Early the next morning, Shen Hao took those dim Demon Beast cores and headed to the sect's Market.
Ziyang Sect's Market lay between the outer sect and inner sect, a place where sect disciples traded. The Market bustled with people coming and going. Disciples had set up stalls everywhere, displaying all manner of Spirit Stones, Spiritual Medicine, Demon Beast cores, cultivation techniques, and sword arts.
Shen Hao entered the Market, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding stalls. He found a secluded corner and laid those dim Demon Beast cores on the ground.
Before long, a disciple came to Shen Hao's stall. The disciple wore the gray robes of an Outer Sect Disciple, his gaze falling upon the Demon Beast cores.
"How much are these cores?" the disciple asked.
Shen Hao smiled. "Azure Winged Wolf cores are five Low-grade Spirit Stones each; Black Bear Spirit cores are eight Low-grade Spirit Stones each; Crimson Flame Tiger cores are twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones each."
The disciple nodded. "I'll take one Azure Winged Wolf core and one Black Bear Spirit core."
Shen Hao nodded and handed the two cores to the disciple. The disciple gave Shen Hao thirteen Low-grade Spirit Stones, then turned and left.
Very soon, Shen Hao's stall was surrounded by disciples. Most of them were Outer Sect Disciples who needed Demon Beast cores for cultivation.
In less than an hour, all of Shen Hao's Demon Beast cores had sold out. In total, he earned over a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.
Delighted, Shen Hao tucked the Spirit Stones into his robes. He wandered around the Market, intending to buy some cultivation resources.
He stopped before a stall selling Spiritual Medicine, his gaze settling on a completely green medicinal herb. Its leaves were long and narrow, while its roots were white. It was a stalk of Qi Condensing Grass. Qi Condensing Grass was a commonly used Spiritual Medicine for cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage; after consuming it, one could quickly restore spiritual energy.
"How much is this Qi Condensing Grass?" Shen Hao asked.
The stall owner was an Inner Sect Disciple dressed in a Green Daoist Robe. He glanced at Shen Hao and said, "Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones per stalk."
Shen Hao nodded and bought five stalks of Qi Condensing Grass. He also bought some Spiritual Medicine for healing injuries before preparing to leave the Market.
Just then, his gaze fell upon a stall selling cultivation techniques. On it lay a thin booklet, its cover bearing the words Spirit Devouring Art.
Shen Hao's heart stirred. He picked up Spirit Devouring Art and carefully leafed through it. Spirit Devouring Art was a low-grade cultivation technique. After cultivating it, one could devour another person's spiritual energy and transform it into one's own. This technique was extremely similar to the devouring ability of the Companion Jade Pendant.
"How much is this Spirit Devouring Art?" Shen Hao asked.
The stall owner was an old man. He glanced at Shen Hao and said, "I obtained this Spirit Devouring Art by chance in my early years. Though it is a low-grade cultivation technique, it is exceptionally tyrannical. One price: fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones."
After pondering for a moment, Shen Hao nodded. He gave the old man fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones and tucked Spirit Devouring Art into his robes.
He knew that although Spirit Devouring Art was a low-grade cultivation technique, it would be immensely useful to him. He could combine Spirit Devouring Art with the Companion Jade Pendant's devouring ability to increase his cultivation speed.
Shen Hao left the Market and returned to his residence. He shut the door, sat cross-legged on his bed, and took out Spirit Devouring Art to study it carefully.
The contents of Spirit Devouring Art were extremely simple. After cultivating it, one could form a Spirit Devouring Vortex within the body. This Spirit Devouring Vortex could devour another person's spiritual energy and transform it into one's own.
Following the records in Spirit Devouring Art, Shen Hao began cultivating. He mobilized the spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi and formed a tiny Spirit Devouring Vortex inside his body.
The instant the Spirit Devouring Vortex formed, it began devouring the ambient spiritual energy around him. Shen Hao felt a dense surge of spiritual energy pour into his body through the Spirit Devouring Vortex.
"Wonderful!" Shen Hao's eyes were filled with delight.
He took out the Companion Jade Pendant and infused it with a thread of spiritual energy. The Companion Jade Pendant instantly lit up with a green glow, resonating with the Spirit Devouring Vortex inside his body.
The devouring speed of the Spirit Devouring Vortex instantly increased severalfold.
Shen Hao immersed himself in the pleasure of cultivation, the spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi growing ever denser.
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