Chapter 206 – Old Fox, Young Fox

Cao Yan noticed the curiosity on their faces and explained, “The Golden Core Realm Leaderboard is published by a group known as the Intelligence Pavilion. No one knows who founded it, but they seem to know everything there is to know. If you’ve got money, you can buy any information you want.

“Some people joke that if you’re wealthy enough, you could find out what color underwear any king, priest, or cultivator is wearing, no matter where they are.”

Even Li Guanqi was taken aback. He hadn’t expected them to be that terrifying. The rumor might’ve been exaggerated, but it still spoke volumes about the organization’s power and influence.

As time passed, the number of items laid in front of Li Guanqi dwindled. After all, he was selling very practical items such as talismans, pills, and magical items.

These were items looted from the Dark Blood Association’s base. Before departing, they had razed the place completely, as there was no point in preserving a place where people had suffered.

For some reason, Ye Feng had taken a dudou from there. When Li Guanqi later gave it to Miao Rongchang, he’d even sensed a flicker of reluctance from Ye Feng.

Next to Li Guanqi, Miao Rongchang sighed and endured a long morning without making a single sale. With Li Guanqi right beside him, the difference in merchandise quality was plain for all to see.

Crowds came and went, but not one person gave his items a second glance.

At noon, the old man nibbled on dried meat and sipped wine, groaning. “I’ve suffered losses today... Terrible losses...”

Li Guanqi knew full well the old man was lamenting loudly on purpose. He suppressed a grin. The old man was like a child trying to brag, saying, “Oh, I’ve had that candy before, just not that flavor.”

Li Guanqi gave a small cough, then turned to the old man with a friendly smile. “Old Miao, I’ve definitely come out ahead today. How about this? Let me pick out two things, and you give me a friend discount.”

Miao Rongchang’s eyes lit up. He put away his food and sprang to his feet, brushing dust from his backside. “Go ahead! Pick whatever you like! I’ll give it to you at cost!”

Exasperated, Ye Feng muttered, “At cost? As if he got them from a proper supplier...”

If Li Guanqi was angered, he did not show it. He chuckled and replied, “Then I’ll pick two random items as souvenirs.”

The wording was intentional. Calling them souvenirs meant the Miao Rongchang couldn’t slap an outrageous price on them.

Li Guanqi casually browsed through the stall, picking out a few flowery items. Miao Rongchang hovered nearby, constantly praising his taste.

In the end, Li Guanqi picked four or five items, each with a faint trace of spirit power. He looked up. “So? How much at cost?”

Miao Rongchang made a show of calculating and said, “A hundred and seventy spirit stones. But I’ll let them go at a hundred and fifty just for—”

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Li Guanqi dropped the items and turned to leave.

Miao Rongchang clung to his leg, half his body dangling off him, and cried out, “A hundred! A hundred! That’s the real cost, I swear!”

Li Guanqi had a strong urge to step on his face. He looked down. “Don’t play games with me, old man! Even giving you five spirit stones for these things is too much!”

Miao Rongchang froze, then brazenly asked, “Are you also getting your things from the same supplier?”

Cao Yan and Ye Feng frowned. They couldn’t believe Li Guanqi had guessed the real cost so easily.

Li Guanqi gave a cold snort. “Ten spirit stones. Ask for more and I’m walking away.”

Miao Rongchang let go and quickly packed up the items he wanted.

Li Guanqi crouched down and pointed at a jade pendant half-piece on the ground, which Miao Rongchang was stepping on. “Throw that in too, or I’ll feel like I got ripped off.”

Miao Rongchang hurriedly picked it up and began rubbing it clean, cradling it like treasure. His eyes even turned red. “Curse my terrible memory! How could I have stepped on my family’s precious heirloom? I’ll tell you the truth, kid. Everything in my stall is fake... except for this.”

Li Guanqi’s face darkened even more. Even the introverted Cao Yan cursed under his breath, “Cunning old fox.”

Miao Rongchang caressed the jade pendant and launched into a monologue. “Look at me—old, frail, untalented... My one dream is to break into the Golden Core Realm and extend my lifespan. This pendant has been passed down in my family for generations. They say it contains immense power... But today, I’ll do you a favor! Today, I shall make a decision that goes against my ancestors’ exhortations!”

Li Guanqi closed his eyes and cursed under his breath, “Fuck your favors...”

“Eighteen thousand! You can have it for eighteen thousand!”

Yes, Li Guanqi wanted it, but he wasn’t stupid. Even though Sword Spirit had shown interest in the pendant, Li Guanqi had no idea what it actually did. Besides, it was only half a piece.

He didn’t waste time. He tossed over ten spirit stones, grabbed the things he’d picked, and walked away without the pendant.

Miao Rongchang was stunned. This wasn’t how things were supposed to play out. Li Guanqi was supposed to hesitate, then haggle. Then Miao Rongchang would pretend to wrestle with the decision and finally settle on 8,888 stones. But Li Guanqi had completely thrown out the script.

Miao Rongchang grabbed Li Guanqi’s arm and cried out, “Eight hundred and eighty! I’m being sincere, alright! I can’t go any lower! I bought this with my own money!”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips. With Miao Rongchang’s character, even eighty-eight was a stretch. “Eighty. It’s only half a piece, and I’m only buying it on a whim because it caught my eye.”

Miao Rongchang ground his teeth but placed the pendant in Li Guanqi’s hand. Li Guanqi paid him and returned to his stall.

When he saw how happily the Miao Rongchang pocketed the spirit stones, Li Guanqi had a sinking feeling.

The old bastard probably bought this jade pendant for next to nothing.

Once he’d pocketed the stones, Miao Rongchang leaned in and chuckled slyly. “Heh! You were after that jade pendant from the start, weren’t you? You’re smart, but I’ve seen that trick a thousand times. If you’d walked off without asking for it at the end, I might’ve actually believed you wanted those other trinkets.”

Li Guanqi shrugged. He hadn’t expected the old man to see through his tactics. That trick had always worked back in Prosperity Village, at the foot of the mountain.

The more he thought about it, the fishier it seemed. Watching Miao Rongchang chuckle to himself, Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. “You used that pendant as a weight at the corner of your cloth, seemingly to keep it from blowing away... But you did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”

Miao Rongchang laughed. “Smart! You’re born for the streets!”

Cao Yan was getting bored, and there were still items they hadn’t sold off yet. As he watched people walk up and down the street, he decided to send Li Guanqi a voice transmission. “Brother Guanqi, I want to go for a walk.”

Li Guanqi nodded and took out a quality storage pouch. There were three thousand spirit stones inside. He passed it to Cao Yan with a smile and transmitted, “Go ahead, buy whatever you want. You don’t need to be shy. If you spot any suitable pill-refining ingredients or talisman materials, grab them.”

Cao Yan opened the pouch and was stunned to find three thousand spirit stones inside. He was deeply moved, but he kept his feelings to himself. He simply nodded, smiled, and walked away.