Chapter 52: Crystalline Moss, Blood-Qi Potion

The goblin rubbed his hands:

"Fire-crystal orchid roots five, red-iron grass three, dragon-blood tree leaves eight. Sixteen Magic Stone Fragments for all three; considering you are new customers, I'll give you a discount, how about fifteen?"

"Ten." Luo En said directly, his tone firm:

"The standard price for these three medicinal herbs combined won't exceed twelve, and your dragon-blood tree leaves should have been stored for more than two weeks, their vitality is already starting to decline."

The goblin's expression stiffened slightly, then he immediately piled on a smile:

"Oh my, young man, your eyes are truly sharp! Alright, twelve, this is the lowest price; any lower and I'll be losing money!"

Finally, after some bargaining, Luo En took down these materials for the price of eleven Magic Stone Fragments.

"Are you planning to use these to refine blood-qi potions?" Andre asked after leaving the goblin's stall, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"That's right," Luo En carefully put away the materials:

"Lady Ailan taught me some formulas; blood-qi potions are of great benefit to knight cultivation, especially when used in conjunction with breathing techniques, the effect is even better."

Andre suddenly mentioned another aspect: "I heard that potions involving the spirit are not easy to refine, and the requirements for the refiner are also higher."

"Indeed," Luo En nodded:

"However, breathing-type and physical-enhancement-type potions are relatively simpler. If the configuration is successful, both of us can benefit from it."

The two continued to walk through Lizard Alley, occasionally stopping to check some potentially useful materials.

"There won't be anything particularly precious on these ordinary stalls."

Andre said in a low voice after checking a few stalls: "The real good stuff is all in those inconspicuous corners."

Luo En also noticed this.

Most of the goods placed in conspicuous positions were entry-level herbs, and the truly valuable materials were hidden in special containers.

Only after the customer showed sufficient purchase intent and payment ability would the merchant take them out for display.

"Look over there." Andre suddenly said softly, signaling with his eyes to a corner in the depths of the alley: "That stall seems a bit different."

Luo En looked in the direction of his gaze and found that at the end of the street, there was a small stall almost completely shrouded in shadows.

There were no signs hanging there, but some small bottles emitting a faint light were placed on the stall, appearing particularly eye-catching in the dim environment.

"Let's go, let's go take a look." Luo En said softly, and the two carefully bypassed a few customers who were bargaining loudly and walked toward the hidden stall.

As the distance closed, Luo En noticed that the stall owner was an alien creature with a strange appearance.

Its upper body resembled a human, but its face was covered with fine black scales, and its eyes presented strange vertical pupils.

When it turned its head, those eyes would reflect cold light; its lower body was completely in the form of a snake, coiled together to support its upper body.

A snake-man merchant, and it looked quite old; the edges of its scales had already begun to fade, showing an old, grayish-white color.

"The two guests seem interested in my goods?"

The snake-man merchant sensed their approach, flicking its forked tongue, making a hissing sound, its voice carrying a cold, old-fashioned tone: "To have such an eye at such a young age is rare."

"We are looking for some special materials."

Luo En said with a calm expression, deliberately concealing his urgency, but his eyes were scanning the stall, looking for possible targets:

"For example, Crystalline Moss, or Night-Talk Pollen."

"Oh?" The snake-man's vertical pupils contracted slightly, revealing obvious interest, as well as a trace of scrutiny:

"Little brother, you truly have a unique eye; these are not common materials."

It looked Luo En and Andre up and down, seemingly evaluating their purchasing power and background.

A moment later, the snake-man's expression relaxed slightly, and it reached out a scaly hand to take a tin box from under the stall:

"Good luck, I happen to have some Crystalline Moss here. Rare goods, so the price is naturally not cheap."

Luo En took the tin box and carefully observed the green substance inside with the help of his [Herb Identification] ability.

This time, the moss was clearly different from the fake one Otto had taken out—it presented a deep ink-green color.

And when Luo En turned the tin box slightly, he could clearly feel that unique spiritual power "call," as if this clump of moss was actively attracting his attention.

This feeling was both strange and fascinating, as if he had heard a ballad that only he could understand.

[Precise Identification! Herb Identification EXP +2]

"This is indeed Crystalline Moss." Luo En nodded, but his expression remained calm, without showing too much surprise or urgency:

"However, the quality is average; looking at this color, the time of picking should have exceeded a month, and the vitality has weakened."

The snake-man merchant was clearly stunned for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing its vertical pupils; it clearly didn't expect this young man to be able to judge the state of the material so accurately.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across its scaly face, but it quickly returned to that seasoned merchant posture.

"Young man, good eye; that's rare among my customers."

The snake-man said, its tone carrying a bit more sincere appreciation:

"However, even so, this is a quite rare material. Twenty Magic Stone Fragments; this price is very fair, considering the scarcity of Crystalline Moss on the market recently."

Luo En shook his head and put the tin box back on the stall:

"Ten at most, considering its freshness is far from what it used to be. I believe that with your experience, you know better than anyone what this level of vitality decline means."

"Ten?" The snake-man let out a hissing laugh:

"You look down on people too much, little guy. This is real Crystalline Moss; even if the vitality has weakened, it's worth fifteen Magic Stone Fragments. Not a penny less; do you think this is a wholesale market?"

Luo En and the snake-man merchant began a round of intense bargaining. Finally, both sides reached an agreement at the price of twelve Magic Stone Fragments.

After paying, he carefully put the tin box into his bosom, ensuring it wouldn't shake or be squeezed while walking.

"What other materials are you looking for?"

The snake-man merchant clearly had a new understanding of the purchasing power of these two young men, and its tone became friendly, its forked tongue restlessly poking out from the corner of its mouth and retracting:

"Maybe I can help; I've been doing business here for thirty years and know quite a few suppliers."

After the transaction was completed, the snake-man appeared exceptionally enthusiastic, even taking out some inventory that it didn't easily display, hoping to reach more transactions.

However, unfortunately, the snake-man's inventory did not contain the other items on Lady Ailan's list.

"I have to say, you really made me look at you with new eyes." Andre exclaimed in a low voice, looking with admiration at this trader who had become extremely seasoned:

"Where did you learn these trading skills? I didn't see you have any interest in this aspect when we were in the Royal Capital."

"Lady Ailan's guidance is indispensable."

Luo En evaded the question; he couldn't reveal the secret that he had merged with an otherworldly soul:

"And I found that I do have some talent in these aspects; this feeling... is very wonderful, as if I have established some kind of resonance with it."

Andre nodded in recognition: "Everyone will have some unexpected changes, especially in this life-and-death environment—under pressure, potential is often stimulated."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 53 =====