Chapter 141: Chapter 140: Purchasing Materials, Demon Beast News

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Lu Zhao quietly left the confines of the Array and headed toward the encampment of the merchant caravan from the Yani Country.

According to Wenn Quan, these caravans from the Yani Country traveled year-round between the Northern Wilderness and the Chen Country. They often had some of the Yani Country’s "specialty products" on hand, and Lu Zhao thought he might be able to find something useful.

He stopped about fifty zhang from the camp and stood quietly. ’Rashly approaching an unfamiliar caravan’s camp could easily cause a misunderstanding,’ he thought. ’It’s better to wait for them to approach me first.’

Sure enough, less than a half quarter hour later, a sharp-featured, middle-aged man in a fine brocade uniform emerged from the camp. His aura was deep and composed—he was a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. He walked steadily toward Lu Zhao, stopping several zhang away before cupping his hands in a salute. His voice was level and respectful.

"I am Zhuu Ping’an, a Steward of the Zhuu Family merchant caravan from Fufeng County in the Yani Country. Greetings to you, Fellow Daoist of the Bixia Sect. We have made camp near your esteemed sect’s territory, and I hope you will forgive us for any disturbance. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Lu Zhao returned the salute, his tone even. "Steward Zhuu, you’re too kind. I wouldn’t dare presume to offer guidance. I heard from a junior brother of mine that your caravan often carries specialty goods from the Yani Country and is quite well-stocked. I took the liberty of coming today to see if you have anything I might find useful. If we could make a trade, that would be ideal."

Upon hearing this, Zhuu Ping’an’s face immediately broke into the warm, practiced smile of a merchant. "Haha, you’re too modest, Fellow Daoist! We travel far and wide for the very purpose of mutual trade. As long as you have enough Spirit Stones, we certainly have goods to sell! Please, follow me." He turned to the side and gestured for Lu Zhao to proceed, leading him into the camp.

Stepping into the camp, Lu Zhao’s gaze swept across the scene. Tents were arranged in neat rows and goods were stacked tidily. Several guards with sharp eyes and steady auras patrolled the paths between the tents, Magical Artifacts in hand. Everything was orderly, exuding an air of seasoned professionalism. Lu Zhao nodded to himself. ’This caravan is highly experienced and disciplined, far from some hastily assembled rabble.’

Zhuu Ping’an led Lu Zhao into a fairly spacious tent, simply furnished with just a low table and a few meditation cushions. After they took their seats, Zhuu Ping’an got straight to the point. "What might you be looking for, Fellow Daoist? Our caravan stocks a wide variety of goods, from Spiritual Materials, Pills, and Magical Artifacts to Demon Beast Materials."

Lu Zhao paused for a moment. "Do you have a general inventory list? It would help me to look it over first to get a better idea of what you have."

Zhuu Ping’an smiled. "We have a list, of course, though some of our more precious or rare items might not be on it." With that, he retrieved a pale yellow Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and handed it over. "Please, take a look. Our main inventory is detailed inside."

Lu Zhao accepted the Jade Scroll and immersed his Divine Sense within it. The information was extensive, listing hundreds of items. It ranged from common Low-Tier Spirit Grass, refined ore, talisman paper, and Talisman Brushes to strange Demon Beast Skeletons, Scale Armor, and Special Minerals unique to the Yani Country. There were even a few Jade Scrolls mixed in, recording common Magic spells popular in the Yani Country.

He quickly scanned the contents, focusing on the Demon Beast Materials. As he made a mental comparison, he noted that the prices for many materials were indeed ten to twenty percent lower than the going rates in Bixia Marketplace and even the Liuu Family Marketplace.

After a moment, Lu Zhao withdrew his Divine Sense, a plan already formed in his mind. "I’ve reviewed the list. I want eight complete, well-preserved corpses of Tier One Middle-Grade Wolf Demons, plus four complete corpses of Tier One Middle-Grade Turtle-type Demon Beasts."

When Zhuu Ping’an heard this, his eyes lit up. This was a big deal! Tier One Middle-Grade Demon Beast corpses, especially complete ones in good condition, were quite valuable. The smile on his face grew even more enthusiastic. "We have them! We have them all! For the Wolf Demon corpses, we have Gale Wolves and Ironback Wolves. For the turtles, we have Profound Water Turtles and Iron Armor Mountain Turtles. The quality is top-notch, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied! Is there anything else you need, Fellow Daoist? Just say the word!"

Lu Zhao nodded, his tone unchanging as he continued, "I’ve looked at the common items on the list, and as you just said, Steward Zhuu, the truly good things might not be recorded. I wonder, does your caravan have any complete corpses of Tier One High-Grade Ape Demon Beasts? If you do, I’ll take them all."

At these words, the delight on Zhuu Ping’an’s face nearly spilled over. "You’re truly a generous customer, Fellow Daoist! Tier One High-Grade Ape Demon corpses... Yes! We have them! Not many, but our caravan happens to have four in stock! All of them are corpses of the Strong Iron Ape. Their sinews and bones are powerful and their hides are perfectly preserved—absolutely Upper Grade quality!"

"Very good. I’ll take them all," Lu Zhao said, his tone still calm.

Zhuu Ping’an rubbed his hands together, suppressing his excitement. "No problem! Do you need anything else, Fellow Daoist?"

Lu Zhao pondered briefly, then looked at Zhuu Ping’an. "Then what about Tier One High-Grade Crane-type Demon Beast corpses? Does your caravan have any?"

This time, Zhuu Ping’an was genuinely surprised. He looked Lu Zhao up and down and praised him sincerely, "Fellow Daoist, your wealth... is truly admirable!"

"However, Crane-type Demon Beasts are known for their exceptional spirituality and swift flight, making them extremely difficult to hunt. Tier One High-Grade ones are even rarer and seldom seen. But..."

He changed his tone, a hint of a merchant’s pride creeping in. "You’ve come at a fortunate time, Fellow Daoist. If it weren’t for the increased Demon Beast activity in Fufeng County these past few years, we wouldn’t have brought two Iron-Plumed Crane corpses with us. Although they have an ordinary Tier One bloodline, they are genuine Tier One High-Grade demon beasts! It’s just that the price..."

"The price is no issue, as long as the goods are what I need," Lu Zhao cut in. "I’ll take both."

"Decisive!" Zhuu Ping’an slapped his thigh, thoroughly impressed. This Bixia Sect Steward’s wealth far exceeded his imagination. He quickly added, "Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. I’ll have my people take stock of the items at once. I guarantee they will be the freshest and best-preserved!"

While they waited, Lu Zhao asked with an air of casual curiosity, "I heard you mention ’frequent Demon Beast activity’ earlier, Steward Zhuu. Has the number of Demon Beast appearances increased within the Yani Country’s borders in recent years?"

Zhuu Ping’an was still basking in the joy of making a big sale, so he didn’t think much of the question and replied offhandedly, "Isn’t that the truth! Demon Beast appearances have increased throughout the Yani Country these years, especially over in our Fufeng County. It’s surrounded by the outskirts of Nine Prosperity Ridge, and for some reason, Demon Beast activity is much more frequent than in previous years. The number of attacks on caravans and villages has increased by at least thirty percent annually!"

"It forces us to hire a good deal more expert guards every time we make a run. Why? Is the situation similar here in the Chen Country?" After speaking, he seemed to realize he might have revealed too much. His gaze flickered as he looked at Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao’s expression remained neutral. "I’m not entirely sure," he said lightly. "I’ve just heard a few mentions here and there that the Demon Beasts seem restless in certain areas. Now that I hear you say it, Steward Zhuu, it seems those rumors weren’t baseless after all."

Zhuu Ping’an’s smile didn’t waver, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He cupped his hands. "I see. Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist! For us merchants, news like this is a matter of life and death. I will be sure to report this to the Patriarch and the Elders so we can prepare." ’This Bixia Sect Steward definitely didn’t ask casually,’ he thought. ’Similar signs must be appearing in the Chen Country as well.’

An abnormal increase in Demon Beast activity often heralded something ominous. It either meant an Exotic Treasure was about to appear, triggering conflict, or... it was a precursor to a terrifying Beast Tide.

Hearing Zhuu Ping’an’s words, Lu Zhao’s expression remained placid, and his mind was even more untroubled. ’No matter what happens, the Sect will handle any major crisis. Even if a Beast Tide were truly coming, the Yani Country, bordering Nine Prosperity Ridge, would bear the brunt of it. The Chen Country, with only the Northern Wilderness County near the ridge, has a much larger buffer zone.’

The two of them tacitly moved on from the topic. By now, the caravan’s workers had finished tallying Lu Zhao’s order, packed it in special Beast Hide Bags, and carried it into the tent.

Lu Zhao rose to inspect the goods carefully. The eight wolf corpses were robust, their fur glossy and their claws and fangs perfectly intact. The four turtle shells were heavy, the natural patterns on them so clear they had obviously been killed recently. The four Strong Iron Ape corpses were rippling with muscle, exuding a ferocious aura. As for the two Iron-Plumed Cranes, their dark feathers were like sharp swords, and their long necks and talons were perfectly preserved. All the Demon Corpses had been cleanly handled, showing no signs of decay.

"Excellent." Lu Zhao nodded in satisfaction. He promptly paid the agreed-upon amount of Spirit Stones.

The transaction complete, Lu Zhao cupped his hands, about to take his leave, when he suddenly remembered something. He paused, turned slightly, and asked, "Steward Zhuu, by any chance, do you have any ’Void Spirit Iron’ among the goods your caravan is carrying this time?"

The moment he heard the three words "Void Spirit Iron," the smile on Zhuu Ping’an’s face froze, melting into a wry one. "Fellow Daoist, you truly put me in a difficult spot. Void Spirit Iron... Even if we had a sliver of it, we would never dare sell it! While it’s not a Tier Two Spiritual Material, it’s a strategic resource that your esteemed Sect has explicitly and strictly regulated! Ordinary Cultivators are forbidden from trading it. Never mind an outside caravan like ours—even local caravans in the Chen Country are prohibited from dealing in it privately."

"Besides, the Zhuu Family caravan wants to do business in the Chen Country’s territory for a long time. How could we dare to touch such a forbidden item? And in any case, the fact is, we simply don’t have any." Zhuu Ping’an spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

Hearing this, Lu Zhao’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he sighed to himself. ’This is the second time I’ve heard a similar reply. It seems the hope of acquiring Void Spirit Iron through channels outside the sect is slim indeed.’ His expression remained impassive as he cupped his hands and said coolly, "I see. It was presumptuous of me to ask. Farewell."

"Take care, Fellow Daoist! You’re welcome to come again!" Zhuu Ping’an enthusiastically saw Lu Zhao out of the camp.

Lu Zhao left the camp at the foot of the mountain and returned to his cave estate on Black Bone Mountain. He took out all the Demon Corpses, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as he looked at the small mountain of carcasses piled on the floor. The haul was excellent, especially the two Iron-Plumed Cranes. Their grade was sufficient, yet they weren’t so precious as to be irreplaceable. They were the perfect base materials for his attempt to refine a Cyan Feather Crane!

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