Nurturing Spirit Liquid

After storing the Demon Sword inside his body, Xiao Se left the Xiao Clan. He turned through the broad streets several times before finally arriving at a medium-sized Imitation Market in the western part of Wutan City, owned by the Xiao Clan.

"Brother, there are so many people here." Long Kui's excited voice suddenly rang out in his heart.

Looking at the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd around him, Xiao Se smiled faintly. "This is a medium-sized Imitation Market belonging to the Xiao Clan. It is a place for mercenaries near the Demon Beast Mountain Range to trade."

"Then is there anything you want to buy, Brother?" Long Kui's heavenly voice echoed in Xiao Se's heart.

"Yes. I plan to refine a Second-Rank Pill that can assist my cultivation, called Nurturing Spirit Liquid. I have all the medicinal ingredients, but I am missing a First-Grade Wood-Type Magic Core." Xiao Se gently stroked the Demon Sword Tattoo at the joint of his right forearm as he replied inwardly.

Feeling Xiao Se's gentleness, Long Kui smiled. "Then Long Kui will help Brother look for it too. Although Long Kui cannot fight, my senses are still very sharp."

"Then thank you." Hearing Long Kui say she could not fight, Xiao Se tugged at the corner of his mouth. Her blue form indeed could not fight, but her red form's combat power was probably off the charts. He just did not know how much strength she could wield.

After wandering around for some time, Xiao Se gradually made his way deeper into the Imitation Market. The goods traded there were more precious than those outside, so there was a greater chance of finding a First-Grade Wood-Type Magic Core.

After visiting seven or eight stalls, Xiao Se saw all kinds of Magic Cores, but still failed to find the First-Grade Wood-Type Magic Core he needed.

"Brother, three hundred meters to the southwest, there is a crystal emitting wood-element energy. It should be the Wood-Type Magic Core you are looking for."

Just as Xiao Se was beginning to feel tired, Long Kui's voice suddenly sounded in his heart.

His eyes lit up at her words. "Thanks, Long Kui!"

He immediately strode over to the stall Long Kui had indicated, bent down, and grabbed a green crystal streaked with blood from the spread-out wares. He lightly tossed it in his hand, then smiled at the somewhat honest-looking middle-aged mercenary behind the stall. "Boss, what magical beast did this Magic Core come from?"

Seeing Xiao Se dressed in the uniform of a Xiao Clan disciple, the middle-aged mercenary hurriedly introduced it with enthusiasm. "Hehe, this young master has a sharp eye. This is the Magic Core of a First-Grade magical beast, the Ghost Wood Fox. Even among First-Grade Magic Cores, it counts as a high-quality one. Back then, it took the lives of three of our brothers just to kill that Ghost Wood Fox."

At this point, the middle-aged mercenary shed regretful tears. After falling silent for a moment, he continued, "If this young master likes it, I will not rip you off. Seven hundred Gold Coins will do."

For a moment, Xiao Se had been touched by the first part of his story, but the price that followed made him twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Ordinary First-Grade Magic Cores only cost between four hundred and four hundred fifty Gold Coins. Even better ones would never exceed five hundred. Yet this First-Grade Ghost Wood Fox Magic Core was priced at seven hundred. Did the man really take him for a fool?

After wiping the blood from the Ghost Wood Fox Magic Core, Xiao Se put it back where it had been and said blandly, "Too expensive. Even if I searched the entire Demon Beast Mountain Range, I would not find a First-Grade Magic Core worth seven hundred Gold Coins. The Ghost Wood Fox is indeed difficult to deal with among First-Grade magical beasts, but I do not believe you lost three brothers over it. What, had they not even reached the Dou Zhe realm? I will take it for four hundred fifty Gold Coins. If not, I will look elsewhere."

If not for the fact that this wood-element Magic Core was of decent quality, he would have been tempted to walk away immediately.

Apparently not expecting the eleven- or twelve-year-old child before him to have such a sharp eye, the middle-aged mercenary dropped his honest expression. The corner of his mouth twitched as he said with an awkward laugh, "That is a little too low, isn't it? It has not been easy for us brothers either. This is a Ghost Wood Fox. Among all First-Grade magical beasts, it is an extremely difficult opponent."

Xiao Se shook his head. "It is precisely because I know the Ghost Wood Fox that I am offering this price. Four hundred fifty. Ordinary First-Grade Magic Cores generally sell for four hundred to four hundred fifty Gold Coins. I am already offering the highest price."

"How about adding a little more? Five hundred Gold Coins."

The middle-aged mercenary was clearly dissatisfied with the price.

"Four hundred fifty. Any more, and I leave." Xiao Se stared at the middle-aged mercenary.

"Four hundred ninety?"

Without another word, Xiao Se turned and walked away.

"Wait, four hundred eighty!"

"Four hundred seventy!"

"Damn it, four hundred fifty! Take it!"

Xiao Se turned back with a smile. As they made the exchange, he said, "I am just running errands for someone else. What do you expect me to do?"

The middle-aged man rolled his eyes, no longer looking honest or eager. "Save it. I can see you genuinely wanted to buy it. I really do need the money to treat my brothers' injuries. Otherwise, do you think I would sell it to you?"

Xiao Se put away the Ghost Wood Fox Magic Core.

To ensure that he could successfully refine the Nurturing Spirit Liquid, Xiao Se searched around some more.

Before long, he spent his remaining four hundred twenty Gold Coins to buy an ordinary First-Grade wood-element Magic Core. Only then did he leisurely head toward the exit of the Imitation Market.

He had spent nearly all his Gold Coins, and there was nothing in particular that he needed to buy. Keeping them served no purpose.

Five hundred meters from the Imitation Market's exit, a commotion in the crowd caught Xiao Se's attention.

Through the crowd, Xiao Se saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er having their path blocked by a lecherous-looking young man. Behind the young man stood a group of oddly assorted, burly middle-aged men.

Xiao Se roughly sensed their strength. More than half of the burly middle-aged men were Dou Zhe, and even the weakest were at the 8th Stage of Dou Qi.

"I did not expect it to be Ga Lie Ao. Xiao Yan's Dou Qi seems to have fallen to the fourth stage now. Looks like he is in for some suffering." Muttering softly, Xiao Se quickly slipped into the crowd.

At the center of the crowd.

"I did not expect to run into Miss Xun Er here. It seems we truly are fated."

His gaze filled with burning passion and undisguised adoration, Ga Lie Ao stared fixedly at the graceful young woman not far ahead of him and could not help licking his lips.

Xun Er's slender brows furrowed slightly. Just as she was about to rebuke him, Xiao Yan beside her stepped forward and blocked her from view. He glared at Ga Lie Ao and shouted, "Ga Lie Ao, what do you mean by this? Move aside now."

"Brother Xiao Yan..." Xun Er looked worriedly at Xiao Yan.

If it had been in the past, she would certainly have been happy for Xiao Yan to shield her from the wind and rain.

But Xiao Yan now possessed only the fourth stage of Dou Qi. If he clashed with the other party, he would definitely suffer.

"Xiao Yan, it is you again. You are ruining my good fortune again."

Seeing Xiao Yan standing in front of Xun Er, Ga Lie Ao's already pale face turned rather unpleasant, his eyes filled with malice.

Seeing this, a short, skinny middle-aged man behind Ga Lie Ao leaned close and reminded him, "Young Master, the master instructed us not to have any conflict with the Xiao Clan, especially Xiao Yan."

"Shut up!" Without even turning his head, Ga Lie Ao slapped the short, skinny middle-aged man across the face.

He was still quite wary of the greatest genius Wutan City had seen in a hundred years. His father, Ga Lie Bi, had also warned him not to openly clash with Xiao Yan.

But now, more and more people were gathering to watch, all waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Ga Lie Ao cared about his reputation too. If he backed down like this, especially in front of Xun Er, how could Ga Lie Ao continue to hold his head high in Wutan City?