The real age of the nun selling the Rock Essence could not be ascertained, but she must be just over 20, judging from her looks. She looked very young. Although her hair was shaven, her delicate face and exquisite features still gave one an elegant feeling unique to women.

“Reverend, how much does your Rock Essence cost?” Ning Tao asked politely.

The young nun answered, “I'm not selling it.”

Ning Tao startled a little. He wondered why she had lain it out if she would not sell it.

The young nun added, “It's only for barter.”

Ning Tao asked, “What do you want to trade it for?”

The young nun answered, “Star Iron.”

Ning Tao felt greatly disappointed. Star Iron was a metallic spiritual material from outer s.p.a.ce, as recorded in the Compendium of Spiritual Materials. It was very rare and a premium spiritual material for forging magic weapons. Right now, he did not even have a meteorite to trade, let alone a rare metallic spiritual material from outer s.p.a.ce. There were spiritual materials and treasures everywhere here, but he could pick up nothing. He felt really depressed.

The young nun said again, “Patron.”

“Yes?” Ning Tao watched the young nun.

“You have it,” the young nun said.

Ning Tao shook his head. He would have traded it if he had the Star Iron. He also felt somewhat baffled. Why was this young nun so sure that he had it?

While Ning Tao was thinking this, the young nun added, “… don't you?”

Ning Tao was speechless.

He had realized that this young nun spoke quite erratically, but had not given it further thought. Only now did he realize she might be a born stammerer. She was afraid of ridicule, which must be why she spoke so strangely.

As expected, that scrawny monkey-like pract.i.tioner who had sold the Rainbow Snake Berry derided her. “I say, Reverend Stammerer, you've been here seven times and still haven't found the Star Iron you are looking for. Won't you give up? I think you had better pack up and go. No one has your Star Iron here. Even if someone does, that person won't trade it for a lump of coal.”

Ning Tao did not feel good hearing such words, but the young nun was not enraged at all. She still remained as calm, not even s.h.i.+fting her eyes to look at the mocking pract.i.tioner.

Ning Tao's heart trembled and he asked probingly, “Reverend, perhaps I can cure your stammer. Are you willing to be treated? I just want a lump of Rock Essence from you.”

The young nun shook her head and shut her eyes. She did not even wish to look at Ning Tao again.

Tang Huaiyu walked over and mocked. “You have no money, nor do you have the things she wants. Still trying to con her treasure, eh? Ning Tao, don't you feel embarra.s.sed? I feel embarra.s.sed for you. Since when have you sunk so low?”

Qing Zhui rebuked her. “Another rude word and I will tear your mouth!”

Tang Huaiyu did not take Qing Zhui's threat to heart. She said nonchalantly, “You don't know the rules here, I believe. There's a rule in Heaven on Earth. Whoever fights here will be the public enemy. Everyone will gather to attack the troublemaker, and whoever kills that person can take his or her possessions. There are other bountiful rewards as well. I'm standing right before you. Come and tear my mouth!”

Qing Zhui unleashed her snake claws with a whoosh. She took on a chilling stance.

In the circular flea market, there was a clatter of weapons being unsheathed, and bullets being loaded. Almost 90% of the sellers had got ready to strike.

It was just as she had claimed. That scrawny, monkey-like pract.i.tioner had drawn out his pistol, his eyes staring Ning Tao's medicine chest, slung over his shoulder. He did not hide the greed in his eyes. Those who killed the lawbreaker would receive trophies and bountiful rewards. The pract.i.tioners' world had always been dog-eat-dog. These prizes alone would be enough to make the pract.i.tioners and demons gather and strike.

Ning Tao lightly patted Qing Zhui's shoulder. “Retract your claws. You mustn't touch her here. Wait till we get out. I don't believe she can hide here forever.”

Tang Huaiyu had gone against him time and again. He had ignored her because of the dead Huai Kebing, but there is a limit to everything.

Qing Zhui retracted her snake claws.

Tang Huaiyu snorted coldly and provoked them again. “Ning, you think I'm scared of you? Between the two of us, one must die!”

At this moment, Liu s.h.i.+ba's voice rang out. “Madam Tang, if you continue to behave in this manner, I shall have to make you leave. This is no place to create a scene. I don't care if you're from the Tang Sect, you have to abide by the rules.”

Tang Huaiyu's lips quivered but she said nothing. She turned and left.

Liu s.h.i.+ba walked over. “Mr. Ning, I'm so sorry that you have to endure such an unpleasant experience on your first visit.”

Ning Tao said, “It's alright, I will just treat her as a mad dog. By the way, Old Master Liu, may I set up a stall here?”

Liu s.h.i.+ba said, “Of course you may. But there are rules here. You have to pay an annual members.h.i.+p fee of one million as a buyer, or five million as a seller. Although we have a good relations.h.i.+p, rules are rules. I can't break them. Mr. Ning, after you pay us the five million, you can set up a stall here and sell your wares.”

Ning Tao said, “I don't have so much money, but I can give you an elixir. Would that do?”

Liu s.h.i.+ba held up two fingers. “Two.”

Ning Tao smiled. “Very well, I'll make it two.”

He gave Liu s.h.i.+ba two Fine Primary Elixirs. Liu s.h.i.+ba left after accepting them. Ning Tao knew full well that these two elixirs would not be enough to pry his mouth open and reveal the man who had wanted the Picture of the Six Samsara Realms. He must invest more in order to entice him.

The discovery of this flea market was not the only reward of this visit. He was also sure now Liu s.h.i.+ba was not the local tyrant. Before he entered, he had already examined Liu s.h.i.+ba. Although Liu s.h.i.+ba had evil energy entwining his body, it was not too strong. From his experience, Liu s.h.i.+ba would have at most acc.u.mulated a few hundred sin of ill intention demerit points. He was still very far from being a local tyrant.

“Brother Ning, what are we selling?” After Liu s.h.i.+ba left, Qing Zhui asked curiously.

Ning Tao smiled. “You will know soon.”

Ning Tao did not walk far. He took up position beside that young nun and put his small medicine chest on the floor. Then he started to yell. “Come, come! Pa.s.sers-by, don't miss this opportunity! Magic tools repair service, as pa.s.sed down from my ancestors. Come and see, friends who are interested! Enjoy a 50% discount at the opening of my new stall!”

All the sellers in this flea market were either standing, or seated quietly. They would only respond when someone asked them the price, and they spoke softly. No one was yelling like Ning Tao. The moment he yelled, the eyes of everyone converged on him, all full of astonishment and curiosity.

“Magic tools repair service, as pa.s.sed down from ancestors? Is there such a skill in this world? Why haven't I heard of it before?”

“Who is that man? He must be money crazy!”

“Just a pauper. He had asked me the price and was scared away without even attempting to bargain. He must be some hard-up conman.”

“Does he know he can be a.s.saulted for selling counterfeit wares, or offering bogus services?”

“Humph, if he dares to con anyone here, his chest will be mine!”

A low murmur of discussions. The flea market immediately livened up.

Ning Tao did not care at all for these discussions. He continued to yell. “Whoever has a broken magic tool can bring me its fragments for repair. Our prices are reasonable and we will not cheat even the young and the old. Enjoy a storewide 50% discount on our opening day!”

Qing Zhui beside him started to clap in support. “Come and see! Absolutely worthwhile. Miss the chance and it'll be over!”

The wife was indeed singing to her husband's tune.

The young nun hesitated for a moment before touching Ning Tao's arm with her hand. “Excuse me.”

Ning Tao looked at her.

“… for a moment,” she continued.

Ning Tao said, “Please speak.”

“Can you… really… repair… magic tools?”

Ning Tao nodded. “I can. It's a skill pa.s.sed down from my ancestors. If you have any broken magic tools, I can repair it for you. Just pay me a lump of Rock Essence.”

The young nun kept quiet, looking quite hesitant.

At this moment, Master Fakong walked over, chanting Buddha's name. “Amitabha, are you the disciple of Reverend Miexin from Emei Sect?”

The young nun nodded. “Yes… my… Buddhist.. name is… Cixin…. My respects… to Master…. Fakong.”

This simple sentence took her about 30 seconds to say. A faint blush suffused her delicate face.

Master Fakong said, “This Mr. Ning can really repair magic tools. He repaired my Demon-slaying Bowl left behind by my master.”

Cixin s.h.i.+fted her eyes to Ning Tao, but the expression in them was now quite different. Her eyes were s.h.i.+ning.

Ning Tao said, “I wonder what broken magic tool Reverend Cixin has to repair? Just give it to me. I guarantee to repair it within half an hour.”

“You… wait a… moment…. I have… a broken…. magic… tool that… I need… your help… to repair.” Cixin untied a bundle on her back. She opened it, exposing a pile of broken fragments.

They were the broken pieces of a magic wooden fish.

Master Fakong glanced at it and said in astonishment. “Isn't this the Water Wooden Fish of your master? It can dry rivers and cause floods, as well as fertilize fields. Why is it broken?”

Cixin said, “There was… a long… drought…. My master… was too… kind… and over-… used it…. So it… broke.”

“Oh.” Master Fakong could not help but sigh.

Cixin said to Ning Tao, “I am… here to… find the… Star Iron… in order…. to repair… this… magic tool… If you can… repair it… I will give… you the… whole lump… of Rock… Essence.”

Ning Tao grinned. “Deal. Give me the fragments. I will repair it within half an hour.”

Cixin did not look as if she trusted Ning Tao. She glanced imploringly at Master Fakong.

Master Fakong chanted Buddha's name. “Amitabha, Patron Ning's romantic life is a big mess, and he kept making mistakes. But you can trust him in this. Reverend Cixin, you can entrust your master's magic tool to him.”

Ning Tao looked speechlessly at Master Fakong.

Only then did Cixin give Ning Tao the bundle containing the Water Wooden Fish's broken fragments.

“Qing Zhui, stay and man the stall. I will be back soon,” Ning Tao instructed Qing Zhui. He then grabbed the bundle, slung his medicine chest over his shoulder, and left for the door.