Chapter 74: Battling Techniques (For Elvin2016, Silver Alliance Leader! )
“This Blood Contract Document, I wonder what its price is? ”
Fang Xi genuinely felt a flicker of interest and opened his mouth to ask.
“Heh heh, this item is difficult to craft, and its materials are rare. This old man usually doesn't sell it. . . ” But at this moment, Miao Dong began to play coy. After beating around the bush for a bit, he finally spoke: “Fellow Daoist. . . do you perhaps possess the essence blood of a high-grade demonic snake? ”
Fang Xi's expression instantly turned cold: “How do you know that? ”
“Fellow Daoist, there's no need for that. ” Miao Dong hastily waved his hands, and then patted his sleeve.
Hiss!
A small, jade-like snake slithered out from his sleeve, wrapped around his arm, flicking its tongue, and looking quite affectionate with him.
“This is a 'Verdant Blood Python', which this old man has cultivated to mid-grade first-order. My Qing'er is very sensitive to essence blood of its kind. . . Fellow Daoist must have recently come into contact with the blood of a demonic snake of a higher grade than Qing'er, right? ”
Miao Dong extended a finger, playfully poking the Verdant Blood Python: “Although it has been thoroughly cleaned, that scent hasn't dispersed yet. . . ”
Fang Xi's face was like ice, and he continued to inquire.
“This old man has a Blood Contract Document here, and I wish to exchange it with Fellow Daoist for a bottle of essence blood. ” Miao Dong bowed sincerely.
Among the three spirit pets he raised, only the Verdant Blood Python had the best bloodline talent, and was on the verge of advancing to superior-grade first-order.
Alas, it was still just a little bit short.
If he could obtain essence blood of the same kind as a catalyst, refine a pill, and then assist it with a secret art, the probability of a breakthrough would surely increase greatly!
By then, possessing the combat power of late-stage Qi Refinement, he, Miao Dong, would be considered a significant figure in the Treasure Ship Market.
“Well. . . I do have demonic snake essence blood, but I'm unsure of its grade. I obtained it by chance a few days ago and don't have it on me. ”
Fang Xi paused, then said: “I'll go retrieve it, and then we can conduct the trade, Fellow Daoist. ”
In reality, he had already decided to abandon this transaction.
After all, the flood dragon blood on him was not ordinary superior-grade first-order demonic snake blood.
There might be some complications involved.
It truly wasn't worth it for a mere beast-contracting document!
“Is that so. . . Then this old man will just have to wait for a while. Fortunately, within half a month, this old man will remain in this immortal's cave and will not be going out! ”
Miao Dong was somewhat disappointed. He picked up his teacup, signaling his guest's departure.
Fang Xi cupped his hands, stood up, and exited the immortal's cave.
Fighting was also prohibited within the Treasure Ship Market, and everything was harmonious.
After the immortal's cave door closed, the Verdant Blood Python beside Miao Dong hissed, appearing very agitated.
“Qing'er, don't be anxious! ”
Miao Dong soothed the Verdant Blood Python, stroking the head of the jade-green snake, deep in thought: “Ordinary demonic snake essence blood would never make Qing'er so restless. Could that person possibly possess the essence blood of a second-order demonic snake? ”
At this thought, his breathing couldn't help but grow heavy.
A mere fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, yet suspected of carrying second-order demonic snake precious blood—this was already enough for him, a sixth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, to make a move!
After all, Miao Dong was quite confident in his own strength.
With his three spirit pets, even when facing an ordinary seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, he wouldn't fall into a disadvantageous position.
“If there truly was second-order demonic snake precious blood, then Qing'er might not be without the possibility of advancing to second-order in the future. . . ”
At this thought, Miao Dong's gaze couldn't help but turn fervent.
...
‘This time in the Treasure Ship Market, I showed a bit too much wealth. . . Fortunately, I wasn't using my original appearance. ’
As a former rogue cultivator, Fang Xi deeply understood the law of the jungle among cultivators.
Even bandit cultivators consider the risk-reward ratio.
After all, there were many wondrous techniques and secret arts in the cultivation world. Even when facing a first-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, there was a chance for a comeback—what if they were a Foundation Establishment cultivator in disguise? !
Therefore, for early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, having a few or a dozen spirit stones on them was still normal and wouldn't attract much covetousness, but dozens or hundreds of spirit stones were another matter entirely.
For mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, dozens of spirit stones could barely be kept safe, but hundreds of spirit stones reached the critical point.
“At Dragon Gate Pavilion, I only displayed materials worth over a hundred spirit stones, then spent twenty, and couldn't afford body cultivation techniques worth hundreds of stones. There shouldn't be much of a problem with that. . . ”
In shops run by such major powers, the tolerance limit would be slightly higher.
As for the Myriad Sea Tower last time? Perhaps that Song Qing thought he had already squeezed Fang Xi dry and turned him into a pauper?
“Still, there's a bit of risk. ”
“Especially the superior-grade first-order flood dragon materials, whose value was already close to a thousand spirit stones! Even Foundation Establishment cultivators might be alerted! ”
Fang Xi thought to himself, casually tossing two spirit crystals to the eagerly waiting Mo Qingyi beside him. Amidst the latter's joyous gratitude and bows, he controlled his Black Cloud Pouch and left the Treasure Ship Market.
“This time was for reconnaissance. . . Next time, I'll come with my true face! ”
Fang Xi planned to find a spirit vein location in the Myriad Islands Lake to plant his tree. This was long-term business; he couldn't keep his face hidden forever.
After all, cultivators weren't mortals from the Da Liang world; they weren't so easily fooled!
Anyway, his true appearance was unremarkable, and his background was perfectly clean, so there was nothing to hide.
As he thought this, Fang Xi, controlling his Black Cloud Pouch, had already flown dozens of miles away from the market. He planned to find an uninhabited deserted island or reef to open up an immortal's cave and rest for a bit.
Squawk!
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
Above the lake, a myriad of water splashes suddenly erupted, and from them, a demonic bird covered in black feathers flew out!
This demonic bird could actually dive and swim underwater, and its speed was incredibly fast!
It let out a harsh, unpleasant cry, and as its wings flapped, demonic power gathered, forming two water arrows. Exploiting the terrain, they instantly launched a surprise attack on Fang Xi!
If it were any other unprepared cultivator, they would probably have been pierced by these sudden water arrows!
“Who? ”
But Fang Xi had been exceptionally vigilant ever since leaving the market. Upon realizing something was wrong, he immediately slapped his storage bag.
A dark Profound Iron Shield flew out, blocking around his body.
Clang!
The two water arrows struck the Profound Iron Shield, emitting a clangorous sound like a great bell, then transformed into a sky full of water vapor and burst apart.
“Water Old Crow? ! ”
Seeing it was this spirit beast, Fang Xi immediately roared in anger: “Miao Dong! How dare you ambush me? ! ”
A shadow slowly emerged from the bottom of the lake, then rose, revealing a massive Golden-Backed Softshell Turtle the size of a dining table!
Miao Dong stood on the back of the massive turtle, hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold: “Fellow Daoist, if you are willing to hand over that snake blood, everything can be discussed. Otherwise. . . ”
“Die! ”
Fang Xi poured his magic power into a Fireball Talisman, and flung it towards Miao Dong.
A massive fireball appeared, and plummeted from mid-air.
“Hmph, a mere trifle! ”
Miao Dong sneered, not dodging or evading.
The next instant, the fireball slammed down above his head, but was blocked by a translucent water barrier. Though the flames exploded, not a single trace of heat spread.
The massive turtle beneath Miao Dong's feet was a 'Golden-Backed Softshell Turtle', and although it was only low-grade first-order, it had comprehended a talent demonic art—the Water Shield Technique!
Normally, it was not only an excellent means of transport in the lake, but its defensive power was also quite outstanding.
Especially when located within a large lake, its Water Shield Technique fully exploited the terrain, with minimal consumption and exceptional duration, making it comparable to some mid-grade first-order defensive spells.
After sneering, Miao Dong unhurriedly took out a dark, claw-shaped artifact from his storage bag. It was unclear what demonic beast's claws it was made from, but its edges were incredibly sharp.
He infused his magic power, just about to deliver a harsh blow to Fang Xi, but suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart. He looked up in horror, letting out a scream: “No! ”
It turned out a golden sword light, had unexpectedly cleaved the Water Old Crow in mid-air into two halves with a single strike!
Fang Xi's earlier Fireball Technique was merely a feint. Gazing at the Water Old Crow that had ambushed him, he sneered and released his Golden Flood Dragon Sword!
This sword was a superior-grade artifact, incredibly sharp.
With just one strike, it slaughtered this flying spirit pet!
“My spirit pet! ”
Miao Dong, whose mind was connected to the Water Old Crow, had his eyes turn red.
This Water Old Crow was not only his spirit pet, but also his sharp tool for catching spirit fish and his rice bowl for earning money!
Now, that rice bowl had been smashed by Fang Xi!
He never imagined that Fang Xi, a mere fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, would possess a superior-grade artifact flying sword!
‘This flying sword is good, but it consumes too much magic power! ’
Fang Xi, controlling the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, felt the rapid depletion of magic power within his body. He knew that he could at most strike a few more times before falling into a state of magic power exhaustion, leaving him at the mercy of others—for other cultivators, without magic power and unable to activate artifacts or talismans, weren't they just lambs to the slaughter?
“Alright, alright. . . what cunning! ”
After his grief, Miao Dong already felt the urge to retreat.
This fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator was not easy to deal with. Furthermore, he possessed a fine-grade artifact. Perhaps his background was special!
“Miao Dong, don't even think about escaping. Once this young master returns to his clan, he will certainly inform the Ancestor. . . You can just wait to become a bandit cultivator, hunted everywhere! ”
Fang Xi sneered, completely extinguishing Miao Dong's intention to flee. Then, controlling the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, he launched a flying stab.
The Golden Flood Dragon Sword's light flashed, and suddenly a dragon's roar echoed, as it descended like a golden meteor.
“Go! ”
Having no choice, Miao Dong activated his dark claw-shaped artifact, to meet the Golden Flood Dragon Sword.
The two artifacts tangled in mid-air, emitting clanging sounds. Before long, sword marks appeared all over the claw-shaped artifact, and it was clearly on the verge of being scrapped!
“I'll go all out! ”
Miao Dong glanced at Fang Xi, and took out a Qi Recovery Pill from his embrace, consuming it.
He was at sixth-layer Qi Refinement; his magic power was definitely deeper than his opponent's!
What's more, the other party was even controlling a superior-grade artifact!
Now that he had offended this young master with a background, escaping would surely lead to being hunted down. It was better to just kill him and be done with it!
Sure enough, a moment later, Fang Xi seemed to run out of magic power, his face pale. His Black Cloud Pouch suddenly dispersed, and he plummeted towards the lake surface.
“Go! ”
Upon seeing this, Miao Dong was immediately overjoyed. He had his Golden-Backed Softshell Turtle draw closer.
He still had Qing'er as his trump card. As long as he got close, he could surely kill in one blow!
Gazing at the approaching 'Fang Leng' with his terrified expression, Miao Dong's face was ecstatic as he formed a hand seal.
“Hiss! ”
The Verdant Blood Python, Qing'er, immediately lunged towards Fang Xi.
“Rise! ”
Fang Xi, in a flurry, summoned his Profound Iron Shield!
Pffft!
Who would have thought that the Verdant Blood Python in mid-air would suddenly open its mouth and spray a cloud of poisonous mist!
This was the essence that Qing'er had refined day and night since birth by absorbing a hundred poisons, most capable of corrupting artifacts. As the poisonous mist touched the Profound Iron Shield, it immediately let out hissing corrosive sounds, causing the shield to malfunction and plummet from mid-air.
A sharp, single horn suddenly grew on the forehead of the Verdant Blood Python, 'Qing'er', and it shot towards Fang Xi like a jade-green arrow!
This was its innate demonic art—the 'Poison Serpent Drill'!
“It's done! ”
Miao Dong was overjoyed, knowing that Qing'er's strike was as powerful as a superior-grade artifact, and was his hidden trump card!
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