Chapter 54: Ghost Market Treasure Hunt
Chapter 54: Ghost Market Treasure Hunt
After Cheng Yun learned of his son’s situation, he felt both shocked and uneasy, yet refrained from rash action.
Cheng Lingyu’s location had been compromised, but luckily Miss Caiyun stood guard.
Should Cheng Yun’s whereabouts also be discovered, the father-son duo would face graver peril.
Three days later, Cheng Lingyu fully recovered from his injury while his cultivation level continued rising steadily.
During this period, experts from Shenhuo Sect visited the chess academy, only to be repelled by Miss Caiyun’s ardent followers.
Caiyun’s influence now soared—her residence swarmed with supporters daily.
Though powerful, Shenhuo Sect saw no merit in antagonizing Caiyun over deceased Lin Tianfeng.
Cheng Lingyu marveled at his Senior Sister’s tactics. Through sheer social sway, Caiyun forced Shenhuo Sect to swallow their humiliation without open retaliation.
“The ghost market’s particularly lively tonight—go explore after dark.”
Caiyun maintained sharp awareness in Yunyang City, her admirers funneling fresh intelligence.
With constant surveillance around the chess academy, Cheng Lingyu’s movements grew restricted.
Caiyun provided alternative routes—a teleportation array in her secret chamber enabled instant travel anywhere in the city.
Come nightfall, Cheng Lingyu disguised himself and slipped back to the inn.
“We can’t stay here. The Fatty secured a hideout—I’ll relocate there first.”
Father and son stealthily abandoned the inn for new quarters.
Under moonless skies, the riverside ghost market teemed with crowds. Alone but armed with Tianyang Pills from Senior Sister Caiyun, Cheng Lingyu wandered through the bazaar.
“Step right up! Mid-grade treasure artifacts at bargain prices!”
“Single top-grade pill available!”
“Mystic-grade cultivation manuals for all practitioners!”
Hawkers’ cries filled the air, truth indistinguishable from deception.
Cheng Lingyu moved methodically, keen obsidian eyes scrutinizing each stall’s wares.
Within four stalls, he spotted numerous counterfeits—this market demanded vigilance.
After prolonged searching yielded nothing valuable, disappointment crept in.
Rumors promised great fortune for lucky seekers during these special market days, yet after half an hour, Cheng Lingyu found eighty percent fakes and twenty percent useless genuines.
As last resort, he withdrew The Source Pearl. Before activation, the artifact pulsed with autonomous light.
“Actual treasures exist here—time to look properly.”
Channeling true essence into The Source Pearl intensified its glow. Three patterns illuminated, scanning the entire market to detect seven distinct energies.
“Multiple targets—let’s check prices.”
Navigating the dense crowd took incense-burning time before reaching a monster core stall.
“Genuine monster cores going cheap! Miss this and weep!”
The stall had seven monster cores laid out, but Cheng Lingyu noticed six were fake—the fakes were so obvious it was almost laughable.
“How much for these monster cores?”
“1,000 Tianyang Pills. Best price you’ll find.”
“1,000? Are you trying to rob me? I’ll give 100 at most.”
“100 for a monster core? Bring me all you’ve got at that price!”
“Be reasonable. 1,000 is daylight robbery.”
“Fine, 800 if you’re serious.”
“800’s still ridiculous. 200.”
“Lowest I’ll go is 700.”
“300.”
Cheng Lingyu kept haggling stubbornly until the vendor finally caved. He walked away with the real monster core for 500 pills.
The vendor scowled and grumbled, “You’ve got a thief’s eye! I’m ruined this time.”
Cheng Lingyu moved to another stall cluttered with magical artifacts, most labeled as treasure artifacts but riddled with counterfeits.
The Source Pearl detected a mud bowl, which was pockmarked and ugly, easily overlooked among the items.
“What’s your price for this cracked bowl?”
“1,500 Tianyang Pills.”
“Ever consider honest work instead of robbery?”
“Robbery’s what I’m doing right now!”
Cheng Lingyu nearly choked. He’d never met a merchant this shameless.
“Too steep. Lower it.”
“1,200.”
“500.”
“Not a pill below 1,000.”
“600.”
“Nope.”
“650.”
“800 or nothing.”
“My final offer is 700.”
After endless back-and-forth, Cheng Lingyu secured the mud bowl for 700 pills.
The moment he left, someone demanded to know where the bowl had gone, sparking whispers across the ghost market.
Cheng Lingyu ducked into the shadows, thoughts racing. “How’d they know about the bowl? Did someone tip them off about this ghost market’s hidden item?”
He hurried toward the next stall—this one stacked with weapons.
“How much for this bow?”
“Three thousand Tianyang Pills.”
Cheng Lingyu was surprised by the steep price.
The compact bow had a black half carved with crescent moon patterns and a white half bearing sun designs. Its rainbow-colored silk string looked old and plain, but Cheng Lingyu recognized its hidden value.
“Lower it to one thousand.”
“Too cheap. Twenty-four hundred.”
“Fifteen hundred. That’s all I can spare.”
Having learned bargaining tricks, Cheng Lingyu secured the bow for 1,500 pills.
Before he’d gone far, loud inquiries about the bow reached his ears. Suspicious, he quickened his pace.
The sprawling ghost market buzzed with treasure hunters. Thanks to The Source Pearl’s guidance, Cheng Lingyu had already beaten others to a mud bowl and this bow.
At the fourth stall selling pills, a tiny vial drew his eye.
“Price?”
“Five thousand for genuine spirit blood.”
“Five thousand? You’ll keep this dust-covered for years. Five hundred at most.”
“Four thousand. It’s real!”
“Who knows? My final offer’s one thousand.”
“Three thousand. No lower.”
“Fifteen hundred. Generous enough.”
“Twenty-five hundred. Final price.”
After heated haggling, Cheng Lingyu got the spirit blood for two thousand pills.
Suddenly, elite cultivators approached. Cheng Lingyu melted into the crowd.
“Where’s the spirit blood?”
“Already sold.”
“Again? Which way?”
“That direction.”
Eavesdropping, Cheng Lingyu fled.
Four stalls down, three remained. He headed to the fifth.
This antique stall displayed curiosities. Cheng Lingyu froze at a familiar figure.
“Why’s he here?”
Ouyang Loitered before the stall. Keeping distance, Cheng Lingyu spotted his target – a bamboo plate among the relics.
Unfortunately, at that moment, Ouyang Lie had also taken a liking to that bamboo plate and was bargaining with the vendor, clearly aware of its extraordinary nature.
Cheng Lingyu cursed under his breath and swiftly turned away. He knew he couldn’t outbid Ouyang Lie and wanted to avoid any confrontation here.
Shortly after Cheng Lingyu left, several cultivators of notable bearing arrived. Ouyang Lie still hadn’t secured the bamboo plate, and one cultivator immediately offered a higher price.
The situation turned heated as neither party yielded. Though Ouyang Lie was renowned, even he had to abide by ghost market rules, sparking a bidding war that drew crowds.
Cheng Lingyu rushed to the sixth stall selling strange flowers, where few customers lingered.
His eyes settled on a potted plant with a withered trunk measuring two feet and four inches, bearing ancient patterns. A fresh sprout grew from its side.
“How much?”
“This immortal tree stays evergreen, growing new branches every century. Nine tree rings mark the trunk, meaning this sprout is its tenth life. A thousand-year survivor. Three thousand Tianyang Pills – a steal.”
“It’s just a pot. Two hundred at most.”
“Can’t be had for that. Add more.”
“Five hundred?”
“Two thousand for serious buyers.”
After prolonged haggling, Cheng Lingyu bought it for eight hundred pills.
“One last stop.”
He slipped through the crowd, night shadows masking his haste. The final stall came into view.
This booth bustled with cultivators drawn by rare beasts on display.
Cheng Lingyu’s gaze swept the area before landing on a cage.
Inside lay a listless white kitten with dull azure eyes.
“Price for the pet?”
“Not a pet – celestial cat.”
A nearby cultivator snorted. “You’d have us believe you caught a celestial cat?”
“Three thousand pills.”
“Three hundred’s fair,” Cheng Lingyu countered.
“Thirty would suffice!” someone jeered.
“Twenty-five hundred minimum.”
“Five hundred.”
Cheng Lingyu edged his bid upward while scanning the crowd.
“Two thousand or I lose silver.”
“Six hundred.”
“Eighteen hundred.”
“Seven.”
“Fifteen.”
The haggling ended at one thousand pills.
With his purchase secured, Cheng Lingyu retreated to a quiet corner. The Source Pearl revealed Ouyang Lie now possessed the bamboo plate.
“Those fools got nothing. Must be choking on rage.”
Smirking, Cheng Lingyu continued exploring. Though genuine treasure artifacts abounded, none stirred The Source Pearl – proof of its discerning taste.