Chapter 119 - 107: New Roommate

Chapter 119: Chapter 107: New Roommate

Unfortunately... it cost three Contribution Points a day to read.

Just as Zhao Zuo was flipping through the sect manual, a few knocks suddenly came from outside his door.

"Taoist Friend Zhao, would you like to go browse the night market?" Zhao Qingmeng asked.

Zhao Zuo opened his door. After a moment’s thought, he decided he should go and broaden his horizons. The Moyun Sect’s night market was a small, spontaneously formed marketplace in the Outer Sect’s central plaza. One could purchase necessary cultivation supplies there, trading with either Spirit Stones or Contribution Points.

This time, it wasn’t just the two of them; another roommate, Lin Hao, joined them. He had sharp brows and piercing eyes. After a brief exchange of names with Zhao Zuo, he fell silent, a hint of arrogance in his expression.

"Since you’re a new disciple, Taoist Friend Zhao, you’re probably not familiar with the ins and outs of the night market. It’s best to mainly look around today. Be cautious if you decide to buy anything."

Zhao Qingmeng cautioned Zhao Zuo before they left.

"Thank you, I understand."

The three set off, heading further up the winding mountain road. In the Outer Sect area, for example, the Earth Fire Forging Chamber was located near the foot of the mountain. Above that were the residences for the Outer Sect disciples.

Starting from the residences and heading up, one would reach the central platform.

Even higher up were the Scripture Pavilion and the Inner Sect area. The Inner Sect was said to be enveloped by a Grand Array, and Outer Sect disciples had absolutely no right to go there—unless they became the attendant of an Inner Sect disciple.

Each Inner Sect Disciple could select an attendant, allowing them to move into the Inner Sect residential area.

The sun set in the west, and the sky grew slightly dark. However, Spiritual Power Lamps floated in mid-air every ten-odd meters, illuminating the surroundings, so the darkness wasn’t much of an issue.

Occasionally, Inner Sect Disciples in black Taoist Robes with silver patterns would fly overhead on their swords. These Flying Swords were Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts that couldn’t be used for combat, only for flight. Their speed couldn’t compare to that of a Magical Treasure.

A gentle breeze stirred the clouds and mist that drifted within arm’s reach, making the world look as beautiful and ethereal as a fairyland.

"We’re almost there," Zhao Qingmeng said.

She had talked the most along the way. Zhao Zuo noticed that Lin Hao’s attitude toward Zhao Qingmeng was quite cold. He almost never spoke to her, and their relationship seemed a bit strange.

The central platform was massive. Besides the space taken up by the stalls, it could still hold nearly a thousand people who were browsing and shopping, and it didn’t feel crowded in the slightest.

"I’m going to set up my stall. You two can take your time browsing," Zhao Qingmeng said gently, and soon vanished from Zhao Zuo’s sight. The crowd was just that large...

"I’d advise you to stay away from her. That woman would sell out anything for Spirit Stones," Lin Hao suddenly said to Zhao Zuo out of the blue, his words tinged with a subtle anger.

Zhao Zuo keenly sensed that Lin Hao’s anger was directed at Zhao Qingmeng.

"Thank you for the warning, Taoist Friend." Zhao Zuo didn’t press the issue, merely offering a polite reply.

"Then let’s look around separately," Lin Hao said, and promptly walked away.

Zhao Zuo started to wander around as well. He was most interested in the stalls selling Spirit Beasts; after all, most of the other goods were also for sale in the Moyun Market, so they were hardly novel to him.

After some time, Zhao Zuo finally found a stall selling Spirit Beasts. The owner was a young woman in red robes who looked to be around eighteen. A genuine, gentle smile always graced her lips. Most importantly, Zhao Zuo couldn’t see through her cultivation.

"Looking to buy a Spirit Beast, Junior Brother? I have White Furred Rabbits, Fire Spirit Snakes, and Longevity Turtles here," said Wang Yue’Er.

"Oh, so you’re a Senior Sister from the Inner Sect. May I ask how I should address you?"

"My surname is Wang."

"Senior Sister Wang, I’d like to purchase a Fire Series Spirit Beast."

Zhao Zuo said this after pausing silently for a moment and looking up at Wang Yue’er.

"In that case, it has to be the Fire Spirit Snake," Wang Yue’Er said with a faint smile. Her voice was very crisp and clear.

"What are this Spirit Beast’s characteristics?" Zhao Zuo did intend to buy a Spirit Beast to raise, both to diversify his combat techniques and to serve as a fire source for future Artifact Refining, but he wouldn’t make a hasty decision.

"The Fire Spirit Snake’s main characteristic is that the flame it spits is exceptionally pure, making it an excellent assistant for both Artifact Refining and Alchemy. Moreover, raising one is very simple—you just need to feed it Fire Series Spiritual Objects to help it quickly advance and grow stronger." With a wave of her hand, Wang Yue’Er produced a young snake, about fifteen centimeters long, from a Spirit Beast pouch at her waist.

Its scales were a translucent red, but not quite crystalline, and they radiated heat. Its eyes, however, were a somewhat dull gold, and it looked extremely weak.

It coiled its body, warily observing its surroundings.

"How much is it?" Zhao Zuo asked gently, his interest piqued.

"Two hundred Spirit Stones. If you need a Spirit Beast pouch, that’ll be an extra one hundred Spirit Stones."

’The price of two hundred Spirit Stones definitely isn’t expensive,’ Zhao Zuo calculated silently, ’but this young snake has clearly just hatched. It has no combat power at all. If I want to raise it to be a fire source for Artifact Refining, it will certainly take a very long time.’

’As it is now, the Fire Spirit Snake is at best a rankless beast with no ability to survive on its own.’

"This Junior Brother must be a disciple of the Earth Fire Hall, correct? I won’t hide it from you... your own Eldest Senior Brother bought his Fire Spirit Snake from me, and it has now become his prized assistant in Artifact Refining. After all, the flame temperature of an Earth Fire Furnace can’t be freely adjusted," Wang Yue’er said in a subtly bewitching tone.

Zhao Zuo was inclined to believe that part... after all, it was a lie that could be easily exposed at any time.

"What about the other two types of Spirit Beasts?" Zhao Zuo asked.

Wang Yue’Er showed no impatience. While stroking the Fire Spirit Snake in her hand, she began her introduction for Zhao Zuo.

The White Furred Rabbit’s combat ability is extremely low, but the white fur it sheds can be used as material for making Magical Robes. Therefore, it can be sold for some Spirit Stones, making it a Spirit Beast with economic benefits.

The Longevity Turtle was even more peculiar. There was no way to speed up its growth; it could only be left to grow naturally. At one hundred years, it would be a One-Tier, Middle-Grade beast. At two hundred years, it would be One-Tier, Upper-Grade. At one thousand years, it would become a Second-Tier, Middle-Grade Demon Beast. It was even said... that at ten thousand years, it would possess the combat power of the Nascent Soul realm.

As the saying goes, one turtle for three generations—the master is long gone, but the turtle remains.

After some thought, Zhao Zuo decided the Fire Spirit Snake was still the most suitable for him.

"Two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, and throw in a Spirit Beast pouch. For that price, I’ll buy the Fire Spirit Snake!"

Zhao Zuo mentally calculated the number of Spirit Stones he currently had. He was certain there was some hidden catch with the Fire Spirit Snake; otherwise, it would never be sold at such a low price.

"Deal!" Wang Yue’Er’s smile was dazzling as she took the Spirit Stones from Zhao Zuo.

"Feed it your blood for five consecutive days to form a Blood Contract. If you can advance to Foundation Establishment in the future, Junior Brother, you can use your Divine Thought to perform a secondary bonding to achieve a complete mental connection," Wang Yue’er said.

"Oh, right. There’s one more thing," she added.

"The Fire Spirit Snake only eats Fire Series Spiritual Objects. It will starve to death before it eats anything else..."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister." Zhao Zuo had guessed there might be a catch with the Fire Spirit Snake, but he never thought it would be this significant. Still... he didn’t quite regret it.

.....

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