met free Chapter 64 There are always some cultivators with unknown quirks.
Chapter 64 There are always some cultivators with unknown quirks.
Xu Changqing didn't waste any words. With a thought, he channeled his magical power into his stomach.
The dark yellow fleshy sac swelled slightly, and the opening of the sac opened by itself, as if it were about to release the "treasure" it had worked so hard to obtain over the past few days, just like a living creature gently vomiting.
Seeing the faint glow of treasure within the bag, the old ape knew the quantity was enormous. He made a hand seal, and spiritual energy surged forth.
Suddenly, countless mysterious patterns appeared on the walls of the small house, and as the patterns flowed, the space seemed to ripple slightly like the surface of water.
The next moment, it silently expanded before Xu Changqing's eyes, becoming as spacious as the front hall of a shop.
"The power of spatial arrays?"
This power was somewhat similar to the feeling that Su'e had given him when she pulled him to the underworld, but upon closer inspection, it was also somewhat different.
Xu Changqing thought to himself, his opinion of the Qianjinfang's resources rose even higher.
Seeing that the space was spacious enough, the old ape nodded in satisfaction, then stared at the stomach bag in Xu Changqing's hand with shining eyes. A glistening trickle had somehow flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Xu Changqing's eyes flashed with purple light, and when he looked at the old ape again, its appearance had changed drastically.
The hunched body twisted and swelled in the field of vision, and inhuman fur and bone spurs were faintly visible under the gray robe. The wrinkled old face sometimes blurred into the true form of an ape, and sometimes emerged as a greedy and crazy human face.
Even more bizarrely, the cloth pouch at its waist throbbed slightly as if it were alive, filled with decaying gold and silver and jewels that gleamed with black light. It was already on the verge of a bizarre transformation and might completely degenerate at any moment.
Strangely, the gnarled wooden staff in his hand shone with a brilliant green light, firmly locking him in place and preventing the old ape from continuing its treacherous transformations.
"I wonder what kind of treasure this staff is, that it can stop the old ape's strange behavior... I wonder if the old ape will make a move?" Xu Changqing thought to himself.
The old ape seemed unable to hold back any longer, slurping back his saliva and urging, "Master, hurry up and take out the treasure, I can't wait any longer."
"Alright, then please take a look at my eyes, benefactor." Xu Changqing chuckled inwardly as he watched the old ape's anxious expression.
He then vomited, and a heavy mass of dragon flesh and blood, accompanied by a strong stench, fell to the ground.
The flesh was about the size of a washbasin, its dark red surface twisting and writhing. As soon as it landed, it throbbed slightly as if it were alive, and even stretched out wisps of flesh, slowly reaching towards the old ape.
"Hiss, the flesh and blood of a Foundation Establishment Dragon Demon? No, why does it also have the smell of a true dragon?" The old ape gasped, his yellow eyes widening in surprise. He then looked at Xu Changqing in astonishment, "Master, you were actually able to subdue a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I was truly blind."
Xu Changqing had already prepared to save the old ape when he couldn't withstand the flesh-erosion, so as not to be extorted by Qianjinfang. But he saw the old ape chuckle and lightly tap the wooden cane on the ground.
"However, I, Old Ape, have been in this market for decades, and I'm not someone to be trifled with."
The staff shone with a bright green light, and countless green branches, carrying a suppressive force, enveloped and suppressed it layer by layer, making it lie quietly on the ground, even quieter than it was in the stomach.
"The Four Seas Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation; I underestimated it," Xu Changqing remarked at the opportune moment.
"Haha, you're too kind, Master. I'm just relying on the treasure bestowed upon me by my master. It's your ability to slay demons across realms that truly earns my admiration." The old ape's previous snobbish demeanor vanished, replaced by a more respectful expression.
He rubbed his hands together, his eyes burning with even greater eagerness: "Master, please just release everything at once. This old ape is really... itching to get rid of it."
Xu Changqing stopped arguing and opened his stomach wide, dropping several pieces of flesh to the ground one after another.
"A bear gallbladder from the Refinement Path, a good thing." Looking at the large, dark heart that was still beating slightly, the old ape's eyes lit up. "Judging from the purity of this demonic energy, it is probably close to the threshold of Foundation Establishment. Its blood and qi are abundant, making it an excellent main ingredient for tempering the body and refining elixirs."
Next to fall was a mass of gray-black mist that kept changing shape and emitting faint whimpers, within which a painful, distorted face could be vaguely seen.
"A remnant soul from a ghost cultivator's path, not bad." The old ape curled his lip, seemingly not thinking much of it. "It can be sold to those ghost cultivators under the [Netherworld Palace] as an auxiliary material for soul banners."
"A divine crystal, that's quite rare for those divine cultivators." The old ape picked up the dark yellow crystal with a strong incense and prayer power and examined it.
These things all possess a strange and eerie power; if it weren't for the suppression of that staff, they would have turned this house into a demon's lair long ago.
"The heartwood of a photinia tree?" The old ape sniffed closer, revealing a strange expression. "Hmm, this is quite a rare item... Hehe, there are always some cultivators with unknown hobbies who specialize in collecting the heartwood of these enchanting spiritual plants, which are said to have special uses."
"This is the heart of Jade Fairy of the Desire Immortal Sect. Old benefactor, if you just promote it a little and point out its origin, you will surely attract those wealthy customers with special needs and sell it for a good price." Xu Changqing did not hide anything and took the opportunity to raise the price.
"Jade Fairy? That unorthodox fairy known for her aloof and ethereal beauty?" The old ape was taken aback at first, then his wrinkled face broke into a wide grin as he rubbed his hands together excitedly. "She's a famous figure! Her tree heart... wonderful, absolutely wonderful! It'll definitely find customers willing to pay a fortune!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to suddenly realize something. Looking at the pile of all sorts of things in front of him, the smile on his face gradually froze. Especially when he saw the dragon pattern on the black thumb ring, his face turned ashen, and his hand holding the thumb ring trembled slightly.
"Old benefactor, how about it? Could you give me an estimate?"
Xu Changqing's expectant voice rang out, startling the old ape who was still in a daze.
The old ape forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, bowed deeply to Xu Changqing, and said in a dry voice, "I was blind to the presence of the true Buddha. I have been negligent in my previous conduct. Please forgive me, Master."
Knowing that the old ape already understood where most of the items before him came from, Xu Changqing waved his hand dismissively, his tone relaxed: "Old benefactor, you flatter me. It's just a transaction, what crime is there? I only ask, are you still buying these things? Could you offer a good price?"
Looking at Xu Changqing's relaxed expression, the old ape felt a surge of warm greetings for his family.
Just as the old ape was sweating and his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to politely refuse but not daring to offend this evil star in front of him, the gnarled wooden staff in his hand suddenly trembled slightly, and a pleasant sound entered his mind through the staff.
"Old Ape, I already know about this matter. You just focus on the transaction and don't need to worry about anything else."
Upon hearing the clear instructions from his master, the old ape instantly felt reassured, straightened his back, and the fear and apprehension on his face vanished, replaced by an arrogance that came from having a powerful backer.
When he looked again at the dragon's flesh and blood and the heartwood of the photinia tree, a look of contempt appeared on his face, as if the fear he had just felt was just an illusion.
He turned around, waved his hand at Xu Changqing, and spoke with a confident tone, completely different from before.
"Master is too kind. Of course, I'll take them! My [Four Seas Pavilion] is an honest business, dealing with everyone fairly and without discrimination. These are just relics of some young masters from human aristocratic families and cultivators from minor unorthodox sects. Before my [Four Seas Pavilion], they are nothing but ants and dust, not worth mentioning. Master, please bring it on. I'll take as many as you have, and the price will definitely satisfy you."
Xu Changqing knew that the old ape's change in attitude must have been due to a statement from his master.
He gave the old ape a thumbs up and praised, "Well done! As expected of the 'Four Seas Pavilion,' which operates with unorthodox methods and has business empires, you truly have extraordinary spirit. This humble monk admires you."
Then, with another wave of his hand, the stomach sac opened wide, and several more items fell out.
There were a few eerie and sinister auras mixed in among them.
The old ape was greatly encouraged, clicking his tongue and flashing yellow light in his eyes. With a light tap of his wooden staff, beams of spiritual light shot out, precisely enveloping each item as he rapidly assessed, categorized, and mentally calculated its price.