Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 369 Phoenix Feather_1 (2/2)

It was many times more valuable than gold.

Qin Niu’s heart stirred, thinking of Perching Phoenix Mountain where an avian demon that could breathe fire would kill Spirit Qi Realm warriors as though it was a walk in the park. Even if it was not a Fire Phoenix, it must have been an extraordinarily formidable demon bird.

“I’ll take it,” said a gentleman in white, striding to the booth and presenting a Gold Note worth a thousand taels.

He purchased the phoenix feather straight away.

The onlookers gasped in admiration, their chatter a buzzing swarm.

Yet the gentleman in white simply drifted away.

Qin Niu, relying on his sensitivity to qi, was certain that this gentleman’s cultivation was at least at the Spirit Qi Realm.

Terrifyingly powerful.

Even stronger than Vice City Lord Bai’s presence.

Such a formidable person was likely practicing spells for the Immortal Master rank.

Only Immortal Masters had the skill to practice spells.

Ordinary people, even those strong in the Spirit Qi Realm, were incapable of casting spells.

However, nothing is absolute; those in the Spirit Qi Realm could still cast spells using talismans or certain special items.

“So the black market is really where Black Tiger City hides its hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”

Qin Niu subconsciously lowered his stance; his own cultivation at the Innate Realm didn’t seem like much before these true powerhouses.

From not too far ahead came the pleading cries of a young girl.

“Please… please stop hitting me, I won’t do it again!”

Her clothes were tattered, and her exposed back was nearly all bone, streaked with bloody lash marks.

“My husband, why don’t we buy that girl and take her home?”

Wang Wanyan had a kind heart and couldn’t bear to see such human suffering.

Moved by pity at the sight of the little girl’s plight, she immediately wanted to act.

“Let’s not be hasty; let’s look around a bit more.”

Qin Niu held her back, speaking in a low voice.

The city’s schemes were deep, full of pitfalls. Without extra caution, one could easily be ensnared.

Qin Niu had learned this the hard way.

“Look at the stall owner whipping that girl; his eyes aren’t on her but secretly checking out passersby. He’s likely trying to garner sympathy to sell her off quicker.”

“Ah… there are such people? That’s despicable!”

Wang Wanyan was surprised and angered upon hearing this.

“To sell someone, is there a need to beat her? She’s just about twelve or thirteen years old; too young, it’s too pitiful.”

She clenched her fists in anger but did not confront the stall owner.

“Let’s go deeper inside.”

Qin Niu took Wang Wanyan’s hand and bypassed the slaver’s stall, continuing inward.

This area was full of slave stalls.

Some slaves had their necks locked, tethered to the stalls like cattle.

Others sat on the ground, expressionless, with shackles on their ankles and wrists.

Young girls and women were locked in large iron cages.

Many were scantily clad, emaciated, with eyes full of fear or indifferent expressions.

There were even children for sale, some as young as three.

Both boys and girls.

Those buying children were mostly large landowners.

With vast lands to tend, these landlords needed many slaves to work, so they bought children and raised them from a young age to labor.

For some exceptional children, there was even the chance of being singled out for education in literacy and arithmetic.

These children, as they grew, would become loyal servants to the landowner’s family.

Assigned to various jobs.

Steward Yan Qi of the Yan Family was such a person, adopted young by the family and then raised to become the steward.

Raising children from a young age not only saved costs on purchasing slaves but also ensured loyalty to the family, making large landowners particularly fond of adopting these children as slaves.