Flint Crystal Worm

He stood there lost in thought for a moment, then let it go.

Hope lay right before his eyes. That was already the best arrangement.

So he slowly strolled into the market, cautiously examining the goods the cultivators had laid out for sale—much like a mortal marketplace, this place mainly sold all kinds of spirit beasts and spirit plants, with only a very few stalls selling cultivation techniques and Magic Treasures.

It looked no different from a flower-and-bird market. The only absurd thing was that this bunch of immortality-seekers had come shopping in the middle of the night instead of sleeping.

Spirit beasts with abundant fire-attribute vitality...

He kept the description he had just read firmly in mind, but perhaps his luck was poor. There were indeed some unusual fire-attribute spirit beasts in the market, such as Flame Spirit Hounds, Candle-Tail Mice, Crimson Pelt Rabbits...

But their prices were simply too steep.

The five Spirit Stones in his hand were truly stretched thin.

There was nothing to be done about it. Most of what was sold here were spirit beasts that were easier to sell and useful to cultivators. No one would painstakingly raise some obscure spirit beast just to bring it here for sale.

Clearly, trying to find a bargain was not going to work. Still, he did not lose heart and headed straight into Returning Shore Market's official store—with a soft creak.

Before Li Ye stood an exquisite hall roughly half a mu in size.

The floor of the hall was covered in an emerald-green grass carpet that could calm the mind and settle the spirit. Farther in stood a series of separate little rooms, allowing cultivators to conduct quiet, private transactions.

At first glance, this place somewhat resembled a mortal apothecary. After all, the products of spirit plants also required rigorous preservation methods, or their medicinal potency might leak away. In that respect, the two had much in common.

He entered one of the small rooms directly. Inside was a counter, but behind it stood neither shopkeeper nor attendant. Instead, a jade-green vine had grown there.

A tiny white flower bloomed at its tip. It watched Li Ye like an eye, then somehow spoke from nowhere. "It's you, kid. What do you want to buy?"

Li Ye blinked. This vine was said to have been cultivated by the Four Seasons Sect. It possessed intelligence and was highly sensitive to the auras of spirit beasts and spirit plants. Only markets affiliated with the Four Seasons Sect could have one stationed there.

The Silver Moon Grass owned by the original host had been purchased from it.

Name: Juvenile Spirit-Engine Vine

Mood: Joyful

Status: Well-rested

Well-rested? So vines needed sleep too...

He only looked for a breath or two before respectfully saying, "Senior, I wish to purchase some fire-attribute... things with vitality."

Halfway through, he suddenly thought of something and continued, "Fire-attribute spirit insects or spirit beasts."

The Spirit-Engine Vine asked curiously, "Are you buying them to eat or to raise? Last time, you received spirit plants from the Four Seasons Sect through me. How has it only been so long, yet you've grown this weak already?"

"Alas, Qi Deviation."

"I thought that if I had a fire-attribute spirit pet with vitality, perhaps it could help nourish my meridians." He did not conceal it. After all, the other party had probably already seen through him.

Moreover, using the auras of spirit beasts and spirit plants to nourish oneself was itself a cultivation method. A spirit pet that could assist its master's cultivation was exceedingly valuable.

"How many Spirit Stones do you have?" The Spirit-Engine Vine still cared quite a bit about those Silver Moon Grass plants. After all, they were a task issued by the higher sect, and the completion rate had some bearing on its evaluation.

"Five," Li Ye answered.

"..."

The Spirit-Engine Vine very clearly conveyed a sense of speechlessness.

Li Ye could only smile awkwardly. "Senior Vine, for the sake of those Silver Moon Grass plants, I have already given it everything I had. I truly have no extra Spirit Stones left."

That was not untrue.

Then the Spirit-Engine Vine sighed. "Then I only have one thing here that I can give you."

As it spoke, it tapped the tabletop. A box immediately surfaced. Once it opened, several crystalline red little worms lay inside.

They were about as thick as a little finger, each with a tiny red sprout on its head, as though it were wearing a blade of grass. They darted about inside the box at an exaggerated speed, utterly at odds with their round, plump appearance.

The instant the box opened, Li Ye felt a wave of heat rise up.

Five-colored motes of light still flickered around the panel.

Name: Flint Crystal Worm

Mood: Irritable

Status: Craving a cold, shady environment

Can Bind: "Yin"-attribute spirit plants

Huh? He got it just like that? Was his luck really this good?

Li Ye was quite astonished.

Was his luck a little too good? Had his fortunes turned after transmigrating?

"These spirit insects were only received today," the Spirit-Engine Vine explained.

"They are first-rank spirit insects. During winter, they release their own vitality. When summer comes, they burrow into the earth and become spirit plants, waiting for the next winter to arrive."

"The vitality they release can be absorbed directly, making them fairly good healing spirit insects. They originally came from the freezing lands of the Western Borderlands."

That sounded pretty good. Usually, there would be a twist in a situation like this, Li Ye thought.

No matter how he looked at it, this thing did not seem cheap. Could he really afford it?

A twist?

The tip of Spirit Vine's tendril gently stroked the little fellows running wildly about, then, as expected, it said, "But..."

"These little fellows ran into some trouble when they hatched. They probably won't survive until summer, when they turn into grass, so naturally they must be put to the best possible use. They were originally ten Spirit Stones each, but now they're one Spirit Stone each."

"By my reckoning, that should be enough to last until your Silver Moon Grass matures, and then you can come back to buy other medicinal pills from me."

"But judging by your condition, if you want to recover completely, entering the Four Seasons Sect may be your only hope."

"Cultivation is important, but you must also be cautious. If a man dies and his path vanishes, then everything is in vain."

After saying that, it waited for Li Ye's reply.

It had considered cultivators in this way before. After all, the True Person who had raised it had been like that. Yet many cultivators had been unwilling to suffer such a loss, and over time, it had come to accept it.

It was just a pity for these little fellows...

Li Ye keenly noticed that its emotion on the panel had changed to pity—though that pity could not possibly be for him, which meant it could only be for these spirit insects.

After thinking for a moment, he said solemnly, "I naturally cannot refuse Senior's kindness. These spirit insects can help ease my pain, and I will certainly treat them well.

"However, may I ask how these spirit insects should be raised? I truly have never seen such peculiar little creatures before."

As he spoke, he carefully extended a finger, intending to touch one of the spirit insects.

But to his surprise, just as his finger drew near, the little insect that had been racing about stopped. It straightened its plump body with great effort and took the initiative to touch his fingertip with the tiny sprout on its head.

A warm breath flowed from the Flint Crystal Worm's tiny sprout, briefly warming his finger.

Li Ye paused slightly.

Spirit Vine was also somewhat surprised, and its tone unconsciously softened. "It is rare to see them act so friendly."

A flash of spiritual light flickered across the table, and a jade slip fell there.

It gestured for Li Ye to take it. "The method for raising Flint Crystal Worms is recorded in this jade slip. Take it back and study it carefully. If anything comes up, you may come find me."

This was Spirit Vine of the Four Seasons Sect! Getting on good terms with it could only be beneficial.

"Please rest assured, Senior. This junior will certainly take good care of them."

Li Ye placed his only five Spirit Stones on the table, then picked up the box and took his leave.

Spirit Vine's body swayed faintly. It, too, had once been such an inferior specimen. Fortunately, it had encountered a good master. Hopefully, those little fellows would also find a decent master.