Chapter 640: Diamond Squid

The toad Laodaerhuabushuo ， Huidongxuetuochushiduogenwanquleigu 。

Even though the giant beast was dead, its remaining bones still radiated oppressive aura, the curved ends pointing high toward the heavens, glowing with flawless white jade luster.

Could these all be bones of a Entering Zhen Xiang great demon?

Liang Qu was astonished.

Were the two treasure fish I picked really worth that much?

Do you really want sixteen great demon bones—two, four, six... all the way to sixteen?

The Sea Merchant wrapped the giant bone, checked its marrow and texture, confirmed its value, agreed to the transaction, and took only one.

"The value of the Great King's sixteen demon bones exceeds this; one is more than enough."

Hu.

Liang Qu felt a slight easing in his chest.

Even though I'm buying on behalf of others, if I really have to use sixteen bones, I wonder if I can even afford two items.

The toad didn't retrieve the leftover ribs: "Do you have diamond squid eggs? I'll trade for a few portions."

"Great King, please wait."

The Sea Merchant extended several tentacles, gently offering two of the treasure fish before Liang Qu.

The Silver Chi was entirely silver-white, slender like a snake, with fins behind its neck, flowing like thin gauze.

The Blood Lion resembled a superior version of the crimson-maned lionfish, fiercer and more ferocious.

From scales to eyes, every part was blood-red; sharp spines covered its neck and back, truly like a flowing mass of crimson blood.

The Sea Merchant warned: "The Silver Chi can be eaten as usual; the Blood Lion's spines are highly toxic—remember to pluck all spines and remove the venom sacs."

The service was quite thorough.

Liang Qu thanked him, avoided the spines, and gripped the Blood Lion's body.

The tentacles retracted.

The treasure fish struggled violently, yet could not escape Liang Qu's grasp.

The Sea Merchant handled two tasks at once: handing over the relaxed treasure fish while pulling out more tentacles to rummage, dragging forth several tube-like objects.

The tube-like objects were covered in membrane, sizable—over three zhang long, with a circumference... Liang Qu estimated he'd barely manage to encircle it with both arms, its interior emitting a soft orange-red glow, as if containing a tiny furnace.

Sssch!

The toad tore open the membrane, revealing a dense cluster of tightly packed fish eggs inside.

Two eggs were underdeveloped and naturally ruptured, their juices spilling out, unleashing a sudden explosion of unique fragrance.

Sss!

What delicious eggs!

Liang Qu's throat bobbed; he felt dozens of eyes on his back and turned around.

Every great demon in the crowd drooled.

The fat catfish streamed saliva.

"Can't Move" showed rare vitality, its tail tip twitching slightly.

Splash splash.

The toad pinched its webbed claws and squeezed out the entire tube in one go, chewing loudly—the fragrance grew richer and deeper.

Several tubes remained.

The Toad King didn't hoard the feast; he tore open the membranes and shared them with the old toad, the fat catfish, and the big and little fat frogs.

Liang Qu benefited too, receiving a small clump of Nianlian eggs—about thirty to forty squid eggs.

Each egg was as large as a fist, with a black core the size of an eyeball visible inside.

Truly peculiar.

How could any creature make its own eggs so delicious?

Returning to Long Long Zong Yin and the others, the surrounding great demons stared longingly.

Round heads and fists all crowded close.

Liang Qu tossed one egg to each beast.

The otter grabbed one, bit through the membrane, took a small sip, shuddered all over, its fur floating as if drunk, swaying drunkenly.

"Can't Move" collapsed on the ground, motionless, savoring the taste endlessly.

Could it really be that good?

Liang Qu refused to believe it; he pinched an egg, brought it to his mouth, and bit gently.

Boom!

A rich, natural umami flavor burst forth.

It felt as if someone had struck the back of his skull; the treasure fish in his palms nearly slipped away.

The overall texture resembled a rich broth infused with unique fat—succulent but not greasy, with a crisp bite of squid flesh at the center, surpassing even the delicious sacs of the Golden Bell Fish!

Even the outer membrane had a chewy texture, much like a soup dumpling.

【Water Essence +26】

"Hu~"

Liang Qu drew in a deep breath of water, realizing this was a must-try; he distributed the eggs one by one to Long Long Zong Yin, Long Long Yanrui, and the others.

A few remained.

Take them back to Uncle for a taste—he'll surely trade me something valuable.

Meanwhile.

After completing the trade with the Demon King, the Sea Merchant returned to the center of the caravan, waving his eight limbs like a masterful conductor, arranging the entire trading group in orderly fashion.

The salamanders dragged the carriages, circled once, and lay flat against the seabed.

The mountain-sized crab retracted its legs, dug into the soil, and settled down.

The water spider opened and closed its mouthparts, drawing air from the water, causing the air bubbles it enclosed to swell until forming a half-sphere attached to the ground, shimmering with seven-colored radiance.

The caravan resembled a finely wound music box, each shop settling into place with the rhythm of gears and melody.

The merfolk and octopuses found their spots and transformed into shopkeepers.

The frog clan and great demons surged forward.

The entire seabed instantly erupted in noise; soon Liang Qu heard the old toad's distinctive haggling.

"One rainbow!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"One and a half!"

"One!"

Liang Qu also noticed that the merfolk in the merchant caravan seemed different from those in the rivers?

Their tail scales were deeper in hue, and beneath their dark blue pupils, a single small scale adorned each.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan and the others lacked such features.

Tribal differences?

River-sea differences?

He tucked away the question and swam through the marketplace.

Long Long Zong Yin and Long Long Yanrui appeared to have specific purchasing tasks; along the way, they secured many trades, mostly cultivation materials and various plant seeds.

"Elder, let's buy this one for our pond," Long Li reached out.

Liang Qu stopped, noticing a glowing small creature no bigger than his little finger.

"Isn't the Glow Jellyfish good enough?"

The Glow Jellyfish emitted pale blue light; this tiny thing resembled a squid without tentacles, slender-bodied, with two "little wings" on its head, its central glowing core an orange-red like a furnace—but due to its size, its light was far dimmer than the Glow Jellyfish's.

All show, no substance.

I've never seen one before—the sea merchants come only once every two or three years; we might never see them again."

"Excellent taste, miss!" the eight-armed vendor enthusiastically explained, "This creature exists only in the northern icy seas; local demons call it the Naked Sea Butterfly. Though less bright than the Glow Jellyfish, its light is softer, like fireflies on land. We've modified it with clear algae—it's perfect for pond decoration."

Long Li glanced at Long Long Eying.

Long Long Eying paused, then looked at Liang Qu.

"Buy it!" Liang Qu waved his hand, "Twenty pairs."

"Guest, this creature has no gender—it's hermaphroditic."

"Then fifty of them. Do you accept silver?"

The octopus shook its head: "We accept only barter."

Sea merchants and demons exchanged goods directly; no universal currency was recognized—even if you brought one out, no one would accept it.

A nuisance.

Liang Qu had no physical goods on him.

His daily treasure fish and treasure plants all ended up in his own stomach.

As if sensing Liang Qu's predicament, the eight-armed vendor's gaze fell on the old Tridacna nearby: "Guest, you may sell Tridacna pearls—these are highly valuable."

The old Tridacna: "!"

"Not for sale," Liang Qu laughed, turning to Long Long Zong Yin, "Elder Long Zong Yin, record this on the clan's account—I'll pay you silver later."

"A small trinket—Master Liang, if you want it, why bother with accounts?"

"One thing at a time."

Liang Qu refused Long Long Zong Yin's kindness.

If Long Ren pays, it can't count as his purchase.

A moment later.

The octopus pulled out a glass vial, swirled it through the water bag, and filled it with fifty naked sea butterflies, handing it to the Dragon Girl.

And merely separated by two shops.

Long Yao also took interest in something: blue algae that glowed when stirred by water.

The two seemed to have great enthusiasm for decorating ponds.

I should have made the old toad pay.

Liang Qu suddenly thought.