Chapter 497: Chapter 497

A fierce wind suddenly rose in the bamboo forest!

Jiang Yuan, prompted by the system, discovered thin, grayish strings floating in the air of the dark bamboo forest, resembling the state from when he was refining the Nine Nether Peach Tree Root.

Select and click to release skills.

A part of the "thread" was quickly burned, leaving behind a portion of black ash that floated away, and the remaining golden "thread" drifted onto him.

Originally intending to follow the trail and find some evil cultivators to replenish his life force, he ended up refining this part of the lifespan without even seeing the main target.

Although it was an unexpected delight, it still concerned seventy-six lives.

As Jiang Yuan released his skills, he lamented for the deceased and silently promised: Since you all have perished with no return, it’s better that I take your untapped lifespan rather than having it wasted or taken by evil cultivators.

I will definitely avenge you and deal with the evil cultivator Zhao Wuji who killed you!

The improved Soul-Devouring Demon Skill swallowed and refined the untapped lifespan, at the cost of sacrificing a portion of lifespan to neutralize grievances and avoid causing unnecessary trouble for himself.

Even so, after purifying and refining all the untapped lifespan, he gained 324 years of life.

If the Corpse Nourishing Land hadn’t been accidentally discovered and excavated, the accumulated lifespan attached to Zhao Wuji could have doubled.

No wonder one would fall into evil cultivation; the temptation of hundreds of years of lifespan is truly not something every cultivator can resist.

[Current Lifespan Balance: 5786 years 8 months 14 days]

"Alright, let’s head back to Bamboo Mountain City." Jiang Yuan indicated they should return the way they came, reclaiming Qingfeng’s Spirit Sword, which obediently carried him away smoothly.

The bounty hunters, searching for clues in the bamboo forest with various divine powers, chuckled when they saw this, "That young man arrived flying on a sword, and the Spirit Sword scattered starlight that was not ordinary at a glance. I thought he had some skills, but he didn’t even dare to land in the bamboo forest, just took a distant look. What could he see from there?"

"Perhaps he’s a newcomer bounty hunter. Seeing he couldn’t handle it, he left."

"Ah! The matter is too bizarre. Not to mention newcomers, even we well-known individuals in the field haven’t seen such a strange scene."

"Yes, we can’t even determine the identity of the deceased, so where do we start?"

"A reward of a hundred thousand Spirit Stones is not easy to earn."

"It’s obvious to anyone with discerning eyes that the deceased might be merchants from other places, their quiet disappearance must be related to the Black Market or various shops. But Bamboo Mountain City has numerous trading places, how can they be investigated one by one?"

"I heard that the City Lord of Bamboo Mountain City, Wei Qixian, is investigating well-known merchants and families one by one, but many evil cultivators are good at concealing their identities. Who knows if the true culprit can be caught..."

While the bounty hunters were still experimenting around the white bones, Jiang Yuan had already locked onto his target and headed straight for Show Bamboo Building.

The Black Market usually refers to places where illegal goods are secretly formed and traded. Generally, you need someone in the know to guide you into the trade.

In Bamboo Mountain City, however, the Black Market is tacitly allowed by the City Lord, openly conducting business.

It is called the Black Market because it only allows the sale and purchase of items at prices above market level, with operators drawing high profits from it.

Standard Black Market transactions are at the buyer’s risk, with no responsibility. If you get cheated, you have to accept the loss; the Black Markets like Show Bamboo Building are managed by the operators, significantly reducing trading losses, making them very popular.

As soon as Jiang Yuan entered the building, he understood why the small Bamboo Mountain City Black Market was booming—inside the seven-story building, noisy with people, selling and buying were all prohibited items barred from appearing in shops of other cities.

Even Forbidden Techniques and Evil Techniques could be sold openly in small areas!

"The City Lord of Bamboo Mountain City sure is..." Jiang Yuan just needed a glance to use the system to identify what those sneaky demon cultivators were trading, and couldn’t help but sigh, "Tacitly opening the Black Market facilitates convenient business, greatly promoting profit, but these things..."

He squinted slightly, seeing someone quietly selling evil demon sacrificial items in the system details.

If this happened in Carefree City, such things would be discovered immediately, with both person and goods disposed of.

Not to mention in Cloud City, where management is strict, you wouldn’t even get through the Teleportation Array!

Judging by the opposition’s adept demeanor, it was clear such transactions were not uncommon in Bamboo Mountain City.

No wonder, as the owner of Show Bamboo Building, Zhao Wuji could acquire such life-extending evil methods like the Corpse Nourishing Land, being the first by the water!

He was wandering around inside the building using the system to search for traces of evil cultivators when suddenly a Copper Gong sound resounded from upstairs.

The entire building is constructed in an open-core design, somewhat like an ancient-style modern mall.

Each floor is circular, surrounding a central atrium. No matter which floor you stand on, you could look up to see the platform on the top floor.

"A distinguished guest has offered high rewards for Longevity Pills or Secret Technique Manuals. If they are indeed effective upon identification, a great reward is promised! Additionally: Recently, there are rumors of Longevity Immortal Peaches being auctioned at the Treasure Pavilion of Wo Hu Temple Market. If anyone has information about these peaches, they can also be rewarded!"

The shop assistant who struck the Copper Gong opened a huge golden bounty order, spreading it down from the platform at the top of the building, hanging it in midair, with two pieces of Immortal Jade strung on each side at the bottom, causing a murmur of admiration from the demon cultivators inside the building.

Not understanding what was going on, Jiang Yuan held his breath and listened to the muttering of the small vendors nearby. Thɪs chapter is updated by nοvelfire.net

"No wonder the guest who issued the highest bounty, whoever claims the bounty on the spot will get four pieces of Immortal Jade straight away!"

"That’s Immortal Jade! How could an ordinary demon cultivator afford it?"

"I heard that you can exchange for Immortal Jade at Wo Hu Temple Market’s Treasure Pavilion, the auction of the Immortal Peach mentioned by the shop assistant is also from that Treasure Pavilion. Who is the Pavilion Master after all?"

"Who knows, I only heard that it’s a very capable woman!"

"Speaking of which, obtaining longevity items isn’t easy. Those who can take the bounty aren’t loose cultivators like us..."

After listening to the small talk, Jiang Yuan finally understood the game rules; to take the bounty publicly to meet the person behind the deal.

Hey! Isn’t this a coincidence?

I have Longevity Pills; I also have Immortal Peaches with and without side effects.

But the purchaser probably won’t be able to use them now.

After all, the Corpse Nourishing Land of seventy-six unjustly killed skeletons in the bamboo forest wasn’t completed, and the one so boldly and expensively buying longevity items now is most likely the owner of Show Bamboo Building, Zhao Wuji!

He clicked to equip a bronze mask, completely covering his aura, then flicked the Bright Moon Sword on his back.

The Spirit Sword unsheathed, scattering starlight, directly pulling down the bounty order from its hook, and steadily flew to Jiang Yuan, waiting for him to receive it. After he did, the Bright Moon Sword returned to its sheath.

The whole process was smooth and unbroken, and by the time the other demon cultivators reacted, Jiang Yuan had already pocketed the Immortal Jade.

"This way please, fellow Taoist!" The shop assistant ran over with a flattering smile, making a welcoming gesture.

Under everyone’s gaze, the massive bounty order was just posted and already claimed, and the mysterious cultivator, whose aura could not be explored, became the focus in no time.

"Thanks to the City Lord’s wisdom, leveraging our paper transaction running errands for the mountain, openly running a Black Market. Otherwise, how could such a small city attract talents from all sides? See, even when lifespan is about to expire, it’s not worrisome because with money, you can bounty for longevity items!"

"Indeed, while other major cities govern strictly, they can’t prevent Black Markets secretively existing, indicating there’s still a big demand for these prohibited items. If they don’t do these businesses, we do, and Bamboo Mountain City can bask in wealth."

"Hope that person really can bring out longevity treasures, otherwise... hehe, daring to falsely claim a bounty in the Black Market, you’d lose more than one life!"

"Just wait and see, maybe someone will be killed and hung out as a warning shortly. Such drama isn’t unheard of..."