"What’s the price for this item?"
After searching the black market for a long time, Mo Wangchen finally saw some herbs at a certain stall.
The vendor wasn’t much older than Mo Wangchen, just a young man in black clothing.
The man’s name was Shen Qing, a loose cultivator from the Southern Immortal Domain. He had been here for several years and often walked around Black Evil City, gaining some reputation.
"If you want it, one million Spirit Stones."
Shen Qing gave Mo Wangchen a disinterested glance. It wasn’t specific to Mo Wangchen; Black Evil City naturally had this atmosphere.
Hearing the price, Mo Wangchen frowned immediately, "Isn’t that a bit too expensive?"
In his view, Shen Qing was clearly asking an exorbitant price. The herb he pointed to, although rare, could be found in some of the larger ancient cities in Central State.
Usually, a price of about ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones could secure it.
This herb was called Soul Heart Grass. Mo Wangchen wasn’t after it, but was interested in another herb beside it with two red leaves, known as Blood Swallow Grass.
Blood Swallow Grass was one of the main ingredients for refining a Soothing Spirit Pill, a Holy Rank first-grade pill that could significantly accelerate cultivation for Emperor Realm experts.
Mo Wangchen intended to refine some Soothing Spirit Pills for Zhang Hao to enhance his cultivation before the Heavenly God Institute examination began.
Initially, he asked about the price of Soul Heart Grass for comparison; he didn’t expect that what cost ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones elsewhere was priced at one million Spirit Stones in this black market.
How much more astonishing would the price of the rarer Blood Swallow Grass be?
Hearing Mo Wangchen’s words, Shen Qing merely glanced at him and fell back into a meditative state.
Clearly, he didn’t want to say more. The black market rules here were straightforward—take it or leave it.
"How much for this herb then?"
Mo Wangchen didn’t mind Shen Qing’s attitude and asked about the price of Blood Swallow Grass.
"This Red Heart Leaf... eighty thousand Spirit Stones." Shen Qing opened his eyes again, glanced at the Soul Heart Grass as Mo Wangchen noted, and said.
Mo Wangchen was taken aback at first, then puzzled. To his knowledge, this was supposed to be Blood Swallow Grass, so why did Shen Qing call it Red Heart Leaf?
Could he have been mistaken?
He was doubtful and examined the herb with two red leaves again closely.
He quickly confirmed in his mind that he made no mistake; this herb was without a doubt Blood Swallow Grass.
"In my past life, where I was, this is indeed called Blood Swallow Grass, but in Heavenly Gang, it’s named differently. No wonder he called it Red Heart Leaf..."
As Mo Wangchen thought this, he understood, though he didn’t realize that in Heavenly Gang, Blood Swallow Grass wasn’t actually called Red Heart Leaf; Shen Qing simply didn’t know what it was.
So he had just come up with a name on the spot.
"Eighty thousand Spirit Stones, could it be that this person doesn’t know the uses of Blood Swallow Grass?" He wondered.
According to logic, the use of Blood Swallow Grass was much better than Soul Heart Grass. Mo Wangchen had looked for it in some ancient cities.
Without seeing any Blood Swallow Grass, he guessed that its rarity might be the same as where he came from in his past life.
The price of Blood Swallow Grass, if available outside, would probably be at least five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
Thoughtful, Mo Wangchen masked his expression. Blood Swallow Grass was rare, and even some Alchemy Dao Masters might not recognize it at a glance.
Its effect was rarely known, and alchemists below Holy Rank knew even less about it, no wonder Shen Qing didn’t recognize its true value.
Given this, why would Mo Wangchen foolishly reveal it?
He contemplated for a moment, feigning difficulty before finally saying, "Eighty thousand Spirit Stones, I’ll take it."
Hearing Mo Wangchen’s words, Shen Qing was visibly surprised. Indeed, he didn’t know the usefulness of Red Heart Leaf, as he knew nothing about Alchemy Dao.
These herbs were found a few days ago in some secret area. He thought Red Heart Leaf was just common wild grass, but its blood-colored two leaves persuaded him to pluck it.
Today, he brought it out casually, not expecting anyone to actually buy it.
He suggested eighty thousand Spirit Stones, thinking this price was outrageous. Who would spend eighty thousand Spirit Stones on ordinary ’wild grass’?
But now, this fool... really shows up...
Selling a wild grass for eighty thousand Spirit Stones? Shen Qing was certainly pleased, "Deal!"
Quickly, the deal was struck; money was exchanged for the herb. Shen Qing joyfully took Mo Wangchen’s eighty thousand Spirit Stones, thinking he’d profited hugely, unaware he’d made a considerable loss.
"Do you have other herbs not on display? If you do, take them out. If I need them, I’ll buy more."
Mo Wangchen secured the Blood Swallow Grass, and the black market had a few stalls selling herbs. Before leaving, he couldn’t help but ask.
Shen Qing shook his head, "None left, but if you come back later, there might be."
He often ventured into remote mountains seeking such herbs, usually returning by nightfall when monster beasts appeared, bringing daytime finds to the black market.
Currently, he had sold almost all the herbs he had collected days before.
Hearing Shen Qing, Mo Wangchen nodded, then left with Zhang Hao.
"That Red Heart Leaf just now, eighty thousand Spirit Stones—wasn’t that too much?"
After departing, Zhang Hao questioned Mo Wangchen with some confusion.
He barely had over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones; back in Tianyao City, this amount could buy a Spiritless Sword.
Now, Mo Wangchen used eighty thousand Spirit Stones for a herb, which puzzled Zhang Hao.
Knowing nothing of Alchemy Dao, he naturally had no concept of the herb’s value.
"Heh, what Red Heart Leaf—it’s called Blood Swallow Grass, the vendor didn’t recognize it. Outside, it’s worth at least five hundred thousand Spirit Stones," Mo Wangchen smiled.
"Five hundred thousand?!" Zhang Hao was stunned; could it be true?
"This Blood Swallow Grass is for refining a pill called Soothing Spirit Pill, which greatly aids Emperor Realm cultivation—it’s for you."
Hearing Mo Wangchen, Zhang Hao was startled, then moved.
A herb worth five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, Mo Wangchen intended for refining a pill for him. He thought back to the past; if he hadn’t met Mo Wangchen in Fangtian City back then.
Perhaps he’d still just be a minor figure in Yun Country, right?