Chapter 712 Southern Wind Ghost Market, Demon Fiend Intelligence

Under the mask, the vendor was beaming with joy, secretly thinking several times that today he’d encountered a fool.

“Three Centennial Blood Ginsengs for a total of three thousand taels, no returns after the sale.”

Upon receiving the silver notes, the vendor spoke with a smile, clearly in a good mood.

“Naturally.”

Su Mu was equally pleased, having bought nearly twenty thousand taels’ worth of items for three thousand, making a neat profit of seventeen thousand.

After leaving the courtyard, the guide, a man with an egret motif, paused, seemingly wanting to speak but was interrupted by Su Mu.

“Just lead the way; whether to buy or not is my business.”

“Alright.”

Then, the egret guide led Su Mu to several other secret courtyards. Although Su Mu made a few purchases, the missing ingredient for the Profound Pattern Pill was nowhere to be found.

“Is this enough?”

Su Mu knew there was little chance of finding it this time, and immediately handed over five silver notes worth a hundred taels each. Seeing this, the egret man gratefully thanked him.

“Yes, yes, thank you, esteemed guest, for your generosity.”

As the man accepted the silver notes, Su Mu conveyed his secondary intention through secret transmission, “I’d like to purchase information regarding Demon Fiends. Do you have access?”

Upon hearing this, the egret man visibly trembled with surprise, hesitated for a moment, and then responded.

“I know a place that might have the information you seek, for five hundred taels, perhaps?”

“Lead the way.”

Su Mu had already vouched for the man’s ability in prior herb purchases and was intrigued by his hesitation, sensing possibilities.

This time, the egret man led Su Mu to a courtyard adorned with two white lanterns hanging outside, and paused at the front.

“Esteemed guest, from here you must proceed alone and knock three times at the entry. Only after receiving a response may you enter.”

Su Mu handed over five hundred taels without hesitation, at which the egret man quickly left, seeming a bit wary upon receiving the silver notes.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

The ancient copper ring on the door clattered, sounding like a muffled drum.

After a brief wait, an elderly voice responded.

“Esteemed guest has arrived, please enter.”

Following the words, a gust of eerie wind blew in, opening the courtyard gate. As Su Mu stepped in, he discovered the layout resembled a spiritual hall.

The gate slowly closed right as Su Mu crossed the threshold, adding a touch of eeriness.

“Esteemed guest, please proceed to the main hall for a discussion.”

Su Mu’s brow furrowed slightly under his mask; the host of this courtyard was likely a Daoist Cultivator, albeit playing the role of a mystic, he found distasteful.

Through the screen, a shadow faintly appeared.

“What does the esteemed guest wish to inquire about?”

“Information concerning Demon Fiends.”

Su Mu stated without hesitation, his gaze resting on the floral screen that, much like the one on the Black Whale, had the effect of blocking spiritual power from probing.

“Hehe… Information about Demon Fiends is available, but the price is steep, and I do not negotiate.”

“Name your price.”

The courtyard owner spoke with great confidence, but Su Mu, with millions at his disposal, pressed directly for a price.

“I have three pieces of information, each for ten thousand taels.”

“Ten thousand taels apiece?”

Su Mu mused internally, though mentally prepared, the price exceeded his expectation, as the cost of all three pieces matched the price of acquiring two decent Fourth-Grade Dharma Artifacts.

Adding a bit more, even one piece of information could rival the price of a Fourth-Grade Dharma Artifact.

As Su Mu pondered, a chuckle emerged from behind the screen.

“I dare set such a price because of their worth. Currently, all information related to Demon Fiends outside is sealed by the Court and the Demon Slayer Bureau, making it hard to acquire even with vast riches.”

“Of course, if the esteemed guest still finds it unworthy, feel free to exit the door and turn left.”

“Interesting, then let’s start with one piece.”

Yet Su Mu was no fool; not one to believe the owner’s words without verification, opting to buy one piece first to test its authenticity, ready to retaliate if he were being played.

“Agreed.”

Su Mu promptly brought out two hefty silver note boxes, organized by his second sister, Baili Hongtang; each box held the equivalent of fifty thousand taels.

With a simple gesture, he pushed the boxes behind the screen, eliciting a surprised gasp from behind it, the voice losing much of its previous mocking tone.

“Esteemed guest… impressive physical control.”

“Praise is unwarranted.”

A weightless piece of paper floated out from behind the screen into Su Mu’s hand. Upon spreading it open, the words inscribed drew his focus:

“Demon Fiends might be tied to the Buddhist Sect, able to regenerate severed limbs, remaining undying without a head—only through Divine Thunder Techniques, or a Martial Artist’s pure Martial Momentum, or the Divine Abilities of the Three Religions, can they be severely wounded or killed.”

Demon Fiends related to the Buddhist Sect?

Regeneration of severed limbs, undying despite decapitation?

In an instant, Su Mu recalled Wang Xuantian’s image, his words during the battle outside Changfeng City echoed once more.

“If I am a demon… then you are a fiend; you and I are kindred spirits!”

Demon Fiends, demons and fiends, Demon Fiends with the Buddhist Sect?

Su Mu squinted slightly, having heard of the Three Religions’ Divine Abilities—Life Character of the Confucian Sect, Mysterious Domain of the Taoist Sect, Arhat Dharma Aspect of the Buddhist Sect—all belonging to this category. As for Divine Thunder Techniques, Su Mu had heard it for the first time.

After perusing the message, flames rose in Su Mu’s hand, burning away the paper. He faintly sensed the information could come in handy when he faced Wang Xuantian later; ten thousand taels seemed fair for such intelligence.

“I’ll take the other two pieces of information as well.”

This time, however, the voice behind the screen changed tone instead of agreeing smoothly.

“The remaining two pieces are not for sale, but if the esteemed guest could assist me with a small task, I would present them free of charge.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Esteemed guest has great prowess; kill someone for me.”

“Apologies, seek another more capable individual.” Hearing this, Su Mu rose to leave, intent on no longer continuing the transaction.

The courtyard owner wished him to kill someone and would even give away twenty thousand taels worth of Demon Fiend intelligence, indicating the difficulty and high worth equivalent to twenty thousand taels.

It must be noted, a reward for the head of any of the top three among the Thirteen Bandit Leaders in Donglai County Mansion was barely ten thousand taels.

Su Mu had no intention of being manipulated or engaged in random killing, especially without even knowing the identity of the target, going against his beliefs to kill a stranger without cause.

Certainly, it’s also vital to recognize that he’s not the sole source of Demon Fiend information; according to Wanlin Commerce Association’s steward, he could attempt to acquire it through the Qingzhou headquarters, not necessarily get stuck with this courtyard owner.

“Esteemed guest, hold.”

Seeing Su Mu leave without hesitation, the courtyard owner became a bit anxious.

“Allow me to guess: Is the esteemed guest seeking Demon Fiend intelligence to probe into the mystery of the disappeared Demon Fiend Crystal Core from the Deadman’s Pit of yesteryears? I can aid you in this.”

“I shall gladly return the ten thousand taels paid prior!”

…..

“Let’s hear it.”

“Esteemed guest has great prowess; kill someone for me.”

“Apologies, seek another more capable individual.” Hearing this, Su Mu rose to leave, intent on no longer continuing the transaction.

The courtyard owner wished him to kill someone and would even give away twenty thousand taels worth of Demon Fiend intelligence, indicating the difficulty and high worth equivalent to twenty thousand taels.

It must be noted, a reward for the head of any of the top three among the Thirteen Bandit Leaders in Donglai County Mansion was barely ten thousand taels.

Su Mu had no intention of being manipulated or engaged in random killing, especially without even knowing the identity of the target, going against his beliefs to kill a stranger without cause.

Certainly, it’s also vital to recognize that he’s not the sole source of Demon Fiend information; according to Wanlin Commerce Association’s steward, he could attempt to acquire it through the Qingzhou headquarters, not necessarily get stuck with this courtyard owner.

“Esteemed guest, hold.”

Seeing Su Mu leave without hesitation, the courtyard owner became a bit anxious.

“Allow me to guess: Is the esteemed guest seeking Demon Fiend intelligence to probe into the mystery of the disappeared Demon Fiend Crystal Core from the Deadman’s Pit of yesteryears? I can aid you in this.”

“I shall gladly return the ten thousand taels paid prior!”