Chen Ping'an knew the location of the black market.
Old Chen had taken him there once when he was still around. Although the black market was chaotic, with Old Chen present, safety was guaranteed.
The black market was located in a desolate alley in Nanquan Lane. At the very end of the alley was a spacious open area. Under the tacit understanding of various factions, the surrounding area was sparsely populated.
Chen Ping'an clutched the book, with a wood-cutting knife hidden under his clothes, and walked quickly through the alley.
Even at night, there would still be Zhenfu Division Yamen Runners patrolling the various streets and alleys of Nanquan Lane.
Compared to the daytime, the number and shifts of night patrol Yamen Runners were significantly fewer, and they generally carried a copper gong, which they would immediately strike as a warning if anything happened.
Chen Ping'an naturally understood the ins and outs of this.
Even he himself would be assigned to a night patrol approximately once a month.
Each night patrol consisted of two people working together, looking out for each other.
Worried about being discovered by the patrolling Yamen Runners, Chen Ping'an walked extremely carefully. He was now at Qi Blood Level One Perfection, and his physical coordination and endurance had greatly improved.
By chance, and with his careful precautions, he did not encounter any night patrol Yamen Runners along the way.
At the entrance of the black market, a burly man stood guard. Seeing Chen Ping'an, who had already covered his face, approach, he said expressionlessly,
"Entry fee is two small coins. Fighting is prohibited inside, otherwise, you bear the consequences!"
Chen Ping'an was prepared for this. He silently handed over two small coins and entered the black market.
The black market was quite lively, with a considerable number of people coming and going. However, most people either had their faces covered, wore hoods, or wore Dou Li. They were basically all dressed in concealing attire.
Chen Ping'an intentionally or unintentionally avoided these people, observing his surroundings.
On both sides, every so often, there were people setting up stalls. Spreading a piece of cloth on the ground and placing some items on it constituted a stall.
The black market was not large, and Chen Ping'an quickly walked around it once. He found that various kinds of items were sold inside.
There were those selling antiques and curios, those selling swords and long spears, those selling soft armor and leather armor, and also those selling powerful medicines and ginseng...
Chen Ping'an even saw someone selling a small crossbow.
This was a formidable item, a controlled weapon!
With it, even an ordinary person, given the right timing, could severely injure or even kill someone who had entered the Martial Dao Cultivation.
Even though Chen Ping'an was now at Qi Blood Level One Perfection, with skin like thin cowhide, he would still find it difficult to withstand the power of a crossbow.
Although the crossbow was powerful, Chen Ping'an's mind was as still as water, and he had no intention of inquiring about it. He only had one purpose for coming here: to sell the Iron Cloth.
He found a slightly empty spot, placed the handwritten copy of the Iron Cloth Cultivation Technique down, and sat down cross-legged.
Although he was eager to sell, he didn't intend to go around looking for people to promote it.
Doing so would, firstly, entail much greater risk. Secondly, it would needlessly lower the price of the Iron Cloth.
Most people who came to the black market were cunning, and already had doubts about the authenticity of his Cultivation Technique. If he actively promoted it, it would appear too desperate, making them even more distrustful.
Instead of doing that, it was better to wait here quietly.
Not long after Chen Ping'an sat down, a person approached his stall.
This person was short and stout, dressed in black, and wearing a Dou Li.
"What are you selling?"
"Martial Arts Cultivation Technique, Iron Cloth!"
Chen Ping'an raised his head and glanced at him indifferently, appearing aloof.
"Tsk, the book's binding is so simple, you say it's a Martial Arts Cultivation Technique just because you say so!"
The man sneered.
However, despite his words, he actually squatted down, intending to flip through the book.
Slap!
Chen Ping'an's hand was as swift as the wind, batting away the other party's outstretched hand.
"If you're not buying, don't touch!"
Chen Ping'an's move startled the short, stout Dou Li-wearing man.
"If I don't look, I don't look, why hit me!"
He grumbled, then walked away sullenly.
"At the very least, he's entered the Martial Dao Cultivation!"
This stall owner looked thin and weak. He had intended to take advantage and see if he could find something good, but he didn't expect to encounter a formidable opponent.
After the short, stout Dou Li-wearing man left, people occasionally came over to ask what he was selling. However, most just asked and had no intention of buying.
A good half an hour passed, and Chen Ping'an still hadn't sold the Iron Cloth.
"The transactions in this black market are truly cautious, especially when it comes to Martial Arts Cultivation Techniques. Do I really have to borrow money from Monkey Head and the others tomorrow?"
Just as Chen Ping'an was pondering, a figure stopped in front of his stall.
The figure was burly and unmasked, with a full beard and piercing eyes. He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
"What are you selling?"
"Iron Cloth."
Chen Ping'an glanced at the other party, vaguely sensing a hint of threat. However, based on his feeling, he seemed not to have reached Qi Blood Level One Perfection.
His body was full of Qi and blood, indicating he had likely entered the Martial Dao.
"There are so many fakes in the black market. How do you guarantee that your Cultivation Technique is real!?"
The bearded man looked at Chen Ping'an.
Sensing that the other party seemed genuinely interested in buying, Chen Ping'an truly focused his gaze on him.
"You can check and read the first few pages of Iron Cloth and evaluate it yourself. Also, I have also learned Iron Cloth, and this is the very book I used."
"Oh?"
The bearded man looked at Chen Ping'an with interest.
Although Chen Ping'an was masked and his appearance was unclear, his physique could not be hidden.
Iron Cloth, an external hard Cultivation Technique!
Cultivators have strong physiques, thick frames, robust bones, and abundant Qi and blood.
Chen Ping'an's appearance, however, showed no trace of having cultivated Iron Cloth.
Indeed, perhaps due to the Golden Finger, although Chen Ping'an had achieved Minor Achievement in Iron Cloth, he still looked the same as before, with no significant change in his physique.
"If you don't believe me, you can try it!"
Chen Ping'an calmly looked at the bearded man in front of him.
"Interesting."
The bearded man laughed.
"You say you Cultivate Iron Cloth. How about this: you take a punch from me, and if you can still stand, I'll buy your Iron Cloth. How about it!?"
"Fighting is prohibited within the black market!"
Chen Ping'an said indifferently.
"Tsk, coward! Next time you try to bluff, make it more convincing. With your small frame, Iron Cloth? Child's Cultivation Technique is more like it!"
The bearded man scoffed a few times, then was about to leave.
"We can't fight in the black market. If you don't believe me, why don't we compare strength? If I win, you buy this Iron Cloth for ten taels of silver!"
Chen Ping'an's voice rang out, and the bearded man, who had just taken a step to leave, stopped upon hearing him.
"What if you lose?"
"If I lose, I'll give you one tael of silver."
"Hahaha, a free tael of silver. Compare strength, how do we compare?"
"Simply, arm wrestling!" Chen Ping'an said calmly.
"Good! Arm wrestling with me, you've got guts!"
The bearded man showed off his arm, which was as thick as a normal person's thigh.
"Let's go there!"
Chen Ping'an pointed to a rock not far away.
"Good, let's go!"