Wilderness: I Tame Beasts to Survive

Chapter 452: Chapter 301: Material Trade (Part 2)

The young Merfolk woman led them to a row of blooming blue Water Lotuses and gestured for them to sit inside. She handed them a platter of fresh blue fruit and said with a smile,

"As for buybacks... we don’t just take Spiritual Materials, we take in Soul Beast cubs as well."

Lin Tianhe immediately asked, "Um... excuse me, do you sell the Heart of the Caged Bird here?"

The Heart of the Caged Bird was the most crucial material for Xiaoyu’s evolution.

"The Heart of the Caged Bird?"

This question was clearly outside the young attendant’s area of expertise. She gave Lin Tianhe an apologetic smile.

"My apologies, please wait a moment. I’ll get the alliance’s professional Beast Master to come and help you with a price estimate."

The Merfolk girl personally poured each of them a cup of bitingly cold liquid, then headed deeper into the main hall.

"The service is pretty good..." Han Ning picked up his cup and took a small sip. A cool, refreshing energy enveloped his body, and he leaned back comfortably in his chair.

"You have excellent taste, sirs. This is the most high-end shop for Soul Beast Materials in all of Shuixiu City. I’m honored to be in your presence today." The guide, Hailian, hadn’t sat down with Han Ning and the others. Instead, she stood silently to the side, smiling as she spoke.

After only two or three minutes, a sophisticated-looking woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her hair worn loose, walked over.

Surprisingly, this person didn’t have the appearance of a Merfolk or a member of the Sea Deer Race, but looked almost completely human.

This made Han Ning suspect the staff chose an attendant specifically to match their own race.

After all, not far away, three Beast Masters who strongly resembled catfish were being attended to by an employee who also looked like a catfish.

When the woman saw Han Ning’s and Lin Tianhe’s youthful faces, a flicker of surprise crossed her features, but she quickly composed herself.

As for Ah Yu, who had been silent the entire time, their pale face was hidden within a dark, hooded robe, making it difficult for anyone to get a clear look.

"Greetings, guests. I am the shop’s resident Beast Master, Han Ling," the woman said, offering a slight smile as she sat down across from them. "And who might be the one looking to acquire the Heart of the Caged Bird?"

"Lin Tianhe."

"Mr. Lin," she began, using a term translated from the continental common tongue into the language of the Xia Country—the Otherworld itself had no such title. "It’s like this: because the level of cultivation varies for each Soul Beast, we need to assess your Soul Beast’s strength. Only then can we determine the appropriate grade, and therefore price, for the Heart of the Caged Bird."

"After all, the strength of a ’Caged Bird’ Soul Beast can vary greatly. Providing you with an unsuitable heart would go against our service principles," Han Ling said with a smile.

"Roughly how much will it cost?"

Seeing the shop’s high-end, luxurious decor, the thought of spending money here made Lin Tianhe, ever the country bumpkin, feel his knees go a little weak.

He still remembered his first time going to KFC as a kid; he’d only dared to step inside because he had 500 yuan of lucky New Year’s money in his pocket.

"The Caged Bird is a rather rare avian Soul Beast, but it has a wide range of uses. Our alliance has a number of them in stock. Two Lower Lord Level Soul Crystals should be about right. The assessment process itself is free of charge," Han Ling said, her smile unwavering.

"Two..."

Hearing that the price of the material was lower than he had expected, Lin Tianhe relaxed slightly.

"Can we do the assessment now?" Lin Tianhe asked, unable to wait.

"Yes, please come with me."

Han Ling rose, her slender figure swaying gracefully as she led the way.

She led Lin Tianhe into the depths of the main hall, through a rear courtyard, and into a training room that was at least several hundred square meters in size.

The air shimmered and distorted. Before her appeared a Great Sea Serpent covered in aqua-blue scales.

’This shop has some serious backing... a random Beast Master they have on staff has a C Talent Profound Ice Sea Python,’ Han Ning thought to himself.

A faint, cold mist swirled between the Profound Ice Sea Python’s scales. As it flicked its forked tongue, stray Ice Crystals sprayed from its mouth.

"Don’t you need any assessment equipment?" Lin Tianhe asked, looking around the room.

"Equipment?" Han Ling repeated, finding the word strange and unfamiliar.

"Oh, you know, tools for assessments."

"A Beast Master’s Spiritual Power—especially a Breeder’s—is the best assessment tool," Han Ling said with a faint smile.

"Hmm... true enough." Lin Tianhe nodded in agreement. The air before him began to shimmer and distort as well.

A Soul Vein Tree Demon, standing over twenty meters tall, slowly emerged from the Soul Beast Space. Its branches were gnarled and coiled like muscles, its trunk was thick and sturdy, and its base was as solid as a steel pillar.

"RUSTLE~"

The weak little cry was completely at odds with its mighty appearance.

"This... This Tree Demon is huge!"

Han Ling’s pupils widened. She was clearly stunned by Xiaoyu’s size.

"Er... Is it? I think it’s about average."

Lacking any point of comparison, Lin Tianhe had assumed Xiaoyu was about the same size as a typical Soul Vein Tree Demon at the War General Limit.

In the entire human faction, he was the only one who owned this type of Wood Type Soul Beast. Xiaoyu’s evolution from a Silver Lotus Wood to a Spirit-Draining Tree Demon had been a stroke of pure luck.

"Well... it’s mostly the girth. Did you know that a typical Tree Demon at the War General Limit is at most two-thirds as wide as yours?"

In her surprise, Han Ling’s tone became noticeably more respectful.

’It seems a Beast Master with exceptional strength earns respect wherever they go.’

"Heh... It wouldn’t be surprising for a heavy Wood Type Soul Beast with C Talent or higher to reach this size at the War General Level. But for a D Talent Tree Demon to grow this large... this is a first for me."

Reining in her surprise, Han Ling’s smile returned. "Next, please have your Soul Vein Tree Demon launch an all-out attack against my Profound Ice Sea Python. I will measure its physical Power and maximum Spiritual Energy output."

Seeing the hesitant look on Lin Tianhe’s face, Han Ling explained, "Don’t worry, my Profound Ice Sea Python is also at the War General Level. You don’t need to be concerned about it getting hurt."

"Well... it’s very strong," Lin Tianhe said, patting one of Xiaoyu’s rebar-like branches. He then gave the command, "Xiaoyu, give that Great Sea Serpent a full-power sweep!"

HISS HISS HISS~

The Profound Ice Sea Python flicked the sharp tip of its tail at Xiaoyu, curling it inward in a clear "come at me" gesture to the little Tree Demon.

"RUSTLE~"

Xiaoyu gave a weak cry.

Then, its figure vanished.

Xiaoyu flashed in front of the Profound Ice Sea Python, paused, raised a branch slightly, and then swung with all its might.

WHOOSH!!

The Profound Ice Sea Python was instantly hit by an immense blast of air pressure.

HISSS?!!

Having underestimated its opponent, it only had time to cover its body in a layer of deep blue Ice Crystals.

BANG!

The next moment, the Profound Ice Sea Python’s body shot backward like a kite with its string cut, slamming violently into the wall at the far end of the training room.

BOOM.

The wall spiderwebbed with cracks before shattering completely. The Profound Ice Sea Python’s momentum didn’t even slow as it continued to fly backward.

A series of clatters, bangs, and shattering sounds echoed from outside the room.

"RUSTLE?"

Xiaoyu looked at where the Profound Ice Sea Python had vanished and scratched itself, seemingly bewildered.

Han Ling stared blankly, the corner of her eye twitching uncontrollably.

Soon, a clamor of shocked cries erupted from outside.

The sound of frantic, hurried footsteps rose and fell.

"...Mr. Lin, please wait a moment. I’ll go explain the situation."

Han Ling offered an apologetic smile, then turned and walked out through the large hole her Profound Ice Sea Python had created.

A moment later, Han Ning and the others could hear her talking with other people outside.

"...Tianhe, I never thought you’d be such a show-off today," Han Ning said, peering through the gaping hole and teasing his roommate. "And... looking at the marks on the building, it must have some kind of defensive Spiritual Array inscribed on it. Otherwise... the destructive force from a battle between War General Level Soul Beasts would be enough to reduce any building within a hundred meters to rubble."

"Heh, I didn’t expect it either. Are the Soul Beasts out here really this weak? A C Talent at the same level can’t even take one hit from my Xiaoyu. That’s just pathetic," Lin Tianhe said, looking completely satisfied.

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