Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the faint morning light, the early dawn after the rain still carried a trace of chill. Gu An tightened his green robe, locked the courtyard gate, and sighed inwardly: “This time I leave for three years. I wonder what scenes will greet me upon my return.”
His cloud-treading shoes broke through the morning light, splashing specks of mud from the bluestone path as he rushed toward Qingyun Peak.
Only when he reached the Spirit Beast Garden did Gu An stop. Gazing at the green stone gate of the garden, he strode inside.
A young man in green robes approached with a smile. “Looking for a spirit beast, Junior Brother?”
Gu An cupped his hands. “Senior Brother, I’ve accepted an assignment away from the sect and need a fast horse. What would you recommend?”
“When traveling outside, it is indeed necessary to buy a fast horse. Maintaining one’s condition while on the road is very important. Using a spirit horse for travel saves magic power and does not delay the journey.”
“Junior Brother seems experienced.”
The green-robed Senior Brother was somewhat surprised. Generally speaking, this was knowledge that only veterans would know. New disciples who hadn’t suffered a few losses would find it hard to appreciate.
The boy looked too young to have much experience on missions. Perhaps an elder in his family had advised him.
Thinking this, a smile spread across his face, and his attitude improved.
“Let me show you what we have.”
“Our sect’s Spirit Beast Garden has a First-Grade Lower-Tier spirit horse, the Cloud-Chasing Horse. When this horse runs, mist forms between its hooves. It has excellent endurance and can travel a thousand li in a day.”
“There is also the First-Grade Lower-Tier Wind-Neighing Horse. It has a green mane, neighs into the wind, and can reach tremendous speeds in short bursts. It can cover eight hundred li in a day.”
“The First-Grade Middle-Tier Fire Cloud Colt can…”
The green-robed Senior Brother spoke endlessly, appearing very enthusiastic.
In truth, he was indeed enthusiastic. Cultivators in the Spirit Beast Garden received spirit stone rewards for selling spirit beasts-that was the reason for his eagerness.
“Er…” Gu An interrupted awkwardly. “An ordinary horse or a half-spirit horse will do, Senior Brother. I’m rather short of spirit stones.”
The green-robed Senior Brother was a bit confused. Had this Junior Brother’s elders not given him spirit stones for his mission? Or had he guessed wrong? Still, he didn’t insist and instead began introducing half-spirit horses.
“Junior Brother, for half-spirit horses, I recommend the Black-Scale Horse. Its speed is among the best of half-spirit horses, and its endurance is also good. Our sect can now breed them stably, so the price is not high-only two spirit stones. Truly good value for money.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Might Senior Brother take me to see one?” Gu An asked.
“Of course! Follow me.” The green-robed Senior Brother led Gu An about a hundred paces into the valley, stopping at the first beast shed.
Without needing further introduction, Gu An knew this was the Black-Scale Horse. The horse was entirely covered in black scales, its mane flowing in the wind, its limbs knotted with muscle, its scales clanging-majestic beyond compare!
Just looking at it made his thighs ache. Truly a horse worthy of its name!
“Ahem. Could you throw in a saddle, Senior Brother?” Gu An asked with a hopeful grin.
Fortunately, the Senior Brother was generous and agreed to a saddle. Gu An selected a tall, sturdy horse that pleased his eye, fitted it with the saddle, paid the spirit stones, mounted the Black-Scale Horse, and galloped away, leaving a trail of dust.
This Black-Scale Horse could travel five hundred li in a day, so he would arrive in three and a half days. Gu An planned to go to Qingyuan Immortal City first to make some purchases.
Qingyuan Immortal City had been built by the Qingyuan Sect to draw resources from rogue cultivators. It was close to the sect, and Gu An reached it in an hour.
By then, the mist had dispersed. Morning dew seeped from the bluestone city walls. Gu An heard a sound of breaking air overhead-a cultivator flew over the city gate on a flying sword, drawing envious glances from those around.
He left the Black-Scale Horse in the shed outside the gate and walked into the city. Rogue cultivators had set up stalls, each displaying a handful of items on black cloth. Occasional glimmers of spiritual light made the wares all the more tempting.
But Gu An dared not seek treasures at these stalls. If he was cheated and tried to return, the seller would have already packed up and fled!
Every year, he heard more stories of Qingyuan Sect disciples being swindled. He had heard enough to last a lifetime.
Seeing Gu An hesitate, some guides-mostly mortals who made a living leading new customers-took notice. But when they saw the green cauldron emblem on Gu An’s chest, they dispersed in disappointment.
Qingyuan Sect disciples didn’t need their guidance!
Gu An didn’t linger in the stall area. He strode deeper into the city.
After a moment, he stopped before a gray stone building. It was small, only two stories, but once inside, he found it surprisingly spacious.
A plump, bejeweled shopkeeper approached in a black robe embroidered with dark gold clouds. “Welcome, Fellow Daoist. What can I offer a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect today?” he asked with a smile.
“I want some Black Spirit Fish. Shopkeeper, you’d better give me a good price.” Gu An cupped his hands in greeting.
Black Spirit Fish absorbed spiritual Qi quickly and had a short maturation period, but their taste was mediocre, so they couldn’t fetch a high price. Only poor rogue cultivators would eat them.
As for having more spiritual Qi-ha! A spirit fish that remained at the first level of Qi Condensation for its entire life-who would eat it for that bit of spiritual Qi?
“Since when does Hundred Spirits Pavilion ask customers what they intend to do with their purchases? What are you getting at?” Gu An frowned, leaving his tea untouched.
“My mistake. Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist. How about this: one spirit stone for five fry?” The fat shopkeeper still smiled.
Gu An’s face darkened. This fat pig-was he mocking him for not knowing the market? One spirit stone for five was the same price as the sect. Why wouldn’t he buy from the sect?
“Shopkeeper, don’t toy with me. My elder told me your prices are much cheaper than our Qingyuan Sect’s.” Gu An lowered his eyelids and spoke in a deep voice.
“Oh, someone sent you! You should have said so, my young friend. How about six fry per spirit stone?” Gu An’s claim of family backing left the shopkeeper unsure how far he could push him.
“How about this: twenty spirit stones for a hundred fry and a spirit beast pouch. If not, I’ll leave.” Gu An stated.
The fat shopkeeper hesitated. A spirit beast pouch cost five spirit stones. The remaining fifteen spirit stones would only buy ninety fry. One way or another, he’d lose two spirit stones.
But that wasn’t how to calculate it. Both the fry and the spirit beast pouch had profit margins. Selling them meant thinner profits; not selling meant no profit at all!
This kid looked so young-why was he so hard to fool!
Forget it. Thin profits were better than none.
“You certainly know how to bargain, Fellow Daoist. I won’t make a thing on this deal. Do come back and give me more business.”
Gu An let the shopkeeper grumble. Of course the man was making a profit, but there was no need to call him out. “You must be joking. Still, I have other business to attend to, so if you could…”
“Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist.” The shopkeeper went into the back room and soon returned with a small yellow pouch, handing it to Gu An.
Gu An took the spirit beast pouch and swept it with his divine sense. Seeing that the Black Spirit Fish were all lively, with no tricks played, he readily took out twenty spirit stones and handed them to the shopkeeper.
The transaction complete, Gu An took his leave.
As Gu An walked down the street, his thoughts remained on the Black Spirit Fish.
Gu An had chosen these fish for their abundant spiritual qi and rapid growth. Their market value might be low, but they were ideal for his Spirit Source Feedback, and a single First-Grade Middle-Tier spirit vein could easily supply enough spiritual qi to raise them.