Cheng moved to the side, pressed the jade slip to his forehead, and began to read the information within.
In the jade slip, the Rakshasa Sect had essentially reconstructed the scene of his battle with Young Master Rakshasa, as well as the incident with the treasure that fell from the sky.
The final clues pointed to a Sword Cultivator who possessed an Outer Realm treasure and had access to third-tier abilities.
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