Chapter 329: Chapter 54: Black Market Dealings, Obtaining Nascent Soul Pill Ingredients

Having said that, Lin Chen stood up and left the private room.

"Alas, it makes sense... Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill, Nascent Soul Formation Pill, how could such important pills be easily sold?"

"They should be in the possession of those major powers..."

Lin Chen sighed inwardly.

The Nascent Soul Stage is almost the pinnacle in the Human Realm.

It already poses a certain threat to those ancient and powerful forces.

Therefore, these forces choose to keep Nascent Soul Cultivators under their control.

"Alas, since there’s none in Human Path City, I might as well check other places..."

Lin Chen thought silently.

After stepping out of the Celestial Pill Pavilion, Yang Cai’Er suddenly spoke.

She asked with a mysterious air:

"Senior, are you preparing for the Nascent Soul Formation?"

Lin Chen was slightly startled upon hearing this, but he nodded and said, "That’s right."

"The Celestial Pill Pavilion doesn’t sell pills useful for Nascent Soul Formation, does it?"

"No."

"I know a place where you might find what you want..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen turned to look at Yang Cai’Er.

A small Qi Refining Cultivator claiming she has connections for Nascent Soul Formation...

To be honest, Lin Chen didn’t believe it.

But at this moment, Lin Chen had no other choice but to nod and say:

"Oh? And where is the place you’re talking about?"

Yang Cai’Er took a deep breath, seeming to make a significant decision, and said:

"Senior, if you trust me... come with me to a place."

"In the Lower City District, there’s a black market. Although my cultivation level isn’t high, I’m quite familiar with that place..."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and said:

"Alright, since that’s the case... I’ll go with you to see."

...

Human Path City, Lower City District Black Market.

Lin Chen followed Yang Cai’Er into a shabby neighborhood.

Unlike the prosperous Upper City District, mortals and a small number of disabled cultivators could be seen everywhere in this part of the city. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Senior, this area is home to some loose cultivators with hidden injuries..."

"The real black market is deep within the neighborhood."

As Yang Cai’Er spoke, she put on a veil and turned to hand one to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen shook his head and put on a mask instead.

Soon, the two headed for the depths of the neighborhood.

A moment later, Yang Cai’Er pointed at a sweetwater shop in front of them and said:

"Senior, this is the black market of Human Path City..."

With that, Yang Cai’Er quickly stepped forward to speak with an elderly man with a broken leg.

"Uncle Hu, I’m taking my friend inside!"

The old man with the broken leg glanced at Lin Chen and nodded:

"Alright, go on in."

At this point, Lin Chen had seven parts trust in Yang Cai’Er’s words.

Because, the cultivation of this old man with a broken leg... Lin Chen couldn’t discern!

Lin Chen followed Yang Cai’Er into the back of the sweetwater shop.

They soon entered a warehouse, where two middle-aged cultivators sitting at the door sized up Lin Chen and said:

"Are you new? Looking to buy some shady stuff from the black market?"

Lin Chen: "..."

Lin Chen glanced at Yang Cai’Er without speaking.

Yang Cai’Er replied naturally:

"We want Nascent Soul Pill and Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill."

The two middle-aged cultivators nodded and said:

"We don’t have those pills here..."

"However, we do have the medicinal herbs and pill formula needed for Nascent Soul Pill. Do you want them?"

Then, the middle-aged cultivator took out two jade boxes and a pill formula.

Upon opening the jade box, inside was a palm-sized fruit resembling a peach, naturally patterned, resembling a baby’s face.

This is the main ingredient for crafting Nascent Soul Pill — the Infant Peach Fruit.

The fruit has the effect of condensing the Nascent Soul and enhancing the Divine Soul.

The other jade box contained a Heart Guard Grass which can keep the heart calm.

These two herbs are the most critical ingredients for crafting Nascent Soul Pill...

Is this really here?

Lin Chen blinked, somewhat incredulous, and glanced back at the sweetwater shop outside.

He felt a sense of strangeness.

"Hiss... This is too fantastical."

"Is it really this easy to access the black market with just a nod?"

Lin Chen couldn’t help but think of Changchun Sect’s marketplace black market.

That black market was only for Qi Refining Cultivators to trade, but it seemed much more legitimate than this one.

It required recommendations and secret codes.

Above all, the location was extremely private.

Unlike this place...

Using a mere sweetwater shop as a cover, even a small Qi Refining Cultivator like Yang Cai’Er can access it...

It felt to Lin Chen like a mere farcical show!

Indeed!

But still, this farcical show did provide the medicinal herbs necessary for crafting Nascent Soul Pill.

Lin Chen found it hard to accept...

He scanned the jade boxes with his Divine Sense, confirming that these two herbs matched those described in the Nascent Soul Pill formula.

He acquired the Nascent Soul Pill formula from the Golden Yuan Sect’s relics, but the most crucial components are the Infant Peach Fruit and Heart Guard Grass.

The other ingredients are not hard to find; Lin Chen could easily purchase them.

"As long as I have these two herbs, the Nascent Soul Pill is almost certain!"

Lin Chen nodded slightly and said:

"Friend, how much for these two herbs?"

"Infant Peach Fruit for thirty thousand Spirit Stones, Heart Guard Grass for twenty thousand Spirit Stones... A maximum of three sets per person." The person replied swiftly, seeming very practiced.

Lin Chen’s lips twitched.

Two herbs for fifty thousand Spirit Stones — it’s astronomical.

Yet dealing with Nascent Soul Formation, the price isn’t too steep.

But the issue is that the black market limits purchases to three sets per person!

Meaning, there seems to be plenty of stocks of these two herbs at the black market?

"Seems... even more peculiar?"

Lin Chen pondered, realizing that such a blatantly operated black market with abundant stocks indicates a significant backing!

And in the entirety of Human Path City, who holds the most power?

Demon-Suppressing Temple? Wenlu Academy?

Clearly, neither...

It’s Wenda Sect!

A thought suddenly rose in Lin Chen’s mind.

"Could this black market be run by Wenda Sect itself?"

"Indeed, Wenda Sect wants to control Nascent Soul Cultivators... But it’s not plausible that everyone in Wenda Sect is entirely united."

"Just selling some herbs can yield tens or even hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones in profit!"

"Perhaps because the black market is run internally, it’s so blatant that even small Qi Refining Cultivators know?"

Lin Chen nodded slightly, feeling more convinced about the possibility.

This sense of confidence from collusion...

While Lin Chen was contemplating, a graceful figure suddenly approached.

Yang Cai’Er’s eyes lit up upon seeing the figure, and she greeted her.

"Sister Hua, you’re here!"

Upon seeing Yang Cai’Er, the female cultivator displayed a gentle expression and patted Yang Cai’Er’s head, saying:

"Little Cai’Er, how come you have time to visit your sister... Did you receive business?"

Yang Cai’Er nodded and pointed at Lin Chen, saying:

"Senior Zhou is a Great Golden Core Cultivator!"

The female cultivator smiled and nodded at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen nodded in return, maintaining a calm demeanor, but his heart was filled with turmoil.

He recognized this woman!

She was the lady from the Changchun Mountain’s black market!

Xie Huaying!

"Why is she here? Could it be... she’s always been affiliated with Wenda Sect?"

Many questions rose in Lin Chen’s mind.

He had always thought Xie Huaying was affiliated with the Demon Sect. Back then in Changchun Sect, Lin Chen suspected those Five Thunders had passed through her hands into the Demon Sect.

Later, when Lin Chen tried investigating further, that black market disappeared overnight...

Yet now, unexpectedly meeting her in Human Path City.

Lin Chen thought for a while, then took out a bag of Spirit Stones and said:

"Haha, since that’s the case... I’ll take three sets of herbs; this is one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones..."

The cultivator received the Storage Bag, scanned it with Divine Sense, confirming the amount was correct.

Without hesitation, he handed over six jade boxes.

"Friend, you are indeed straightforward. Do you need the Nascent Soul Pill’s formula?"

Lin Chen shook his head and asked:

"Do you have ingredients for crafting Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill?"

The cultivator shook his head and said:

"I don’t have Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill here; you need to visit the black market in Tunnel City..."

"However, I do have a few Thunder-Attracting Pearls here. Would you be interested?"