Chapter 258: Chapter 167: Something Went Wrong (Double Updates Resume Tomorrow)

In any case, there were all sorts of reasons, but they never once mentioned the goods being traded.

Even the deposit and the gifts they had given for attracting people were described as generous items for making friends.

“Ah! Ah…”

The next moment, inside the room, came Qin Feng’s agonizing howl. Among the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, some looked pale and bloodless, and others seemed devastated.

Some had bloodshot eyes and began cursing angrily.

For a moment, all ten Foundation Establishment cultivators who were so high-up broke down completely.

“Damn it! Those despicable villains.”

“Damn it, there are still two people. These two must be accomplices. Catch them to find out about the others.”

The group was red-eyed, knowing that they had put everything they owned on the line this time.

The cultivators who provided high-tier materials went missing, yet they had prepaid a lot of materials and the gifts for attracting people earlier.

Though there was still a batch of materials in the Market, meant to be traded during the final delivery.

What use is that!

The date for the chamber of commerce to deliver is coming up soon, what can they use to fill this gap.

The losses aren’t just from this trade, but also the future of the Market.

The most important aspect of the Black Market is reputation; lose it, and it’s over.

…

Just as Lin Chang’an burned away more than a dozen Sound Transmission Talismans of different identities, leisurely fishing in the Pavilion.

“Old Lin, something’s wrong.”

At that moment, Old Hu shouted about something being wrong but walked in with radiant excitement on his face.

Not giving Lin Chang’an a chance to inquire, Old Hu laughed excitedly, saying:

“Old Lin, you wouldn’t believe it. In the West District, the Qin family got framed by cultivators from another kingdom. Ten Foundation Establishment cultivators were about to capture two Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators inside Celestial Profound City.

They forced them to reveal the whereabouts of other accomplices. These two loose cultivators, being fiery personalities, fought back furiously in a battle that even alarmed the Immortal City’s patrol. Guess what happened in the end?”

Seeing Old Hu’s enthusiastic laughter scare away the Spirit Fish in the pool, Lin Chang’an smiled as he put away his fishing rod teasingly:

“So, Old Hu, what happened next?”

Facing Lin Chang’an’s inquiry, Old Hu laughed and slapped his thigh with excitement, saying:

“It ended with both parties blaming each other, and upon investigation, it was found that the Qin family and their group of Foundation Establishment cultivators secretly tried poaching people, which led to them being framed.

Even the identities of the two loose cultivators were revealed, causing them to furiously curse the traitors who broke promises, and these two were even cultivators from other countries…”

As Old Hu laughed and narrated, the two loose cultivators got heavily injured and had their identities exposed, leading to animosity in disgrace.

The most important thing is, after this news spread, the chamber of commerce and cultivators within Celestial Profound City avoided them like the plague.

In the Black Market, there are many shady dealings, making integrity even more crucial.

If the West District Black Market got framed, they could only blame their own misfortune, especially since it was made into such a big deal.

“Now not only have the chamber of commerce associations involved with West District come to collect on their trades, but even I, Old Hu, have witnessed the situation firsthand — the entire Market doesn’t even have a Qi Refining cultivator.”

Empty!

A Black Market that can’t provide trust and security, who would visit it?

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang’an also revealed a smile.

“That’s really a case of self-inflicted disaster.”

“Who says not? When I went there, the Qin family’s eyes were bloodshot with anger, pointing at me, accusing us of doing the frame job on them.

I spat on that! If they hadn’t come here to poach, how would they have gotten framed? Serves them right.”

Old Hu swore it was purely bad luck for the Qin family.

They just happened to be caught in it.

After all, the two years of turmoil in Celestial Profound City attracted numerous Seven Kingdoms cultivators.

These foreign cultivators and some Tribulation Cultivators have various methods of setting traps to cheat people.

It’s highly unusual for something this massive, to the point of framing an entire Black Market, to happen.

Usually, they cheat acquaintances, or act as Tribulation Cultivators for known people.

The high-end trick is this kind — setting a fierce trap.

“Recently, such incidents have been too frequent. I heard there’s even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who finally gathered enough for Foundation Establishment materials, invited someone to perform alchemy, and the Pill Master took the materials and vanished the next day.

That person wasn’t even a Yue Kingdom cultivator, leaving the cultivator in deep regret, only to later discover that his companion in alchemy had been taking kickbacks and was an accomplice.”

Listening to Old Hu’s words, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh.

“In troubled times, the value of friendship is at the lowest.”

Listening to this, Old Hu felt deeply touched, and his smile gradually faded as he shook his head, saying:

“And yet ironically, friendship is also the most precious.”

The chaotic Yue Kingdom saw all kinds of demons and monsters surface.

Getting framed is nothing uncommon in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

Celestial Profound City had only a few Black Markets, yet the West District Black Market getting framed sparked great interest.

But after this event, many cultivators in Celestial Profound City heightened their vigilance.

…

“Damn it, even these Black Market people got framed, we ordinary loose cultivators must be careful.”

“What’s the future in this world?”

“Come off it, you’re at Qi Refining Seventh Layer, would someone blind their eyes to frame you just for the handful of Spirit Stones in your storage bag?”

“Best be cautious.”

Although it caused quite a spectacle, Qin Feng’s West District operations also served as a wake-up call for many loose cultivators.

And other Black Markets quietly increased their vigilance to prevent being framed by outsiders.

Since once they’re trapped, they’ll flee, impossible to find.

East District Black Market.

On the top floor of the tower, Lin Chang’an, Yun Yao, Old Ghost, He Yan, Old Jia, and Old Hu gathered due to this incident.

“Folks, let’s stick to running a Black Market by the book, and have Foundation materials ready for any trade with major commerce in the future.”

“Likewise, I suspect even the chamber of commerce plays an unscrupulous role behind this.”

Old Jia, being rather cautious, couldn’t help but be a bit scared, fortunately, this matter involved the West District Black Market.

And as Old Hu naturally saw through Old Jia’s concerns, he laughed, waving his hand:

“Old Jia, those smart cultivators framing anyone are dead clever, targeting the West District’s restless desire to flip their fate; if it weren’t greed, how would they get trapped?”

Lin Chang’an laughed and shook his head, seeing that hardly anyone suspected him.

After all, to set up such a big trap requires close coordination of nearly twenty Tier Two Skill Cultivators, impossible for normal forces to organize.

This matter heightened the vigilance of the entire Celestial Profound City.

While everyone was solemn about this, suddenly, a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators came to seek an audience outside the Market.

Leading them was Qin Feng, who looked straight forlorn as he came here.

“Looks like someone couldn’t hold back.”

With a cold smile, Old Hu prompted the crowd to show cold expressions.

Leading, Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao exchanged a glance and ordered them to be brought in directly.

Then Qin Feng and the other nine Foundation Establishment cultivators walked in.

“Oh, isn’t it the Patriarch of the Qin Family? I recall not long ago someone was strutting around with great pride.”

As soon as they met, Old Hu immediately resorted to cold sarcasm, for he was one to repay each grudge.

While Lin Chang’an and the others just smiled indifferently, not stopping Old Hu’s demeanor.

“Mr. Qin, what brings you here? Has your Market issue been resolved?”

Despite the other having ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, what mattered was strength, not numbers.

Just among them, Yun Yao, with her intimidating demeanor of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was enough to suppress all.

Qin Feng’s face looked grim, but he knew that now wasn’t the time for a clash over pride; the crucial thing was salvaging the Market.

If they could save the Market’s business, slowly earning Spirit Stones later would be fine.

Otherwise, they’d lose everything.

“Mr. Lin, it’s embarrassing to say, but we were framed together, truly shameful.”

Qin Feng forcibly held back his anger, showing an extremely sincere sorrow on his face.

The next moment, in astonishment, tears flowed as soon as he wanted them to.

A hundred-plus-year-old mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, himself the head of the family, crying right here.

“Esteemed guests, we truly have nowhere else to turn. Right now, within all Celestial Profound City, only Mr. Lin and Mr. Yun here possess this capability.

I earnestly implore you, dear guests, to lend us some materials and Spirit Stones to help us tide over this crisis. Later, we at the West District Market will certainly defer to the East District Market.”

Qin Feng, tears flowing, pain tangible, directly lowered his stance.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep