Inside the Trial Secret Realm.
Feeling they had gained a great deal from their experiences along the way, they decided to return to the space within the Profound Space Pearl.
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief when they returned.
They had just ventured into the heart of the Trial Secret Realm and encountered many powerful Demon Beasts, nearly all of them approaching the peak of Gold Rank, though none were as strong as the blazing phoenix they had encountered earlier. The ordeal had left them somewhat drained, both physically and mentally.
"Ning'er, we gained quite a lot from this trip. I feel like I'm about to break through. What about you?" Xiao Tianhao looked at Xiao Ning'er, his eyes brimming with affection.
Xiao Ning'er nodded and said excitedly, "Me too! After those battles, my bottleneck has loosened. I feel like I could break through right now. Tianhao, the spiritual energy here is so dense. Let's do it here!"
They went to the clearing in front of the wooden house and each took out Soul-Nourishing Pills and Soul-Consolidating Pills. Soul-Nourishing Pills nourished the Soul Sea, while Soul-Consolidating Pills helped condense Soul Force, providing support for a breakthrough. They sat cross-legged and began circulating their cultivation methods, preparing to break through.
Xiao Tianhao was the first to settle into the proper state. Like Nie Li's, his Soul Sea had no attribute. Practicing cultivation methods and fusing with different Demon Spirits had imbued his Soul Force with different attributes.
Spiritual energy surged wildly around him, forming a vortex with him at its center. As more and more spiritual energy gathered, a pillar of blue light shot straight into the sky.
The pillar flashed and vanished.
Gold Three-Star-achieved.
Around Xiao Ning'er, the power of wind and thunder flickered continuously. The surrounding air seemed to ionize, crackling and popping. Her body seemed to have become an enormous source of lightning, constantly absorbing the spiritual energy around her. The originally blue lightning gradually deepened in color, like a mysterious black hole in the cosmos devouring everything.
Wind and thunder burst from Xiao Ning'er, and the force of her breakthrough sent ripples through the space around her.
The power of wind and thunder dispersed. She had advanced to gold 1-star.
The two slowly opened their eyes and exchanged a look, their gazes filled with joy. "Ning'er, congratulations! You're a gold 1-star Demon Spirit Master now!" Xiao Tianhao said with a smile.
Xiao Ning'er nodded vigorously in excitement. "Thank you, Tianhao. I never expected to become a gold 1-star Demon Spirit Master so quickly either."
They chatted for a little longer.
Then they returned to Xiao Tianhao's house and sat down in the living room.
Xiao Tianhao poured two cups of tea and handed one to Xiao Ning'er. "Ning'er, now that we've finished our breakthroughs, what are your plans for later?"
Xiao Ning'er took a sip of tea and thought for a moment. "I want to return to the Winged Dragon Family first and share the good news with my father, and let the family know how much I've grown. What about you, Tianhao?"
Xiao Tianhao nodded. "Me? I'm planning to find a merchant association and have a look around. I'll buy some Demon Spirits and other things."
"All right, Tianhao. I'll be going, then," Xiao Ning'er said, her face full of reluctance.
"We're about to part. Won't you give me a hug, Ning'er?" Xiao Tianhao looked at Xiao Ning'er with a pitiful expression.
Xiao Ning'er's reluctant expression froze for a moment before she burst into a giggle. She stood up and took the initiative to give Xiao Tianhao a big hug.
Just as Xiao Tianhao was losing himself in her tender embrace, Xiao Ning'er suddenly planted a light kiss on his cheek. Then, blushing, she stammered softly, "Th-this... this is your reward."
Xiao Tianhao froze for a moment. He had not expected Xiao Ning'er to be so forward today.
Then a radiant smile spread across his face. "I absolutely love this reward. Ning'er, I feel like that kiss will keep me happy for days."
"All right, I'm leaving."
Embarrassed by his words, Xiao Ning'er ran outside.
Xiao Tianhao changed his clothes and headed toward the general store where he had shopped last time.
Xiao Tianhao arrived at the first general store he had visited before and greeted the owner warmly. "Owner, I bought some things here last time. I'd like to buy some Demon Spirits this time too. Do you have any in stock?"
The owner stepped forward with a broad smile. "Young master, we do, but what types of Demon Spirits are you looking for?"
Xiao Tianhao nodded and listed the Demon Spirits he needed. "Two hundred each of berserker type, poison type, wind-thunder type, sacred fire type, assassin type, and wind-snow type. I also want some Silver Rank battle armor and blank Inscription Scrolls."
The owner's smile froze on his face, and he shook his head.
"Well... this is only a small business. I'm afraid I can't meet your needs, young master."
Xiao Tianhao did not make things difficult for him. "What do you have?"
"Twenty sacred fire type, thirty berserker type, and five assassin type. I don't have any of the others. I do have quite a few blank Inscription Scrolls, but the battle armor is only Bronze Rank," the owner said, looking embarrassed.
Ah, I'm asking too much. It's only natural that a little shop like this can't meet my needs, Xiao Tianhao sighed inwardly.
"All right, I'll look elsewhere, then."
The owner looked regretful that the sale had fallen through, but still politely saw him off.
"Take care, young master."
Xiao Tianhao visited several more shops and received much the same answer.
He continued onward and suddenly spotted a fairly large merchant association.
Above its entrance hung a sign bearing the words "Guangmao Merchant Association."
Xiao Tianhao approached the Guangmao Merchant Association. Its building was imposing and lavishly decorated, and the people coming and going were either richly dressed or possessed powerful auras.
As soon as he stepped through the entrance, a smiling attendant came forward to greet him.
"Young master, welcome to the Guangmao Merchant Association. How may we help you?" the attendant asked respectfully.
Xiao Tianhao was finely dressed. He wore a sky-blue robe embroidered with pale silver cloud patterns. When a light breeze brushed past, the clouds seemed to come alive and drift.
A silk sash of the same color encircled his waist, and he wore blue brocade boots. His long hair was tied up with a blue ribbon. His entire bearing was otherworldly, and he looked every inch a noble young master.
He did not want to be so conspicuous either, but keeping a low profile outside made it easy for others to look down on him. He could not be bothered to waste words.
Xiao Tianhao said calmly, "I'd like to buy some Demon Spirits. Two hundred each of berserker type, poison type, wind-thunder type, sacred fire type, assassin type, and wind-snow type. I also need some Silver Rank battle armor and blank Inscription Scrolls. You have all of those... don't you?"
The attendant was briefly taken aback, not expecting the seemingly young master before him to spend so lavishly. "Please follow me to the VIP lounge, young master. We'll give you a detailed introduction to our merchandise."
Xiao Tianhao followed the attendant to the VIP lounge. Before long, one of the association's managers hurried over. "Young master, I hear you're looking to make a substantial purchase. Do you have any requirements regarding the quality of the Demon Spirits?" the manager asked, his face wreathed in smiles.
Xiao Tianhao thought for a moment. "Naturally, the higher the quality, the better. Preferably Demon Spirits of Silver Rank or above."
The manager nodded. "Our association happens to have Demon Spirits that meet your requirements. Among the higher-quality ones, we have the berserker-type Bloodrage Mad Bull, which possesses tremendous strength and savage Demon Spirit battle techniques;
"the poison-type Netherworld Poison Spider, whose potent venom can kill enemies without a sound;
"the wind-thunder-type Thunderflare Wind Eagle, which is extremely fast and can control the power of wind and thunder; the sacred fire-type Flame-Sun Sacred Steed, which possesses tremendous explosive firepower;
"the assassin-type Shadow Spirit Cat, which excels at concealment and surprise attacks;
"and the wind-snow-type Snowfield Snow Deer, which can control ice and snow and possesses considerable strength. We also have some other excellent Demon Spirits."
"Most of these Demon Spirits are Silver Rank, and quite a few are Gold Rank. They'll certainly meet your requirements, young master."
Xiao Tianhao listened to the manager's introduction and nodded inwardly. "They all sound good. Take me to see them."
The manager led Xiao Tianhao to a secret room containing several transparent Demon Spirit Stones, each with a Demon Spirit sealed inside.
Xiao Tianhao carefully examined these Demon Spirits, sensing their auras and attributes.
"I'll take all these Demon Spirits. Give me two hundred Inscription Scrolls and ten sets of battle armor as well," Xiao Tianhao said decisively.
The manager was delighted. He had not expected the sale to go so smoothly. "A decisive purchase, young master! I'll arrange to have everything packed up right away."
The total came to around two hundred million Demon Spirit Coins, but that was nothing to Xiao Tianhao. He readily paid, chatted with the manager for a little longer, and left the association.
Back at his house, he took the Demon Spirits and Inscription Scrolls out of his Space Ring and looked at them piled throughout the room.
He was ready to begin the next step.
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