Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Demon Beast Flesh

In the northern part of Anping County, there was a three-story building with a plaque hanging at the entrance that read “Martial Alliance.”

That was where the Martial Alliance was located.

Early this morning, the demon hunting team formed by members of the Martial Alliance had already set out.

In addition, many martial arts halls in the county town also sent out teams to hunt demon beasts to demonstrate their strength.

“Based on past experience, it will take at most a month for those martial artists to eliminate the tiger demon.”

Qi Shun told Chu Liang to stay in the county town for a month.

After all, the county town was relatively safe, with many martial artists gathered.

The surrounding small mountain villages were much more dangerous, and could be attacked by the tiger demon hiding in the dark at any time.

“It’s a good opportunity for you, Brother Chu, since you have saved up a lot of money. You can join a martial arts hall and start practicing martial arts,” Qi Shun said to Chu Liang. “You are not strong enough now, and having too much money is not a good thing.”

“Shopkeeper Qi, you worry too much.”

Chu Liang smiled, picked up a chopstick, and flicked it gently.

Crack!

The chopstick flashed and disappeared, piercing straight into the wall on one side, leaving only the slightly trembling end visible.

Seeing this scene, Qi Shun’s eyes widened in shock.

He looked at the chopstick in disbelief, and then at Chu Liang. After a long while, he finally spoke, “Brother Chu, have you already sensed your Qi and Blood?”

“Yes.”

“Good! It seems I’ve underestimated you, old brother!”

Qi Shun laughed heartily and immediately raised his wine bowl.

He smiled and said, “Brother Chu, a man with great fortune like you is bound to have extraordinary encounters. I won’t ask any more questions. I wish you success in becoming a true martial artist soon!”

“Alright, thank you, Shopkeeper Qi.”

Chu Liang also raised his wine bowl and clinked it with Qi Shun’s.

Appropriately displaying strength can make others see more value. It’s not always good to hide one’s abilities.

Chu Liang did not mention that he had already condensed one strand of Qi and Blood, otherwise Qi Shun would have been even more surprised.

After three rounds of drinks, Chu Liang spoke up, “Shopkeeper Qi, I want to ask about a place.”

“Go ahead, brother.”

“The black market.”

“The black market?” Qi Shun was taken aback. “Brother, that place is a mixed bag, with many martial artists among them. Are you sure you want to go there?”

“Yes, I need to buy something.”

“Alright then. The black market has multiple entrances. One of the more hidden ones is outside the city…”

Qi Shun didn’t ask what Chu Liang wanted to buy and directly gave him the location of the black market entrance.

Entering the black market was not easy and required a পরিচিত （known person） to vouch for you.

Strangers couldn’t get in.

“I have to receive some important people from the Martial Alliance this afternoon, so I really can’t get away… Brother, take this wooden token…”

Qi Shun took out a black wooden token with the character “市” （market） carved on it.

He wouldn’t give out this token lightly. If Chu Liang was still just an ordinary hunter, he naturally wouldn’t give it to him. But now, Chu Liang had greater value.

“This is a token to enter the black market. With this, it’s as if you have a পরিচিত （known person） vouching for you.” Qi Shun placed the wooden token in front of Chu Liang. “Brother, let me remind you again, the goods in the black market are of varying quality. You need to be careful and not get cheated again.”

“Again?”

Chu Liang smiled, understanding that Qi Shun was referring to the matter of the Treasure Seeking Rat.

He didn’t refute it, tacitly admitting that he had been cheated last time.

A real Treasure Seeking Rat was too precious and should not be exposed now.

“I understand, don’t worry.” Chu Liang replied.

“Alright then, there are a few more things I need to tell you that you must pay attention to.”

Qi Shun’s expression turned serious as he spoke about some taboos in the black market.

First and foremost, fighting was not allowed within the black market. No matter how big the grudge, it had to be settled outside. Restraint must be maintained inside.

Secondly, it was best not to reveal any information about one’s true identity.

“Oh, right, take this mask too.”

Qi Shun got up and went to the counter, returning with a black mask that he handed to Chu Liang.

Most people in the black market wore masks. Only a very few who were confident in their background and strength would show their true faces.

Chu Liang expressed his gratitude and put away the mask and the wooden token.

After that, he memorized a few more points that needed attention.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, Chu Liang left the restaurant.

He exited the county town through the south gate, walked along the official road for a while, and then turned onto a small path, quickly entering a dim forest.

“Shopkeeper Qi said the entrance to the black market is behind the ruined temple in this forest.”

Chu Liang remained vigilant, put on the mask, and changed into a black robe.

Soon, the ruined temple came into view.

“This is the place.”

Chu Liang walked straight behind the ruined temple, found the entrance, and stepped into the secret passage.

After walking about thirty meters, a cold voice sounded, “Stop! Show me your token.”
The speaker was a man also wearing a black mask, his face indiscernible, his eyes cold.

◈◈◈

“Alright.”

Chu Liang was not surprised and casually tossed the wooden token over.

Moments later, the wooden token was tossed back.

“Go in!”

The man made way, and behind him was the real entrance to the black market.

Chu Liang put away the wooden token, adjusted his robe, and then stepped inside.

A wave of sandalwood scent washed over him.

Before him was a small-scale market.

It was not as lively as the county town’s market, with less than a hundred people in sight. Conversations were sparse and scattered, giving it a somewhat desolate atmosphere.

However, the stalls were well-stocked with goods.

Chu Liang’s gaze moved, sweeping over the stalls one by one.

“Armor, weapons, slaves, medicinal herbs, pills, various materials…”

Some things were not available in ordinary markets.

For example, armor and weapons were prohibited from being sold by the imperial court.

But now, with years of famine and people struggling to survive, the world was in great chaos, and the imperial court’s orders couldn’t reach the lower levels.

Everywhere, large families maintained private armies, ranging from dozens or hundreds to thousands or even tens of thousands, becoming like local warlords, especially the millennial families of Guanlong, Yingchuan, and other areas.

Even if the imperial court fell, those millennial families would not be affected.

It was rumored that some families had hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, controlling entire regions, and had Martial Arts Grandmasters in their ranks, not even giving face to the imperial court.

“The world is getting worse. I need to become stronger as soon as possible.”

Chu Liang thought silently.

The south, where he was, was still relatively stable. But the north had suffered from years of drought, and the people were destitute, leading to countless uprisings.

The entire dynasty had a feeling of impending doom.

The tranquility of the small mountain village would one day be shattered by the iron hooves from outside.

“Chaotic times are coming.”

As Chu Liang walked through the black market, he thought far ahead.

At this moment, a sign on a stall suddenly caught his eye.

【Demon Beast Flesh For Sale】

Five crooked characters were written on the sign.

Chu Liang immediately walked over, squatted down in front of the stall, and asked the stall owner in a low voice, “How much for the demon beast flesh?”

“One tael of silver per jin, no bargaining,” the stall owner replied lazily.

“Let me see it first.”

“Alright.”

The stall owner casually tossed out three pieces of meat, each weighing about two jin.

The three pieces of meat were bright red, with a faint bloody smell.

“Half a month ago, there was a demon incident in the prefectural city. A wolf demon, a pig demon, and a deer demon occupied a mountain and harmed many passersby. Later, an expert took action and killed those three beasts. This is their flesh.”

The stall owner glanced at Chu Liang and casually introduced the meat.

Chu Liang remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the three pieces of meat.

Soon, he received a prompt from the Evolutionary Appraisal Mirror:

【Ordinary Muntjac Meat, Evolvable】

【Not Demon Beast Meat】

It was actually just ordinary muntjac meat, which could be sold for at most thirty wen per jin in the market.

Shopkeeper Qi was right.

This black market was a mixed bag, with good and bad mixed together. It was easy to buy fakes if one wasn’t careful.

Chu Liang’s expression remained calm, and he stood up to leave.

He didn’t want to waste time here and planned to check out other stalls, hoping to buy what he needed and return to the village as soon as possible.

Behind him, the stall owner asked, “Kid, aren’t you buying?”

“Do you have the real thing?” Chu Liang retorted.

“Hey! You brat, are you saying I’m selling fakes?”

“Yes.”

“Kid, you’re blind. Take a closer look!”

The stall owner picked up a piece of meat and said confidently, “If it’s fake, I’ll eat these three pieces of flesh raw in front of you!”

“Muntjac meat tastes better cooked.”

Chu Liang replied indifferently and then left the stall.

The stall owner was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly chased after Chu Liang, chuckling dryly, “Haha, I was just kidding. You want to buy demon beast meat, right? Please come this way…”