Chapter Fifteen: The Elder Fat

Several days later, inside the Blood Slave Hall.

“Hmm, not bad. Let me see if the blood from these beasts amounts to eight portions.” The Ghost Elder lightly tapped the storage pouch at his waist. In an instant, a disc about the size of a fist appeared in his palm. He gently tossed it, and the disc gradually expanded in midair until it was over ten feet wide, hovering steadily before slowly descending to the ground without stirring a speck of dust.

The Ghost Elder placed the beastskin pouch onto the disc and then cast a beam of azure light. Numbers engraved along the disc’s edge lit up sequentially from one to ten. Below the number ten, a slightly smaller number twelve also glowed.

“What? You actually hunted down twelve beasts?” The Ghost Elder exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes wide with astonishment. Having served in the Blood Slave Hall for many years, he had never seen a newly recruited blood slave so fierce, able to kill so many beasts on their first mission.

“Mission accomplished. For each additional portion of beast’s blood, you can exchange it for a spirit stone. Moreover, materials obtained from killing beasts and herbs gathered can also be exchanged for spirit stones, magical artifacts, cultivation manuals, and various treasures,” the Ghost Elder said, his eyes burning with eagerness as if he had discovered a rare treasure.

“Elder Ghost, might there be an exchange list I can consult?” Cao Yun asked, secretly relieved that the Ghost Elder was not embezzling his extra beast’s blood—an unexpected kindness.

“There is. One portion of beast’s blood can be exchanged,” the Ghost Elder replied calmly, withdrawing his fervent gaze.

“I wish to exchange,” Cao Yun said quietly, though his heart brimmed with anticipation.

The Ghost Elder nodded lightly, blue light flickering in his hand, and instantly a jade slip about the size of a palm appeared. He handed it to Cao Yun and said indifferently, “Place this slip on your forehead and channel your spiritual energy into it. You will then see what items can be exchanged and the required amount of beast’s blood.”

Following the instructions, Cao Yun pressed the jade slip to his forehead, slowly pouring in his spiritual power. In an instant, rows of golden characters flashed like flowing light, appearing vividly in his mind. Various precious exchangeable items and their required materials were clear at a glance.

A recipe for Qi Refining Pills could be exchanged for fifty portions of beast’s blood or fifty spirit stones; a pill furnace for one hundred portions or stones; primary-level magical artifacts offered in offensive and defensive types required three hundred portions or stones... Cao Yun’s eyes scanned the list swiftly, waves of excitement rising in his chest. He knew well that as long as he hunted enough beasts, all these treasures could be his.

“Additionally, I have a recovery list for beast materials, along with attached beast and herb registers,” the Ghost Elder’s voice sounded again, tinged with temptation, “But these require two portions of beast’s blood to exchange.”

For Cao Yun, these three items were undoubtedly a timely boon. Without hesitation, he removed the jade slip from his forehead and declared firmly, “I agree to the exchange.”

The Ghost Elder looked at him with a flicker of admiration and whispered, “You’re indeed impressive, young man.” He then handed Cao Yun the jade slip for the beast material recovery list, reminding him, “Beast material recovery must be done through the task hall’s steward. I collect a twenty percent commission each time I notify them. You have no objection, right?”

Cao Yun immediately shook his head and said earnestly, “Elder, the precious information you provide is a great blessing. A twenty percent commission is only fair.”

The Ghost Elder smiled slightly, quite pleased with Cao Yun’s understanding.

A transmission talisman flew from the Ghost Elder’s hand. Soon, a plump man of about sixty with graying temples entered. Upon stepping into the hall, he said, “Old Ghost, this time you won’t make me come all the way here for nothing again, right?”

The Ghost Elder looked embarrassed. “Not this time, not this time. Young friend, lay out all your good things.”

Hearing this, Cao Yun wasted no words. He slapped his storage pouch, and soon countless rolled-up beast skins piled up into a small mountain in the hall.

The plump elder looked at the Ghost Elder in surprise, then at Cao Yun, and finally at the mound of beast skins.

After counting, the plump elder reported: “Ten skins of the Astonishing Wolf Demon, five of the Tri-Color Monkey Demon, two of the Water Chestnut Beast, one of the Hidden Bell Demon, and—hmm, these two are from the Blazing Brute. Tsk tsk, I didn’t expect you could hunt such beasts.”

“What’s so special about this beast?” Cao Yun asked indifferently.

In his impression, this beast merely spewed flames weaker than a fireball spell and had no other remarkable traits. Its defense was low, and he had slain it with a single strike using his gauntlet artifact. He didn’t understand why the plump elder was so surprised.

“It’s indeed special. This beast’s materials are essential for forging fire armor. Such beasts have become rare on the outskirts of the Myriad Demon Forest. I didn’t expect you to encounter one. Tsk tsk, young friend, your luck is quite good.”

Under the plump elder’s tally, these materials exchanged for a total of twenty-seven spirit stones: one spirit stone each for the skins of the Astonishing Wolf, Tri-Color Monkey, and Water Chestnut Beast; two for the Hidden Bell Demon’s skin; and the most valuable were the Blazing Brute’s skins, each worth five spirit stones.

Just as the plump elder stored all the skins into his pouch, thinking Cao Yun had presented all his beast materials, Cao Yun calmly spoke, “How many spirit stones could these eagle claws and beak from the beast be worth?”

The plump elder took the eagle beak, examining it carefully before suddenly exclaiming, “Could this be the beak of a Rift Sky Beast?”

“What? You say this is the beak of a Rift Sky Beast, whose claws can tear through a tenth-level Golden Light Shield of the Qi Refining stage?” The Ghost Elder, who had maintained a composed expression until now, couldn’t help but shout in astonishment.

“Without a doubt. With over seventy years of experience in the task hall, I can confirm this beak is definitely from a Rift Sky Beast. Tsk tsk, this beast has harmed countless blood slaves and disciples of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect. To think it was slain by you. Your strength is truly formidable!” The plump elder said, his eyes suddenly growing wary as he fixed them on Cao Yun.

Seeing this, Cao Yun quickly explained, “I merely lurked in the Rift Sky Beast’s lair, seized the right moment, and used a wind-controlling technique to empower my dagger, striking its abdomen in one blow. Then I severed its head with a wind blade. Though its attack is fierce, its defense is relatively weak. I just took advantage of its unpreparedness and got lucky.”

The two elders exchanged glances, their expressions inscrutable, as if half-believing his story.

“These two materials might be used to forge mid-grade magical artifacts. Here’s the offer: thirty spirit stones for the eagle claw, twenty for the eagle beak. Do you have any objections, young friend?” The plump elder said, his gaze gradually sharpening.

Cao Yun’s expression remained calm as he replied evenly, “I have no objections.”

Yet inside, his thoughts churned like stormy waves. The spirit stones he received were far fewer than the true value of these precious materials. This trade for Rift Sky Beast materials was even more disadvantageous than the earlier transactions involving beast skins, where the plump elder also took advantage of him. It stung deeply—after all, these were all bought with his life.