Chen Ye, upon hearing this, had a rough idea in his mind.
Isn’t this just a more organized and covert moving black market?
Hee Qi, seeing Chen Ye deep in thought and thinking he was still concerned about its safety, quickly added:
"Brother Chen, don’t confuse it with those black markets that are all about burning, killing, and looting. Although the Formless Ghost Collection operates outside of the major market jurisdictions, it follows certain unwritten rules. It was founded by the Formless True Man, a loose cultivator, so its foundation is solid!"
"Ordinary loose cultivators have no way forward! Only cultivators with some reputation can obtain a token!"
At this point,
He was even more proud, patting his chest as he said:
"To be honest, I generally wouldn’t want to bring just anyone to such places! But seeing how bold and capable you are, Brother Chen, I thought of sharing the benefits with you. We are brothers, after all, and should share our fortunes!"
Hearing him speak like this, Chen Ye felt enlightened.
Hee Qi is someone who values reputation and likes to earn others’ recognition.
Back then, he was reluctant to stay in the market, yet casually gifted demon beast meat worth a spirit stone.
Or he saved Chen Ye, then immediately went to drink with Kong Hongxuan, ignoring Chen Ye’s serious injuries.
But to say he has a bad heart wouldn’t be fair.
He just sometimes acts unreliably.
Chen Ye then went along with Hee Qi’s words, showing some surprise and honor: "Oh? There’s such a secretive place? Brother Hee bringing me along really shows how much you value me, Chen Ye."
Hee Qi felt secretly pleased, modestly saying:
"Not at all, not at all! I heard about your extraordinary Spirit Plant Technique skills, which have been recognized by two major associations! In the future, you’re destined to be a steward in the Lingyin Sect! I’ll have to rely on you then, Brother Chen."
His words were partly true, partly conjecture.
Chen Ye nodded and said: "Brother Hee is so kind to invite me, how could I not accept? However... my two disciples are young and not suitable to take to such places."
Hee Qi clapped his leg: "That’s easy to handle! Brother Chen can temporarily place your disciples with someone familiar."
Chen Ye pondered for a moment and finally decided to visit the Formless Ghost Collection.
Mostly because,
He still had some stolen goods from Kong Hongxuan and others, which were not suitable for selling openly in the market.
And Granny Li’s family was kind and had often taken care of them before.
Leaving his disciples with them would be reassuring.
Having made up his mind, Chen Ye took Qing Jun and Zhiwei to Granny Li’s house.
"Young Chen, it’s rare to see you here! Come in quickly and don’t let the two girls catch a cold."
The old lady was no longer sharp-tongued as before, but rather enthusiastic.
Chen Ye didn’t expect Granny Li had actually sewn a thick cloak for him.
The cloak was crafted with fine materials and meticulous stitching, showing great care.
"Grandma, this..." Chen Ye was touched and momentarily at a loss for words.
Granny Li waved her hand and said with a smile: "The weather is cold now, and you’re always running about. How can you do without a decent piece of clothing to keep out the cold? Try it on and see if it fits."
Chen Ye put on the cloak as advised.
Indeed, this cloak was much more comfortable than his straw raincoat.
It was made from some black demon beast leather, capable of blocking wind and water.
It could probably sell for several spirit stones in the market.
The Dark Old Man clicked his tongue and said: "Brother Chen, this is the demon beast leather my mother kept for pressing! She never gave it to me when I wanted it before!"
As he spoke, he seemed a bit envious.
Yuanyuan, upon seeing Qing Jun and Zhiwei, happily wagged her tail and circled around them.
She didn’t even bother to bark at Chen Ye.
After entrusting his two disciples to Granny Li,
Chen Ye went along with Hee Qi to the secret Formless Ghost Market within the market.
Along the way, Hee Qi carefully explained the rules of the Formless Ghost Market to Chen Ye.
No questions about origins or backgrounds are asked here; transactions are entirely voluntary, and once you’re out, the market holds no responsibility.
Entering the Ghost Market requires wearing a specially made formless mask to conceal one’s identity, and speech must be cautious, not revealing any personal information.
"Due to recent changes in the market, a lot of stolen goods have entered the Ghost Market. That’s why it’s being held in an abandoned warehouse in the market, with several high-level loose cultivators secretly maintaining order. It’s relatively safe,"
Hee Qi added.
The two avoided the main street, passing through a few quiet alleys to reach a secluded old warehouse.
The exterior of the warehouse appeared shabby and unassuming, but a few fierce-looking strong men wearing fierce masks stood guard at the entrance, their auras stable, clearly possessing strong cultivation.
Hee Qi took out two simple bronze masks from his chest and handed one to Chen Ye: "Brother Chen, put this on, and you can enter."
The mask felt cold to the touch, its design simple yet carrying an eerie air as if it were smiling.
Chen Ye followed the instruction and put it on, immediately feeling as if his surroundings changed, cutting him off from the outside world.
"This is... some kind of Concealing Breath Talisman Array, quite a splurge," Chen Ye remarked in surprise.
"And this is just the most ordinary bronze mask,"
Hee Qi said with a casual tone and a smile,
"The Formless Ghost Market only recognizes the mask, not the person. If I hadn’t once killed a Tribulation Cultivator, I wouldn’t have been able to bring you, Brother Chen."
The two stepped into the warehouse side by side, finding the internal space much larger than it appeared outside.
Several dozen stalls were scattered about, with the owners all wearing eccentric masks, sitting or standing in silence.
The items on display were diverse, including magical artifacts and pills emitting spiritual light, spirit herbs and treasures exuding exotic fragrances, and unknown beast bone talismans.
There were even items clearly just taken from some unfortunate souls, with fresh blood still staining them.
Chen Ye, being here for the first time, was inwardly cautious, staying behind Hee Qi and observing his surroundings.
Evidently familiar with the place, Hee Qi adeptly navigated through the stalls with Chen Ye.
Chen Ye’s main purpose here was to sell off some items from Kong Hongxuan brothers’ Storage Bags.
Finding an unremarkable corner, he laid out the items from the Storage Bag one by one.
Perhaps the items from the Kong Hongxuan brothers were of good quality, as a masked cultivator soon came to inquire.
Chen Ye remembered Hee Qi’s advice, kept his words brief, and only quoted prices without further engagement.
Such illicit goods were priced below the market rate and sold quickly.
All the miscellaneous items were sold, earning Chen Ye twenty-seven spirit stones.
After dealing with most of the Kong Hongxuan brothers’ belongings, Chen Ye began to wander the Ghost Market.
He didn’t find anything to his liking.
However, he did come across a Body Refining Technique titled "Jinghong Technique" for Qing Jun.
This technique wasn’t top-tier but was solid in its fundamentals, perfect for aiding a child like Qing Jun in laying a strong foundation without harm to the body.
The price wasn’t too high, just eight spirit stones.
Afterward, Chen Ye stopped at a stall selling array plates.
The stall owner, wearing an iron mask, sat with eyes closed, focusing inwardly.
Judging by the aura, it seemed to rival Luo Heng!
When did such a loose cultivator appear in Yunxi District?
Several array plates of varying sizes were laid out on the stall.
Among them, a palm-sized Spirit Gathering Array Plate, engraved with intricate runes, caught Chen Ye’s attention.
"How much for this Spirit Gathering Array Plate?" Chen Ye asked in a lowered voice.
The voice from behind the iron mask was hoarse and unpleasant: "Sixty spirit stones, no bargaining."
"Wait... is this, a Lingyin Sect array plate?"
Engraved on the array plate were the words "Lingyin."
It was actually a Spirit Gathering Array from the Sect’s beta-class Cave Mansions!