Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Shapeshifting Technique "Ge Qing, the Pill Master?" Gu Sheng’s heart stirred. He had heard Gu Xiaojiang mention before that Ge Qing was a renowned Pill Master within the city. Many rare medicinal pills originated from this person, who was revered by the major powers. His subordinates seemed to have significant influence as well, making him a figure truly above ordinary circles. A character of this caliber would naturally not be impersonated lightly; otherwise, as the man in front of him said, the impostor would have been hacked to pieces long ago. This convinced Gu Sheng to trust him a little more. Other stalls were also selling Body Refining Ointment, and some were even offering better discounts. However, being unfamiliar with the black market, Gu Sheng was cautious. It was only because this man dared to show his face that Gu Sheng approached to inquire. The fair-skinned, middle-aged man noticed Gu Sheng’s hesitation and smiled as he grabbed an opened portion of Body Refining Ointment. "Stretch out your hand. You’ll know by trying." Gu Sheng didn’t speak; he simply gazed at him calmly. The man suddenly slapped his own forehead and exclaimed: "Ah, how presumptuous of me." He then applied the ointment to his own hand. The blackish-brown paste was almost identical to that of Gu’s Manor—whether in color, texture, or scent. Even the change after application was nearly the same. Gu Sheng nodded inwardly and rasped: "Give me ten portions." He carried a little over twenty taels of silver but still needed to purchase a bow and reserve some funds to buy Body Refining Ointment from the manor later. Spending ten taels on this was about his limit. The man’s eyes lit up. "You’re decisive!" "Buy ten portions and get one free. These eleven portions of Body Refining Ointment are yours. Please keep them safe." The man had an excellent attitude. When the ointment was applied earlier, Gu Sheng could roughly discern that this man was also a Martial Artist in the Stone Skin Realm. Gu Sheng collected the ointment but didn’t immediately store it in his pouch. Instead, he opened the packages one by one, inspected them by feeling a small portion, ensured their authenticity, and resealed them before putting them away. He was fast during the entire process, leaving the stall owner beside them awestruck. This stall owner had seen many customers during his time here, but few were as cautious as the one before him. Still, noting Gu Sheng’s outfit, completely concealed from head to toe, paired with the deliberately raspy voice, the vendor understood and didn’t mind Gu Sheng’s actions at all. He laughed and said: "If you find this useful after trying it, you’re welcome to return for more. The black market always has stalls like this." Gu Sheng gave a slight nod and stepped away. He deliberately wandered for a while. Only then did Gu Sheng stop at a stall specializing in weapons. This stall owner was different from the previous one selling Body Refining Ointment; he was masked with a black cloth, exposing only his eyes, similar to Gu Sheng. Gu Sheng observed for a while. Other weapon stalls had people crowding around them, but this one seemed deserted. Upon closer inspection, it was likely because this stall owner didn’t bargain. "High-quality weapons. If nothing suits your taste, you can state your requirements for customization. Just one rule—no bargaining!" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺 The owner spoke in a cold voice, arms crossed, eyes closed as if resting. He exuded an air of aloofness and made no effort to pitch his wares. No wonder his business seemed lackluster. Gu Sheng figured the vendor likely disliked dealing with people. "I need a bow—a four-stone bow." Gu Sheng’s words were brief and to the point. The vendor reopened his eyes, glanced at Gu Sheng in slight surprise, then rummaged through the stall before placing a bow on the ground and pointing to it. "This one." Gu Sheng picked up the bow. With archery skills beyond perfection, he was intimately knowledgeable about bows. The instant he held it, he could already assess its quality. "Excellent bow!" The craftsmanship was outstanding—the curvature of the bow was perfect, and the string’s elasticity superb. This bow was leagues ahead of the two-stone bow Gu Sheng had traded for at the depot before. He loved it inwardly yet kept a neutral expression. "How much silver?" "Eight taels." The vendor looked completely indifferent, as if he didn’t care whether the bow would sell. Gu Sheng pondered briefly. Eight taels for a four-stone bow was a bit expensive, but not excessively so. The bow was indeed slightly better than those at other stalls, making the price fair. "I’ll take it." He handed over eight taels of silver without attempting to negotiate. There was no point since the vendor had already made his stance clear. The transaction was completed. Gu Sheng noticed a subtle sparkle of joy and relief in the vendor’s eyes and couldn’t help finding it peculiar. This expression was reminiscent of what people from his previous life called social anxiety? He refrained from saying more. Turning around, he left. Yet his heart ached at how money flowed away so quickly. Just purchasing Body Refining Ointment and a bow had drained eighteen taels of silver—seventy percent of his wealth—leaving Gu Sheng rather pained. Next. He didn’t make any more purchases lightly. Having obtained his essentials, he aimed to gain some insight. The goods improved the deeper he ventured into the market. For instance, Blood Nourishing Powder for Blood Refining Realm cultivation cost a staggering five taels per portion! It left him astonished, but at least he gained some understanding of the resources for cultivation beyond the Blood Refining Realm. There were even genuine Divine Weapons. Seeing a longsword unsheathed from afar, Gu Sheng could already feel a chilling aura. Iron Skin Realm Martial Artists struggled against blades, but an ordinary person wielding such a Divine Weapon could pierce right through one. Various rare pills were also available—healing, detoxification, everything imaginable. Unfortunately, Gu Sheng couldn’t afford them. As he browsed further, he found very few stalls selling arrows. The ones he did find had low-quality arrows that couldn’t withstand the penetration power of his archery. "Looks like I’ll need to customize them after all." He mulled it over, recalling the vendor who sold him the bow. Still, Gu Sheng decided not to commission anything for now. He planned to revisit the idea once he was more familiar with the black market. While strolling. Gu Sheng stopped at a stall selling martial arts manuals. The vendor worked hard to promote them, but barely anyone stopped by. "Family lineage technique—Shapeshifting Skill! A comprehensive skill for traversing Jianghu. It lets you effortlessly change appearances and, at higher levels, strengthens bones and is extremely beneficial for Bone Refining Realm cultivation!" This sales pitch caught Gu Sheng’s attention. Disguise techniques were indeed essential. Gu Sheng aimed to develop quietly, but there would inevitably be times he had to act. This made alternate identities all the more valuable. Still, he wasn’t in a rush. If this Shapeshifting Skill were truly as remarkable as advertised, it wouldn’t have been ignored by everyone. The area was filled with seasoned individuals. Seeing someone finally stop at his stall, the short-statured vendor lit up with joy and eagerly leaned closer to whisper: "Sir, the Shapeshifting Skill—entry-level mastery within half a month! For talents like you, three days would suffice. It’s absolutely easy to learn. I feel like we’re connected—how about ten taels of silver?" The vendor’s eyes glimmered earnestly, gazing at Gu Sheng as if greeting a long-lost friend. Gu Sheng’s heart stirred yet remained impassive as he replied: "Entry-level is that simple?" "As true as can be!" "What can entry-level mastery achieve, and how challenging is cultivation beyond that stage?" Gu Sheng’s calm and measured tone made the vendor freeze momentarily, muttering inwardly: "Damn it, another tough customer." He quickly plastered a smile on his face and vaguely replied: "Rest assured, sir. Entry-level mastery allows basic alteration of facial features, and as for further cultivation, it largely depends on one’s individual talent. With someone of your caliber, it would naturally be effortless." "How about this? Since we’re connected, I’ll give you a friendly price—nine taels of silver!"