Private Transactions

Night fell and the city had yet to fall into a deep sleep. 

The spirit lamps by the roadside lit up the surroundings as if it were daytime. 

Spirit lamps were a kind of array that was set up with some metal materials. It was wrapped in a layer of iron, and it looked like a vertical small cannon that was fixed to the ground. After the energy was supplied by the spirit gathering array, once the time was set, a ball that emitted a gentle light would be shot out from the "cannon barrel" and stick to the baffle that extended from the outer wall of the "cannon barrel" to about eight meters in the air, it lasted exactly 12 hours. 

There were not many pedestrians on the road. Most of them were using the Quickstep Spell to hurry on their way. Occasionally, one could see shuttle-shaped vehicles that were two to three meters long flying through the air on the middle of the street at an extremely fast speed. This was the floating shuttle. One could call it as soon as they lifted their jade token. The fee was based on minutes. 

Those who had assets at home could also buy one themselves. The operation was very simple. There was no need for a driver. They only needed to enter the purpose of their trip through the jade token and upload it through the intercom. Some people with some assets in the outer city would buy such a car to travel. They could even set it to be released when they went to work and let the floating shuttle go to take care of business on its own. 

Those who lived in the outer city did not have enough assets at home to fully support a floating shuttle. 

The circle closest to the inner city contained high-end residential areas. Every family had their own small courtyard. 

"Hello, I want to go to the 33rd building in District D. This is my proof." A hoarse voice was heard by the security guard who was watching the spiritual screen. 

The security guard turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with sallow skin. He was holding a paper card in his hand. The security guard took a look at it and confirmed it before opening the door and letting him in. 

If one looked carefully, one could see the marks on the man's face. Most of them were drawn with various things. This was obviously Zhou Ji's method. 

Under normal circumstances, the head of the household in a high-end residential area could enter directly through the intercom next to the entrance guard. The guest invited by the head of the household would receive this card, and the person holding the card could also enter the residential area. 

Of course, there was a more convenient measure to enter the information directly through the jade token. However, in order to protect the privacy of the head of the household, the residential area also opened up this kind of one-time paper card-making method. 

After Zhou Ji passed the entrance guard, he put the mask in his hand on his face. He activated the "Swift Shadow Spell" and seemed to blend into the shadows, turning into a shadow himself as he flew along the road sign towards a single courtyard. 

[Swift Shadow Spell] 

[Running speed increased by 100%] 

[(Green) running speed increased by 100%] 

[(Green) merged with the shadows, the degree of concealment increased by 100%] 

This spell was obtained by Zhou Ji by changing the entry of the "Swift Steps Spell". The effect was much better than the swift steps spell on the market. 

In the courtyard of building D33, at this time, there were already some people gathered. Some of them had used a sign to write down the things they had exchanged and the things they needed. They held it in front of them. There were also some who were walking around the courtyard to take a look. 

No one said anything. Everything was quiet. When someone wanted to trade with the person holding the sign, they would raise their right hand. At the entrance of the small building, there would be a service staff leading the two people into the room of the small building to talk. 

The shadow swayed for a moment. Zhou Ji, wearing a mask, appeared at the entrance of the courtyard. There were gazes cast over from all directions. 

"Entrance ticket." 

The black-clothed guard standing at the entrance raised his hand to block his way. 

Zhou Ji didn't stop at all. He raised his hand and threw a piece of irregular-shaped spiritual crystal the size of half a palm to the black-clothed guard. This was a whole piece of spiritual crystal, which was classified as a limited exchange material. Each person in the aura refining realm could exchange one crystal from the spiritual crystal bank every day for daily cultivation. It was said that the higher the realm of registration, the higher the limit. 

The black-clothed guard caught the spiritual crystal, felt the purity inside, and then threw it into the wicker basket at the side in satisfaction. The sound of stones colliding came from the wicker basket, and there were already quite a number of "tickets" inside. 

'I wonder if I can find an opportunity to rob this guy...' This thought circled in Zhou Ji's mind and was immediately thrown out by him. 

In a society ruled by law, he still had to live. To be able to live in a high-end residential area and open such a private trading place without any trouble was already a representative of the strength of the organizer. 

When Zhou Ji entered the door, he immediately attracted a few obscure gazes to probe him. This feeling was as if he had been seen through. 

He also knew the Probing Spell, and it was modified by a spell that probed metal spirit mines. It was said that in the ancient cultivation world, everyone followed basic etiquette and would not use the probing technique whenever they met. Nowadays, people were much more unscrupulous. 

It made sense. In the ancient times, they could attack at the slightest disagreement. Now, everyone was just following the rules. The unspoken rule of not being allowed to casually probe others was naturally not one of them. 

Fortunately, everyone was very tactful. They only briefly sensed Zhou Ji's strength before withdrawing it. 

On Zhou Ji's side, he maintained the operation of the 'Breath Concealing Spell' and suppressed his realm to the seventh or eighth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He pretended to be an experienced veteran who came here often and began to wander around the venue. 

[Breath Concealing Spell] 

[Concealing one's aura to prevent probing.] 

[(Green) a high probability of concealing detection within two realms] 

[(Green) simulating one's aura realm. The closer one was to the actual realm, the lower the probability of being discovered] 

It was originally a small courtyard. About twenty people came and went, and there were not many things exchanged. Most of them were divided into three types -- cultivation techniques, spirit crystals, and medicinal pill powders. Zhou Ji soon found his target. 

It was a tall and thin man holding a sign: 

"Foundation Establishment Secret Scroll. Accepting the exchange of cultivation method, spirit crystals, medicinal pills, and other rare treasures." 

There were other rare treasures. Did he really think that there would be any rare treasures here? 

Suppressing his slightly excited emotions, Zhou Ji walked around the venue again. It wasn't until he saw someone raise his hand and be led into the room by the service staff that he finally stood in front of this tall and thin man, he followed suit and raised his right hand. 

Soon, the service staff with a small badge on his chest walked to the side of the two people and led them into the room. 

As soon as they entered the door, they could see a sign hanging on the wall that said, "This exchange provides identification services. Each charge is 10 crystals." There was actually such a charge. This was something that Zhou Ji did not expect. 

The small building was a three-story building. All the walls on the first floor had been removed, and many small cubicles were separated by wooden planks. It looked like a cultivation room in Zhou Ji's shop. However, the cultivation room provided by Zhou Ji was not as high-end as this one. There was even a magic array carved on the wooden planks. It seemed to be a simple soundproof magic array. 

"100 crystals, or an intermediate magic spell or three low-level magic spells. If there's anything else, let's discuss it in person." 

Sure enough, Zhou Ji let out a slight sigh of relief. It was about the same as what he had thought. The main barrier for things like secret techniques was that they were expensive, so the price in private transactions was directly reduced by dozens of times. Thinking about it, it made sense. For a person, this thing was a one-time use item. After they had built their foundation, they would throw it away. Using it for private transactions was like throwing it into a flea market to recover their blood. 

In the past, it was said that there were even many foundation establishment realm cultivators who came out after building their foundation through official channels to write secret techniques and sell them for second-hand. Only now have these situations stopped. 

A year ago, an old scholar from the Cultivation Method Research Department developed a method to build their foundation through arrays. This resulted in fewer cases of selling official secret techniques to recover their health, even the official Foundation Establishment Secret Techniques that were circulating in the private market were greatly reduced because of the official suppression. 

"Ten crystals and one low-level spell book." 

Zhou Ji thought for a moment and threw out a price. 

"This is the current market. You have to know that after the foundation establishment method of array formation was popularized, there aren't many foundation establishment secret spells in circulation on the market anymore, so the price will naturally be higher." 

Zhou Ji naturally didn't believe it. Secret spells weren't consumables. Although there was an impact now, the impact would definitely not be so great. 

The two of them pulled at each other again and finally set the price at 30 crystals and one low-level spell book. 

"30 crystals and one low-level spell book. Sir, this is the lowest price I can offer." 

"This price is fine, but I need to apply for an appraisal. Of course, this fee will be paid by myself." 

As he said this, Zhou Ji raised his hand and was about to press the call bell. 

This time, the tall and thin man's breathing became chaotic. "Sir, we don't need you to spend anymore. How about a fixed price of 20 crystals and a low-level spell?" 

Zhou Ji stopped his actions and looked at the man. 

"What do you mean? Sir, are you trying to trick me?" 

As he said that, he stood up and was about to leave. 

The man hurriedly waved his hand. "Sir, this secret technique is the one I used before. There is a certain probability of failure. However, if you use it a few more times, won't you succeed?" 

Zhou Ji seemed to be deep in thought as he looked at the man with his probing technique. As expected, the information he received was that he was at the foundation establishment realm. However, it seemed that he was only at the initial stage of the foundation establishment realm. It seemed like he was only at the first or second stage. 

"Ten crystals and a low-level secret technique. It's a fixed price. After all, if there is a problem with this secret technique, it might not be good or bad. I also have to bear the risk." 

Zhou Ji still stood there, as if he would leave if there was a disagreement. 

"Okay!" The tall and thin man gritted his teeth and finally made the decision. 

"Then it's a deal." Zhou Ji took out ten crystals and a small book from the bag and put them on the table. 

"Wait, how do you determine the authenticity of this spell book?" 

The tall and thin man hesitated for a moment and asked. 

Zhou Ji nonchalantly tapped on the call bell at the side. "As you wish, but I won't be paying for this appraisal fee." 

Looking at Zhou Ji's appearance, the man hesitated for a moment before finally taking out a small booklet from his bosom and handing it over. 

Zhou Ji took the booklet and pushed the thing in front of him to the opposite side. After that, he lay on the back of the chair and closed his eyes slightly, as if he was taking a nap. Of course, he still paid attention to the person in front of him. Although it was said that it was impossible for an ordinary person to commit a murder here, he still paid attention. 

Ten breaths later, Zhou Ji saw the sign that appeared in the darkness. He only glanced at the word "Foundation Establishment" and immediately backed out. This place was not a time for detailed inspection. What he did was just to confirm that this thing was really a Foundation Establishment Secret Technique. As for the effects, it was not a problem for him. 

"Then, the deal is done." 

When Zhou Ji opened his eyes, the tall and thin man also roughly flipped through the spell formula. After making sure that it did not seem to be a big problem, he opened his mouth. 

Of course, there was no problem. Zhou Ji could now create a low-level spell formula. If he was serious, he could even create the most powerful spell formula among the low-level ones. 

Of course, what was given to the man in front of him was not the best. A low-level "Flame Technique" with two additional entries that reduced the power of the spell. He believed that with this man's eyesight, he could not see anything.