Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor
Chapter 489: Black Pearl Incident

Chapter 489: Chapter 489: Black Pearl Incident

Tianlan Empire, Bright Pearl City, Bright Pearl Port, under the accompaniment of Shi Jinsuai, Shi Feng disembarked from the merchant ship.

At this moment, Shi Jinsuai clasped his fists and said resolutely to Shi Feng:

"Brother Shi, during this journey to the East Sea, I owe my survival to your repeated interventions. For Brother Shi, it might have been a small effort, but for me, it was like being reborn. I, Shi Jinsuai, will never forget the kindness Brother Shi has shown me!"

After saying these words, Shi Jinsuai immediately took out a golden token and handed it to Shi Feng, adding:

"This token belongs to me, Shi Jinsuai. It’s not of much use, but if Brother Shi ever needs help, anywhere on the Tianheng Continent where there’s a Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Building, just show this token, and my people will definitely provide their utmost assistance."

This token might be really useful in a dire situation.

Just like last time when Hong Yao was injured, and I collected rare medicinal herbs for her, having the help of a business power would have likely increased the efficiency significantly.

Moreover, the influence of this Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant establishment, as mentioned by Shi Jinsuai, once had business dealings with the descendants of the Spirit Martial Emperor, the Ling Family of Shi Ling, which shouldn’t be underestimated.

Shi Feng stretched out his hand, took the golden token handed over by Shi Jinsuai, and placed it into his storage ring, then nodded at Shi Jinsuai.

Seeing that Shi Feng accepted his token, Shi Jinsuai said:

"I came to the Tianlan Empire this time for a very important deal that needs to be completed. Brother Shi, let us part ways here for now!

If in half a month, you also head to Tianlan Imperial City to attend Princess Linglong’s martial contest invitation, you can find me at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant establishment in Tianlan Imperial City, and if nothing unexpected happens, I should be there."

"Sure, if I end up being so bored as to attend that, I’ll look for you," Shi Feng said, showing little interest in any martial contest for marriage.

"Brother Shi, take care!" Shi Jinsuai clasped his fists firmly toward Shi Feng.

"Take care!" Shi Feng clasped his fists in return.

Then, with a thought, Shi Feng proudly stood by the nearby Seventh-stage Venerable-Level White Tiger. The tiger emitted a roaring sound and rapidly ran towards Shi Feng, quickly arriving at his side and laying down before him.

Shi Feng mounted the tiger’s back, then sat cross-legged on it and commanded with a clear shout, "Go!"

"Roar!" The white tiger growled softly, as if responding to Shi Feng’s words, stood up from its crouched position, and began to walk forward slowly with Shi Feng.

Shi Feng and Shi Jinsuai grew further apart. Shi Jinsuai watched the dark figure on the white tiger until it gradually disappeared from his sight, then he turned his head, looking towards the merchant ship moored at the dock.

...

Bright Pearl Port was within Bright Pearl City, and the white tiger carried Shi Feng from the port into the city.

Bright Pearl City, perhaps due to its coastal location, showed a bustling trade scene. Just as he entered the city, Shi Feng saw mostly merchants with goods or displaying their stalls.

The streets were bustling with people coming and going. On both sides of the streets, shops were dazzlingly full, offering both ordinary items needed by the common folks and Pills, equipment, and other items used by Martial Artists.

"You! You’re cheating! No one does business like this; this is a fraud, utterly devoid of any integrity!" Suddenly, a robust loud voice erupted from a shop ahead.

With that loud shout, the flowing crowd on the street hurriedly moved toward the shop.

This shop, named Treasure Pavilion, now had a strong middle-aged man standing inside and shouting.

Across from the strong man stood a thin man in his thirties, looking slick and somewhat like a crafty merchant.

Upon hearing the strong man’s words, the thin man revealed a smirk as if he had heard a very funny joke and said, "I am in the business of buying and selling, and our transaction was voluntary. How have I deceived you? Besides, if I don’t make a profit, what’s the point of my dealings? Don’t I need to pay for this shop? Don’t I need to pay for this manpower?"

"You! You are nothing but a swindler," the middle-aged man, pointing his finger at the thin man’s face, his expression furious as if he was about to strike.

"What exactly is going on here?" someone, seeing the argument, asked the person next to them.

"Li Gao went out to sea today and was lucky enough to find a Black Pearl, which he sold to Qiao Chang for 200 Gold Coins. Then, just a moment ago, he saw Qiao Chang pricing that Black Pearl in the store for 300 Gold Coins for sale. Li Gao felt that Qiao Chang had cheated him, swindling him out of a hundred Gold Coins," an onlooker who knew the inside story explained.

Li Gao was the middle-aged strong man, and Qiao Chang was the shopkeeper.

"Look, that’s the Black Pearl!" someone pointed in Qiao Chang’s shop at a black pearl the size of a fingertip.

"Hmm?" Shi Feng also noticed the black pearl, and suddenly, he sensed a chilling power emanating from it!

"This!" Shi Feng’s gaze instantly focused entirely on the Black Pearl—it appeared to be a normal pearl on the surface, but he suspected there had to be something more inside; it was just that the others lacked Shi Feng’s keen perception.

Seeing the Black Pearl, Shi Feng moved swiftly, leaped down from the White Tiger, and strode toward Treasure Pavilion, addressing Qiao Chang, "I’ll take that pearl, wrap it up for me!"

"Alright!"

"Ah!"

After hearing Shi Feng’s words, both the arguing Qiao Chang and Li Gao had their expressions change dramatically and exclaimed simultaneously.

However, Qiao Chang’s face was filled with joy, unexpectedly selling the acquired Black Pearl so quickly and making a clean profit of 100 Gold Coins.

Meanwhile, Li Gao, seeing someone actually willing to pay 300 Gold Coins for his Black Pearl, immediately had an even angrier expression appear on his face and shouted at Shi Feng, "You can’t buy from him, that pearl is mine! Give me 100 Gold Coins, then give him 200 Gold Coins, and take this Black Pearl!"

"Li Gao! Are you trying to rob my store?" At this, Qiao Chang, who was about to fetch the Black Pearl, suddenly turned and bellowed at Li Gao.

"This Black Pearl was originally mine! Those 100 Gold Coins were merely me taking back my own money!" Li Gao declared, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I’ll offer 1000 Gold Coins to wrap up that Black Pearl for me!" Just then, an elder, raspy voice rang out at the entrance of the shop.

"What! 1000 Gold Coins! Is this Black Pearl really that expensive?"

"Yes! It would hardly cost 300 Gold Coins at most!"

"1000 Gold Coins could buy several such Black Pearls."

Upon hearing the 1000 Gold Coins, the crowd immediately erupted into an uproar, their gazes swiftly turning toward the figure slowly walking into the store.