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Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The Lonely Leopard of the Snowy Plains
"Aooh!"
The Golden Flame Tiger lifted its tail, strutting through the Whale Emperor Fang, bold and majestic. Its golden fur shimmered like satin ablaze with flames, turning heads wherever it went.
"The Whale Emperor Fang has just been completed, and not many shops on Spiritual Beast Street are open for business yet, but they all have solid foundations. It’s worth a visit."
Shen Bingxin led the way, introducing the sights as they walked. It took roughly the time to burn an incense stick to arrive at their destination.
Array protections surrounded the marketplace, prohibiting the use of any Flying Artifacts and Spiritual Beasts. One had to either walk or take the official transportation Magic Artifacts.
Of course, once you’ve become a Foundation Establishment elder, you needn’t bother with such tedious restrictions.
The group walked down Spiritual Beast Street, where the foot traffic was sparse, giving it a somewhat deserted feel.
With only five or six shops in sight, each displayed their caged signature Spiritual Beasts to attract customers.
"Aooh?"
The Golden Flame Tiger shook its tail, hopping about, and suddenly noticed a Demon Beast that looked very similar to itself.
It too was a large feline, covered in fluffy silver-white fur as soft as clouds, the coat marked with black spots resembling plum blossoms, with thick, soft paws.
"Is that... a snow leopard?"
Li Quanqing recognized the creature. With its round and angular furry head, it exuded an air of pride, carrying a certain noble and mysterious majesty.
"Purr-purr~"
The snow leopard Spiritual Beast squatted on a high platform, its slender silver chain shining on its neck, its amber eyes looking down at the people below while emitting a low purring growl from its throat.
Sunlight spilled through the clouds, casting a pale golden hue across the leopard’s silver-white fur.
"Aooh!"
The Golden Flame Tiger paced around the stone platform, tilting its head this way and that, seemingly quite interested in the snow leopard.
In its eyes, the other creature closely resembled itself.
The fluffy fur, four large paws, the round head with cat ears, an agile tail, and even those pristine wings...
"Aooh?"
The Golden Flame Tiger sat down, blinking, its expression suddenly turning blank.
It looked at the wings drooping over its back then at the smooth, flat back of the snow leopard, quickly losing interest.
A creature without wings is certainly not of my noble lineage!
The Golden Flame Tiger flicked its ears and left with a swish, flopping down by Li Quanqing’s feet and yawning—its white fangs on display as it stretched its wings in a showy manner thrice.
"Aooh... Meow!!"
The snow leopard Spiritual Beast seemed to be irritated by its attitude, growling softly at the young tiger, spewing out specks of transparent ice flakes from its throat.
Those who have kept snow leopards at home would know, despite their menacing appearance, they sound quite squeaky.
Their calls lack the domineering presence of lions and tigers, completely shattering their aloof aura.
The snow leopard’s cries made Li Quanqing laugh, stirring up his interest in raising one.
"Esteemed fellow Taoist, are you interested in this Cloud-Treading Snow Leopard? It’s the signature Spiritual Beast of our shop..."
Just then, the shopkeeper approached with a keen eye, coming out to introduce it with a smile.
"The Yun Family’s shop..."
Li Quanqing looked up at the signboard and the emblem, immediately understanding how such a creature from the continent ended up here. 𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
It must be leftover from the Carefree Conference, now brought here to attract customers.
The shopkeeper stroked the Cloud-Treading Snow Leopard’s smooth and soft fur, describing the origins of the Spiritual Beast, born in the icy tundras of the Northern Cold Plain.
Already a full-grown adult Demon Beast, it measured over four meters in length, not to mention its long and thick fluffy tail.
When this type of Demon Beast runs across the boundless snowy fields, it’s as if treading on clouds, leaving no trace in the snow—hence its name.
"The Northern Cold Plain is icy and frozen, while our East Sea has a warm and pleasant climate. Such a snow leopard Spiritual Beast might suffer from environmental maladjustment."
Shen Bingxin spoke up, this woman was truly astute, noticing the issue immediately without being fooled by the snow leopard’s majestic and adorable appearance.
The boss showed an awkward smile on his face: "After all, it’s a Demon Beast with Demon Energy to protect its body and a strong vitality. It’s not so easy to run into problems. Please rest assured, dear guests."
"But boss, although that’s said, it’s still an exotic Demon Beast, and it’s very difficult to raise. Maybe we might need to create a cold environment just for it. What if it gets sick? Will you take responsibility?"
Li Quanfu followed up, ready to haggle, as it was the instinct of a qualified merchant.
Li Quanqing reached out a hand, unable to resist petting the adorable big snow leopard. He left the haggling to his younger brother.
[Solitary Leopard of the Snow Plains]Cloud-Stepping Snow Leopard: "The snow falls so deep, with such earnestness, it reflects my lonely shadow as I wander across the ice plains~"
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Fifth Level (47%)]
"Do you miss the white snow of your homeland?"
Li Quanqing looked at the leopard with its head held high, those grey-blue eyes gazing toward the sky in the north, stubborn and sad.
"Boss, I’ll buy this snow leopard."
After taking out more than nine hundred Spirit Stones, Li Quanqing successfully obtained his first cute and handsome leopard in his life.
"Dear guest, here is the Enslavement Blood Contract for this Cloud-Stepping Snow Leopard. Please keep it safe."
The boss, all smiles, handed over a blood-red Jade Token, covered with restrictive spells, sealing the essence of the leopard’s heartblood and a wisp of Soul True Spirit, to ensure it would not rebel.
Enslavement Blood Contract, this was the most common method of enslaving Spiritual Beasts in the Cultivation World. The holder of the Jade Token could control the Spiritual Beast easily.
Out of caution, Li Quanqing naturally wanted to examine it thoroughly and add another Slave Beast Seal.
"Ao ao, meow!"
Under the effect of the Blood Covenant, the Cloud-Stepping Snow Leopard obediently bowed its large head, allowing the small white seal to burrow into its soul.
Although born on the ice plains and of a proud nature, the beast was surprisingly well-mannered.
Much more obedient than a certain big cat from the Golden Flame layer.
"What a good boy!"
Li Quanqing held the silver chain around the snow leopard’s neck, not intending to let go yet: "For our first meeting, here’s a gift for you!"
He extended his palm, with wisps of cold air swirling, moving along his meridians and eventually forming a spherical object resembling a chunk of ice.
It was the century-old Ice Soul he had previously refined into his body.
Now that he had mastered the Ice Soul Cold Light technique, he no longer needed it.
"Ao meow!!"
The leopard nudged the Ice Soul Pearl with its nose, then licked it with its pink tongue, immediately startling it with wide open eyes.
The Ice Soul originated from the North Plain, and though this Spiritual Beast had never encountered it, its ancestors had, and thus, some instincts lingered in its bloodline.
It knew this was something beneficial for growth.
So with a flick of its tongue, the leopard immediately swallowed the pearl, emitting a comfortable and satisfying purring sound.
It excitedly waved its big tail back and forth, coiling around Li Quanqing like a huge python, as if its tail had a mind of its own.
"You must work hard in your cultivation, roll it up for me, you must at least break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage!"
Li Quanqing rubbed the leopard’s head; its silvery-grey fur was thick and soft due to the cold living environment, yielding a terrific hand feel.
He had asked the boss before: when such a snow leopard reaches adulthood, its Cultivation would be around the Qi Refining Fourth or Fifth Level, with very few breaking through to the Qi Refining Late Stage.
In terms of racial potential, it couldn’t compare to high-grade Demon Beasts like the Golden Flame Tiger or the Thunder Horn Python.
Fortunately, he still had that Ice Blue Feather left by the Golden Core Demon Beast, imbued with an extremely cold concept, which could improve the snow leopard’s potential.
Having just entered the Spiritual Beast District and already gaining a new pet, Li Quanqing was in high spirits.
With a Golden Flame Tiger on his left and a Cloud-Stepping Snow Leopard on his right, he made a handsome pair of golden and silver protectors, too stylish for words, his prestige incomparable!
