Xu Chunniang changed back into the green Carefree Sect disciple robes. She had no choice—of the two sets of clothes she had bought, one had been ruined directly in battle, while the other, though intact, was filthy beyond wear for the time being.
After returning to Green Mountain Town, Xu Chunniang did not linger and headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion.
Senior Sister Yao looked at Xu Chunniang with some surprise. "Junior Sister Xu, I haven't seen you for quite some time. I thought you'd returned to the sect."
Xu Chunniang smiled. "I went to the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range these past few days."
Senior Sister Yao's eyes lit up at once, and she hurriedly led Xu Chunniang into a room reserved for receiving guests. "Junior Sister Xu, do you have more good goods to sell?"
Xu Chunniang did not beat around the bush. She directly brought out the corpse of a Fire Cloud Tiger.
"Fire Cloud Tiger!"
Senior Sister Yao cried out, her gaze at Xu Chunniang turning slightly complicated. "This is a fourth-level Qi Condensation demonic beast, and Fire Cloud Tigers only appear around Tiger Gorge Mountain."
Not just anyone dared to flock to Tiger Gorge Mountain. The Cloud Tigers there were exceptionally savage, and they often appeared in groups of several.
Xu Chunniang smiled. "Senior Sister, you don't think I killed this Fire Cloud Tiger, do you? Killing that Blackwater Crocodile last time was nothing but pure luck.
A few days ago, I joined a team. This Cloud Tiger Beast was hunted under the leadership of a senior sister at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. I merely earned her trust and helped handle it."
Senior Sister Yao showed a look of sudden understanding. If a senior sister at the sixth level of Qi Condensation had led the team, then hunting this Fire Cloud Tiger was nothing surprising.
"This Fire Cloud Tiger is extremely useful. Its hide can be used to refine defensive gear, its meat can be eaten, its blood can be boiled into talisman ink, its bones can be used to steep spiritual wine, and as for its tiger whip, it is an even greater tonic..."
Senior Sister Yao revealed a mysterious smile. "Its total value is eighty spirit stones."
Satisfaction appeared in Xu Chunniang's eyes. This Fire Cloud Tiger was actually worth even more than she had imagined.
She waved her hand, and two more Cloud Tiger Beasts appeared: a fourth-level Qi Condensation Gold Cloud Tiger and that fifth-level Qi Condensation Wind Cloud Tiger.
"A fifth-level Qi Condensation Cloud Tiger Beast—and a rare Wind Cloud Tiger at that!"
A trace of excitement surfaced on Senior Sister Yao's face. Unable to resist, she reached out and stroked the Wind Cloud Tiger. "If its hide is used to refine soft armor, there is a chance of producing a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact!"
A Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact?
Xu Chunniang's heart stirred. An ordinary mid-grade defensive Spiritual Artifact would sell for at least four hundred spirit stones.
Senior Sister Yao took a deep breath and turned to her. "Junior Sister Xu, this Gold Cloud Tiger is worth eighty spirit stones, just like the earlier Fire Cloud Tiger. If you wish to sell the Wind Cloud Tiger, I can price it at one hundred and fifty spirit stones."
Xu Chunniang shook her head. Between a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact and one hundred and fifty spirit stones, even a fool knew which to choose.
"My senior sister said she won't sell the Wind Cloud Tiger. Instead, she wishes to entrust you to refine it into a suit of soft armor."
"That can be done." Senior Sister Yao pondered for a moment. "In that case, you'll need to make up the difference for the other materials, as well as pay one hundred spirit stones for the forging fee.
And if the forging fails and only results in a low-grade Spiritual Artifact, you may not trouble the Treasure Pavilion over it."
"Agreed."
Xu Chunniang nodded. Artifact refinement itself carried risks. Even if they ultimately only obtained a low-grade suit of soft armor, it would still be far stronger than other low-grade soft armor.
Senior Sister Yao quickly calculated the price of the other required materials.
"The Wind Cloud Tiger's hide is valued at one hundred and twenty spirit stones, and its other parts at thirty spirit stones. The materials for refining the soft armor cost eighty-five spirit stones, plus one hundred spirit stones for the forging fee. Junior Sister Xu, you need to pay a total of one hundred and fifty-five spirit stones.
These two fourth-level Qi Condensation Cloud Tiger Beasts are worth one hundred and sixty spirit stones altogether. By that calculation, I should be the one paying Junior Sister five spirit stones."
As she spoke, Senior Sister Yao smiled and took out five spirit stones.
Xu Chunniang rather speechlessly accepted the five spirit stones. But thinking that she would soon possess a Spiritual Artifact, she could not help feeling a little expectant.
"Senior Sister Yao, how long will it take to refine this soft armor?"
Senior Sister Yao handed her a freshly written contract. "You may bring this contract to collect it in five days. You've confirmed that it is to be refined in a female cultivator's style, correct? Once refinement begins, it cannot be changed."
"Confirmed. Our team leader is a female cultivator."
Xu Chunniang took the contract. Seeing the Treasure Pavilion's official seal stamped upon it, she put it away with ease of mind.
She had originally planned to sell her goods today, buy a Spiritual Artifact, and return to the sect. Who knew that plans could not keep up with changes? It seemed she would have to wait another five days.
There were still seven days until the grand examination, so there was enough time.
"Senior Sister Yao, I also have some other things here that I'd like to sell together."
After saying that, Xu Chunniang brought out a pile of low-grade medicinal herbs and low-grade materials, then removed the seven Storage Bags hanging from her neck in one sweep.
"There are thirty-seven medicinal herbs and sixteen pieces of low-grade material in total. They are worth fifteen spirit stones altogether."
After Senior Sister Yao finished counting the low-grade medicinal herbs on the table, she shifted her gaze to the Storage Bags. "These Storage Bags have relatively little space. Our purchase price is ten spirit stones each, so seven of them make seventy spirit stones."
Xu Chunniang calculated that the total came to eighty-five spirit stones. She still had one hundred and thirteen spirit stones on her, bringing her total to nearly two hundred.
Forget merely buying talisman materials—even buying another Spiritual Artifact would be possible.
Xu Chunniang was tempted. After all, no matter how good a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact was, it could not change the fact that it was a defensive artifact.
"Please take me to look at the Spiritual Artifacts, Senior Sister Yao. My senior sister entrusted me to buy her an offensive Spiritual Artifact."
Senior Sister Yao nodded and led Xu Chunniang to the Spiritual Artifact counter. "Most of the items displayed here are low-grade Spiritual Artifacts. If you want something better, you'll have to go upstairs."
"Let's look at these first." Xu Chunniang's gaze settled on the Spiritual Artifacts.
Senior Sister Yao began introducing them accordingly. "This is a spirit bow. Its maximum range reaches twenty zhang. The bow itself was refined from the spine of a third-level Qi Condensation White Lion Beast, while the bowstring was refined from the tendons of a Black Spotted Python."
Xu Chunniang's gaze passed over the spirit bow and fell upon a strangely shaped dagger.
Senior Sister Yao understood at once. "This dagger was refined from the horn of a Unicorn Rhinoceros. It fears neither water nor fire and is exceptionally hard. Among low-grade Spiritual Artifacts, it is considered a fine piece."
Xu Chunniang considered it. The dagger was too short and would likely only shine in close combat, so it was not especially suitable for her.
Afterward, Xu Chunniang looked over many more Spiritual Artifacts, and several of them greatly tempted her.
However, she did not rush to buy one. She wanted to see more and compare them.
Suddenly, a strangely shaped white Spiritual Artifact caught Xu Chunniang's attention. She asked curiously, "What is this?"
Senior Sister Yao glanced at it and launched into an eloquent explanation. "This is the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle, refined from the bones of a Swift Shadow Beast.
There are seven mother-child shuttles in total. Aside from the mother shuttle, the other six are child shuttles.
When launched, they attack with incredible speed, catching opponents off guard. However, their power is average. The combined power of all seven mother-child shuttles is roughly equal to that Unicorn Rhinoceros dagger from earlier.
Moreover, using it consumes quite a bit of spiritual energy. Because it is a special-type Spiritual Artifact, its price is somewhat higher. It sells for one hundred and fifty spirit stones."
Xu Chunniang could not help clicking her tongue. That dagger had only sold for one hundred and twenty spirit stones, while the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle cost a full thirty spirit stones more.
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