"Middle-grade Magical Artifacts are exceptionally precious. Aside from spending a fortune and calling in favors to have Master Tie custom-forge one for you...
...on the open market, even in the entire White Maple Mountain Marketplace, only a few circulate throughout the year.
I, of course, do not have any here."
The Dog Demon Shopkeeper said with a faint smile.
The Master Tie he spoke of was a living legend in the White Maple Mountain Marketplace.
A Tier One High-grade Blacksmith!
He had even forged a Top-grade Magical Artifact.
His fame spread far and wide!
If you wanted to commission Master Tie to forge a Magical Artifact, you not only had to pay a steep price but also use up certain connections.
Sometimes, for special Magical Artifacts, you even had to provide your own materials.
And success was not even guaranteed!
This was not something an ordinary Demon could afford.
Only the major powers could occasionally afford it.
The status of a Blacksmith was comparable to that of an Alchemist.
Their specific standing depended on the skills and techniques they possessed.
For example, an Alchemist who could refine a Tier-Breaking Elixir would be just as highly revered.
"You don't have any? Then why did you bring it up!"
Xu Chang'an feigned a look of anger.
'But he had already guessed the other party's intentions.'
"Fellow Daoist, please don't be hasty. While this old one has no Middle-grade Magical Artifacts here, I do know of an opportunity to trade for one."
The Dog Demon Shopkeeper explained unhurriedly.
"Oh!?"
Xu Chang'an showed an appropriate amount of doubt.
"My Ruyi Pavilion has managed to establish itself in the White Maple Mountain Marketplace for a reason; we have our ways. Resources that don't circulate on the open market can be traded through secret channels, in places that don't see the light of day.
And recently, there happens to be just such a small, secret trade gathering.
At this gathering, not only will there be a Middle-grade Magical Artifact for trade, but also a Tier One Middle-grade Demon Talisman!"
"If it's a secret trade gathering, why are you telling me for no reason?"
Xu Chang'an seemed interested but voiced his lingering unease.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist, you've spent over fifty Demon Stones at my Ruyi Pavilion. That naturally makes you a distinguished guest.
Sharing information about these small gatherings and coordinating trades is an implicit benefit for Ruyi Pavilion's honored guests!
Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, it's not just my Ruyi Pavilion.
In this White Maple Mountain Marketplace, any shop of a certain size does the same.
Furthermore, we share information amongst ourselves to better serve our distinguished guests."
The Dog Demon Shopkeeper explained.
"When and where!?"
"Ten days from now, at night, thirty li east of White Maple Mountain.
If you are interested, Fellow Daoist, I can provide a detailed address.
Also, there is an entrance fee of two Demon Stones to participate in the gathering."
'A chance to buy rare resources that almost never circulate on the market.'
'Two Demon Stones isn't expensive!'
'It's just...'
"Outside the White Maple Mountain Marketplace!?"
Xu Chang'an's eyes flickered with hesitation.
The White Maple Mountain Marketplace is guarded by a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, enveloped by an Array, and regularly patrolled by Little Demons.
One didn't need to worry too much about safety there.
But outside the Marketplace...
"Although this secret gathering is held outside the White Maple Mountain Marketplace, it has been organized for many years. The organizers are powerful,
so you don't need to worry about safety at all.
Besides, those attending are all distinguished guests from the various shops or representatives of major powers. There won't be any riffraff."
Seeing that Xu Chang'an was clearly tempted but still had reservations, the Dog Demon Shopkeeper added more fuel to the fire.
"Fine."
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Chang'an gritted his teeth and agreed.
Afterward, the Dog Demon Shopkeeper shared the specific location and time of the secret gathering.
Xu Chang'an then rose, took his leave, and departed from Ruyi Pavilion.
'He can easily produce Elixirs worth sixty Demon Stones, and he buys Qi Replenishing Pills so recklessly, without a care for the cost.'
'I deliberately leaked the information about the Middle-grade Magical Artifact trade.'
'He's extremely interested, has considerable wealth, but lacks the proper channels to buy a Middle-grade Magical Artifact. He must be an Independent Cultivator Demon.'
'During our conversation, he wasn't worried about his financial situation at all, only about the risks of the gathering.'
'No backing from any power, a Cultivation of only the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, yet incredibly wealthy... a fat sheep!'
'The fish has taken the bait. Ten days from now, after the gathering ends, it's time for the slaughter!'
The Dog Demon Shopkeeper watched Xu Chang'an leave with a beaming smile, a glint in his eyes.
He had been in charge of Ruyi Pavilion for a long time and had dealt with countless customers.
He had his own calculus for which Demons could be slaughtered and schemed against, and which ones he couldn't afford to provoke in the slightest.
However, even when it came to slaughtering a fat sheep after the gathering,
Ruyi Pavilion wouldn't get its own hands dirty. Instead, it would pass on the information and let the Tribulation Cultivator Demons around the White Maple Mountain Marketplace do the job.
This way, even if the attempt failed, the blame couldn't be traced back to Ruyi Pavilion.
If it succeeded, the rewards would be substantial.
It was this caution that had allowed him to preside over Ruyi Pavilion so steadily for all these years, without a single mishap.
...
'That old Dog Demon thief is quite the schemer.'
'First, he dangled the bait of a Middle-grade Magical Artifact to test me.'
'If I showed interest, it would inevitably expose my background as a wealthy Independent Cultivator Demon.'
'He set the trade gathering outside the White Maple Mountain Marketplace. The gathering itself should be safe enough, but the journey back won't be as secure as he claims.'
Walking through the Marketplace, Xu Chang'an's expression was calm, but inwardly, he was sneering.
In his past life, he had cultivated to the Core Formation realm, becoming a regional patriarch.
The number of treacherous plots and cunning schemes he had witnessed was immeasurable.
'A mere little Dog Demon dared to plot against him.'
'He was simply courting death!'
'If they don't make a move, fine. But if they do, I'll kill them outright!'
In truth, Xu Chang'an could have avoided exposing his wealth by selling his stockpiled Elixirs in smaller batches.
It would have been time-consuming, but it was a safe and reliable method.
But now, aside from the Guarding Methods like Magical Artifacts and Demon Talismans he needed, and the Cultivation Elixirs he required, he had no spare wealth.
Oh, and there was also the Tier-Breaking Elixir given to him by Bai Yuhu, the Qi Condensing Pill!
At his current rate of accumulation, it was too slow.
It just so happened that the Dog Demon had used the information about the Middle-grade Magical Artifact trade to test him.
He decided to go with the flow, appropriately showing weakness and exposing his background.
If things went smoothly, he could rapidly accumulate a wave of wealth.
A horse never gets fat on just its daytime feed, and a Demon never gets rich without a windfall!
Although it was a bit risky and aggressive, the risk should still be within a controllable range.
Now that he had purchased the Qi Replenishing Pills, his Cultivation Realm could immediately step into the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
With his methods, a Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivation was enough to put him on par with an ordinary Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator!
If the opportunity was right and the situation favorable, he could even slay a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator!
Currently, the situation between Langlang Mountain and Black Crow Mountain was unclear.
Although there hadn't been any major movements from either side recently, Xu Chang'an's worldly insight gave him a pessimistic outlook.
On Langlang Mountain, aside from hoarding some personal goods, he could mostly only accumulate resources step by step.
On this rare trip out, he had to rapidly build his foundation to cope with the potential changes to come.
Only with a stronger foundation would he have more choices when the situation shifted!
'After this scheme plays out, maybe I can really get my hands on a Middle-grade Magical Artifact!'
A Middle-grade Magical Artifact!
If he had a Middle-grade Magical Artifact, his combat power would increase dramatically!
His vast experience in Magical Combat from his past life meant that as soon as he finished refining it, he could use it immediately and unleash its immense power.
He wouldn't need to slowly adapt to it like other Demons.