188: Chapter 188 Spirit Fox

Lin Tian set his teacup on the table and stood up.

He could not wait any longer—the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm Martial Artists present were all composed, and no one was willing to reveal their trump cards first. If he continued to waste time like this, by the time the shopkeeper announced the end of the session, he would have nowhere to look for the person he needed.

Rather than passively waiting for others to bring out Treasure Fish feed, it would be better to take the initiative himself.

He walked to the stone platform, took the bulging deerskin bag from his waist, and laid the contents out on the platform one by one.

The firelight from the copper branch chandelier reflected onto the stone platform, illuminating those items in vivid detail—three sharp claws from a Black-Armored Lizard, each the length of a finger, curved like hooks, with the tips glowing with a faint, dark light.

A palm-sized skull of an Iron-Backed Gray Wolf, its surface naturally covered in fine patterns, possessing a hardness that far exceeded tempered steel.

A small bundle of tiger tendons from a Red Flame Tiger, amber and translucent, capable of withstanding ten thousand catties of force when taut.

There were also several dorsal scales from a Fifth-Grade Black-Armored Lizard, each the size of a bowl, pitch-black and shiny, with edges as sharp as knives.

These were all Materials he had cut from high-level Vicious Beasts personally hunted by the Elders when he had followed them into the Taixuan Mountain Range to search for traces of the Demonic Cult.

Vicious Beast Materials at the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm level were in a completely different league than those of ordinary Fourth-Grade Vicious Beasts. When used to forge weapons, their sharpness and toughness far surpassed ordinary blades and swords.

When used to forge armor, the defensive power was enough to withstand a full-strength strike from a Martial Artist of the same rank head-on.

They were impossible to buy on the market, and any that occasionally leaked out would be snatched up instantly by major factions.

He had specifically picked out the best-looking ones to carry with him, preparing for a day when they might come in handy.

The gazes of the seven or eight Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm Martial Artists below the platform converged on the stone platform. Beneath cloaks, behind masks, and inside black veils, eyes that were originally calm and unruffled now lit up.

Finished weapons were not necessarily suitable for everyone; although that Cold Silver Spear was good, those who used blades, swords, or palms had no use for it.

But these high-level Materials were completely different—the three sharp claws of the Black-Armored Lizard could be taken to a good Artifact Refiner to be forged into three poisonous daggers; the tiger tendons could be made into bowstrings or linings for soft armor; and that wolf skull was an excellent material for making a heart-protecting mirror. Those who wanted blades could forge blades, and those who wanted swords could cast swords, all according to their own wishes.

The fat man in gray robes who had previously bought the Cold Silver Spear was the first to speak: "Brother, what is the price? How do we trade?"

Lin Tian shook his head, his voice coming from beneath his cloak, hoarse and steady: "I do not want silver, I want to trade item for item. I want Treasure Fish feed."

The entire stone room went quiet for a moment.

Treasure Fish feed—these four words caused everyone present to be slightly stunned.

Several people who had originally intended to bid retracted their hands after hearing these four words.

As for this item, Treasure Fish feed, let alone possessing it, they had rarely even heard of it. Although those seated here were all experts of the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm, none of them had ever raised a Treasure Fish.

The big man who had been wearing the bronze mask earlier seemed extremely interested in those few dorsal scales of the Black-Armored Lizard and said in a rough voice: "I will buy them from you with silver, I'll offer a high price! Ten thousand taels, how about it?"

Lin Tian glanced at him, "I only want Treasure Fish feed."

The big man was silent for a moment, sighed, and sat heavily back in his chair, causing the grandmaster chair to creak.

The others also sighed one after another, and no one else made a bid.

The shopkeeper, wearing a golden mask, stood beside the stone platform. After waiting a few breaths and seeing no response, he cupped his hands toward Lin Tian, his tone carrying a touch of apology: "Brother, I am truly sorry, but I am afraid your transaction will not be successful today."

Lin Tian silently collected the Materials on the stone platform one by one back into his deerskin bag, then turned and returned to his seat. He remained calm on the surface, but sighed inwardly.

Before coming, he had thought there might be Treasure Fish feed in the black market. Even if there was no ready-made feed, he could at least find someone who had it. But now, among so many Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm Martial Artists, not a single one could produce Treasure Fish feed.

The shopkeeper clapped his hands again: "No matter, the trading continues. Next."

The big man who had been wearing the bronze mask earlier stood up and walked to the stone platform, untied a heavy bundle from his waist, opened it, and spread it out on the stone platform.

Inside were neatly arranged several stalks of Spirit Medicine—a hundred-year-old wild ginseng, its roots carefully tied with red string. A basin-sized purple lingzhi, its cap covered with natural patterns resembling tree rings. Several stalks of jade marrow ganoderma that were green throughout, with plump roots and stems and a rich medicinal fragrance.

The big man was clearly well-prepared and said in a rough voice: "I am trading for Vicious Beast Materials or rare metals. I also accept silver, the highest bidder gets it."

The atmosphere in the stone room warmed up again. The medicinal herbs he brought out were indeed of good quality. Immediately, someone stepped forward and exchanged a fist-sized piece of cold iron Ore for the purple lingzhi, and a tall, thin old man wearing a black-veiled bamboo hat bought the wild ginseng with silver notes.

Soon, the few stalks of Spirit Medicine the big man brought were all traded. He contentedly put away the Materials he had exchanged for, cupped his hands to express his thanks, and strode back to his seat.

In the following half hour, several more people walked onto the stone platform one after another.

Someone brought out an incomplete top-tier Yellow Rank blade manual, wanting to trade for a set of movement martial arts, which was eventually traded away by a Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm Martial Artist who used blades for a light kung fu Secret Manual.

Someone brought out a few bottles of High Grade qi gathering pill and directly accepted silver notes.

There were also those who brought out items that were too obscure; for example, an old man brought out a string of prayer beads made from unknown beast bones, claiming they could clear the mind, calm the spirit, and resist the Heart Demon. As a result, no one present recognized the value of the goods, so he had to sheepishly take them back.

Lin Tian never made a move.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze beneath his cloak calmly scanning everyone's items and the destination of every object, but Treasure Fish feed never appeared.

Just as he was preparing to return directly to the fishery to find another way after the session ended, a woman wearing a black dress and a veil stood up.

She had not spoken during the previous rounds of bidding, and at this moment, when she stood up, everyone's gaze turned to her.

She walked lightly to the stone platform, reached out and tapped a small Spirit Beast bag at her waist. A white light flashed, and a fluffy little creature appeared on the stone platform.

It was a young fox with snow-white fur all over its body, with only a crescent-shaped tuft of silver fluff on its forehead. Its two ears were sharp and large, and the inside of the ear flaps was a pale pink.

It lay on the stone platform shivering, its dark, round eyes looking timidly at these strangers with terrifying auras below the platform. A natural Spiritual Qi fluctuation radiated from its body; although weak, it was extremely pure.

"This is a Spirit Fox, and it is a Spirit Fox in its infancy." The voice of the Woman in Black Dress came from behind her veil, gentle and calm, "Spirit Fox are born with the ability to sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. When fully grown, they can help their master find Spirit Medicine, warn of danger, and assist in Cultivate. If raised well, it will be a powerful help in the future."

The area below the platform was quiet for a moment, and then a low murmur of discussion arose. "It is indeed a Spirit Fox, and the quality is not bad."

"What is the use of good quality? It is extremely difficult for a Spirit Beast to acknowledge a master; without a Beast Taming Technique, it is impossible to tame it at all."

"This thing is a treasure in the hands of the Demonic Cult, but in our hands, it is a hot potato. If you buy it and take it back, you won't be able to raise it, and when it grows up, it might even turn on its master."

The discussion gradually died down, and no one else offered a bid. Not even a single person asked "what do you want to trade for," and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward for a moment.

Lin Tian's heart stirred. He was proficient in the Beast Taming Technique; while this Spirit Fox was a hot potato in others' hands, it was a genuinely good item in his.

Just as he was thinking about finding the Woman in Black Dress to trade privately after the cold spell passed, a low, hoarse voice suddenly rang out from the corner: "What do you want to trade for?"

Lin Tian was slightly startled and turned his head to look in the direction the voice came from.

The person speaking was sitting in the grandmaster chair in the very corner of the stone room, wrapped in a dark green cloak with the hood pulled very low. Their face was hidden in deep shadows, and only a pale chin could be vaguely seen. The voice was clearly deliberately suppressed.

The reactions of the other few people in the stone room were much the same; they all turned their heads to see who actually wanted to buy a Spirit Fox.

Someone whispered: "Is there really someone who understands the Beast Taming Technique?"