Chapter 226: Shi Yuan Essence Blood and a Chance Encounter

Xue Zhili's heart surged with excitement; he had never expected Qin Ming to produce such fine items with a single move.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, rest assured, these two items are more than sufficient to serve as the grand finale of this auction."

"They will certainly fetch a price that satisfies Fellow Daoist Qin."

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded. "Then I shall wander around for a while."

Subsequently, Qin Ming began strolling through the black market alone.

He had not wandered for long before he spotted quite a few good items at several stalls.

However, there were also many illicit goods that could not see the light of day.

Half an incense stick later.

Qin Ming arrived before a stall and halted his steps; the stall owner was an elderly man with golden hair, and judging by his attire and dress, he was likely a cultivator from the State of Liang.

The other party's cultivation was not low, faintly emitting fluctuations of magic power characteristic of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm.

Qin Ming's gaze fell upon an item on the stall.

"How much for this second-rank upper-grade Snake Saliva Grass?"

The golden-haired elder, who had been meditating with narrowed eyes, slowly opened them upon hearing someone inquire about the price and looked toward Qin Ming.

"Five hundred mid-grade spirit stones, non-negotiable."

"Alternatively, an exchange for spirit materials of equal value is also acceptable."

The golden-haired elder's voice boomed like a great bell, filled with vigor as he spoke, giving one the impression of an extremely powerful aura.

He glanced at Qin Ming, saw that he possessed only the Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, estimated he could not afford a second-rank upper-grade spirit herb, and dismissed Qin Ming as merely a cultivator inquiring about the price.

Having finished speaking, the golden-haired elder ignored Qin Ming and narrowed his eyes once more.

Qin Ming: "..."

"Very well, I will take this spirit herb."

A long while passed.

Only then did the golden-haired elder suddenly snap his eyes open, sizing up Qin Ming with considerable surprise, before nodding slightly.

With an expressionless face, Qin Ming retrieved five hundred mid-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to the other party.

Then, he took that stalk of Snake Saliva Grass into his hand.

Just at that moment.

An elderly man in a dark robe arrived briskly from the side; his cultivation was also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and he said to the elder in the golden robe, "Old Monster Jin Rong, I want that stalk of Snake Saliva Grass of yours; this old one happens to lack precisely this second-rank upper-grade precious herb for refining pills."

"Old Ghost Muhe, you are one step too late; the spirit herb has already been purchased by this young friend," Jin Rong replied indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the one named Old Ghost Muhe immediately became anxious. "How could you sell it? This old one urgently needs the Snake Saliva Grass to refine pills."

Immediately, Muhe turned his gaze toward Qin Ming beside him; seeing that he possessed only the Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, he was just about to order him to obediently hand over the spirit herb.

After all, the gap between Foundation Establishment Early Stage and Great Perfection amounted to fully three minor realms; the other party could even address him as Senior.

Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm were considered top-tier great cultivators within the various states.

Muhe was just about to speak, but when he clearly saw Qin Ming's countenance, he seemed to recall something.

Subsequently, he exclaimed in surprise, "So it is Fellow Daoist Qin Ming!"

"An honor, an honor!"

Muhe's attitude changed instantly as he cupped his fists and offered a greeting.

This left the Old Monster Jin Rong beside them somewhat baffled by the scene, for he knew Old Ghost Muhe's temper all too well.

Things that the other party set his sights on were generally not given up easily.

How was it that today he was speaking so gently to a junior? "Old Ghost Mu, do you know this young friend?" Jin Rong asked.

A smile spread across Muhe's face before he replied, "This person before us is the renowned Master Qin of the State of Wei! How could this old one not know of him?"

"A second-rank upper-grade spirit planting master and pill refining master, hailed as the cultivator in the Southern Desolate Immortal Realm most likely to break through to the third-rank Grandmaster next."

"This old one learned of it from Xu Zhanglao of the Profound Creek Valley." "Xu Zhanglao holds Fellow Daoist Qin in the highest regard!"

Upon hearing these words, Old Monster Jin Rong realized that this ordinary-looking young cultivator before him had such a significant background and was deeply appreciated by Xu Zhanglao of the Profound Creek Valley; he hastily rose from his chair, cupped his fists toward Qin Ming, and said:

"Hehe! So it is Master Qin; this one was somewhat neglectful just now; please do not take offense."

Qin Ming paid it no mind at all; merely out of propriety, he replied to the two with a single sentence, then lifted his foot to leave.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please stay your steps."

Hearing this, Qin Ming halted his figure once again and asked in confusion, "Do you two fellow daoists have further matters?"

"Hehe! Since we have met here, why not take the opportunity to exchange what we have and lack, and converse a bit?"

"This old one is recently refining a certain pill and urgently needs Snake Saliva Grass as an ingredient; does Fellow Daoist Qin have anything he requires? This old one is willing to exchange, or purchase it with spirit stones," Muhe said.

Qin Ming thought for a moment and said, "Does Fellow Daoist Mu possess the demon core or essence blood of a second-rank Great Perfection demonic beast?"

"This..." Qin Ming's words immediately stumped Muhe.

"To speak the truth, this old one indeed does not possess such high-grade demonic beast materials, yet the value of a second-rank upper-grade Snake Saliva Grass is not that great either."

"Could Fellow Daoist Qin propose a different condition?"

Qin Ming was just about to speak.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Qin requires the essence blood of a second-rank Great Perfection demonic beast? As it happens, this old one has exactly one portion here."

The Old Monster Jin Rong before the stall suddenly spoke.

Subsequently, he retrieved a jade paste bottle from his storage bag, opened it, and showed it to Qin Ming.

Instantly, a fierce and vicious aura rushed toward their faces.

"It is indeed the essence blood of a second-rank Great Perfection level demonic beast, and of the wind attribute at that." Qin Ming's expression brightened with joy; he had not expected to encounter what he needed right here.

"I wonder what conditions Fellow Daoist Jin requires to exchange this bottle of essence blood?"

Old Monster Jin Rong pondered for a moment and said, "This bottle contains the essence blood of a second-rank Great Perfection Shi Yuan Great Demon; alas, in order to slay this fiend back then, two fellow daoist friends perished!"

Speaking to this point, he could not help but let out a sigh.

"I have heard that Fellow Daoist Qin's pill refining arts have reached the pinnacle; this old man wishes to exchange for a spirit pill that enhances one's cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment, or an item of equivalent value."

Hearing this, Qin Ming felt a secret joy; he had not expected it to be the essential blood of the Shi Yuan great demon, so he immediately took a exquisite jade bottle from his storage bag, handed it over, and asked, "I wonder if this pill meets Fellow Daoist Jin's satisfaction?"

Jin Rong Old Monster took the jade bottle and opened it, whereupon a heart-penetrating pill fragrance immediately diffused outward.

Glancing inside, his face instantly revealed an expression of exceeding great joy: "Yu Xuan Dan!"

Even Muhe Laogui, standing nearby, displayed an expression of intense envy, while a trace of greed flashed inadvertently in the depths of his eyes.

The appearance of this pill caused nearby cultivators to stop one after another to watch.

"Wow! A high-grade pill!"

"It seems to be Yu Xuan Dan? I heard that only Grandmaster Gongsun Yang of Profound Creek Valley can refine this pill."

"Then who is this person? How could he possess Yu Xuan Dan?"

"It is Grandmaster Qin from the State of Wei; I heard this person's pill refining skills are also divine and unparalleled, yet I did not expect him to have refined even Yu Xuan Dan."

Jin Rong Old Monster hurriedly sealed the pill bottle tight, then quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "Fellow Daoist Qin, this pill is excellent! The deal is done!"

Thus, Qin Ming nodded, put away that bottle of Shi Yuan essential blood; each obtained what they needed, and all were delighted.

The nearby cultivators all displayed expressions of envy.

"Oh? It is actually Yu Xuan Dan? I wonder if Fellow Daoist Qin has any surplus pills on hand?"

"I also wish to conduct a transaction with Fellow Daoist Qin."

A white-faced middle-aged man at the late stage of Foundation Establishment walked out from the crowd, smiling as he asked Qin Ming.

Qin Ming was just about to reply to the other party, but next, as he gazed at the middle-aged man, the pupils in his eyes suddenly constricted.

(End of Chapter)