Chapter 739: Mother-of-Pearl from the Blood Spring
Chapter 739: Mother-of-Pearl from the Blood Spring
"There are more than enough malevolent spirits and ghosts within this abyssal passage."
Lu Chen refilled the candle within the Soul-Luring Lantern and then took out the Soul-Bereaving Bell, a magical artifact that lured and trapped the stupefied spirits one by one.
He had intended to venture deeper into the miasma of yin energy to capture a vicious ghost or two to feed the Ghost-Devouring Evil Vine. However, after some careful consideration, he decided against it. After all, they were already in the depths of the Fengdu Star Cave, and who knew what powerful ghosts lurked within the abyssal realm. It would be safer to just buy a few in the Ghost Market with some spirit stones.
With that thought, he obediently followed the map's directions and entered the sixth layer of the Fengyuan Star Cave.
The sixth layer was the outpost of the Star Cave in the Fengyuan Star Cave, with patrolling guards everywhere. After some inquiries, Lu Chen found the Ghost Market mentioned by the Skull Ghost Cultivator.
At this moment, he revealed his early Core Formation stage cultivation, his appearance still that of a sinister-looking young man.
With the dual effects of the Thousand Soul Guise and the Clear Wing Feather Robe, he had no worries about his true appearance and cultivation being discovered.
Upon entering the Ghost Market, he saw many cultivators of the side sects and heretical paths wandering about, their auras and forms strange and eerie.
There were some shops within the market, likely owned by powerful forces like the Palace of White Bones, but most were just stalls.
The treasures displayed on these stalls mostly had something to do with the demonic path.
There were rare materials obtained from various malevolent spirits and ghosts, sinisterly refined magical artifacts, and demonic cultivation techniques of varying grades.
Lu Chen strolled leisurely through the Ghost Market, keeping an eye out for any demonic treasures that caught his attention.
With cultivators from the Star Cave keeping watch and powerful arrays guarding the market, he didn't need to worry about his safety.
However, once he left the confines of the market, it would no longer be the Star Cave's concern.
Due to the prevalence of the demonic path within the Ghost Market, it was not uncommon for people to be killed and their treasures stolen just outside.
Among the countless demonic treasures, there weren't many spirit herbs, and those that were present were mostly mature plants. Lu Chen didn't see many demonic spirit herbs, which was a bit disappointing.
The occasional one or two that appeared were of common grades and varieties, failing to spark much interest in him.
Out of curiosity, he bought a few to plant and see if they would yield any unexpected surprises when they matured and bloomed.
As he wandered and observed, his mind turned to the demonic treasures he could offer for sale.
"Among the mature spirit herbs, I have the fifth-grade Burning Soul Flower, the Death Qi Fruit, and the Yin Weeping Wood. If the price is right, I can part with them."
"In terms of treasures, I have the Double-sided Holy Infant, the Multi-armed Corpse Servant, the Mother-of-Pearl, the Yin-Sha Bottle, and the 'Ghost Wailer's Illustrated Manual'. These are worth quite a bit more than the spirit herbs, especially the Yin-Sha Bottle and the manual, which are sixth-grade treasures. I should hold onto them if I can."
"As for cultivation techniques, I have the sixth-grade 'Blood Vein Scripture', the 'Yin Underworld True Water Prohibition Technique', and the 'Soul Restraining Sutra'. If these were to spread, they could cause immense trouble, so it's better for me to cultivate them myself. I won't consider selling them for now."
"Hmm, now that I think about it, my collection far surpasses that of an ordinary mid-stage Core Formation cultivator."
Lu Chen mused to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Even just in terms of demonic treasures, he was no weaker than demonic cultivators of the same stage, not to mention his larger collection of regular treasures.
"Having too many treasures is also a headache. I don't even know if I should keep them all."
He thought, indulging in a moment of self-satisfaction.
Suddenly, a stall not far from him caught his attention.
The stall owner was a bald cultivator with mid-stage Core Formation cultivation. His eyes were a ghastly gray, and his face bore writhing scar tissue that resembled a centipede, exuding an extremely sinister aura.
The clam shell was a deep crimson, adorned with circles of vibrant patterns. The portion submerged in the blood bubbled constantly, releasing a thick, bloody aura.
Wrapped around the bloody shell was a shadowy black chain engraved with intricate, obscure runes.
"May I ask for your name, fellow cultivator? And what is the origin of this peculiar clam shell?" Lu Chen asked politely, cupping his fist in a respectful gesture toward the bald cultivator.
"Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl," the bald cultivator, named Ren Hong, replied indifferently, his grayish-white eyes sweeping over Lu Chen with little interest.
Unperturbed by his attitude, Lu Chen continued to examine the bloody shell closely.
"To be able to bring this bloody shell into the market in its living form, there must be a significant reason," Lu Chen mused.
"If you don't tell me, I have my ways of finding out," he added, infusing spiritual energy into the white jade basin. A stream of blood seeped into the cracks of the bloody shell.
Ren Hong watched expressionlessly, and seeing that Lu Chen made no further move, he turned his head away.
Lu Chen focused his attention on the shell, and in an instant, he learned all there was to know about it.
"[Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl, Juvenile Stage, Fifth-Grade Evil Creature. Proficient in various blood path secret arts. Favors dwelling in a sea of blood and feeds on various types of essence blood.]
[Its offensive capabilities are considered inferior among its peers, but it can produce an abundance of demonic blood, making it highly sought after by cultivators of the blood path.]"
"A fifth-grade evil creature that produces a large amount of blood, and it's still in its juvenile stage..." Lu Chen's heart stirred with interest.
"I already have the Evil Spirit God in my cave abode, so it shouldn't be a problem to keep another fifth-grade evil creature," he thought.
"Moreover, this Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl can continuously produce demonic blood, which can be used to nurture corresponding sinister spirit plants or aid in cultivating the Blood Divine Canon," Lu Chen contemplated.
As he pondered, the Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl that he had nourished with blood suddenly spurted a tall stream of blood.
Then a second stream, a third...
Endless streams of blood gushed out from the cracks.
"This amount of spray is comparable to some powerful actors from my past life," Lu Chen thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"But the impression they give is completely different. This Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl is downright terrifying." Lu Chen shook his head inwardly, once again sensing the dense baleful aura emanating from the bald cultivator.
With a flick of his thoughts, a bizarre spirit fruit appeared in his hand, its surface marked with grayish-white veins and filled with a dense baleful aura that seemed ready to burst through its skin.
It was the fifth-grade Sha Yuan Fruit, an invaluable treasure for cultivators practicing corresponding baleful arts. When consumed, it refined their bodies with pure baleful energy.
As expected, the appearance of the Sha Yuan Fruit immediately piqued Ren Hong's interest, a hint of surprise flashing in his grayish-white eyes.
"May I ask for your name, fellow cultivator? And what is the origin of this Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl?" Lu Chen inquired with a smile.
"Ren Hong," the bald cultivator replied. "The Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl is a fifth-grade evil creature capable of producing large amounts of demonic blood, which can be used to cultivate blood path divine abilities."
His eyes remained fixed on the Sha Yuan Fruit in Lu Chen's hand as he spoke.
"Just a few words, and a Core Formation stage cultivator is willing to introduce me to a mysterious treasure," Lu Chen thought with a smile.
Maintaining a calm and serene expression, he held the Sha Yuan Fruit in his palm, its baleful aura pulsing gently.
"How about I trade this Sha Yuan Fruit for your Blood Spring Mother-of-Pearl?" Lu Chen proposed.
(End of Chapter)
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