Chapter 448: Eternal Dragon Heaven - Cub Trade |
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The simulated sound of knocking suddenly rang out, and a virtual screen popped up. It was Zhou Yunyang, who respectfully said, "Martial Uncle Su, someone from the Resource Inflow Office brought over a large chest, saying it's your resources."
"So fast?" Su Chen was slightly taken aback. Only about ten minutes had passed since he clicked to accept.
He got up and walked out of the hall. The chest had already been brought by Zhou Yunyang and was resting at his feet.
Su Chen took the chest and thanked him again.
"You don't need to be so polite," Zhou Yunyang smiled bitterly again and again.
Returning to the hall, Su Chen opened the chest, and a dazzling array of light shone out. Resting on the very top layer were impressively one hundred and ten Faith Essences.
The reward for advancing to a Star Seed and the one-year quota had all been delivered.
Su Chen was quite surprised. 'They're actually physical objects.'
As for the items underneath, they were things like Rank Seven Essence Potions, shimmering with the light of lightning and fire. A full year's supply was about a hundred portions, which normally should be enough.
'I wonder how effective they are...'
Su Chen took out a portion and drank it down. The elemental power within his body churned slightly, but with his current tier, the potion's effect could hardly stimulate him.
He smacked his lips, making a rough estimation. 'It's quite a bit more potent than the Sacred Cauldron Cult's potions. Not bad, not bad at all...'
He casually put them away, planning to leave them for the Order to use after laundering them.
At the same time, a new notification popped up on his token because he had previously chosen to extract his rewards.
The Heavens to which the Star Beast Cubs, Special Plant Seeds, and the like belonged had already received the news and told him to go retrieve them as soon as possible.
If he didn't have the time at the moment, he needed to inform them promptly.
'These are all good things; naturally, I must get them as soon as possible.' Having learned the prices of these items, Su Chen naturally paid more attention to them.
'If I can sell them, I wouldn't necessarily have to wait until they're laundered to purchase what I need after getting on the Leaderboard.'
Su Chen made a quick calculation. Including the Star Seed reward, this year's quota, and the remainder from before, he only had a little over one hundred and thirty Faith Essences in total.
To say it wasn't enough to fill the gaps between his teeth might be an exaggeration, but it certainly wasn't much—not even enough to patch up his Sky-Scars.
Meanwhile, the market value of the other rewards combined was worth around eight or nine hundred Essences.
After a bit of tidying up, Su Chen walked out the hall doors. Some places didn't allow the use of a rainbow bridge, like the Core Zone of the Bronze Heaven; he had to go to an open area outside.
"Old Wei?" Turning a corner, Su Chen spotted Wei Zhenghong pacing back and forth with a dull gray token clutched in his hand, a melancholic look on his face.
"Old Su." Wei Zhenghong snapped back to reality and forced a smile.
"You got a High Firmament Token too." Su Chen walked over. This thing served as an ID card for the High Firmament Order. In theory, everyone could have one, but their access levels were somewhat different.
However, with a glance, he noticed Wei Zhenghong's token was somewhat dim and not white jade in color.
"Yeah, Vice Hall Master Zhang brought some back." Wei Zhenghong nodded, gripping the token in his hand and sighing with a face full of bitterness.
"Only now do I realize how vast the universe is, and how powerful High Firmament is. It far exceeds my imagination. Star Amber Talents can be seen everywhere, and 8th-Tier and 9th-Tier professionals are nothing special."
Although their Star Seed status wasn't acknowledged by High Firmament, they could still freely use resources within the Bronze Order.
Moreover, after advancing to the Morning Star Tier, High Firmament wouldn't skimp on what it should provide, but the current feeling was ultimately different.
Su Chen remained silent, somewhat understanding in his heart. When he saw those pages upon pages of Morning Star Embers, although he felt excited, he was also somewhat shocked.
"If High Firmament didn't have protective rules, Shen Yi'an and my Star Seed positions would probably be lost immediately." Wei Zhenghong, typically a bold and straightforward man, seemed somewhat dejected at this moment.
"Ha..." Su Chen couldn't help but grin, teasing, "Old Wei, are you still holding out hope for me?"
Wei Zhenghong was speechless. Su Chen had been able to withstand a blow from Qin Yun back then. He estimated that with Su Chen's strength, he certainly wouldn't be easily defeated.
Seeing this, Su Chen consoled him, "It's not a crime to be outmatched. Think about how vast High Firmament is compared to our Bronze Order. Furthermore, it's not like there aren't ways to Metamorphose into the Divine Dawn tier. There's still a chance to catch up."
"A method to Metamorphose into Divine Dawn." Wei Zhenghong's expression slightly jolted. "Does it really exist?"
He clearly hadn't looked up the relevant information, while Su Chen nodded. "Would I lie to you?"
But just as a look of joy surfaced on Old Wei's face, he sighed again. "Forget it, even if there's a chance, it's better left for others to use. My... The Holy Class I took on probably won't be able to match with any good Ascension Refining methods. My limits have already been sealed."
"As expected of you, truly full of the spirit of sacrifice." Su Chen gave him a thumbs up.
Wei Zhenghong's mouth twitched. He truly admired Su Chen's optimism. After coming into contact with High Firmament, not only was he not disheartened, but he even seemed quite excited.
However, after chatting for a bit, he felt much better and changed the subject, asking, "Are you heading out?"
"Yeah, I haven't finished collecting my rewards." Su Chen nodded and walked straight outside.
Wei Zhenghong's somewhat eased mood instantly turned sour again.
Holding the token, Su Chen arrived at an open area and prepared to summon a rainbow bridge. The virtual screen popped up.
"Outer Realm 1, Outer Realm 2..." Su Chen swept a glance and saw that they were basically all rainbow bridge pathways located at the edges of Eternal Dragon Heaven.
Casually selecting a coordinate and expending a bit of Spirit Essence, a rainbow bridge emerged from the void and extended to his feet. Stepping onto it, the scenery before his eyes underwent an earth-shattering change in the blink of an eye.
"Coo-coo..."
"Caw-caw..."
A cacophony of noise flooded his ears, but it wasn't the sound of conversation. Su Chen's eyes were full of wonder. Many people were walking around, some leaving via rainbow bridges, while others leaped into the starry dome with their physical bodies.
The vast majority of them carried peculiar-looking star beasts. Some appeared quite robust, like a crimson tiger with wings on its back, or a black dragon with three heads.
Their body sizes seemed to have shrunk, mostly only half the height of a person, with chilling beastly pupils and a fierce vital aura.
There were also some with strange appearances, like a golden toad resting on someone's head, or a giant parrot standing on a shoulder, all letting out peculiar cries.
There were even people who, upon leaping into the Starry Expanse, had the roc perching on their shoulder merge into their body. Golden wings immediately sprouted from their backs, looking not like an energy construct but born of flesh and blood. They vanished in the blink of an eye, incredibly fast.
Although he had seen some Practitioners primarily focusing on beast classes in front of the Yingyuan Office, it was far from the vast variety present here, which truly broadened Su Chen's horizons.
The professional categories of Eternal Dragon Heaven seemed to specialize in star beasts, similarly originating from a certain Outer Realm but discovered directly by High Firmament. After displaying their martial prowess, they naturally joined the organization.
Although there were people around without star beasts, he was the only unfamiliar face, and many people were already casting frequent glances his way, sizing him up.
Some seemed to have already recognized him and were speaking in low voices with their friends.
Before long, a person within the crowd made a beeline for him. He had a tall, thin, and slender build, with slanted eyebrows and a flat nose.
Coming close and looking Su Chen over, his voice was somewhat shrill as he asked, "The Star Seed Su from Bronze Heaven?"
"That's me. How may I address you, sir?" Su Chen nodded. Glancing at the other party, he didn't see any star beasts following him.
"Eternal Dragon Heaven, Jiang Ce." The other party extended a hand, calm and indifferent.
Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Impressively, he saw an Emerald Slender Python coiled around the man's slender wrist, constantly flicking its tongue.
His expression remained unchanged; naturally, he wouldn't be afraid. The moment he reached out and grasped the other party's hand, the Emerald Slender Python suddenly moved, incredibly fast, leaving almost no afterimage, and without even the sound of breaking the air.
Opening its tiny bloody maw, it bit right into...
Jiang Ce's wrist. The tiny body writhed, and the scales on the emerald python's skin gradually turned blood-red.
'This...' Su Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and withdrew his hand.
He saw a fleeting flash of astonishment and pain on Jiang Ce's face. His cheek twitched, and he said in a low voice, "Excuse the display."
"No worries." Su Chen muttered to himself. 'No wonder he's so skinny.'
'This guy...' Jiang Ce shook his sleeve, hiding the now blood-red slender python under his clothes, feeling doubtful and uncertain. 'Why did Xiao Cui suddenly have a stress reaction?'
His Shadow-Thread Inch-Blood Python had already reached the 8th-Tier, and there weren't many things that could make it feel fear.
He looked left and right, but didn't notice any higher-level star beasts arriving either.
'Could it be...' He couldn't help but fix his gaze on the Bronze Heaven Star Seed sporting a faint smile before him, but recalling the other party's file, he secretly shook his head.
'Strange...'
"Brother Jiang?" Seeing the other party's flickering expression, Su Chen couldn't help but call out.
"Oh... The star beast cubs are at the breeding facility. Follow me." Reacting, Jiang Ce led Su Chen away.
After walking a distance, Jiang Ce felt the rapid loss of blood in his body and had to take out a bottle of green potion to pour into his mouth.
He was already clearly aware of the strange look from Su Chen beside him, feeling somewhat awkward, and changed the subject, asking, "Has Star Seed Su thought about which cub to choose?"
"Uh..." Su Chen paused. "I don't know much about our Eternal Dragon Heaven. I wonder if Brother Jiang could give me an introduction."
'Our Eternal Dragon...' Jiang Ce stopped in his tracks, his expression somewhat odd, before continuing, "You're a Star Seed, so you can choose a Divine Dawn Star Beast."
"A Divine Dawn Star Beast?" Su Chen was slightly taken aback. "Do these star beasts also have talents?"
"Oh, not exactly." Jiang Ce shook his head. "It's an easier way to understand the classification. Divine Dawn Star Beasts are star beasts with a certain probability of advancing to Morning Star."
"I see..." Su Chen thought for a moment. "Does Brother Jiang have any recommendations?"
'This guy is quite smart...' Jiang Ce shook his somewhat cold arm and said, "Star Seed Su probably doesn't specialize in beast classes, and likely won't take this path. I suggest you only cultivate one as a helper."
"A helper..." Su Chen pondered. A star beast that could aid him directly in combat?
"Will this star beast inevitably advance to Morning Star?" he asked.
"Inevitably?" Jiang Ce shook his head. "Although star beasts don't need to become Chosen Ones to advance, they still have to undergo trials and tribulations. It's complicated to explain."
Su Chen more or less understood, and only then did he ask, "Can I sell the star beast cub I take from here to the outside?"
"Sell?" Jiang Ce's expression shifted slightly. "This is High Firmament's reward. You are free to do as you please with it."
"However, if you want to sell it to the Abyssal Domain, you need Eternal Dragon Heaven's permission."
'So it can only be bought and sold within High Firmament...' Su Chen mused. The two had already entered the sprawling palace buildings of Eternal Dragon Heaven, walking along a small path.
"Are you really going to sell it?" A voice echoed by his ear.
"I have that thought." Su Chen responded secretly. "I truly don't know anything about beast classes, and raising a cub will cost quite a price. Who knows when it will be able to help me."
Although he could prepare a Holy Class in this regard, if he couldn't create better synergies with his other professions, it would be a waste of time and energy.
He still preferred to continue building his physical core. As for this cub, it would be better to sell it for Essences to buy Cinders.
"Then I do have a suggestion. I have a friend..." He paused, then continued, "Who has a need for a specific category of Divine Dawn Star Beast cub. You can choose a star beast of this category and then sell it to him. The price can be a bit better."
A sharp gleam flashed in the depths of Su Chen's eyes. "Brother Jiang, this... seems to have changed from selling a star beast to selling the right to choose one."
Jiang Ce's expression changed uncontrollably. How was this guy's reaction so fast?
"Are there any hidden dangers?" Su Chen pressed.
"There are..." Jiang Ce thought for a long time but ultimately didn't hide it. "But not many. You're newly arrived, and no one will make that connection."
"Hmm... Then the price..." Su Chen remained noncommittal, asking.
Jiang Ce gritted his teeth and said, "I can offer two hundred and fifty Essences."
"Two hundred and fifty?" Su Chen said in dissatisfaction, "Brother Jiang, it seems that if we sell this star beast externally, it's three hundred Essences per beast."
Jiang Ce explained, "That's when selling to the outside in the Abyssal Domain, where there's a specialty premium. If selling internally, two hundred Essences is about right."
Su Chen thought for a moment and directly pulled out his token to check prices on the spot.
This Jiang Ce hadn't actually lied to him. The quoted price for the handful of star beast cubs was indeed two hundred Essences.
"Since that's the case, your friend can just buy it directly. Why look for me?" Su Chen was puzzled.
"Compatibility..." Jiang Ce said helplessly. "You see, what's being sold up there is either a dragon, a tiger, or at worst, some elephant or leopard species. Some classes require specific types of star beasts."
The situations of these sellers were similar to Su Chen's; they all received the rewards because they reached a certain level but had no use for them themselves, so they simply sold them.
"Oh..." Su Chen suddenly understood, seeing that Jiang Ce had already led him through twists and turns to the front of a massive palace. The palace was entirely silver-white, with a holographic leaping dragon and tiger on either side.
"Can't he entrust an outsider to buy it on his behalf?" Su Chen asked further.
'This guy has so many questions...' Jiang Ce grumbled internally, but could only explain, "For this kind of specialty item, only the other Pillars have the qualifications to purchase them, and finding friends in the other Pillars isn't that simple."
"That's true..." Su Chen suddenly realized, then unexpectedly added, "You'd also have to factor in the round trip transportation, as well as the finder's fee for the person, right? Favors are hard to repay."
Jiang Ce's heart jumped. How was this kid so incredibly sharp?
Su Chen secretly transmitted a mental fluctuation: "Three hundred Faith Essences. If Brother Jiang's friend agrees, I'll take some risks and pick out a star beast cub according to his requirements."
"Three hundred..." Jiang Ce's expression shifted between overcast and clear. This price exceeded his psychological bottom line, and he couldn't help but say, "Star Seed Su is opening his lion's mouth a bit too wide, isn't he? My friend isn't in that much of a rush..."
"Hmm, out of respect for Brother Jiang, two hundred and eighty." After pondering for a moment, Su Chen replied.
Jiang Ce's expression relaxed considerably. He calculated for a while, gritted his teeth, and said, "Could you knock off ten more?"
Su Chen sighed. "Since Brother Jiang has spoken, then two hundred and seventy it is. What type of star beast are we choosing?"
'Two hundred and seventy...' Jiang Ce felt as if his flesh was being cut. He paused for a moment before transmitting a mental fluctuation: "Python type."
'I knew it, that friend is just you.'
Su Chen stared at Jiang Ce without exposing him, immediately agreeing, "I understand."