"Fine, I'll hold onto this demon blade." Ye Tianfan reluctantly picked up the demon blade.

The returning burly man in black handed an invitation and a mask to Ren Ningyue and Ye Tianfan.

"This... this way." The man in black turned and gestured for them to follow, leading the way into the dense forest.

Ren Ningyue instructed Qin Hu to take good care of Liu Moyu, then followed ahead.

Ye Tianfan walked at the back, his eyes filled with caution. Even though he followed behind the man in black, encountering no traps, he constantly felt the presence of hidden killing intent surrounding them.

Surely there were numerous Ancient Martial Arts experts hidden in this forest, keeping watch. This so-called black market seemed heavily guarded. Fortunately, Ye Tianfan and Ren Ningyue wore masks, encountering no special incidents until they came to a dilapidated fortress-like building and were stopped.

"New arrivals?"

The two gatekeepers in black scrutinized Ye Tianfan and Ren Ningyue, eventually focusing on the demon blade in Ye Tianfan's hand: "Weapons can't be brought inside."

This instantly made Ren Ningyue frown. The demon blade had never left her sight; as a core member of the Celestial Punishment Team, she knew that in critical moments, her trust lay in this blade. The blade would never betray her, and now being asked to leave it was a challenge to her sense of security.

"What if I refuse to leave it?"

Ren Ningyue's tone was unfriendly, carrying a hint of threat. The gatekeeper's expression changed, and he turned to the burly man who had brought Ye Tianfan and coldly said, "Is this your guest? Such lack of understanding of rules?"

The burly man hastily explained, "This... this is a special case, please make an exception. After all, some have brought weapons inside before; she's not the first."

While speaking, Ye Tianfan saw the burly man slip a wad of red bills into the gatekeeper's hand.

It seemed money worked everywhere, even on this island in the vast ocean, capable of getting things done.

The gatekeeper smiled, looked Ye Tianfan up and down, then waved them inside: "Go in, just this once. Next time, don't bring weapons; it's very safe inside."

Since the gatekeeper allowed entry, Ye Tianfan didn't want to argue, stepping into the fortress-like building.

After entering, Ye Tianfan realized the building, though small from the outside, was quite different inside. It was a hall where many people had gathered.

These people shared a common trait: wearing different masks, both men and women. Some stood together, others leaned alone in corners.

Ye Tianfan scanned the hall, noticing varied levels of caution in their eyes, each wary of the others.

So this black market wasn't as safe as the gatekeeper suggested!

Though questioned upon entering and asked to leave weapons, Ye Tianfan found inside, many carried weapons, some concealed short knives, others small pistols, although nothing as conspicuous as his demon blade.

With Ye Tianfan and Ren Ningyue's arrival, the hall's atmosphere tensed, all eyes on them.

After enduring the tense gaze, Ye Tianfan uneasily shrugged and whispered to Ren Ningyue, "Seems like everyone here is trouble."

"Obviously." Ren Ningyue nodded slightly, softly replying, "This black market is illegal; those who come surely aren't clean either, hence the masks."

Ye Tianfan nodded, speaking gravely, "Notice the person near the corner? He's an Ancient Martial Arts expert, very strong. And the three together on the left are no weaklings either..."

In merely ten seconds, Ye Tianfan had scrutinized everyone, identifying the strongest ones, potential foes in case of incidents.

Just then, the hall doors opened, and three people in blue tunics slowly entered.

Leading was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a metallic mask, hiding his face, followed by two strong young men, seemingly his aides.

But as the elder entered, Ye Tianfan's face abruptly changed.

"What's wrong?" Ren Ningyue quietly asked.

Ye Tianfan whispered back, "They're from Yama Hall."

Yama Hall was the Ye Family's nemesis; Ye Tianfan was familiar with their aura. That elder's subtle energy was uniquely Yama Hall's.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!" Ye Tianfan frowned, whispered, "Watch them; Yama Hall will do anything."

As Ye Tianfan finished, before Ren Ningyue could react, a sound of clanging chains was heard behind.

At the far end, a narrow iron door slowly opened, drawing all eyes toward it.

"Market open!"

The black market staff shouted loudly upon opening the door, and people orderly funneled inside.

Despite the crowd in the hall, there was no chaos or jostling, as if everyone understood and entered silently.

Ye Tianfan signaled Ren Ningyue, and they followed the crowd toward the iron door.

Entering the door, Ye Tianfan felt a breeze; beneath their feet was a transparent tempered glass path, with a chasm full of sharp stalagmites below—falling wouldn't bear thinking about.

"Look below," Ren Ningyue cautiously reminded Ye Tianfan from behind.

Below the glass path, every ten meters or so, was a black square box.

Ye Tianfan was slightly stunned, realizing they were plastic explosives!

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