Li Tianjue said lightly, "What's so strange? Any mission can be posted on the black market, as long as there is money. After all, it is anonymous. But whether it can be successful depends on the ability of the person accepting the mission."
"It seems Senior Brother has been through many battles, but you still need to be careful."
Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Su Luo leaned closer and teased him in his ear, "What if one day the enemy uses a honey trap, and you're not careful, a hero can't resist the beauty, and you have a night of passion..."
"Enough of that."
Li Tianjue felt a tickle in his ear from Su Luo's sudden closeness, and smelled her unique fragrance. His heart warmed, and he quickly moved a step away from her, his voice deep, "Look at your mission, don't waste time."
Su Luo, unaware, said "oh" and continued reading.
In the bounty missions, many famous figures from the righteous and demonic paths were listed, with rewards generally no less than five million spirit coins. Although she was tempted, she wouldn't accept them because they were too dangerous and tiring.
She was not Li Tianjue, who was willing to travel thousands of miles to earn money and chase targets for months.
Su Luo could only choose from safe missions.
Soon, her eyes lit up, and she saw one entry: Urgent call for several appraisers, reward starting from 500,000 spirit coins.
This was tailor-made for her!
Su Luo's spirits lifted, and she read on carefully: Items taken from an unnamed tomb. For each valuable item appraised, the appraiser will receive a reward of 500,000 spirit coins.
Requires over 50,000 points and a Level 3 membership to accept.
Su Luo was overjoyed and pointed to this mission, asking Li Tianjue, "Senior Brother, I want to try this one, but what about the points and membership?"
"You want to appraise items?"
Li Tianjue maintained his distance from her, still somewhat surprised. How did she know about this?
But he didn't ask further, only saying, "If you want to try, then try. I'll lend you my membership jade token. The black market recognizes the token, not the person. You can accept any mission you want."
After speaking, he handed over a white jade token about the size of a thumb.
It seems Senior Brother often came here to make money!
Su Luo finally understood why he was so fond of chasing demonic cultivators. It wasn't that he truly hated evil and wanted to uphold justice, but purely out of financial necessity.
Yet, he had earned a reputation that made children cry at night.
Feared and admired by all.
The two went up to the second floor. Su Luo found the place to accept special missions, handed over the jade token, and said, "I'm here to accept mission number thirty-eight. Where do I appraise?"
The man in charge of registration didn't pay much attention. He took the jade token and fiddled with it for a while, then his expression suddenly changed: "A Level 7 member?"
He quickly stood up, his face beaming with smiles, and bowed obsequiously, "It is registered, honored sir! The appraisal location is on the third floor. I will personally escort you."
This drastic change in attitude clearly showed that he had noticed the information within the jade token.
Over 1.8 million points, and the top-tier Level 7 member!
Which great figure had arrived?
...
On the third floor, in the Water Cloud Pavilion.
Chu Feiyang, the third prince of the Northern Underworld Empire, sat in a carved chair, looking somewhat impatient.
Eight royal guards and two confidant masters stood around him. A pile of items was placed on the table in front of him, and several appraisers were busy, sweating profusely as they carefully examined each item. They had been at it for three full days.
"Young Master Jiang, can we be done now?"
Chu Feiyang frowned and said, "These treasures were all painstakingly brought out from the ancient tomb you mentioned by my men, with countless casualties. How much further do you need to appraise them?"
Opposite him sat a young man in opulent robes, handsome and refined. He said calmly, "Why is Your Highness in such a hurry? I'm not doubting you, but this matter is of great importance, and it's our first time cooperating. Since I've spent the money, I naturally want to understand everything clearly."
Chu Feiyang's lips curled into a smile. "Although fifty million spirit coins is not a small sum, this prince doesn't take it to heart. I merely wish to make friends with Young Master Jiang, which is why I've gone to such lengths to help you..."
At this moment, someone from the trading house arrived and whispered a few words into Chu Feiyang's ear.
"What, another appraiser, and a Level 7 member?"
"An appraiser with Level 7 membership?"
The young man in opulent robes smiled and said, "Excellent, please invite this master in quickly."
Chu Feiyang had no choice but to say, "Fine, let him in."
A moment later, Su Luo and Li Tianjue entered.
Her eyes immediately fell upon countless bottles and jars, swords, jade, and other miscellaneous items on the table. Some of them were still covered in dirt, as if they had just been dug out of a tomb.
"Excuse me, I am an appraiser here to accept a mission. What do I need to appraise?" Su Luo scanned the entire Water Cloud Pavilion, taking everything in.
"Who are you? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Chu Feiyang stared at Su Luo suspiciously, appearing somewhat defensive.
A prince?
Could he be Second Senior Brother's younger brother?
Su Luo felt a bit more amiable towards Chu Feiyang, assuming he was being cautious. She didn't mind his attitude and casually said, "My surname is Su, and I am an appraiser. This... he is my bodyguard. I'd like to try this appraisal mission."
"Is that so?"
Chu Feiyang scrutinized Su Luo and the masked Li Tianjue, about to say more, when the young man in opulent robes interrupted, "Miss, I posted the appraisal mission. It's these items you see."
He gestured towards the table and said, "These were all taken from an ancient tomb. The owner of the tomb had some background, but I'm unsure of the purpose of these items. I don't recognize some of them, which is why I'm looking for someone to appraise them. Do you have the ability to do so?"
Su Luo understood. This was normal.
Even with weapons like swords, without knowing their specific context, many people wouldn't know if the inlaid gems or the patterns had special functions. For an item with an unusual form, like a magic artifact or a sacred artifact, it would be even more confusing.
Without knowledge, a powerful weapon might only unleash a tenth of its potential, which would be a loss.
Su Luo didn't boast, "I'll try first."
The man in opulent robes nodded.
Just as Su Luo was about to step forward, several appraisers walked over and said to Chu Feiyang and the man in opulent robes, "No need. We have finished our appraisals."
An elderly appraiser with white hair and beard, holding a lotus-shaped lamp, approached the man in opulent robes and said excitedly, "Congratulations, Young Master Jiang. This treasure is the most powerful one we have appraised. It should be the legendary Lotus Glazed Lamp."
After speaking, he presented the lamp to the man in opulent robes.
The man in opulent robes' eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with great joy, "Is it truly the Lotus Glazed Lamp? Are you sure?"
After clearing away the dirt and dust, the Lotus Glazed Lamp emitted a faint glow. Each petal was like carved crystal, with the stamen in the center serving as the wick. The base was antique bronze, adorned with intricate patterns, exuding an ancient charm and the vicissitudes of time.
"Of course! I guarantee it with my reputation, Lei Dingshan." the old man said proudly.
"Good, good, good. I believe Elder Lei's words. So it really is the Lotus Glazed Lamp!" The man in opulent robes gazed at the lamp in his hand, his face beaming, reluctant to let it go.
"And these few items..."
The other elders also brought forward the items they had appraised.
The Seven Absolutes Ancient Sword, Ten Thousand Year Thunder-Striking Wood, shattered Jade Marrow Essence fragments, a small cauldron forged from Heavenly Gang Meteorite Iron, an ancient-style flowing colored treasure robe... a total of fifteen items, all precious. Even if some were damaged, their materials held great value.
Chu Feiyang watched and laughed heartily, "Hahahaha, excellent! Excellent! Congratulations, Young Master Jiang. It seems our cooperation this time has been very smooth. It deserves celebration."
His two confidants also praised, "So many treasures, it was worth Master's effort to come here."
The man in opulent robes was clearly satisfied as well. He smiled and said, "Good, thank you, Third Prince. Since so many treasures have been appraised, everything will proceed according to our agreement. Excluding the twenty million deposit paid in advance, the remaining thirty million..."
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a pleasant female voice rang out, "I haven't appraised yet, why is it over?"