"Spirit Beasts are more expensive, but these Spirit Snakes clearly aren't Spirit Beasts raised in the wild or from a young age."
"They have too much Mortal Qi; selling them would be too risky."
Su Ping watched as the three Spirit Snakes, after successfully advancing, burrowed into the pile of meat he had prepared, eating frantically until their bodies quickly expanded to nearly a meter in length.
He quickly realized that his plan to sell Spirit Beasts was a bit risky.
Those Loose Cultivators might not notice, but they couldn't afford them anyway!
Immortal Sect Cultivators who could afford them would definitely discover the problems with these Spirit Snakes and realize that they advanced using external means.
Although it was indeed possible to advance successfully with discarded pills, Su Ping had used this very method.
However, in reality, Su Ping worried that others might not believe this fact.
Compared to discarded pills, they would probably suspect if he had some special Immortal edge, right?
Of course, Su Ping also understood that if he only sold them once or twice, the chance of being suspected and encountering problems was very small.
But!
For Su Ping, who already possessed the Fishing System and had a bright future simply by being a behind-the-scenes Fishing Master, such a risk… was still not worth taking!
"Selling Spirit Beasts is too dangerous!"
"It's better to just sell Materials; although I'll earn less, it's much safer!"
Su Ping made up his mind, taking out the Fiery Wood Sword from his Storage Pouch with his left hand.
Swish!
With a flick of his wrist, the wooden sword drew a dazzling red light.
Su Ping, at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, struck with a single flat cut, instantly severing the heads of the three Spirit Snakes that had been eating their fill with their backs to him!
Immediately, Su Ping took out a wooden bucket for blood and a wooden box for skin, fur, and bones, skillfully disassembling his spoils.
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
The two small mice were also startled by the sudden change, jumping from Su Ping's shoulder to the desk.
When they saw that the Spirit Snakes had been killed, they didn't feel any sense of sorrow for a fallen comrade; instead, they instinctively showed a look of longing, begging Su Ping for blood food.
A good emperor doesn't starve his soldiers; a Fishing Master doesn't starve his mice.
Su Ping took out a small bowl, collected snake blood for the two small mice, and gave them some snake meat.
Only then did he continue disassembling.
The actual amount of the three Spirit Snakes, once disassembled, wasn't much; Su Ping quickly packed up the bones and bodies of the three Spirit Snakes.
"None of the three Spirit Snakes had Yao Cores, and the quality of their Materials was also Low Grade Tier 1, similar to a young Tier 1 Yao Beast."
"However, this is to be expected; after all, they advanced from Mortal Beasts. To improve their quality, they would need to be raised for many years at least."
"Hmm… perhaps I can continue feeding them discarded pills and purification spiritual medicine to shorten this cultivation time?"
Thinking of this, Su Ping looked at the small mice enjoying their meal and noted the idea in his mind.
When he had more Fishing spots and wasn't so short on fishing coins in the future, he could try it to see if he could improve the quality of Spirit Pets by piling on medicine.
For now… after earning Spirit Stones, improving his own Cultivation was more important!
After all, if he were a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, he could take over a Market. At that time, selling Spirit Beasts wouldn't require him to be so anxious and fearful as he was now!
Three days later…
Inside a bamboo forest surrounded by mist.
Su Ping took out his token to dispel the mist and had just walked a short distance down the path that appeared.
He then encountered an acquaintance.
Junior Brother Yun Jiu, who had previously sold Su Ping an Animal Controlling Technique Talisman.
Although Yun Jiu came from a farming Family, he was outwardly dull, with a slender frame, and usually looked like an ungrowing youth.
However, his Cultivation had long reached the fourth level of Qi Condensation, and with his Beast Controlling talent, it was said that he was highly valued by that Outer Sect Steward.
However, at this moment, Yun Jiu's steps were unsteady, and his face was ashen.
This formed a stark contrast in temperament with Su Ping, who had successfully advanced.
"Senior Brother Su! Why have you come to Cloud Mountain Market?"
Yun Jiu was a bit surprised; he had heard that this Senior Brother, whose Cultivation was the lowest, had gone down the mountain to become a guardian.
"Junior Brother Yun!"
Su Ping revealed a smile, greeted him, and then directly stated the prepared excuse:
"I got lucky; while hunting outside the city, I encountered a few Low Grade Yao Snakes. Although I couldn't catch the large snake, I did get a few snake offspring."
"I don't know how to use the disassembled Yao Beast Materials, so I had to exchange them for some Spirit Stones."
Su Ping wasn't lying; before coming, he had indeed organized the manor servants to go hunting outside and enacted a scene of chasing Yao Beasts.
"Yao Snake?"
Yun Jiu's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
He supported his slightly sore old back and immediately asked Su Ping to purchase snake blood.
Su Ping naturally wouldn't refuse and subtly reminded him that even for Cultivators, matters between men and women should not be excessive.
The female Cultivators of Immortal Melody Pavilion were all extraordinarily capable; even if they, who took money for their services, didn't intentionally harvest, they couldn't stop male Cultivators from overexerting themselves and damaging their Foundation.
And looking at Yun Jiu's current appearance, he didn't seem like he could endure it.
However, having said his piece, Su Ping wouldn't say anything more.
Even the Elders of the Immortal Sect didn't manage these matters, so why should he worry about them?
Yun Jiu drank a mouthful of snake blood on the spot, and his complexion immediately became a bit rosier.
However, his body was still extremely weak.
He paused, a little regretfully:
"It helps a bit, but not much; this Yao Snake's quality is a bit low."
"Alas, this time I really need to Cultivate for a while longer before I can come again."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. Please rest assured, Immortal Lord Luo has me in her heart and has taught me the art of preserving strength. I know my limits."
Yun Jiu put away the remaining snake blood, cupped his hands to bid Su Ping farewell, and then hastily walked into the mist and disappeared.
Su Ping withdrew his gaze, but memories related to Yun Jiu flashed through his mind.
He vaguely remembered that this Junior Brother seemed to have been taken into a certain small group by that Outer Sect Steward, which led him to become infatuated with a certain female Cultivator in the Market?
Su Ping keenly felt that things might not be so simple, but he didn't delve deeper.
As long as it didn't hinder his Fishing and Cultivating to achieve longevity, that was all that mattered.
Let go of the urge to help; respect the fate of others.
Following the small path deep into the bamboo forest, he formally entered Cloud Mountain Market.
Once the mist dispersed, a bustling town suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The Nine Leaves Market before was utterly incomparable to it.
As one of the official Markets of the Crimson Kite Immortal Sect.
Cloud Mountain Market possessed a Low Grade Tier 2 Spiritual Vein and further increased the Spiritual Qi concentration by relying on Formation restrictions.
Furthermore, it had multiple Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators stationed to guard it.
This alone attracted many Cultivator Families from the surrounding area to reside here permanently.
Various industries related to Cultivation also had branches here, making this place an extremely important trading hub in the region.
Su Ping wanted to sell Yao Beast meat, and naturally, such a place was the most convenient.
He didn't even need to set up a stall; he just went directly to the most famous restaurant in the Market and exchanged all the Spirit Snake Materials in his Storage Pouch for Spirit Stones in one go.
The restaurant's kitchen staff had some complaints about the snake meat Su Ping sold, feeling it was the lowest grade snake meat they had ever seen.
However, no one suspected that these snake meats had evolved from Mortal Beasts.
After all, selling controllable Spirit Beasts as Yao Beast meat was a foolish transaction that no one in this region had ever done before.
"Including my previous savings, my Spirit Stones have finally returned to three digits."
Su Ping felt the number of Spirit Stones in his Storage Pouch, which made him relax and feel much more at ease.
Since he had finally made a trip to Cloud Mountain Market, Su Ping naturally didn't plan to leave just yet.
Considering the potential surprise that the only item, the Return Talisman, in the Fishing Mall might bring.
Su Ping made a decision and headed towards the main road in the Market, entering shopping mode.
It didn't matter if he couldn't afford good Magical Artifacts or high-grade Talismans; he'd start with a dozen Invisibility Talismans that could only hide him from Mortals!
He also exchanged his old robes, which he had been reluctant to change, for new ones with added Mist Arts.
And a set of Formation Plates and Formation Flags for setting up simple Formations.
He also bought some Low Grade Spirit Fruits and Spirit Wine that were beneficial to both Cultivators and Mortals, and calming incense that helped with meditation and entering concentration.
Although his Spirit Stones were all spent.
Su Ping only felt much more relaxed, and he had even more confidence in the future!