Deliver Goods

Demonic beasts descended the mountain, and cultivators flocked to hunt them.

Yet most of them were not professional Monster Hunters. Even if the demonic beasts had left the deep mountains and ancient forests and were easier to deal with, Tier 1 demonic beasts could still send off formation apprentices like Zhang Hai, or cultivators of other professions.

Risking their lives was frightening to everyone, but the demonic beasts had practically come knocking at their doors. Watching others rake in Spirit Crystals by the handful made their hearts itch as well!

At a time like this, surely they would not refuse to buy a few Combat Puppets that could both aid in hunting and step up to take a hit at any moment!

This time, your brother was really going to strike it rich!

His heart wild with delight, Su Qing nevertheless put on a troubled expression.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but these two Lizard Warriors are merely this humble one's trial works. It would not be proper to sell them to you, lest they delay your affairs!"

The moment Su Qing said this, Zhang Hai understood what he meant.

Whether puppet masters, talisman masters, or Formation Masters like themselves, all needed a period of learning and practice when first encountering a new craft. During that period, the success rate was painfully moving, so naturally they did not dare invest too many materials.

Such products could not exactly be called shoddy, but there was no escaping the fact that they were inferior goods.

Yet Zhang Hai was not disappointed. Instead, he grew even more excited.

"Inferior goods are good! Inferior goods are exactly what I want. Fellow Daoist, just name your price. I want one today!"

"Is there really any need for that, Fellow Daoist Zhang? It is not as if the Market has no Combat Puppets for sale. Why insist on mine?"

Su Qing asked in confusion. Formation Masters were a pampered profession. Even if Zhang Hai was only an experienced formation apprentice, he still lived more comfortably than ordinary people. There was no reason he could not afford a standard Combat Puppet!

It would have been better if Su Qing had not asked. The moment he did, Zhang Hai flew into a rage, nearly jumping up and cursing his mother.

"Those shops in the Market are utterly shameless! Knowing everyone is short on gear, over these past ten-odd days, the prices of Magic Artifacts, Pills, and Puppets have changed by the day!

The demonic beasts have only just come down the mountain, and we have yet to earn many Spirit Crystals, but those people selling goods in the Market have already made Profits Overflowing!"

Zhang Hai cursed furiously. Su Qing knew that what truly displeased him was not merely the Market merchants raising prices with the wind, but that he himself lacked the ability to refine formation disks and could not earn this money. That was why his anger burned all the hotter.

Still, he was an honest man. He truthfully told Su Qing that the prices of items usable in Combat had risen throughout the Market. Otherwise, he might well have been able to take advantage of Su Qing.

He was someone worth befriending!

Su Qing silently remarked to himself. Now that he knew the situation in the Market, he did not persist any longer and decided to sell one Lizard Warrior to Zhang Hai.

When refining this Lizard Warrior, he had only applied a single coating. Compared to the Heavy Armor Version, it had less durability and less strength.

But in all other respects, nothing had been cut back. It was still far stronger than a Tier 1 Lower grade Combat Puppet.

"Fellow Daoist, please take note. Although this Puppet is as if an extension of one's arm to control, and has quite a few tricks when used to attack and kill.

But you understand—it is a trial work, after all, so it will always have some shortcomings. I have written the operating methods in the booklet. Fellow Daoist should study it carefully and do not rely on it to take risks."

"Of course. This humble one merely helps others repair formations and rarely enters battle. It is just that the price..." Zhang Hai asked sheepishly.

"Six hundred Spirit Crystals! If Fellow Daoist finds that acceptable, take it now!"

After some thought, Su Qing did not have the heart to ask for too much. He also intended to make a friend of Zhang Hai.

"Only six hundred Spirit Crystals? Fellow Daoist is truly looking after me. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, this humble one knows what to do!"

Zhang Hai knew how to appreciate kindness. Though this was an inferior product, at current market prices, it could not be bought for less than eight hundred Spirit Crystals. Su Qing's price was clearly a bargain for him.

To return the peach with a plum, when he went to the Hunting Grounds, he would certainly promote Fellow Daoist Su properly.

Su Qing merely smiled, cupped his hands, and gave a brief acknowledgment.

After bidding farewell to Zhang Hai, Su Qing brought the remaining Lizard Warrior toward the Central District of the Market.

Under the observation of the Wood Spirit Servants he had released, there were now few Robber Cultivators lingering in the dark corners of the various alleyways along the blue stone roads.

Perhaps these Robber Cultivators had temporarily changed professions as well. But Su Qing felt it was more likely that they had simply changed their base and gone near the Hunting Grounds to seek prey. After all, bullying cultivators was always easier than bullying demonic beasts.

About half an hour later, Su Qing rode his Iron-Footed Horse smoothly into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Today, the one receiving him was merely a young clerk.

He heard that Shopkeeper Liu and the managers of the various shops had all been summoned by the Cloud Mountain Sect. No one knew what important matter they were gathering to discuss.

"Fellow Daoist Su's skill in refining Demoness Puppets truly leaves nothing to be desired. Within White Cloud Market Town, Fellow Daoist Su stands alone in his mastery of Biomimetic Runes!"

The clerk was named Tong Xin. He had trained under Shopkeeper Liu for more than ten years. Though his experience and knowledge might not compare to Shopkeeper Liu's, he certainly knew how to say pleasant things.

He was not merely flattering Su Qing. Given the Tier 2 Biomimetic Runes Su Qing had mastered, there truly was not a single puppet master in White Cloud Market Town who could match him.

Su Qing smiled. "Fellow Daoist flatters me. Today, I have come to deliver all the remaining Demoness Puppets. I wonder whether the Hundred Treasures Pavilion still requires this type of Puppet?"

"I hope Fellow Daoist Su will forgive me. The shopkeeper is away, and this lowly one cannot make the decision. However, judging by the shopkeeper's previous intentions, I fear the Demoness Puppet business has run its course!" Tong Xin bowed slightly, speaking with some apology.

Su Qing had anticipated this long ago, and his expression remained unchanged.

"Demoness Puppets can only sell while they are fresh and novel. This humble one expected that long ago. Let us set Demoness Puppets aside for now. Fellow Daoist Tong, take a look at this Puppet behind me!"

There was no need for Su Qing to say it. From the moment he entered, Tong Xin's gaze had kept drifting toward the Lizard Warrior.

Though he had spent decades in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and seen countless Puppets,

he had truly never seen one like this before.

"Please forgive my poor eyesight, but I cannot discern what is special about this Puppet. I ask Fellow Daoist to enlighten me!"

So what if he could not recognize it? There were countless artifacts beneath the heavens, and some cultivators always managed to come up with new tricks. Why should a mere clerk know so much?

Su Qing had known from the start that Tong Xin would not recognize it. It would have been strange if he had! This was a Puppet produced by the panel; in the entire Celestial Origin Realm, only Su Qing knew how to refine it!

He took out the small booklet—the Puppet instruction manual—and handed it to Tong Xin. While Tong Xin read through it,

Su Qing wandered around the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Though he had been mentally prepared, the skyrocketing prices still made him gasp in astonishment again and again.

"Flame Blade, Tier-1 Mid-Grade Magic Artifact, priced at two thousand three hundred Spirit Crystals!"

"Chaotic Blade Array, Tier 1 Lower grade formation, priced at three thousand six hundred Spirit Crystals!"

"General Tiger, Tier-1 High-Grade Puppet, priced at eight thousand eight hundred Spirit Crystals!"

"Beast Binding Rope, unranked, priced at three hundred Spirit Crystals! Outrageous, truly outrageous! An unranked thing like this, and they dare ask for so many Spirit Crystals!"