The next morning, a gentle breeze blew peacefully.

The sky was clear of clouds, the azure expanse washed clean. A long trail of black smoke streaked across the sky before finally stopping outside Qingyuan Immortal City.

Gu An jumped down from the Black Wind Kerchief. Compared to three years ago, the bluestone city gates before him appeared far more desolate.

The war between the Qingyuan Sect and the Beastmaster Sect had raged for two years. Many cultivators had gone to the front lines, shedding their blood at the border, bringing great trauma to Qingyuan Immortal City as well.

Passing through the bluestone gates, Gu An followed the road to the Hundred Spirits Pavilion.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist, looking to buy something?"

A plump shopkeeper, shimmering with jewels and treasures, greeted him with a beaming smile.

This was the very same Hundred Spirits Pavilion where Gu An had bought the Black Spirit Fish three years ago, and the shopkeeper was still the same plump man.

However, he had clearly forgotten who Gu An was. Assuming he was just a Qingyuan Sect disciple looking to buy a spirit beast, he eagerly continued his pitch.

"Arriving early is never as good as arriving at the right time. It just so happens our Hundred Spirits Pavilion recently received a batch of fine goods. Would Fellow Daoist like to take a look?"

Gu An's heart stirred, and he nodded. "Alright, Shopkeeper, take me to see them. But if they aren't the best, I won't take them!"

I'm lying to you. I wouldn't take them even if they were the best!!

He had less than eighty Spirit Stones to his name!

Still, it wouldn't hurt to broaden his horizons!

Naturally, the plump shopkeeper had no idea what Gu An was thinking. Hearing this, he was overjoyed. Qingyuan Sect disciples were far wealthier than Rogue Cultivators; perhaps he could make a fortune today. He said eagerly, "Of course, these are all top-grade goods."

"With the war against the Beastmaster Sect these past two years, quite a few spirit beasts with superior talent have flowed in!"

As he spoke, he led Gu An into an inner room. Rows of black iron cages sat upon the floor, each plastered with Spirit Binding Talismans.

Inside the cages were various spirit beasts. Just among the ones Gu An recognized were a Poison-Blood Python, a Thornspike Wolf, and an Iron-Feather Hawk...

They were all adult spirit beasts, nowhere near as expensive as cubs, and could only be forcibly controlled using soul imprints.

Though they bore no physical injuries, they were all exceptionally agitated. Seeing people enter, they let out furious roars, their claws scraping relentlessly against the iron bars. The small room was deafeningly noisy.

The plump shopkeeper paid the noise no mind, instead smiling at Gu An. "Listen to that! Such vitality! Look at this Poison-Blood Python-a late-stage Qi Condensation spirit beast, immensely strong and incredibly venomous. And it will only cost you one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones."

"And this Thornwood Wolf. Though only First-Grade Middle-Tier, it has the potential to advance to First-Grade High-Tier. It's yours for just one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."

...

Listening to the shopkeeper's endless stream of introductions, Gu An nodded from time to time, looking as if he were incredibly tempted. After all, he had to give the man enough emotional payoff!

After showing Gu An six or seven spirit beasts, the plump shopkeeper's mouth was running dry. Yet Gu An still looked completely enthralled but made no move to buy, leaving the shopkeeper feeling somewhat helpless.

"Does Fellow Daoist have a spirit beast in mind? If not, just tell me what kind you are looking for, and I won't have to introduce them all one by one!"

Hearing this, Gu An honestly shook his head. "Shopkeeper, I only came to buy some spirit beasts for breeding. You don't need to show me these."

The plump shopkeeper's eyes bulged like copper bells, his face flushing slightly as his lips trembled.

"If you wanted breeding spirit beasts, why didn't you say so earlier?! You made me waste all that breath and got my hopes up for nothing!!"

Gu An put on an innocent expression and shrugged. "You kept talking about 'fine goods.' I thought you meant spirit beasts for breeding!"

In truth, Gu An wasn't that bored. He had teased the plump shopkeeper partly to broaden his own horizons, and partly because, when he was buying Black Spirit Fish three years ago, this very shopkeeper had tried to rip him off.

He, Gu An, kept very clear accounts of debts and grudges!

...

Half an incense stick's time later, the plump shopkeeper regulated his emotions and led Gu An over to look at spirit fish fry.

"The aquatic spirit beasts you want are all right here! We have Red-Banded Fish, Ice Crystal Fish, Black Spirit Fish..."

Even though Gu An had played him for a fool, the plump shopkeeper maintained a good attitude, introducing them one by one.

Or perhaps he was simply too eager to earn Gu An's Spirit Stones!

Suddenly, Gu An stopped. He pointed with interest at a few clams in a shallow vat and asked, "What are these shells?"

While Gu An couldn't claim to have read every book under heaven, he knew the spirit beasts around the Qingyuan Sect well enough. Yet he had no impression of these shells whatsoever, making him feel a bit curious.

"These are also from the Beastmaster Sect's territory. They are called Clear Spirit Clams. Every three years, they produce a single Clear Spirit Pearl, which has the effect of clearing the mind and settling the spirit. Just one pearl costs ten Spirit Stones."

"Unfortunately, they die the moment the pearl is fully formed. Furthermore, only the mother clams can reproduce. These pearl clams only produce pearls!"

Die in three years? That's not a problem. In fact, for me, that's an advantage. I just don't know how much Spiritual Qi they have!

Unable to contain his curiosity, Gu An asked, "Then what is the cultivation level of these Clear Spirit Clams?"

The plump shopkeeper hesitated for a moment before admitting, "When mature, they reach Qi Condensation level three. However, all of their spiritual power is condensed into the Clear Spirit Pearl. The shell and meat are practically useless."

Qi Condensation level three, maturing in three years... just like the Blood Moon Eel. Gu An was deeply satisfied.

In fact, he even had a faint conjecture in his mind that needed verifying.

But Gu An let none of this show on his face. Staring at the Clear Spirit Clams, he asked, "I wonder if the Shopkeeper has any mother clams here? Otherwise, buying pearl clams every time would be far too costly!"

"No, no. Even these few Clear Spirit Clams were only brought back by a disciple from Yun Kingdom. Where would I ever get mother clams?!"

The plump shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly. Did he not know the value of mother clams? Never mind not having any, even if he did, he would never sell them!!

Gu An was a bit disappointed, but these few Clear Spirit Clams would do. Smiling warmly, he asked, "Then how much is the Shopkeeper selling these Clear Spirit Clams for?"

As he spoke, Gu An poked a few of the Clear Spirit Clams with his spiritual power. The clams immediately stuck out their tongues, trying to drive away whatever strange thing was touching them. After feeling around in a circle and failing to find the culprit, they sullenly withdrew.

They're actually quite cute!!

Hearing that Gu An intended to buy, a smile piled onto the plump shopkeeper's face.

"As Fellow Daoist can see, these few Clear Spirit Clams are very lively, and they're rare goods from the Beastmaster Sect's territory. Three Spirit Stones each-absolutely worth the price."

Gu An pondered for a moment. Feeling the price was acceptable, he nodded in agreement.

This price was one Spirit Stone more expensive than the Blood Moon Eels had been, but spiritual items beneficial to divine sense were inherently expensive. Combined with the fact that Qingyuan Immortal City was far away from the Beastmaster Sect, it couldn't be considered a rip-off.

"Alright then! Five Clear Spirit Clams for a total of fifteen Spirit Stones."

The plump shopkeeper took out a jade vat and packed the five Clear Spirit Clams inside. Handing it to Gu An, he snatched the fifteen Spirit Stones from Gu An's hand. His smile deepening, he continued introducing other spirit beasts.

Unfortunately, even after Gu An finished listening, he didn't find any other interesting spirit beasts. There was a type of Jade-Joint Fish that wasn't bad-maturing in three years at Qi Condensation level three, making its value a bit higher than the Black Spirit Fish. Alas, it was too expensive. They were four Spirit Stones each, reportedly because their taste was exceptionally good.

Gu An suddenly felt that his Black Spirit Fish were perfectly fine. They reached Qi Condensation level one in a year, and he had already built up a proper scale of them. Thus, he rejected the plump shopkeeper's propositions and chose to leave the Hundred Spirits Pavilion.

Mainly, he truly didn't have many Spirit Stones left, and he still needed to buy Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink.

Making his way to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Gu An looked up at its jade plaque and sighed with emotion.

Three years ago, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion had seen far more foot traffic than it did now. The carved beams and painted rafters remained, but there was no telling how many Senior and Junior Brothers had died in this Spirit Stone mine war.

He imagined it was quite a few. After all, even Hou Xuan had died. Qi Condensation cultivators truly had no safety guarantees to speak of!!!

Stepping inside the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, a female attendant quickly came forward to greet him.

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