Longevity Strange Immortal
Chapter 54: After modification - 54 Mysterious... Auction

Chapter 54: After modification: Chapter 54 Mysterious... Auction

The Heart Beast Black Market became lively.

Besides the various Loose Cultivators with distinctive appearances, there were also many Cultivators from Rong Town.

The severed heads hanging at the entrance of the black market had unknowingly increased in number, enduring eternal torment.

Li Mo walked through the black market, and his bizarre appearance unexpectedly blended in well.

He wore a black robe, his entire skin wrapped in the Desert Map, and a Caged Bird hung on his shoulder, with traces of a miniature ecosystem visible inside the cage.

The name of the Golden Sand Taoist had long been buried in the past three years.

Li Mo learned through a spiritual tablet that the Heart Beast Black Market might soon hold an auction, prompting him to decisively abandon the thought of selling spiritual materials.

Selling wares now wouldn’t fetch a good price for Earth Metal spiritual materials, as most Cultivators were waiting for the auction.

Li Mo glanced toward the street corner.

Members of a gang were extorting the vendors, no longer the now-defunct Viper Gang but the recently risen Black Mud Gang.

Greed knows no bounds. Every month, there are gangs large and small that perish in the black market, but still, some Loose Cultivators choose to take dangerous gambles.

To most Loose Cultivators, after all, without resources, they can only watch as the Death Disease breaks out—better to die quickly than slowly rot away.

Li Mo was nearing sixteen years old, but his hair had turned completely gray, and unavoidable corpse spots had formed on both sides of his cheeks.

Only his heart and liver, transformed by Spirit Root Transformation, retained partial vitality, avoiding full decay, while his other internal organs had deteriorated to varying degrees.

Death Disease abides by the laws of the universe, and the Creation Book could at most delay its outbreak.

Li Mo understood his body would decay sooner or later. Only by achieving immortality could he escape the curse; there was no other way.

He lowered his gaze to scan the surroundings, effortlessly stepping into Treasure Pavilion.

"Welcome, esteemed guest!"

The shop attendant noticed Li Mo and quickly recognized him, promptly leading him into a private room within the inner hall.

Li Mo crossed his legs and sipped a spicy, tangy cup of Date River Tea.

With his increasingly diminished sense of taste, he could barely discern the tea’s flavor, but he only took a shallow sip.

Li Mo awaited the accountant’s arrival, contemplating the necessary supplies he required to procure.

Clack, clack, clack...

At that moment, faint footsteps echoed outside the private room, accompanied by eerie, bone-chilling laughter, the voice unnervingly familiar.

Li Mo’s mind froze for a few seconds. Before he could react, the wooden door suddenly swung open.

Eight arms squeezed a bulky frame into the room, and Han Cai’s expression was brimming with amusement, his aura growing increasingly stronger.

"Han... Doctor Han..."

"Ke-ke-ke-ke, Li Mo, little rascal, long time no see. You’ve indeed changed quite a bit—Four-layered Puberty Stage, quite the talent, I must say."

The leakless body can conceal its aura, but Han Cai’s century-long surgical expertise enabled him to assess Li Mo’s cultivation on multiple fronts.

Han Cai’s face showed admiration.

Even though Jiang Xin’an had informed him earlier about Li Mo’s circumstances, he was still astonished by Li Mo’s achievement of reaching the Four-layered Puberty Stage.

For Mist Fog Spiritual Power to progress so significantly, imagine the potential if it were exchanged for the commonly-used Mountain Spiritual Power.

Perhaps it was some rare Taoist Body, revealing itself more prominently as his cultivation advanced.

Han Cai’s gaze betrayed an intent to investigate—he seemed eager to dissect Li Mo, to uncover the anatomical and skeletal secrets hidden within.

Li Mo quickly steered the conversation away: "Doctor Han, it was by chance that I encountered the opening of the Iron Cauldron Secret Realm. I have some talent in Artifact Refining, using it to earn Spirit Stones to purchase resources."

"Indeed. Interesting."

Han Cai had long heard Jiang Xin’an’s praises of Li Mo. Seeing the Desert Map and Caged Bird, he couldn’t help but marvel.

Although the Magic Artifact Embryo of the Caged Bird appeared a bit crude, its subsequent refinement was remarkably skillful. The Desert Map, on the other hand, was flawless from beginning to end.

If Li Mo’s cultivation were not limited, he might even attempt refining a Mid-grade Magical Artifact.

Li Mo asked curiously, "I heard about the outbreak of Multiple Limb Syndrome in Fuan Town—why are you visiting the Heart Beast Black Market, Doctor Han?"

"Multiple Limb Syndrome..."

Han Cai’s face turned ashen: "Currently, Fuan Town uses Arrays to control the growth of Meat Mountain. At least the situation won’t worsen further."

"Putting Multiple Limb Syndrome aside, I’ve come to Heart Beast Black Market for matters related to the auction."

"The auction—is there something special about it?"

Li Mo’s heart skipped a beat. Suspense cloaked the Cultivation World—could the auction be hiding some unspeakable secrets?

"The Heart Beast Black Market has existed for at least five thousand years, and auctions have always been a staple of its history. But no one knows who truly presides over them."

Li Mo felt goosebumps rise over his skin, instinctively peering through Treasure Pavilion’s window into the silent, pitch-black void outside—an illusion of a colossal beast lurking within.

Han Cai let out a sinister chuckle, patting Li Mo’s shoulder: "Relax. While the auction varies each time, as long as you follow the black market’s rules, there shouldn’t be any major issues."

"Not just me—the shopkeepers and managers from Rong Town will all attend. If you’ve got anything valuable, don’t hesitate to put it up for auction."

Han Cai leaned closer and whispered: "The gathering will always have unknown participants. If you’ve got guts, you might make a fortune out of it."

"Ke-ke-ke-ke..."

Li Mo mulled over Han Cai’s revelations.

The so-called unknown participants—Sub-Device Sect couldn’t be plausible. An aloof Great Immortal Sect coveting worms’ meals? Far-fetched.

Eighty percent likelihood points to high-ranking Loose Cultivators backing the Heart Beast Black Market—or perhaps the Inner Sect of Rong Town itself?

Li Mo’s speculation sounded outrageous, but Manager Tian had once mentioned that some Deceit Beasts possessed Spiritual Wisdom, fundamentally no different from Cultivators.

Han Cai gulped tea, spat it aside, and remarked: "Kid, let me give you a bit more advice."

"Once the auction begins, only registered shops in the black market will have bidding rights. Casual visitors can only purchase unsold items—better find a shop to rely on."

Li Mo nodded and asked, "Doctor Han, do you own a shop here in the Heart Beast Black Market?"

"Of course. But you’ll need to..."

Li Mo abruptly rose to leave—after all, if the auction were truly imminent, acquiring the Low Grade Magic Artifact Catalog would become unnecessary.

Han Cai hastily pulled him back.

Sighing, Han Cai said, "You cunning little rascal. Let me clarify—the shop’s auction slots are limited. I can allow you to take one, but you must demonstrate value."

He pointed at the Desert Map: "Finish the Five Refinements of an Artifact within fifteen days, then meet me at the black market’s northeastern corner... Qinghong Flower Tower."

Coughing a few times, Han Cai swiftly crawled out of the private room and vanished.

"The Flower Tower—isn’t that a brothel?"

Li Mo’s expression turned peculiar—it implied Qinghong Flower Tower was Han Cai’s covert operation? A surgeon showing interest in common worldly debauchery?

Li Mo could tell Han Cai had decided last-minute to bring him on board.

The strange and inexplicable auction likely required the presence of an Artifact Refiner. Despite Li Mo’s low cultivation, he was relatively easier to control.

Li Mo’s prediction proved correct—upon leaving Treasure Pavilion, several shop managers familiar with the Golden Sand Taoist’s name approached him with inquiries.

He naturally declined each one. With Han Cai involved, Hu Wen would probably show up at the black market, too.

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