Chapter 056: The Black Market

“I wonder if Mister Dirk would be willing to lead the way?” Shen Tuo’s clear, bright eyes turned to Dirk behind him.

Not every city had a black market; smaller towns like Locheng didn’t. Still, Shen Tuo managed to recall some information about such places from his memory. There was a sizeable black market in the Shen family’s main city. Although the former Shen Tuo had never visited it himself, he had heard many tales about it. Shak City, as the capital of the Bacra Empire, certainly had one as well—Shen Tuo had caught snippets about it during his strolls through the city. Naturally, he was aware of its existence.

The black market was a free market, not governed by those in power, lacking the grand, unified management system of an auction house. Precisely because of this, it was even more chaotic and exorbitant. Unlike a commercial street, the black market could be as humble as a dilapidated alley. Many powerful, independent Illusionists would bring their treasures to sell there; some even sold stolen goods. In short, the black market lived up to its name—dark and illicit. Yet, many had found unexpected treasures there, so instead of fading away over the years, black markets had only grown more popular.

Dirk forced out a strained laugh and gestured politely. “This way, sirs, please follow me.”

At the far end of East Street, past the Mercenary Guild and through a deserted lane, they arrived at Shak City’s black market.

On the surface, the black market looked like an ordinary street, but a closer look revealed many peculiar vendors on either side. They sat behind cloth sacks, most dressed as Illusionists, and no one hawked their wares aloud. Shoppers browsed casually, examining the goods in front of each vendor. Now and then, arguments would break out, sometimes turning deadly, but no one intervened.

This was Shen Tuo’s first visit to a black market. His curiosity drove him to inspect each vendor’s offerings: precious Flash Mountain Stones, green turquoise native to Otzhir, rare Blackflower herbs, and even low-level phantom beasts like the Red Jellyfish from Hongluo—truly an eye-opening array. This was just a small city’s black market; one could only imagine how magnificent the main markets in the four great clans’ cities must be.

But Feng Jun, ever silent and reserved, showed not the slightest interest. His gaze occasionally swept the scene but never lingered.

Shen Tuo was engrossed when a commotion ahead drew his attention. A young woman with golden curls was quarrelling with a freelance Illusionist vendor, flanked by two high-star Grand Illusionists.

Dirk noticed, too. His expression changed as he hastened to advise, “Sirs, the market ends just ahead. Perhaps we should turn back and see if anything else catches your fancy.”

Shen Tuo caught every flicker of emotion on Dirk’s face. He raised an eyebrow. “Dirk, who is that woman over there?”

Though Dirk hesitated, Shen Tuo and Feng Jun soon learned the answer. She was none other than Doris, the Bacra Empire’s Grand Princess—the one-star Spirit Illusionist under thirty they were to travel with.

They hadn’t expected to encounter her here. It was a good opportunity to gauge her temperament. Before Dirk could protest, both men strode toward Doris.

Dirk’s heart quaked with anxiety: this was a disaster in the making.

Shen Tuo and Feng Jun stopped before Doris’s group. The princess was already flushed with anger, her temper flaring as she argued with the vendor. At a glance, she spotted these two “obstructionists.” Without waiting for them to speak, she erupted.

“You two lowly commoners, get out of my way!” she snapped with not a shred of royal decorum, her face haughty to the extreme. She looked at them as if they were nothing but dust. Thick makeup caked her features, contrasting with her bright scarlet Illusionist robe. When she cursed, her gaping mouth was enough to frighten a child into tears.

Shen Tuo and Feng Jun’s impressions of the princess instantly plummeted. Outwardly, they looked no different from ordinary men, their commanding presences concealed. Shen Tuo gave Doris a once-over, his eyes betraying nothing but disdain. The thought of having to help her subdue the River-Crushing Crocodile filled him with further revulsion. Feng Jun’s icy features didn’t shift, but the faint trace of contempt in his narrow eyes was unmistakable.

Without a word, they turned and left, unwilling to waste another moment on this shrewish woman.

But Doris was not about to let it go. She jabbed a gaudy fingernail at their backs and shouted, “Lowly commoners, did I give you permission to leave? I said get lost! Did you hear me? Get lost!”

Dirk’s knees nearly buckled with fear, his face ashen. How had it come to this—a squabble between the princess and two Illusionist lords? He wanted to comfort the furious Doris but dared not approach; nor could he chase after Shen Tuo and Feng Jun. Heaven help him, he was sure this ordeal would cost him ten years of life.

Unperturbed, Shen Tuo and Feng Jun strolled away, ignoring the princess’s screeches. Doris, never one to be disregarded, seethed with rage—she was used to bullying others, not being ignored herself. With a furious shout, she summoned a four-spirit-star array at her feet. A pale blue sphere of spirit illusion energy, glowing with power, transformed into a blade and shot toward Shen Tuo.

A triumphant smile curled Doris’s lips. “Just two worthless commoners—if they won’t listen, let them die! This is the world of the strong!”

Chaos erupted in the market. Many Illusionists swept up their goods, stepping aside to watch the coming spectacle with interest.

Dirk stood frozen, blood draining from his face, eyes glued to the speeding sphere.

Just as the blade of spirit illusion energy threatened to pierce Shen Tuo and Feng Jun, a transparent barrier shimmering with pale blue light sprang up around them. The blade dissolved instantly against it, vanishing like mist—utterly harmless.

The crowd gasped in unison. That was a spirit illusion energy sphere conjured by an Illusionist—not some ordinary attack! These two, who appeared so unremarkable, hadn’t even lifted a finger to deflect it. It was unbelievably impressive! More and more people pressed forward, their eyes ablaze with excitement.

Doris’s smug expression froze, her painted face twisted into something witchlike, her blue eyes wide with disbelief, soon turning savage. Some illusion artifacts could block an Illusionist’s assault—these two upstarts must possess such treasures! The thought nearly made her explode with fury.