"May I inquire about the price of this Blood Contract Scroll?" Fang Xizhen showed some interest and asked.
"Hehe, this item is difficult to make, and the materials are precious. I have never sold it..." Miao Dong teased, but after some hesitation, he finally spoke, "Does the Daoist have the essence blood of a high-grade serpent on you?"
Fang Xizhen's face turned cold instantly, "How do you know?"
"No need to be like this, Daoist." Miao Dong quickly waved his hands and patted his sleeve.
Hiss!
A jade-like small snake crawled out from his sleeve, coiling around his arm, spitting out a message, showing a very intimate appearance with him.
"This is the 'Azure Blood Python,' already nurtured by me to the middle grade of the first rank. My Qing'er is very sensitive to the blood of the same kind... Has the Daoist recently come into contact with the blood of a serpent above Qing'er's rank?" Miao Dong teased the Azure Blood Python with his fingers, "Although it has been cleaned, the scent has not dissipated..."
"So what?" Fang Xizhen's face was as cold as ice, continuing to inquire.
"I have a Blood Contract Scroll here and would like to exchange it for a vial of essence blood from the Daoist." Miao Dong bowed sincerely.
Among the three spiritual pets he raised, only the bloodline of the Azure Blood Python had the best innate talent, on the verge of advancing to the superior grade.
Unfortunately, it was just a bit lacking.
If he could obtain blood of the same kind as a catalyst, refine it into medicine, and assist with secret methods, then the probability of a breakthrough would greatly increase!
By then, with the combat power of the later stage of Qi Refinement, Miao Dong would be considered a figure in the Baochuan District, big or small.
"I do have the blood of a serpent demon, but I don't know its rank. I obtained it unintentionally a few days ago and did not bring it with me." Fang Xizhen paused and said, "I will go retrieve it and then trade with you."
In reality, he had already decided to give up on this transaction.
After all, the blood of the serpent dragon on his body was not just the blood of an ordinary first-grade superior serpent.
There might be some other implications involved.
It was simply not worth it for just a contract for a demonic beast!
"In that case, I can only wait for a while. Fortunately, I have been in this cave for the past half month and have not gone out!" Miao Dong said somewhat disappointedly, picking up a teacup to see Fang Xizhen off.
Fang Xizhen cupped his hands, got up, and walked out of the cave.
Within the Baochuan District, fighting was also prohibited, and everything was harmonious.
After the cave's entrance closed, the Azure Blood Python next to Miao Dong hissed urgently, showing signs of impatience.
"Don't be anxious, Qing'er!" Miao Dong comforted the Azure Blood Python, stroking its jade-like head, pondering, "Ordinary serpent blood would not make Qing'er so restless. Could it be that the person has the blood of a second-grade serpent?"
At this thought, his breathing became heavy.
A Qi Refinement Fourth Layer cultivator, but possibly carrying the blood of a second-grade serpent, was enough for him, a Qi Refinement Sixth Layer cultivator, to take action!
After all, Miao Dong was quite confident in his own strength.
With three spiritual pets, even facing a Qi Refinement Seventh Layer cultivator, he would not be at a disadvantage.
"If there is blood of a second-grade serpent, then Qing'er may have a chance to advance to the second rank in the future..." With this thought, Miao Dong's gaze became fiery.
...
"This time in the Baochuan District, I revealed a bit too much... Fortunately, I didn't use my real appearance." Fang Xizhen, as a former wandering cultivator, understood well the law of the jungle among cultivators.
Even in the world of cultivation, one had to consider the risk-to-reward ratio.
There were many extraordinary techniques in the world of cultivation. Even facing a Qi Refinement First Layer cultivator, there was a possibility of turning the tables - who knows, it might even be a Foundation Establishment cultivator in disguise!
Therefore, for a Qi Refinement Early Stage cultivator, having a few tens of spirit stones on them was still considered normal and would not attract much attention. However, having several tens or hundreds of spirit stones might raise suspicions.
For a Qi Refinement Middle Stage cultivator, tens of spirit stones could barely be kept, while hundreds of spirit stones were at the critical point.
"I only revealed a few hundred spirit stones' worth of materials at the Longmen Pavilion, then spent another twenty, and couldn't afford the hundreds of spirit stones for the body-refining technique. It shouldn't be a big problem..." In these large-scale shops, the tolerance level was slightly higher.
As for the last time at Wanhai Tower? Perhaps that person, Song Qing, thought he had squeezed Fang Xizhen dry and turned him into a pauper?
"However, there is still some risk."
"Especially for the first-grade superior serpent dragon materials, the value is close to a thousand spirit stones, and even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might be alarmed!" Fang Xizhen thought to himself, casually tossing two spirit crystals to Mo Qingyi, who was eagerly watching nearby. Amid her grateful thanks, he rode the Black Cloud Pouch and left the Baochuan District.
"This time was just a test... Next time, I'll come back with my true appearance!" Fang Xizhen planned to find a spiritual vein in Wandaohu to plant trees. This was a long-term business and he couldn't hide his face forever.
After all, cultivators were not like ordinary people in the mortal world; they were not so easily fooled!
With these thoughts in mind, Fang Xizhen rode the Black Cloud Pouch and flew out of the market, preparing to find an uninhabited island or a reef to establish a cave and rest.
"Caw!"
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
Countless water splashes rose from the lake surface, and a black-feathered demon bird flew out from it!
This demon bird could swim underwater and was extremely fast!
It emitted a harsh and unpleasant cry, gathering demonic energy as it flapped its wings. Two water arrows condensed and, taking advantage of the terrain, surged towards Fang Xizhen suddenly.
If it were any other cultivator without vigilance, they would likely be pierced by these sudden water arrows!
"Who?" But Fang Xizhen had been extremely vigilant since leaving the market. Sensing something amiss, he immediately patted his storage bag.
A pitch-black Xuan Iron Shield flew out and blocked around him.
Clang!
The two water arrows fell on the Xuan Iron Shield, making a loud impact like a bell, then exploded into a mist of water vapor.
"Water Crow?!" Seeing this spiritual beast, Fang Xizhen immediately shouted in anger, "Miao Dong! How dare you come to assassinate me?"
A shadow slowly emerged from the bottom of the lake and rose, revealing a giant golden-backed giant turtle as big as a table!
Miao Dong stood on the back of the giant turtle, his hands folded, his expression cold, "If the Daoist is willing to hand over that snake blood, everything will be fine. Otherwise..."
"Go to hell!" Fang Xizhen infused his mana into a fireball talisman and threw it at Miao Dong.
A huge fireball appeared, falling from the sky.
"Hmph, a trivial trick!" Miao Dong sneered, not dodging.
In the next moment, the fireball hit his head, but was blocked by a semi-transparent water curtain, allowing the flames to explode but not spread any heat.
The giant turtle under Miao Dong's feet, the 'Golden Back Turtle,' although only a first-grade inferior spiritual beast, had comprehended the innate demonic art - Water Shield Technique!
Normally an excellent means of transportation in the lake, its defensive power was quite outstanding.
Especially when located in a large lake, using the Water Shield Technique took full advantage of the terrain, with minimal consumption and long-lasting effects, comparable to some first-grade medium spiritual protection spells.
After sneering, Miao Dong took out a black claw-shaped artifact from his storage bag, made from the claws of some unknown spiritual beast, extremely sharp at the edges.
Infusing mana into it, he was about to strike Fang Xizhen fiercely, but suddenly felt a void in his heart, looking up in horror and shouting, "No!"
A golden sword light had unexpectedly cut the Water Crow in half in mid-air!
The fireball technique Fang Xizhen used earlier was just a feint. Seeing the Water Crow attacking him, he sneered, releasing the Golden Dragon Sword!
This sword was a top-grade artifact, extremely sharp.
With just one strike, he killed this flying spiritual pet!
"My spiritual pet!" Miao Dong, connected to the Water Crow's mind, turned red-eyed.
This Water Crow was not only his spiritual pet but also his tool for catching spiritual fish and earning a living!
Now, this tool had been destroyed by Fang Xizhen!
He never expected that a Qi Refinement Fourth Layer cultivator like Fang Xizhen would possess a top-grade artifact flying sword!
"This flying sword is good, but it consumes too much mana!" Fang Xizhen controlled the Golden Dragon Sword, feeling the rapid depletion of his mana, knowing that he could only unleash a few more strikes before falling into a state of mana exhaustion - for other cultivators, without mana, they couldn't activate their artifacts and talismans, leaving them vulnerable to attack.
"Very cunning... truly cunning!" After the grief, Miao Dong began to have thoughts of retreat.
This Qi Refinement Fourth Layer cultivator was not easy to deal with, and he even had a fine artifact on him. Who knows, he might have a special background!
"Miao Dong, you won't escape. When I return to my clan, I will report to the Patriarch... you can wait to become a wanted criminal, hunted everywhere!" Fang Xizhen sneered, completely cutting off Miao Dong's escape plan, then controlled the Golden Dragon Sword to strike.
The sword light flashed, and with a sudden dragon roar, it fell like a golden meteor.
"Go!" Miao Dong had no choice but to activate a black claw artifact to meet the Golden Dragon Sword.
The two artifacts entangled in mid-air, making a clanging sound. After a short while, the claw artifact was covered in sword marks and seemed on the verge of breaking!
"Let's go all out!" Miao Dong glanced at Fang Xizhen, took out a Qi Replenishing Pill from his bosom, and swallowed it.
As a Qi Refinement Sixth Layer cultivator, his mana was definitely deeper than Fang Xizhen's!
Moreover, Fang Xizhen was wielding a top-grade artifact!
Now that he had offended this young master with a background, escaping would surely lead to being wanted, so it was better to kill him and end it all!
Sure enough, a moment later, Fang Xizhen seemed to be running out of mana, his face pale, and the Black Cloud Pouch suddenly dissipated, causing him to fall towards the lake.
"Go!" Seeing this, Miao Dong immediately rejoiced, instructing the Golden Back Turtle to approach.
He still had the ace up his sleeve, Qing'er, as long as he got close, he could deliver a fatal blow!
Seeing the frightened 'Fang Leng' getting closer, Miao Dong's face lit up with joy, chanting a spell.
"Hiss!"
The Azure Blood Python Qing'er immediately pounced towards Fang Xizhen.
"Get up!" Fang Xizhen hurriedly summoned the Xuan Iron Shield!
Puff!
Unexpectedly, the Azure Blood Python Qing'er suddenly opened its mouth in mid-air, spewing out a poisonous mist!
This was the essence of Qing'er, which had been swallowing and spitting out toxins day and night since birth, most capable of contaminating artifacts. The poisonous mist touched the Xuan Iron Shield, immediately emitting a corrosive hissing sound, making the shield malfunction and fall from the sky.
Suddenly, a sharp horn grew on the forehead of the Azure Blood Python Qing'er, resembling a sharp green arrow shooting towards Fang Xizhen!
This was its innate demonic art - Poisonous Snake Drill!
"It's done!" Miao Dong was overjoyed, knowing that this strike from Qing'er was as powerful as a top-grade artifact, it was his hidden trump card!
(End of this chapter)