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Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Golden Flame Feathered Tiger
Li Quanqing entered the Demon Beast Area, where the air was slightly scalding, creating a somewhat distorted atmosphere.
At the entrance, a large two-headed lizard lay prostrate, its scale armor a deep red and its pupils golden yellow, with a massive body akin to a wingless western dragon.
The four vertical pupils stared at the big green ox beneath Li Quanqing’s buttocks, revealing a salivating expression, drool sizzling on the ground and emitting a sulfur-like odor.
"Roar!"
"Roar Roar!!"
The fiery red lizard opened its mouth wide, letting out continuous roars, as an intense firelight faintly glowed from deep within its throat, seemingly craving a roasted whole ox.
Unfortunately, the collars around their necks began to glow, an ice-blue pattern rapidly spreading through their flesh, as a surge of chill extinguished the firelight.
After hissing and roaring for a while, the twin-headed fire lizard could only exhale wisps of green smoke, powerlessly wilting back down.
The planked-horn green ox snorted loudly and continued inward, utterly unconcerned, as if it were accustomed to such grand spectacles.
"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in this Qi Refining Seventh Layer twin-headed fire giant lizard? It’s a bargain!"
"Only 2,799 spirit stones needed, take home this majestic mount!"
The owner of the lizard demon beast stood nearby, all smiles, starting to pitch his sale.
Next to him, a young lady in light attire was holding raw meat to feed the fire lizard, not minding the bloodstains at all.
Seeing the delicious food, the fire giant lizard instantly perked up; both heads stretched out like giant pythons, devouring the tasty chunks of meat, with their fierce teeth bared.
In both appearance and cultivation, it was indeed top-notch.
However, Li Quanqing wasn’t very interested.
First, he needed a young beast. Second, this fire lizard had an unruly temperament, with violent and scorching demon fire within, not suitable for aiding in Artifact Refining.
As he strolled further into the shops, Li Quanqing was truly in for an eye-opener.
Various terrestrial demon beasts emerged one after another, too many to take in at once.
Mostly fire attribute demon beasts dominated, with a small portion of earth attribute ones, reflecting the hot and mountainous climate of Southern Brilliance Ridge.
There was a Black Fire Crow with three claws and feathers as dark as iron, reputed to carry a hint of Golden Crow bloodline, watching the passing pedestrians with an indifferent gaze.
A five-colored phoenix chicken, larger than a peacock, squawked endlessly as it fanned its wings, between which threads and wisps of flames swirled.
Not only was it visually remarkable, but its meat was also said to be extremely delicious. The eggs it laid were fresh and tender, full of nutrients; consuming them over a long period had a small chance of slightly enhancing the strength of a Fire Spirit Root.
Li Quanqing even saw a few Purple Fire Centipedes, spitting out toxic flames, capable of melting stone and scorching metal, their purple limbs like sharp knife blades, making a grating sound upon contact with rock.
In the most central shop, he even laid eyes on a Flame Dragon Sculpture, which, according to ancient records, possessed a trace of the Flame Dragon Bloodline.
It had the potential to charge into the Foundation Establishment Stage as a demon beast!
Unfortunately, not only was this Flame Dragon Sculpture already mature, but he also couldn’t afford it.
"With so many shops, is there none that sells young Spiritual Beasts?"
Li Quanqing furrowed his brow when he noticed this issue.
"Senior, the Mountain Shifting Cloud Boat only returns from the mainland after five or six years of sailing. Even if there were demon beast cubs before, by this time they are either dead or have grown up."
A young boy quietly explained, "These demon beasts are all controlled by a Blood Covenant; life and death are at one’s thought. Although they do not possess the loyalty of a Spiritual Beast raised from birth, they will also never betray."
Hearing this, Li Quanqing shook his head slightly, deciding to check out the other four Spiritual Beast Zones.
Seeing his reaction, the boy, eager to earn a few more spirit stones, bit his lip and said, "Senior, let me go ask around for you!"
After speaking, he ran into the crowd and vanished from sight.
Li Quanqing was taken aback by the boy’s eagerness, letting him be, and remained where he stood to wait.
About half an incense stick’s time passed, the boy popped out from a corner with his face glowing, hopping and shouting, "I’ve found it! Senior, I’ve found it!"
"Slow down, no rush."
Li Quanqing was amused and handed him a spirit stone, dazzling to behold.
"This... this is so much!"
The boy’s cheeks were flushed, nearly fainting from happiness.
He seemed to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, an age of youthful naivety when he should have been carefree in cultivation.
Unfortunately, born low, he had to struggle early on in life, fighting for a future.
Like a thief, the boy stuffed the spirit stone into his bosom and hid it well, sighing with relief after making sure no one around noticed them.
"You’ve found a Spiritual Beast cub?"
Li Quanqing stroked the smooth and glossy fur of the giant azure ox, asking in a leisurely manner.
"Yes, yes!"
The youth nodded vigorously: "It was a cultivator who practiced Cold Ice Technique who sealed the Spiritual Beast cub in a block of ice to maintain its life. That’s how it’s been preserved until now."
"Cold Ice Sealing, forcing hibernation, indeed a good method, but it also damages the Spiritual Beast’s life essence..."
Li Quanqing muttered to himself, looking at the youth: "Lead the way ahead."
They zigzagged to a secluded shop.
When they saw the ice cultivator, he was spreading out a large table with more than a dozen Spiritual Beast cubs on it, lazily basking in the sun.
Between the fur of these beast cubs, one could still see tiny ice crystals, slowly melting under the sunlight.
"Is it the Spiritual Beast cub that the fellow Daoist wants to buy?"
The shop owner was a tall and skinny middle-aged cultivator, wearing a long robe, looking just like a bamboo pole, with a complexion as pale as a dead man’s.
Yet, Li Quanqing’s eyes lit up, looking at the three cubs in the other party’s arms.
They were the size of small cats, three Golden Flame Tiger cubs with a tuft of red fur on their foreheads shaped like flames, their eyes not yet open, and their fluffy ears turning around, adorably cute.
"Achoo!" 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Because it had just been unfrozen from the ice, one of the tiger cubs was sneezing, revealing its tender little tongue and tiger teeth, looking irresistibly charming.
Li Quanqing had to admit - he was indeed a sucker for good looks.
"Fellow Daoist, what kind of Demon Beast is this?"
He rubbed his palms together, feeling an urge to pet the cub.
"Fellow Daoist has a keen eye, spotting the most valuable treasure in my shop at a glance."
The shop owner said with a smile: "This is a Golden Flame Feathered Tiger, a unique Demon Beast from Southern Brilliance Ridge, matching a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator when mature. It possesses its Lifebound Demon Fire ’Golden Burning Fire’, extraordinarily effective in refining metal ores, and is most suitable for assisting Artifact Refiners."
He stretched out a hand to grab and lifted a pair of small wings from behind the tiger cub; it turns out it was a flying Demon Beast.
Li Quanqing’s heart was stirred: "Fellow Daoist, how much for these Golden Flame Tigers?"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator’s smile became even more friendly and intense: "A cub goes for two thousand low-grade spirit stones, no bargaining!"
"This is an exotic Demon Beast from Nanling, guaranteeing to reach the late-stage Qi Refining cultivation at the very least. Fellow Daoist will definitely not suffer a loss buying these!"
"You may not find a second shop selling Golden Flame Tiger cubs even if you scour the entire Mountain Shifting Cloud Boat!"
These words indeed rang true, but the problem was they were still too expensive.
An adult Demon Beast at the late-stage of Qi Refining would also fluctuate around two thousand spirit stones in price.
Li Quanqing wanted to haggle, unfortunately, he was not good at it.
Luckily, the clever kid leading the way took the initiative to speak up on his behalf, incidentally releasing a whiff of Qi Refining Seventh Layer mana.
In the end, they successfully saved five hundred spirit stones.
"Fellow Daoist, would you like to buy two? I can offer a discount on the spirit stones."
The owner looked at him eagerly.
"One is enough."
Li Quanqing didn’t have that much money; he still needed to save spirit stones for other treasures.
He extended his hand and petted each of the tiger cubs in turn.
[Meow Meow Meow Meow] Golden Flame Feathered Tiger: "Meow meow meow meow? Meow meow meow meow! Meow meow meow meow~"
Is this a cat or a tiger? It hasn’t been hibernating too long and frozen its brain, right?
Li Quanqing watched the stupid and bewildered look of this cub, changed to another one without a word.
[Cold-blooded Killer] Golden Flame Feathered Tiger: "I am the killer that walks in the darkness, humans who dare to confine me, this king will slash open your throats with my sharp claws!"
Li Quanqing: ...
This cat killer had a cold and ruthless look in its pupils, preening its paw on its own, and appeared quite unapproachable.
Next one!
The last Golden Flame Tiger was somewhat skinny; it was the very same cub that sneezed before, with a pink and tender nose, especially pitiable and lovable.
