The north wind whistled through the sky with yellow sand, covering the royal city of Zhao State in a piece of sandy yellow. Only mottled green can be seen in the mountains not far away, but more of it is still the gray of stone.

This is Zhao State, which has a different style from other countries in the Shenzhou Continent.

If the ten countries in Shenzhou have a comprehensive environmental score, Zhao will definitely be the last. Most of the land area, which is not particularly large, is mountainous, and unlike Yan. Although there are many mountains, except for the border, most of them are hilly landforms, which are not inhabitable, but have excellent production. However, Zhao's boundary is not only mountains, but also steep peaks, which are unreachable places. Although there are vegetation on the mountain, it is also unfamiliar to the east and west. It is not wrong to say that it is a barren mountain.

Of course, there are also lush forests in Zhao State, but these forests are all paradises for monsters. Not to mention the output, monsters often appear and rob people from outside to sacrifice their teeth. Such forests are not as good as those from barren mountains.

Drought, desertification, and monsters rage. You can imagine the existence of Zhao State. This is also the reason why Zhao State is determined to curry favor with Song State. Because Zhao State is too poor, too biased, and too miserable. It is precisely because Zhao State is so unbearable that Song State and Yan State are not very interested in it. Otherwise, even if there is a natural barrier, Zhao State may not become an inconvenient place.

In fact, Zhao was not like this a long time ago. Although the initial Zhao State might not have the prosperity of the southern countries, it was not too barren. Until one time, Zhao State had a treacherous and foreign countries, transporting more than half of the bricks from the Taimiao of Zhao State in one go, which led to the decline of Zhao State's fortune, deterioration of land, and a decline in population, and an unsustainable half-dead appearance.

It is precisely because of Zhao's loss that the national deeds tasks of various countries have become increasingly bloody, brutal and unlimited. Because there is a living example in everyone's eyes, understanding what it means to lose gold bricks and what it means to get gold bricks.

Speaking of which, the beneficiaries of the loss of Zhao State were the five countries: Qin, Tang, Wei, Chu and Qi. After a lot of fighting, most of the gold bricks transported from the Taimiao of Zhao State finally flowed into the Taimiao of these five countries, which also gave the five countries a significant leap in strength.

For example, the Qin State was similar to the current Zhao State a long time ago, with a harsh living environment. It was only after obtaining those batches of gold bricks that the domestic environment improved. The output of the same land and the same people suddenly increased a lot, and the number of illnesses of ordinary people also decreased significantly. Various accidental casualties and monster attacks all eased horizontally.

On the earth, fortune is just a concept created by people to describe a collection of probabilistic events. However, in this continent of Shenzhou, fortune is a real force, a real force that can be shown in all aspects of life immediately. Otherwise, countries would not be willing to consume their young talents in this dangerous task of national fortune, and everything is driven by interests.

When Tianyou and the others appeared outside the Zhao King City, they saw such a desolate scene. The yellow sand in the sky, cracked roads, damaged frames abandoned on the roadside, and half-dead crops mixed with weeds. This is the Zhao State in everyone's eyes. It is so desolate that people even feel a little embarrassed to attack Zhao State.

Since he decided to turn his target to Zhao State, Tianyou and the others immediately took action. Within a day, they had a chance to get out of the Tang Dynasty King City, and then used a teleportation array to directly teleport outside the Zhao State King City.

Although Zhao State is one of the countries with the most relaxed defense, it is not completely unprepared. At least Tianyou and the others dare not swagger and directly teleport into the other person's royal city. However, the desolate scene outside the royal city still scared everyone.

You should know that this is the area around the royal city, and it should be the most developed area for all countries. If even this is the case, then what kind of scene should those places far away from the royal city look like a purgatory on earth?

"Why is Zhao State like this?" Pang Dahai asked in surprise at the tea stall sanctuary that was lying on the roadside not far away.

"This is what Zhao State looked like more than ten years ago, and there is nothing to make a fuss about." Tianyou said hello and said, "This is still a long way from Zhao State King City, and the next route may require us to pretend."

"How to disguise?"

"Just follow me."

When the spirit cavalry was released, everyone turned over the horse, and did not go to the direction of the royal city, but walked the other way. First, they ran over based on a mountain not far away.

Looking at the barren mountain from afar, Bai Bingyu accelerated it in a little puzzled manner and ran with Tianyou, who was leading the way. "Where are we going?"

"Go and buy some clothes."

"Why do you want to buy here? Can't you buy it after entering the royal city?"

Tianyou shook his head. "We can't get into the royal city in our outfit."

The land of Zhao State was dry, and even if there was no sand, the loess was everywhere. Tianyou and others came from the warm and humid Tang State. Although they had changed their clothes to their own clothes, they were still too clean, which was far from the Zhao people's dress. Therefore, they had to redisguise according to the actual situation of Zhao State. The place Tianyou was going to was a black market that he had been wandering around with Xiyan before.

It is said to be a black market, but it is actually more like a fresh market.

The environment of Zhao State determines that its internal composition is far from that of the other nine countries. Because other countries have to fight against the pressures of the major factions of Linguo and the neutral zone, they do not feel that they are too harsh on the people, and they can be considered rational and clear. However, there is a sense of throwing away in Zhao State. On the one hand, it is natural disasters and man-made disasters, and the people's lives are extremely difficult. Because of this, Zhao State has always had a sparse population, on the other hand, it is because of the small arable land and not much production, and more because of the chaos in the administration of the government.

Of course, there are only a few who can escape, border checkpoints and forests block the road. Traveling in this Shenzhou continent is not as simple as on earth. Here, for ordinary people, going far away may mean they will never come back. Bandits, natural disasters, wild beasts and monsters that appear in the mountains and forests have too many things that can kill people. Therefore, most people choose to stay and suffer even though they know that they can only stay.

However, the people who stayed naturally also needed to find ways to find some way to survive. So a hidden black market appeared like this.

The royal city of Zhao State is different from other countries. It is the only royal city that needs to pay taxes for entry into the city. The people choose to trade outside the city, on the one hand, save the taxes for entry into the city, and on the other hand, they can also exempt all kinds of taxes. When entering the city, they not only have to pay a bunch of miscellaneous taxes, but also exploit the tax collectors, Qingpi and other various exploitations. In comparison, it is obvious that the outside of the city is easier for the people to accept.

In fact, there are almost few people in the royal city of Zhao. Most of the entire royal city is full of various portals such as great people and powerful people. The rest are not various consumer entertainment venues that serve these people, or the guards of these people's servants. In short, truly independent people are almost impossible to find in the royal city of Zhao. This is also a strange thing about Zhao.

However, although there are almost no free people in the city, there are many raiders and swordsmen in the King of Zhao. The reason for these people is that they have not produced much land and cannot support the family of their arduous farming. They can only take risks and take risks and take swords and guns to make a living.

Tianyou and the others rushed to the valley, and they began to find sparse people pushing wheelbarrows and carrying shoulder poles gathering towards the mountain pass. Seeing Tianyou and his team coming by, pedestrians on the road hurriedly hid in the fields on both sides, and even overturned the wheelbarrows in the fields because of panic.

Zhao Lingyun saw a woman's wheelbarrow overturning on the side of the road and wanted to leave, but she couldn't bear to leave the things on the car, but after working hard for a long time, she couldn't help it, so she wanted to stop and help. However, as soon as she slowed down, Tianyou grabbed the horse's head and shook her head to signal her not to stop.

"Why?" Zhao Lingyun looked at Tianyou in confusion.

Tianyou let go of Zhao Lingyun's reins, and then began to explain when she saw that she had no intention of turning around and going back: "These people are used to being bullied by powerful people. If you go to help her, it will only make her even more frightened, and may even make some extreme reactions. Leaving as soon as possible is the best help for them."

"But what should we do after we enter the black market later?"

"The black market naturally has the rules of the black market. Some people are specifically responsible for maintaining basic public order. Although these people are also afraid, they will not be so panic. In addition... there is actually not a black market there, at least not entirely."

"Not a black market? What is that?"

"It's just a spontaneous market, but there are not so many taxes. Everyone only charges the entry fee for copper plates, and an additional transaction tax of 10% for selling things. This is the rule from more than ten years ago. Now I don't know whether it has changed or not."

The spirit cavalry was fast and had already reached the foot of the mountain as he spoke. There was a huge rock here, which seemed to be rolling down the mountain. Behind the huge rock just blocked the entrance of a valley, which was also very hidden. There was a faint peeking gaze on the mountain not far away looking at Tianyou and his party. After Tianyou found out, he raised his left hand and made a very special gesture. The feeling of peeking immediately disappeared.

"Is this a code?" Zhao Lingyun and the others were not stupid. They also noticed the sight just now. Thinking of the changes in Tianyou's gestures, they naturally guessed that this was a code for contact.

Tianyou did not answer because you could already see the guards holding swords and guns in front.

"Isn't this a black market? Why are there guards?" Pang Dahai asked.

"Is there no one to manage the black market?" Tianyou asked back: "Or who do you think the fees I mentioned should be paid to?"

Pang Dahai thought it was right and he didn't say anything again.

A group of people rode the spirit cavalry near the guard. The guard opposite immediately raised his sword and gun and began to be vigilant. Tianyou raised his hand and threw out thirty copper plates, which fell on the table behind the guard and folded them into a string.

"I charged the entrance fee and pointed the sword and gun at the guests. Isn't it reasonable?" Tianyou asked on the spiritual riding, leaning over.

The guards looked back at the copper coins on the table and knew that this was a monk, so they lowered their weapons a little, but did not completely put them down. One of them looked like the leader of the team and said, "The rules of Heishan City, no one can ride a horse into Heishan City. The mount can only be held in his hands or placed in our place."

"Oh, haven't you been adding new rules for a long time? It's more like that than before." Tianyou said as he turned over and got off the spirit cavalry. Although this was the spirit cavalry distributed to them by Qin State for this mission, it was much higher-end than ordinary spirit cavalry. The guard captain should be a sensible person. After looking at it, he knew that this was not something that ordinary people could ride.

Listening to Tianyou's words, the captain immediately waved his hand to signal the others to put down his weapons, and then clichéd with a smile on his face. "Looking at the face of the guests, he actually came to us a long time ago?"

Tianyou greeted others to dismount and said, "I came here with my family in my early years, and it has been more than ten years in a flash. By the way, is Aunt Zhao's small noodle restaurant still there?"

"It's here." When the guard captain heard this, he was completely relieved. Those who could know this information were obviously really here. The black market fears the most is new faces. As for regular customers... it is naturally the more they are. Because regular customers understand the rules and can repeatedly explain that they will not cause trouble. This is the favorite guest of the black market. "The guest really knows us here. Aunt Zhao's side is getting more and more fragrant now, and I feel a little greedy when you say this."

Tianyou threw away some broken silver in his hands, "If you are greedy, just wait for the shift to change, and you will take your brothers to have a meal. I'll take it to you."

"Yeah, why are you so embarrassed?" The guard captain was kind-hearted, but he didn't mean to pay it back.

Tianyou didn't care either, and waved his hand to interrupt him and asked, "By the way, is Lao Jiu's business still in progress?"

"Old Jiu?" The captain looked confused, obviously not knowing what Tianyou said.

A very big guard in the back quickly came over and said a few words in his ear. He immediately smiled and said to Tianyou: "Customer, do you want to take care of his business?"

Tianyou nodded. "I used it a few times before, it's pretty good."

The guard captain was a little embarrassed: "But Lao Jiu has not taken over this life for many years. If my brother was not an old man, I wouldn't know who you were talking about. To be honest, I have taken over here for seven or eight years, and I have never heard of this person."

This time, Tianyou frowned. He didn't expect that there was a problem with his previous path. But after all, he hasn't come for more than ten years, and Tianyou is mentally prepared.

"Then do you know who makes this now?" Tianyou took a photo of a silver ingot of ten taels. "Or know who can find those people, it's better. Brother, please do it."

The guard captain put away the silver with a smile on his face, and said with a pleat of smile: "You little brother, be polite. What's this little thing? Come on, I'll take you there in person." As he said that, he reached out to signal Tianyou to walk forward, and turned his head and shouted: "I'll do something Shi Tou, please help me watch."

With guards here leading the way, it is naturally much more convenient along the way. At least the thieves and those who are doing bad things dare not come to cause trouble. Of course, there are also various cheating on the black market, and there are more than ordinary markets. However, the premise here is that you cannot let the guards catch them, otherwise they will be more severe than the government's punishment. Therefore, even if there are such people, they will not be too much. At most, they will play the edge ball. However, Tianyou and the others are led by the guard captain, so those who want to do bad things will naturally not hit the gun.

The so-called black market is actually just a market that is built on the terrain of the valley. Most of the simple stalls are filled with daily necessities such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and there is nothing prohibited.

The group passed through the vendors and gradually approached the second half of the valley. Although there was no obvious division, the crowd here was obviously much sparse, and the stalls on both sides became more refined. Even at the end of the valley, a fixed shop was seen. Although it was just a simple house built with wooden sheds, at least they had roofs, which was much more luxurious than those open-air stalls.

The guard captain led Tianyou and his party to stop in front of one of the large wooden sheds. Two burly men standing outside reached out to block them.

"What are you doing? This is a distinguished guest. What's wrong? I won't do business yet?" The guard captain started yelling before he could speak from the other side. The voice was loud, obviously for the people inside.

Sure enough, both of them looked back at the shed, and then they saw a short dwarf coming out from it. "Are there any guests? Why don't you invite them in quickly?" After the dwarf came out, he said a few words to his subordinates, and then turned to Tianyou and the others and bowed. "You guys look at them, but you guys are so stupid. Have you seen me before?"

Tianyou shook his head, "We used to follow the path of Jiu Master. It took more than ten years to go, but I didn't expect Jiu Master to stop doing this. But if there is no one, the road still has to be taken, do you think?"

The opposite person immediately laughed, "It turns out that he is the friend of Jiu Ye. Shi Jing, please come in, please come in." The dwarf let everyone into the room, but in the end, only Tianyou and the others went in, and the wolf soldiers were left outside. The shed was not crowded with so many people.

After everyone stood or sat still, the dwarf said politely: "I learned the skills from Jiu Ye back then. So, after he stopped doing it, I took over his business and took the brothers to make a living."

Tianyou nodded without commenting, and asked, "Then this way..."

"Of course there are roads. Brothers of our slapstick have to make a living by relying on this one. We must not be idle. I just don't know if the guests leave or the goods are being shipped? Since you have an old friendship with Master Jiu, you are considered an old world. You should know all the ways, right?"

Tianyou nodded. "We'll leave. There are only us, there are thirty people in total. There is nothing, lightweight. But..."

"But what?"

"You may need to bring something when you come out."

"Are you going to kill me?" asked the dwarf.

Tianyou nodded again.

The dwarf started to ponder, and then said, "You are a traveler and know the situation. I am not cheating you. In your case, the road will probably be useless in the future. So..."

Dong. A gold ingot was placed on the table.

“We bought this route.”

The dwarf immediately reached out and wanted to get it, but Tianyou snatched it back first. When the dwarf looked at him in confusion, he continued to say, "I want new ones, don't fool me with the old paths that people have walked." After that, Tianyou put the gold ingots on the table again.

The dwarf quickly snatched it over, took it to his mouth and took it. When he saw the clear tooth marks on the ingot, he smiled and agreed with a smile: "No problem, it's a new road, and no one has ever walked it before."

Tianyou nodded and asked, "When can I be ready? We're in a hurry."

"It's done now." The dwarf asked happily while rubbing the golden ingots, "What else do you need to prepare? If not, I can have someone take you there now."

Tianyou suddenly drew out the Taiyi sword and passed by with a lightning-like sword. Before the dwarf could react, the golden ingot was divided into two, and half of it was picked up by Tianyou. "You have a deposit in your hand. We have to prepare something and pay our other half when we leave the city."

The dwarf said unhappily: "Okay, you are guests, of course you will listen to you."

Tianyou nodded, but did not leave. Instead, he suddenly reached out and returned to his original position before the other party could react. The dwarf covered his neck and looked at Tianyou in surprise and asked, "What are you doing?" He asked while taking his hand in front of him and looking at him, and found that there was a little blood stain on it, not much, but it was indeed bleeding.
To be continued...