Su Yan decisively handed over 270 taels of silver to the manager, immediately bought the Tiger Fiend Soft Armor, and put it on.
The forging technique of the Sky Wind Weapon Shop was indeed impressive. The soft armor, which could clearly withstand blades and spears, felt barely heavier than an ordinary garment on his body.
It was an excellent fit. Not only did it not restrict his movements, but its special cut would actually enhance his combat strength, freeing him from worrying about common attacks.
Su Yan made no further purchases, but Gao Zheng, in contrast, bought a First-tier Superior Water-Cutting Blade and concealed it at his waist as a contingency.
"Junior Brother, would you like to wander around the Temple Market?"
Right after leaving the Sky Wind Weapon Shop, Gao Zheng asked Su Yan.
"Temple Market?"
"Yes. You wouldn't be wrong to call it a Black Market."
Gao Zheng explained: "It's the disorganized stalls around the old temple. Many people sell things there, and the atmosphere becomes even more chaotic and dangerous at night."
"Isn't that just like a Mountain Fair market?"
Gao Zheng shook his head: "It's different. How can ordinary mountain people resist the various martial artists? Here, the vendors are mostly martial artists. A careless mistake can lead to a conflict. People in the Tiger God Temple Town might exercise restraint, but there's no guarantee that they won't try to target you once you leave."
Su Yan understood the unspoken meaning of Gao Zheng's words. Mountain dwellers couldn't resist, so even their transactions were mere exploitation. The price was always dictated by the martial artists.
But here, if a conflict arose, it would immediately escalate to a clash of sharp blades.
As they spoke, the two had already arrived near the old temple. It was indeed different from the street just now.
Stones lay scattered like graves, weeds grew knee-high, and a few original flagstone paths of the old temple led off in different directions. Remnants of stone tablets and red walls created a scene of desolation.
No one repaired the old temple. People, whose figures were obscured, spread out animal hides and sat there, looking like meditating old monks.
It was quiet; no one spoke loudly. Their eyes, deep and reserved, scanned every passerby, as if sizing up a fat sheep.
Su Yan frowned slightly. This environment and atmosphere were indeed unsettling, especially the gazes of those people.
Gao Zheng noticed Su Yan's expression and said: "It's still relatively normal during the day. But if you come at night, you must be careful and conceal your face."
The goods in the Temple Market were truly bizarre and varied. Everything was available.
There was a large quantity of common medicinal herbs and Savage Beast materials. Many items were things Su Yan had never even seen in books, requiring careful identification.
In addition to these, people were even selling weapons, armor, poisons, and hidden weapons...
Some of the armor and weapons were still blood-stained, making one wonder which fellow martial artist they were stripped from.
It was precisely these items that made one realize this place also consumed people.
'Hmm?'
Su Yan paused. The corner of his eye caught sight of a person whose stall had many items, mostly Savage Beast materials. But a few pieces of white jade-like stone particularly caught Su Yan's attention.
'This doesn't feel like stone. It feels like a bug.'
Doubt arose in his heart. Gao Zheng noticed his hesitation and asked: "See anything you like?"
Su Yan walked directly to a nearby stall, focusing on a bag of powder.
The stall owner's eyes lit up when he saw Su Yan approach: "Blood Strengthening Powder is half a tael of silver a bottle. It can strengthen your Qi and Blood. Would you like some, brother? Mine is cheaper than the Blood Strengthening Pills at the Hundred Herbs Hall."
"Does your stuff even compared to the pills from the Hundred Herbs Hall?"
Before Su Yan could speak, Gao Zheng retorted.
The skinny stall owner wanted to snap back, but seeing Gao Zheng's tall, muscular build, he knew he was not to be trifled with.
He swallowed his words, only arguing resentfully: "Mine is different from the usual Blood Strengthening Powder, which is just ground up beast blood mixed with common herbs."
The Hundred Herbs Hall has its own researched formulas. Naturally, ordinary martial artists who understand some medicine can also mix some simple, un-tiered or low-tier Tier-one medicines.
Blood Strengthening Powder is one of them. It is made by boiling down beast blood, adding body-strengthening and blood-tonifying herbs, and finally grinding it into a powder to enhance its effect.
The quality of the different formulas varies greatly, making it a minefield for scams.
It's not that the powder has no effect, but whether the effect is good truly depends on the vendor's conscience.
Su Yan sniffed the powder, then looked up at the vendor and said: "It is rather interesting. Give me one bottle."
After buying a bottle haphazardly, the two did not continue wandering.
Su Yan found an excuse, telling Gao Zheng to go take care of his own affairs, and that he would wander a bit more before returning.
Gao Zheng did not object. He was at a critical stage of his own cultivation and needed to make preparations for his trip into the Wild Mountain. He needed to make contacts and find ways to improve.
Once Gao Zheng left, Su Yan indeed wandered for a few more circles, then left the confines of the Tiger God Temple Market.
He acted casually, found an empty corner, took out a suit of pitch-black robes from his Bug World Space, and put it on.
He put on a hard wooden mask painted with a bug-like pattern, making him look quite eerie.
"This is a good opportunity to create a false identity. What should I call myself?"
Su Yan adjusted his clothing, and he controlled his voice to sound somewhat deep, subdued, and cold.
As his controlled spirit-bugs grew stronger, their numbers would increase. To maximize his profits, he needed to create an alter ego.
"Borrowing the name Li Feiyu would be too risky. I'll just call myself Feng Ruohan."
Su Yan strode out of the alley and went straight back to the previous stall.
A frail old man was huddled behind the stall, his hair white and his eyes slightly cloudy.
"What can I get for you, customer?"
The old man was surprised to see Su Yan approach, but he did not question his appearance, merely asking about business.
A deep voice spoke: "How much is this?"
Su Yan's eyes glanced at the 'jade stone' on the stall. The old man pondered for a moment, then said: "This is the discarded shell of a Jade Armor Bug. The Jade Armor Bug lives in mine tunnels year-round, devouring minerals and absorbing the essence of moonlight. Though it's just a shed shell, it still retains thirty percent of its medicinal power. It can strengthen bones. It's ten taels of silver each."
"Hmph."
Su Yan snorted coldly. The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said: "Don't be impatient, customer. If you genuinely want it, I'll give it to you for eight taels of silver."
"How about throwing in this Vital Serpent Toxin Stem as well?"
Su Yan pointed to a section of vine in a small wooden box beside the shells. The old man shook his head like a rattle.
"Absolutely not!"
The old man quickly said: "This section of Vital Serpent Toxin Stem is a spiritual herb. Although poisonous, throwing it in with the deal would be a loss for me. How about this: the Vital Serpent Toxin Stem is ten taels, and I'll count the Jade Armor Bug shell at six... no, seven taels each for you."
The poison of the Vital Serpent Toxin Stem is not weak, and it cannot be used in every formula.
The old man wanted to sell them as a package deal.
"Deal."
Su Yan did not bargain further this time. He paid the silver, took the goods, and turned to leave.
Some people, seeing his strange appearance, wanted to follow him.
But in broad daylight, no one dared to openly shadow him.
He ducked into an alley, changed his clothes, and emerged from the other side. The persona of Feng Ruohan had vanished.
Returning to the temporary rest room at the Martial Hall's branch, Su Yan's eyes were already filled with joy.
He had found what he was looking for when he least expected it—an Exotic Bug!
Of the 'shells' he purchased, only two were genuine sheds. The last one was a genuine, living Jade Armor Bug.