Chapter 00146: The Black Market of Sixiang City (Bonus Chapter 4)
# The Black Market of Sixiang City (Bonus Chapter 4)
Chapter 146
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 146: The Black Market of Sixiang City (Bonus Chapter 4)
As soon as Ding Huan entered Sixiang City, he couldn’t help but think to himself that all the resources of Sixiang Star Continent must have been poured into developing this city.
The streets were wide and bustling, and his divine sense swept across the area, revealing a network of interconnected roads.
The city was filled with markets, trading houses, and inns, and the air was alive with countless languages.
However, the most commonly used language in everyday conversations was Cangyu.
Ding Huan wanted to stay in a place where information flowed freely and was close to the city lord’s mansion.
He had a treasure in his possession—a tribute token—that he planned to present.
He figured the best place to do so would be near the city lord’s mansion, as it was the heart of Sixiang Star Continent.
However, he didn’t plan to search for it himself.
The city was too vast and complex, and he wasn’t familiar with it like he was with the small markets of Little Star Corner.
Instead, Ding Huan headed to a housing agency.
The place was packed with people looking for accommodations, and despite the numerous agencies, there was still a long queue.
Ding Huan didn’t join the line immediately.
First, he inquired about rental prices.
Five thousand purple gold coins could have bought him a small courtyard in Little Star Corner at double the price, but here, it was only enough for a year’s rent for a decent place.
There were even more expensive options, with some properties costing tens of thousands of purple gold coins annually.
Of course, most places ranged from one hundred to one thousand purple gold coins per year, and there were even cheaper options for as little as a few dozen coins.
Ding Huan didn’t bother looking at the cheapest ones, knowing they wouldn’t meet his needs.
“Xinyue, let’s stay at an inn for now. We’ll figure things out in a couple of days,” Ding Huan said.
He didn’t have many purple gold coins left.
Most of what he had earned had been spent on materials, and the rest had been given to Li Ditong, who had helped him immensely.
Without Li Ditong’s assistance, Ding Huan wouldn’t have been able to enter Sixiang City in the first place.
Finding an inn wasn’t too difficult, as it wasn’t the peak trading season.
Every year, Sixiang Star Continent had a major trading period when people from all over the star continents flocked to the city, making it nearly impossible to find a room.
Ding Huan settled for a modest inn, where even a basic room for three people cost thirty purple gold coins per night.
It was clear that purple gold coins didn’t go far in Sixiang City.
“Be careful,” Qi Xinyue said, her voice tinged with worry as she reminded Ding Huan of his plans.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” Ding Huan reassured her.
Having wandered the universe for over a century, he knew how to navigate places like this.
If he thought he could casually withdraw money from the anonymous savings tokens of Tou Jie and Jin, he would be signing his own death warrant.
Ding Huan had three savings tokens in his possession, which could be used to withdraw money from any bank.
However, he had no intention of using them at a legitimate bank.
Instead, he planned to visit the black market.
He wasn’t concerned about whether a black market existed here.
Wherever there was demand, there would always be a market.
It was an unshakable law, not something that could be changed by human will.
After disguising himself and leaving the inn, Ding Huan first visited a small market.
These kinds of markets were everywhere in Sixiang City, and they were always bustling with activity.
As he wandered through the market, Ding Huan was pleasantly surprised to find that even this small market had quasi-magical artifacts for sale.
This meant that the larger trading houses must have actual magical artifacts.
The discovery delighted him, and he decided that once he had the money, he would buy a flying sword.
“How much for this?” Ding Huan asked, picking up a piece of star jade from a stall selling ore materials.
He had bought similar jade in Little Star Corner, mainly for crafting talismans.
“Five purple gold coins,” the stall owner replied indifferently.
Ding Huan didn’t bother haggling.
The price of star jade varied depending on its quality, and the piece he held was decent. “I’m new here. Can you tell me how many black markets are nearby and where they are?” he asked casually as he handed over the coins.
The stall owner didn’t find the question strange.
Everyone knew about the black markets, and newcomers to Sixiang Star Continent often asked about them. “There are three: Thorn Alley Black Market, Old Wild Black Market, and Night Hundred Stars Black Market. The largest is Thorn Alley. You can find them easily if you go around midnight,” the owner replied.
Ding Huan thanked him and left with the star jade.
He didn’t return to the inn but instead visited another market, continuing to gather information about the black markets while purchasing materials for talisman-making.
By nightfall, he had a clear idea of the locations of all three black markets.
Ding Huan decided against visiting the largest Thorn Alley Black Market or the smallest Old Wild Black Market.
Instead, he chose Night Hundred Stars Black Market.
According to the information he had gathered, this black market attracted the most diverse crowd.
Its leader, Night Hundred Stars, was a powerful figure whom even the major families rarely dared to provoke.
When the time felt right, Ding Huan made his way to Night Hundred Stars Black Market.
Despite being a mid-sized black market, it was as bustling as the busiest commercial district.
Stalls were set up haphazardly, and anyone could sell anything without paying a commission.
However, everyone entering the black market, whether to sell or buy, had to pay a one purple gold coin fee.
Considering the sheer volume of people, Ding Huan estimated that the market likely earned at least a hundred thousand purple gold coins each night.
As Ding Huan wandered through the market, he noticed several places where savings tokens were traded.
The only difference was the commission rates, which varied.
The most exploitative place only gave 70% of the token’s value.
For example, if a token was worth a hundred thousand purple gold coins, you’d only receive seventy thousand.
Ding Huan compared the options and chose a place that offered 80%.
There was another place that offered 90%, but Ding Huan knew better than to trust it.
In a black market, if 85% was already considered high, why would anyone offer 90%? The 80% places were the most common and likely the safest.
“I want to exchange money,” Ding Huan said, his face still concealed despite his disguise.
The people in the savings token exchange didn’t care about his appearance; they were only interested in how much money he had to exchange.
After all, anyone coming here to exchange savings tokens likely had a shady background.
Legitimate tokens would be cashed at a bank, not a black market.
“How much?” asked a woman, her face also covered.
“One hundred and seventy thousand. Can you give me a better rate?” Ding Huan’s voice was hoarse.
The woman, who had been indifferent, suddenly looked up at him.
It wasn’t every day that someone came to exchange such a large amount.
Anyone with a hundred and seventy thousand in savings tokens was no ordinary person, and such tokens weren’t easily stolen.
“Wait a moment,” the woman said, pressing something.
Soon, a middle-aged man emerged from a back room.
Ding Huan’s divine sense swept over the man, and he immediately knew the man was a cultivator, likely between the seventh and ninth levels of genetic cultivation.
What surprised Ding Huan was that the man wasn’t wearing a mask.
“You want to exchange one hundred and seventy thousand?” the man asked, his eyes fixed on Ding Huan.
“Yes. Can you give me a better rate?” Ding Huan replied, his voice still hoarse.
“I can give you 83%,” the man said, his gaze never leaving Ding Huan.
“Deal,” Ding Huan said, tossing two savings tokens onto the table.
The man picked them up and examined them carefully before nodding. “They’re genuine. Wait here while I get the money.”
As the man turned to leave, Ding Huan suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path. “Leave the tokens here until you bring the money.”
The man chuckled nervously. “Ah, my mistake. Here you go.” He handed the tokens back to Ding Huan, but his heart was racing.
He had moved quickly, faster than most, yet Ding Huan had effortlessly blocked him.
Unless Ding Huan was a Foundation Establishment expert, this shouldn’t have been possible.
“Apologies don’t mean much if there are no consequences. You broke the rules first,” Ding Huan said coldly.
He had dealt with black markets too many times to let anyone take advantage of him.
In places like this, you had to stand your ground.
Otherwise, you’d only end up being exploited or targeted.
“I’ll give you 85%,” the man said apologetically.
“90%,” Ding Huan demanded, his voice growing colder.
According to black market rules, the exchange had made the first mistake, and Ding Huan was within his rights to make demands.
As long as his request was reasonable, it would stand.
If the exchange refused, it would come down to whether Ding Huan was willing to fight for it.
“Fine, 90%. How much do you want in purple gold notes?” the man asked, conceding quickly.
“One hundred and forty thousand in notes, the rest in coins,” Ding Huan replied without hesitation.
Carrying a hundred and fifty thousand purple gold coins would be impractical, even if each coin was worth a hundred.
The man agreed and left to fetch the money.
Ding Huan wasn’t worried.
Unless a Foundation Establishment expert showed up, he could easily escape using his movement techniques and the black market’s labyrinthine layout.
This time, the man didn’t try anything.
He returned with one hundred and forty thousand in purple gold notes and thirteen thousand in coins.
Ding Huan handed over the two savings tokens, grabbed the bag, and left without a word.
“Uncle Lu, was that man strong?” the woman asked after Ding Huan had left.
“Very strong. I suspect he’s at the Foundation Establishment level,” the man named Lu replied, watching Ding Huan’s retreating figure with a mix of fear and respect.
(End of Chapter)