Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Bai Qiushan extended his hand and took out a black token with red edges, engraved with the character 'Ghost', and handed it over.

"Twenty miles south of Baihe Town, there's a forest. The Ghost Market opens every ninth day and at 5 p.m., each time for three consecutive days. The next opening is in two days."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu wasn't surprised. In such a large place as Qingyun County, there would naturally be multiple black markets. Moreover, Baihe Town was controlled by the White Jade Gang, thriving and bustling, especially gathering powerhouses and major forces from Cyan Cloud and even the Three Counties during auction events.

These major forces undoubtedly need to handle various gray matters, so if there wasn't a Ghost Market around Baihe Town, Su Mu would actually be surprised.

Upon this thought, Su Mu recalled that years ago, when he came to Baihe Town to kill Black Insect Elder, he heard that someone was beheaded, and that location was in the forest south of Baihe Town. Thinking back, that beheading site was, in all likelihood, surrounded by the black market.

Su Mu accepted the Ghost Market token and continued pretending to listen attentively. Since Bai Qiushan mentioned the black market, he wouldn't do so without reason.

"During the previous three times the Ghost Market opened, there was a young masked woman selling Demon Beast Blood. A tributor from my White Jade Gang happened upon her stall. Though it's unclear what kind of Demon Beast Blood the woman was selling, according to her it should be Demon Bird Blood. As for what attributes and grade, that's hard to determine... but the quality shouldn't be low."

Bai Qiushan then handed over a roster.

"You need to verify this yourself. For compensation, you can take one from the roster of Demon Bloods. How about leaving the White Jade Order?"

"Okay."

Su Mu believed the White Jade Gang had no reason to deceive him. As he reached for the roster, Bai Qiushan detected a strange gleam in his eyes, noticing Su Mu's trembling hand.

The roster Bai Qiushan handed over contained nine types of Demon Blood, at least Eighth Grade, and even three types of Seventh Grade Demon Beast Blood. Nonetheless, Su Mu noticed them.

The Eighth Grade ones were Demon Beast Essence Blood, while the Seventh Grade ones were ordinary Demon Blood.

Su Mu scanned it briefly, his gaze finally settling on two types of Demon Blood: one being the Eighth Grade Cold Monkey Essence Blood, the other the Seventh Grade Rock Bear Blood.

Apes and bears are also two of the five demons in the Five Animals Qigong, and monkeys and apes likely don't differ much.

"Can the Demon Bloods listed here be sold outside?"

"Generally, they aren't easily sold outside. In seven days there will be the last auction of the year, and some of these will be auctioned. You may participate then."

Su Mu didn't mention this further; he had no energy to waste on auctions, nor did he want to attract attention from auction matters, having reached a decision in his mind.

"Please, Steward Bai, bring a portion of Cold Monkey Essence Blood."

"Sure."

Before long, two cans of bright red Cold Monkey Essence Blood were delivered. Su Mu opened the jade jar and sniffed, making a judgment that the quality of these two cans was decent, akin to the Flame Fire Eagle Essence Blood previously gifted by Hongmen Martial Arts Hall.

"Consider the extra can a welcome gift from me to you."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Bai Qiushan reclaimed the White Jade Order that Su Mu had taken out, and with the Demon Blood obtained, Su Mu quickly departed from the White Jade Gang.

After Su Mu left, a maid approached quietly and asked, "Elder Bai, this White Jade Order seems to be the one from the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau. This person should be related to Li Feiyu; currently, whether it's the Government Office or the Black Mountain Army, they are looking for him. Should we send someone to track him?"

"No need. My Bai Family is a business entity valuing peace and harmony. Now that I've given the Demon Blood, I won't provoke Li Feiyu any further."

...

In a small alley.

After leaving the White Jade Gang and confirming there was no tail following him, Su Mu saw no one around and swiftly flashed his Spiritual Light, storing the acquired Cold Monkey Essence Blood into his Sumeru Ring.

"Hmph!"

Su Mu snorted softly, halting the activation of his Jade Bone, then removed the White Eagle Mask from his face and checked into an inn in town.

Inside the inn, Su Mu didn't cease his inference, but this time didn't immerse himself entirely in inferring Crane Play. Instead, he dedicated part of his attention to inferring Monkey Play.

"Transforming Mortals into Demons, Crane Play corresponds to fire, to the heart among the Five Viscera… Monkey Play corresponds to water…"

Su Mu slowly closed his eyes, thoughtful, as a certain ambition quietly rooted and grew strong in his heart.

Time swiftly passed, and a blink later it was dusk two days later.

As twilight dimmed, a silhouette quietly left the inn, with three mountains looming in the night like ancient beasts, engulfing Baihe Town.

"If you don't have a token, an entrance fee of three taels of silver is required."

In the forest depths, two men emerged from the shadows, dressed in black outfit, and donning Red Demon Masks.

"A Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, an Eighth Grade Bone Forging… interesting, these people are likely from the White Jade Gang."

Similarly dressed in black, but wearing a Cyan Wolf Mask, Su Mu silently mused, reasoning that the Ghost Market was likely controlled by the Bai Family, given the limited number of Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artists in the Three Counties.

Su Mu refrained from speaking further and didn't retrieve the Ghost Market token gifted by Bai Qiushan. Instead, he opted to take out three taels of silver and tossed it over.

"Get on the carriage."

The lead man clapped his hands, and a wooden board carriage was pushed over from a distance. A driver with a Cyan Ghost Mask transported Su Mu deeper into the forest.

Soon, a sprawling scene unfolded, with bright flames illuminating the view as if entering a bustling market, crowded with people. This Ghost Market was larger in scale than those Su Mu had visited before, further solidifying his previous suspicions.

However, given Su Mu's current perspective and level, ordinary items no longer held value for him.