Divine Talisman Grandmaster

C11 – Black City

After enjoying a barbecue with his good friend Sha Zhenghao, Lu Lixing didn’t head straight home. Instead, he made his way to Sunlit Path on the city’s western edge.

The coming Sunday marked an important day for him. Per their agreement, he was granted access to the Black Masked God’s training room for a full day of intensive cultivation. To take full advantage of this opportunity, Lu Lixing knew he had to be thoroughly prepared.

Previously, Lu Lixing’s aptitude for cultivation was notably lacking. Whether he utilized cultivation resources or not made little difference, leading him to seldom rely on them. Back then, he barely gave them a second thought. Times have changed, however. Now, with his exceptional cultivation talent, Lu Lixing had the rare chance to train in a luxurious, advanced cultivation room. He was certain that with the right resources, he could achieve remarkable progress with minimal effort.

Lu Lixing’s visit to Sunlit Path was specifically for these cultivation resources.

To the casual observer, Sunlit Path was just another unremarkable street, devoid of any distinctive features or shops selling cultivation resources. But Lu Lixing, a frequent visitor, was well aware of the massive underground city hidden beneath. In this subterranean marketplace, if you had the means, you could acquire anything your heart desired.

This sprawling underground haven was known as Black City, a common yet clandestine feature not exclusive to Skyhaven but present beneath every city in the Stardragon Federation. The origins of Black City, stretching across the Federation, were shrouded in mystery. But one thing was clear to all who frequented it: those foolish enough to stir up trouble in Black City wouldn’t live to see the dawn of a new day.

Despite its diverse clientele, Black City maintained an unexpectedly high level of order.

Over the past two-plus years, Lu Lixing had made monthly trips to Black City to procure cultivation resources for Sha Xiufen. He favored this underground market over conventional stores for its more affordable prices. Now, seeking resources for his own use, Lu Lixing’s first thought was, naturally, Black City.

The gateway to Black City was discreetly located in the backyard of a nondescript grocery store. To gain entry, one had to purchase a pass from the store—a mere ten dollars, a trivial sum. While buying a pass was optional, without it, Black City offered no protection to those who found themselves in trouble within its confines. Consequently, regardless of status, everyone chose to secure a pass as insurance before venturing into the depths of Black City.

Lu Lixing strode into the grocery store with the ease of familiarity. He glanced at the dozing shopkeeper behind the counter but remained silent. Placing a 10-dollar Federation coin on the counter, he spread his hand open.

The once dark counter flickered to life momentarily before returning to its normal state. Now in Lu Lixing’s palm lay a black crescent moon mark, the pass for Black City valid for 24 hours. With this mark, Lu Lixing was under the protection of Black City. However, once he stepped out of its bounds and off Sunlit Path, the mark would vanish without a trace in less than ten minutes—a truly magical phenomenon.

Having secured his pass, Lu Lixing didn’t linger. He made his way to the grocery store’s backyard. To enter Black City, he needed to take an elevator, but first, he had to don a disguise.

From his jacket pocket, Lu Lixing retrieved a thin black mask and placed it over his face, leaving only his forehead and eyes visible. Even Sha Zhenghao, were he present, might fail to recognize him. Lu Lixing had purchased this mask for a hundred dollars within Black City, where such masks were commonplace.

Mask in place, Lu Lixing entered the elevator, joining the already sizable crowd inside. Most of the occupants wore masks, and those who didn’t bore a menacing look—clearly not the sort to be trifled with. Among them was an individual radiating an intimidating Spiritual Force, a sure sign of a genuine cultivator.

The others in the elevator kept their distance from the suspected cultivator, wary of inviting trouble. They avoided even glancing his way. Lu Lixing observed this dynamic with a tinge of envy. Cultivators held a revered and powerful status in the hearts of the people, a status that commanded respect and caution.

The elevator surged downward at a breakneck pace, plunging the passengers over 300 meters in a mere moment. Through the transparent protective shield, the bustling scene of Black City came into view—streets teeming with people and ablaze with lights, a vibrant hub of activity.

Lu Lixing, a frequent visitor to Black City, found himself indifferent to its familiar landscapes. Yet, his eyes betrayed a spark of excitement. This visit held a different purpose from his previous ones; he was here for his own reasons, a thought that pleased him greatly.

“People really should live for themselves,” Lu Lixing whispered to himself. As the elevator came to a halt, he stepped out and made his way into the heart of Black City. Knowing the ins and outs like the back of his hand, Lu Lixing was well aware of where to find the highest quality and most affordable cultivation resources. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the shops.

Navigating through the bustling crowd for about ten minutes, he finally paused in front of a store named Caitlin. After a quick survey of the passersby, he entered the shop.

“No credit allowed here.”

The moment Lu Lixing crossed the threshold, a languid voice floated from behind the counter. He saw Caitlin, the still-charming proprietress, propping her chin with one hand and greeted her with a chuckle, “You greet all your customers with that line. Aren’t you worried they’ll get upset and never return?”

Caitlin, hearing a voice she recognized, looked up in surprise. She peered at Lu Lixing as he approached and asked, puzzled, “You usually visit once a month. Why are you back so soon? Did you strike it rich?”

Over the past couple of years, Lu Lixing had consistently purchased his cultivation resources from Caitlin, and they had grown quite familiar with each other. Even though he wore a mask that concealed his features, Caitlin could easily recognize his voice.

“I haven’t struck it rich, and I’m not here to shop,” Lu Lixing replied, placing a dark cloth bag on the counter. “I need you to exchange these low-grade spirit powders for higher-grade ones.”

Caitlin cast a glance at the bag on the counter and then eyed Lu Lixing with a playful look. “You sure about that? You may have bought them here, but rules are rules. I’ll have to charge you a 20% fee.”