Chapter 161: Cha-Cha-Cha, A Mutual Probing Dance

The next day, Hu Li paid another visit to the Myriad Directions Pavilion.

His stated purpose was to search for pill formulas.

The one who received him was still the same male slave beast.

Hu Li lingered on the second floor for a while, several times opening his mouth only to stop himself. At last, unable to hold back any longer, he asked, “Fellow Daoist, may I ask where Crimson Robe is?”

The slave beast was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. “I’m sorry. I have nothing to say.”

“It is nothing. I was out of line.” Bitterly disappointed, Hu Li turned toward the staircase. Yet when he reached the stairs, he dawdled again, one hand gripping the black, gleaming banister while he hesitated to take the first step.

“Fellow Daoist?” The slave beast stood behind him. After waiting a moment, he had no choice but to remind him: you are blocking the staircase!

Hu Li came to himself. As though he had finally made up his mind, he turned around and asked, “Fellow Daoist, may I ask how your master is addressed?”

A bonded guardian beast’s status was modeled after that of human cultivators. Thus, this question was not considered discourteous. The slave beast lowered his eyes, concealing the envy within them. “My master’s surname is Wan. However, Crimson Robe’s master is someone else. The Myriad Directions Pavilion has two masters.”

As a slave beast, he was forbidden to comment recklessly on human cultivators. That was all he could say.

“Thank you.”

Hu Li clasped his hands, lifted the hem of his robe, and hurried down the stairs.

After leaving the Myriad Directions Pavilion, he rushed out through the eastern gate. Employing the Light Wind Technique, he flew toward the mountains behind the market.

Leaning against a flower-carved window, the slave beast watched his silver figure vanish like lightning, graceful and unrestrained despite its speed. He let out a low sigh.

“Both of us are demon beasts, yet this fellow truly has found himself an enviable opportunity.”

Hu Li had come to seek out the female cultivator surnamed Zeng. Having only just arrived, she was the closest thing he had to an acquaintance.

Her cave dwelling lay halfway up the mountain in the central district.

When she received his communication talisman, she personally came out to greet him. Seeing that Hu Li stood on nothing at all beneath his feet—he was not using any flying artifact—her smile deepened. She clasped her hands and laughed heartily.

“Young Master Hu, your esteemed presence has truly brought glory to my humble abode!”

Hu Li descended and, getting straight to the point, returned the salute. “I am ashamed. I have come to ask Fellow Daoist Zeng for a favor.”

The female cultivator raised her brows and gave an appreciative “Oh?” before extending a hand toward the entrance. “It would be my honor. Young Master Hu, let us go inside and discuss the matter.”

She still addressed him as “Young Master,” but her manner and speech had grown much more familiar. That, however, was already the limit of what she could do. After all, she was a human cultivator. Surely she could not truly become sworn brothers with a demon beast? If such a thing were to spread, how could she ever show her face in the Spirit Realm again?

Although the female cultivator’s cave dwelling was not as large as Hu Li’s, nor was its spiritual energy as abundant, her place resembled a general store. Precious display cabinets lined all four walls, and the treasures inside were dazzling in their variety.

“Hm. You two really are birds of a feather,” Feng Ke’er teased, prodding the fox’s sea of consciousness.

Hu Li frowned almost imperceptibly.

It was true that he enjoyed collecting things. But had he really turned his own cave into a warehouse?

Once host and guest had taken their seats, the female cultivator surnamed Zeng smiled and said, “I am a straightforward person. If Young Master Hu has something to say, please speak plainly. If it lies within my power, I will certainly do all I can to help.”

Hu Li clasped his hands. “Then allow me to thank you in advance. May I ask whether you know Crimson Robe of the Myriad Directions Pavilion?”

The female cultivator’s reply was clearly unrelated to his question. She asked displeasedly, “Young Master Hu, why do you ask?”

Hu Li hurriedly waved both hands, his face full of apology. “Fellow Daoist Zeng, please do not misunderstand. I have no ulterior motive. I merely wished to ask you about Crimson Robe.”

Seeing that the other woman still looked displeased, he quickly explained himself. As far as he knew, the Myriad Directions Pavilion had existed for several hundred thousand years. Throughout Southern Spirit Continent, there was scarcely anyone who had not heard of it. Those settled in the central district were mostly merchants who did business in the market. Therefore, he had concluded that the female cultivator surnamed Zeng was also a merchant. Although he trusted her character and believed she would never secretly meddle with another person’s slave beast, Crimson Robe sold pill formulas on the second floor. If luck had favored him, perhaps Zeng had also gone there in search of formulas and had consequently met Crimson Robe.

After hearing him out, the female cultivator stared into his eyes, her expression shifting between light and darkness.

“Young Master Hu has guessed correctly. I am indeed a merchant. And yes, I do know Crimson Robe.”

Well, there it was. She had even changed the way she referred to herself. Her tone had grown distinctly colder, and her wariness was plain for all to see.

Hu Li awkwardly cupped his hands. “I hope you will not begrudge me your guidance.”

The female cultivator narrowed her eyes. “Are you and Crimson Robe old acquaintances?”

What kind of question was that?

Hu Li flushed with anger and sprang to his feet. “Forget it. Just pretend I never came.”

To his surprise, the female cultivator grabbed him by the arm and said with an ingratiating smile, “Crimson Robe is renowned throughout the market for her extraordinary talent. Besides, who goes around asking after someone else’s slave beast the way you do? In short, your conduct was suspicious. You cannot blame others for being wary.”

Hu Li glared at her and yanked his sleeve free. “I merely suspected that Crimson Robe might be the descendant of an old friend. I also heard in the market that her master intended to sell her. That is why I wanted to ask you to help introduce me to her master.”

“I see.”

The female cultivator gave an embarrassed laugh and once more gestured for him to sit. “Why do you suspect that Crimson Robe is the descendant of your old friend?”

Seeing Hu Li’s expression change again, she hurriedly explained, “Young Master Hu, perhaps you do not know this, but in the Spirit Realm, slave beasts are the private property of their masters. Put yourself in another person’s place—no one would be pleased to see someone spying on their private property.”

Hu Li returned to his cushion and sat cross-legged. He answered truthfully, “I once gave that old friend one of my own fangs. The day before yesterday, when I went to the Myriad Directions Pavilion and spoke with Crimson Robe, I happened to see that very fang hanging around her neck. That old friend once did me a great kindness. I swore upon my inner demon that if fate ever brought us together again, I would repay him generously. Those of us who cultivate understand that everything depends upon fate. Since I cannot find my old friend, and Crimson Robe possesses the fang, I wish to buy her and thereby repay the kindness I owe him.”

The female cultivator put on an expression of sudden realization and nodded repeatedly. “Indeed. Those of us who cultivate fear nothing more than the rise of an inner demon. Since Young Master Hu has been so candid, I will not conceal the truth from you. I am Crimson Robe’s master.”

At those words, Feng Ke’er’s heart gave a sharp lurch.

Her instincts told her that the matter the dead fox had been guarding against was about to come to light.

Hu Li, meanwhile, opened his mouth so wide that he could nearly have swallowed an egg whole.

“Really? Truly? Can there be such a coincidence in this world?”

The female cultivator smiled. “Young Master Hu, did you not just say that everything depends upon fate? This is fate.”

“Yes, yes, exactly.” Hu Li nodded repeatedly, thoroughly convinced. “I was too attached to appearances. Please forgive me.”

With that, the subject had been broached. The two formally began discussing Crimson Robe.

The female cultivator wished to sell Crimson Robe, while Hu Li sincerely wanted to buy her. If they could agree on a price, the transaction would be complete.

Slave beasts were naturally rebellious and not particularly loyal. Crimson Robe’s cultivation had already reached the third layer of the seventh rank, making her even harder to control. Once purchased, her new master would have to spend a Captive Slave Pill to control her spiritual sense and destroy her core sea. One such pill cost ten crystal stones, hardly cheap.

Worse still, the pill was exceptionally harsh. After consuming it, a slave beast would remain unsettled for ten days to half a month before finally calming down.

In addition, when a slave beast changed masters, its original servant contract became void automatically. The new master had to establish a fresh contract and report to the Alliance within three days to have the beast’s identity jade token rewritten.

A servant-contract talisman cost one crystal stone. Rewriting the identity jade token required five merit points—equivalent to fifty crystal stones.

It was outrageously expensive.

Thus, Crimson Robe’s value was actually lower than that of a newborn beast cub. At most, she could fetch a thousand spirit stones. A newborn had no memories, which made it easier to cultivate its loyalty; furthermore, there was no need to spend money on a Captive Slave Pill or contract talisman. All one had to pay was fifty crystal stones to rewrite its identity jade token.

It saved both money and trouble.

The female cultivator surnamed Zeng was also refreshingly direct. She smiled and said, “Since Young Master Hu is doing this to repay a kindness, I will simply give Crimson Robe to you.”

Hu Li, however, looked troubled. His face reddened, and he stammered without saying a word.

“Young Master Hu, what is wrong?” The woman’s smile stiffened.

Hu Li gritted his teeth and bent forward in supplication. “Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist. But I am ashamed to say that I have very few spirit stones left. I must ask you to keep Crimson Robe for a few more days. Once I have gathered fifty crystal stones, I will return to buy her.”

Fifty crystal stones, converted into spirit stones, amounted to five thousand spirit stones—and that did not include the exchange fee. His entire fortune did not even amount to five thousand spirit stones!

“Your master is not an alchemist?” In the Spirit Realm, which alchemist was not wealthy beyond measure? The female cultivator had clearly never imagined that he could not even produce fifty crystal stones.

Hu Li rose, his face flushed. “My master is in seclusion. During this period, she told me to regard this as a trial.”

The female cultivator seemed rather disappointed. She blinked several times, then suddenly slapped her thigh and laughed.

“Look at my memory.”

As she spoke, a round-bellied white jade bottle the size of a fist appeared in her hand. She removed the red stopper and poured out a dazzling red pill.

“Young Master Hu, I obtained this bottle of unidentified pills some time ago. I hope you will be generous with your instruction.”

She no longer mentioned Crimson Robe at all.

The pill in her palm was as large as an egg yolk. A hazy red radiance enveloped it, and the moment it left the bottle, an intoxicating fragrance filled the room. Anyone with eyes could tell that it was no ordinary pill.

Hu Li was no alchemist. What did he know about appraising pills?

If this had been the lower world, he might have relied on his broad experience and knowledge—even if all he could do was embellish a little—and managed to say something plausible. But this was the Spirit Realm! Treasures of heaven and earth were as plentiful as clouds, and there were countless things he had never seen before.

Still, if he was going to act, he had to play the part completely. He pretended to examine the pill carefully, then closed his eyes and sniffed it with great concentration.

Meanwhile, in secret, he used his spiritual sense to communicate with Feng Ke’er in his sea of consciousness.

“Master, what kind of pill is that?”

Feng Ke’er deliberately decided to tease him. “Hm. I cannot quite determine it either. It would be wonderful if we could taste it.”

There were rules for appraising pills. One could only observe and smell them. Aside from the owner, no one else was even allowed to touch the pill. How could anyone possibly “taste it”?

Hu Li was thrown into confusion.

Good heavens. He was pretending to be a pill-devouring beast serving an alchemist!

He had always wondered why, despite the extremely low status of demon beasts in the Spirit Realm, everyone readily accepted his existence as a bonded guardian beast. After making discreet inquiries, he learned that the descendants of alchemical clans in the Spirit Realm all sought out a gifted pill-devouring beast to serve as their bonded guardian beast.

There was no fixed species for such beasts, nor did their bloodlines need to be noble. Everything depended on fate.

From the moment they were born, these beasts rolled about in heaps of spirit pills. Regardless of the pill, after seeing and smelling it once, they might not be able to name it, but they could accurately identify its ingredients, effects, refining technique, and more.

Therefore, if he failed to say anything useful today and was exposed, that would certainly be the end of him.

“Young Master Hu?”

The female cultivator surnamed Zeng stared at him, her eyes sharp and penetrating.

To Be Continued

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The Heaven-Piercing Codex, Chapter 161: Cha-Cha-Cha—You Test Me, and I Test You. Update complete!