Chapter 31: One Body, Multiple Souls, Legendary Creature (Requesting Monthly Tickets, Requesting Follows)

"Yes."

Old Chu nodded slightly, pointing to the massive scissors beside the Human-Faced Dragon Carp. The blades were sharp but only half remained, the edges covered in rust yet still flashing with cold light, curving in a slender, winding arc, the tip connected to a delicate...

Woman's arm?

He said, "This is from a mutated creature called the Split Lady, a Foundation Realm entity slain by the Jiangxi Province History Walker team in the Plague Domain. Its form is enchanting and beautiful, its arms like scissors, possessing extremely sharp properties.

Not only could it unleash slashing attacks with a raised hand, but with crossed arms, metal was as thin as paper before it, nearly wiping out their entire team.

Fortunately, they possessed a historical artifact capable of rusting iron, which reduced the sharpness of its arms, allowing them to seize the chance to kill it.

They came to me to take half an arm to forge into a sword, but it was too sharp; every use would cut them, causing endless bleeding, and the wounds would be afflicted with an effect that made healing nearly impossible.

As for the remaining part, since it was severely rusted, they intended to pay compensation, but I had never seen such a strange demon, so I simply kept it.

If you manage to wash away the rust, it can be used as a sword. If you want it, take it for five hundred and fifty thousand."

So expensive!

Jiang Yan's mouth twitched slightly. Moreover, this ability overlapped with the Vajra Sword, and was even inferior; even if fused, it would only slightly increase sharpness, making the cost-performance ratio too low.

The only advantage was that continuous bleeding buff.

Any flesh-and-blood creature would be affected.

"Is there anything else?"

Old Chu's expression remained unchanged as he continued introducing:

"This is the ear of a Foundation Realm Red Iron Cauldron, from a spirit of the Ancient Cauldron City, naturally fierce and combative.

Forging it into a Cauldron Talisman can significantly boost combat power for a short time, but it consumes massive amounts of blood qi and life force, and due to the violent surge, it easily tears one's own body apart.

Unfortunately, this is merely the most ordinary Red Iron Cauldron among cauldrons, not even a Yellow Bronze Cauldron. Take it for five hundred thousand."

Jiang Yan's eyes lit up.

Although the drawbacks were obvious, it was still a god-tier technique for exploding one's potential.

As for life force and blood qi, he had methods to replenish them.

However...

Jiang Yan pressed on with thick skin, asking:

"Is there anything else?"

The hand holding the oil lamp trembled in Old Chu's grip; his face full of helplessness, he continued speaking:

"A silk sac from a Mountain Spider, though half has already been made into trauma medicine. The remaining half is recommended to be applied directly to wounds; it can stop bleeding instantly and accelerate wound healing. Four hundred thousand."

"Eyes collected by the Eye-Child; crushed, they can enhance vision, or be crafted into an item that projects a deterrent gaze..."

"..."

Old Chu spoke for nearly half the wall, seeing Jiang Yan still waiting for explanations, and in anger blew his beard and glared, waving his hand:

"Since you like none of them, let's just forget it. This old man is also thirsty..."

Before he could finish, a cup of tea was handed before him.

Ningning smiled brightly, saying, "Grandpa Chu, don't rush. This shows the big brother truly wants to buy, so he is hesitating."

Old Chu rolled his eyes and sighed:

"This guest, there are only a few demon corpses left, and nothing much else to introduce. If you see something you like, just ask me."

Jiang Yan also knew the questioner was annoyed, thinking that choosing a Cauldron fragment would be fine.

But... adhering to the mindset of "since I'm already here."

Following the dim firelight, Jiang Yan looked at the remaining few demon corpses. His gaze swept over them, and he instantly froze, but quickly regained his composure, pointing casually at one and asking:

"Boss Chu, what is this?"

Old Chu glanced in the direction he pointed and saw a five-meter-long pitch-black giant snake. Its tail forked, winding outward to form hooks, and on the right side of its neck was a protruding lump, looking extremely ugly.

"This one... I remember now. It seems to be a giant snake with a faint Hook Snake bloodline. I recall the person who brought it said it was the Snake King in the Plague Domain, capable of manipulating shadows; once touched, one would be poisoned.

But it suffered some mutation, causing bodily deformity and impaired movement. After being killed, they came to me to extract the snake gall to refine antidote pills."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan's heart pounded rapidly, thump-thump.

After cultivating the Past Lamp Sutra, he could see that all things possess a Life Lamp.

Even after a living being dies, its own Life Lamp remains, though it extinguishes and becomes tattered.

The Life Lamp represents not only life force but also symbolizes the fate and karma entangled upon it.

It is the trace of all things' existence.

Like the Human-Faced Dragon Carp and the Split Lady, although they lost their supernatural organs or were reduced to mere remains, they still possessed Life Lamps, though they had become ragged.

However, on this Hook Snake's Life Lamp, a smaller Life Lamp had actually grown; the deformity on its shoulder and neck had even reflected onto its soul and karma.

It was somewhat like the legendary...

One Body, Multiple Souls.

With these characteristics, a snake-like body, and extreme venom, it seemed to correspond to a legendary life form from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Even if the guess was wrong, it didn't matter.

This Hook Snake's ability to manipulate shadows and release poison could also match 【Shadow Shift】, making it a hexagonal warrior.

'Pity the Red Iron Cauldron cannot be bought now; we'll have to wait until next time.'

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Jiang Yan did not rush to speak but looked at the remaining few demon corpses, then deliberately let his gaze jump between the Cauldron and the Hook Snake.

Finally, he made his decision and asked:

"How much for this snake?"

Old Chu took a sip of tea and said leisurely:

"Eight hundred thousand."

Jiang Yan: "..."

It's over budget.

Didn't we agree everything would be around five hundred thousand?

Old Chu laughed and said, "Guest, I haven't raised the price on the spot. The History Walker who brought it here only took the snake gall to refine medicine and save lives, so all the supernatural organs of this Hook Snake remain intact."

Now that it's been chopped incomplete, can you make it cheaper?

Jiang Yan cursed inwardly; although tempted, it was indeed a bit over budget.

Ning Ning beside him leaned over, gazing hopefully at Old Chu:

"Grandpa Chu, when I brought this big brother here, I gave my word to him, promising cheap and affordable prices. Can you give him a regular customer discount? Otherwise, Ning Ning's hard-earned reputation will be ruined!"

"That reputation of yours was just made by shearing my wool; it's fine if it's gone." Old Chu rolled his eyes.

Ning Ning wanted to say something more, but Jiang Yan patted her head and said with a smile:

"Thanks, Ning Ning. It's fine. I'll step out for a moment and be back soon."

"Wait!"

Just as Jiang Yan was about to leave to call Old Ba, Old Chu called him back.

He stroked his beard and said with a grin, "Since Ning Ning has opened her mouth to beg this old man, I'm not hard to deal with. I can even give you a big discount."

"Seeing that you quite like the Dou Ding fragments, how about this: I'll sell you this Hook Snake and the Dou Ding fragments together for four hundred thousand."

Yet Jiang Yan did not rejoice; instead, his gaze turned wary as he asked:

"What do you require?"

(End of this chapter)